diff --git a/static/js/zulip.js b/static/js/zulip.js
index f1486b41b3..fb9ca4e07e 100644
--- a/static/js/zulip.js
+++ b/static/js/zulip.js
@@ -1205,6 +1205,22 @@ function fast_forward_pointer() {
     });
 }
 
+function consider_bankruptcy() {
+    if (!page_params.furthest_read_time) {
+        // We've never read a message.
+        return;
+    }
+
+    var now = new XDate(true).getTime() / 1000;
+    if ((page_params.unread_count > 500) &&
+        (now - page_params.furthest_read_time > 60 * 60 * 24 * 2)) { // 2 days.
+        var unread_info = templates.render('bankruptcy_modal',
+                                           {"unread_count": page_params.unread_count});
+        $('#bankruptcy-unread-count').html(unread_info);
+        $('#bankruptcy').modal('show');
+    }
+}
+
 function main() {
     _.each(page_params.people_list, function (person) {
         people_dict.set(person.email, person);
@@ -1224,6 +1240,9 @@ function main() {
     furthest_read = page_params.initial_pointer;
     server_furthest_read = page_params.initial_pointer;
 
+    // Before trying to load messages: is this user way behind?
+    consider_bankruptcy();
+
     // We only send pointer updates when the user has been idle for a
     // short while to avoid hammering the server
     $(document).idle({idle: 1000,
@@ -1262,22 +1281,6 @@ function main() {
 
     // get the initial message list
     function load_more(messages) {
-
-        // Before trying to load anything: is this user way behind?
-        var last_read_message = home_msg_list.get(home_msg_list.closest_id(page_params.initial_pointer));
-        if (last_read_message !== undefined) {
-            var now = new XDate().getTime() / 1000;
-            var num_unread = unread.get_counts().home_unread_messages;
-
-            if ((num_unread > 500) &&
-                (now - last_read_message.timestamp > 60 * 60 * 24 * 2)) { // 2 days.
-                var unread_info = templates.render('bankruptcy_modal',
-                                                   {"unread_count": num_unread});
-                $('#bankruptcy-unread-count').html(unread_info);
-                $('#bankruptcy').modal('show');
-            }
-        }
-
         // If we received the initially selected message, select it on the client side,
         // but not if the user has already selected another one during load.
         //