diff --git a/background.html b/background.html
index 3e224f7f4c..c21d54b032 100644
--- a/background.html
+++ b/background.html
@@ -2,6 +2,26 @@
 <html>
 <head>
   <meta charset='utf-8'>
+  <script type='text/x-tmpl-mustache' id='app-loading-screen'>
+    <div class='content'>
+      <img src='/images/icon_128.png'>
+      <div class='container'>
+        <span class='dot'></span>
+        <span class='dot'></span>
+        <span class='dot'></span>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  </script>
+  <script type='text/x-tmpl-mustache' id='conversation-loading-screen'>
+    <div class='content'>
+      <img src='/images/icon_128.png'>
+      <div class='container'>
+        <span class='dot'></span>
+        <span class='dot'></span>
+        <span class='dot'></span>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  </script>
   <script type='text/x-tmpl-mustache' id='two-column'>
     <div class='gutter'>
         <div class='network-status-container'></div>
diff --git a/js/background.js b/js/background.js
index 3dec89d323..41e025f58b 100644
--- a/js/background.js
+++ b/js/background.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 
     // Close and reopen existing windows
     var open = false;
+    var initialLoadComplete = false;
     extension.windows.getAll().forEach(function(appWindow) {
         open = true;
         appWindow.close();
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@
         messageReceiver.addEventListener('read', onReadReceipt);
         messageReceiver.addEventListener('verified', onVerified);
         messageReceiver.addEventListener('error', onError);
-
+        messageReceiver.addEventListener('empty', onEmpty);
 
         window.textsecure.messaging = new textsecure.MessageSender(
             SERVER_URL, SERVER_PORTS, USERNAME, PASSWORD
@@ -145,6 +146,19 @@
         }
     }
 
+    function onEmpty() {
+        initialLoadComplete = true;
+
+        var interval = setInterval(function() {
+            var view = window.owsDesktopApp.inboxView;
+            if (view) {
+                clearInterval(interval);
+                interval = null;
+                view.onEmpty();
+            }
+        }, 500);
+    }
+
     function onContactReceived(ev) {
         var details = ev.contactDetails;
 
@@ -196,14 +210,16 @@
         var data = ev.data;
         var message = initIncomingMessage(data);
 
-        isMessageDuplicate(message).then(function(isDuplicate) {
+        return isMessageDuplicate(message).then(function(isDuplicate) {
             if (isDuplicate) {
                 console.log('Received duplicate message', message.idForLogging());
                 ev.confirm();
                 return;
             }
 
-            message.handleDataMessage(data.message, ev.confirm);
+            return message.handleDataMessage(data.message, ev.confirm, {
+                initialLoadComplete: initialLoadComplete
+            });
         });
     }
 
@@ -222,14 +238,16 @@
             expirationStartTimestamp: data.expirationStartTimestamp,
         });
 
-        isMessageDuplicate(message).then(function(isDuplicate) {
+        return isMessageDuplicate(message).then(function(isDuplicate) {
             if (isDuplicate) {
                 console.log('Received duplicate message', message.idForLogging());
                 ev.confirm();
                 return;
             }
 
-            message.handleDataMessage(data.message, ev.confirm);
+            return message.handleDataMessage(data.message, ev.confirm, {
+                initialLoadComplete: initialLoadComplete
+            });
         });
     }
 
@@ -312,9 +330,9 @@
             var envelope = ev.proto;
             var message = initIncomingMessage(envelope.source, envelope.timestamp.toNumber());
 
-            message.saveErrors(e).then(function() {
+            return message.saveErrors(e).then(function() {
                 var id = message.get('conversationId');
-                ConversationController.findOrCreateById(id, 'private').then(function(conversation) {
+                return ConversationController.findOrCreateById(id, 'private').then(function(conversation) {
                     conversation.set({
                         active_at: Date.now(),
                         unreadCount: conversation.get('unreadCount') + 1
@@ -327,10 +345,11 @@
                     }
                     conversation.save();
                     conversation.trigger('newmessage', message);
-                    conversation.notify(message);
+                    if (initialLoadComplete) {
+                        conversation.notify(message);
+                    }
                 });
             });
-            return;
         }
 
         throw e;
@@ -341,11 +360,13 @@
         var timestamp = ev.read.timestamp;
         var sender    = ev.read.sender;
         console.log('read receipt', sender, timestamp);
+
         var receipt = Whisper.ReadReceipts.add({
             sender    : sender,
             timestamp : timestamp,
             read_at   : read_at
         });
+
         receipt.on('remove', ev.confirm);
     }
 
