diff --git a/stylesheets/_modules.scss b/stylesheets/_modules.scss
index 349b85b70..31b7840df 100644
--- a/stylesheets/_modules.scss
+++ b/stylesheets/_modules.scss
@@ -255,8 +255,6 @@
 
 .module-conversation__user,
 .module-message__author {
-  margin-top: var(--margins-sm);
-  margin-bottom: var(--margins-xs);
   font-size: var(--font-size-sm);
   font-weight: 300;
   line-height: 18px;
@@ -621,6 +619,7 @@
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: row;
   align-items: center;
+  margin-bottom: var(--margins-xs);
 }
 
 .module-conversation-list-item__header__name {
diff --git a/ts/components/leftpane/MessageRequestsBanner.tsx b/ts/components/leftpane/MessageRequestsBanner.tsx
index 8f06088d3..ccfae4bd8 100644
--- a/ts/components/leftpane/MessageRequestsBanner.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/leftpane/MessageRequestsBanner.tsx
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ const StyledCircleIcon = styled.div`
 const StyledUnreadCounter = styled.div`
   font-weight: bold;
   border-radius: var(--margins-sm);
-  background-color: var(--conversation-tab-bubble-background-color);
+  color: var(--unread-messages-alert-text-color);
+  background-color: var(--unread-messages-alert-background-color);
   margin-left: var(--margins-sm);
   min-width: 20px;
   height: 20px;