diff --git a/app/javascript/mastodon/features/hashtag_timeline/components/hashtag_header.tsx b/app/javascript/mastodon/features/hashtag_timeline/components/hashtag_header.tsx
index c11874e7d4..fafe186cb4 100644
--- a/app/javascript/mastodon/features/hashtag_timeline/components/hashtag_header.tsx
+++ b/app/javascript/mastodon/features/hashtag_timeline/components/hashtag_header.tsx
@@ -197,13 +197,16 @@ export const HashtagHeader: React.FC<{
             />
           )}
 
-          <Button
-            onClick={handleFollow}
-            text={intl.formatMessage(
-              tag.following ? messages.unfollowHashtag : messages.followHashtag,
-            )}
-            disabled={!signedIn}
-          />
+          {signedIn && (
+            <Button
+              onClick={handleFollow}
+              text={intl.formatMessage(
+                tag.following
+                  ? messages.unfollowHashtag
+                  : messages.followHashtag,
+              )}
+            />
+          )}
         </div>
       </div>
 
diff --git a/app/javascript/mastodon/features/hashtag_timeline/index.jsx b/app/javascript/mastodon/features/hashtag_timeline/index.jsx
index 791f494d3d..36049d4331 100644
--- a/app/javascript/mastodon/features/hashtag_timeline/index.jsx
+++ b/app/javascript/mastodon/features/hashtag_timeline/index.jsx
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import { expandHashtagTimeline, clearTimeline } from 'mastodon/actions/timelines
 import Column from 'mastodon/components/column';
 import ColumnHeader from 'mastodon/components/column_header';
 import { identityContextPropShape, withIdentity } from 'mastodon/identity_context';
-import { remoteTopicFeedAccess, me } from 'mastodon/initial_state';
+import { remoteTopicFeedAccess, me, localTopicFeedAccess } from 'mastodon/initial_state';
 
 import StatusListContainer from '../ui/containers/status_list_container';
 
@@ -25,9 +25,11 @@ import ColumnSettingsContainer from './containers/column_settings_container';
 
 const mapStateToProps = (state, props) => {
   const local = props.params.local || (!me && remoteTopicFeedAccess !== 'public');
+  const hasFeedAccess = !!me || localTopicFeedAccess === 'public';
 
   return ({
     local,
+    hasFeedAccess,
     hasUnread: state.getIn(['timelines', `hashtag:${props.params.id}${local ? ':local' : ''}`, 'unread']) > 0,
   });
 };
@@ -127,11 +129,13 @@ class HashtagTimeline extends PureComponent {
   }
 
   _load() {
-    const { dispatch, local } = this.props;
+    const { dispatch, local, hasFeedAccess } = this.props;
     const { id, tags } = this.props.params;
 
-    this._subscribe(dispatch, id, tags, local);
-    dispatch(expandHashtagTimeline(id, { tags, local }));
+    if (hasFeedAccess) {
+      this._subscribe(dispatch, id, tags, local);
+      dispatch(expandHashtagTimeline(id, { tags, local }));
+    }
   }
 
   componentDidMount () {
@@ -164,7 +168,7 @@ class HashtagTimeline extends PureComponent {
   };
 
   render () {
-    const { hasUnread, columnId, multiColumn, local } = this.props;
+    const { hasUnread, columnId, multiColumn, local, hasFeedAccess } = this.props;
     const { id } = this.props.params;
     const pinned = !!columnId;
 
@@ -192,7 +196,20 @@ class HashtagTimeline extends PureComponent {
           scrollKey={`hashtag_timeline-${columnId}`}
           timelineId={`hashtag:${id}${local ? ':local' : ''}`}
           onLoadMore={this.handleLoadMore}
-          emptyMessage={<FormattedMessage id='empty_column.hashtag' defaultMessage='There is nothing in this hashtag yet.' />}
+          initialLoadingState={hasFeedAccess}
+          emptyMessage={
+            hasFeedAccess ? (
+              <FormattedMessage
+                id='empty_column.hashtag'
+                defaultMessage='There is nothing in this hashtag yet.'
+              />
+            ) : (
+              <FormattedMessage
+                id='error.no_hashtag_feed_access'
+                defaultMessage='Join or log in to view and follow this hashtag.'
+              />
+            )
+          }
           bindToDocument={!multiColumn}
         />
 
diff --git a/app/javascript/mastodon/features/ui/containers/status_list_container.js b/app/javascript/mastodon/features/ui/containers/status_list_container.js
index a624796a08..d581ad5fe4 100644
--- a/app/javascript/mastodon/features/ui/containers/status_list_container.js
+++ b/app/javascript/mastodon/features/ui/containers/status_list_container.js
@@ -40,10 +40,10 @@ const makeMapStateToProps = () => {
   const getStatusIds = makeGetStatusIds();
   const getPendingStatusIds = makeGetStatusIds(true);
 
-  const mapStateToProps = (state, { timelineId }) => ({
+  const mapStateToProps = (state, { timelineId, initialLoadingState = true }) => ({
     statusIds: getStatusIds(state, { type: timelineId }),
     lastId:    state.getIn(['timelines', timelineId, 'items'])?.last(),
-    isLoading: state.getIn(['timelines', timelineId, 'isLoading'], true),
+    isLoading: state.getIn(['timelines', timelineId, 'isLoading'], initialLoadingState),
     isPartial: state.getIn(['timelines', timelineId, 'isPartial'], false),
     hasMore:   state.getIn(['timelines', timelineId, 'hasMore']),
     numPending: getPendingStatusIds(state, { type: timelineId }).size,
diff --git a/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/en.json b/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/en.json
index 11ed322739..1108f8194e 100644
--- a/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/en.json
+++ b/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/en.json
@@ -357,6 +357,7 @@
   "empty_column.notification_requests": "All clear! There is nothing here. When you receive new notifications, they will appear here according to your settings.",
   "empty_column.notifications": "You don't have any notifications yet. When other people interact with you, you will see it here.",
   "empty_column.public": "There is nothing here! Write something publicly, or manually follow users from other servers to fill it up",
+  "error.no_hashtag_feed_access": "Join or log in to view and follow this hashtag.",
   "error.unexpected_crash.explanation": "Due to a bug in our code or a browser compatibility issue, this page could not be displayed correctly.",
   "error.unexpected_crash.explanation_addons": "This page could not be displayed correctly. This error is likely caused by a browser add-on or automatic translation tools.",
   "error.unexpected_crash.next_steps": "Try refreshing the page. If that does not help, you may still be able to use Mastodon through a different browser or native app.",