@@ -411,12 +432,12 @@
             timestamp: timestamp,
             source: pushMessage.source
         });
+
         receipt.on('remove', ev.confirm);
     }
 
     window.owsDesktopApp = {
         getAppView: function(destWindow) {
-
             var self = this;
 
             return ConversationController.updateInbox().then(function() {
diff --git a/js/libtextsecure.js b/js/libtextsecure.js
index 41d77099c9..6169f219a6 100644
--- a/js/libtextsecure.js
+++ b/js/libtextsecure.js
@@ -37484,13 +37484,16 @@ window.textsecure.utils = function() {
                 this.listeners = {};
             }
             var listeners = this.listeners[ev.type];
+            var results = [];
             if (typeof listeners === 'object') {
-                for (var i=0; i < listeners.length; ++i) {
-                    if (typeof listeners[i] === 'function') {
-                        listeners[i].call(null, ev);
+                for (var i = 0, max = listeners.length; i < max; i += 1) {
+                    var listener = listeners[i];
+                    if (typeof listener === 'function') {
+                        results.push(listener.call(null, ev));
                     }
                 }
             }
+            return results;
         },
         addEventListener: function(eventName, callback) {
             if (typeof eventName !== 'string') {
@@ -38284,22 +38287,25 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
     onerror: function(error) {
         console.log('websocket error');
     },
+    dispatchAndWait: function(event) {
+        return Promise.all(this.dispatchEvent(event));
+    },
     onclose: function(ev) {
         console.log('websocket closed', ev.code, ev.reason || '');
         if (ev.code === 3000) {
             return;
         }
-        var eventTarget = this;
         // possible 403 or network issue. Make an request to confirm
-        this.server.getDevices(this.number).
-            then(this.connect.bind(this)). // No HTTP error? Reconnect
-            catch(function(e) {
+        this.server.getDevices(this.number)
+            .then(this.connect.bind(this)) // No HTTP error? Reconnect
+            .catch(function(e) {
                 var ev = new Event('error');
                 ev.error = e;
-                eventTarget.dispatchEvent(ev);
-            });
+                this.dispatchAndWait(ev);
+            }.bind(this));
     },
     handleRequest: function(request) {
+        this.incoming = this.incoming || [];
         // We do the message decryption here, instead of in the ordered pending queue,
         // to avoid exposing the time it took us to process messages through the time-to-ack.
 
@@ -38307,10 +38313,14 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
         if (request.path !== '/api/v1/message') {
             console.log('got request', request.verb, request.path);
             request.respond(200, 'OK');
+
+            if (request.verb === 'PUT' && request.path === '/api/v1/queue/empty') {
+                this.onEmpty();
+            }
             return;
         }
 
-        textsecure.crypto.decryptWebsocketMessage(request.body, this.signalingKey).then(function(plaintext) {
+        this.incoming.push(textsecure.crypto.decryptWebsocketMessage(request.body, this.signalingKey).then(function(plaintext) {
             var envelope = textsecure.protobuf.Envelope.decode(plaintext);
             // After this point, decoding errors are not the server's
             //   fault, and we should handle them gracefully and tell the
@@ -38320,7 +38330,7 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
                 return request.respond(200, 'OK');
             }
 
