diff --git a/zephyr/static/js/zephyr.js b/zephyr/static/js/zephyr.js
index 1f00a96b35..1d7ce6e3cc 100644
--- a/zephyr/static/js/zephyr.js
+++ b/zephyr/static/js/zephyr.js
@@ -241,20 +241,23 @@ function update_unread_counts() {
         return valid.length;
     }
 
+    function only_in_home_view(msgids) {
+        return $.grep(msgids, function (msgid) {
+            return home_msg_list.get(msgid) !== undefined;
+        });
+    }
+
     $.each(unread_counts.stream, function(index, obj) {
         var count = Object.keys(obj).length;
         ui.set_count("stream", index, count);
         if (narrow.stream_in_home(index)) {
-            var in_home_view = $.grep(Object.keys(obj), function (msgid) {
-                return home_msg_list.get(msgid) !== undefined;
-            });
-            home_unread_messages += newer_than_pointer_count(in_home_view);
+            home_unread_messages += newer_than_pointer_count(only_in_home_view(Object.keys(obj)));
         }
     });
 
     var pm_count = 0;
     $.each(unread_counts["private"], function(index, obj) {
-        pm_count += newer_than_pointer_count(Object.keys(obj));
+        pm_count += newer_than_pointer_count(only_in_home_view(Object.keys(obj)));
     });
     ui.set_count("global", "private", pm_count);
     home_unread_messages += pm_count;