diff --git a/webapp/channels/src/actions/websocket_actions.jsx b/webapp/channels/src/actions/websocket_actions.jsx
index 2999b3f798..254c0bbafe 100644
--- a/webapp/channels/src/actions/websocket_actions.jsx
+++ b/webapp/channels/src/actions/websocket_actions.jsx
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ import {sendDesktopNotification} from 'actions/notification_actions.jsx';
 import {handleNewPost} from 'actions/post_actions';
 import * as StatusActions from 'actions/status_actions';
 import {setGlobalItem} from 'actions/storage';
-import {loadProfilesForSidebar} from 'actions/user_actions';
+import {loadProfilesForDM, loadProfilesForGM} from 'actions/user_actions';
 import {syncPostsInChannel} from 'actions/views/channel';
 import {setGlobalDraft, transformServerDraft} from 'actions/views/drafts';
 import {openModal} from 'actions/views/modals';
@@ -1233,7 +1233,11 @@ function handlePreferenceChangedEvent(msg) {
     dispatch({type: PreferenceTypes.RECEIVED_PREFERENCES, data: [preference]});
 
     if (addedNewDmUser(preference)) {
-        loadProfilesForSidebar();
+        loadProfilesForDM();
+    }
+
+    if (addedNewGmUser(preference)) {
+        loadProfilesForGM();
     }
 }
 
@@ -1242,7 +1246,11 @@ function handlePreferencesChangedEvent(msg) {
     dispatch({type: PreferenceTypes.RECEIVED_PREFERENCES, data: preferences});
 
     if (preferences.findIndex(addedNewDmUser) !== -1) {
-        loadProfilesForSidebar();
+        loadProfilesForDM();
+    }
+
+    if (preferences.findIndex(addedNewGmUser) !== -1) {
+        loadProfilesForGM();
     }
 }
 
@@ -1255,6 +1263,10 @@ function addedNewDmUser(preference) {
     return preference.category === Constants.Preferences.CATEGORY_DIRECT_CHANNEL_SHOW && preference.value === 'true';
 }
 
+function addedNewGmUser(preference) {
+    return preference.category === Constants.Preferences.CATEGORY_GROUP_CHANNEL_SHOW && preference.value === 'true';
+}
+
 function handleStatusChangedEvent(msg) {
     dispatch({
         type: UserTypes.RECEIVED_STATUSES,