diff --git a/zephyr/lib/actions.py b/zephyr/lib/actions.py
index 09387caacf..fe1690e3b8 100644
--- a/zephyr/lib/actions.py
+++ b/zephyr/lib/actions.py
@@ -154,7 +154,9 @@ def do_send_message(message, rendered_content=None, no_log=False):
                          for user_profile in recipients
                          if user_profile.user.is_active]
         for um in ums_to_create:
-            if um.user_profile == message.sender:
+            sent_by_human = message.sending_client.name.lower() in \
+                                ['website', 'iphone', 'android']
+            if um.user_profile == message.sender and sent_by_human:
                 um.flags |= UserMessage.flags.read
         batch_bulk_create(UserMessage, ums_to_create)
 
diff --git a/zephyr/static/js/zephyr.js b/zephyr/static/js/zephyr.js
index a639701441..f343a7068a 100644
--- a/zephyr/static/js/zephyr.js
+++ b/zephyr/static/js/zephyr.js
@@ -197,7 +197,10 @@ function message_unread(message) {
         return false;
     }
 
-    if (message.sender_email === email) {
+    var sent_by_human = ['website', 'iphone', 'android']
+                            .indexOf(message.client.toLowerCase()) !== -1;
+
+    if (message.sender_email === email && sent_by_human) {
         return false;
     }