diff --git a/src/message_queue.c b/src/message_queue.c
index b890e84..3b34bed 100644
--- a/src/message_queue.c
+++ b/src/message_queue.c
@@ -69,7 +69,10 @@ static void cqueue_mark_read(ToxWindow *self, uint32_t id, uint8_t type)
     while (line) {
         if (line->id == id) {
             line->type = type == OUT_ACTION ? OUT_ACTION_READ : OUT_MSG_READ;
-            line->len -= 2;    /* removes " x" */
+
+            if (timed_out(line->timestamp, get_unix_time(), CQUEUE_TRY_SEND_INTERVAL))
+                line->len -= 2;    /* removes " x" */
+
             return;
         }