diff --git a/web/src/recent_topics_ui.js b/web/src/recent_topics_ui.js
index 339abfb622..5424a8a1c6 100644
--- a/web/src/recent_topics_ui.js
+++ b/web/src/recent_topics_ui.js
@@ -433,9 +433,8 @@ function format_conversation(conversation_data) {
             const user_id = Number.parseInt(last_msg.to_user_ids, 10);
             const user = people.get_by_user_id(user_id);
             if (user.is_bot) {
-                // Bots do not have status emoji, and are modeled as
-                // always present.
-                context.user_circle_class = "user_circle_green";
+                // We display the bot icon rather than a user circle for bots.
+                context.is_bot = true;
             } else {
                 context.user_circle_class = buddy_data.get_user_circle_class(user_id);
             }
diff --git a/web/styles/recent_topics.css b/web/styles/recent_topics.css
index 1dbf127548..e278450755 100644
--- a/web/styles/recent_topics.css
+++ b/web/styles/recent_topics.css
@@ -408,9 +408,9 @@
                 width: 14px;
                 height: 14px;
 
-                .fa-group {
+                .fa-group,
+                .zulip-icon.zulip-icon-bot {
                     font-size: 0.8rem;
-                    /* color: hsl(105, 2%, 50%); */
                     opacity: 0.6;
                 }
 
diff --git a/web/templates/recent_topic_row.hbs b/web/templates/recent_topic_row.hbs
index 5f63b5a1b9..1bd5dd4aab 100644
--- a/web/templates/recent_topic_row.hbs
+++ b/web/templates/recent_topic_row.hbs
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
                 <span class="pm_status_icon {{#unless is_group}}show-tooltip{{/unless}}" data-tippy-placement="top" data-user-ids-string="{{user_ids_string}}">
                     {{#if is_group}}
                     <span class="fa fa-group"></span>
+                    {{else if is_bot}}
+                    <span class="zulip-icon zulip-icon-bot" aria-hidden="true"></span>
                     {{else}}
                     <span class="{{user_circle_class}} user_circle"></span>
                     {{/if}}