diff --git a/src/state/queries/notifications/unread.tsx b/src/state/queries/notifications/unread.tsx
index bf7505f..3e1d08f 100644
--- a/src/state/queries/notifications/unread.tsx
+++ b/src/state/queries/notifications/unread.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ import {useQueryClient} from '@tanstack/react-query'
 import {EventEmitter} from 'eventemitter3'
 
 import BroadcastChannel from '#/lib/broadcast'
+import {constellation} from '#/lib/microcosm'
+import {MICROCOSM_ENABLED} from '#/lib/microcosm/config'
+import {eventActorDid, subscribe} from '#/lib/microcosm/spacedust'
 import {resetBadgeCount} from '#/lib/notifications/notifications'
 import {useModerationOpts} from '#/state/preferences/moderation-opts'
 import {truncateAndInvalidate} from '#/state/queries/util'
@@ -83,7 +86,7 @@ export function Provider({children}: React.PropsWithChildren<{}>) {
     if (!hasSession || !checkUnreadRef.current) {
       return
     }
-    checkUnreadRef.current() // fire on init
+    void checkUnreadRef.current() // fire on init
     const interval = setInterval(
       () => checkUnreadRef.current?.({isPoll: true}),
       UPDATE_INTERVAL,
@@ -91,6 +94,43 @@ export function Provider({children}: React.PropsWithChildren<{}>) {
     return () => clearInterval(interval)
   }, [hasSession])
 
+  // Real-time refresh: when microcosm's Spacedust firehose reports an
+  // interaction targeting us, refresh the unread count immediately (debounced)
+  // instead of waiting for the next poll. The existing checkUnread path still
+  // computes the actual (hydrated, moderated) count — Spacedust is just the
+  // trigger.
+  const viewerDid = agent.did
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!MICROCOSM_ENABLED || !hasSession || !viewerDid) return
+    let timer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | undefined
+    const sub = subscribe(
+      {
+        wantedSources: [
+          constellation.Sources.likes,
+          constellation.Sources.reposts,
+          constellation.Sources.replies,
+          constellation.Sources.followers,
+        ],
+        wantedSubjectDids: [viewerDid],
+      },
+      {
+        onEvent(e) {
+          if (e.link?.operation !== 'create') return
+          if (eventActorDid(e) === viewerDid) return // ignore self
+          // Debounce bursts into a single refresh.
+          if (timer) clearTimeout(timer)
+          timer = setTimeout(() => {
+            void checkUnreadRef.current?.({isPoll: true})
+          }, 1500)
+        },
+      },
+    )
+    return () => {
+      if (timer) clearTimeout(timer)
+      sub.close()
+    }
+  }, [hasSession, viewerDid])
+
   // listen for broadcasts
   useEffect(() => {
     const listener = ({data}: MessageEvent) => {