diff --git a/web/src/views/search/SearchView.tsx b/web/src/views/search/SearchView.tsx
index 4029804a3..836ae8f4f 100644
--- a/web/src/views/search/SearchView.tsx
+++ b/web/src/views/search/SearchView.tsx
@@ -399,9 +399,9 @@ export default function SearchView({
           </div>
         )}
 
-        {(!isLoading || uniqueResults?.length == 0) &&
-          isValidating &&
-          (searchTerm ||
+        {((isLoading && uniqueResults?.length == 0) || // show on initial load
+          (isValidating && !isLoading)) && // or revalidation
+          (searchTerm || // or change of filter/search term
             (searchFilter && Object.keys(searchFilter).length !== 0)) && (
             <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" />
           )}