diff --git a/app/javascript/mastodon/features/direct_timeline/components/conversations_list.jsx b/app/javascript/mastodon/features/direct_timeline/components/conversations_list.jsx
index 27e9a593f0..04c404e1d8 100644
--- a/app/javascript/mastodon/features/direct_timeline/components/conversations_list.jsx
+++ b/app/javascript/mastodon/features/direct_timeline/components/conversations_list.jsx
@@ -55,10 +55,10 @@ export default class ConversationsList extends ImmutablePureComponent {
   }, 300, { leading: true });
 
   render () {
-    const { conversations, onLoadMore, ...other } = this.props;
+    const { conversations, isLoading, onLoadMore, ...other } = this.props;
 
     return (
-      <ScrollableList {...other} onLoadMore={onLoadMore && this.handleLoadOlder} ref={this.setRef}>
+      <ScrollableList {...other} isLoading={isLoading} showLoading={isLoading && conversations.isEmpty()} onLoadMore={onLoadMore && this.handleLoadOlder} ref={this.setRef}>
         {conversations.map(item => (
           <ConversationContainer
             key={item.get('id')}
diff --git a/app/javascript/mastodon/features/direct_timeline/index.jsx b/app/javascript/mastodon/features/direct_timeline/index.jsx
index 5d4a7c49a5..fc45ea69a3 100644
--- a/app/javascript/mastodon/features/direct_timeline/index.jsx
+++ b/app/javascript/mastodon/features/direct_timeline/index.jsx
@@ -89,8 +89,10 @@ class DirectTimeline extends React.PureComponent {
           trackScroll={!pinned}
           scrollKey={`direct_timeline-${columnId}`}
           timelineId='direct'
+          bindToDocument={!multiColumn}
           onLoadMore={this.handleLoadMore}
           prepend={<div className='follow_requests-unlocked_explanation'><span><FormattedMessage id='compose_form.encryption_warning' defaultMessage='Posts on Mastodon are not end-to-end encrypted. Do not share any dangerous information over Mastodon.' /> <a href='/terms' target='_blank'><FormattedMessage id='compose_form.direct_message_warning_learn_more' defaultMessage='Learn more' /></a></span></div>}
+          alwaysPrepend
           emptyMessage={<FormattedMessage id='empty_column.direct' defaultMessage="You don't have any private mentions yet. When you send or receive one, it will show up here." />}
         />
 
diff --git a/app/javascript/styles/mastodon/components.scss b/app/javascript/styles/mastodon/components.scss
index c24d61f89a..0fee136cfb 100644
--- a/app/javascript/styles/mastodon/components.scss
+++ b/app/javascript/styles/mastodon/components.scss
@@ -4339,6 +4339,7 @@ a.status-card.compact:hover {
 .follow_requests-unlocked_explanation {
   background: darken($ui-base-color, 4%);
   contain: initial;
+  flex-grow: 0;
 }
 
 .error-column {