diff --git a/web/src/message_list.js b/web/src/message_list.js
index bcf24eb0a3..1c409d2e3a 100644
--- a/web/src/message_list.js
+++ b/web/src/message_list.js
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@ import $ from "jquery";
 
 import {all_messages_data} from "./all_messages_data";
 import * as blueslip from "./blueslip";
+import {Filter} from "./filter";
 import {MessageListData} from "./message_list_data";
 import * as message_list_tooltips from "./message_list_tooltips";
 import {MessageListView} from "./message_list_view";
+import * as message_lists from "./message_lists";
 import * as narrow_banner from "./narrow_banner";
 import * as narrow_state from "./narrow_state";
 import {page_params} from "./page_params";
@@ -528,3 +530,14 @@ export class MessageList {
         return this.data.get_last_message_sent_by_me();
     }
 }
+
+export function initialize() {
+    /* Create home_msg_list and register it. */
+    const home_msg_list = new MessageList({
+        table_name: "zhome",
+        filter: new Filter([{operator: "in", operand: "home"}]),
+        excludes_muted_topics: true,
+    });
+    message_lists.set_home(home_msg_list);
+    message_lists.set_current(home_msg_list);
+}
diff --git a/web/src/message_lists.js b/web/src/message_lists.js
index 21be92e7e1..4f04a67788 100644
--- a/web/src/message_lists.js
+++ b/web/src/message_lists.js
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 import $ from "jquery";
 
-import {Filter} from "./filter";
 import * as inbox_util from "./inbox_util";
-import * as message_list from "./message_list";
 import * as recent_view_util from "./recent_view_util";
 import * as ui_util from "./ui_util";
 
@@ -13,6 +11,10 @@ export function set_current(msg_list) {
     current = msg_list;
 }
 
+export function set_home(msg_list) {
+    home = msg_list;
+}
+
 export function all_rendered_message_lists() {
     const rendered_message_lists = [home];
     if (current !== home && !recent_view_util.is_visible()) {
@@ -33,13 +35,6 @@ export function update_recipient_bar_background_color() {
 }
 
 export function initialize() {
-    home = new message_list.MessageList({
-        table_name: "zhome",
-        filter: new Filter([{operator: "in", operand: "home"}]),
-        excludes_muted_topics: true,
-    });
-    current = home;
-
     // For users with automatic color scheme, we need to detect change
     // in `prefers-color-scheme`as it changes based on time.
     ui_util.listener_for_preferred_color_scheme_change(update_recipient_bar_background_color);
diff --git a/web/src/ui_init.js b/web/src/ui_init.js
index c079588377..2b7a447cd4 100644
--- a/web/src/ui_init.js
+++ b/web/src/ui_init.js
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ import * as markdown from "./markdown";
 import * as markdown_config from "./markdown_config";
 import * as message_edit_history from "./message_edit_history";
 import * as message_fetch from "./message_fetch";
+import * as message_list from "./message_list";
 import * as message_list_hover from "./message_list_hover";
 import * as message_list_tooltips from "./message_list_tooltips";
 import * as message_lists from "./message_lists";
@@ -565,6 +566,7 @@ export function initialize_everything() {
 
     realm_logo.initialize();
     message_lists.initialize();
+    message_list.initialize();
     recent_view_ui.initialize();
     inbox_ui.initialize();
     alert_words.initialize(alert_words_params);