diff --git a/config/vufind/AccountMenu.yaml b/config/vufind/AccountMenu.yaml
index 48acdc09dbf..0a614343410 100644
--- a/config/vufind/AccountMenu.yaml
+++ b/config/vufind/AccountMenu.yaml
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ MenuItems:
     label: saved_items
     route: myresearch-favorites
     icon: user-favorites
+    status: true
     checkMethod: checkFavorites
 
   - name: checkedout
diff --git a/module/VuFind/src/VuFind/AjaxHandler/GetUserFavoritesStatus.php b/module/VuFind/src/VuFind/AjaxHandler/GetUserFavoritesStatus.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0a02543f8de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/module/VuFind/src/VuFind/AjaxHandler/GetUserFavoritesStatus.php
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * "Get User Favorites Status" AJAX handler
+ *
+ * PHP version 8
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) Villanova University 2024.
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2,
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
+ *
+ * @category VuFind
+ * @package  AJAX
+ * @author   Demian Katz <demian.katz@villanova.edu>
+ * @license  http://opensource.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.php GNU General Public License
+ * @link     https://vufind.org/wiki/development Wiki
+ */
+
+namespace VuFind\AjaxHandler;
+
+use Laminas\Mvc\Controller\Plugin\Params;
+use VuFind\Db\Entity\UserEntityInterface;
+use VuFind\Db\Service\ResourceServiceInterface;
+use VuFind\Session\Settings as SessionSettings;
+
+use function count;
+
+/**
+ * "Get User Favorites Status" AJAX handler
+ *
+ * @category VuFind
+ * @package  AJAX
+ * @author   Demian Katz <demian.katz@villanova.edu>
+ * @license  http://opensource.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.php GNU General Public License
+ * @link     https://vufind.org/wiki/development Wiki
+ */
+class GetUserFavoritesStatus extends AbstractBase
+{
+    /**
+     * Constructor
+     *
+     * @param SessionSettings          $ss              Session settings
+     * @param ?UserEntityInterface     $user            Logged in user (or null)
+     * @param ResourceServiceInterface $resourceService Resoruce database service
+     */
+    public function __construct(
+        SessionSettings $ss,
+        protected ?UserEntityInterface $user,
+        protected ResourceServiceInterface $resourceService
+    ) {
+        $this->sessionSettings = $ss;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Handle a request.
+     *
+     * @param Params $params Parameter helper from controller
+     *
+     * @return array [response data, internal status code, HTTP status code]
+     */
+    public function handleRequest(Params $params)
+    {
+        $this->disableSessionWrites();  // avoid session write timing bug
+        $count = $this->user ? count($this->resourceService->getFavorites($this->user)) : 0;
+        return $this->formatResponse(compact('count'));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/module/VuFind/src/VuFind/AjaxHandler/GetUserFavoritesStatusFactory.php b/module/VuFind/src/VuFind/AjaxHandler/GetUserFavoritesStatusFactory.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..409cf577d44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/module/VuFind/src/VuFind/AjaxHandler/GetUserFavoritesStatusFactory.php
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * Factory for GetUserFavoritesStatus AJAX handler.
+ *
+ * PHP version 8
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) Villanova University 2024.
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2,
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
+ *
+ * @category VuFind
+ * @package  AJAX
+ * @author   Demian Katz <demian.katz@villanova.edu>
+ * @license  http://opensource.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.php GNU General Public License
+ * @link     https://vufind.org/wiki/development Wiki
+ */
+
+namespace VuFind\AjaxHandler;
+
+use Laminas\ServiceManager\Exception\ServiceNotCreatedException;
+use Laminas\ServiceManager\Exception\ServiceNotFoundException;
+use Psr\Container\ContainerExceptionInterface as ContainerException;
+use Psr\Container\ContainerInterface;
+use VuFind\Db\Service\ResourceServiceInterface;
+
+/**
+ * Factory for GetUserFavoritesStatus AJAX handler.
+ *
+ * @category VuFind
+ * @package  AJAX
+ * @author   Demian Katz <demian.katz@villanova.edu>
+ * @license  http://opensource.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.php GNU General Public License
+ * @link     https://vufind.org/wiki/development Wiki
+ */
+class GetUserFavoritesStatusFactory implements \Laminas\ServiceManager\Factory\FactoryInterface
+{
+    /**
+     * Create an object
+     *
+     * @param ContainerInterface $container     Service manager
+     * @param string             $requestedName Service being created
+     * @param null|array         $options       Extra options (optional)
+     *
+     * @return object
+     *
+     * @throws ServiceNotFoundException if unable to resolve the service.
+     * @throws ServiceNotCreatedException if an exception is raised when
+     * creating a service.
