diff --git a/meshchat.py b/meshchat.py
index 8efdc58..39f20cc 100644
--- a/meshchat.py
+++ b/meshchat.py
@@ -1852,15 +1852,11 @@ class ReticulumMeshChat:
     # returns true if the conversation has messages newer than the last read at timestamp
     def is_lxmf_conversation_unread(self, destination_hash):
 
-        # get lxmf.delivery announce from database for the provided destination hash
+        # get lxmf conversation read state from database for the provided destination hash
         lxmf_conversation_read_state = (database.LxmfConversationReadState.select()
                          .where(database.LxmfConversationReadState.destination_hash == destination_hash)
                          .get_or_none())
 
-        # user has never read this conversation, so it's unread
-        if lxmf_conversation_read_state is None:
-            return True
-
         # get most recent incoming message from destination hash
         latest_incoming_lxmf_message = (database.LxmfMessage.select()
                         .where(database.LxmfMessage.source_hash == destination_hash)
@@ -1871,6 +1867,10 @@ class ReticulumMeshChat:
         if latest_incoming_lxmf_message is None:
             return False
 
+        # user has never read this conversation, so it's unread
+        if lxmf_conversation_read_state is None:
+            return True
+
         # conversation is unread if last read at is before the latest incoming message creation date
         conversation_last_read_at = datetime.strptime(lxmf_conversation_read_state.last_read_at, "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S.%f%z")
         conversation_latest_message_at = datetime.strptime(latest_incoming_lxmf_message.created_at, "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S.%f%z")