diff --git a/shared/components/rstack-collab-overlay.ts b/shared/components/rstack-collab-overlay.ts
index 3826a696..03115141 100644
--- a/shared/components/rstack-collab-overlay.ts
+++ b/shared/components/rstack-collab-overlay.ts
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ export class RStackCollabOverlay extends HTMLElement {
 			selection: existing?.selection ?? null,
 			lastSeen: Date.now(),
 		});
+		this.#ensureGcTimer();
 		this.#renderBadge();
 		if (this.#panelOpen) this.#renderPanel();
 	}
@@ -240,6 +241,7 @@ export class RStackCollabOverlay extends HTMLElement {
 				module: msg.module || existing?.module,
 				context: msg.context || existing?.context,
 			});
+			this.#ensureGcTimer();
 			this.#renderBadge();
 			if (this.#panelOpen) this.#renderPanel();
 		});
@@ -368,6 +370,7 @@ export class RStackCollabOverlay extends HTMLElement {
 			lastSeen: Date.now(),
 		};
 		this.#peers.set(msg.peer, peer);
+		this.#ensureGcTimer();
 		this.#renderBadge();
 		if (!this.#badgeOnly) {
 			this.#renderCursors();