diff --git a/crates/prose-core-client/src/app/event_handlers/rooms_event_handler.rs b/crates/prose-core-client/src/app/event_handlers/rooms_event_handler.rs
index b4dd339d..ec462bb2 100644
--- a/crates/prose-core-client/src/app/event_handlers/rooms_event_handler.rs
+++ b/crates/prose-core-client/src/app/event_handlers/rooms_event_handler.rs
@@ -247,7 +247,21 @@ impl RoomsEventHandler {
                         is_self_event,
                         &availability,
                     );
-                    room_changed = true;
+
+                    if room.sidebar_state().is_in_sidebar() {
+                        if event.user_id.is_occupant_id() {
+                            // The participant list should be reloaded in the UI to reflect
+                            // the new availability…
+                            self.client_event_dispatcher.dispatch_room_event(
+                                room,
+                                ClientRoomEventType::ParticipantsChanged,
+                            );
+                        }
+
+                        // If this is a DM room, a SidebarChanged event will be fired down the
+                        // line, since the UI displays an availability indicator.
+                        room_changed = true;
+                    }
                 };
 
                 // if we do not have a room and the event is from a contact, we'll still want
diff --git a/crates/prose-core-client/src/domain/shared/models/user_endpoint_id.rs b/crates/prose-core-client/src/domain/shared/models/user_endpoint_id.rs
index de9a9b21..effe01db 100644
--- a/crates/prose-core-client/src/domain/shared/models/user_endpoint_id.rs
+++ b/crates/prose-core-client/src/domain/shared/models/user_endpoint_id.rs
@@ -45,6 +45,13 @@ impl UserEndpointId {
             UserEndpointId::Occupant(_) => None,
         }
     }
+
+    pub fn is_occupant_id(&self) -> bool {
+        match self {
+            UserEndpointId::Occupant(_) => true,
+            UserEndpointId::User(_) | UserEndpointId::UserResource(_) => false,
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 impl From<UserId> for UserEndpointId {
diff --git a/crates/prose-core-client/src/test/room_internals.rs b/crates/prose-core-client/src/test/room_internals.rs
index 781c9036..a58e8fc6 100644
--- a/crates/prose-core-client/src/test/room_internals.rs
+++ b/crates/prose-core-client/src/test/room_internals.rs
@@ -144,6 +144,11 @@ impl Participant {
         self
     }
 
+    pub fn set_availability(mut self, availability: Availability) -> Self {
+        self.availability = availability;
+        self
+    }
+
     pub fn set_name(mut self, name: impl Into<String>) -> Self {
         self.name = Some(name.into());
         self
diff --git a/crates/prose-core-client/tests/rooms_domain_service.rs b/crates/prose-core-client/tests/rooms_domain_service.rs
index 94e552e8..09a6225c 100644
--- a/crates/prose-core-client/tests/rooms_domain_service.rs
+++ b/crates/prose-core-client/tests/rooms_domain_service.rs
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ async fn test_joins_room() -> Result<()> {
 
     deps.client_event_dispatcher
         .expect_dispatch_room_event()
-        .times(3)
+        .times(6)
         .returning(|_, _| ());
 
     deps.user_profile_repo
diff --git a/crates/prose-core-client/tests/rooms_event_handler.rs b/crates/prose-core-client/tests/rooms_event_handler.rs
index 3c0d1fc5..b057b27d 100644
--- a/crates/prose-core-client/tests/rooms_event_handler.rs
+++ b/crates/prose-core-client/tests/rooms_event_handler.rs
@@ -55,12 +55,12 @@ async fn test_adds_participant() -> Result<()> {
 
     deps.client_event_dispatcher
         .expect_dispatch_room_event()
-        .once()
+        .times(2)
         .with(
             predicate::eq(room.clone()),
             predicate::eq(ClientRoomEventType::ParticipantsChanged),
         )
-        .return_once(|_, _| ());
+        .returning(|_, _| ());
 
     let event_handler = RoomsEventHandler::from(&deps.into_deps());
 
@@ -200,12 +200,12 @@ async fn test_handles_disconnected_participant() -> Result<()> {
 
     deps.client_event_dispatcher
         .expect_dispatch_room_event()
-        .once()
+        .times(2)
         .with(
             predicate::eq(room.clone()),
             predicate::eq(ClientRoomEventType::ParticipantsChanged),
         )
-        .return_once(|_, _| ());
+        .returning(|_, _| ());
 
     let event_handler = RoomsEventHandler::from(&deps.into_deps());
 
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ async fn test_handles_invite() -> Result<()> {
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]
-async fn test_handles_presence() -> Result<()> {
+async fn test_handles_user_presence() -> Result<()> {
     let mut deps = MockAppDependencies::default();
 
     let room = Room::for_direct_message(
@@ -596,6 +596,69 @@ async fn test_handles_presence() -> Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn test_handles_occupant_presence() -> Result<()> {
+    let mut deps = MockAppDependencies::default();
+
+    let room = Room::group(room_id!("room@muc.prose.org")).with_participants([(
+        occupant_id!("room@muc.prose.org/nick"),
+        Participant::owner()
+            .set_real_id(&user_id!("nick@prose.org"))
+            .set_availability(Availability::Available),
+    )]);
+
+    {
+        let room = room.clone();
+        deps.connected_rooms_repo
+            .expect_get()
+            .once()
+            .with(predicate::eq(room_id!("room@muc.prose.org")))
+            .return_once(move |_| Some(room.clone()));
+    }
+
+    {
+        let room = room.clone();
+        deps.client_event_dispatcher
+            .expect_dispatch_room_event()
+            .once()
+            .with(
+                predicate::eq(room.clone()),
+                predicate::eq(ClientRoomEventType::ParticipantsChanged),
+            )
+            .return_once(|_, _| ());
+    }
+
+    let event_handler = RoomsEventHandler::from(&deps.into_deps());
+
+    assert_eq!(
+        room.participants()
+            .get(&occupant_id!("room@muc.prose.org/nick").into())
+            .unwrap()
+            .availability,
+        Availability::Available
+    );
+
+    event_handler
+        .handle_event(ServerEvent::UserStatus(UserStatusEvent {
+            user_id: occupant_id!("room@muc.prose.org/nick").into(),
+            r#type: UserStatusEventType::AvailabilityChanged {
+                availability: Availability::DoNotDisturb,
+                priority: 1,
+            },
+        }))
+        .await?;
+
+    assert_eq!(
+        room.participants()
+            .get(&occupant_id!("room@muc.prose.org/nick").into())
+            .unwrap()
+            .availability,
+        Availability::DoNotDisturb
+    );
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn test_handles_contact_presence_with_no_room() -> Result<()> {
     let mut deps = MockAppDependencies::default();