diff --git a/app/javascript/mastodon/features/getting_started/index.js b/app/javascript/mastodon/features/getting_started/index.js
index ee789e1809..3a875169e7 100644
--- a/app/javascript/mastodon/features/getting_started/index.js
+++ b/app/javascript/mastodon/features/getting_started/index.js
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import ImmutablePropTypes from 'react-immutable-proptypes';
 import ImmutablePureComponent from 'react-immutable-pure-component';
 import { me } from '../../initial_state';
+import { fetchFollowRequests } from '../../actions/accounts';
+import { List as ImmutableList } from 'immutable';
 
 const messages = defineMessages({
   heading: { id: 'getting_started.heading', defaultMessage: 'Getting started' },
@@ -32,9 +34,25 @@ const messages = defineMessages({
 const mapStateToProps = state => ({
   myAccount: state.getIn(['accounts', me]),
   columns: state.getIn(['settings', 'columns']),
+  unreadFollowRequests: state.getIn(['user_lists', 'follow_requests', 'items'], ImmutableList()).size,
+  unreadNotifications: state.getIn(['notifications', 'unread']),
 });
 
-@connect(mapStateToProps)
+const mapDispatchToProps = dispatch => ({
+  fetchFollowRequests: () => dispatch(fetchFollowRequests()),
+});
+
+const badgeDisplay = (number, limit) => {
+  if (number === 0) {
+    return undefined;
+  } else if (limit && number >= limit) {
+    return `${limit}+`;
+  } else {
+    return number;
+  }
+};
+
+@connect(mapStateToProps, mapDispatchToProps)
 @injectIntl
 export default class GettingStarted extends ImmutablePureComponent {
 
@@ -43,10 +61,21 @@ export default class GettingStarted extends ImmutablePureComponent {
     myAccount: ImmutablePropTypes.map.isRequired,
     columns: ImmutablePropTypes.list,
     multiColumn: PropTypes.bool,
+    fetchFollowRequests: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
+    unreadFollowRequests: PropTypes.number,
+    unreadNotifications: PropTypes.number,
   };
 
+  componentDidMount () {
+    const { myAccount, fetchFollowRequests } = this.props;
+
+    if (myAccount.get('locked')) {
+      fetchFollowRequests();
+    }
+  }
+
   render () {
-    const { intl, myAccount, columns, multiColumn } = this.props;
+    const { intl, myAccount, columns, multiColumn, unreadFollowRequests, unreadNotifications } = this.props;
 
     const navItems = [];
 
@@ -56,7 +85,7 @@ export default class GettingStarted extends ImmutablePureComponent {
       }
 
       if (!columns.find(item => item.get('id') === 'NOTIFICATIONS')) {
-        navItems.push(<ColumnLink key='1' icon='bell' text={intl.formatMessage(messages.notifications)} to='/notifications' />);
+        navItems.push(<ColumnLink key='1' icon='bell' text={intl.formatMessage(messages.notifications)} badge={badgeDisplay(unreadNotifications)} to='/notifications' />);
       }
 
       if (!columns.find(item => item.get('id') === 'COMMUNITY')) {
@@ -74,7 +103,7 @@ export default class GettingStarted extends ImmutablePureComponent {
     );
 
     if (myAccount.get('locked')) {
-      navItems.push(<ColumnLink key='6' icon='users' text={intl.formatMessage(messages.follow_requests)} to='/follow_requests' />);
+      navItems.push(<ColumnLink key='6' icon='users' text={intl.formatMessage(messages.follow_requests)} badge={badgeDisplay(unreadFollowRequests, 40)} to='/follow_requests' />);
     }
 
     if (multiColumn) {
diff --git a/app/javascript/mastodon/features/ui/components/column_link.js b/app/javascript/mastodon/features/ui/components/column_link.js
index a906162135..25c2d1cf86 100644
--- a/app/javascript/mastodon/features/ui/components/column_link.js
+++ b/app/javascript/mastodon/features/ui/components/column_link.js
@@ -2,12 +2,15 @@ import React from 'react';
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import { Link } from 'react-router-dom';
 
-const ColumnLink = ({ icon, text, to, href, method }) => {
+const ColumnLink = ({ icon, text, to, href, method, badge }) => {
+  const badgeElement = typeof badge !== 'undefined' ? <span className='column-link__badge'>{badge}</span> : null;
+
   if (href) {
     return (
       <a href={href} className='column-link' data-method={method}>
         <i className={`fa fa-fw fa-${icon} column-link__icon`} />
         {text}
+        {badgeElement}
       </a>
     );
   } else {
@@ -15,6 +18,7 @@ const ColumnLink = ({ icon, text, to, href, method }) => {
       <Link to={to} className='column-link'>
         <i className={`fa fa-fw fa-${icon} column-link__icon`} />
         {text}
+        {badgeElement}
       </Link>
     );
   }
@@ -26,6 +30,7 @@ ColumnLink.propTypes = {
   to: PropTypes.string,
   href: PropTypes.string,
   method: PropTypes.string,
+  badge: PropTypes.node,
 };
 
 export default ColumnLink;
diff --git a/app/javascript/styles/mastodon/components.scss b/app/javascript/styles/mastodon/components.scss
index 4a9a379a8e..55cb40c320 100644
--- a/app/javascript/styles/mastodon/components.scss
+++ b/app/javascript/styles/mastodon/components.scss
@@ -2070,6 +2070,17 @@
   margin-right: 5px;
 }
 
+.column-link__badge {
+  display: inline-block;
+  border-radius: 4px;
+  font-size: 12px;
+  line-height: 19px;
+  font-weight: 500;
+  background: $ui-base-color;
+  padding: 4px 8px;
+  margin: -6px 10px;
+}
+
 .column-subheading {
   background: $ui-base-color;
   color: $ui-base-lighter-color;