diff --git a/src/components/CircleDetails.vue b/src/components/CircleDetails.vue
index 53ee30d368..83b6a703a9 100644
--- a/src/components/CircleDetails.vue
+++ b/src/components/CircleDetails.vue
@@ -905,7 +905,7 @@ export default {
 		},
 
 		async loadAvatarUrl() {
-			if (!this.avatarSupported) {
+			if (!this.avatarSupported || !this.circle.isMember) {
 				return
 			}
 			try {
diff --git a/src/store/circles.js b/src/store/circles.js
index 0fefd16583..fdaabc3e52 100644
--- a/src/store/circles.js
+++ b/src/store/circles.js
@@ -168,6 +168,10 @@ const actions = {
 	 */
 	async getCircleMembers(context, circleId) {
 		const circle = context.getters.getCircle(circleId)
+		// skip if current user is not a member (e.g. visible circle)
+		if (!circle.isMember) {
+			return
+		}
 		const members = await getCircleMembers(circleId)
 
 		logger.debug(`${circleId} have ${members.length} member(s)`, { members })