diff --git a/background.html b/background.html
index 18a72e18..b7759385 100644
--- a/background.html
+++ b/background.html
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
   <script type="text/javascript" src="js/models/conversations.js"></script>
 
   <script type="text/javascript" src="js/chromium.js"></script>
+  <script type="text/javascript" src="js/inbox_controller.js"></script>
 
   <script type="text/javascript" src="js/bimap.js"></script>
   <script type="text/javascript" src="js/background.js"></script>
diff --git a/js/inbox_controller.js b/js/inbox_controller.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e28682e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/js/inbox_controller.js
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+/* vim: ts=4:sw=4:expandtab
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+;(function() {
+    'use strict';
+
+    /*
+     * Provides a persistent collection of conversations for
+     * the inbox view. Automatically updates when messages are received.
+     *
+     */
+
+    window.inbox = new Whisper.ConversationCollection([], {
+        comparator: function(model) {
+            return -model.active_at;
+        }
+    });
+
+    function fetch() {
+        window.inbox.fetch({
+            reset: true,
+            index: {
+                name: 'inbox', // 'inbox' index on active_at
+                order: 'desc'  // ORDER timestamp DESC
+            }
+            // TODO pagination/infinite scroll
+            // limit: 10, offset: page*10,
+        });
+    }
+
+    extension.on('message', fetch);
+    fetch();
+})();
diff --git a/js/models/conversations.js b/js/models/conversations.js
index 1fcf3398..d20ad5f8 100644
--- a/js/models/conversations.js
+++ b/js/models/conversations.js
@@ -229,17 +229,7 @@
                 only: number
             }
         });
-    },
-
-    fetchActive: function(options) {
-        return this.fetch(_.extend(options, {
-            index: {
-                name: 'inbox', // 'inbox' index on active_at
-                order: 'desc'  // ORDER timestamp DESC
-            }
-            // TODO pagination/infinite scroll
-            // limit: 10, offset: page*10,
-        }));
     }
+
   });
 })();
diff --git a/js/views/inbox_view.js b/js/views/inbox_view.js
index 08a163dc..0e5a496b 100644
--- a/js/views/inbox_view.js
+++ b/js/views/inbox_view.js
@@ -29,22 +29,11 @@
             this.newConversationView = new Whisper.NewConversationView();
             this.newConversationView.$el.hide().appendTo(this.$gutter);
 
-            this.conversations = new Whisper.ConversationCollection();
             this.inbox = new Whisper.ConversationListView({
                 el         : this.$contacts,
-                collection : this.conversations
-            });
+                collection : bg.inbox
+            }).render();
 
-            this.$el.addClass('loading');
-            this.conversations.fetchActive({reset: true}).then(function() {
-                this.inbox.resize();
-                this.$el.removeClass('loading');
-                window.conversations = this.conversations; // debug
-            }.bind(this));
-
-            extension.on('message', function() {
-                this.conversations.fetchActive({reset: true});
-            }.bind(this));
             window.addEventListener('resize', this.inbox.resize.bind(this.inbox));
         },
         events: {
diff --git a/js/views/list_view.js b/js/views/list_view.js
index 96cee045..fce35ab4 100644
--- a/js/views/list_view.js
+++ b/js/views/list_view.js
@@ -55,6 +55,11 @@ var Whisper = Whisper || {};
                 this.$el.css('height', 'auto');
                 this.$el.css('overflow-y', 'auto');
             }
+        },
+
+        render: function() {
+            this.addAll();
+            return this;
         }
     });
 })();