diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/updates.py b/bookwyrm/views/updates.py
index b095c965..13ad8513 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/updates.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/updates.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ def get_notification_count(request):
 
 
 @login_required
-def get_unread_status_count(request, stream):
+def get_unread_status_count(request, stream='home'):
     """ any unread statuses for this feed? """
     stream = activitystreams.streams.get(stream)
     if not stream: