diff --git a/src/core/queries.c b/src/core/queries.c
index 21bb6db4..f4aae6e7 100644
--- a/src/core/queries.c
+++ b/src/core/queries.c
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ void query_init(QUERY_REC *query, int automatic)
         MODULE_DATA_INIT(query);
 	query->type = module_get_uniq_id_str("WINDOW ITEM TYPE", "QUERY");
         query->destroy = (void (*) (WI_ITEM_REC *)) query_destroy;
+	query->last_unread_msg = time(NULL);
+
 	if (query->server_tag != NULL) {
 		query->server = server_find_tag(query->server_tag);
 		if (query->server != NULL) {