diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/core/common/thread_service.js b/addons/mail/static/src/core/common/thread_service.js
index 768b9f1d0e0..fdacc86d1fe 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/core/common/thread_service.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/core/common/thread_service.js
@@ -877,7 +877,7 @@ export class ThreadService {
         if (!persona) {
             return DEFAULT_AVATAR;
         }
-        if (persona.is_company === undefined) {
+        if (persona.is_company === undefined && this.store.self?.user?.isInternalUser) {
             this.personaService.fetchIsCompany(persona);
         }
         if (thread?.model === "discuss.channel") {
diff --git a/addons/mail/tests/discuss/test_discuss_channel_as_guest.py b/addons/mail/tests/discuss/test_discuss_channel_as_guest.py
index 78a92c8a533..d1b3216aafb 100644
--- a/addons/mail/tests/discuss/test_discuss_channel_as_guest.py
+++ b/addons/mail/tests/discuss/test_discuss_channel_as_guest.py
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ class TestMailPublicPage(HttpCase):
         self.channel.add_members(portal_user.partner_id.ids)
         self.channel.add_members(internal_user.partner_id.ids)
         self.channel.add_members(guest_ids=[guest.id])
+        internal_member = self.channel.channel_member_ids.filtered(lambda m: internal_user.partner_id == m.partner_id)
+        internal_member._rtc_join_call()
 
         self.group = self.env['discuss.channel'].create_group(partners_to=(internal_user + portal_user).partner_id.ids, name="Test group")
         self.group.add_members(guest_ids=[guest.id])