diff --git a/src/toad/widgets/comms_sidebar.py b/src/toad/widgets/comms_sidebar.py
index bdcda4ff5..c06d93786 100644
--- a/src/toad/widgets/comms_sidebar.py
+++ b/src/toad/widgets/comms_sidebar.py
@@ -97,8 +97,8 @@ def __init__(self, row: CommsRow, *, expanded: bool):
     def sidebar(self) -> CommsSidebar:
         return self.query_ancestor(CommsSidebar)
 
-    def present(self, channel: ChannelRowModel) -> None:
-        """Paint the channel header from its model row."""
+    def present(self, channel: ChannelRowModel) -> frozenset[str]:
+        """Paint the header and return members whose channel pin changed."""
         previous, self.channel = self.channel, channel
         row = self.row
         if previous.label != channel.label:
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ def present(self, channel: ChannelRowModel) -> None:
             self.unread_badge.update(label, layout=width_changed)
             self.unread_badge.display = bool(label)
         self.sort_control.update_order(channel.order)
+        return previous.pinned_members ^ channel.pinned_members
 
     def toggle_members(self) -> None:
         super().toggle_members()
diff --git a/src/toad/widgets/sidebar_tree.py b/src/toad/widgets/sidebar_tree.py
index 7342ad0ba..91340c513 100644
--- a/src/toad/widgets/sidebar_tree.py
+++ b/src/toad/widgets/sidebar_tree.py
@@ -459,8 +459,7 @@ def apply_comms(self, sidebar: CommsSidebar, rows: Mapping[str, ChannelRowModel]
             for name in self.names:
                 group = sidebar.groups.get(name)
                 if group is not None:
-                    group.present(rows[name])
-                    group.sync_members(frozenset(group.member_keys))
+                    group.sync_members(group.present(rows[name]))
 
     def apply_welcome(self, channel_list: SidebarGroup, thread_list: SidebarGroup) -> None:
         channel_list.sync_members(self.names)