diff --git a/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/src/room_list/state.rs b/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/src/room_list/state.rs
index 12cf3fd0979..34d9c4cc4a6 100644
--- a/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/src/room_list/state.rs
+++ b/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/src/room_list/state.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 use std::future::ready;
 
 use async_trait::async_trait;
-use matrix_sdk::{SlidingSync, SlidingSyncList, SlidingSyncMode};
+use matrix_sdk::{sliding_sync::Range, SlidingSync, SlidingSyncList, SlidingSyncMode};
 use once_cell::sync::Lazy;
 use ruma::{
     api::client::sync::sync_events::v4::SyncRequestListFilters, assign, events::StateEventType,
@@ -85,13 +85,18 @@ trait Action {
 
 struct AddVisibleRoomsList;
 
+/// Default range for the `VISIBLE_ROOMS_LIST_NAME` list.
+pub const VISIBLE_ROOMS_DEFAULT_RANGE: Range = 0..=19;
+
 #[async_trait]
 impl Action for AddVisibleRoomsList {
     async fn run(&self, sliding_sync: &SlidingSync) -> Result<(), Error> {
         sliding_sync
             .add_list(
                 SlidingSyncList::builder(VISIBLE_ROOMS_LIST_NAME)
-                    .sync_mode(SlidingSyncMode::new_selective())
+                    .sync_mode(
+                        SlidingSyncMode::new_selective().add_range(VISIBLE_ROOMS_DEFAULT_RANGE),
+                    )
                     .timeline_limit(20)
                     .required_state(vec![(StateEventType::RoomEncryption, "".to_owned())])
                     .filters(Some(assign!(SyncRequestListFilters::default(), {
@@ -257,7 +262,7 @@ mod tests {
             sliding_sync
                 .on_list(VISIBLE_ROOMS_LIST_NAME, |list| ready(matches!(
                     list.sync_mode(),
-                    SlidingSyncMode::Selective { ranges } if ranges.is_empty()
+                    SlidingSyncMode::Selective { ranges } if ranges == vec![VISIBLE_ROOMS_DEFAULT_RANGE]
                 )))
                 .await,
             Some(true)
diff --git a/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/tests/integration/room_list.rs b/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/tests/integration/room_list.rs
index 0422aaa6cd6..7898687db85 100644
--- a/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/tests/integration/room_list.rs
+++ b/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/tests/integration/room_list.rs
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ async fn test_sync_from_init_to_enjoy() -> Result<(), Error> {
                     "timeline_limit": 1,
                 },
                 VISIBLE_ROOMS: {
-                    "ranges": [],
+                    "ranges": [[0, 19]],
                     "required_state": [
                         ["m.room.encryption", ""],
                     ],
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ async fn test_sync_from_init_to_enjoy() -> Result<(), Error> {
                     "ranges": [[0, 99]],
                 },
                 VISIBLE_ROOMS: {
-                    "ranges": [],
+                    "ranges": [[0, 19]],
                 },
             },
         },
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ async fn test_sync_from_init_to_enjoy() -> Result<(), Error> {
                     "ranges": [[0, 149]],
                 },
                 VISIBLE_ROOMS: {
-                    "ranges": [],
+                    "ranges": [[0, 19]],
                 },
             },
         },
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ async fn test_sync_resumes_from_previous_state() -> Result<(), Error> {
                         "ranges": [[0, 9]],
                     },
                     VISIBLE_ROOMS: {
-                        "ranges": [],
+                        "ranges": [[0, 19]],
                     },
                 },
             },
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ async fn test_sync_resumes_from_previous_state() -> Result<(), Error> {
                         "ranges": [[0, 9]],
                     },
                     VISIBLE_ROOMS: {
-                        "ranges": [],
+                        "ranges": [[0, 19]],
                     },
                 },
             },
@@ -580,7 +580,7 @@ async fn test_sync_resumes_from_terminated() -> Result<(), Error> {
                 },
                 VISIBLE_ROOMS: {
                     // Hello new list.
-                    "ranges": [],
+                    "ranges": [[0, 19]],
                 },
             },
         },
@@ -856,7 +856,7 @@ async fn test_entries_stream() -> Result<(), Error> {
                     ],
                 },
                 VISIBLE_ROOMS: {
-                    "ranges": [],
+                    "ranges": [[0, 19]],
                 },
             },
         },
@@ -979,12 +979,10 @@ async fn test_entries_stream_with_updated_filter() -> Result<(), Error> {
         assert request = {
             "lists": {
                 ALL_ROOMS: {
-                    "ranges": [
-                        [0, 9],
-                    ],
+                    "ranges": [[0, 9]],
                 },
                 VISIBLE_ROOMS: {
-                    "ranges": [],
+                    "ranges": [[0, 19]],
                 },
             },
         },
@@ -1571,7 +1569,7 @@ async fn test_input_viewport() -> Result<(), Error> {
                     "ranges": [[0, 49]],
                 },
                 VISIBLE_ROOMS: {
-                    "ranges": [],
+                    "ranges": [[0, 19]],
                     "timeline_limit": 20,
                 },
             },