diff --git a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/chat/group/GroupMemberInfoView.kt b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/chat/group/GroupMemberInfoView.kt
index 1dd23a66d4..eb3ba1f8be 100644
--- a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/chat/group/GroupMemberInfoView.kt
+++ b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/chat/group/GroupMemberInfoView.kt
@@ -895,7 +895,7 @@ private fun RoleSelectionRow(
 fun MemberProfileImage(
   size: Dp,
   mem: GroupMember,
-  color: Color = defaultProfileIconColor(),
+  color: Color = defaultProfileIconColorOnCanvas(),
   backgroundColor: Color? = null,
   async: Boolean = false
 ) {
diff --git a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/helpers/ChatInfoImage.kt b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/helpers/ChatInfoImage.kt
index 94ffc10087..959cb53089 100644
--- a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/helpers/ChatInfoImage.kt
+++ b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/helpers/ChatInfoImage.kt
@@ -25,9 +25,21 @@ import dev.icerock.moko.resources.ImageResource
 import kotlin.math.max
 
 @Composable
+// Default placeholder color for avatars rendered against a SectionView card
+// (white on LIGHT). 0.91 mix lands ~#E8, sitting 23 units below the white card —
+// visible without dominating.
 fun defaultProfileIconColor(): Color =
   if (CurrentColors.value.base == DefaultTheme.LIGHT)
-    MaterialTheme.colors.background.mixWith(MaterialTheme.colors.onBackground, 0.97f)
+    MaterialTheme.colors.background.mixWith(MaterialTheme.colors.onBackground, 0.91f)
+  else
+    MaterialTheme.colors.secondaryVariant
+
+// Variant for avatars rendered directly on the off-white canvas (chat list,
+// members list outside a card). 0.85 mix lands ~#D9, sitting 23 units below
+// the ~#F0 canvas — same absolute contrast as the card variant achieves on white.
+fun defaultProfileIconColorOnCanvas(): Color =
+  if (CurrentColors.value.base == DefaultTheme.LIGHT)
+    MaterialTheme.colors.background.mixWith(MaterialTheme.colors.onBackground, 0.85f)
   else
     MaterialTheme.colors.secondaryVariant