diff --git a/lib/shared/messages/create-thread-message-spec.js b/lib/shared/messages/create-thread-message-spec.js
--- a/lib/shared/messages/create-thread-message-spec.js
+++ b/lib/shared/messages/create-thread-message-spec.js
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
   type RobotextParams,
 } from './message-spec.js';
 import { assertSingleMessageInfo } from './utils.js';
+import genesis from '../../facts/genesis.js';
 import { messageTypes } from '../../types/message-types-enum.js';
 import type {
   ClientDBMessageInfo,
@@ -56,13 +57,21 @@
   },
 
   rawMessageInfoFromServerDBRow(row: Object): RawCreateThreadMessageInfo {
+    const threadID = row.threadID.toString();
+    let initialThreadState = JSON.parse(row.content);
+    if (threadID === genesis().id) {
+      initialThreadState = {
+        ...initialThreadState,
+        memberIDs: [],
+      };
+    }
     return {
       type: messageTypes.CREATE_THREAD,
       id: row.id.toString(),
-      threadID: row.threadID.toString(),
+      threadID,
       time: row.time,
       creatorID: row.creatorID.toString(),
-      initialThreadState: JSON.parse(row.content),
+      initialThreadState,
     };
   },