diff --git a/database.go b/database.go
index e71bed4..946d2db 100644
--- a/database.go
+++ b/database.go
@@ -596,12 +596,53 @@ func savechonk(ch *Chonk) error {
 			}
 		}
 		err = tx.Commit()
+		chatplusone(ch.UserID)
 	} else {
 		tx.Rollback()
 	}
 	return err
 }
 
+func chatplusone(userid int64) {
+	var user *WhatAbout
+	ok := somenumberedusers.Get(userid, &user)
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	options := user.Options
+	options.Chats += 1
+	j, err := jsonify(options)
+	if err == nil {
+		db := opendatabase()
+		_, err = db.Exec("update users set options = ? where username = ?", j, user.Name)
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("error plussing chat: %s", err)
+	}
+	somenamedusers.Clear(user.Name)
+	somenumberedusers.Clear(user.ID)
+}
+
+func chatnewnone(userid int64) {
+	var user *WhatAbout
+	ok := somenumberedusers.Get(userid, &user)
+	if !ok || user.Options.Chats == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+	options := user.Options
+	options.Chats = 0
+	j, err := jsonify(options)
+	if err == nil {
+		db := opendatabase()
+		_, err = db.Exec("update users set options = ? where username = ?", j, user.Name)
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("error noneing chat: %s", err)
+	}
+	somenamedusers.Clear(user.Name)
+	somenumberedusers.Clear(user.ID)
+}
+
 func loadchatter(userid int64) []*Chatter {
 	duedt := time.Now().Add(-3 * 24 * time.Hour).UTC().Format(dbtimeformat)
 	rows, err := stmtLoadChonks.Query(userid, duedt)
diff --git a/docs/changelog.txt b/docs/changelog.txt
index 8687195..e17e835 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.txt
+++ b/docs/changelog.txt
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ changelog
 
 === next
 
++ Unread count for chatter.
+
 + More flexible hashtag characters.
 
 + Fix the memetizer to work in more environments.
diff --git a/honk.go b/honk.go
index a2304c8..e5c6cb6 100644
--- a/honk.go
+++ b/honk.go
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ type UserOptions struct {
 	MapLink    string `json:",omitempty"`
 	Reaction   string `json:",omitempty"`
 	MentionAll bool
+	Chats      int
 }
 
 type KeyInfo struct {
diff --git a/views/header.html b/views/header.html
index d6e8c18..4a85753 100644
--- a/views/header.html
+++ b/views/header.html
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 <header>
 {{ if .UserInfo }}
 <details id="topmenu">
-<summary>menu<span> {{ .UserInfo.Username }}</span></summary>
+<summary>menu<span> {{ .UserInfo.Name }}</span></summary>
 <ul>
 <li><a id="homelink" href="/">home</a>
 <li><a id="atmelink" href="/atme">@me</a>
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 {{ end }}
 </ul>
 </details>
-<li><a href="/chatter">chatter</a>
+<li><a href="/chatter">chatter{{ if .UserInfo.Options.Chats }} ({{ .UserInfo.Options.Chats }}){{ end }}</a>
 <li><a href="/o">tags</a>
 <li><a href="/events">events</a>
 <li><a id="longagolink" href="/longago">long ago</a>
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 <details>
 <summary>more stuff</summary>
 <ul>
-<li><a href="/{{ .UserSep }}/{{ .UserInfo.Username }}">my honks</a>
+<li><a href="/{{ .UserSep }}/{{ .UserInfo.Name }}">my honks</a>
 <li><a href="/about">about</a>
 <li><a href="/front">front</a>
 <li><a href="/funzone">funzone</a>
diff --git a/web.go b/web.go
index 107f929..72579b1 100644
--- a/web.go
+++ b/web.go
@@ -75,17 +75,16 @@ func getmaplink(u *login.UserInfo) string {
 }
 
 func getInfo(r *http.Request) map[string]interface{} {
-	u := login.GetUserInfo(r)
 	templinfo := make(map[string]interface{})
 	templinfo["StyleParam"] = getassetparam(viewDir + "/views/style.css")
 	templinfo["LocalStyleParam"] = getassetparam(dataDir + "/views/local.css")
 	templinfo["JSParam"] = getassetparam(viewDir + "/views/honkpage.js")
-	templinfo["UserStyle"] = getuserstyle(u)
 	templinfo["ServerName"] = serverName
 	templinfo["IconName"] = iconName
-	templinfo["UserInfo"] = u
 	templinfo["UserSep"] = userSep
-	if u != nil {
+	if u := login.GetUserInfo(r); u != nil {
+		templinfo["UserInfo"], _ = butwhatabout(u.Username)
+		templinfo["UserStyle"] = getuserstyle(u)
 		var combos []string
 		combocache.Get(u.UserID, &combos)
 		templinfo["Combos"] = combos
@@ -1763,6 +1762,7 @@ func showhonkers(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 
 func showchatter(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	u := login.GetUserInfo(r)
+	chatnewnone(u.UserID)
 	chatter := loadchatter(u.UserID)
 	for _, chat := range chatter {
 		for _, ch := range chat.Chonks {