diff --git a/src/screens/Messages/List/ChatListItem.tsx b/src/screens/Messages/List/ChatListItem.tsx
index e9668b4e11..11c071082b 100644
--- a/src/screens/Messages/List/ChatListItem.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Messages/List/ChatListItem.tsx
@@ -24,8 +24,9 @@ import {useProfileShadow} from '#/state/cache/profile-shadow'
 import {useModerationOpts} from '#/state/preferences/moderation-opts'
 import {useSession} from '#/state/session'
 import {TimeElapsed} from '#/view/com/util/TimeElapsed'
-import {UserAvatar} from '#/view/com/util/UserAvatar'
+import {PreviewableUserAvatar} from '#/view/com/util/UserAvatar'
 import {atoms as a, useBreakpoints, useTheme, web} from '#/alf'
+import * as tokens from '#/alf/tokens'
 import {ConvoMenu} from '#/components/dms/ConvoMenu'
 import {Bell2Off_Filled_Corner0_Rounded as BellStroke} from '#/components/icons/Bell2'
 import {Link} from '#/components/Link'
@@ -203,6 +204,19 @@ function ChatListItemReady({
       onFocus={onFocus}
       onBlur={onMouseLeave}
       style={[a.relative]}>
+      <View
+        style={[
+          a.z_10,
+          a.absolute,
+          {top: tokens.space.md, left: tokens.space.lg},
+        ]}>
+        <PreviewableUserAvatar
+          profile={profile}
+          size={52}
+          moderation={moderation.ui('avatar')}
+        />
+      </View>
+
       <Link
         to={`/messages/${convo.id}`}
         label={displayName}
@@ -236,11 +250,8 @@ function ChatListItemReady({
               (hovered || pressed || focused) && t.atoms.bg_contrast_25,
               t.atoms.border_contrast_low,
             ]}>
-            <UserAvatar
-              avatar={profile.avatar}
-              size={52}
-              moderation={moderation.ui('avatar')}
-            />
+            {/* Avatar goes here */}
+            <View style={{width: 52, height: 52}} />
 
             <View style={[a.flex_1, a.justify_center, web({paddingRight: 45})]}>
               <View style={[a.w_full, a.flex_row, a.align_end, a.pb_2xs]}>
@@ -357,7 +368,7 @@ function ChatListItemReady({
           a.self_end,
           a.justify_center,
           {
-            right: a.px_lg.paddingRight,
+            right: tokens.space.lg,
             opacity: !gtMobile || showActions || menuControl.isOpen ? 1 : 0,
           },
         ]}