diff --git a/src/state/models/feed-view.ts b/src/state/models/feed-view.ts
index e89a54194d..67a927a7ac 100644
--- a/src/state/models/feed-view.ts
+++ b/src/state/models/feed-view.ts
@@ -194,6 +194,9 @@ export class FeedModel {
    * Load for first render
    */
   async setup(isRefreshing = false) {
+    if (isRefreshing) {
+      this.isRefreshing = true // set optimistically for UI
+    }
     if (this._loadPromise) {
       return this._loadPromise
     }
diff --git a/src/state/models/notifications-view.ts b/src/state/models/notifications-view.ts
index 3a91eb3226..c328be62b3 100644
--- a/src/state/models/notifications-view.ts
+++ b/src/state/models/notifications-view.ts
@@ -160,6 +160,9 @@ export class NotificationsViewModel {
    * Load for first render
    */
   async setup(isRefreshing = false) {
+    if (isRefreshing) {
+      this.isRefreshing = true // set optimistically for UI
+    }
     if (this._loadPromise) {
       return this._loadPromise
     }