diff --git a/src/domain/session/room/timeline/TilesCollection.js b/src/domain/session/room/timeline/TilesCollection.js
index de2cb324..cb2621d6 100644
--- a/src/domain/session/room/timeline/TilesCollection.js
+++ b/src/domain/session/room/timeline/TilesCollection.js
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@ import BaseObservableList from "../../../../observable/list/BaseObservableList.j
 import sortedIndex from "../../../../utils/sortedIndex.js";
 
 // maps 1..n entries to 0..1 tile. Entries are what is stored in the timeline, either an event or fragmentboundary
+// for now, tileCreator should be stable in whether it returns a tile or not.
+// e.g. the decision to create a tile or not should be based on properties
+// not updated later on (e.g. event type)
+// also see big comment in onUpdate
 export default class TilesCollection extends BaseObservableList {
     constructor(entries, tileCreator) {
         super();
@@ -28,7 +32,7 @@ export default class TilesCollection extends BaseObservableList {
         let currentTile = null;
         for (let entry of this._entries) {
             if (!currentTile || !currentTile.tryIncludeEntry(entry)) {
-                currentTile = this._tileCreator(entry, this._emitSpontanousUpdate);
+                currentTile = this._tileCreator(entry);
                 if (currentTile) {
                     this._tiles.push(currentTile);
                 }
@@ -45,6 +49,11 @@ export default class TilesCollection extends BaseObservableList {
         if (prevTile) {
             prevTile.updateNextSibling(null);
         }
+        // now everything is wired up,
+        // allow tiles to emit updates
+        for (const tile of this._tiles) {
+            tile.setUpdateEmit(this._emitSpontanousUpdate);
+        }
     }
 
     _findTileIdx(entry) {
@@ -93,10 +102,11 @@ export default class TilesCollection extends BaseObservableList {
             return;
         }
 
-        const newTile = this._tileCreator(entry, this._emitSpontanousUpdate);
+        const newTile = this._tileCreator(entry);
         if (newTile) {
             if (prevTile) {
                 prevTile.updateNextSibling(newTile);
+                // this emits an update while the add hasn't been emitted yet
                 newTile.updatePreviousSibling(prevTile);
             }
             if (nextTile) {
@@ -105,6 +115,9 @@ export default class TilesCollection extends BaseObservableList {
             }
             this._tiles.splice(tileIdx, 0, newTile);
             this.emitAdd(tileIdx, newTile);
+            // add event is emitted, now the tile
+            // can emit updates
+            newTile.setUpdateEmit(this._emitSpontanousUpdate);
         }
         // find position by sort key
         // ask siblings to be included? both? yes, twice: a (insert c here) b, ask a(c), if yes ask b(a), else ask b(c)? if yes then b(a)?
@@ -141,6 +154,7 @@ export default class TilesCollection extends BaseObservableList {
         this._tiles.splice(tileIdx, 1);
         prevTile && prevTile.updateNextSibling(nextTile);
         nextTile && nextTile.updatePreviousSibling(prevTile);
+        tile.setUpdateEmit(null);
         this.emitRemove(tileIdx, tile);
     }
 
@@ -177,10 +191,12 @@ import ObservableArray from "../../../../observable/list/ObservableArray.js";
 import UpdateAction from "./UpdateAction.js";
 
 export function tests() {
-
     class TestTile {
-        constructor(entry, update) {
+        constructor(entry) {
             this.entry = entry;
+            this.update = null;
+        }
+        setUpdateEmit(update) {
             this.update = update;
         }
         tryIncludeEntry() {
@@ -211,15 +227,15 @@ export function tests() {
             class UpdateOnSiblingTile extends TestTile {
                 updateNextSibling() {
                     // this happens with isContinuation
-                    this.update(this, "next");
+                    this.update && this.update(this, "next");
                 }
                 updatePreviousSibling() {
                     // this happens with isContinuation
-                    this.update(this, "previous");
+                    this.update && this.update(this, "previous");
                 }
             }
             const entries = new ObservableArray([{n: 5}, {n: 10}]);
-            const tiles = new TilesCollection(entries, (e, u) => new UpdateOnSiblingTile(e, u));
+            const tiles = new TilesCollection(entries, entry => new UpdateOnSiblingTile(entry));
             let receivedAdd = false;
             tiles.subscribe({
                 onAdd(idx, tile) {
@@ -227,8 +243,9 @@ export function tests() {
                     receivedAdd = true;
                 },
                 onUpdate(idx, tile) {
-                    assert(tile.entry.n, 7);
-                    assert(!receivedAdd, "receiving update before add");
+                    if (tile.entry.n === 7) {
+                        assert(!receivedAdd, "receiving update before add");
+                    }
                 }
             });
             entries.insert(1, {n: 7});
diff --git a/src/domain/session/room/timeline/tiles/SimpleTile.js b/src/domain/session/room/timeline/tiles/SimpleTile.js
index 8733c0dc..7b1ed91f 100644
--- a/src/domain/session/room/timeline/tiles/SimpleTile.js
+++ b/src/domain/session/room/timeline/tiles/SimpleTile.js
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import UpdateAction from "../UpdateAction.js";
 
 export default class SimpleTile {
-    constructor({entry, emitUpdate}) {
+    constructor({entry}) {
         this._entry = entry;
-        this._emitUpdate = emitUpdate;
+        this._emitUpdate = null;
     }
     // view model props for all subclasses
     // hmmm, could also do instanceof ... ?
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@ export default class SimpleTile {
     }
 
     emitUpdate(paramName) {
-        this._emitUpdate(this, paramName);
+        if (this._emitUpdate) {
+            this._emitUpdate(this, paramName);
+        }
     }
 
     get internalId() {
@@ -33,6 +35,11 @@ export default class SimpleTile {
     get isPending() {
         return this._entry.isPending;
     }
+    // TilesCollection contract below
+    setUpdateEmit(emitUpdate) {
+        this._emitUpdate = emitUpdate;
+    }
+
     get upperEntry() {
         return this._entry;
     }