diff --git a/frontend/src/components/list/MessageList.tsx b/frontend/src/components/list/MessageList.tsx
index cc094fe..82ede33 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/list/MessageList.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/list/MessageList.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { useQuery } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import { useVirtualizer } from "@tanstack/react-virtual";
-import { useRef } from "react";
+import { useEffect, useRef } from "react";
 
 import { useT } from "../../i18n";
 import { api } from "../../lib/api";
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ function Paperclip() {
 // Virtualized thread list (SPEC §2 list/MessageList.tsx).
 export function MessageList({
   threads,
+  page,
   selectedId,
   folder,
   onSelect,
@@ -69,6 +70,8 @@ export function MessageList({
   onToggleCheck,
 }: {
   threads: ThreadSummary[];
+  /** Which page of the list this is. Changing it scrolls back to the top. */
+  page: number;
   selectedId?: string;
   folder: string;
   onSelect: (id: string) => void;
@@ -106,6 +109,12 @@ export function MessageList({
     overscan: 8,
   });
 
+  // A new page starts at the top. Paging while scrolled down would otherwise
+  // drop you into the middle of the next fifty with no sense of having moved.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    parentRef.current?.scrollTo({ top: 0 });
+  }, [page]);
+
   if (threads.length === 0) {
     return <div className="p-6 text-[15px] text-app-faint">{t("mail.noConversations")}</div>;
   }
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/MailLayout.tsx b/frontend/src/routes/MailLayout.tsx
index 793ebb4..05a410a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/MailLayout.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/MailLayout.tsx
@@ -842,6 +842,7 @@ export function MailLayout() {
           ) : (
             <MessageList
               threads={pageThreads}
+              page={page}
               selectedId={threadId}
               folder={currentFolder}
               onSelect={(id) => navigate(`/mail/t/${id}`)}