diff --git a/Tusker/TimelineLikeController.swift b/Tusker/TimelineLikeController.swift
index 523bc58db..3e41bdb71 100644
--- a/Tusker/TimelineLikeController.swift
+++ b/Tusker/TimelineLikeController.swift
@@ -96,7 +96,11 @@ actor TimelineLikeController<Item> {
             return
         }
         let token = LoadAttemptToken()
-        guard await delegate.canLoadOlder() else {
+        guard await delegate.canLoadOlder(),
+              // Make sure we're still in the idle state before continuing on, since that may have chnaged while waiting for user input.
+              // If the load more cell appears, then the users scrolls up and back down, the VC may kick off a second loadOlder task
+              // but we only want one to proceed. The actor prevents a data race, and this prevents multiple simultaneousl loadOlder tasks from running.
+              state == .idle else {
             return
         }
         state = .loadingOlder(token, hasAddedLoadingIndicator: false)