diff --git a/src/frontend/src/features/rooms/livekit/hooks/useRaisedHand.ts b/src/frontend/src/features/rooms/livekit/hooks/useRaisedHand.ts
index 1baabdb1..02351caa 100644
--- a/src/frontend/src/features/rooms/livekit/hooks/useRaisedHand.ts
+++ b/src/frontend/src/features/rooms/livekit/hooks/useRaisedHand.ts
@@ -19,5 +19,5 @@ export function useRaisedHand({ participant }: useRaisedHandProps) {
     }
   }
 
-  return { isHandRaised: parsedMetadata.raised, toggleRaisedHand }
+  return { isHandRaised: parsedMetadata.raised || false, toggleRaisedHand }
 }