diff --git a/ui/colony/src/components/MessageItem.tsx b/ui/colony/src/components/MessageItem.tsx
index 1c467d8..d5e5cb0 100644
--- a/ui/colony/src/components/MessageItem.tsx
+++ b/ui/colony/src/components/MessageItem.tsx
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ export function MessageItem({ message, compact, lastInGroup, replyTarget, onSele
         </button>
       )}
 
-      <div className={cn("px-4 md:px-5", compact ? "py-0.5" : "py-3 md:py-4")}>
+      <div className={cn("px-4 md:px-5", compact ? (lastInGroup ? "pt-0.5 pb-3 md:pb-4" : "py-0.5") : "py-3 md:py-4")}>
         {/* Header — hidden in compact mode */}
         {!compact && <div className="flex items-center gap-2.5 text-[11px] flex-wrap">
           {/* Avatar — ape emoji with OKLCH color, agents get first letter */}