diff --git a/Tusker/Screens/Profile/ProfileStatusesViewController.swift b/Tusker/Screens/Profile/ProfileStatusesViewController.swift
index 14f1bfceeb..ca39f622d2 100644
--- a/Tusker/Screens/Profile/ProfileStatusesViewController.swift
+++ b/Tusker/Screens/Profile/ProfileStatusesViewController.swift
@@ -182,7 +182,8 @@ class ProfileStatusesViewController: TimelineLikeTableViewController<TimelineEnt
                 }
                 
                 self.mastodonController.persistentContainer.addAll(statuses: newPinnedStatues) {
-                    let oldPinnedStatuses = self.sections[0]
+                    // if the user refreshes before the initial pinned statuses request completes, self.sections will be empty
+                    let oldPinnedStatuses = self.sections.isEmpty ? [] : self.sections[0]
                     let pinnedStatues = newPinnedStatues.map { (status) -> TimelineEntry in
                         let state: StatusState
                         if let (_, oldState) = oldPinnedStatuses.first(where: { $0.id == status.id }) {