diff --git a/lib/controllers/reader.js b/lib/controllers/reader.js
index b6160fc..668f02d 100644
--- a/lib/controllers/reader.js
+++ b/lib/controllers/reader.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 import { getTimelineItems, countUnreadItems } from "../storage/timeline.js";
 import {
   getNotifications,
+  getDirectConversations,
   getUnreadNotificationCount,
   getNotificationCountsByType,
   markAllNotificationsRead,
@@ -138,6 +139,31 @@ export function notificationsController(mountPath) {
         options.type = tab;
       }
 
+      // CSRF token for action forms
+      const csrfToken = getToken(request.session);
+
+      // Direct messages tab uses conversation grouping instead of flat list
+      if (tab === "mention") {
+        const [conversations, unreadCount, tabCounts] = await Promise.all([
+          getDirectConversations(collections),
+          getUnreadNotificationCount(collections),
+          getNotificationCountsByType(collections),
+        ]);
+
+        return response.render("activitypub-notifications", {
+          title: response.locals.__("activitypub.notifications.title"),
+          readerParent: { href: `${mountPath}/admin/reader`, text: response.locals.__("activitypub.reader.title") },
+          conversations,
+          items: [],
+          before: null,
+          tab,
+          tabCounts,
+          unreadCount,
+          csrfToken,
+          mountPath,
+        });
+      }
+
       // Get filtered notifications + counts in parallel
       const [result, unreadCount, tabCounts] = await Promise.all([
         getNotifications(collections, options),
@@ -145,9 +171,6 @@ export function notificationsController(mountPath) {
         getNotificationCountsByType(collections),
       ]);
 
-      // CSRF token for action forms
-      const csrfToken = getToken(request.session);
-
       response.render("activitypub-notifications", {
         title: response.locals.__("activitypub.notifications.title"),
         readerParent: { href: `${mountPath}/admin/reader`, text: response.locals.__("activitypub.reader.title") },