diff --git a/benchmarks/benches/room_bench.rs b/benchmarks/benches/room_bench.rs
index 5b010b6ee31..2283cc955ab 100644
--- a/benchmarks/benches/room_bench.rs
+++ b/benchmarks/benches/room_bench.rs
@@ -171,8 +171,9 @@ pub fn load_pinned_events_benchmark(c: &mut Criterion) {
     );
 
     let room = client.get_room(&room_id).expect("Room not found");
-    assert!(!room.pinned_event_ids().is_empty());
-    assert_eq!(room.pinned_event_ids().len(), PINNED_EVENTS_COUNT);
+    let pinned_event_ids = room.pinned_event_ids().unwrap_or_default();
+    assert!(!pinned_event_ids.is_empty());
+    assert_eq!(pinned_event_ids.len(), PINNED_EVENTS_COUNT);
 
     let count = PINNED_EVENTS_COUNT;
     let name = format!("{count} pinned events");
@@ -191,8 +192,9 @@ pub fn load_pinned_events_benchmark(c: &mut Criterion) {
 
     group.bench_function(BenchmarkId::new("load_pinned_events", name), |b| {
         b.to_async(&runtime).iter(|| async {
-            assert!(!room.pinned_event_ids().is_empty());
-            assert_eq!(room.pinned_event_ids().len(), PINNED_EVENTS_COUNT);
+            let pinned_event_ids = room.pinned_event_ids().unwrap_or_default();
+            assert!(!pinned_event_ids.is_empty());
+            assert_eq!(pinned_event_ids.len(), PINNED_EVENTS_COUNT);
 
             // Reset cache so it always loads the events from the mocked endpoint
             client.event_cache().empty_immutable_cache().await;
diff --git a/bindings/matrix-sdk-ffi/src/room_info.rs b/bindings/matrix-sdk-ffi/src/room_info.rs
index 3f04eed962b..96de331fd10 100644
--- a/bindings/matrix-sdk-ffi/src/room_info.rs
+++ b/bindings/matrix-sdk-ffi/src/room_info.rs
@@ -67,7 +67,8 @@ impl RoomInfo {
         for (id, level) in power_levels_map.iter() {
             user_power_levels.insert(id.to_string(), *level);
         }
-        let pinned_event_ids = room.pinned_event_ids().iter().map(|id| id.to_string()).collect();
+        let pinned_event_ids =
+            room.pinned_event_ids().unwrap_or_default().iter().map(|id| id.to_string()).collect();
 
         Ok(Self {
             id: room.room_id().to_string(),
diff --git a/crates/matrix-sdk-base/src/rooms/normal.rs b/crates/matrix-sdk-base/src/rooms/normal.rs
index cfe1625b7af..7181d4d4824 100644
--- a/crates/matrix-sdk-base/src/rooms/normal.rs
+++ b/crates/matrix-sdk-base/src/rooms/normal.rs
@@ -1019,7 +1019,7 @@ impl Room {
     }
 
     /// Returns the current pinned event ids for this room.
-    pub fn pinned_event_ids(&self) -> Vec<OwnedEventId> {
+    pub fn pinned_event_ids(&self) -> Option<Vec<OwnedEventId>> {
         self.inner.read().pinned_event_ids()
     }
 }
@@ -1596,8 +1596,8 @@ impl RoomInfo {
     }
 
     /// Returns the current pinned event ids for this room.
-    pub fn pinned_event_ids(&self) -> Vec<OwnedEventId> {
-        self.base_info.pinned_events.clone().map(|c| c.pinned).unwrap_or_default()
+    pub fn pinned_event_ids(&self) -> Option<Vec<OwnedEventId>> {
+        self.base_info.pinned_events.clone().map(|c| c.pinned)
     }
 
