diff --git a/Tusker/Views/ZeroHeightCollectionViewCell.swift b/Tusker/Views/ZeroHeightCollectionViewCell.swift
index 5cb01044..043570ca 100644
--- a/Tusker/Views/ZeroHeightCollectionViewCell.swift
+++ b/Tusker/Views/ZeroHeightCollectionViewCell.swift
@@ -12,7 +12,12 @@ class ZeroHeightCollectionViewCell: UICollectionViewCell {
     override init(frame: CGRect) {
         super.init(frame: frame)
         
-        heightAnchor.constraint(equalToConstant: 0).isActive = true
+        // sometimes the collection view imposes a height constraint initially
+        // (though the zero height one still takes effect later)
+        // and we want to suppress the unsatisfiable constraints warning
+        let constraint = heightAnchor.constraint(equalToConstant: 0)
+        constraint.priority = .init(999)
+        constraint.isActive = true
     }
     
     required init?(coder: NSCoder) {