diff --git a/static/js/message_list.js b/static/js/message_list.js
index b9f37984c3..c9911b24af 100644
--- a/static/js/message_list.js
+++ b/static/js/message_list.js
@@ -457,7 +457,8 @@ MessageList.prototype = {
 
     show_message_as_read: function (message, options) {
         var row = this.get_row(message.id);
-        if (options.from === 'pointer' && feature_flags.mark_read_at_bottom) {
+        if ((options.from === 'pointer' && feature_flags.mark_read_at_bottom) ||
+            options.from === "server") {
             row.find('.unread_marker').addClass('fast_fade');
         } else {
             row.find('.unread_marker').addClass('slow_fade');
diff --git a/static/js/zulip.js b/static/js/zulip.js
index 9a63e3a200..22ac35c93b 100644
--- a/static/js/zulip.js
+++ b/static/js/zulip.js
@@ -392,7 +392,9 @@ function mark_messages_as_read(messages, options) {
             unread_messages_read_in_narrow = true;
         }
 
-        send_read(message);
+        if (options.from !== "server") {
+            send_read(message);
+        }
         summary.maybe_mark_summarized(message);
 
         message.unread = false;
@@ -927,6 +929,12 @@ function get_updates_success(data) {
                     ui.update_starred(message_id, new_value);
                 });
                 break;
+            case 'read':
+                var msgs_to_update = _.map(event.messages, function (message_id) {
+                    return msg_metadata_cache[message_id];
+                });
+                mark_messages_as_read(msgs_to_update, {from: "server"});
+                break;
             }
             break;
         case 'referral':