diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/fetch_status.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/fetch_status.js
index a068434a6f..ad3403a1c1 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/fetch_status.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/fetch_status.js
@@ -38,8 +38,6 @@ function blocked_older() {
     blocked_newer();
     blocked_older();
 
-    assert(fetch_status.can_append());
-
     reset();
 
     fetch_status.start_initial_narrow();
diff --git a/static/js/fetch_status.js b/static/js/fetch_status.js
index 92627ce890..7417efd134 100644
--- a/static/js/fetch_status.js
+++ b/static/js/fetch_status.js
@@ -45,10 +45,6 @@ var FetchStatus = function () {
         return !loading_newer && !found_newest;
     };
 
-    self.can_append = function () {
-        return found_newest;
-    };
-
     return self;
 
 };
diff --git a/static/js/message_list.js b/static/js/message_list.js
index d1d78eee9c..4b73888cbb 100644
--- a/static/js/message_list.js
+++ b/static/js/message_list.js
@@ -42,11 +42,6 @@ exports.MessageList.prototype = {
         var bottom_messages = [];
         var interior_messages = [];
 
-        if (opts.messages_are_new && !self.fetch_status.can_append()) {
-            blueslip.log('Ignoring new message(s) for list that is behind on fetches');
-            return;
-        }
-
         // If we're initially populating the list, save the messages in
         // bottom_messages regardless
         if (self.selected_id() === -1 && self.empty()) {