diff --git a/lib/controllers/timeline.js b/lib/controllers/timeline.js
index d22fa52..be13143 100644
--- a/lib/controllers/timeline.js
+++ b/lib/controllers/timeline.js
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 import { IndiekitError } from "@indiekit/error";
 
 import { proxyItemImages } from "../media/proxy.js";
-import { getChannel } from "../storage/channels.js";
+import { getChannel, getChannelById } from "../storage/channels.js";
 import {
   getTimelineItems,
   markItemsRead,
@@ -72,8 +72,16 @@ export async function action(request, response) {
 
   validateChannel(channel);
 
-  // Verify channel exists
-  const channelDocument = await getChannel(application, channel, userId);
+  // Verify channel exists — try by UID first, fall back to ObjectId
+  // (timeline view may send ObjectId string for items from orphan channels)
+  let channelDocument = await getChannel(application, channel, userId);
+  if (!channelDocument) {
+    try {
+      channelDocument = await getChannelById(application, channel);
+    } catch {
+      // Invalid ObjectId format — channel string is not a valid ObjectId
+    }
+  }
   if (!channelDocument) {
     throw new IndiekitError("Channel not found", {
       status: 404,
diff --git a/views/partials/item-card.njk b/views/partials/item-card.njk
index f21c1bd..f5ae360 100644
--- a/views/partials/item-card.njk
+++ b/views/partials/item-card.njk
@@ -203,6 +203,7 @@
             data-action="mark-read"
             data-item-id="{{ item._id }}"
             {% if item._channelUid %}data-channel-uid="{{ item._channelUid }}"{% endif %}
+            {% if item._channelId %}data-channel-id="{{ item._channelId }}"{% endif %}
             title="Mark as read">
       {{ icon("checkboxChecked") }}
       <span class="visually-hidden">Mark read</span>
diff --git a/views/timeline.njk b/views/timeline.njk
index 4b0a83a..2fc4cf7 100644
--- a/views/timeline.njk
+++ b/views/timeline.njk
@@ -108,7 +108,8 @@
 
         const itemId = button.dataset.itemId;
         const channelUid = button.dataset.channelUid;
-        if (!itemId || !channelUid) return;
+        const channelId = button.dataset.channelId;
+        if (!itemId || (!channelUid && !channelId)) return;
 
         button.disabled = true;
 
@@ -116,7 +117,7 @@
           const formData = new URLSearchParams();
           formData.append('action', 'timeline');
           formData.append('method', 'mark_read');
-          formData.append('channel', channelUid);
+          formData.append('channel', channelUid || channelId);
           formData.append('entry', itemId);
 
           const response = await fetch(microsubApiUrl, {