-            this.addToCache(envelope, plaintext).then(function() {
+            return this.addToCache(envelope, plaintext).then(function() {
                 request.respond(200, 'OK');
                 this.queueEnvelope(envelope);
             }.bind(this), function(error) {
@@ -38334,8 +38344,23 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
             console.log("Error handling incoming message:", e && e.stack ? e.stack : e);
             var ev = new Event('error');
             ev.error = e;
-            this.dispatchEvent(ev);
-        }.bind(this));
+            return this.dispatchAndWait(ev);
+        }.bind(this)));
+    },
+    onEmpty: function() {
+        var incoming = this.incoming;
+        this.incoming = [];
+
+        var dispatchEmpty = function() {
+            var ev = new Event('empty');
+            return this.dispatchAndWait(ev);
+        }.bind(this);
+
+        var scheduleDispatch = function() {
+            this.pending = this.pending.then(dispatchEmpty, dispatchEmpty);
+        }.bind(this);
+
+        Promise.all(incoming).then(scheduleDispatch, scheduleDispatch);
     },
     queueAllCached: function() {
         this.getAllFromCache().then(function(items) {
@@ -38484,12 +38509,11 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
         }
     },
     onDeliveryReceipt: function (envelope) {
-        return new Promise(function(resolve) {
+        return new Promise(function(resolve, reject) {
             var ev = new Event('receipt');
             ev.confirm = this.removeFromCache.bind(this, envelope);
             ev.proto = envelope;
-            this.dispatchEvent(ev);
-            return resolve();
+            this.dispatchAndWait(ev).then(resolve, reject);
         }.bind(this));
     },
     unpad: function(paddedPlaintext) {
@@ -38548,8 +38572,11 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
             var ev = new Event('error');
             ev.error = error;
             ev.proto = envelope;
-            this.dispatchEvent(ev);
-            return Promise.reject(error);
+
+            var returnError = function() {
+                return Promise.reject(error);
+            };
+            this.dispatchAndWait(ev).then(returnError, returnError);
         }.bind(this));
     },
     decryptPreKeyWhisperMessage: function(ciphertext, sessionCipher, address) {
@@ -38586,7 +38613,7 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
                 if (expirationStartTimestamp) {
                   ev.data.expirationStartTimestamp = expirationStartTimestamp.toNumber();
                 }
-                this.dispatchEvent(ev);
+                return this.dispatchAndWait(ev);
             }.bind(this));
         }.bind(this));
     },
@@ -38608,7 +38635,7 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
                     timestamp    : envelope.timestamp.toNumber(),
                     message      : message
                 };
-                this.dispatchEvent(ev);
+                return this.dispatchAndWait(ev);
             }.bind(this));
         }.bind(this));
     },
@@ -38696,9 +38723,10 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
             identityKey: verified.identityKey.toArrayBuffer()
         };
         ev.viaContactSync = options.viaContactSync;
-        this.dispatchEvent(ev);
+        return this.dispatchAndWait(ev);
     },
     handleRead: function(envelope, read) {
+        var results = [];
         for (var i = 0; i < read.length; ++i) {
             var ev = new Event('read');
             ev.confirm = this.removeFromCache.bind(this, envelope);
@@ -38707,24 +38735,30 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
                 timestamp : read[i].timestamp.toNumber(),
                 sender    : read[i].sender
             }
-            this.dispatchEvent(ev);
+            results.push(this.dispatchAndWait(ev));
         }
+        return Promise.all(results);
     },
     handleContacts: function(envelope, contacts) {
         console.log('contact sync');
         var eventTarget = this;
         var attachmentPointer = contacts.blob;
         return this.handleAttachment(attachmentPointer).then(function() {
+            var results = [];
             var contactBuffer = new ContactBuffer(attachmentPointer.data);
             var contactDetails = contactBuffer.next();
             while (contactDetails !== undefined) {
                 var ev = new Event('contact');
                 ev.confirm = this.removeFromCache.bind(this, envelope);
                 ev.contactDetails = contactDetails;
-                eventTarget.dispatchEvent(ev);
+                results.push(eventTarget.dispatchAndWait(ev));
 
                 if (contactDetails.verified) {
-                    this.handleVerified(envelope, contactDetails.verified, {viaContactSync: true});
+                    results.push(this.handleVerified(
+                        envelope,
+                        contactDetails.verified,
+                        {viaContactSync: true}
+                    ));
                 }
 
                 contactDetails = contactBuffer.next();
@@ -38732,12 +38766,13 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
 
             var ev = new Event('contactsync');
             ev.confirm = this.removeFromCache.bind(this, envelope);
-            eventTarget.dispatchEvent(ev);
+            results.push(eventTarget.dispatchAndWait(ev));
+
+            return Promise.all(results);
         }.bind(this));
     },
     handleGroups: function(envelope, groups) {
         console.log('group sync');
-        var eventTarget = this;
         var attachmentPointer = groups.blob;
         return this.handleAttachment(attachmentPointer).then(function() {
             var groupBuffer = new GroupBuffer(attachmentPointer.data);
@@ -38766,7 +38801,7 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
                     var ev = new Event('group');
                     ev.confirm = this.removeFromCache.bind(this, envelope);
                     ev.groupDetails = groupDetails;
-                    eventTarget.dispatchEvent(ev);
+                    return this.dispatchAndWait(ev);
                 }.bind(this)).catch(function(e) {
                     console.log('error processing group', e);
                 });
@@ -38777,7 +38812,7 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
             Promise.all(promises).then(function() {
                 var ev = new Event('groupsync');
                 ev.confirm = this.removeFromCache.bind(this, envelope);
-                eventTarget.dispatchEvent(ev);
+                return this.dispatchAndWait(ev);
             }.bind(this));
         }.bind(this));
     },
@@ -38805,9 +38840,9 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
             attachment.data = data;
         }
 
-        return this.server.getAttachment(attachment.id).
-        then(decryptAttachment).
-        then(updateAttachment);
+        return this.server.getAttachment(attachment.id)
+            .then(decryptAttachment)
+            .then(updateAttachment);
     },
     tryMessageAgain: function(from, ciphertext) {
         var address = libsignal.SignalProtocolAddress.fromString(from);
diff --git a/js/models/conversations.js b/js/models/conversations.js
index da6925dfce..2cb4168e10 100644
--- a/js/models/conversations.js
+++ b/js/models/conversations.js
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@
 
