diff --git a/briar-headless/README.md b/briar-headless/README.md
index 4a00e97ab..2acfdac3a 100644
--- a/briar-headless/README.md
+++ b/briar-headless/README.md
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@ Returns a JSON array of contacts:
     "handshakePublicKey": "XnYRd7a7E4CTqgAvh4hCxh/YZ0EPscxknB9ZcEOpSzY=",
     "verified": true,
     "lastChatActivity": 1557838312175,
-    "connected": false
+    "connected": false,
+    "unreadCount": 7
 }
 ```
 
diff --git a/briar-headless/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/headless/contact/ContactControllerImpl.kt b/briar-headless/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/headless/contact/ContactControllerImpl.kt
index 4cffe0d96..b7e542b61 100644
--- a/briar-headless/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/headless/contact/ContactControllerImpl.kt
+++ b/briar-headless/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/headless/contact/ContactControllerImpl.kt
@@ -77,7 +77,8 @@ constructor(
         val contacts = contactManager.contacts.map { contact ->
             val latestMsgTime = conversationManager.getGroupCount(contact.id).latestMsgTime
             val connected = connectionRegistry.isConnected(contact.id)
-            contact.output(latestMsgTime, connected)
+            val unreadCount = conversationManager.getGroupCount(contact.id).unreadCount
+            contact.output(latestMsgTime, connected, unreadCount)
         }
         return ctx.json(contacts)
     }
diff --git a/briar-headless/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/headless/contact/OutputContact.kt b/briar-headless/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/headless/contact/OutputContact.kt
index 2d8656047..d0fbd8dd5 100644
--- a/briar-headless/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/headless/contact/OutputContact.kt
+++ b/briar-headless/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/headless/contact/OutputContact.kt
@@ -7,12 +7,13 @@ import org.briarproject.bramble.api.plugin.event.ContactDisconnectedEvent
 import org.briarproject.bramble.identity.output
 import org.briarproject.briar.headless.json.JsonDict
 
-internal fun Contact.output(latestMsgTime: Long, connected: Boolean) = JsonDict(
+internal fun Contact.output(latestMsgTime: Long, connected: Boolean, unreadCount: Int) = JsonDict(
     "contactId" to id.int,
     "author" to author.output(),
     "verified" to isVerified,
     "lastChatActivity" to latestMsgTime,
-    "connected" to connected
+    "connected" to connected,
+    "unreadCount" to unreadCount
 ).apply {
     alias?.let { put("alias", it) }
     handshakePublicKey?.let { put("handshakePublicKey", it.encoded) }
diff --git a/briar-headless/src/test/java/org/briarproject/briar/headless/ControllerTest.kt b/briar-headless/src/test/java/org/briarproject/briar/headless/ControllerTest.kt
index 7e16d71af..ed4aa8384 100644
--- a/briar-headless/src/test/java/org/briarproject/briar/headless/ControllerTest.kt
+++ b/briar-headless/src/test/java/org/briarproject/briar/headless/ControllerTest.kt
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ abstract class ControllerTest {
     protected val message: Message = getMessage(group.id)
     protected val text: String = getRandomString(5)
     protected val timestamp = 42L
+    protected val unreadCount = 42
 
     protected fun assertJsonEquals(json: String, obj: Any) {
         assertEquals(json, outputCtx.json(obj).resultString(), STRICT)
diff --git a/briar-headless/src/test/java/org/briarproject/briar/headless/contact/ContactControllerTest.kt b/briar-headless/src/test/java/org/briarproject/briar/headless/contact/ContactControllerTest.kt
index 59ee3c06a..a169e8eef 100644
--- a/briar-headless/src/test/java/org/briarproject/briar/headless/contact/ContactControllerTest.kt
+++ b/briar-headless/src/test/java/org/briarproject/briar/headless/contact/ContactControllerTest.kt
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@ internal class ContactControllerTest : ControllerTest() {
         every { contactManager.contacts } returns listOf(contact)
         every { conversationManager.getGroupCount(contact.id).latestMsgTime } returns timestamp
         every { connectionRegistry.isConnected(contact.id) } returns connected
-        every { ctx.json(listOf(contact.output(timestamp, connected))) } returns ctx
+        every { conversationManager.getGroupCount(contact.id).unreadCount } returns unreadCount
+        every { ctx.json(listOf(contact.output(timestamp, connected, unreadCount))) } returns ctx
         controller.list(ctx)
     }
 
@@ -313,10 +314,11 @@ internal class ContactControllerTest : ControllerTest() {
                 "handshakePublicKey": ${toJson(contact.handshakePublicKey!!.encoded)},
                 "verified": ${contact.isVerified},
                 "lastChatActivity": $timestamp,
-                "connected": $connected
+                "connected": $connected,
+                "unreadCount": $unreadCount
             }
         """
-        assertJsonEquals(json, contact.output(timestamp, connected))
+        assertJsonEquals(json, contact.output(timestamp, connected, unreadCount))
     }
 
     @Test