diff --git a/src/pyj/book_list/home.pyj b/src/pyj/book_list/home.pyj
index b129f5a36c..b0cf8d0592 100644
--- a/src/pyj/book_list/home.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/book_list/home.pyj
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ def show_recent_stage2(books):
     to_sync = v'[]'
     username = get_interface_data().username
     for book in books:
-        if username and to_sync.length < 10:
+        if to_sync.length < 10:
             lr = book.last_read[username_key(username)] or new Date(0)  # noqa: unused-local
             to_sync.push(v'[book.key, lr]')
         authors = book.metadata.authors.join(' & ') if book.metadata.authors else _('Unknown')
@@ -128,8 +128,7 @@ def show_recent_stage2(books):
         ))
         if book.cover_name:
             db.get_file(book, book.cover_name, show_cover.bind(img_id))
-    if username:
-        start_sync(to_sync)
+    start_sync(to_sync)
     container.appendChild(E.div(style='margin: 1rem 1rem',
         create_button(
             _('Browse all downloaded books…'),
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/db.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/db.pyj
index e82093bfc6..5374086224 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/db.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/db.pyj
@@ -206,18 +206,18 @@ class DB:
         book.book_hash = manifest.book_hash.hash
         book.stored_files = {}
         book.is_complete = False
-        if get_interface_data().username:
-            newest_epoch = newest_pos = None
-            for pos in manifest.last_read_positions:
-                if newest_epoch is None or pos.epoch > newest_epoch:
-                    newest_epoch = pos.epoch
-                    newest_pos = pos.cfi
-            unkey = username_key(get_interface_data().username)
-            if newest_pos:
-                book.last_read[unkey] = new Date(newest_epoch * 1000)
-                book.last_read_position[unkey] = newest_pos
-            if manifest.annotations_map:
-                book.annotations_map[unkey] = manifest.annotations_map
+        newest_epoch = newest_pos = None
+        for pos in manifest.last_read_positions:
+            if newest_epoch is None or pos.epoch > newest_epoch:
+                newest_epoch = pos.epoch
+                newest_pos = pos.cfi
+        username = get_interface_data().username
+        unkey = username_key(username)
+        if newest_pos and username:
+            book.last_read[unkey] = new Date(newest_epoch * 1000)
+            book.last_read_position[unkey] = newest_pos
+        if manifest.annotations_map:
+            book.annotations_map[unkey] = manifest.annotations_map
 
         v'delete manifest.metadata'
         v'delete manifest.last_read_positions'