diff --git a/zerver/lib/actions.py b/zerver/lib/actions.py
index 365f63bd97..25ff074fc4 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/actions.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/actions.py
@@ -1497,11 +1497,8 @@ def do_update_pointer(user_profile, pointer, update_flags=False):
                                    flags=~UserMessage.flags.read)        \
                            .update(flags=F('flags').bitor(UserMessage.flags.read))
 
-    if settings.TORNADO_SERVER:
-        tornado_callbacks.send_notification(dict(
-            type            = 'pointer_update',
-            user            = user_profile.id,
-            new_pointer     = pointer))
+    event = dict(type='pointer', pointer=pointer)
+    send_event(event, [user_profile.id])
 
 def do_update_message_flags(user_profile, operation, flag, messages, all):
     flagattr = getattr(UserMessage.flags, flag)
diff --git a/zerver/tornado_callbacks.py b/zerver/tornado_callbacks.py
index b62d7fedbc..58928d7f23 100644
--- a/zerver/tornado_callbacks.py
+++ b/zerver/tornado_callbacks.py
@@ -25,12 +25,6 @@ import datetime
 # after they are idle for 1 hour
 NOTIFY_AFTER_IDLE_HOURS = 1
 
-def update_pointer(user_profile_id, new_pointer):
-    event = dict(type='pointer', pointer=new_pointer)
-    for client in get_client_descriptors_for_user(user_profile_id):
-        if client.accepts_event(event):
-            client.add_event(event.copy())
-
 def build_offline_notification_event(user_profile_id, message_id):
     return {"user_profile_id": user_profile_id,
             "message_id": message_id,
@@ -222,8 +216,6 @@ def process_notification(data):
         process_new_message(data)
     elif data['type'] == 'update_message':
         process_update_message(data)
-    elif data['type'] == 'pointer_update':
-        update_pointer(data['user'], data['new_pointer'])
     else:
         raise JsonableError('bad notification type ' + data['type'])