diff --git a/js/background.js b/js/background.js
index 81fdb0b35..4bce9b6d1 100644
--- a/js/background.js
+++ b/js/background.js
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@
                 var ids = groups.pluck('id');
                 ids.push(sender);
                 var message = messages.find(function(message) {
-                    return (message.get('type') === 'incoming' &&
+                    return (message.isIncoming() && message.isUnread() &&
                             _.contains(ids, message.get('conversationId')));
                 });
                 if (message) {
diff --git a/js/models/messages.js b/js/models/messages.js
index e61595e3d..67588a2de 100644
--- a/js/models/messages.js
+++ b/js/models/messages.js
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@
         isIncoming: function() {
             return this.get('type') === 'incoming';
         },
+        isUnread: function() {
+            return !!this.get('unread');
+        },
         getDescription: function() {
             if (this.isGroupUpdate()) {
                 var group_update = this.get('group_update');