diff --git a/frontend/src/components/list/MessageList.tsx b/frontend/src/components/list/MessageList.tsx
index 2aeeb20..9e1606b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/list/MessageList.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/list/MessageList.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useQuery } from "@tanstack/react-query";
+import { keepPreviousData, useQuery } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import { useVirtualizer } from "@tanstack/react-virtual";
 import { useEffect, useRef } from "react";
 
@@ -132,6 +132,9 @@ export function MessageList({
     queryKey: ["thread-labels", threadIds],
     queryFn: () => api.threadLabelsBatch(threadIds),
     enabled: threadIds.length > 0,
+    // The key changes whenever a row joins or leaves the list; keep the chips
+    // already known meanwhile, or every subject jumps left and back.
+    placeholderData: keepPreviousData,
   });
   const labelMap = labelsQuery.data ?? {};
 
@@ -199,7 +202,8 @@ export function MessageList({
                 height: item.size,
                 transform: `translateY(${item.start}px)`,
               }}
-              className={`group absolute inset-x-0 px-2 pt-[7px] ${
+              // A row leaving the list lets the ones below glide up into its place.
+              className={`group absolute inset-x-0 px-2 pt-[7px] motion-safe:transition-transform motion-safe:duration-200 motion-safe:ease-out ${
                 dimmed ? "pointer-events-none opacity-40" : "cursor-pointer"
               }`}
             >