diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/layout.html b/bookwyrm/templates/layout.html
index a8d06ee8d..1227e39c4 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/layout.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/layout.html
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 {% block body %}
 <nav class="navbar" aria-label="main navigation">
     <div class="container">
-        {% with request.user.unread_notification_count as notification_count %}
+        {% with notification_count=request.user.unread_notification_count has_unread_mentions=request.user.has_unread_mentions %}
         <div class="navbar-brand">
             <a class="navbar-item" href="/">
                 <img class="image logo" src="{% if site.logo_small %}{% get_media_prefix %}{{ site.logo_small }}{% else %}{% static "images/logo-small.png" %}{% endif %}" alt="{% blocktrans with site_name=site.name %}{{ site_name }} home page{% endblocktrans %}">
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
                 <i class="icon-dots-three-vertical" aria-hidden="true"></i>
 
                 <strong
-                    class="{% if not notification_count %}is-hidden {% elif request.user.has_unread_mentions %}is-danger {% else %}is-primary {% endif %} tag is-small px-1"
+                    class="{% if not notification_count %}is-hidden {% elif has_unread_mentions %}is-danger {% else %}is-primary {% endif %} tag is-small px-1"
                     data-poll-wrapper
                 >
                     <span class="is-sr-only">{% trans "Notifications" %}</span>
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
                             </span>
                         </span>
                         <span
-                            class="{% if not notification_count %}is-hidden {% elif request.user.has_unread_mentions %}is-danger {% endif %}tag is-medium transition-x"
+                            class="{% if not notification_count %}is-hidden {% elif has_unread_mentions %}is-danger {% endif %}tag is-medium transition-x"
                             data-poll-wrapper
                         >
                             <span data-poll="notifications">{{ notification_count }}</span>