diff --git a/src/Server.ts b/src/Server.ts
index 2999d20..0535ee1 100644
--- a/src/Server.ts
+++ b/src/Server.ts
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ export class Server {
         this.ourMatrixUser = this.getOrCreateMatrixUser(this.mxid);
 		this.apiCall.get("/account/whoami").then(r => {
             this.doLog("Authentication successful, starting initial sync");
+            this.getDirectMessages();
 			this.doSync();
 		}).catch(e => {
 			console.log(e);
@@ -111,6 +112,7 @@ export class Server {
         if (maybeChannel)
             return maybeChannel;
 
+        this.getDirectMessages();
         const newChannel = new Channel(roomId, this);
         this.syncLocks.add(newChannel);
         this.roomIdToChannel.set(roomId, newChannel);