diff --git a/src/components/views/avatars/MemberAvatar.js b/src/components/views/avatars/MemberAvatar.js
index 21c717aac5..f209006b1c 100644
--- a/src/components/views/avatars/MemberAvatar.js
+++ b/src/components/views/avatars/MemberAvatar.js
@@ -24,10 +24,16 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
     displayName: 'MemberAvatar',
 
     propTypes: {
-        member: React.PropTypes.object.isRequired,
+        member: React.PropTypes.object,
         width: React.PropTypes.number,
         height: React.PropTypes.number,
         resizeMethod: React.PropTypes.string,
+        /**
+         * The custom display name to use for this member. This can serve as a
+         * drop in replacement for RoomMember objects, or as a clobber name on
+         * an existing RoomMember. Used for 3pid invites.
+         */
+        customDisplayName: React.PropTypes.string
     },
 
     getDefaultProps: function() {
@@ -38,64 +44,68 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         }
     },
 
+    getInitialState: function() {
+        var defaultImageUrl = Avatar.defaultAvatarUrlForString(
+            this.props.customDisplayName || this.props.member.userId
+        )
+        return {
+            imageUrl: this._getMemberImageUrl() || defaultImageUrl,
+            defaultImageUrl: defaultImageUrl
+        };
+    },
+
     componentWillReceiveProps: function(nextProps) {
         this.refreshUrl();
     },
 
-    defaultAvatarUrl: function(member, width, height, resizeMethod) {
-        return Avatar.defaultAvatarUrlForString(member.userId);
-    },
-
     onError: function(ev) {
         // don't tightloop if the browser can't load a data url
-        if (ev.target.src == this.defaultAvatarUrl(this.props.member)) {
+        if (ev.target.src == this.state.defaultImageUrl) {
             return;
         }
         this.setState({
-            imageUrl: this.defaultAvatarUrl(this.props.member)
+            imageUrl: this.state.defaultImageUrl
         });
     },
 
-    _computeUrl: function() {
+    _getMemberImageUrl: function() {
+        if (!this.props.member) { return null; }
+
         return Avatar.avatarUrlForMember(this.props.member,
                                          this.props.width,
                                          this.props.height,
                                          this.props.resizeMethod);
     },
 
+    _getInitialLetter: function() {
+        var name = this.props.customDisplayName || this.props.member.name;
+        var initial = name[0];
+        if (initial === '@' && name[1]) {
+            initial = name[1];
+        }
+        return initial.toUpperCase();
+    },
+
     refreshUrl: function() {
-        var newUrl = this._computeUrl();
+        var newUrl = this._getMemberImageUrl();
         if (newUrl != this.currentUrl) {
             this.currentUrl = newUrl;
             this.setState({imageUrl: newUrl});
         }
     },
 
