diff --git a/cypress/e2e/composer/composer.spec.ts b/cypress/e2e/composer/composer.spec.ts
index 2b49b5e32e..54e8441987 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/composer/composer.spec.ts
+++ b/cypress/e2e/composer/composer.spec.ts
@@ -36,10 +36,8 @@ describe("Composer", () => {
 
     describe("CIDER", () => {
         beforeEach(() => {
-            cy.initTestUser(homeserver, "Janet").then(() => {
-                cy.createRoom({ name: "Composing Room" });
-            });
-            cy.viewRoomByName("Composing Room");
+            cy.initTestUser(homeserver, "Janet");
+            cy.createRoom({ name: "Composing Room" }).then((roomId) => cy.viewRoomById(roomId));
         });
 
         it("sends a message when you click send or press Enter", () => {
@@ -113,10 +111,8 @@ describe("Composer", () => {
     describe("Rich text editor", () => {
         beforeEach(() => {
             cy.enableLabsFeature("feature_wysiwyg_composer");
-            cy.initTestUser(homeserver, "Janet").then(() => {
-                cy.createRoom({ name: "Composing Room" });
-            });
-            cy.viewRoomByName("Composing Room");
+            cy.initTestUser(homeserver, "Janet");
+            cy.createRoom({ name: "Composing Room" }).then((roomId) => cy.viewRoomById(roomId));
         });
 
         describe("Commands", () => {
@@ -188,7 +184,7 @@ describe("Composer", () => {
 
             describe("Plain text mode", () => {
                 it("autocomplete behaviour tests", () => {
-                    // Setup a private room so we have another user to mention
+                    // Set up a private room so we have another user to mention
                     const otherUserName = "Bob";
                     let bobClient: MatrixClient;
                     cy.getBot(homeserver, {
@@ -197,15 +193,16 @@ describe("Composer", () => {
                         bobClient = bob;
                     });
                     // create DM with bob
-                    cy.getClient().then(async (cli) => {
-                        const bobRoom = await cli.createRoom({ is_direct: true });
-                        await cli.invite(bobRoom.room_id, bobClient.getUserId());
-                        await cli.setAccountData("m.direct" as EventType, {
-                            [bobClient.getUserId()]: [bobRoom.room_id],
-                        });
-                    });
-
-                    cy.viewRoomByName("Bob");
+                    cy.getClient()
+                        .then(async (cli) => {
+                            const bobRoom = await cli.createRoom({ is_direct: true });
+                            await cli.invite(bobRoom.room_id, bobClient.getUserId());
+                            await cli.setAccountData("m.direct" as EventType, {
+                                [bobClient.getUserId()]: [bobRoom.room_id],
+                            });
+                            return bobRoom.room_id;
+                        })
+                        .then((bobRoomId) => cy.viewRoomById(bobRoomId));
 
                     // Select plain text mode after composer is ready
                     cy.get("div[contenteditable=true]").should("exist");
diff --git a/cypress/support/views.ts b/cypress/support/views.ts
index 2100e89459..d5bf917989 100644
--- a/cypress/support/views.ts
+++ b/cypress/support/views.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,15 @@ declare global {
              */
             viewRoomByName(name: string): Chainable<JQuery<HTMLElement>>;
 
+            /**
+             * Opens the given room by room ID.
+             *
+             * This works by browsing to `/#/room/${id}`, so it will also work for room aliases.
+             *
+             * @param id
+             */
+            viewRoomById(id: string): void;
+
             /**
              * Returns the space panel space button based on a name. The space
              * must be visible in the space panel
@@ -57,6 +66,10 @@ Cypress.Commands.add("viewRoomByName", (name: string): Chainable<JQuery<HTMLElem
     return cy.findByRole("treeitem", { name: name }).should("have.class", "mx_RoomTile").click();
 });
 
+Cypress.Commands.add("viewRoomById", (id: string): void => {
+    cy.visit(`/#/room/${id}`);
+});
+
 Cypress.Commands.add("getSpacePanelButton", (name: string): Chainable<JQuery<HTMLElement>> => {
     return cy.findByRole("button", { name: name }).should("have.class", "mx_SpaceButton");
 });