diff --git a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-change-view/gr-change-view.html b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-change-view/gr-change-view.html
index 3f5bd13e4a..148cd342ac 100644
--- a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-change-view/gr-change-view.html
+++ b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-change-view/gr-change-view.html
@@ -587,6 +587,7 @@ limitations under the License.
             change-comments="[[_changeComments]]"
             project-name="[[_change.project]]"
             show-reply-buttons="[[_loggedIn]]"
+            on-message-anchor-tap="_handleMessageAnchorTap"
             on-reply="_handleMessageReply"></gr-messages-list>
       </template>
       <template is="dom-if" if="[[!_showMessagesView]]">
diff --git a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-change-view/gr-change-view.js b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-change-view/gr-change-view.js
index 42aae9cb6a..a905c9f883 100644
--- a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-change-view/gr-change-view.js
+++ b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-change-view/gr-change-view.js
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@
 
   const TRAILING_WHITESPACE_REGEX = /[ \t]+$/gm;
 
+  const MSG_PREFIX = '#message-';
+
   const ReloadToastMessage = {
     NEWER_REVISION: 'A newer patch set has been uploaded',
     RESTORED: 'This change has been restored',
@@ -720,10 +722,17 @@
       this.viewState.numFilesShown = numFilesShown;
     },
 
+    _handleMessageAnchorTap(e) {
+      const hash = MSG_PREFIX + e.detail.id;
+      const url = Gerrit.Nav.getUrlForChange(this._change,
+          this._patchRange.patchNum, this._patchRange.basePatchNum,
+          this._editMode, hash);
+      history.replaceState(null, '', url);
+    },
+
     _maybeScrollToMessage(hash) {
-      const msgPrefix = '#message-';
-      if (hash.startsWith(msgPrefix)) {
-        this.messagesList.scrollToMessage(hash.substr(msgPrefix.length));
+      if (hash.startsWith(MSG_PREFIX)) {
+        this.messagesList.scrollToMessage(hash.substr(MSG_PREFIX.length));
       }
     },
 
diff --git a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-change-view/gr-change-view_test.html b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-change-view/gr-change-view_test.html
index ef0a376628..4b6cc6c3d1 100644
--- a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-change-view/gr-change-view_test.html
+++ b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-change-view/gr-change-view_test.html
@@ -94,6 +94,20 @@ limitations under the License.
       return element.getComputedStyleValue(cssParam);
     };
 
+    test('_handleMessageAnchorTap', () => {
+      element._changeNum = '1';
+      element._patchRange = {
+        basePatchNum: 'PARENT',
+        patchNum: 1,
+      };
+      const getUrlStub = sandbox.stub(Gerrit.Nav, 'getUrlForChange');
+      const replaceStateStub = sandbox.stub(history, 'replaceState');
+      element._handleMessageAnchorTap({detail: {id: 'a12345'}});
+
+      assert.equal(getUrlStub.lastCall.args[4], '#message-a12345');
+      assert.isTrue(replaceStateStub.called);
+    });
+
     suite('keyboard shortcuts', () => {
       test('S should toggle the CL star', () => {
         const starStub = sandbox.stub(element.$.changeStar, 'toggleStar');
diff --git a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-message/gr-message.html b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-message/gr-message.html
index 19b0716baa..32c4c1fcc1 100644
--- a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-message/gr-message.html
+++ b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-message/gr-message.html
@@ -132,9 +132,12 @@ limitations under the License.
         right: var(--default-horizontal-margin);
         top: 10px;
       }
-      .date {
+      span.date {
         color: var(--deemphasized-text-color);
       }
+      span.date:hover {
+        text-decoration: underline;
+      }
       .dateContainer iron-icon {
         cursor: pointer;
       }
@@ -227,12 +230,12 @@ limitations under the License.
             </span>
           </template>
           <template is="dom-if" if="[[message.id]]">
-            <a class="date" href$="[[_computeMessageHash(message)]]" on-tap="_handleLinkTap">
+            <span class="date" on-tap="_handleAnchorTap">
               <gr-date-formatter
                   has-tooltip
                   show-date-and-time
                   date-str="[[message.date]]"></gr-date-formatter>
-            </a>
+            </span>
           </template>
           <iron-icon
               id="expandToggle"
diff --git a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-message/gr-message.js b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-message/gr-message.js
index 0590c73eb4..8ecd6b0a2b 100644
--- a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-message/gr-message.js
+++ b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-message/gr-message.js
@@ -23,18 +23,18 @@
   Polymer({
     is: 'gr-message',
 
-    /**
-     * Fired when this message's permalink is tapped.
-     *
-     * @event scroll-to
-     */
-
     /**
      * Fired when this message's reply link is tapped.
      *
      * @event reply
      */
 
+    /**
+     * Fired when the message's timestamp is tapped.
+     *
+     * @event message-anchor-tap
+     */
+
     listeners: {
       tap: '_handleTap',
     },
@@ -223,22 +223,12 @@
       return classes.join(' ');
     },
 
-    _computeMessageHash(message) {
-      return '#message-' + message.id;
-    },
-
-    _handleLinkTap(e) {
+    _handleAnchorTap(e) {
       e.preventDefault();
-
-      this.fire('scroll-to', {message: this.message}, {bubbles: false});
-
-      const hash = this._computeMessageHash(this.message);
-      // Don't add the hash to the window history if it's already there.
-      // Otherwise you mess up expected back button behavior.
-      if (window.location.hash == hash) { return; }
-      // Change the URL but don’t trigger a nav event. Otherwise it will
-      // reload the page.
-      page.show(window.location.pathname + hash, null, false);
+      this.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('message-anchor-tap', {
+        bubbles: true,
+        detail: {id: this.message.id},
+      }));
     },
 
