diff --git a/backend/oasst_backend/api/v1/frontend_users.py b/backend/oasst_backend/api/v1/frontend_users.py
index 5d96aa90..51f8cd20 100644
--- a/backend/oasst_backend/api/v1/frontend_users.py
+++ b/backend/oasst_backend/api/v1/frontend_users.py
@@ -105,8 +105,8 @@ def query_frontend_user_messages_cursor(
     db: Session = Depends(deps.get_db),
 ):
     return get_messages_cursor(
-        lt=lt,
-        gt=gt,
+        before=lt,
+        after=gt,
         auth_method=auth_method,
         username=username,
         only_roots=only_roots,
diff --git a/backend/oasst_backend/api/v1/messages.py b/backend/oasst_backend/api/v1/messages.py
index 1ef1e929..d3d5e1c3 100644
--- a/backend/oasst_backend/api/v1/messages.py
+++ b/backend/oasst_backend/api/v1/messages.py
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ def query_messages(
 
 @router.get("/cursor", response_model=protocol.MessagePage)
 def get_messages_cursor(
-    lt: Optional[str] = None,
-    gt: Optional[str] = None,
+    before: Optional[str] = None,
+    after: Optional[str] = None,
     user_id: Optional[UUID] = None,
     auth_method: Optional[str] = None,
     username: Optional[str] = None,
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ def get_messages_cursor(
     api_client: ApiClient = Depends(deps.get_api_client),
     db: Session = Depends(deps.get_db),
 ):
+    assert max_count is not None
+
     def split_cursor(x: str | None) -> tuple[datetime, UUID]:
         if not x:
             return None, None
@@ -74,11 +76,21 @@ def get_messages_cursor(
         except ValueError:
             raise OasstError("Invalid cursor value", OasstErrorCode.INVALID_CURSOR_VALUE)
 
-    lte_created_date, lt_id = split_cursor(lt)
-    gte_created_date, gt_id = split_cursor(gt)
+    if desc:
+        gte_created_date, gt_id = split_cursor(before)
+        lte_created_date, lt_id = split_cursor(after)
+        query_desc = not (before is not None and not after)
+    else:
+        lte_created_date, lt_id = split_cursor(before)
+        gte_created_date, gt_id = split_cursor(after)
+        query_desc = before is not None and not after
+
+    print(f"{desc=} {query_desc=} {gte_created_date=} {lte_created_date=}")
+
+    qry_max_count = max_count + 1 if before is None or after is None else max_count
 
     pr = PromptRepository(db, api_client)
-    messages = pr.query_messages_ordered_by_created_date(
+    items = pr.query_messages_ordered_by_created_date(
         user_id=user_id,
         auth_method=auth_method,
         username=username,
@@ -89,22 +101,30 @@ def get_messages_cursor(
         lt_id=lt_id,
         only_roots=only_roots,
         deleted=None if include_deleted else False,
-        desc=desc,
-        limit=max_count,
+        desc=query_desc,
+        limit=qry_max_count,
     )
 
-    items = utils.prepare_message_list(messages)
+    num_rows = len(items)
+    if qry_max_count > max_count and num_rows == qry_max_count:
+        assert not (before and after)
+        items = items[:-1]
+
+    if desc != query_desc:
+        items.reverse()
+
+    items = utils.prepare_message_list(items)
     n, p = None, None
     if len(items) > 0:
-        if len(items) == max_count or gte_created_date:
+        if (num_rows > max_count and before) or after:
             p = str(items[0].id) + "$" + items[0].created_date.isoformat()
-        if len(items) == max_count or lte_created_date:
+        if num_rows > max_count or before:
             n = str(items[-1].id) + "$" + items[-1].created_date.isoformat()
     else:
-        if gte_created_date:
-            p = gte_created_date.isoformat()
-        if lte_created_date:
-            n = lte_created_date.isoformat()
+        if after:
+            p = lte_created_date.isoformat() if desc else gte_created_date.isoformat()
+        if before:
+            n = gte_created_date.isoformat() if desc else lte_created_date.isoformat()
 
     order = "desc" if desc else "asc"
     return protocol.MessagePage(prev=p, next=n, sort_key="created_date", order=order, items=items)
diff --git a/backend/oasst_backend/api/v1/users.py b/backend/oasst_backend/api/v1/users.py
index c7ff9f9c..63bb79ea 100644
--- a/backend/oasst_backend/api/v1/users.py
+++ b/backend/oasst_backend/api/v1/users.py
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ def get_users_cursor(
 
     items: list[protocol.FrontEndUser]
     qry_max_count = max_count + 1 if lt is None or gt is None else max_count
-    desc = lt and not gt
+    desc = lt is not None and not gt
 
     def get_next_prev(num_rows: int, lt: str | None, gt: str | None, key_fn: Callable[[protocol.FrontEndUser], str]):
         p, n = None, None
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ def get_users_cursor(
     def remove_extra_item(items: list[protocol.FrontEndUser], lt: str | None, gt: str | None):
         num_rows = len(items)
         if qry_max_count > max_count and num_rows == qry_max_count:
-            assert not (lt and gt)
+            assert not (lt is not None and gt is not None)
             items = items[:-1]
         if desc:
             items.reverse()
@@ -257,8 +257,8 @@ def query_user_messages_cursor(
     db: Session = Depends(deps.get_db),
 ):
     return get_messages_cursor(
-        lt=lt,
-        gt=gt,
+        before=lt,
+        after=gt,
         user_id=user_id,
         only_roots=only_roots,
         include_deleted=include_deleted,