diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Online/TestSceneChannelControlItem.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Online/TestSceneChannelControlItem.cs
index 2e5c2cc2cb..9af3b7613b 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Online/TestSceneChannelControlItem.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Online/TestSceneChannelControlItem.cs
@@ -117,13 +117,13 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual.Online
             AddStep("Unread Selected", () =>
             {
                 if (selected.Value != null)
-                    channelMap[selected.Value].HasUnread = true;
+                    channelMap[selected.Value].Unread.Value = true;
             });
 
             AddStep("Read Selected", () =>
             {
                 if (selected.Value != null)
-                    channelMap[selected.Value].HasUnread = false;
+                    channelMap[selected.Value].Unread.Value = false;
             });
 
             AddStep("Add Mention Selected", () =>
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/ChannelControl/ControlItem.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/ChannelControl/ControlItem.cs
index d88a99c484..4b1bbaec82 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/ChannelControl/ControlItem.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/ChannelControl/ControlItem.cs
@@ -23,15 +23,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Chat.ChannelControl
         [Cached]
         public readonly BindableInt Mentions = new BindableInt();
 
-        public bool HasUnread
-        {
-            get => text?.HasUnread ?? false;
-            set
-            {
-                if (text != null)
-                    text.HasUnread = value;
-            }
-        }
+        [Cached]
+        public readonly BindableBool Unread = new BindableBool();
 
         private readonly Channel channel;
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/ChannelControl/ControlItemText.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/ChannelControl/ControlItemText.cs
index 0c91903f6b..3573c72846 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/ChannelControl/ControlItemText.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/Chat/ChannelControl/ControlItemText.cs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #nullable enable
 
 using osu.Framework.Allocation;
+using osu.Framework.Bindables;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Containers;
 using osu.Game.Graphics;
@@ -14,25 +15,13 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Chat.ChannelControl
 {
     public class ControlItemText : Container
     {
-        private bool hasUnread;
-
-        public bool HasUnread
-        {
-            get => hasUnread;
-            set
-            {
-                if (hasUnread == value)
-                    return;
-
-                hasUnread = value;
-                updateText();
-            }
-        }
-
         private readonly Channel channel;
 
         private OsuSpriteText? text;
 
+        [Resolved]
+        private BindableBool unread { get; set; } = null!;
+
         [Resolved]
         private OverlayColourProvider colourProvider { get; set; } = null!;
 
@@ -58,15 +47,17 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Chat.ChannelControl
             };
         }
 
-        private void updateText()
+        protected override void LoadComplete()
         {
-            if (!IsLoaded)
-                return;
+            base.LoadComplete();
 
-            if (HasUnread)
-                text!.Colour = colourProvider.Content1;
-            else
-                text!.Colour = colourProvider.Light3;
+            unread.BindValueChanged(change =>
+            {
+                if (change.NewValue)
+                    text!.Colour = colourProvider.Content1;
+                else
+                    text!.Colour = colourProvider.Light3;
+            }, true);
         }
     }
 }