diff --git a/static/js/stream_color.js b/static/js/stream_color.js
index 95ad5dd5cf..6c6a6bae3b 100644
--- a/static/js/stream_color.js
+++ b/static/js/stream_color.js
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ exports.set_colorpicker_color = function (colorpicker, color) {
                          {color: color, container: "#subscription_overlay .subscription_settings.show"}));
 };
 
-exports.update_stream_color = function (sub, stream_name, color, opts) {
+exports.update_stream_color = function (sub, color, opts) {
     opts = _.defaults({}, opts, {update_historical: false});
     sub.color = color;
     var id = parseInt(sub.stream_id, 10);
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ exports.update_stream_color = function (sub, stream_name, color, opts) {
     $("#subscription_overlay .subscription_settings[data-stream-id='" + id + "'] .large-icon").css("color", color);
 
     if (opts.update_historical) {
-        update_historical_message_color(stream_name, color);
+        update_historical_message_color(sub.name, color);
     }
     update_stream_sidebar_swatch_color(id, color);
     tab_bar.colorize_tab_bar();
diff --git a/static/js/subs.js b/static/js/subs.js
index 6b32c7ccea..d7a08b53a9 100644
--- a/static/js/subs.js
+++ b/static/js/subs.js
@@ -827,11 +827,10 @@ exports.update_subscription_properties = function (stream_id, property, value) {
                                                             value: value});
         return;
     }
-    var stream_name = sub.name;
 
     switch (property) {
     case 'color':
-        stream_color.update_stream_color(sub, stream_name, value, {update_historical: true});
+        stream_color.update_stream_color(sub, value, {update_historical: true});
         break;
     case 'in_home_view':
         update_in_home_view(sub, value);