     /// Checks if an `EventId` is currently pinned.
diff --git a/crates/matrix-sdk-base/src/sliding_sync/mod.rs b/crates/matrix-sdk-base/src/sliding_sync/mod.rs
index f613d177b6e..9350492a098 100644
--- a/crates/matrix-sdk-base/src/sliding_sync/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/matrix-sdk-base/src/sliding_sync/mod.rs
@@ -2509,7 +2509,7 @@ mod tests {
         // The newly created room has no pinned event ids
         let room = client.get_room(room_id).unwrap();
         let pinned_event_ids = room.pinned_event_ids();
-        assert!(pinned_event_ids.is_empty());
+        assert_matches!(pinned_event_ids, None);
 
         // Load new pinned event id
         let mut room_response = http::response::Room::new();
@@ -2522,7 +2522,7 @@ mod tests {
         let response = response_with_room(room_id, room_response);
         client.process_sliding_sync(&response, &(), true).await.expect("Failed to process sync");
 
-        let pinned_event_ids = room.pinned_event_ids();
+        let pinned_event_ids = room.pinned_event_ids().unwrap_or_default();
         assert_eq!(pinned_event_ids.len(), 1);
         assert_eq!(pinned_event_ids[0], pinned_event_id);
 
@@ -2536,7 +2536,7 @@ mod tests {
         ));
         let response = response_with_room(room_id, room_response);
         client.process_sliding_sync(&response, &(), true).await.expect("Failed to process sync");
-        let pinned_event_ids = room.pinned_event_ids();
+        let pinned_event_ids = room.pinned_event_ids().unwrap();
         assert!(pinned_event_ids.is_empty());
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/src/timeline/mod.rs b/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/src/timeline/mod.rs
index 93168e1732a..b5bd98b10c2 100644
--- a/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/src/timeline/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/src/timeline/mod.rs
@@ -729,10 +729,18 @@ impl Timeline {
     /// Adds a new pinned event by sending an updated `m.room.pinned_events`
     /// event containing the new event id.
     ///
-    /// Returns `true` if we sent the request, `false` if the event was already
+    /// This method will first try to get the pinned events from the current
+    /// room's state and if it fails to do so it'll try to load them from the
+    /// homeserver.
+    ///
+    /// Returns `true` if we pinned the event, `false` if the event was already
     /// pinned.
     pub async fn pin_event(&self, event_id: &EventId) -> Result<bool> {
-        let mut pinned_event_ids = self.room().pinned_event_ids();
+        let mut pinned_event_ids = if let Some(event_ids) = self.room().pinned_event_ids() {
+            event_ids
+        } else {
+            self.room().load_pinned_events().await?.unwrap_or_default()
+        };
         let event_id = event_id.to_owned();
         if pinned_event_ids.contains(&event_id) {
             Ok(false)
@@ -744,13 +752,21 @@ impl Timeline {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Adds a new pinned event by sending an updated `m.room.pinned_events`
+    /// Removes a pinned event by sending an updated `m.room.pinned_events`
     /// event without the event id we want to remove.
     ///
-    /// Returns `true` if we sent the request, `false` if the event wasn't
-    /// pinned.
+    /// This method will first try to get the pinned events from the current
+    /// room's state and if it fails to do so it'll try to load them from the
+    /// homeserver.
+    ///
+    /// Returns `true` if we unpinned the event, `false` if the event wasn't
+    /// pinned before.
     pub async fn unpin_event(&self, event_id: &EventId) -> Result<bool> {
-        let mut pinned_event_ids = self.room().pinned_event_ids();
+        let mut pinned_event_ids = if let Some(event_ids) = self.room().pinned_event_ids() {
+            event_ids
+        } else {
+            self.room().load_pinned_events().await?.unwrap_or_default()
+        };
         let event_id = event_id.to_owned();
         if let Some(idx) = pinned_event_ids.iter().position(|e| *e == *event_id) {
             pinned_event_ids.remove(idx);
diff --git a/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/src/timeline/pinned_events_loader.rs b/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/src/timeline/pinned_events_loader.rs
index 450ccae0e94..1deb853607d 100644
--- a/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/src/timeline/pinned_events_loader.rs
+++ b/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/src/timeline/pinned_events_loader.rs
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ impl PinnedEventsLoader {
         let pinned_event_ids: Vec<OwnedEventId> = self
             .room
             .pinned_event_ids()
+            .unwrap_or_default()
             .into_iter()
             .rev()
             .take(self.max_events_to_load)
@@ -134,7 +135,7 @@ pub trait PinnedEventsRoom: SendOutsideWasm + SyncOutsideWasm {
     ) -> BoxFuture<'a, Result<(SyncTimelineEvent, Vec<SyncTimelineEvent>), PaginatorError>>;
 