         // Lastly, we don't send read receipts for any message marked read due to a read
         //   receipt. That's a notification explosion we don't need.
-        this.queueJob(function() {
+        return this.queueJob(function() {
             return this.markRead(message.get('received_at'), {sendReadReceipts: false});
         }.bind(this));
     },
diff --git a/js/models/messages.js b/js/models/messages.js
index 35ab939f91..071327fca6 100644
--- a/js/models/messages.js
+++ b/js/models/messages.js
@@ -342,7 +342,10 @@
                 this.send(promise);
             }
         },
-        handleDataMessage: function(dataMessage, confirm) {
+        handleDataMessage: function(dataMessage, confirm, options) {
+            options = options || {};
+            _.defaults(options, {initialLoadComplete: true});
+
             // This function can be called from the background script on an
             // incoming message or from the frontend after the user accepts an
             // identity key change.
@@ -357,7 +360,7 @@
             console.log('queuing handleDataMessage', message.idForLogging());
 
             var conversation = ConversationController.create({id: conversationId});
-            conversation.queueJob(function() {
+            return conversation.queueJob(function() {
                 return new Promise(function(resolve) {
                     conversation.fetch().always(function() {
                         console.log('starting handleDataMessage', message.idForLogging());
@@ -500,7 +503,7 @@
                                             //   because we need to start expiration timers, etc.
                                             message.markRead();
                                         }
-                                        if (message.get('unread')) {
+                                        if (message.get('unread') && options.initialLoadComplete) {
                                             conversation.notify(message);
                                         }
 
diff --git a/js/views/conversation_view.js b/js/views/conversation_view.js
index cc8973ebcf..5c1d81cc69 100644
--- a/js/views/conversation_view.js
+++ b/js/views/conversation_view.js
@@ -57,6 +57,14 @@
         }
     });
 
+    Whisper.ConversationLoadingScreen = Whisper.View.extend({
+        templateName: 'conversation-loading-screen',
+        className: 'conversation-loading-screen',
+        render_attributes: {
+            loading: i18n('loading')
+        }
+    });
+
     Whisper.ConversationTitleView = Whisper.View.extend({
         templateName: 'conversation-title',
         initialize: function() {
@@ -116,6 +124,11 @@
             );
 
             this.render();
+
+            this.loadingScreen = new Whisper.ConversationLoadingScreen();
+            this.loadingScreen.render();
+            this.loadingScreen.$el.prependTo(this.el);
+
             new TimerMenuView({ el: this.$('.timer-menu'), model: this.model });
 
             emoji_util.parse(this.$('.conversation-name'));
@@ -321,9 +334,15 @@
             setTimeout(this.markRead.bind(this), 1);
         },
 
+        onLoaded: function () {
+            var view = this.loadingScreen;
+            if (view) {
+                this.loadingScreen = null;
+                view.remove();
+            }
+        },
+
         onOpened: function() {
-            // TODO: we may want to show a loading dialog until this status fetch
-            //       and potentially the below message fetch are complete.
             this.statusFetch = this.throttledGetProfiles().then(function() {
                 this.model.updateVerified().then(function() {
                     this.onVerifiedChange();
@@ -332,6 +351,9 @@
                 }.bind(this));
             }.bind(this));
 
+            Promise.all([this.statusFetch, this.inProgressFetch])
+                .then(this.onLoaded.bind(this), this.onLoaded.bind(this));
+
             this.view.resetScrollPosition();
             this.$el.trigger('force-resize');
             this.focusMessageField();
diff --git a/js/views/inbox_view.js b/js/views/inbox_view.js
index 1f6e0d51ec..baa540e4fe 100644
--- a/js/views/inbox_view.js
+++ b/js/views/inbox_view.js
@@ -60,6 +60,15 @@
         }
     });
 
+
+    Whisper.AppLoadingScreen = Whisper.View.extend({
+        templateName: 'app-loading-screen',
+        className: 'app-loading-screen',
+        render_attributes: {
+            loading: i18n('loading')
+        }
+    });
+
     Whisper.InboxView = Whisper.View.extend({
         templateName: 'two-column',
         className: 'inbox',
@@ -71,6 +80,7 @@
                     .addClass(theme);
         },
         initialize: function (options) {
+            this.ready = false;
             this.render();
             this.applyTheme();
             this.$el.attr('tabindex', '1');
@@ -80,6 +90,10 @@
                 model: { window: options.window }
             });
 
