diff --git a/src/app/components/VoiceRoomItem.svelte b/src/app/components/VoiceRoomItem.svelte
index 5676c314..f17748e3 100644
--- a/src/app/components/VoiceRoomItem.svelte
+++ b/src/app/components/VoiceRoomItem.svelte
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
   import ProfileCircle from "@app/components/ProfileCircle.svelte"
   import RoomImage from "@app/components/RoomImage.svelte"
   import RoomName from "@app/components/RoomName.svelte"
-  import {pushToast} from "@app/util/toast"
   import {makeRoomPath} from "@app/util/routes"
   import {
     deriveVoiceParticipants,
@@ -42,12 +41,7 @@
       return
     }
 
-    try {
-      await joinVoiceRoom(url, h)
-    } catch (e) {
-      console.error("Failed to join voice room", e)
-      pushToast({theme: "error", message: "Failed to join voice room"})
-    }
+    await joinVoiceRoom(url, h)
   }
 
   $effect(() => {
diff --git a/src/app/voice.ts b/src/app/voice.ts
index e8222e99..8e13a098 100644
--- a/src/app/voice.ts
+++ b/src/app/voice.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import type {TrustedEvent} from "@welshman/util"
 import {makeHttpAuth, makeHttpAuthHeader, getTags} from "@welshman/util"
 import {signer} from "@welshman/app"
 import {getLivekitEndpoint} from "$lib/livekit"
-import {AbortError, whenAborted, whenTimeout} from "$lib/util"
+import {AbortError, TimeoutError, whenAborted, whenTimeout} from "$lib/util"
 import {deriveLatestEventForUrl} from "@app/core/state"
 import {pushToast} from "@app/util/toast"
 
@@ -17,6 +17,24 @@ export const LIVEKIT_PARTICIPANTS = 39004
 
 export {checkRelayHasLivekit} from "$lib/livekit"
 
+export class VoiceJoinMembershipError extends Error {
+  constructor() {
+    super("Failed to join voice room: you must be a member.")
+    this.name = "VoiceJoinMembershipError"
+  }
+}
+
+const handleJoinError = (e: unknown) => {
+  if (e instanceof AbortError) return
+  console.error("Failed to join voice room", e)
+  let message = "Failed to join voice room"
+  if (e instanceof VoiceJoinMembershipError) message = e.message
+  else if (e instanceof TimeoutError)
+    message = "Connection timed out. Please check your network and try again."
+  else if (e instanceof Error && e.message === "No signer available") message = e.message
+  pushToast({theme: "error", message})
+}
+
 export type VoiceSession = {
   url: string
   h: string
@@ -95,6 +113,7 @@ const fetchLivekitToken = async (
 
   if (!response.ok) {
     const text = await response.text()
+    if (response.status === 403) throw new VoiceJoinMembershipError()
     throw new Error(`Token request failed (${response.status}): ${text}`)
   }
 
@@ -243,8 +262,7 @@ export const joinVoiceRoom = async (url: string, h: string): Promise<void> => {
     playJoinSound()
   } catch (e) {
     if (isActive()) voiceState.set("disconnected")
-    if (e instanceof AbortError) return
-    throw e
+    handleJoinError(e)
   } finally {
     if (isActive()) joinAbortController = undefined
   }
@@ -266,7 +284,8 @@ export const leaveVoiceRoom = async () => {
 
 export const rejoinVoiceRoom = () => {
   const target = get(currentVoiceRoom)
-  if (target) joinVoiceRoom(target.url, target.h)
+  if (!target) return
+  void joinVoiceRoom(target.url, target.h)
 }
 
 export const toggleMute = async () => {