diff --git a/src/screens/Messages/ChatList.tsx b/src/screens/Messages/ChatList.tsx
index 4624b01645..f046f6c50c 100644
--- a/src/screens/Messages/ChatList.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Messages/ChatList.tsx
@@ -131,7 +131,8 @@ export function MessagesScreen({navigation, route}: Props) {
           convo =>
             !leftConvos.includes(convo.id) &&
             !convo.muted &&
-            convo.unreadCount > 0,
+            convo.unreadCount > 0 &&
+            convo.members.every(member => member.handle !== 'missing.invalid'),
         ) ?? []
 
     return inbox
diff --git a/src/screens/Messages/Inbox.tsx b/src/screens/Messages/Inbox.tsx
index 12fc9c44ed..0f64d20140 100644
--- a/src/screens/Messages/Inbox.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Messages/Inbox.tsx
@@ -60,7 +60,12 @@ export function MessagesInboxScreen({}: Props) {
   }, [data, leftConvos])
 
   const hasUnreadConvos = useMemo(() => {
-    return conversations.some(conversation => conversation.unreadCount > 0)
+    return conversations.some(
+      conversation =>
+        conversation.members.every(
+          member => member.handle !== 'missing.invalid',
+        ) && conversation.unreadCount > 0,
+    )
   }, [conversations])
 
   return (