diff --git a/lib/mv_web/live/member_live/index.ex b/lib/mv_web/live/member_live/index.ex
index 3083d65..50b0cfa 100644
--- a/lib/mv_web/live/member_live/index.ex
+++ b/lib/mv_web/live/member_live/index.ex
@@ -581,14 +581,15 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.Index do
     next_sig = build_signature(socket)
 
     # Only load members if signature changed (optimization: avoid duplicate loads)
+    # OR if members haven't been loaded yet (first handle_params call after mount)
     socket =
-      if prev_sig == next_sig do
-        # Nothing changed, skip expensive load_members() call
+      if prev_sig == next_sig && Map.has_key?(socket.assigns, :members) do
+        # Nothing changed AND members already loaded, skip expensive load_members() call
         socket
         |> prepare_dynamic_cols()
         |> update_selection_assigns()
       else
-        # Signature changed, reload members
+        # Signature changed OR members not loaded yet, reload members
         socket
         |> load_members()
         |> prepare_dynamic_cols()