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
@@ -607,8 +607,7 @@
     ) {
       filteredThreads[threadID] = {
         messageIDs: [],
-        // We can conclude that startReached, since no messages were returned.
-        startReached: true,
+        startReached: false,
         lastNavigatedTo: 0,
         lastPruned: Date.now(),
       };