diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitystreams.py b/bookwyrm/activitystreams.py
index c1c548d2..1c8f78be 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/activitystreams.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitystreams.py
@@ -70,6 +70,10 @@ class ActivityStream(ABC):
             .order_by("-published_date")
         )
 
+    def get_unread_count(self, user):
+        """ get the unread status count for this user's feed """
+        return int(r.get(self.unread_id(user)))
+
     def populate_stream(self, user):
         """ go from zero to a timeline """
         pipeline = r.pipeline()
diff --git a/bookwyrm/static/js/shared.js b/bookwyrm/static/js/shared.js
index d390f482..1f26aba6 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/static/js/shared.js
+++ b/bookwyrm/static/js/shared.js
@@ -61,9 +61,9 @@ function polling(el, delay) {
 
 function updateCountElement(el, data) {
     const currentCount = el.innerText;
-    const count = data[el.getAttribute('data-poll')];
+    const count = data.count;
     if (count != currentCount) {
-        addRemoveClass(el, 'hidden', count < 1);
+        addRemoveClass(el.closest('[data-poll-wrapper]'), 'hidden', count < 1);
         el.innerText = count;
     }
 }
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/feed/feed.html b/bookwyrm/templates/feed/feed.html
index 5ad18db6..77b593fe 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/feed/feed.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/feed/feed.html
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@
     </ul>
 </div>
 
+<a href="{{ request.path }}" class="hidden notification is-primary is-block" data-poll-wrapper>
+    {% blocktrans %}load <span data-poll="stream/{{ tab }}">0</span> unread status(es){% endblocktrans %}
+</a>
+
 {# announcements and system messages #}
 {% if request.user.show_goal and not goal and tab == 'home' %}
 {% now 'Y' as year %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/layout.html b/bookwyrm/templates/layout.html
index e57f6152..d08b1820 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/layout.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/layout.html
@@ -139,8 +139,8 @@
                             <span class="is-sr-only">{% trans "Notifications" %}</span>
                         </span>
                     </span>
-                    <span class="{% if not request.user|notification_count %}hidden {% endif %}tag is-danger is-medium" data-poll="notifications">
-                        {{ request.user | notification_count }}
+                    <span class="{% if not request.user|notification_count %}hidden {% endif %}tag is-danger is-medium" data-poll-wrapper>
+                        <span data-poll="notifications">{{ request.user | notification_count }}</span>
                     </span>
                 </a>
             </div>
diff --git a/bookwyrm/urls.py b/bookwyrm/urls.py
index 76622799..44db6892 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/urls.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/urls.py
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ urlpatterns = [
     re_path(r"^api/v1/instance/?$", views.instance_info),
     re_path(r"^api/v1/instance/peers/?$", views.peers),
     # polling updates
-    re_path("^api/updates/notifications/?$", views.Updates.as_view()),
+    re_path("^api/updates/notifications/?$", views.get_notification_count),
+    re_path("^api/updates/stream/(?P<stream>[a-z]+)/?$", views.get_unread_status_count),
     # authentication
     re_path(r"^login/?$", views.Login.as_view()),
     re_path(r"^register/?$", views.Register.as_view()),
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/__init__.py b/bookwyrm/views/__init__.py
index f1ebfc4c..3439304f 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/__init__.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/__init__.py
@@ -33,6 +33,6 @@ from .shelf import shelve, unshelve
 from .site import Site
 from .status import CreateStatus, DeleteStatus
 from .tag import Tag, AddTag, RemoveTag
-from .updates import Updates
+from .updates import get_notification_count, get_unread_status_count
 from .user import User, EditUser, Followers, Following
 from .wellknown import webfinger, nodeinfo_pointer, nodeinfo, instance_info, peers
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/updates.py b/bookwyrm/views/updates.py
index 83b680c0..5bcb26b9 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/updates.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/updates.py
@@ -1,20 +1,24 @@
 """ endpoints for getting updates about activity """
 from django.contrib.auth.decorators import login_required
 from django.http import JsonResponse
-from django.utils.decorators import method_decorator
-from django.views import View
 
-# pylint: disable= no-self-use
-@method_decorator(login_required, name="dispatch")
-class Updates(View):
-    """ so the app can poll """
+from bookwyrm import activitystreams
 
-    def get(self, request):
-        """ any notifications waiting? """
-        return JsonResponse(
-            {
-                "notifications": request.user.notification_set.filter(
-                    read=False
-                ).count(),
-            }
-        )
+@login_required
+def get_notification_count(request):
+    """ any notifications waiting? """
+    return JsonResponse({
+        "count": request.user.notification_set.filter(
+            read=False
+        ).count(),
+    })
+
+@login_required
+def get_unread_status_count(request, stream):
+    """ any unread statuses for this feed? """
+    stream = activitystreams.streams.get(stream)
+    if not stream:
+        return JsonResponse({})
+    return JsonResponse({
+        "count": stream.get_unread_count(request.user)
+    })