diff --git a/src/components/views/rooms/ReadReceiptMarker.js b/src/components/views/rooms/ReadReceiptMarker.js
index 8f28d96f9d..35d745ae5a 100644
--- a/src/components/views/rooms/ReadReceiptMarker.js
+++ b/src/components/views/rooms/ReadReceiptMarker.js
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ module.exports = createReactClass({
     render: function() {
         const MemberAvatar = sdk.getComponent('avatars.MemberAvatar');
         if (this.state.suppressDisplay) {
-            return <div />;
+            return <div ref={this._avatar} />;
         }
 
         const style = {