diff --git a/pkg/tui/tui.go b/pkg/tui/tui.go
index 2912bdd..fadb90d 100644
--- a/pkg/tui/tui.go
+++ b/pkg/tui/tui.go
@@ -11,10 +11,12 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
+	"time"
 
 	cmdutil "git.mlow.ca/mlow/lmcli/pkg/cmd/util"
 	"git.mlow.ca/mlow/lmcli/pkg/lmcli"
 	models "git.mlow.ca/mlow/lmcli/pkg/lmcli/model"
+	"github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles/spinner"
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles/textarea"
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles/viewport"
 	tea "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea"
@@ -53,6 +55,7 @@ type model struct {
 	// ui elements
 	content viewport.Model
 	input   textarea.Model
+	spinner spinner.Model
 }
 
 type message struct {
@@ -97,6 +100,7 @@ var (
 func (m model) Init() tea.Cmd {
 	return tea.Batch(
 		textarea.Blink,
+		m.spinner.Tick,
 		m.loadConversation(m.convShortname),
 		m.waitForChunk(),
 		m.waitForReply(),
@@ -218,22 +222,28 @@ func (m model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		m.err = error(msg)
 	}
 
-	if len(cmds) > 0 {
-		return m, tea.Batch(cmds...)
-	}
 
 	var cmd tea.Cmd
+	m.spinner, cmd = m.spinner.Update(msg)
+	if cmd != nil {
+		cmds = append(cmds, cmd)
+	}
+
+	inputCaptured := false
 	m.input, cmd = m.input.Update(msg)
 	if cmd != nil {
-		return m, cmd
+		inputCaptured = true
+		cmds = append(cmds, cmd)
 	}
 
-	m.content, cmd = m.content.Update(msg)
-	if cmd != nil {
-		return m, cmd
+	if !inputCaptured {
+		m.content, cmd = m.content.Update(msg)
+		if cmd != nil {
+			cmds = append(cmds, cmd)
+		}
 	}
 
-	return m, cmd
+	return m, tea.Batch(cmds...)
 }
 
 func (m model) View() string {
@@ -343,9 +353,14 @@ func (m *model) footerView() string {
 		saving = segmentStyle.Copy().Bold(true).Foreground(lipgloss.Color("1")).Render("❌💾")
 	}
 
+	status := m.status
+	if m.waitingForReply {
+		status += m.spinner.View()
+	}
+
 	leftSegments := []string{
 		saving,
-		segmentStyle.Render(m.status),
+		segmentStyle.Render(status),
 	}
 	rightSegments := []string{
 		segmentStyle.Render(fmt.Sprintf("Model: %s", *m.ctx.Config.Defaults.Model)),
@@ -391,7 +406,19 @@ func initialModel(ctx *lmcli.Context, convShortname string) model {
 	m.input.SetHeight(4)
 	m.input.Focus()
 
-	m.updateContent()
+	m.spinner = spinner.New(spinner.WithSpinner(
+		spinner.Spinner{
+			Frames: []string{
+				".  ",
+				".. ",
+				"...",
+				".. ",
+				".  ",
+				"   ",
+			},
+			FPS: time.Second / 3,
+		},
+	))
 
 	m.waitingForReply = false
 	m.status = "Press ctrl+s to send"
@@ -453,7 +480,7 @@ func (m *model) handleInputKey(msg tea.KeyMsg) tea.Cmd {
 		m.content.GotoBottom()
 
 		m.waitingForReply = true
-		m.status = "Waiting for response, press ctrl+c to cancel..."
+		m.status = "Press ctrl+c to cancel"
 		return m.promptLLM()
 	}
 	return nil