diff --git a/src/team_bot/bot.py b/src/team_bot/bot.py
index ae34960..cca6aa9 100644
--- a/src/team_bot/bot.py
+++ b/src/team_bot/bot.py
@@ -156,6 +156,7 @@ def ac_incoming_message(self, message: deltachat.Message):
                 else:
                     logging.debug("Ignoring message, just the crew chatting")
             else:
+                self.mark_last_messages_read(message.chat)
                 logging.debug("Ignoring message, just the crew chatting")
 
         else:
@@ -277,3 +278,12 @@ def offboard(self, ex_admin: deltachat.Contact) -> None:
             relay_group = self.account.get_chat_by_id(mapping[1])
             if ex_admin in relay_group.get_contacts():
                 relay_group.remove_contact(ex_admin)
+
+    def mark_last_messages_read(self, relay_group: deltachat.Chat) -> None:
+        """Mark the last incoming messages as read for a corresponding relay group.
+
+        :param relay_group: the relay group in which the messages which should marked read were forwarded.
+        """
+        outside_chat = self.get_outside_chat(relay_group.id)
+        for msg in outside_chat.get_messages():
+            msg.mark_seen()
diff --git a/tests/test_bot.py b/tests/test_bot.py
index b185962..03d3704 100644
--- a/tests/test_bot.py
+++ b/tests/test_bot.py
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ def test_relay_group_forwarding(relaycrew, outsider):
     message_from_outsider = bot._evtracker.wait_next_incoming_message()
     bot_outside_chat = message_from_outsider.chat
     assert not bot.relayplugin.is_relay_group(bot_outside_chat)
+    assert message_from_outsider.is_in_fresh()
 
     # get relay group
     user_forwarded_message_from_outsider = user._evtracker.wait_next_incoming_message()
@@ -132,6 +133,7 @@ def test_relay_group_forwarding(relaycrew, outsider):
         user._dc_context, user_relay_group.id, user_direct_reply._dc_msg
     )
     assert sent_id == user_direct_reply.id
+    assert message_from_outsider.is_in_seen()
 
     # check that direct reply was forwarded to outsider
     outsider_direct_reply = outsider._evtracker.wait_next_incoming_message()