diff --git a/src/state/MediaViewModel.test.ts b/src/state/MediaViewModel.test.ts
index 61fa2d8c..2ca14d19 100644
--- a/src/state/MediaViewModel.test.ts
+++ b/src/state/MediaViewModel.test.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import {
   createLocalMedia,
   createRemoteMedia,
   withTestScheduler,
+  mockRemoteParticipant,
 } from "../utils/test";
 import { getValue } from "../utils/observable";
 import { constant } from "./Behavior";
@@ -44,7 +45,11 @@ const rtcMembership = mockRtcMembership("@alice:example.org", "AAAA");
 
 test("control a participant's volume", () => {
   const setVolumeSpy = vi.fn();
-  const vm = createRemoteMedia(rtcMembership, {}, { setVolume: setVolumeSpy });
+  const vm = createRemoteMedia(
+    rtcMembership,
+    {},
+    mockRemoteParticipant({ setVolume: setVolumeSpy }),
+  );
   withTestScheduler(({ expectObservable, schedule }) => {
     schedule("-ab---c---d|", {
       a() {
@@ -88,7 +93,7 @@ test("control a participant's volume", () => {
 });
 
 test("toggle fit/contain for a participant's video", () => {
-  const vm = createRemoteMedia(rtcMembership, {}, {});
+  const vm = createRemoteMedia(rtcMembership, {}, mockRemoteParticipant({}));
   withTestScheduler(({ expectObservable, schedule }) => {
     schedule("-ab|", {
       a: () => vm.toggleFitContain(),
@@ -199,3 +204,25 @@ test("switch cameras", async () => {
   });
   expect(deviceId).toBe("front camera");
 });
+
+test("remote media is in waiting state when participant has not yet connected", () => {
+  const vm = createRemoteMedia(rtcMembership, {}, null); // null participant
+  expect(vm.waitingForMedia$.value).toBe(true);
+});
+
+test("remote media is not in waiting state when participant is connected", () => {
+  const vm = createRemoteMedia(rtcMembership, {}, mockRemoteParticipant({}));
+  expect(vm.waitingForMedia$.value).toBe(false);
+});
+
+test("remote media is not in waiting state when participant is connected with no publications", () => {
+  const vm = createRemoteMedia(
+    rtcMembership,
+    {},
+    mockRemoteParticipant({
+      getTrackPublication: () => undefined,
+      getTrackPublications: () => [],
+    }),
+  );
+  expect(vm.waitingForMedia$.value).toBe(false);
+});
diff --git a/src/state/MediaViewModel.ts b/src/state/MediaViewModel.ts
index 74e64b93..3d0ff75b 100644
--- a/src/state/MediaViewModel.ts
+++ b/src/state/MediaViewModel.ts
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ abstract class BaseMediaViewModel {
     encryptionSystem: EncryptionSystem,
     audioSource: AudioSource,
     videoSource: VideoSource,
-    livekitRoom$: Behavior<LivekitRoom | undefined>,
+    protected readonly livekitRoom$: Behavior<LivekitRoom | undefined>,
     public readonly focusUrl$: Behavior<string | undefined>,
     public readonly displayName$: Behavior<string>,
     public readonly mxcAvatarUrl$: Behavior<string | undefined>,
@@ -596,6 +596,14 @@ export class LocalUserMediaViewModel extends BaseUserMediaViewModel {
  * A remote participant's user media.
  */
 export class RemoteUserMediaViewModel extends BaseUserMediaViewModel {
+  /**
+   * Whether we are waiting for this user's LiveKit participant to exist. This
+   * could be because either we or the remote party are still connecting.
+   */
+  public readonly waitingForMedia$ = this.scope.behavior<boolean>(
+    this.participant$.pipe(map((participant) => participant === null)),
+  );
+
   // This private field is used to override the value from the superclass
   private __speaking$: Behavior<boolean>;
   public get speaking$(): Behavior<boolean> {
diff --git a/src/tile/GridTile.test.tsx b/src/tile/GridTile.test.tsx
index e3172a22..9bc0efb2 100644
--- a/src/tile/GridTile.test.tsx
+++ b/src/tile/GridTile.test.tsx
@@ -12,7 +12,11 @@ import { axe } from "vitest-axe";
 import { type MatrixRTCSession } from "matrix-js-sdk/lib/matrixrtc";
 
 import { GridTile } from "./GridTile";
-import { mockRtcMembership, createRemoteMedia } from "../utils/test";
+import {
+  mockRtcMembership,
+  createRemoteMedia,
+  mockRemoteParticipant,
+} from "../utils/test";
 import { GridTileViewModel } from "../state/TileViewModel";
 import { ReactionsSenderProvider } from "../reactions/useReactionsSender";
 import type { CallViewModel } from "../state/CallViewModel/CallViewModel";
@@ -31,11 +35,11 @@ test("GridTile is accessible", async () => {
       rawDisplayName: "Alice",
       getMxcAvatarUrl: () => "mxc://adfsg",
     },
-    {
+    mockRemoteParticipant({
       setVolume() {},
       getTrackPublication: () =>
         ({}) as Partial<RemoteTrackPublication> as RemoteTrackPublication,
-    },
+    }),
   );
 
