diff --git a/src/domain/session/room/timeline/tiles/GapTile.js b/src/domain/session/room/timeline/tiles/GapTile.js
index 0cfbb491..98d197b9 100644
--- a/src/domain/session/room/timeline/tiles/GapTile.js
+++ b/src/domain/session/room/timeline/tiles/GapTile.js
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ export class GapTile extends SimpleTile {
                 console.error(`timeline.fillGap(): ${err.message}:\n${err.stack}`);
                 this._error = err;
                 this.emitChange("error");
+                // rethrow so caller of this method
+                // knows not to keep calling this for now
+                throw err;
             } finally {
                 this._loading = false;
                 this.emitChange("isLoading");