+            this.appLoadingScreen = new Whisper.AppLoadingScreen();
+            this.appLoadingScreen.render();
+            this.appLoadingScreen.$el.prependTo(this.el);
+
             var inboxCollection = getInboxCollection();
 
             inboxCollection.on('messageError', function() {
@@ -146,6 +160,13 @@
             'click .restart-signal': 'reloadBackgroundPage',
             'show .lightbox': 'showLightbox'
         },
+        onEmpty: function() {
+            var view = this.appLoadingScreen;
+            if (view) {
+                this.appLoadingScreen = null;
+                view.remove();
+            }
+        },
         focusConversation: function(e) {
             if (e && this.$(e.target).closest('.placeholder').length) {
                 return;
diff --git a/libtextsecure/event_target.js b/libtextsecure/event_target.js
index 7b8cc347ba..3af5071aca 100644
--- a/libtextsecure/event_target.js
+++ b/libtextsecure/event_target.js
@@ -23,13 +23,16 @@
                 this.listeners = {};
             }
             var listeners = this.listeners[ev.type];
+            var results = [];
             if (typeof listeners === 'object') {
-                for (var i=0; i < listeners.length; ++i) {
-                    if (typeof listeners[i] === 'function') {
-                        listeners[i].call(null, ev);
+                for (var i = 0, max = listeners.length; i < max; i += 1) {
+                    var listener = listeners[i];
+                    if (typeof listener === 'function') {
+                        results.push(listener.call(null, ev));
                     }
                 }
             }
+            return results;
         },
         addEventListener: function(eventName, callback) {
             if (typeof eventName !== 'string') {
diff --git a/libtextsecure/message_receiver.js b/libtextsecure/message_receiver.js
index 97a6767f18..e3b11640a3 100644
--- a/libtextsecure/message_receiver.js
+++ b/libtextsecure/message_receiver.js
@@ -45,22 +45,25 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
     onerror: function(error) {
         console.log('websocket error');
     },
+    dispatchAndWait: function(event) {
+        return Promise.all(this.dispatchEvent(event));
+    },
     onclose: function(ev) {
         console.log('websocket closed', ev.code, ev.reason || '');
         if (ev.code === 3000) {
             return;
         }
-        var eventTarget = this;
         // possible 403 or network issue. Make an request to confirm
-        this.server.getDevices(this.number).
-            then(this.connect.bind(this)). // No HTTP error? Reconnect
-            catch(function(e) {
+        this.server.getDevices(this.number)
+            .then(this.connect.bind(this)) // No HTTP error? Reconnect
+            .catch(function(e) {
                 var ev = new Event('error');
                 ev.error = e;
-                eventTarget.dispatchEvent(ev);
-            });
+                this.dispatchAndWait(ev);
+            }.bind(this));
     },
     handleRequest: function(request) {
+        this.incoming = this.incoming || [];
         // We do the message decryption here, instead of in the ordered pending queue,
         // to avoid exposing the time it took us to process messages through the time-to-ack.
 
@@ -68,10 +71,14 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
         if (request.path !== '/api/v1/message') {
             console.log('got request', request.verb, request.path);
             request.respond(200, 'OK');
+
+            if (request.verb === 'PUT' && request.path === '/api/v1/queue/empty') {
+                this.onEmpty();
+            }
             return;
         }
 
-        textsecure.crypto.decryptWebsocketMessage(request.body, this.signalingKey).then(function(plaintext) {
+        this.incoming.push(textsecure.crypto.decryptWebsocketMessage(request.body, this.signalingKey).then(function(plaintext) {
             var envelope = textsecure.protobuf.Envelope.decode(plaintext);
             // After this point, decoding errors are not the server's
             //   fault, and we should handle them gracefully and tell the
@@ -81,7 +88,7 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
                 return request.respond(200, 'OK');
             }
 
