diff --git a/static/js/server_events.js b/static/js/server_events.js
index d63d3d266e..1589b419f2 100644
--- a/static/js/server_events.js
+++ b/static/js/server_events.js
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ exports.check_for_unsuspend = function () {
 };
 setInterval(exports.check_for_unsuspend, 5000);
 
-util.execute_early(function () {
+exports.initialize = function () {
     $(document).on('unsuspend', function () {
         // Immediately poll for new events on unsuspend
         blueslip.log("Restarting get_events due to unsuspend");
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ util.execute_early(function () {
         exports.restart_get_events({dont_block: true});
     });
     get_events();
-});
+};
 
 exports.cleanup_event_queue = function cleanup_event_queue() {
     // Submit a request to the server to cleanup our event queue
diff --git a/static/js/ui_init.js b/static/js/ui_init.js
index f89a354faa..c4a9cd75c8 100644
--- a/static/js/ui_init.js
+++ b/static/js/ui_init.js
@@ -243,6 +243,7 @@ $(function () {
 
     // initialize other stuff
     reload.initialize();
+    server_events.initialize();
     people.initialize();
     bot_data.initialize(); // Must happen after people.initialize()
     message_fetch.initialize();