diff --git a/data/ui/article_row.blp b/data/ui/article_row.blp
index ea4c08d..07c4cbe 100644
--- a/data/ui/article_row.blp
+++ b/data/ui/article_row.blp
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ template $ArticleRow : Gtk.Box {
     wrap: true;
     lines: 2;
     ellipsize: end;
+    styles ["article-title"]
   }
 
   Label excerpt_label {
diff --git a/data/ui/article_row.ui b/data/ui/article_row.ui
index e159ff1..d5eeab9 100644
--- a/data/ui/article_row.ui
+++ b/data/ui/article_row.ui
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ corresponding .blp file and regenerate this file with blueprint-compiler.
         <property name="wrap">true</property>
         <property name="lines">2</property>
         <property name="ellipsize">3</property>
+        <style>
+          <class name="article-title"/>
+        </style>
       </object>
     </child>
     <child>
diff --git a/src/app.rs b/src/app.rs
index 6e287f0..6d4e591 100644
--- a/src/app.rs
+++ b/src/app.rs
@@ -73,6 +73,9 @@ mod imp {
                 }
                 .unread-title {
                     font-weight: bold;
+                }
+                .article-title {
+                    font-size: 1.05em;
                 }"
             );
             gtk4::style_context_add_provider_for_display(
diff --git a/src/article_row.rs b/src/article_row.rs
index d8877ce..2e6a6a2 100644
--- a/src/article_row.rs
+++ b/src/article_row.rs
@@ -73,11 +73,10 @@ mod imp {
             self.title_label.set_text(&article.title);
             self.excerpt_label.set_text(&article.excerpt);
             self.date_label.set_text(&relative_time(article.published));
-
-            self.update_read_style(article.unread);
             drop(article);
 
-            // Watch for unread state changes
+            // Register the style handler first, then fire it immediately so
+            // the initial state uses the exact same code path as later changes.
             let title_label = self.title_label.clone();
             let id = obj.connect_notify_local(Some("unread"), move |obj, _| {
                 let unread = obj.article().unread;
@@ -90,6 +89,7 @@ mod imp {
                 }
             });
             *self.unread_handler.borrow_mut() = Some((obj.clone(), id));
+            obj.notify("unread");
         }
 
         pub fn unbind(&self) {
@@ -101,15 +101,6 @@ mod imp {
             }
         }
 
-        fn update_read_style(&self, unread: bool) {
-            if unread {
-                self.title_label.remove_css_class("dim-label");
-                self.title_label.add_css_class("unread-title");
-            } else {
-                self.title_label.add_css_class("dim-label");
-                self.title_label.remove_css_class("unread-title");
-            }
-        }
     }
 }