-    getInitialState: function() {
-        return {
-            imageUrl: this._computeUrl()
-        };
-    },
-
-
-    ///////////////
-
     render: function() {
-        // XXX: recalculates default avatar url constantly
-        if (this.state.imageUrl === this.defaultAvatarUrl(this.props.member)) {
-            var initial;
-            if (this.props.member.name[0])
-                initial = this.props.member.name[0].toUpperCase();
-            if (initial === '@' && this.props.member.name[1])
-                initial = this.props.member.name[1].toUpperCase();
-         
+        var name = this.props.customDisplayName || this.props.member.name;
+
+        if (this.state.imageUrl === this.state.defaultImageUrl) {
+            var initialLetter = this._getInitialLetter();
             return (
                 <span className="mx_MemberAvatar" {...this.props}>
                     <span className="mx_MemberAvatar_initial" aria-hidden="true"
                           style={{ fontSize: (this.props.width * 0.65) + "px",
                                    width: this.props.width + "px",
-                                   lineHeight: this.props.height + "px" }}>{ initial }</span>
-                    <img className="mx_MemberAvatar_image" src={this.state.imageUrl} title={this.props.member.name}
+                                   lineHeight: this.props.height + "px" }}>{ initialLetter }</span>
+                    <img className="mx_MemberAvatar_image" src={this.state.imageUrl} title={name}
                          onError={this.onError} width={this.props.width} height={this.props.height} />
                 </span>
             );            
@@ -104,9 +114,8 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
             <img className="mx_MemberAvatar mx_MemberAvatar_image" src={this.state.imageUrl}
                 onError={this.onError}
                 width={this.props.width} height={this.props.height}
-                title={this.props.member.name}
-                {...this.props}
-            />
+                title={name}
+                {...this.props} />
         );
     }
 });
diff --git a/src/components/views/rooms/MemberList.js b/src/components/views/rooms/MemberList.js
index f4d017733d..eac5466e88 100644
--- a/src/components/views/rooms/MemberList.js
+++ b/src/components/views/rooms/MemberList.js
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 */
 var React = require('react');
 var classNames = require('classnames');
+var Matrix = require("matrix-js-sdk");
 var MatrixClientPeg = require("../../../MatrixClientPeg");
 var Modal = require("../../../Modal");
 var sdk = require('../../../index');
@@ -253,14 +254,12 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
                     // already added them.
                     var memberEvent = room.currentState.getInviteForThreePidToken(e.getStateKey());
                     if (memberEvent) {
-                        console.log("Found match => %s", memberEvent.getStateKey());
                         return;
                     }
-                    console.log("Display match => ");
-                    /*
                     memberList.push(
-                        <MemberTile key={e.getStateKey()} ref={e.getStateKey()} member={}/>
-                    ) */
+                        <MemberTile key={e.getStateKey()} ref={e.getStateKey()}
+                            customDisplayName={e.getContent().display_name} />
+                    )
                 })
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/components/views/rooms/MemberTile.js b/src/components/views/rooms/MemberTile.js
index 0a32441a00..4752c4d539 100644
--- a/src/components/views/rooms/MemberTile.js
+++ b/src/components/views/rooms/MemberTile.js
@@ -27,24 +27,18 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
     displayName: 'MemberTile',
 
     propTypes: {
-        member: React.PropTypes.any.isRequired, // RoomMember
-        onFinished: React.PropTypes.func
+        member: React.PropTypes.any, // RoomMember
+        onFinished: React.PropTypes.func,
+        customDisplayName: React.PropTypes.string // for 3pid invites
     },
 
     getInitialState: function() {
         return {};
     },
 
-    onLeaveClick: function() {
-        dis.dispatch({
-            action: 'leave_room',
-            room_id: this.props.member.roomId,
-        });
-        this.props.onFinished();        
-    },
-
     shouldComponentUpdate: function(nextProps, nextState) {
         if (this.state.hover !== nextState.hover) return true;
+        if (!this.props.member) { return false; } // e.g. 3pid members
         if (
             this.member_last_modified_time === undefined ||
             this.member_last_modified_time < nextProps.member.getLastModifiedTime()
@@ -70,13 +64,25 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
     },
 
     onClick: function(e) {
+        if (!this.props.member) { return; } // e.g. 3pid members
+
         dis.dispatch({
             action: 'view_user',
             member: this.props.member,
         });
     },
 
+    _getDisplayName: function() {
+        if (this.props.customDisplayName) {
+            return this.props.customDisplayName;
+        }
+        return this.props.member.name;
+    },
+
     getPowerLabel: function() {
+        if (!this.props.member) {
+            return this._getDisplayName();
+        }
         var label = this.props.member.userId;
         if (this.state.isTargetMod) {
             label += " - Mod (" + this.props.member.powerLevelNorm + "%)";
@@ -85,68 +91,74 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
     },
 
