diff --git a/static/js/message_fetch.js b/static/js/message_fetch.js
index 833edc1996..d5a6f7597e 100644
--- a/static/js/message_fetch.js
+++ b/static/js/message_fetch.js
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ exports.reset_load_more_status = function reset_load_more_status() {
 };
 
 function process_result(messages, opts) {
-    $('#get_old_messages_error').removeClass("show");
+    $('#connection-error').removeClass("show");
 
     if ((messages.length === 0) && (current_msg_list === message_list.narrowed) &&
         message_list.narrowed.empty()) {
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ exports.load_old_messages = function load_old_messages(opts) {
             }
 
             // We might want to be more clever here
-            $('#get_old_messages_error').addClass("show");
+            $('#connection-error').addClass("show");
             setTimeout(function () {
                 exports.load_old_messages(opts);
             }, 5000);
diff --git a/templates/zerver/index.html b/templates/zerver/index.html
index 045ba60432..f39405bcdf 100644
--- a/templates/zerver/index.html
+++ b/templates/zerver/index.html
@@ -80,11 +80,6 @@ var page_params = {{ page_params }};
         {% trans %}<strong class="message">Unable to connect to
         Zulip.</strong>  Updates may be delayed.{% endtrans %} {{ _('Retrying soon...') }} <a class="restart_get_events_button">{{ _('Try now.') }}</a>
     </div>
-    <div class="alert alert_sidebar alert-error home-error-bar" id="get_old_messages_error">
-        <div class="exit"></div>
-        {% trans %}<strong class="message">Unable to connect to
-        Zulip.</strong>  Could not fetch messages.{% endtrans %} {{ _('Retrying soon...') }}
-    </div>
     <div class="alert alert_sidebar alert-error home-error-bar" id="zephyr-mirror-error">
         <div class="exit"></div>
         {# The below isn't tagged for translation