     /// Get the pinned event ids for a room.
-    fn pinned_event_ids(&self) -> Vec<OwnedEventId>;
+    fn pinned_event_ids(&self) -> Option<Vec<OwnedEventId>>;
 
     /// Checks whether an event id is pinned in this room.
     ///
@@ -168,7 +169,7 @@ impl PinnedEventsRoom for Room {
         .boxed()
     }
 
-    fn pinned_event_ids(&self) -> Vec<OwnedEventId> {
+    fn pinned_event_ids(&self) -> Option<Vec<OwnedEventId>> {
         self.clone_info().pinned_event_ids()
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/src/timeline/tests/mod.rs b/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/src/timeline/tests/mod.rs
index 26cadd3b6dc..356a2ad2228 100644
--- a/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/src/timeline/tests/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/src/timeline/tests/mod.rs
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ impl PinnedEventsRoom for TestRoomDataProvider {
         unimplemented!();
     }
 
-    fn pinned_event_ids(&self) -> Vec<OwnedEventId> {
+    fn pinned_event_ids(&self) -> Option<Vec<OwnedEventId>> {
         unimplemented!();
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/tests/integration/timeline/mod.rs b/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/tests/integration/timeline/mod.rs
index e9d28a84e3a..b6bc4211140 100644
--- a/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/tests/integration/timeline/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/matrix-sdk-ui/tests/integration/timeline/mod.rs
@@ -628,7 +628,7 @@ async fn test_pin_event_is_sent_successfully() {
 
     // Pinning a remote event succeeds.
     setup
-        .mock_response(ResponseTemplate::new(200).set_body_json(json!({
+        .mock_pin_unpin_response(ResponseTemplate::new(200).set_body_json(json!({
             "event_id": "$42"
         })))
         .await;
@@ -662,7 +662,7 @@ async fn test_pin_event_is_returning_an_error() {
     assert!(!timeline.items().await.is_empty());
 
     // Pinning a remote event fails.
-    setup.mock_response(ResponseTemplate::new(400)).await;
+    setup.mock_pin_unpin_response(ResponseTemplate::new(400)).await;
 
     let event_id = setup.event_id();
     assert!(timeline.pin_event(event_id).await.is_err());
@@ -680,7 +680,7 @@ async fn test_unpin_event_is_sent_successfully() {
 
     // Unpinning a remote event succeeds.
     setup
-        .mock_response(ResponseTemplate::new(200).set_body_json(json!({
+        .mock_pin_unpin_response(ResponseTemplate::new(200).set_body_json(json!({
             "event_id": "$42"
         })))
         .await;
@@ -714,7 +714,7 @@ async fn test_unpin_event_is_returning_an_error() {
     assert!(!timeline.items().await.is_empty());
 
     // Unpinning a remote event fails.
-    setup.mock_response(ResponseTemplate::new(400)).await;
+    setup.mock_pin_unpin_response(ResponseTemplate::new(400)).await;
 
     let event_id = setup.event_id();
     assert!(timeline.unpin_event(event_id).await.is_err());
@@ -834,7 +834,13 @@ impl PinningTestSetup<'_> {
         let _response = client.sync_once(sync_settings.clone()).await.unwrap();
         server.reset().await;
 
-        Self { event_id, room_id, client, server, sync_settings, sync_builder }
+        let setup = Self { event_id, room_id, client, server, sync_settings, sync_builder };
+
+        // This is necessary to get an empty list of pinned events when there are no
+        // pinned events state event in the required state
+        setup.mock_get_empty_pinned_events_state_response().await;
+
+        setup
     }
 
     async fn timeline(&self) -> Timeline {
@@ -847,7 +853,7 @@ impl PinningTestSetup<'_> {
         self.server.reset().await;
     }
 