-            this.addToCache(envelope, plaintext).then(function() {
+            return this.addToCache(envelope, plaintext).then(function() {
                 request.respond(200, 'OK');
                 this.queueEnvelope(envelope);
             }.bind(this), function(error) {
@@ -95,8 +102,23 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
             console.log("Error handling incoming message:", e && e.stack ? e.stack : e);
             var ev = new Event('error');
             ev.error = e;
-            this.dispatchEvent(ev);
-        }.bind(this));
+            return this.dispatchAndWait(ev);
+        }.bind(this)));
+    },
+    onEmpty: function() {
+        var incoming = this.incoming;
+        this.incoming = [];
+
+        var dispatchEmpty = function() {
+            var ev = new Event('empty');
+            return this.dispatchAndWait(ev);
+        }.bind(this);
+
+        var scheduleDispatch = function() {
+            this.pending = this.pending.then(dispatchEmpty, dispatchEmpty);
+        }.bind(this);
+
+        Promise.all(incoming).then(scheduleDispatch, scheduleDispatch);
     },
     queueAllCached: function() {
         this.getAllFromCache().then(function(items) {
@@ -245,12 +267,11 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
         }
     },
     onDeliveryReceipt: function (envelope) {
-        return new Promise(function(resolve) {
+        return new Promise(function(resolve, reject) {
             var ev = new Event('receipt');
             ev.confirm = this.removeFromCache.bind(this, envelope);
             ev.proto = envelope;
-            this.dispatchEvent(ev);
-            return resolve();
+            this.dispatchAndWait(ev).then(resolve, reject);
         }.bind(this));
     },
     unpad: function(paddedPlaintext) {
@@ -309,8 +330,11 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
             var ev = new Event('error');
             ev.error = error;
             ev.proto = envelope;
-            this.dispatchEvent(ev);
-            return Promise.reject(error);
+
+            var returnError = function() {
+                return Promise.reject(error);
+            };
+            this.dispatchAndWait(ev).then(returnError, returnError);
         }.bind(this));
     },
     decryptPreKeyWhisperMessage: function(ciphertext, sessionCipher, address) {
@@ -347,7 +371,7 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
                 if (expirationStartTimestamp) {
                   ev.data.expirationStartTimestamp = expirationStartTimestamp.toNumber();
                 }
-                this.dispatchEvent(ev);
+                return this.dispatchAndWait(ev);
             }.bind(this));
         }.bind(this));
     },
@@ -369,7 +393,7 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
                     timestamp    : envelope.timestamp.toNumber(),
                     message      : message
                 };
-                this.dispatchEvent(ev);
+                return this.dispatchAndWait(ev);
             }.bind(this));
         }.bind(this));
     },
@@ -457,9 +481,10 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
             identityKey: verified.identityKey.toArrayBuffer()
         };
         ev.viaContactSync = options.viaContactSync;
-        this.dispatchEvent(ev);
+        return this.dispatchAndWait(ev);
     },
     handleRead: function(envelope, read) {
+        var results = [];
         for (var i = 0; i < read.length; ++i) {
             var ev = new Event('read');
             ev.confirm = this.removeFromCache.bind(this, envelope);
@@ -468,24 +493,30 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
                 timestamp : read[i].timestamp.toNumber(),
                 sender    : read[i].sender
             }
-            this.dispatchEvent(ev);
+            results.push(this.dispatchAndWait(ev));
         }
+        return Promise.all(results);
     },
     handleContacts: function(envelope, contacts) {
         console.log('contact sync');
         var eventTarget = this;
         var attachmentPointer = contacts.blob;
         return this.handleAttachment(attachmentPointer).then(function() {
+            var results = [];
             var contactBuffer = new ContactBuffer(attachmentPointer.data);
             var contactDetails = contactBuffer.next();
             while (contactDetails !== undefined) {
                 var ev = new Event('contact');
                 ev.confirm = this.removeFromCache.bind(this, envelope);
                 ev.contactDetails = contactDetails;
-                eventTarget.dispatchEvent(ev);
+                results.push(eventTarget.dispatchAndWait(ev));
 
                 if (contactDetails.verified) {
-                    this.handleVerified(envelope, contactDetails.verified, {viaContactSync: true});
+                    results.push(this.handleVerified(
+                        envelope,
+                        contactDetails.verified,
+                        {viaContactSync: true}
+                    ));
                 }
 
                 contactDetails = contactBuffer.next();
@@ -493,12 +524,13 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
 
             var ev = new Event('contactsync');
             ev.confirm = this.removeFromCache.bind(this, envelope);
-            eventTarget.dispatchEvent(ev);
+            results.push(eventTarget.dispatchAndWait(ev));
+
+            return Promise.all(results);
         }.bind(this));
     },
     handleGroups: function(envelope, groups) {
         console.log('group sync');
-        var eventTarget = this;
         var attachmentPointer = groups.blob;
         return this.handleAttachment(attachmentPointer).then(function() {
             var groupBuffer = new GroupBuffer(attachmentPointer.data);
@@ -527,7 +559,7 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
                     var ev = new Event('group');
                     ev.confirm = this.removeFromCache.bind(this, envelope);
                     ev.groupDetails = groupDetails;
-                    eventTarget.dispatchEvent(ev);
+                    return this.dispatchAndWait(ev);
                 }.bind(this)).catch(function(e) {
                     console.log('error processing group', e);
                 });
@@ -538,7 +570,7 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
             Promise.all(promises).then(function() {
                 var ev = new Event('groupsync');
                 ev.confirm = this.removeFromCache.bind(this, envelope);
-                eventTarget.dispatchEvent(ev);
+                return this.dispatchAndWait(ev);
             }.bind(this));
         }.bind(this));
     },
@@ -566,9 +598,9 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
             attachment.data = data;
         }
 
