diff --git a/layouts/partials/highfive.html b/layouts/partials/highfive.html
index fa43c50..6a78263 100644
--- a/layouts/partials/highfive.html
+++ b/layouts/partials/highfive.html
@@ -26,14 +26,29 @@
 .highfive-btn {
   transition: opacity 0.2s ease;
 }
+
+.highfive-btn.no-js {
+  opacity: 0.6;
+  pointer-events: none;
+  cursor: not-allowed;
+}
 </style>
 
+{{ $apiUrl := printf "https://api.brandonrozek.com/highfive%s" .RelPermalink }}
+{{ $resource := resources.GetRemote $apiUrl }}
+{{ $initialCount := 0 }}
+{{ if $resource }}
+  {{ $highfiveData := $resource | transform.Unmarshal }}
+  {{ if $highfiveData.count }}
+    {{ $initialCount = $highfiveData.count }}
+  {{ end }}
+{{ end }}
+
 <div class="highfive-container">
   <p>
     Give me a high five (it's free):
-    <a href="#" id="highfive-btn" class="reply-button highfive-btn" role="button" aria-label="Give high five">
-      <i class="fa fa-hand-paper" style="margin-right: 0.5rem;" aria-hidden="true"></i>
-      (<span id="highfive-count" aria-live="polite">0</span>)
+    <a href="#" id="highfive-btn" class="reply-button highfive-btn no-js" role="button" aria-label="Give high five">
+      <i class="fa fa-hand-paper" style="margin-right: 0.5rem;" aria-hidden="true"></i>(<span id="highfive-count" aria-live="polite">{{ $initialCount }}</span>)
     </a>
     <span id="highfive-message" class="highfive-message" role="status" aria-live="polite"></span>
   </p>
@@ -62,7 +77,7 @@
 
   // State
   let isLoading = false;
-  let currentCount = 0;
+  let currentCount = {{ $initialCount }};
 
   /**
    * Initialize the high five functionality
@@ -78,8 +93,9 @@
       return;
     }
 
+    // Enable button now that JavaScript is available
+    elements.button.classList.remove('no-js');
     elements.button.addEventListener('click', handleHighFiveClick);
-    loadHighFiveCount();
   }
 
   /**
@@ -92,6 +108,12 @@
       headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' }
     });
 
+    // Handle 409 Conflict (already high-fived) as a special case
+    if (response.status === 409) {
+      const data = await response.json();
+      return { ...data, alreadyHighFived: true };
+    }
+
     if (!response.ok) {
       throw new Error(`HTTP ${response.status}: ${response.statusText}`);
     }
@@ -128,8 +150,8 @@
       const newCount = data.count || 0;
       currentCount = newCount;
       
-      // Check if user already gave a high five
-      if (data.message === 'Already logged') {
+      // Check if user already gave a high five (HTTP 409 response)
+      if (data.alreadyHighFived) {
         updateButtonContent('check', newCount);
         showMessage('👋 Already high-fived!', 'success');
         setButtonState('disabled');