diff --git a/lib/reducers/message-reducer.js b/lib/reducers/message-reducer.js
--- a/lib/reducers/message-reducer.js
+++ b/lib/reducers/message-reducer.js
@@ -186,8 +186,7 @@
     }
     threads[threadID] = {
       messageIDs: [],
-      // We can conclude that startReached, since no messages were returned
-      startReached: true,
+      startReached: false,
       lastNavigatedTo: 0,
       lastPruned,
     };