+     * @throws ContainerException&\Throwable if any other error occurs
+     *
+     * @SuppressWarnings(PHPMD.UnusedFormalParameter)
+     */
+    public function __invoke(
+        ContainerInterface $container,
+        $requestedName,
+        array $options = null
+    ) {
+        return new $requestedName(
+            $container->get(\VuFind\Session\Settings::class),
+            $container->get(\VuFind\Auth\Manager::class)->getUserObject(),
+            $container->get(\VuFind\Db\Service\PluginManager::class)->get(ResourceServiceInterface::class),
+            ...($options ?: [])
+        );
+    }
+}
diff --git a/module/VuFind/src/VuFind/AjaxHandler/PluginManager.php b/module/VuFind/src/VuFind/AjaxHandler/PluginManager.php
index 170f62d9b07..1ff1dbd71f0 100644
--- a/module/VuFind/src/VuFind/AjaxHandler/PluginManager.php
+++ b/module/VuFind/src/VuFind/AjaxHandler/PluginManager.php
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ class PluginManager extends \VuFind\ServiceManager\AbstractPluginManager
         'getSaveStatuses' => GetSaveStatuses::class,
         'getSearchResults' => GetSearchResults::class,
         'getSideFacets' => GetSideFacets::class,
+        'getUserFavoritesStatus' => GetUserFavoritesStatus::class,
         'getUserFines' => GetUserFines::class,
         'getUserHolds' => GetUserHolds::class,
         'getUserILLRequests' => GetUserILLRequests::class,
@@ -108,6 +109,7 @@ class PluginManager extends \VuFind\ServiceManager\AbstractPluginManager
         GetSaveStatuses::class => GetSaveStatusesFactory::class,
         GetSearchResults::class => GetSearchResultsFactory::class,
         GetSideFacets::class => GetSideFacetsFactory::class,
+        GetUserFavoritesStatus::class => GetUserFavoritesStatusFactory::class,
         GetUserFines::class => GetUserFinesFactory::class,
         GetUserHolds::class => AbstractIlsAndUserActionFactory::class,
         GetUserILLRequests::class => AbstractIlsAndUserActionFactory::class,
diff --git a/themes/bootstrap3/js/account_ajax.js b/themes/bootstrap3/js/account_ajax.js
index 80f64c53612..e517203a8ad 100644
--- a/themes/bootstrap3/js/account_ajax.js
+++ b/themes/bootstrap3/js/account_ajax.js
@@ -243,6 +243,20 @@ $(function registerAccountAjax() {
     }
   });
 
+  VuFind.account.register("favorites", {
+    selector: ".favorites-status",
+    ajaxMethod: "getUserFavoritesStatus",
+    render: function render($element, status, ICON_LEVELS) {
+      var html = '<span class="badge">' + parseInt(status.count || 0) + '</span>';
+      var level = ICON_LEVELS.NONE;
+      $element.html(html);
+      return level;
+    },
+    updateNeeded: function updateNeeded(currentStatus, status) {
+      return currentStatus.count !== status.count;
+    }
+  });
+
   VuFind.account.register("holds", {
     selector: ".holds-status",
     ajaxMethod: "getUserHolds",
diff --git a/themes/bootstrap3/templates/myresearch/mylist.phtml b/themes/bootstrap3/templates/myresearch/mylist.phtml
index da21f93fb72..e4d3e2b6f77 100644
--- a/themes/bootstrap3/templates/myresearch/mylist.phtml
+++ b/themes/bootstrap3/templates/myresearch/mylist.phtml
@@ -107,3 +107,7 @@
     <?=$this->recommend($current)?>
   <?php endforeach; ?>
 </div>
+
+<?php if (!isset($list)): ?>
+  <?=$this->render('myresearch/notify-account-status.phtml', ['method' => 'favorites', 'accountStatus' => ['count' => $recordTotal]]); ?>
+<?php endif; ?>
diff --git a/themes/bootstrap5/templates/myresearch/mylist.phtml b/themes/bootstrap5/templates/myresearch/mylist.phtml
index da21f93fb72..e4d3e2b6f77 100644
--- a/themes/bootstrap5/templates/myresearch/mylist.phtml
+++ b/themes/bootstrap5/templates/myresearch/mylist.phtml
@@ -107,3 +107,7 @@
     <?=$this->recommend($current)?>
   <?php endforeach; ?>
 </div>
+
+<?php if (!isset($list)): ?>
+  <?=$this->render('myresearch/notify-account-status.phtml', ['method' => 'favorites', 'accountStatus' => ['count' => $recordTotal]]); ?>
+<?php endif; ?>