diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/people.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/people.js
index f0374768c6..de8b3dc91d 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/people.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/people.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ set_global('page_params', {
     email: 'hamlet@example.com',
 });
 set_global('activity', {
-    set_user_statuses: function () {},
+    redraw: function () {},
 });
 set_global('admin', {
     show_or_hide_menu_item: function () {},
diff --git a/static/js/activity.js b/static/js/activity.js
index 89ccb2cc19..59d8b7e2c8 100644
--- a/static/js/activity.js
+++ b/static/js/activity.js
@@ -496,6 +496,11 @@ exports.set_user_statuses = function (users, server_time) {
     exports.update_huddles();
 };
 
+exports.redraw = function () {
+    exports.update_users();
+    exports.update_huddles();
+};
+
 exports.searching = function () {
     return $('.user-list-filter').expectOne().is(':focus');
 };
diff --git a/static/js/people.js b/static/js/people.js
index 901c5f10b8..7cd37e621d 100644
--- a/static/js/people.js
+++ b/static/js/people.js
@@ -288,6 +288,10 @@ exports.update = function update(person) {
         if (util.is_current_user(person.email)) {
             page_params.fullname = person.full_name;
         }
+
+        activity.redraw();
+        // TODO: update sender names on messages
+
     }
 
     if (_.has(person, 'is_admin')) {
@@ -312,10 +316,6 @@ exports.update = function update(person) {
           "background-image": "url(" + url + ")"
         });
     }
-
-    activity.set_user_statuses([]);
-
-    // TODO: update sender names on messages
 };
 
 $(function () {