diff --git a/lib/shared/dm-ops/dm-op-utils.js b/lib/shared/dm-ops/dm-op-utils.js
--- a/lib/shared/dm-ops/dm-op-utils.js
+++ b/lib/shared/dm-ops/dm-op-utils.js
@@ -459,16 +459,15 @@
     const time = Math.max(messagesFromOtherPeers.map(message => message.time));
     invariant(threadInfo.thick, 'Thread should be thick');
 
-    // We aren't checking if the unread timestamp is lower than the time.
-    // We're doing this because we want to flip the thread to unread after
-    // any new message from a non-viewer.
-    newUpdateInfos.push({
-      type: updateTypes.UPDATE_THREAD_READ_STATUS,
-      id: uuid.v4(),
-      time,
-      threadID: threadInfo.id,
-      unread: true,
-    });
+    if (threadInfo.timestamps.currentUser.unread < time) {
+      newUpdateInfos.push({
+        type: updateTypes.UPDATE_THREAD_READ_STATUS,
+        id: uuid.v4(),
+        time,
+        threadID: threadInfo.id,
+        unread: true,
+      });
+    }
   }
 
   return newUpdateInfos;