diff --git a/web/src/pages/Explore.tsx b/web/src/pages/Explore.tsx
index 8989c7b05..9f80241c1 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/Explore.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/Explore.tsx
@@ -428,7 +428,9 @@ export default function Explore() {
           searchTerm={searchTerm}
           searchFilter={searchFilter}
           searchResults={searchResults}
-          isLoading={(isLoadingInitialData || isLoadingMore) ?? true}
+          isLoading={
+            (isLoadingInitialData || isLoadingMore || isValidating) ?? true
+          }
           hasMore={!isReachingEnd}
           columns={gridColumns}
           defaultView={defaultView}
diff --git a/web/src/views/search/SearchView.tsx b/web/src/views/search/SearchView.tsx
index 4d81a40f7..cf6640f18 100644
--- a/web/src/views/search/SearchView.tsx
+++ b/web/src/views/search/SearchView.tsx
@@ -397,11 +397,10 @@ export default function SearchView({
           </div>
         )}
 
-        {uniqueResults?.length == 0 &&
-          isLoading &&
+        {isLoading &&
           (searchTerm ||
             (searchFilter && Object.keys(searchFilter).length !== 0)) && (
-            <ActivityIndicator className="absolute left-1/2 top-1/2 -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2" />
+            <ActivityIndicator className="absolute left-1/2 top-1/2 z-50 -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 rounded-2xl bg-background/80 p-3 dark:bg-background/50" />
           )}
 
         {uniqueResults && (