     render: function() {
-        var PresenceLabel = sdk.getComponent("rooms.PresenceLabel");
-
-        this.member_last_modified_time = this.props.member.getLastModifiedTime();
-        if (this.props.member.user) {
-            this.user_last_modified_time = this.props.member.user.getLastModifiedTime();
-        }
-
-        var isMyUser = MatrixClientPeg.get().credentials.userId == this.props.member.userId;
-
-        var power;
-        // if (this.props.member && this.props.member.powerLevelNorm > 0) {
-        //     var img = "img/p/p" + Math.floor(20 * this.props.member.powerLevelNorm / 100) + ".png";
-        //     power = <img src={ img } className="mx_MemberTile_power" width="44" height="44" alt=""/>;
-        // }
+        var member = this.props.member;
+        var isMyUser = false;
+        var name = this._getDisplayName();
+        var active = -1;
         var presenceClass = "mx_MemberTile_offline";
-        var mainClassName = "mx_MemberTile ";
-        if (this.props.member.user) {
-            if (this.props.member.user.presence === "online") {
-                presenceClass = "mx_MemberTile_online";
-            }
-            else if (this.props.member.user.presence === "unavailable") {
-                presenceClass = "mx_MemberTile_unavailable";
+
+        if (member) {
+            if (member.user) {
+                this.user_last_modified_time = member.user.getLastModifiedTime();
+
+                // FIXME: make presence data update whenever User.presence changes...
+                active = (
+                    (Date.now() - (member.user.lastPresenceTs - member.user.lastActiveAgo)) || -1
+                );
+
+                if (member.user.presence === "online") {
+                    presenceClass = "mx_MemberTile_online";
+                }
+                else if (member.user.presence === "unavailable") {
+                    presenceClass = "mx_MemberTile_unavailable";
+                }
             }
+            this.member_last_modified_time = member.getLastModifiedTime();
+            isMyUser = MatrixClientPeg.get().credentials.userId == member.userId;
+
+            // if (this.props.member && this.props.member.powerLevelNorm > 0) {
+            //     var img = "img/p/p" + Math.floor(20 * this.props.member.powerLevelNorm / 100) + ".png";
+            //     power = <img src={ img } className="mx_MemberTile_power" width="44" height="44" alt=""/>;
+            // }
         }
+
+
+        var mainClassName = "mx_MemberTile ";
         mainClassName += presenceClass;
         if (this.state.hover) {
             mainClassName += " mx_MemberTile_hover";
         }
 
-        var name = this.props.member.name;
-        // if (isMyUser) name += " (me)"; // this does nothing other than introduce line wrapping and pain
-        //var leave = isMyUser ? <img className="mx_MemberTile_leave" src="img/delete.png" width="10" height="10" onClick={this.onLeaveClick}/> : null;
-
         var nameEl;
         if (this.state.hover) {
-            // FIXME: make presence data update whenever User.presence changes...
-            var active = this.props.member.user ? ((Date.now() - (this.props.member.user.lastPresenceTs - this.props.member.user.lastActiveAgo)) || -1) : -1;
-
+            var presenceState = (member && member.user) ? member.user.presence : null;
+            var PresenceLabel = sdk.getComponent("rooms.PresenceLabel");
             nameEl = (
                 <div className="mx_MemberTile_details">
                     <img className="mx_MemberTile_chevron" src="img/member_chevron.png" width="8" height="12"/>
                     <div className="mx_MemberTile_userId">{ name }</div>
                     <PresenceLabel activeAgo={active}
-                        presenceState={this.props.member.user ? this.props.member.user.presence : null} />
+                        presenceState={presenceState} />
                 </div>
             );
         }
         else {
-            nameEl =
+            nameEl = (
                 <div className="mx_MemberTile_name">
                     { name }
                 </div>
+            );
         }
 
         var MemberAvatar = sdk.getComponent('avatars.MemberAvatar');
+
         return (
             <div className={mainClassName} title={ this.getPowerLabel() }
                     onClick={ this.onClick } onMouseEnter={ this.mouseEnter }
                     onMouseLeave={ this.mouseLeave }>
                 <div className="mx_MemberTile_avatar">
-                    <MemberAvatar member={this.props.member} width={36} height={36} />
-                     { power }
+                    <MemberAvatar member={this.props.member} width={36} height={36}
+                        customDisplayName={this.props.customDisplayName} />
                 </div>
                 { nameEl }
             </div>