diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/server_events.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/server_events.js
index 9e241bf6e6..dd90adf936 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/server_events.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/server_events.js
@@ -71,6 +71,9 @@ run_test('pointer_event', () => {
         this.furthest_read = value;
     };
     global.pointer.server_furthest_read = 0;
+    global.pointer.set_server_furthest_read = function (value) {
+        this.server_furthest_read = value;
+    };
     server_events._get_events_success([event]);
     assert.equal(global.pointer.furthest_read, event.pointer);
     assert.equal(global.pointer.server_furthest_read, event.pointer);
diff --git a/static/js/pointer.js b/static/js/pointer.js
index b95a34ea39..a72aa90bc9 100644
--- a/static/js/pointer.js
+++ b/static/js/pointer.js
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ exports.set_furthest_read = function (value) {
     exports.furthest_read = value;
 };
 exports.server_furthest_read = -1;
+exports.set_server_furthest_read = function (value) {
+    exports.server_furthest_read = value;
+};
 
 var pointer_update_in_flight = false;
 
diff --git a/static/js/server_events.js b/static/js/server_events.js
index 0b00b72797..f7b7ba7837 100644
--- a/static/js/server_events.js
+++ b/static/js/server_events.js
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ function get_events_success(events) {
     if (new_pointer !== undefined
         && new_pointer > pointer.furthest_read) {
         pointer.set_furthest_read(new_pointer);
-        pointer.server_furthest_read = new_pointer;
+        pointer.set_server_furthest_read(new_pointer);
         home_msg_list.select_id(new_pointer, {then_scroll: true, use_closest: true});
     }