-        return this.server.getAttachment(attachment.id).
-        then(decryptAttachment).
-        then(updateAttachment);
+        return this.server.getAttachment(attachment.id)
+            .then(decryptAttachment)
+            .then(updateAttachment);
     },
     tryMessageAgain: function(from, ciphertext) {
         var address = libsignal.SignalProtocolAddress.fromString(from);
diff --git a/stylesheets/_conversation.scss b/stylesheets/_conversation.scss
index 7e290a9208..f87c1cf840 100644
--- a/stylesheets/_conversation.scss
+++ b/stylesheets/_conversation.scss
@@ -32,6 +32,51 @@
 .conversation {
   background-color: white;
   height: 100%;
+  position: relative;
+
+  .conversation-loading-screen {
+    z-index: 99;
+    position: absolute;
+    left: 0;
+    right: 0;
+    top: 0;
+    bottom: 0;
+    background-color: #eee;
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+
+    .content {
+      position: absolute;
+      top: 50%;
+      left: 50%;
+      transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
+    }
+
+    .container {
+      position: absolute;
+      left: 50%;
+      width: 78px;
+      transform: translate(-50%, 0);
+    }
+
+    .dot {
+      width: 14px;
+      height: 14px;
+      border: 3px solid $blue;
+      border-radius: 50%;
+      float: left;
+      margin: 0 6px;
+      transform: scale(0);
+
+      animation: loading 1500ms ease infinite 0ms;
+      &:nth-child(2) {
+        animation: loading 1500ms ease infinite 333ms;
+      }
+      &:nth-child(3) {
+        animation: loading 1500ms ease infinite 666ms;
+      }
+    }
+  }
 
   .panel {
     height: calc(100% - #{$header-height});
diff --git a/stylesheets/_global.scss b/stylesheets/_global.scss
index f1602fbfa5..30ec9a7a88 100644
--- a/stylesheets/_global.scss
+++ b/stylesheets/_global.scss
@@ -539,6 +539,64 @@ input[type=text], input[type=search], textarea {
   }
 }
 
+.inbox {
+  position: relative;
+}
+
+@keyframes loading {
+  50% {
+    transform: scale(1);
+    opacity: 1;
+  }
+  100% {
+    opacity: 0;
+  }
+}
+
+.app-loading-screen {
+  z-index: 1000;
+  position: absolute;
+  left: 0;
+  right: 0;
+  top: 0;
+  bottom: 0;
+  background-color: white;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+
+  .content {
+    position: absolute;
+    top: 50%;
+    left: 50%;
+    transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
+  }
+
+  .container {
+    position: absolute;
+    left: 50%;
+    transform: translate(-50%, 0);
+    width: 78px;
+  }
+
+  .dot {
+    width: 14px;
+    height: 14px;
+    border: 3px solid $blue;
+    border-radius: 50%;
+    float: left;
+    margin: 0 6px;
+    transform: scale(0);
+
+    animation: loading 1500ms ease infinite 0ms;
+    &:nth-child(2) {
+      animation: loading 1500ms ease infinite 333ms;
+    }
+    &:nth-child(3) {
+      animation: loading 1500ms ease infinite 666ms;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 //yellow border fix
 .inbox:focus {
     outline: none;
diff --git a/stylesheets/android-dark.scss b/stylesheets/android-dark.scss
index 0512052da2..45b9db1894 100644
--- a/stylesheets/android-dark.scss
+++ b/stylesheets/android-dark.scss
@@ -88,6 +88,9 @@ $text-dark_l2: darken($text-dark, 30%);
   .conversation.placeholder .conversation-header {
     display: none;
   }
+  .conversation .conversation-loading-screen {
+    background-color: $grey-dark_l3;
+  }
   .avatar, .conversation-header, .bubble {
     @include dark-avatar-colors;
   }
diff --git a/stylesheets/manifest.css b/stylesheets/manifest.css
index 82c13d8844..5630d04b6d 100644
--- a/stylesheets/manifest.css
+++ b/stylesheets/manifest.css
@@ -484,6 +484,49 @@ input[type=text]:active, input[type=text]:focus, input[type=search]:active, inpu
     background: #2090ea;
     margin-left: 20px; }
 
