diff --git a/crates/notedeck/src/filter.rs b/crates/notedeck/src/filter.rs
index 0ee4b31..6a57f76 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck/src/filter.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck/src/filter.rs
@@ -86,6 +86,13 @@ impl FilterStates {
         }
         self.states.insert(relay, state);
     }
+
+    /// For contacts, since that sub is managed elsewhere
+    pub fn set_all_states(&mut self, state: FilterState) {
+        for cur_state in self.states.values_mut() {
+            *cur_state = state.clone();
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 /// We may need to fetch some data from relays before our filter is ready.
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/app.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/app.rs
index 53f5cd2..ebc9500 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/app.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/app.rs
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ fn try_process_event(
         }
     }
 
-    for (_kind, timeline) in &mut damus.timeline_cache {
+    for (kind, timeline) in &mut damus.timeline_cache {
         let is_ready = timeline::is_timeline_ready(
             app_ctx.ndb,
             app_ctx.pool,
@@ -170,6 +170,9 @@ fn try_process_event(
             }
         } else {
             // TODO: show loading?
+            if matches!(kind, TimelineKind::List(ListKind::Contact(_))) {
+                timeline::fetch_contact_list(&mut damus.subscriptions, timeline, app_ctx.accounts);
+            }
         }
     }
 
@@ -881,7 +884,13 @@ fn timelines_view(
     let mut save_cols = false;
     if let Some(action) = side_panel_action {
         save_cols = save_cols
-            || action.process(&mut app.timeline_cache, &mut app.decks_cache, ctx, ui.ctx());
+            || action.process(
+                &mut app.timeline_cache,
+                &mut app.decks_cache,
+                ctx,
+                &mut app.subscriptions,
+                ui.ctx(),
+            );
     }
 
     let mut app_action: Option<AppAction> = None;
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/nav.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/nav.rs
index d3eb64c..17667fc 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/nav.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/nav.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@ use crate::{
     options::AppOptions,
     profile::{ProfileAction, SaveProfileChanges},
     route::{Route, Router, SingletonRouter},
+    subscriptions::Subscriptions,
     timeline::{
+        kind::ListKind,
         route::{render_thread_route, render_timeline_route},
         TimelineCache, TimelineKind,
     },
@@ -81,6 +83,7 @@ impl SwitchingAction {
         timeline_cache: &mut TimelineCache,
         decks_cache: &mut DecksCache,
         ctx: &mut AppContext<'_>,
+        subs: &mut Subscriptions,
         ui_ctx: &egui::Context,
     ) -> bool {
         match &self {
@@ -95,6 +98,15 @@ impl SwitchingAction {
                             ctx.pool,
                             ui_ctx,
                         );
+
+                        let contacts_sub = ctx.accounts.get_subs().contacts.remote.clone();
+                        // this is cringe but we're gonna get a new sub manager soon...
+                        subs.subs.insert(
+                            contacts_sub,
+                            crate::subscriptions::SubKind::FetchingContactList(TimelineKind::List(
+                                ListKind::Contact(*ctx.accounts.selected_account_pubkey()),
+                            )),
+                        );
                     }
 
                     if switch_action.switching_to_new {
@@ -476,6 +488,7 @@ fn process_render_nav_action(
                 &mut app.timeline_cache,
                 &mut app.decks_cache,
                 ctx,
+                &mut app.subscriptions,
                 ui.ctx(),
             ) {
                 return Some(ProcessNavResult::SwitchOccurred);
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/timeline/mod.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/timeline/mod.rs
index a82b698..ff1d167 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/timeline/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/timeline/mod.rs
@@ -593,18 +593,14 @@ pub fn send_initial_timeline_filter(
         }
 
         // we need some data first
-        FilterState::NeedsRemote => fetch_contact_list(subs, relay, timeline, accounts),
+        FilterState::NeedsRemote => fetch_contact_list(subs, timeline, accounts),
     }
 }
 
-pub fn fetch_contact_list(
-    subs: &mut Subscriptions,
-    relay: &mut PoolRelay,
-    timeline: &mut Timeline,
-    accounts: &Accounts,
-) {
-    let sub_kind = SubKind::FetchingContactList(timeline.kind.clone());
-    let sub = &accounts.get_subs().contacts;
+pub fn fetch_contact_list(subs: &mut Subscriptions, timeline: &mut Timeline, accounts: &Accounts) {
+    if timeline.filter.get_any_ready().is_some() {
+        return;
+    }
 
     let new_filter_state = match accounts.get_selected_account().data.contacts.get_state() {
         ContactState::Unreceived => {
@@ -617,10 +613,14 @@ pub fn fetch_contact_list(
         } => FilterState::GotRemote(filter::GotRemoteType::Contact),
     };
 
-    timeline
-        .filter
-        .set_relay_state(relay.url().to_string(), new_filter_state);
+    timeline.filter.set_all_states(new_filter_state);
 
+    let sub = &accounts.get_subs().contacts;
+    if subs.subs.contains_key(&sub.remote) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    let sub_kind = SubKind::FetchingContactList(timeline.kind.clone());
     subs.subs.insert(sub.remote.clone(), sub_kind);
 }