diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/recent_topics.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/recent_topics.js
index 57df8f7f1b..6a36ff0574 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/recent_topics.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/recent_topics.js
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ const topic10 = "topic-10";
 
 mock_cjs("jquery", $);
 
+let expected_data_to_replace_in_list_widget;
+
 const ListWidget = mock_esm("../../static/js/list_widget", {
     modifier: noop,
 
@@ -63,6 +65,13 @@ const ListWidget = mock_esm("../../static/js/list_widget", {
 
     hard_redraw: noop,
     render_item: (item) => ListWidget.modifier(item),
+    replace_list_data: (data) => {
+        if (expected_data_to_replace_in_list_widget === undefined) {
+            throw new Error("You must set expected_data_to_replace_in_list_widget");
+        }
+        assert.deepEqual(data, expected_data_to_replace_in_list_widget);
+        expected_data_to_replace_in_list_widget = undefined;
+    },
 });
 
 mock_esm("../../static/js/compose_closed_ui", {
@@ -397,6 +406,11 @@ test("test_filter_all", (override) => {
     rt.set_filter("all");
     rt.process_messages([messages[0]]);
 
+    expected_data_to_replace_in_list_widget = [
+        {last_msg_id: 10, participated: true},
+        {last_msg_id: 1, participated: true},
+    ];
+
     row_data = row_data.concat(generate_topic_data([[1, "topic-7", 1, true, true]]));
     i = row_data.length;
     // topic is muted (=== hidden)
@@ -463,6 +477,42 @@ test("test_filter_unread", (override) => {
         }
         return "<recent_topics row stub>";
     });
+
+    expected_data_to_replace_in_list_widget = [
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 11,
+            participated: true,
+        },
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 10,
+            participated: true,
+        },
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 9,
+            participated: true,
+        },
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 7,
+            participated: true,
+        },
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 5,
+            participated: false,
+        },
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 4,
+            participated: false,
+        },
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 3,
+            participated: true,
+        },
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 1,
+            participated: true,
+        },
+    ];
+
     rt.process_messages([messages[0]]);
 
     // Unselect "unread" filter by clicking twice.
@@ -536,6 +586,41 @@ test("test_filter_participated", (override) => {
         }
         return "<recent_topics row stub>";
     });
+    expected_data_to_replace_in_list_widget = [
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 11,
+            participated: true,
+        },
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 10,
+            participated: true,
+        },
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 9,
+            participated: true,
+        },
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 7,
+            participated: true,
+        },
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 5,
+            participated: false,
+        },
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 4,
+            participated: false,
+        },
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 3,
+            participated: true,
+        },
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 1,
+            participated: true,
+        },
+    ];
+
     rt.process_messages([messages[4]]);
 
     expected.filter_participated = false;
@@ -571,6 +656,41 @@ test("basic assertions", (override) => {
     // update a message
     generate_topic_data([[1, "topic-7", 1, false, true]]);
     stub_out_filter_buttons();
+    expected_data_to_replace_in_list_widget = [
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 11,
+            participated: true,
+        },
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 10,
+            participated: true,
+        },
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 9,
+            participated: true,
+        },
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 7,
+            participated: true,
+        },
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 5,
+            participated: false,
+        },
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 4,
+            participated: false,
+        },
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 3,
+            participated: true,
+        },
+        {
+            last_msg_id: 1,
+            participated: true,
+        },
+    ];
+
     rt.process_messages([messages[9]]);
     // Check for expected lengths.
     // total 8 topics, 1 muted
diff --git a/static/js/recent_topics.js b/static/js/recent_topics.js
index affe4c43d8..550142bef9 100644
--- a/static/js/recent_topics.js
+++ b/static/js/recent_topics.js
@@ -584,8 +584,19 @@ export function complete_rerender() {
     if (!is_visible()) {
         return;
     }
-    // Prepare header
+
+    // Update header
     load_filters();
+    show_selected_filters();
+
+    // Show topics list
+    const mapped_topic_values = Array.from(get().values()).map((value) => value);
+
+    if (topics_widget) {
+        topics_widget.replace_list_data(mapped_topic_values);
+        return;
+    }
+
     const rendered_body = render_recent_topics_body({
         filter_participated: filters.has("participated"),
         filter_unread: filters.has("unread"),
@@ -593,13 +604,8 @@ export function complete_rerender() {
         search_val: $("#recent_topics_search").val() || "",
     });
     $("#recent_topics_table").html(rendered_body);
-    show_selected_filters();
-
-    // Show topics list
     const container = $("#recent_topics_table table tbody");
     container.empty();
-    const mapped_topic_values = Array.from(get().values()).map((value) => value);
-
     topics_widget = ListWidget.create(container, mapped_topic_values, {
         name: "recent_topics_table",
         parent_container: $("#recent_topics_table"),