diff --git a/src/NodeAnimator.tsx b/src/NodeAnimator.tsx
index ec0602b3b5..85151bf3b0 100644
--- a/src/NodeAnimator.tsx
+++ b/src/NodeAnimator.tsx
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 limitations under the License.
 */
 
-import React, { Key, ReactElement, ReactFragment, ReactInstance, ReactPortal } from "react";
+import React, { Key, MutableRefObject, ReactElement, ReactFragment, ReactInstance, ReactPortal } from "react";
 import ReactDom from "react-dom";
 
 interface IChildProps {
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ interface IProps {
 
     // a list of state objects to apply to each child node in turn
     startStyles: React.CSSProperties[];
+
+    innerRef?: MutableRefObject<any>;
 }
 
 function isReactElement(c: ReactElement | ReactFragment | ReactPortal): c is ReactElement {
@@ -123,6 +125,10 @@ export default class NodeAnimator extends React.Component<IProps> {
             }, 0);
         }
         this.nodes[k] = node;
+
+        if (this.props.innerRef) {
+            this.props.innerRef.current = node;
+        }
     }
 
     public render(): React.ReactNode {
diff --git a/src/components/views/rooms/ReadReceiptMarker.tsx b/src/components/views/rooms/ReadReceiptMarker.tsx
index 06fe783ce6..7b907e6f23 100644
--- a/src/components/views/rooms/ReadReceiptMarker.tsx
+++ b/src/components/views/rooms/ReadReceiptMarker.tsx
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ export default class ReadReceiptMarker extends React.PureComponent<IProps, IStat
         };
 
         return (
-            <NodeAnimator startStyles={this.state.startStyles}>
+            <NodeAnimator startStyles={this.state.startStyles} innerRef={this.avatar}>
                 <MemberAvatar
                     member={this.props.member ?? null}
                     fallbackUserId={this.props.fallbackUserId}
@@ -216,7 +216,6 @@ export default class ReadReceiptMarker extends React.PureComponent<IProps, IStat
                     aria-live="off"
                     size="14px"
                     style={style}
-                    ref={this.avatar}
                     hideTitle
                     tabIndex={-1}
                 />