diff --git a/src/state/CallViewModel.ts b/src/state/CallViewModel.ts
index 226f711fb..c5d7af81d 100644
--- a/src/state/CallViewModel.ts
+++ b/src/state/CallViewModel.ts
@@ -414,19 +414,23 @@ export class CallViewModel extends ViewModel {
             ),
       ),
       scan<(readonly [UserMedia, boolean])[], UserMedia, null>(
-        (prev, mediaItems) =>
+        (prev, mediaItems) => {
+          const stickyPrev = prev === null || prev.vm.local ? null : prev;
           // Decide who to spotlight:
           // If the previous speaker (not the local user) is still speaking,
           // stick with them rather than switching eagerly to someone else
-          (prev === null || prev.vm.local
-            ? null
-            : mediaItems.find(([m, s]) => m === prev && s)?.[0]) ??
-          // Otherwise, select any remote user who is speaking
-          mediaItems.find(([m, s]) => !m.vm.local && s)?.[0] ??
-          // Otherwise, stick with the person who was last speaking
-          prev ??
-          // Otherwise, spotlight the local user
-          mediaItems.find(([m]) => m.vm.local)![0],
+          return (
+            mediaItems.find(([m, s]) => m === stickyPrev && s)?.[0] ??
+            // Otherwise, select any remote user who is speaking
+            mediaItems.find(([m, s]) => !m.vm.local && s)?.[0] ??
+            // Otherwise, stick with the person who was last speaking
+            stickyPrev ??
+            // Otherwise, spotlight an arbitrary remote user
+            mediaItems.find(([m]) => !m.vm.local)?.[0] ??
+            // Otherwise, spotlight the local user
+            mediaItems.find(([m]) => m.vm.local)![0]
+          );
+        },
         null,
       ),
       distinctUntilChanged(),