diff --git a/ts/background.ts b/ts/background.ts
index edf90b7f03c9..f5fadea707b0 100644
--- a/ts/background.ts
+++ b/ts/background.ts
@@ -1891,6 +1891,10 @@ export async function startApp(): Promise<void> {
     }
   }
 
+  // When true - we are running the very first storage and contact sync after
+  // linking.
+  let isInitialSync = false;
+
   let connectCount = 0;
   let connecting = false;
   async function connect(firstRun?: boolean) {
@@ -1904,6 +1908,9 @@ export async function startApp(): Promise<void> {
     try {
       connecting = true;
 
+      // Reset the flag and update it below if needed
+      isInitialSync = false;
+
       log.info('connect', { firstRun, connectCount });
 
       if (reconnectTimer) {
@@ -2145,6 +2152,7 @@ export async function startApp(): Promise<void> {
         const contactSyncComplete = waitForEvent('contactSync:complete');
 
         log.info('firstRun: requesting initial sync');
+        isInitialSync = true;
 
         // Request configuration, block, GV1 sync messages, contacts
         // (only avatars and inboxPosition),and Storage Service sync.
@@ -2176,6 +2184,9 @@ export async function startApp(): Promise<void> {
           );
         }
 
+        log.info('firstRun: initial sync complete');
+        isInitialSync = false;
+
         // Switch to inbox view even if contact sync is still running
         if (
           window.reduxStore.getState().app.appView === AppViewType.Installer
@@ -2641,6 +2652,7 @@ export async function startApp(): Promise<void> {
           undefined,
           {
             fromSync: true,
+            isInitialSync,
           }
         );
       }
diff --git a/ts/models/conversations.ts b/ts/models/conversations.ts
index f6422d409d7d..6fcfe0941b2c 100644
--- a/ts/models/conversations.ts
+++ b/ts/models/conversations.ts
@@ -4460,7 +4460,15 @@ export class ConversationModel extends window.Backbone
     providedExpireTimer: number | undefined,
     providedSource?: unknown,
     initiatingMessage?: MessageModel,
-    options: { fromSync?: unknown; fromGroupUpdate?: unknown } = {}
+    {
+      fromSync = false,
+      isInitialSync = false,
+      fromGroupUpdate = false,
+    }: {
+      fromSync?: boolean;
+      isInitialSync?: boolean;
+      fromGroupUpdate?: boolean;
+    } = {}
   ): Promise<boolean | null | MessageModel | void> {
     const isSetByOther = providedSource || initiatingMessage;
 
@@ -4490,8 +4498,6 @@ export class ConversationModel extends window.Backbone
       return false;
     }
 
-    window._.defaults(options, { fromSync: false, fromGroupUpdate: false });
-
     if (!expireTimer) {
       expireTimer = undefined;
     }
@@ -4548,14 +4554,14 @@ export class ConversationModel extends window.Backbone
       expirationTimerUpdate: {
         expireTimer,
         source,
-        fromSync: options.fromSync,
-        fromGroupUpdate: options.fromGroupUpdate,
+        fromSync,
+        fromGroupUpdate,
       },
       flags: Proto.DataMessage.Flags.EXPIRATION_TIMER_UPDATE,
-      readStatus: ReadStatus.Unread,
+      readStatus: isInitialSync ? ReadStatus.Read : ReadStatus.Unread,
       received_at_ms: receivedAtMS,
       received_at: receivedAt,
-      seenStatus: SeenStatus.Unseen,
+      seenStatus: isInitialSync ? SeenStatus.Seen : SeenStatus.Unseen,
       sent_at: sentAt,
       type: 'timer-notification',
       // TODO: DESKTOP-722