diff --git a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/messageview.py b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/messageview.py
index 04da214f7..36c778d12 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/messageview.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/messageview.py
@@ -99,10 +99,7 @@ class MessageView(QWidget):
         """Configure self._clear_timer according to the config."""
         interval = config.get('ui', 'message-timeout')
         if interval != 0:
-            multimpy_by = len(self._messages) + 1
-            if multimpy_by > 5:
-                multimpy_by = 5
-            interval *= multimpy_by
+            interval *= min(5, len(self._messages))
             self._clear_timer.setInterval(interval)
 
     @pyqtSlot()
@@ -130,13 +127,13 @@ class MessageView(QWidget):
         widget = Message(level, text, replace=replace, parent=self)
         self._vbox.addWidget(widget)
         widget.show()
-        if config.get('ui', 'message-timeout') != 0:
-            self._set_clear_timer_interval()
-            self._clear_timer.start()
         self._messages.append(widget)
         self._last_text = text
         self.show()
         self.update_geometry.emit()
+        if config.get('ui', 'message-timeout') != 0:
+            self._set_clear_timer_interval()
+            self._clear_timer.start()
 
     def mousePressEvent(self, e):
         """Clear messages when they are clicked on."""