diff --git a/src/globals.rs b/src/globals.rs
index f6c97a8f..e35a25f9 100644
--- a/src/globals.rs
+++ b/src/globals.rs
@@ -138,14 +138,24 @@ impl Globals {
             .or_insert_with(|| if let Some(u) = url { vec![u] } else { vec![] });
     }
 
+    pub fn trim_desired_events_sync() {
+        // danger - two locks could lead to deadlock, check other code locking these
+        // don't change the order, or else change it everywhere
+        let mut desired_events = GLOBALS.desired_events.blocking_lock();
+        let events = GLOBALS.events.blocking_lock();
+        desired_events.retain(|&id, _| !events.contains_key(&id));
+    }
+
+    pub async fn trim_desired_events() {
+        // danger - two locks could lead to deadlock, check other code locking these
+        // don't change the order, or else change it everywhere
+        let mut desired_events = GLOBALS.desired_events.lock().await;
+        let events = GLOBALS.events.lock().await;
+        desired_events.retain(|&id, _| !events.contains_key(&id));
+    }
+
     async fn get_desired_events_prelude() -> Result<(), Error> {
-        // Strip out Ids of events that we already have
-        {
-            // danger - two locks could lead to deadlock, check other code locking these
-            let mut desired_events = GLOBALS.desired_events.lock().await;
-            let events = GLOBALS.events.lock().await;
-            desired_events.retain(|&id, _| !events.contains_key(&id));
-        }
+        Self::trim_desired_events().await;
 
         // Load from database
         {
@@ -170,13 +180,7 @@ impl Globals {
             info!("Loaded {} desired events from the database", count);
         }
 
-        // Strip out Ids of events that we already have (again, we just loaded from db)
-        {
-            // danger - two locks could lead to deadlock, check other code locking these
-            let mut desired_events = GLOBALS.desired_events.lock().await;
-            let events = GLOBALS.events.lock().await;
-            desired_events.retain(|&id, _| !events.contains_key(&id));
-        }
+        Self::trim_desired_events().await; // again
 
         Ok(())
     }
diff --git a/src/overlord/mod.rs b/src/overlord/mod.rs
index d9a05278..103f6ea2 100644
--- a/src/overlord/mod.rs
+++ b/src/overlord/mod.rs
@@ -213,32 +213,7 @@ impl Overlord {
         }
 
         // Get desired events from relays
-        {
-            let (desired_events_map, desired_events_vec) = Globals::get_desired_events().await?;
-
-            info!(
-                "Seeking {} events",
-                desired_events_map.len() + desired_events_vec.len()
-            );
-
-            for (url, mut ids) in desired_events_map {
-                // Add the orphans
-                ids.extend(&desired_events_vec);
-
-                // If we don't have such a minion, start one
-                if !self.urls_watching.contains(&url) {
-                    // Start a minion
-                    self.start_minion(url.0.clone()).await?;
-                }
-
-                // Tell it to get these events
-                let _ = self.to_minions.send(BusMessage {
-                    target: url.0.clone(),
-                    kind: "fetch_events".to_string(),
-                    json_payload: serde_json::to_string(&ids).unwrap(),
-                });
-            }
-        }
+        self.get_missing_events().await?;
 
         'mainloop: loop {
             match self.loop_handler().await {
@@ -371,6 +346,9 @@ impl Overlord {
 
                     debug!("Settings saved.");
                 }
+                "get_missing_events" => {
+                    self.get_missing_events().await?;
+                }
                 _ => {}
             },
             _ => {}
@@ -378,4 +356,33 @@ impl Overlord {
 
         Ok(true)
     }
+
+    async fn get_missing_events(&mut self) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        let (desired_events_map, desired_events_vec) = Globals::get_desired_events().await?;
+
+        info!(
+            "Seeking {} events",
+            desired_events_map.len() + desired_events_vec.len()
+        );
+
+        for (url, mut ids) in desired_events_map {
+            // Add the orphans
+            ids.extend(&desired_events_vec);
+
+            // If we don't have such a minion, start one
+            if !self.urls_watching.contains(&url) {
+                // Start a minion
+                self.start_minion(url.0.clone()).await?;
+            }
+
+            // Tell it to get these events
+            let _ = self.to_minions.send(BusMessage {
+                target: url.0.clone(),
+                kind: "fetch_events".to_string(),
+                json_payload: serde_json::to_string(&ids).unwrap(),
+            });
+        }
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/ui/feed.rs b/src/ui/feed.rs
index c5fc9a31..e157237c 100644
--- a/src/ui/feed.rs
+++ b/src/ui/feed.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use super::GossipUi;
+use crate::comms::BusMessage;
 use crate::globals::{Globals, GLOBALS};
 use eframe::egui;
 use egui::{Align, Color32, Context, Layout, RichText, ScrollArea, TextStyle, Ui, Vec2};
@@ -10,6 +11,11 @@ pub(super) fn update(app: &mut GossipUi, ctx: &Context, frame: &mut eframe::Fram
 
     //let screen_rect = ctx.input().screen_rect; // Rect
 
+    let desired_count = {
+        Globals::trim_desired_events_sync();
+        GLOBALS.desired_events.blocking_lock().len()
+    };
+
     ui.horizontal(|ui| {
         ui.text_edit_multiline(&mut app.draft);
 
@@ -23,6 +29,20 @@ pub(super) fn update(app: &mut GossipUi, ctx: &Context, frame: &mut eframe::Fram
 
             app.draft = "".to_owned();
         }
+
+        ui.with_layout(Layout::right_to_left(Align::TOP), |ui| {
+            ui.with_layout(Layout::top_down(Align::Max), |ui| {
+                ui.label(&format!("{} missing events", desired_count));
+                if ui.button("Get 'em").clicked() {
+                    let tx = GLOBALS.to_overlord.clone();
+                    let _ = tx.send(BusMessage {
+                        target: "overlord".to_string(),
+                        kind: "get_missing_events".to_string(),
+                        json_payload: serde_json::to_string("").unwrap(),
+                    });
+                }
+            });
+        });
     });
 
     ScrollArea::vertical().show(ui, |ui| {