diff --git a/src/state/CallViewModel.ts b/src/state/CallViewModel.ts
index 20105a85..5ff3d8d3 100644
--- a/src/state/CallViewModel.ts
+++ b/src/state/CallViewModel.ts
@@ -401,7 +401,9 @@ export class CallViewModel extends ViewModel {
    * The raw list of RemoteParticipants as reported by LiveKit
    */
   private readonly rawRemoteParticipants$: Observable<RemoteParticipant[]> =
-    connectedParticipantsObserver(this.livekitRoom).behavior(this.scope);
+    connectedParticipantsObserver(this.livekitRoom)
+      .pipe(startWith([]))
+      .behavior(this.scope);
 
   /**
    * Lists of RemoteParticipants to "hold" on display, even if LiveKit claims that
@@ -507,6 +509,21 @@ export class CallViewModel extends ViewModel {
     )
     .behavior(this.scope);
 
+  public readonly handsRaised$ = this.handsRaisedSubject$.behavior(this.scope);
+
+  public readonly reactions$ = this.reactionsSubject$
+    .pipe(
+      map((v) =>
+        Object.fromEntries(
+          Object.entries(v).map(([a, { reactionOption }]) => [
+            a,
+            reactionOption,
+          ]),
+        ),
+      ),
+    )
+    .behavior(this.scope);
+
   /**
    * List of MediaItems that we want to display
    */
@@ -1313,21 +1330,6 @@ export class CallViewModel extends ViewModel {
     },
   ).behavior(this.scope);
 
-  public readonly reactions$ = this.reactionsSubject$
-    .pipe(
-      map((v) =>
-        Object.fromEntries(
-          Object.entries(v).map(([a, { reactionOption }]) => [
-            a,
-            reactionOption,
-          ]),
-        ),
-      ),
-    )
-    .behavior(this.scope);
-
-  public readonly handsRaised$ = this.handsRaisedSubject$.behavior(this.scope);
-
   /**
    * Emits an array of reactions that should be visible on the screen.
    */
diff --git a/src/state/MuteAllAudioModel.test.ts b/src/state/MuteAllAudioModel.test.ts
index d7b4e0c4..66f17f61 100644
--- a/src/state/MuteAllAudioModel.test.ts
+++ b/src/state/MuteAllAudioModel.test.ts
@@ -26,11 +26,9 @@ test("muteAllAudio$", () => {
 
   muteAllAudio.unsubscribe();
 
-  expect(valueMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(6);
+  expect(valueMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(4);
   expect(valueMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(1, false); // startWith([false, muteAllAudioSetting.getValue()]);
   expect(valueMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, true); // setAudioEnabled$.next(false);
   expect(valueMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(3, false); // setAudioEnabled$.next(true);
-  expect(valueMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(4, false); // muteAllAudioSetting.setValue(false);
-  expect(valueMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(5, true); // muteAllAudioSetting.setValue(true);
-  expect(valueMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(6, true); // setAudioEnabled$.next(false);
+  expect(valueMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(4, true); // muteAllAudioSetting.setValue(true);
 });