diff --git a/changelog.d/1864.bugfix b/changelog.d/1864.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..16f23b661e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/1864.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Accessibility: do not read initial used for avatar out loud.
diff --git a/libraries/designsystem/src/main/kotlin/io/element/android/libraries/designsystem/components/avatar/Avatar.kt b/libraries/designsystem/src/main/kotlin/io/element/android/libraries/designsystem/components/avatar/Avatar.kt
index ba2c42d547..b1e7bc6be0 100644
--- a/libraries/designsystem/src/main/kotlin/io/element/android/libraries/designsystem/components/avatar/Avatar.kt
+++ b/libraries/designsystem/src/main/kotlin/io/element/android/libraries/designsystem/components/avatar/Avatar.kt
@@ -27,18 +27,19 @@ import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
 import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
 import androidx.compose.ui.draw.clip
 import androidx.compose.ui.layout.ContentScale
+import androidx.compose.ui.semantics.clearAndSetSemantics
 import androidx.compose.ui.tooling.preview.Preview
 import androidx.compose.ui.tooling.preview.PreviewParameter
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.sp
 import coil.compose.AsyncImage
+import io.element.android.compound.theme.ElementTheme
 import io.element.android.libraries.designsystem.colors.AvatarColorsProvider
 import io.element.android.libraries.designsystem.preview.ElementThemedPreview
 import io.element.android.libraries.designsystem.preview.PreviewGroup
 import io.element.android.libraries.designsystem.preview.debugPlaceholderAvatar
 import io.element.android.libraries.designsystem.text.toSp
 import io.element.android.libraries.designsystem.theme.components.Text
-import io.element.android.compound.theme.ElementTheme
 import timber.log.Timber
 
 @Composable
@@ -96,7 +97,9 @@ private fun InitialsAvatar(
         val ratio = fontSize.value / originalFont.fontSize.value
         val lineHeight = originalFont.lineHeight * ratio
         Text(
-            modifier = Modifier.align(Alignment.Center),
+            modifier = Modifier
+                .clearAndSetSemantics {}
+                .align(Alignment.Center),
             text = avatarData.initial,
             style = originalFont.copy(fontSize = fontSize, lineHeight = lineHeight, letterSpacing = 0.sp),
             color = avatarColors.foreground,