diff --git a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/contributions/ContributionsActivity.java b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/contributions/ContributionsActivity.java
index f27bfe210..330baaf58 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/contributions/ContributionsActivity.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/contributions/ContributionsActivity.java
@@ -238,6 +238,8 @@ public class ContributionsActivity extends AuthenticatedActivity
 
     @Override
     public void onLoadFinished(Loader<Cursor> cursorLoader, Cursor cursor) {
+        contributionsList.changeProgressBarVisibility(false);
+
         if (contributionsList.getAdapter() == null) {
             contributionsList.setAdapter(new ContributionsListAdapter(getApplicationContext(),
                     cursor, 0));
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/contributions/ContributionsListFragment.java b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/contributions/ContributionsListFragment.java
index 83dbced97..9a313854c 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/contributions/ContributionsListFragment.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/contributions/ContributionsListFragment.java
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import android.view.ViewGroup;
 import android.widget.AdapterView;
 import android.widget.GridView;
 import android.widget.ListAdapter;
+import android.widget.ProgressBar;
 import android.widget.TextView;
 
 import butterknife.BindView;
@@ -41,8 +42,9 @@ public class ContributionsListFragment extends Fragment {
     GridView contributionsList;
     @BindView(R.id.waitingMessage)
     TextView waitingMessage;
-    @BindView(R.id.emptyMessage)
-    TextView emptyMessage;
+    @BindView(R.id.loadingContributionsProgressBar)
+    ProgressBar progressBar;
+
     private ContributionController controller;
 
     @Override
@@ -67,6 +69,7 @@ public class ContributionsListFragment extends Fragment {
             waitingMessage.setVisibility(GONE);
         }
 
+        changeProgressBarVisibility(true);
         return v;
     }
 
@@ -78,6 +81,10 @@ public class ContributionsListFragment extends Fragment {
         this.contributionsList.setAdapter(adapter);
     }
 
+    public void changeProgressBarVisibility(boolean isVisible) {
+        this.progressBar.setVisibility(isVisible ? View.VISIBLE : View.GONE);
+    }
+
     @Override
     public void onSaveInstanceState(Bundle outState) {
         if (outState == null) {
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/layout/fragment_contributions.xml b/app/src/main/res/layout/fragment_contributions.xml
index 2be422005..fa53d9721 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/layout/fragment_contributions.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/layout/fragment_contributions.xml
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
-<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+<RelativeLayout
+    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
     android:orientation="vertical"
     android:layout_width="match_parent"
     android:layout_height="match_parent"
@@ -13,15 +14,14 @@
         android:id="@+id/waitingMessage"
         android:layout_gravity="center"
         android:visibility="gone"
+        android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
         />
 
-    <TextView
+    <ProgressBar
         android:layout_width="wrap_content"
         android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-        android:text="@string/no_uploads_yet"
-        android:id="@+id/emptyMessage"
-        android:layout_gravity="center"
-        android:visibility="gone"
+        android:layout_centerInParent="true"
+        android:id="@+id/loadingContributionsProgressBar"
         />
 
     <GridView
@@ -36,4 +36,4 @@
         android:fastScrollEnabled="true"
         />
 
-</LinearLayout>
\ No newline at end of file
+</RelativeLayout>
\ No newline at end of file