diff --git a/static/js/loading.js b/static/js/loading.js
index d2c1113f24..201ecb2c31 100644
--- a/static/js/loading.js
+++ b/static/js/loading.js
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@ import $ from "jquery";
 
 import render_loader from "../templates/loader.hbs";
 
-export function make_indicator(outer_container, opts) {
-    opts = opts || {};
+export function make_indicator(outer_container, {abs_positioned = false, text} = {}) {
     let container = outer_container;
 
     // TODO: We set white-space to 'nowrap' because under some
@@ -15,7 +14,7 @@ export function make_indicator(outer_container, opts) {
 
     container.empty();
 
-    if (opts.abs_positioned !== undefined && opts.abs_positioned) {
+    if (abs_positioned) {
         // Create some additional containers to facilitate absolutely
         // positioned spinners.
         const container_id = container.attr("id");
@@ -32,12 +31,12 @@ export function make_indicator(outer_container, opts) {
     container.append(spinner_elem);
     let text_width = 0;
 
-    if (opts.text !== undefined && opts.text !== "") {
+    if (text !== undefined) {
         const text_elem = $('<span class="loading_indicator_text"></span>');
-        text_elem.text(opts.text);
+        text_elem.text(text);
         container.append(text_elem);
         // See note, below
-        if (!(opts.abs_positioned !== undefined && opts.abs_positioned)) {
+        if (!abs_positioned) {
             text_width = 20 + text_elem.width();
         }
     }
diff --git a/static/js/message_viewport.js b/static/js/message_viewport.js
index c2b539b953..f8694f5736 100644
--- a/static/js/message_viewport.js
+++ b/static/js/message_viewport.js
@@ -342,9 +342,7 @@ export function user_initiated_animate_scroll(scroll_amount) {
     });
 }
 
-export function recenter_view(message, opts) {
-    opts = opts || {};
-
+export function recenter_view(message, {from_scroll = false, force_center = false} = {}) {
     // BarnOwl-style recentering: if the pointer is too high, move it to
     // the 1/2 marks. If the pointer is too low, move it to the 1/7 mark.
     // See keep_pointer_in_view() for related logic to keep the pointer onscreen.
@@ -361,7 +359,7 @@ export function recenter_view(message, opts) {
     const is_above = message_top < top_threshold;
     const is_below = message_bottom > bottom_threshold;
 
-    if (opts.from_scroll) {
+    if (from_scroll) {
         // If the message you're trying to center on is already in view AND
         // you're already trying to move in the direction of that message,
         // don't try to recenter. This avoids disorienting jumps when the
@@ -375,7 +373,7 @@ export function recenter_view(message, opts) {
         }
     }
 
-    if (is_above || opts.force_center) {
+    if (is_above || force_center) {
         set_message_position(message_top, message_height, viewport_info, 1 / 2);
     } else if (is_below) {
         set_message_position(message_top, message_height, viewport_info, 1 / 7);
diff --git a/static/js/unread_ops.js b/static/js/unread_ops.js
index 6e468d517c..84aa686f1b 100644
--- a/static/js/unread_ops.js
+++ b/static/js/unread_ops.js
@@ -75,8 +75,7 @@ export function process_read_messages_event(message_ids) {
 
 // Takes a list of messages and marks them as read.
 // Skips any messages that are already marked as read.
-export function notify_server_messages_read(messages, options) {
-    options = options || {};
+export function notify_server_messages_read(messages, options = {}) {
     messages = unread.get_unread_messages(messages);
     if (messages.length === 0) {
         return;