diff --git a/src/screens/Messages/components/MessagesList.tsx b/src/screens/Messages/components/MessagesList.tsx
index 6f56c6a898..727829795c 100644
--- a/src/screens/Messages/components/MessagesList.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Messages/components/MessagesList.tsx
@@ -709,6 +709,10 @@ function getFooterState(
   convoState: ActiveConvoStates,
   hasAcceptOverride?: boolean,
 ): FooterState {
+  if (convoState.convo.view.status === 'request' && !hasAcceptOverride) {
+    return 'request'
+  }
+
   if (convoState.items.length === 0) {
     if (convoState.isFetchingHistory) {
       return 'loading'
@@ -717,10 +721,6 @@ function getFooterState(
     }
   }
 
-  if (convoState.convo.view.status === 'request' && !hasAcceptOverride) {
-    return 'request'
-  }
-
   return 'standard'
 }