diff --git a/src/components/UserAvatar/index.tsx b/src/components/UserAvatar/index.tsx
index b1a17cd9..a2472e9e 100644
--- a/src/components/UserAvatar/index.tsx
+++ b/src/components/UserAvatar/index.tsx
@@ -163,18 +163,30 @@ function useDeferRemoteProfileAvatar(
       setAllowRemote(true)
       return
     }
-    const el = containerRef.current
-    if (!el) return
-    const io = new IntersectionObserver(
-      (entries) => {
-        if (entries.some((e) => e.isIntersecting)) {
-          setAllowRemote(true)
-        }
-      },
-      { root: null, rootMargin: `${AVATAR_VIEWPORT_MARGIN_PX}px`, threshold: 0.01 }
-    )
-    io.observe(el)
-    return () => io.disconnect()
+    let io: IntersectionObserver | null = null
+    let raf = 0
+    const attach = () => {
+      const el = containerRef.current
+      if (!el || io) return
+      io = new IntersectionObserver(
+        (entries) => {
+          if (entries.some((e) => e.isIntersecting)) {
+            setAllowRemote(true)
+          }
+        },
+        { root: null, rootMargin: `${AVATAR_VIEWPORT_MARGIN_PX}px`, threshold: 0.01 }
+      )
+      io.observe(el)
+    }
+    attach()
+    // Ref can still be null on the first effect tick (layout ordering); retry once after paint.
+    if (!containerRef.current) {
+      raf = window.requestAnimationFrame(() => attach())
+    }
+    return () => {
+      if (raf) cancelAnimationFrame(raf)
+      io?.disconnect()
+    }
   }, [remoteHttp, allowRemote, containerRef, deferRemote])
 
   if (sizeBlocked) return fallbackSrc
diff --git a/src/hooks/useFetchProfile.tsx b/src/hooks/useFetchProfile.tsx
index 80dd2f6e..405dae67 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useFetchProfile.tsx
+++ b/src/hooks/useFetchProfile.tsx
@@ -89,9 +89,23 @@ export function useFetchProfile(id?: string, skipCache = false) {
       return null
     }
     
-    // CRITICAL: Check cooldown period first to prevent cascade of duplicate fetches after timeout
+    // CRITICAL: Check cooldown period first to prevent cascade of duplicate fetches after timeout.
+    // Still hydrate from session/IndexedDB — otherwise new rows remount after a timeout and stay on
+    // identicons until cooldown ends with no effect re-run (deps unchanged).
     const cooldownExpiry = globalFetchCooldowns.get(pubkey)
     if (cooldownExpiry && Date.now() < cooldownExpiry) {
+      const cachedDuringCooldown = await tryHydrateProfileFromLocalCaches(pubkey, skipCache)
+      if (!cancelled.current && cachedDuringCooldown) {
+        setProfile(cachedDuringCooldown)
+        setIsFetching(false)
+        initializedPubkeysRef.current.add(pubkey)
+        if (checkIntervalRef.current) {
+          clearInterval(checkIntervalRef.current)
+          checkIntervalRef.current = null
+        }
+        effectRunCountRef.current.delete(pubkey)
+        return cachedDuringCooldown
+      }
       logger.debug('[useFetchProfile] In cooldown period after timeout, skipping fetch', {
         pubkey: pubkey.substring(0, 8),
         remainingMs: cooldownExpiry - Date.now()