diff --git a/addons/im_livechat/models/im_livechat_channel.py b/addons/im_livechat/models/im_livechat_channel.py
index ac894a2c7ab..7a664654f23 100644
--- a/addons/im_livechat/models/im_livechat_channel.py
+++ b/addons/im_livechat/models/im_livechat_channel.py
@@ -177,8 +177,6 @@ class ImLivechatChannel(models.Model):
             'public': 'public',
             'email_send': False,
         })
-        # minimize channel on operator's side
-        mail_channel._minimize([operator_partner_id])
         return mail_channel.sudo().with_context(im_livechat_operator_partner_id=operator_partner_id).channel_info()[0]
 
     @api.model
diff --git a/addons/mail/models/mail_channel.py b/addons/mail/models/mail_channel.py
index 5bf0a830d9f..c19a18e8107 100644
--- a/addons/mail/models/mail_channel.py
+++ b/addons/mail/models/mail_channel.py
@@ -152,16 +152,6 @@ class Channel(models.Model):
         for mail_channel in self:
             mail_channel.write({'channel_partner_ids': [(4, pid) for pid in mail_channel.mapped('group_ids').mapped('users').mapped('partner_id').ids]})
 
-    @api.multi
-    def _minimize(self, partner_ids):
-        self.ensure_one()
-        domain = [('channel_id', '=', self.id), ('partner_id', 'in', tuple(partner_ids))]
-        channel_partners = self.env['mail.channel.partner'].search(domain)
-        channel_partners.write({
-            'is_minimized': True,
-            'fold_state': 'open',
-        })
-
     @api.multi
     def action_follow(self):
         self.ensure_one()
@@ -363,8 +353,8 @@ class Channel(models.Model):
             :rtype : dict
         """
         if partners_to:
-            partners = partners_to + [self.env.user.partner_id.id]
-            # determine type according to the number of partners in the channel
+            partners_to.append(self.env.user.partner_id.id)
+            # determine type according to the number of partner in the channel
             self.env.cr.execute("""
                 SELECT P.channel_id as channel_id
                 FROM mail_channel C, mail_channel_partner P
@@ -374,7 +364,7 @@ class Channel(models.Model):
                     AND channel_type LIKE 'chat'
                 GROUP BY P.channel_id
                 HAVING COUNT(P.partner_id) = %s
-            """, (tuple(partners), len(partners),))
+            """, (tuple(partners_to), len(partners_to),))
             result = self.env.cr.dictfetchall()
             if result:
                 # get the existing channel between the given partners
@@ -385,16 +375,14 @@ class Channel(models.Model):
             else:
                 # create a new one
                 channel = self.create({
-                    'channel_partner_ids': [(4, partner_id) for partner_id in partners],
+                    'channel_partner_ids': [(4, partner_id) for partner_id in partners_to],
                     'public': 'private',
                     'channel_type': 'chat',
                     'email_send': False,
-                    'name': ', '.join(self.env['res.partner'].sudo().browse(partners).mapped('name')),
+                    'name': ', '.join(self.env['res.partner'].sudo().browse(partners_to).mapped('name')),
                 })
-                # minimize the DM on other partners' side
-                channel._minimize(partners_to)
-                # broadcast the channel header
-                channel._broadcast(partners)
+                # broadcast the channel header to the other partner (not me)
+                channel._broadcast(partners_to)
             return channel.channel_info()[0]
         return False
 
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/js/systray.js b/addons/mail/static/src/js/systray.js
index 8334c41221e..21d22a12eac 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/js/systray.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/js/systray.js
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ var MessagingMenu = Widget.extend({
         update_counter: function () {
             var counter = chat_manager.get_needaction_counter() + chat_manager.get_chat_unread_counter();
             this.$('.o_notification_counter').text(counter);
+            this.$el.toggleClass('o_no_notification', !counter);
             if (this.is_open()) {
                 this.render_channels_preview();
             }
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/less/client_action.less b/addons/mail/static/src/less/client_action.less
index 7f5c03b82df..647c3cf535e 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/less/client_action.less
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/less/client_action.less
@@ -262,11 +262,23 @@
 
 // Navbar icon and dropdown (FIXME: move to systray.less)
 .o_mail_navbar_item {
+    > a {
+        opacity: 1;
+        > i {
+            font-size: larger;
+        }
+    }
+    &.o_no_notification > a {
+        opacity: 0.5;
+        .o_notification_counter {
+            display: none;
+        }
+    }
+
     &.open .o_mail_navbar_dropdown {
         .o-flex-display();
         .o-flex-flow(column, nowrap);
     }
-
     .o_mail_navbar_dropdown {
         width: 350px;
         padding: 0;