diff --git a/deltachat-rpc-client/tests/conftest.py b/deltachat-rpc-client/tests/conftest.py
index 9bf4a1f75..e7899f7c5 100644
--- a/deltachat-rpc-client/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/deltachat-rpc-client/tests/conftest.py
@@ -180,9 +180,6 @@ class DirectImap:
 class IdleManager:
     def __init__(self, direct_imap) -> None:
         self.direct_imap = direct_imap
-        # fetch latest messages before starting idle so that it only
-        # returns messages that arrive anew
-        self.direct_imap.conn.fetch("1:*")
         self.direct_imap.conn.idle.start()
 
     def check(self, timeout=None) -> list[bytes]:
diff --git a/python/src/deltachat/direct_imap.py b/python/src/deltachat/direct_imap.py
index aa3e222e5..35491e41b 100644
--- a/python/src/deltachat/direct_imap.py
+++ b/python/src/deltachat/direct_imap.py
@@ -193,9 +193,6 @@ class IdleManager:
     def __init__(self, direct_imap) -> None:
         self.direct_imap = direct_imap
         self.log = direct_imap.account.log
-        # fetch latest messages before starting idle so that it only
-        # returns messages that arrive anew
-        self.direct_imap.conn.fetch("1:*")
         self.direct_imap.conn.idle.start()
 
     def check(self, timeout=None) -> List[bytes]: