diff --git a/public/javascripts/dialogs/recent_notes.js b/public/javascripts/dialogs/recent_notes.js
index 372288129..014f070bc 100644
--- a/public/javascripts/dialogs/recent_notes.js
+++ b/public/javascripts/dialogs/recent_notes.js
@@ -11,9 +11,11 @@ const recentNotes = (function() {
     // list of recent note paths
     let list = [];
 
-    server.get('recent-notes').then(result => {
+    async function reload() {
+        const result = await server.get('recent-notes');
+
         list = result.map(r => r.note_path);
-    });
+    }
 
     function addRecentNote(noteTreeId, notePath) {
         setTimeout(async () => {
@@ -127,6 +129,8 @@ const recentNotes = (function() {
         e.preventDefault();
     });
 
+    reload();
+
     $(document).bind('keydown', 'alt+q', showDialog);
 
     selectBoxEl.dblclick(e => {
@@ -140,6 +144,7 @@ const recentNotes = (function() {
 
     return {
         showDialog,
-        addRecentNote
+        addRecentNote,
+        reload
     };
 })();
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/public/javascripts/messaging.js b/public/javascripts/messaging.js
index 3e8948174..af3888e16 100644
--- a/public/javascripts/messaging.js
+++ b/public/javascripts/messaging.js
@@ -33,6 +33,12 @@ const messaging = (function() {
                 noteEditor.reload();
             }
 
+            if (data.recent_notes) {
+                console.log("Reloading recent notes because of background changes");
+
+                recentNotes.reload();
+            }
+
             const changesToPushCountEl = $("#changesToPushCount");
             changesToPushCountEl.html(message.changesToPushCount);
         }