   const fakeRtcSession = {
diff --git a/src/tile/GridTile.tsx b/src/tile/GridTile.tsx
index 57409869..7768e8f0 100644
--- a/src/tile/GridTile.tsx
+++ b/src/tile/GridTile.tsx
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ interface UserMediaTileProps extends TileProps {
   vm: UserMediaViewModel;
   mirror: boolean;
   locallyMuted: boolean;
+  waitingForMedia?: boolean;
   primaryButton?: ReactNode;
   menuStart?: ReactNode;
   menuEnd?: ReactNode;
@@ -79,6 +80,7 @@ const UserMediaTile: FC<UserMediaTileProps> = ({
   vm,
   showSpeakingIndicators,
   locallyMuted,
+  waitingForMedia,
   primaryButton,
   menuStart,
   menuEnd,
@@ -194,7 +196,7 @@ const UserMediaTile: FC<UserMediaTileProps> = ({
       raisedHandTime={handRaised ?? undefined}
       currentReaction={reaction ?? undefined}
       raisedHandOnClick={raisedHandOnClick}
-      localParticipant={vm.local}
+      waitingForMedia={waitingForMedia}
       focusUrl={focusUrl}
       audioStreamStats={audioStreamStats}
       videoStreamStats={videoStreamStats}
@@ -290,6 +292,7 @@ const RemoteUserMediaTile: FC<RemoteUserMediaTileProps> = ({
   ...props
 }) => {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
+  const waitingForMedia = useBehavior(vm.waitingForMedia$);
   const locallyMuted = useBehavior(vm.locallyMuted$);
   const localVolume = useBehavior(vm.localVolume$);
   const onSelectMute = useCallback(
@@ -311,6 +314,7 @@ const RemoteUserMediaTile: FC<RemoteUserMediaTileProps> = ({
     <UserMediaTile
       ref={ref}
       vm={vm}
+      waitingForMedia={waitingForMedia}
       locallyMuted={locallyMuted}
       mirror={false}
       menuStart={
diff --git a/src/tile/MediaView.test.tsx b/src/tile/MediaView.test.tsx
index c8ffbefd..fdfdb631 100644
--- a/src/tile/MediaView.test.tsx
+++ b/src/tile/MediaView.test.tsx
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ describe("MediaView", () => {
     video: trackReference,
     userId: "@alice:example.com",
     mxcAvatarUrl: undefined,
-    localParticipant: false,
     focusable: true,
   };
 
@@ -66,24 +65,13 @@ describe("MediaView", () => {
     });
   });
 
-  describe("with no participant", () => {
-    it("shows avatar for local user", () => {
-      render(
-        <MediaView {...baseProps} video={undefined} localParticipant={true} />,
-      );
+  describe("with no video", () => {
+    it("shows avatar", () => {
+      render(<MediaView {...baseProps} video={undefined} />);
       expect(
         screen.getByRole("img", { name: "@alice:example.com" }),
       ).toBeVisible();
-      expect(screen.queryAllByText("Waiting for media...").length).toBe(0);
-    });
-    it("shows avatar and label for remote user", () => {
-      render(
-        <MediaView {...baseProps} video={undefined} localParticipant={false} />,
-      );
-      expect(
-        screen.getByRole("img", { name: "@alice:example.com" }),
-      ).toBeVisible();
-      expect(screen.getByText("Waiting for media...")).toBeVisible();
+      expect(screen.queryByTestId("video")).toBe(null);
     });
   });
 
@@ -94,6 +82,22 @@ describe("MediaView", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe("waitingForMedia", () => {
+    test("defaults to false", () => {
+      render(<MediaView {...baseProps} />);
+      expect(screen.queryAllByText("Waiting for media...").length).toBe(0);
+    });
+    test("shows and is accessible", async () => {
+      const { container } = render(
+        <TooltipProvider>
+          <MediaView {...baseProps} waitingForMedia={true} />
+        </TooltipProvider>,
+      );
+      expect(await axe(container)).toHaveNoViolations();
+      expect(screen.getByText("Waiting for media...")).toBeVisible();
+    });
+  });
+
   describe("unencryptedWarning", () => {
     test("is shown and accessible", async () => {
       const { container } = render(
diff --git a/src/tile/MediaView.tsx b/src/tile/MediaView.tsx
index e8a30cd4..8bb38d94 100644
--- a/src/tile/MediaView.tsx
+++ b/src/tile/MediaView.tsx
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ interface Props extends ComponentProps<typeof animated.div> {
   raisedHandTime?: Date;
   currentReaction?: ReactionOption;
   raisedHandOnClick?: () => void;
-  localParticipant: boolean;
+  waitingForMedia?: boolean;
   audioStreamStats?: RTCInboundRtpStreamStats | RTCOutboundRtpStreamStats;
   videoStreamStats?: RTCInboundRtpStreamStats | RTCOutboundRtpStreamStats;
   // The focus url, mainly for debugging purposes
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ export const MediaView: FC<Props> = ({
   raisedHandTime,
   currentReaction,
   raisedHandOnClick,
-  localParticipant,
+  waitingForMedia,
   audioStreamStats,
   videoStreamStats,
   focusUrl,
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ export const MediaView: FC<Props> = ({
             />
           )}
         </div>
-        {!video && !localParticipant && (
+        {waitingForMedia && (
           <div className={styles.status}>
             {t("video_tile.waiting_for_media")}
           </div>
diff --git a/src/tile/SpotlightTile.test.tsx b/src/tile/SpotlightTile.test.tsx
index fb7008b8..981c0369 100644
--- a/src/tile/SpotlightTile.test.tsx
+++ b/src/tile/SpotlightTile.test.tsx
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import {
   mockRtcMembership,
   createLocalMedia,
   createRemoteMedia,
+  mockRemoteParticipant,
 } from "../utils/test";
 import { SpotlightTileViewModel } from "../state/TileViewModel";
 import { constant } from "../state/Behavior";
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ test("SpotlightTile is accessible", async () => {
       rawDisplayName: "Alice",
       getMxcAvatarUrl: () => "mxc://adfsg",
     },
-    {},
+    mockRemoteParticipant({}),
   );
 
