diff --git a/src/components/contacts/contacts-link-tab.tsx b/src/components/contacts/contacts-link-tab.tsx
index 5c06687..44f5eec 100644
--- a/src/components/contacts/contacts-link-tab.tsx
+++ b/src/components/contacts/contacts-link-tab.tsx
@@ -225,7 +225,9 @@ function ContactPickerDialog({
           <Input className="pl-9" placeholder="Search by name, company, email…" value={q} onChange={(e) => setQ(e.target.value)} autoFocus />
         </div>
         <div className="max-h-[400px] overflow-auto -mx-2">
-          {filtered.length === 0 ? (
+          {loading ? (
+            <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground p-3">Searching…</p>
+          ) : filtered.length === 0 ? (
             <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground p-3">No matching contacts.</p>
           ) : (
             <ul className="divide-y">