     _handleReplyTap(e) {
diff --git a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-message/gr-message_test.html b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-message/gr-message_test.html
index 870f366fa6..64a5b26518 100644
--- a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-message/gr-message_test.html
+++ b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-message/gr-message_test.html
@@ -164,6 +164,24 @@ limitations under the License.
       });
     });
 
+    test('clicking on date link fires event', () => {
+      element.message = {
+        type: 'REVIEWER_UPDATE',
+        updated: '2016-01-12 20:24:49.448000000',
+        reviewer: {},
+        id: '47c43261_55aa2c41',
+      };
+      flushAsynchronousOperations();
+      const stub = sinon.stub();
+      element.addEventListener('message-anchor-tap', stub);
+      const dateEl = element.$$('.date');
+      assert.ok(dateEl);
+      MockInteractions.tap(dateEl);
+
+      assert.isTrue(stub.called);
+      assert.deepEqual(stub.lastCall.args[0].detail, {id: element.message.id});
+    });
+
     test('votes', () => {
       element.message = {
         author: {},
diff --git a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-messages-list/gr-messages-list.html b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-messages-list/gr-messages-list.html
index 0a7dacc759..80708a1d33 100644
--- a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-messages-list/gr-messages-list.html
+++ b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-messages-list/gr-messages-list.html
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ limitations under the License.
           hide-automated="[[_hideAutomated]]"
           project-name="[[projectName]]"
           show-reply-button="[[showReplyButtons]]"
-          on-scroll-to="_handleScrollTo"
+          on-message-anchor-tap="_handleAnchorTap"
           label-extremes="[[_labelExtremes]]"
           data-message-id$="[[message.id]]"></gr-message>
     </template>
diff --git a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-messages-list/gr-messages-list.js b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-messages-list/gr-messages-list.js
index 89a3523dc8..023431c57c 100644
--- a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-messages-list/gr-messages-list.js
+++ b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/change/gr-messages-list/gr-messages-list.js
@@ -184,8 +184,8 @@
       this.handleExpandCollapse(!this._expanded);
     },
 
-    _handleScrollTo(e) {
-      this.scrollToMessage(e.detail.message.id);
+    _handleAnchorTap(e) {
+      this.scrollToMessage(e.detail.id);
     },
 
     _hasAutomatedMessages(messages) {
diff --git a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/core/gr-navigation/gr-navigation.html b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/core/gr-navigation/gr-navigation.html
index bc31b60694..5be259c36d 100644
--- a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/core/gr-navigation/gr-navigation.html
+++ b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/core/gr-navigation/gr-navigation.html
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ limitations under the License.
     //        also be provided.
     //    - `edit`, optional, Boolean: whether or not to load the file list with
     //        edit controls.
+    //    - `messageHash`, optional, String: the hash of the change message to
+    //        scroll to.
     //
     // - Gerrit.Nav.View.SEARCH:
     //    - `query`, optional, String: the literal search query. If provided,
@@ -352,9 +354,11 @@ limitations under the License.
        * @param {number|string=} opt_basePatchNum The string 'PARENT' can be
        *     used for none.
        * @param {boolean=} opt_isEdit
+       * @param {string=} opt_messageHash
        * @return {string}
        */
-      getUrlForChange(change, opt_patchNum, opt_basePatchNum, opt_isEdit) {
+      getUrlForChange(change, opt_patchNum, opt_basePatchNum, opt_isEdit,
+          opt_messageHash) {
         if (opt_basePatchNum === PARENT_PATCHNUM) {
           opt_basePatchNum = undefined;
         }
@@ -368,6 +372,7 @@ limitations under the License.
           basePatchNum: opt_basePatchNum,
           edit: opt_isEdit,
           host: change.internalHost || undefined,
+          messageHash: opt_messageHash,
         });
       },
 
diff --git a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/core/gr-router/gr-router.js b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/core/gr-router/gr-router.js
index bdd0942d0c..2ea7e37356 100644
--- a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/core/gr-router/gr-router.js
+++ b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/core/gr-router/gr-router.js
@@ -395,6 +395,9 @@
       } else if (params.edit) {
         suffix += ',edit';
       }
+      if (params.messageHash) {
+        suffix += params.messageHash;
+      }
       if (params.project) {
         const encodedProject = this.encodeURL(params.project, true);
         return `/c/${encodedProject}/+/${params.changeNum}${suffix}`;
diff --git a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/core/gr-router/gr-router_test.html b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/core/gr-router/gr-router_test.html
index 53a7c07d21..270faf0cdd 100644
--- a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/core/gr-router/gr-router_test.html
+++ b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/core/gr-router/gr-router_test.html
@@ -281,6 +281,9 @@ limitations under the License.
         paramsWithQuery.basePatchNum = 5;
         assert.equal(element._generateUrl(paramsWithQuery),
             '/c/test/+/1234/5..10?revert&foo=bar');
+
+        params.messageHash = '#123';
+        assert.equal(element._generateUrl(params), '/c/test/+/1234/5..10#123');
       });
 
       test('change with repo name encoding', () => {