diff --git a/src/js/controller/mail-list.js b/src/js/controller/mail-list.js
index b405161..1a5c3a4 100644
--- a/src/js/controller/mail-list.js
+++ b/src/js/controller/mail-list.js
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ define(function(require) {
             $scope.selected = email;
             // set selected in parent scope ro it can be displayed in the read view
             $scope.$parent.selected = $scope.selected;
+
+            // mark selected message as 'read'
+            markAsRead(email);
         };
 
         $scope.synchronize = function() {
@@ -175,6 +178,27 @@ define(function(require) {
         function getFolder() {
             return $scope.$parent.currentFolder;
         }
+
+        function markAsRead(email) {
+            email.unread = false;
+
+            // only update imap state if user is logged in
+            if (!loggedIn) {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            emailDao.imapMarkMessageRead({
+                folder: getFolder().path,
+                uid: email.uid
+            }, function(err) {
+                if (err) {
+                    console.log(err);
+                    updateStatus('Error marking read!');
+                    $scope.$apply();
+                    return;
+                }
+            });
+        }
     };
 
     function createDummyMails(callback) {
diff --git a/src/js/dao/email-dao.js b/src/js/dao/email-dao.js
index c59e521..a92b348 100644
--- a/src/js/dao/email-dao.js
+++ b/src/js/dao/email-dao.js
@@ -384,6 +384,24 @@ define(function(require) {
         }, messageReady);
     };
 
+    EmailDAO.prototype.imapMarkMessageRead = function(options, callback) {
+        var self = this;
+
+        // validate options
+        if (!options.folder || !options.uid) {
+            callback({
+                errMsg: 'Invalid options!'
+            });
+            return;
+        }
+
+        self._imapClient.updateFlags({
+            path: options.folder,
+            uid: options.uid,
+            unread: false
+        }, callback);
+    };
+
     //
     // SMTP Apis
     //
diff --git a/test/new-unit/email-dao-test.js b/test/new-unit/email-dao-test.js
index 9053929..0aa4213 100644
--- a/test/new-unit/email-dao-test.js
+++ b/test/new-unit/email-dao-test.js
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ define(function(require) {
                 });
             });
 
-            describe('IMAP: get unread messages for folder', function() {
+            describe('IMAP: get unread message count for folder', function() {
                 it('should work', function(done) {
                     imapClientStub.unreadMessages.yields();
                     emailDao.unreadMessages(function(err) {
@@ -409,8 +409,23 @@ define(function(require) {
                     });
                 });
             });
-
         });
+
+        describe('IMAP: mark message as read', function() {
+            it('should work', function(done) {
+                imapClientStub.updateFlags.yields();
+
+                emailDao.imapMarkMessageRead({
+                    folder: 'asdf',
+                    uid: 1
+                }, function(err) {
+                    expect(imapClientStub.updateFlags.calledOnce).to.be.true;
+                    expect(err).to.not.exist;
+                    done();
+                });
+            });
+        });
+
     });
 
 });
\ No newline at end of file