diff --git a/src/skins/vector/css/atoms/MemberAvatar.css b/src/skins/vector/css/atoms/MemberAvatar.css
index 3cc6e94b2..ed324e9ce 100644
--- a/src/skins/vector/css/atoms/MemberAvatar.css
+++ b/src/skins/vector/css/atoms/MemberAvatar.css
@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@ limitations under the License.
     position: absolute;
     color: #fff;
     text-align: center;
+    speak: none;
 }
 
 .mx_MemberAvatar_image {
     border-radius: 20px;    
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/skins/vector/views/atoms/MemberAvatar.js b/src/skins/vector/views/atoms/MemberAvatar.js
index 7d96a91f8..c8606cd72 100644
--- a/src/skins/vector/views/atoms/MemberAvatar.js
+++ b/src/skins/vector/views/atoms/MemberAvatar.js
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
          
             return (
                 <span className="mx_MemberAvatar">
-                    <span className="mx_MemberAvatar_initial"
+                    <span className="mx_MemberAvatar_initial" aria-hidden="true"
                           style={{ fontSize: (this.props.width * 0.75) + "px",
                                    width: this.props.width + "px",
                                    lineHeight: this.props.height*1.2 + "px" }}>{ initial }</span>