diff --git a/templates/zephyr/bankruptcy.html b/templates/zephyr/bankruptcy.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e4312e3bd2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/zephyr/bankruptcy.html
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+<div class="modal hide" id="bankruptcy" tabindex="-1" role="dialog"
+     aria-labelledby="bankruptcy-label" aria-hidden="true">
+
+    <div class="modal-header">
+        <button type="button" class="close" data-dismiss="modal" aria-hidden="true">×</button>
+        <h3 id="bankruptcy-label">Welcome back</h3>
+    </div>
+
+    <div id="bankruptcy-unread-count"></div>
+
+    <div class="modal-footer">
+        <button id="yes-bankrupt" class="btn btn-primary" aria-hidden="true">Yes, please!</button>
+        <button id="no-bankrupt" class="btn" data-dismiss="modal" aria-hidden="true">No, I'll catch up.</button>
+    </div>
+</div>
diff --git a/templates/zephyr/index.html b/templates/zephyr/index.html
index 1ad88088f7..ea22abba09 100644
--- a/templates/zephyr/index.html
+++ b/templates/zephyr/index.html
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ var page_params = {{ page_params }};
     {% include "zephyr/keyboard_shortcuts.html" %}
     {% include "zephyr/markdown_help.html" %}
     {% include "zephyr/invite_user.html" %}
+    {% include "zephyr/bankruptcy.html" %}
     {% include "zephyr/logout.html" %}
 </div>
 {% endblock %}
diff --git a/zephyr/static/js/ui.js b/zephyr/static/js/ui.js
index 35bd3785c6..dd2408c6b3 100644
--- a/zephyr/static/js/ui.js
+++ b/zephyr/static/js/ui.js
@@ -1576,6 +1576,10 @@ $(function () {
         compose.cancel();
     });
 
+    $('#yes-bankrupt').click(function (e) {
+        fast_forward_pointer(this);
+    });
+
     // initialize other stuff
     composebox_typeahead.initialize();
     search.initialize();
diff --git a/zephyr/static/js/zephyr.js b/zephyr/static/js/zephyr.js
index 30b5447937..753c1f54c7 100644
--- a/zephyr/static/js/zephyr.js
+++ b/zephyr/static/js/zephyr.js
@@ -1058,6 +1058,22 @@ function load_old_messages(opts) {
 // get the initial message list
 $(function () {
     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.
         //
diff --git a/zephyr/static/templates/bankruptcy_modal.handlebars b/zephyr/static/templates/bankruptcy_modal.handlebars
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f19da2fbaa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/zephyr/static/templates/bankruptcy_modal.handlebars
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{{! The unread count in the bankruptcy modal }}
+
+<div class="modal-body">
+  <p>It's been a while! Since you were last here, you received <b>{{unread_count}}</b> new messages.</p>
+  <p>Do you want to skip to your latest messages?</p>
+</div>