diff --git a/src/skins/vector/css/atoms/MemberAvatar.css b/src/skins/vector/css/atoms/MemberAvatar.css
index 616882fd55..97dae35f7c 100644
--- a/src/skins/vector/css/atoms/MemberAvatar.css
+++ b/src/skins/vector/css/atoms/MemberAvatar.css
@@ -23,4 +23,8 @@ limitations under the License.
     position: absolute;
     color: #fff;
     text-align: center;
+}
+
+.mx_MemberAvatar_wrapper {
+    position: relative;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/skins/vector/views/atoms/MemberAvatar.js b/src/skins/vector/views/atoms/MemberAvatar.js
index 088e7de268..c4153b85c3 100644
--- a/src/skins/vector/views/atoms/MemberAvatar.js
+++ b/src/skins/vector/views/atoms/MemberAvatar.js
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
                 initial = this.props.member.name[1].toUpperCase();
          
             return (
-                <span>
+                <span className="mx_MemberAvatar_wrapper">
                     <span className="mx_MemberAvatar_initial"
                           style={{ fontSize: (this.props.width * 0.75) + "px",
                                    width: this.props.width + "px",