diff --git a/static/js/recent_topics_ui.js b/static/js/recent_topics_ui.js
index 9bcf021eae..05a7ca6b07 100644
--- a/static/js/recent_topics_ui.js
+++ b/static/js/recent_topics_ui.js
@@ -104,15 +104,6 @@ export function save_filters() {
     ls.set(ls_key, Array.from(filters));
 }
 
-export function load_filters() {
-    if (!page_params.is_spectator) {
-        // A user may have a stored filter and can log out
-        // to see web public view. This ensures no filters are
-        // selected for spectators.
-        filters = new Set(ls.get(ls_key));
-    }
-}
-
 export function set_default_focus() {
     // If at any point we are confused about the currently
     // focused element, we switch focus to search.
@@ -792,8 +783,6 @@ export function complete_rerender() {
         return;
     }
 
-    // Update header
-    load_filters();
     show_selected_filters();
 
     // Show topics list
@@ -1225,3 +1214,13 @@ export function change_focused_element($elt, input_key) {
 
     return false;
 }
+
+export function initialize() {
+    // load filters from local storage.
+    if (!page_params.is_spectator) {
+        // A user may have a stored filter and can log out
+        // to see web public view. This ensures no filters are
+        // selected for spectators.
+        filters = new Set(ls.get(ls_key));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/static/js/ui_init.js b/static/js/ui_init.js
index 14d15de6b6..5ab5e7793a 100644
--- a/static/js/ui_init.js
+++ b/static/js/ui_init.js
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ import * as presence from "./presence";
 import * as realm_logo from "./realm_logo";
 import * as realm_playground from "./realm_playground";
 import * as realm_user_settings_defaults from "./realm_user_settings_defaults";
+import * as recent_topics_ui from "./recent_topics_ui";
 import * as recent_topics_util from "./recent_topics_util";
 import * as reload from "./reload";
 import * as rendered_markdown from "./rendered_markdown";
@@ -613,6 +614,7 @@ export function initialize_everything() {
 
     realm_logo.initialize();
     message_lists.initialize();
+    recent_topics_ui.initialize();
     alert_words.initialize(alert_words_params);
     emojisets.initialize();
     scroll_bar.initialize();