diff --git a/static/js/memory.js b/static/js/memory.js
index fe8f7a978..d1cede62b 100644
--- a/static/js/memory.js
+++ b/static/js/memory.js
@@ -277,6 +277,7 @@ export function openMemoryModal(tabName = 'browse') {
       else if (m.default?.loadSkills) m.default.loadSkills(true);
     });
   }
+  if (mode === 'memory') return loadMemories();
 }
 
 function _decodeMemoryAnchorId(memoryId) {
@@ -297,9 +298,8 @@ function _resetMemoryDeepLinkFilters() {
 // Memory search output may expose a shortened id, so prefix matching is
 // intentional here.
 export async function openMemory(memoryId, attempt = 0) {
-  openMemoryModal('browse');
   _resetMemoryDeepLinkFilters();
-  await loadMemories();
+  await openMemoryModal('browse');
   if (renderMemoryList) renderMemoryList();
   const wanted = _decodeMemoryAnchorId(memoryId);
   if (!wanted) return;