diff --git a/.changeset/fix-timeline-blank-on-foreground.md b/.changeset/fix-timeline-blank-on-foreground.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a214a478f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/fix-timeline-blank-on-foreground.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+default: patch
+---
+
+Fix blank room timeline when app returns from background. When sliding sync delivers an `initial: true` response for the open room, a `TimelineReset` event now correctly shows skeleton placeholders while events reload instead of leaving an empty view.
diff --git a/src/app/features/room/RoomTimeline.tsx b/src/app/features/room/RoomTimeline.tsx
index 5c61d9dd4..9076d4502 100644
--- a/src/app/features/room/RoomTimeline.tsx
+++ b/src/app/features/room/RoomTimeline.tsx
@@ -328,6 +328,17 @@ export function RoomTimeline({
     []
   );
 
+  // If the timeline was blanked while content was already visible — e.g. a
+  // TimelineReset fired by mx.retryImmediately() when the app comes back from
+  // background — hide the timeline (opacity 0) and re-arm the initial-scroll so
+  // it runs again once events refill the live timeline.
+  useLayoutEffect(() => {
+    if (!isReady) return;
+    if (timelineSync.eventsLength > 0) return;
+    setIsReady(false);
+    hasInitialScrolledRef.current = false;
+  }, [isReady, timelineSync.eventsLength]);
+
   const recalcTopSpacer = useCallback(() => {
     const v = vListRef.current;
     if (!v) return;
@@ -640,7 +651,7 @@ export function RoomTimeline({
 
   const showLoadingPlaceholders =
     timelineSync.eventsLength === 0 &&
-    (timelineSync.canPaginateBack || timelineSync.backwardStatus === 'loading');
+    (!isReady || timelineSync.canPaginateBack || timelineSync.backwardStatus === 'loading');
 
   let backPaginationJSX: ReactNode | undefined;
   if (timelineSync.canPaginateBack || timelineSync.backwardStatus !== 'idle') {
@@ -708,7 +719,7 @@ export function RoomTimeline({
 
   const vListItemCount =
     timelineSync.eventsLength === 0 &&
-    (timelineSync.canPaginateBack || timelineSync.backwardStatus === 'loading')
+    (!isReady || timelineSync.canPaginateBack || timelineSync.backwardStatus === 'loading')
       ? 3
       : timelineSync.eventsLength;
   const vListIndices = useMemo(
@@ -840,7 +851,7 @@ export function RoomTimeline({
           minHeight: 0,
           overflow: 'hidden',
           position: 'relative',
-          opacity: isReady ? 1 : 0,
+          opacity: isReady || showLoadingPlaceholders ? 1 : 0,
         }}
       >
         <VList<ProcessedEvent>