diff --git a/src/components/navigation/left/ServerListSidebar.tsx b/src/components/navigation/left/ServerListSidebar.tsx
index a4fef41d..dee73e72 100644
--- a/src/components/navigation/left/ServerListSidebar.tsx
+++ b/src/components/navigation/left/ServerListSidebar.tsx
@@ -244,10 +244,11 @@ export const ServerListSidebar = observer(({ unreads, lastOpened }: Props) => {
             homeUnread = "unread";
             alertCount += x.alertCount ?? 0;
         }
+
         if (
             x.channel?.channel_type === "DirectMessage" &&
-            x.unread &&
-            x.unread.length > 0
+            x.channel.active &&
+            x.unread
         )
             alertCount++;
     }
diff --git a/src/context/intermediate/modals/ExternalLinkPrompt.tsx b/src/context/intermediate/modals/ExternalLinkPrompt.tsx
index 04fecfcf..b0f5e6df 100644
--- a/src/context/intermediate/modals/ExternalLinkPrompt.tsx
+++ b/src/context/intermediate/modals/ExternalLinkPrompt.tsx
@@ -15,7 +15,10 @@ export function ExternalLinkModal({ onClose, link }: Props) {
             title={<Text id={"app.special.modals.external_links.title"} />}
             actions={[
                 {
-                    onClick: ()=>{window.open(link, "_blank");},
+                    onClick: () => {
+                        window.open(link, "_blank");
+                        onClose();
+                    },
                     confirmation: true,
                     contrast: true,
                     accent: true,