diff --git a/app/services/activity.js b/app/services/activity.js
index 183e01a..5e7b50f 100644
--- a/app/services/activity.js
+++ b/app/services/activity.js
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ export default class ActivityService extends Service {
    * @param {string|null} pubkey The user's Nostr pubkey, or null
    */
   async load(pubkey) {
-    if (this.items.length > 0 && pubkey) return;
+    if (this.items.length > 0) return;
     this._userPubkey = pubkey || null;
     this._since = Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000) - SINCE_WINDOW;
     this.isLoading = true;
diff --git a/tests/unit/services/activity-test.js b/tests/unit/services/activity-test.js
index d992c23..cf4e40d 100644
--- a/tests/unit/services/activity-test.js
+++ b/tests/unit/services/activity-test.js
@@ -273,13 +273,17 @@ module('Unit | Service | activity', function (hooks) {
     assert.strictEqual(service._userPubkey, null);
   });
 
-  test('load with no pubkey clears items', async function (assert) {
+  test('load with no pubkey preserves existing items', async function (assert) {
     const service = this.owner.lookup('service:activity');
     service.items = [{ fake: true }];
 
     await service.load(null);
 
-    assert.strictEqual(service.items.length, 0);
+    assert.strictEqual(
+      service.items.length,
+      1,
+      'items preserved when already loaded'
+    );
   });
 
   test('_resolveSender applies profile when available', function (assert) {