diff --git a/meshchat.py b/meshchat.py
index e39be59..47853c2 100644
--- a/meshchat.py
+++ b/meshchat.py
@@ -1051,6 +1051,7 @@ class ReticulumMeshChat:
                     "name": self.get_lxmf_conversation_name(other_user_hash),
                     "destination_hash": other_user_hash,
                     "is_unread": self.is_lxmf_conversation_unread(other_user_hash),
+                    "failed_messages_count": self.lxmf_conversation_failed_messages_count(other_user_hash),
                     # we say the conversation was updated when the latest message was created
                     # otherwise this will go crazy when sending a message, as the updated_at on the latest message changes very frequently
                     "updated_at": created_at,
@@ -1809,6 +1810,14 @@ class ReticulumMeshChat:
         conversation_latest_message_at = datetime.strptime(latest_incoming_lxmf_message.created_at, "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S.%f%z")
         return conversation_last_read_at < conversation_latest_message_at
 
+    # returns number of messages that failed to send in a conversation
+    def lxmf_conversation_failed_messages_count(self, destination_hash: str):
+        return (database.LxmfMessage.select()
+                .where(database.LxmfMessage.state == "failed")
+                .where(database.LxmfMessage.destination_hash == destination_hash)
+                .count())
+
+
 # class to manage config stored in database
 class Config:
 
diff --git a/public/index.html b/public/index.html
index d70df0a..3bb3639 100644
--- a/public/index.html
+++ b/public/index.html
@@ -313,12 +313,15 @@
                                 </div>
                             </div>
                             <div class="mr-auto">
-                                <div class="text-gray-900" :class="{ 'font-semibold': conversation.is_unread }">{{ conversation.name }}</div>
+                                <div class="text-gray-900" :class="{ 'font-semibold': conversation.is_unread || conversation.failed_messages_count > 0 }">{{ conversation.name }}</div>
                                 <div class="text-gray-500 text-sm">{{ formatTimeAgo(conversation.updated_at) }}</div>
                             </div>
                             <div v-if="conversation.is_unread" class="my-auto ml-2 mr-2">
                                 <div class="bg-blue-500 rounded-full p-1"></div>
                             </div>
+                            <div v-else-if="conversation.failed_messages_count" class="my-auto ml-2 mr-2">
+                                <div class="bg-red-500 rounded-full p-1"></div>
+                            </div>
                         </div>
                     </div>
                     <div v-else class="mx-auto my-auto text-center leading-5">