diff --git a/src/state/models/feed-view.ts b/src/state/models/feed-view.ts
index 33db426a45..f5dce9e05e 100644
--- a/src/state/models/feed-view.ts
+++ b/src/state/models/feed-view.ts
@@ -381,6 +381,9 @@ export class FeedModel {
   }
 
   private async _update() {
+    if (!this.feed.length) {
+      return
+    }
     this._xLoading()
     let numToFetch = this.feed.length
     let cursor = undefined
diff --git a/src/state/models/notifications-view.ts b/src/state/models/notifications-view.ts
index e81f31a254..f820c71b7c 100644
--- a/src/state/models/notifications-view.ts
+++ b/src/state/models/notifications-view.ts
@@ -317,6 +317,9 @@ export class NotificationsViewModel {
   }
 
   private async _update() {
+    if (!this.notifications.length) {
+      return
+    }
     this._xLoading()
     let numToFetch = this.notifications.length
     let cursor = undefined