diff --git a/src/digest.ts b/src/digest.ts
index d18c515..334a2c8 100644
--- a/src/digest.ts
+++ b/src/digest.ts
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ export class Digest {
     for (const pk of pubkeys) {
       try {
         await loadProfile(pk)
+        await waitForProfile(pk)
       } catch {
         // pass
       }
@@ -175,4 +176,18 @@ const getFormatter = () => {
     timeStyle: 'short',
     timeZone: 'UTC',
   })
+}
+
+// Poll until the profile lands in the repository or hits a timeout. The load
+// promise can resolve before sharedLoad writes the event to the store, so only
+// the profile's presence here guarantees its avatar/name.
+const waitForProfile = async (pubkey: string, timeoutMs = 5000) => {
+  const deadline = Date.now() + timeoutMs
+
+  while (Date.now() < deadline) {
+    if (profilesByPubkey.get().get(pubkey)) {
+      return
+    }
+    await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 200))
+  }
 }
\ No newline at end of file