+.inbox {
+  position: relative; }
+
+@keyframes loading {
+  50% {
+    transform: scale(1);
+    opacity: 1; }
+  100% {
+    opacity: 0; } }
+.app-loading-screen {
+  z-index: 1000;
+  position: absolute;
+  left: 0;
+  right: 0;
+  top: 0;
+  bottom: 0;
+  background-color: white;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center; }
+  .app-loading-screen .content {
+    position: absolute;
+    top: 50%;
+    left: 50%;
+    transform: translate(-50%, -50%); }
+  .app-loading-screen .container {
+    position: absolute;
+    left: 50%;
+    transform: translate(-50%, 0);
+    width: 78px; }
+  .app-loading-screen .dot {
+    width: 14px;
+    height: 14px;
+    border: 3px solid #2090ea;
+    border-radius: 50%;
+    float: left;
+    margin: 0 6px;
+    transform: scale(0);
+    animation: loading 1500ms ease infinite 0ms; }
+    .app-loading-screen .dot:nth-child(2) {
+      animation: loading 1500ms ease infinite 333ms; }
+    .app-loading-screen .dot:nth-child(3) {
+      animation: loading 1500ms ease infinite 666ms; }
+
 .inbox:focus {
   outline: none; }
 
@@ -1051,7 +1094,41 @@ input.search {
 
 .conversation {
   background-color: white;
-  height: 100%; }
+  height: 100%;
+  position: relative; }
+  .conversation .conversation-loading-screen {
+    z-index: 99;
+    position: absolute;
+    left: 0;
+    right: 0;
+    top: 0;
+    bottom: 0;
+    background-color: #eee;
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center; }
+    .conversation .conversation-loading-screen .content {
+      position: absolute;
+      top: 50%;
+      left: 50%;
+      transform: translate(-50%, -50%); }
+    .conversation .conversation-loading-screen .container {
+      position: absolute;
+      left: 50%;
+      width: 78px;
+      transform: translate(-50%, 0); }
+    .conversation .conversation-loading-screen .dot {
+      width: 14px;
+      height: 14px;
+      border: 3px solid #2090ea;
+      border-radius: 50%;
+      float: left;
+      margin: 0 6px;
+      transform: scale(0);
+      animation: loading 1500ms ease infinite 0ms; }
+      .conversation .conversation-loading-screen .dot:nth-child(2) {
+        animation: loading 1500ms ease infinite 333ms; }
+      .conversation .conversation-loading-screen .dot:nth-child(3) {
+        animation: loading 1500ms ease infinite 666ms; }
   .conversation .panel {
     height: calc(100% - 64px);
     overflow-y: scroll; }
@@ -2099,6 +2176,8 @@ li.entry .error-icon-container {
     border-color: #333333; }
   .android-dark .conversation.placeholder .conversation-header {
     display: none; }
+  .android-dark .conversation .conversation-loading-screen {
+    background-color: #171717; }
   .android-dark .avatar.red, .android-dark .conversation-header.red, .android-dark .bubble.red {
     background-color: #D32F2F; }
   .android-dark .avatar.pink, .android-dark .conversation-header.pink, .android-dark .bubble.pink {
diff --git a/test/fixtures_test.js b/test/fixtures_test.js
index 2f3912fbc5..0765b95010 100644
--- a/test/fixtures_test.js
+++ b/test/fixtures_test.js
@@ -13,14 +13,17 @@ describe("Fixtures", function() {
   it('renders', function(done) {
     ConversationController.updateInbox().then(function() {
       var view = new Whisper.InboxView({window: window});
+      view.onEmpty();
       view.$el.prependTo($('#render-android'));
 
       var view = new Whisper.InboxView({window: window});
       view.$el.removeClass('android').addClass('ios');
+      view.onEmpty();
       view.$el.prependTo($('#render-ios'));
 
       var view = new Whisper.InboxView({window: window});
       view.$el.removeClass('android').addClass('android-dark');
+      view.onEmpty();
       view.$el.prependTo($('#render-android-dark'));
     }).then(done, done);
   });
diff --git a/test/index.html b/test/index.html
index f138b10233..6a03bab03a 100644
--- a/test/index.html
+++ b/test/index.html
@@ -16,6 +16,26 @@
   </div>
   <div id="render-ios" class='index' style="width: 800; height: 500; margin:10px; border: solid 1px black;">
   </div>
+  <script type='text/x-tmpl-mustache' id='app-loading-screen'>
+    <div class='content'>
+      <img src='/images/icon_128.png'>
+      <div class='container'>
+        <span class='dot'></span>
+        <span class='dot'></span>
+        <span class='dot'></span>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  </script>
+  <script type='text/x-tmpl-mustache' id='conversation-loading-screen'>
+    <div class='content'>
+      <img src='/images/icon_128.png'>
+      <div class='container'>
+        <span class='dot'></span>
+        <span class='dot'></span>
+        <span class='dot'></span>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  </script>
   <script type='text/x-tmpl-mustache' id='two-column'>
     <div class='gutter'>
         <div class='network-status-container'></div>
