diff --git a/templates/zephyr/index.html b/templates/zephyr/index.html
index 9f85b214db..b441dc7011 100644
--- a/templates/zephyr/index.html
+++ b/templates/zephyr/index.html
@@ -51,38 +51,13 @@
 {% compressed_js 'app_debug' %}
 {% endif %}
 
+{# Insert parameters, which have been encoded with JSONEncoderForHTML. #}
 <script type="text/javascript">
-
 {% autoescape off %}
-var page_params = {
-
-    {# Not escaped, because it's guaranteed by the model to be an integer. #}
-    initial_pointer: {{ user_profile.pointer }},
-
-    poll_timeout: {{ poll_timeout }},
-
-    fullname: "{{ user_profile.full_name|escapejs }}",
-    email: "{{ user_profile.user.email|escapejs }}",
-    domain: "{{ user_profile.realm.domain|escapejs }}",
-    have_initial_messages: {{ have_initial_messages|escapejs }},
-    desktop_notifications_enabled: {{ desktop_notifications_enabled|escapejs }},
-    enter_sends: {{ enter_sends|escapejs }},
-    debug_mode: {% if debug %} true {% else %} false {% endif %},
-    needs_tutorial: {{ needs_tutorial|escapejs }},
-
-    {# We use JSONEncoderForHTML to generate "streams". #}
-    stream_list: {{ streams }},
-
-    people_list: [
-    {% for person in people %}
-        { 'email': "{{ person.email|escapejs }}",
-          'full_name': "{{ person.full_name|escapejs }}" },
-    {% endfor %}
-    ]
-};
+var page_params = {{ page_params }};
 {% endautoescape %}
-
 </script>
+
 {% endblock %}
 {% block content %}
 <div class="container-fluid">
diff --git a/zephyr/views.py b/zephyr/views.py
index c977915679..296a75b083 100644
--- a/zephyr/views.py
+++ b/zephyr/views.py
@@ -387,7 +387,8 @@ def home(request):
 
     num_messages = UserMessage.objects.filter(user_profile=user_profile).count()
 
-    # Brand new users get the tutorial
+    # Brand new users get the tutorial.
+    # Compute this here, before we set user_profile.pointer below.
     needs_tutorial = settings.TUTORIAL_ENABLED and user_profile.pointer == -1
 
     if user_profile.pointer == -1 and num_messages > 0:
@@ -414,9 +415,23 @@ def home(request):
               for profile in
               UserProfile.objects.select_related().filter(realm=user_profile.realm)]
 
-    streams = simplejson.encoder.JSONEncoderForHTML().encode(gather_subscriptions(user_profile))
-
-    js_bool = lambda x: 'true' if x else 'false'
+    # Pass parameters to the client-side JavaScript code.
+    # These end up in a global JavaScript Object named 'page_params'.
+    page_params = simplejson.encoder.JSONEncoderForHTML().encode(dict(
+        debug_mode            = settings.DEBUG,
+        poll_timeout          = settings.POLL_TIMEOUT,
+        have_initial_messages = num_messages > 0,
+        stream_list           = gather_subscriptions(user_profile),
+        people_list           = people,
+        initial_pointer       = user_profile.pointer,
+        fullname              = user_profile.full_name,
+        email                 = user_profile.user.email,
+        domain                = user_profile.realm.domain,
+        enter_sends           = user_profile.enter_sends,
+        needs_tutorial        = needs_tutorial,
+        desktop_notifications_enabled =
+            user_profile.enable_desktop_notifications,
+    ))
 
     try:
         isnt_mit(user_profile.user.email)
@@ -426,21 +441,11 @@ def home(request):
 
     return render_to_response('zephyr/index.html',
                               {'user_profile': user_profile,
+                               'page_params' : page_params,
                                'email_hash'  : gravatar_hash(user_profile.user.email),
-                               'people'      : people,
-                               'streams'     : streams,
-                               'poll_timeout': settings.POLL_TIMEOUT,
-                               'debug'       : settings.DEBUG,
-                               'have_initial_messages':
-                                   js_bool(num_messages > 0),
-                               'desktop_notifications_enabled':
-                                   js_bool(user_profile.enable_desktop_notifications),
-                               'enter_sends':
-                                   js_bool(user_profile.enter_sends),
                                'show_debug':
                                    settings.DEBUG and ('show_debug' in request.GET),
-                               'show_invites': show_invites,
-                               'needs_tutorial': js_bool(needs_tutorial)
+                               'show_invites': show_invites
                                },
                               context_instance=RequestContext(request))