diff --git a/webapp_post.py b/webapp_post.py
index e17300b0c..be70bf37e 100644
--- a/webapp_post.py
+++ b/webapp_post.py
@@ -1118,7 +1118,8 @@ def individualPostAsHtml(signingPrivateKeyPem: str,
                          showIcons: bool = False,
                          manuallyApprovesFollowers: bool = False,
                          showPublicOnly: bool = False,
-                         storeToCache: bool = True) -> str:
+                         storeToCache: bool = True,
+                         useCacheOnly: bool = False) -> str:
     """ Shows a single post as html
     """
     if not postJsonObject:
@@ -1176,6 +1177,8 @@ def individualPostAsHtml(signingPrivateKeyPem: str,
                                 signingPrivateKeyPem)
     if postHtml:
         return postHtml
+    if useCacheOnly:
+        return ''
 
     _logPostTiming(enableTimingLog, postStartTime, '4')
 
diff --git a/webapp_timeline.py b/webapp_timeline.py
index 2bac74ea6..14e1d45d5 100644
--- a/webapp_timeline.py
+++ b/webapp_timeline.py
@@ -810,6 +810,10 @@ def htmlTimeline(cssCache: {}, defaultTimeline: str,
                   + boxName + ' ' + str(timelineJson))
             return ''
 
+    useCacheOnly = False
+    if boxName == 'inbox':
+        useCacheOnly = True
+
     if timelineJson:
         # if this is the media timeline then add an extra gallery container
         if boxName == 'tlmedia':
@@ -876,7 +880,7 @@ def htmlTimeline(cssCache: {}, defaultTimeline: str,
                                              boxName != 'dm',
                                              showIndividualPostIcons,
                                              manuallyApproveFollowers,
-                                             False, True)
+                                             False, True, useCacheOnly)
                     _logTimelineTiming(enableTimingLog,
                                        timelineStartTime, boxName, '12')