diff --git a/lisp/forge-topic.el b/lisp/forge-topic.el
index b89f88fb..1f9a57b0 100644
--- a/lisp/forge-topic.el
+++ b/lisp/forge-topic.el
@@ -321,7 +321,8 @@ depends on option `forge-colorful-topic-summaries'."
    t))
 
 (cl-defmethod forge-topic-mark-read ((topic forge-topic))
-  (oset topic status 'done))
+  (when (eq (oref topic status) 'unread)
+    (oset topic status 'pending)))
 
 (cl-defmethod forge--set-topic-marks ((_repo forge-repository) topic marks)
   (oset topic marks marks)