diff --git a/static/templates/single_message.handlebars b/static/templates/single_message.handlebars
index 3890ba7b40..ba7032f7bf 100644
--- a/static/templates/single_message.handlebars
+++ b/static/templates/single_message.handlebars
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
                     <span class="message_sender{{^status_message}} sender_info_hover{{/status_message}} no-select">
                         {{#include_sender}}
                             {{! See ../js/notifications.js for another user of avatar_url. }}
-                            <div class="u-{{msg/sender_id}} inline_profile_picture{{#status_message}} sender_info_hover{{/status_message}}">
+                            <div class="u-{{msg/sender_id}} inline_profile_picture{{#status_message}} sender_info_hover{{/status_message}}" aria-hidden="true">
                                 <img src="{{small_avatar_url}}" alt="" class="no-drag{{#if sender_is_guest}} guest_user_avatar{{/if}}"/>
                             </div>
                             {{#if status_message}}