   const vm2 = createLocalMedia(
diff --git a/src/tile/SpotlightTile.tsx b/src/tile/SpotlightTile.tsx
index 48dd0f8c..8109784f 100644
--- a/src/tile/SpotlightTile.tsx
+++ b/src/tile/SpotlightTile.tsx
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ import {
   type MediaViewModel,
   ScreenShareViewModel,
   type UserMediaViewModel,
+  type RemoteUserMediaViewModel,
 } from "../state/MediaViewModel";
 import { useInitial } from "../useInitial";
 import { useMergedRefs } from "../useMergedRefs";
@@ -84,6 +85,21 @@ const SpotlightLocalUserMediaItem: FC<SpotlightLocalUserMediaItemProps> = ({
 
 SpotlightLocalUserMediaItem.displayName = "SpotlightLocalUserMediaItem";
 
+interface SpotlightRemoteUserMediaItemProps
+  extends SpotlightUserMediaItemBaseProps {
+  vm: RemoteUserMediaViewModel;
+}
+
+const SpotlightRemoteUserMediaItem: FC<SpotlightRemoteUserMediaItemProps> = ({
+  vm,
+  ...props
+}) => {
+  const waitingForMedia = useBehavior(vm.waitingForMedia$);
+  return (
+    <MediaView waitingForMedia={waitingForMedia} mirror={false} {...props} />
+  );
+};
+
 interface SpotlightUserMediaItemProps extends SpotlightItemBaseProps {
   vm: UserMediaViewModel;
 }
@@ -103,7 +119,7 @@ const SpotlightUserMediaItem: FC<SpotlightUserMediaItemProps> = ({
   return vm instanceof LocalUserMediaViewModel ? (
     <SpotlightLocalUserMediaItem vm={vm} {...baseProps} />
   ) : (
-    <MediaView mirror={false} {...baseProps} />
+    <SpotlightRemoteUserMediaItem vm={vm} {...baseProps} />
   );
 };
 
diff --git a/src/utils/test.ts b/src/utils/test.ts
index bd7dcd6f..c69a2269 100644
--- a/src/utils/test.ts
+++ b/src/utils/test.ts
@@ -319,12 +319,12 @@ export function mockLocalParticipant(
 }
 
 export function createLocalMedia(
-  localRtcMember: CallMembership,
+  rtcMember: CallMembership,
   roomMember: Partial<RoomMember>,
   localParticipant: LocalParticipant,
   mediaDevices: MediaDevices,
 ): LocalUserMediaViewModel {
-  const member = mockMatrixRoomMember(localRtcMember, roomMember);
+  const member = mockMatrixRoomMember(rtcMember, roomMember);
   return new LocalUserMediaViewModel(
     testScope(),
     "local",
@@ -359,22 +359,26 @@ export function mockRemoteParticipant(
 }
 
 export function createRemoteMedia(
-  localRtcMember: CallMembership,
+  rtcMember: CallMembership,
   roomMember: Partial<RoomMember>,
-  participant: Partial<RemoteParticipant>,
+  participant: RemoteParticipant | null,
 ): RemoteUserMediaViewModel {
-  const member = mockMatrixRoomMember(localRtcMember, roomMember);
-  const remoteParticipant = mockRemoteParticipant(participant);
+  const member = mockMatrixRoomMember(rtcMember, roomMember);
   return new RemoteUserMediaViewModel(
     testScope(),
     "remote",
     member.userId,
-    of(remoteParticipant),
+    constant(participant),
     {
       kind: E2eeType.PER_PARTICIPANT,
     },
     constant(
-      mockLivekitRoom({}, { remoteParticipants$: of([remoteParticipant]) }),
+      mockLivekitRoom(
+        {},
+        {
+          remoteParticipants$: of(participant ? [participant] : []),
+        },
+      ),
     ),
     constant("https://rtc-example.org"),
     constant(false),