diff --git a/zerver/openapi/javascript_examples.js b/zerver/openapi/javascript_examples.js
index 182499a609..5db423b9e0 100644
--- a/zerver/openapi/javascript_examples.js
+++ b/zerver/openapi/javascript_examples.js
@@ -301,9 +301,9 @@ add_example(
 
 add_example("update_message_flags", "/messages/flags:post", 200, async (client, console) => {
     // Send 3 messages to run this example on
-    const message_ids = [...Array.from({length: 3})];
-    for (let i = 0; i < message_ids.length; i = i + 1) {
-        message_ids[i] = await send_test_message(client);
+    const message_ids = [];
+    for (let i = 0; i < 3; i += 1) {
+        message_ids.push(await send_test_message(client));
     }
 
     // {code_example|start}