diff --git a/static/js/message_list_view.js b/static/js/message_list_view.js
index c0efd396fd..91a132acc9 100644
--- a/static/js/message_list_view.js
+++ b/static/js/message_list_view.js
@@ -466,7 +466,6 @@ export class MessageListView {
             this.list !== message_lists.home &&
             last_msg_container.msg.historical !== first_msg_container.msg.historical
         ) {
-            second_group.bookend_top = true;
             this.add_subscription_marker(second_group, last_msg_container, first_msg_container);
         }
         return false;
diff --git a/static/templates/message_group.hbs b/static/templates/message_group.hbs
index f97f2a7cc6..f5a52d2a09 100644
--- a/static/templates/message_group.hbs
+++ b/static/templates/message_group.hbs
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 {{#each message_groups}}
     {{#with this}}
-
         {{#if show_group_date_divider}}
         <div class="date_row no-select">{{{group_date_divider_html}}}</div>
         {{/if}}
@@ -19,10 +18,5 @@
                 {{/with}}
             {{/each}}
         </div>
-
-        {{#if bookend_bottom}}
-        {{> bookend}}
-        {{/if}}
-
     {{/with}}
 {{/each}}