diff --git a/src/components/dms/MessageProfileButton.tsx b/src/components/dms/MessageProfileButton.tsx
index 6f227de6..7e4422a6 100644
--- a/src/components/dms/MessageProfileButton.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dms/MessageProfileButton.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import React from 'react'
+import {View} from 'react-native'
 import {AppBskyActorDefs} from '@atproto/api'
 import {msg} from '@lingui/macro'
 import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
@@ -7,6 +8,7 @@ import {useMaybeConvoForUser} from '#/state/queries/messages/get-convo-for-membe
 import {atoms as a, useTheme} from '#/alf'
 import {Message_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as Message} from '../icons/Message'
 import {Link} from '../Link'
+import {canBeMessaged} from './util'
 
 export function MessageProfileButton({
   profile,
@@ -16,24 +18,54 @@ export function MessageProfileButton({
   const {_} = useLingui()
   const t = useTheme()
 
-  const {data: convoId} = useMaybeConvoForUser(profile.did)
+  const {data: convoId, isPending} = useMaybeConvoForUser(profile.did)
 
-  if (!convoId) return null
+  if (isPending) {
+    // show pending state based on declaration
+    if (canBeMessaged(profile)) {
+      return (
+        <View
+          testID="dmBtnLoading"
+          aria-hidden={true}
+          style={[
+            a.justify_center,
+            a.align_center,
+            t.atoms.bg_contrast_25,
+            a.rounded_full,
+            {width: 36, height: 36},
+          ]}>
+          <Message
+            style={[
+              t.atoms.text,
+              {marginLeft: 1, marginBottom: 1, opacity: 0.3},
+            ]}
+            size="md"
+          />
+        </View>
+      )
+    } else {
+      return null
+    }
+  }
 
-  return (
-    <Link
-      testID="dmBtn"
-      size="small"
-      color="secondary"
-      variant="solid"
-      shape="round"
-      label={_(msg`Message ${profile.handle}`)}
-      to={`/messages/${convoId}`}
-      style={[a.justify_center, {width: 36, height: 36}]}>
-      <Message
-        style={[t.atoms.text, {marginLeft: 1, marginBottom: 1}]}
-        size="md"
-      />
-    </Link>
-  )
+  if (convoId) {
+    return (
+      <Link
+        testID="dmBtn"
+        size="small"
+        color="secondary"
+        variant="solid"
+        shape="round"
+        label={_(msg`Message ${profile.handle}`)}
+        to={`/messages/${convoId}`}
+        style={[a.justify_center, {width: 36, height: 36}]}>
+        <Message
+          style={[t.atoms.text, {marginLeft: 1, marginBottom: 1}]}
+          size="md"
+        />
+      </Link>
+    )
+  } else {
+    return null
+  }
 }