-    async fn mock_response(&self, response: ResponseTemplate) {
+    async fn mock_pin_unpin_response(&self, response: ResponseTemplate) {
         Mock::given(method("PUT"))
             .and(path_regex(r"^/_matrix/client/r0/rooms/.*/state/m.room.pinned_events/.*?"))
             .and(header("authorization", "Bearer 1234"))
@@ -856,6 +862,15 @@ impl PinningTestSetup<'_> {
             .await;
     }
 
+    async fn mock_get_empty_pinned_events_state_response(&self) {
+        Mock::given(method("GET"))
+            .and(path_regex(r"^/_matrix/client/r0/rooms/.*/state/m.room.pinned_events/.*"))
+            .and(header("authorization", "Bearer 1234"))
+            .respond_with(ResponseTemplate::new(404).set_body_json(json!({})))
+            .mount(&self.server)
+            .await;
+    }
+
     async fn mock_sync(&mut self, is_using_pinned_state_event: bool) {
         let f = EventFactory::new().sender(user_id!("@a:b.c"));
         let mut joined_room_builder = JoinedRoomBuilder::new(self.room_id)
diff --git a/crates/matrix-sdk/src/room/mod.rs b/crates/matrix-sdk/src/room/mod.rs
index 0be442f9167..f974b2ec769 100644
--- a/crates/matrix-sdk/src/room/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/matrix-sdk/src/room/mod.rs
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ use futures_util::{
     future::{try_join, try_join_all},
     stream::FuturesUnordered,
 };
+use http::StatusCode;
 #[cfg(all(feature = "e2e-encryption", not(target_arch = "wasm32")))]
 pub use identity_status_changes::IdentityStatusChanges;
 #[cfg(feature = "e2e-encryption")]
@@ -91,6 +92,7 @@ use ruma::{
                 VideoMessageEventContent,
             },
             name::RoomNameEventContent,
+            pinned_events::RoomPinnedEventsEventContent,
             power_levels::{RoomPowerLevels, RoomPowerLevelsEventContent},
             server_acl::RoomServerAclEventContent,
             topic::RoomTopicEventContent,
@@ -3130,6 +3132,32 @@ impl Room {
             .await?;
         Ok(())
     }
+
+    /// Load pinned state events for a room from the `/state` endpoint in the
+    /// home server.
+    pub async fn load_pinned_events(&self) -> Result<Option<Vec<OwnedEventId>>> {
+        let response = self
+            .client
+            .send(
+                get_state_events_for_key::v3::Request::new(
+                    self.room_id().to_owned(),
+                    StateEventType::RoomPinnedEvents,
+                    "".to_owned(),
+                ),
+                None,
+            )
+            .await;
+
+        match response {
+            Ok(response) => {
+                Ok(Some(response.content.deserialize_as::<RoomPinnedEventsEventContent>()?.pinned))
+            }
+            Err(http_error) => match http_error.as_client_api_error() {
+                Some(error) if error.status_code == StatusCode::NOT_FOUND => Ok(None),
+                _ => Err(http_error.into()),
+            },
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 #[cfg(all(feature = "e2e-encryption", not(target_arch = "wasm32")))]
diff --git a/crates/matrix-sdk/tests/integration/client.rs b/crates/matrix-sdk/tests/integration/client.rs
index 6e044c28567..589087296a5 100644
--- a/crates/matrix-sdk/tests/integration/client.rs
+++ b/crates/matrix-sdk/tests/integration/client.rs
@@ -1388,5 +1388,5 @@ async fn test_restore_room() {
 
     let room = client.get_room(room_id).unwrap();
     assert!(room.is_favourite());
-    assert!(!room.pinned_event_ids().is_empty());
+    assert!(!room.pinned_event_ids().unwrap().is_empty());
 }