diff --git a/code/modules/admin/sql_message_system.dm b/code/modules/admin/sql_message_system.dm
index 9ab87f5c218..a1f500b9bce 100644
--- a/code/modules/admin/sql_message_system.dm
+++ b/code/modules/admin/sql_message_system.dm
@@ -669,16 +669,7 @@
 		switch(type)
 			if("message")
 				output += "<font color='red' size='3'><b>Admin message left by [span_prefix("[admin_key]")] on [timestamp]</b></font>"
-				output += "<br><font color='red'>[text]</font><br>"
-				var/datum/db_query/query_message_read = SSdbcore.NewQuery(
-					"UPDATE [format_table_name("messages")] SET type = 'message sent' WHERE id = :id",
-					list("id" = message_id)
-				)
-				if(!query_message_read.warn_execute())
-					qdel(query_get_message_output)
-					qdel(query_message_read)
-					return
-				qdel(query_message_read)
+				output += "<br><font color='red'>[text] <A href='?_src_=holder;[HrefToken()];messageread=[message_id]'>(Click here to verify you have read this message)</A></font><br>"
 			if("note")
 				output += "<font color='red' size='3'><b>Note left by [span_prefix("[admin_key]")] on [timestamp]</b></font>"
 				output += "<br><font color='red'>[text]</font><br>"
diff --git a/code/modules/admin/topic.dm b/code/modules/admin/topic.dm
index 862d79911ac..d808d85eb99 100644
--- a/code/modules/admin/topic.dm
+++ b/code/modules/admin/topic.dm
@@ -400,6 +400,19 @@
 		var/target = href_list["showmessageckeylinkless"]
 		browse_messages(target_ckey = target, linkless = 1)
 
+	else if(href_list["messageread"])
+		if(!isnum(href_list["message_id"]))
+			return
+		var/rounded_message_id = round(href_list["message_id"], 1)
+		var/datum/db_query/query_message_read = SSdbcore.NewQuery(
+			"UPDATE [format_table_name("messages")] SET type = 'message sent' WHERE usr.key = :player_key AND id = :id",
+			list("id" = rounded_message_id)
+		)
+		if(!query_message_read.warn_execute())
+			qdel(query_message_read)
+			return
+		qdel(query_message_read)
+
 	else if(href_list["messageedits"])
 		if(!check_rights(R_ADMIN))
 			return