diff --git a/lib/pangea/activity_sessions/activity_session_start/activity_session_start_page.dart b/lib/pangea/activity_sessions/activity_session_start/activity_session_start_page.dart
index a685e5a0e..a24167a28 100644
--- a/lib/pangea/activity_sessions/activity_session_start/activity_session_start_page.dart
+++ b/lib/pangea/activity_sessions/activity_session_start/activity_session_start_page.dart
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ class ActivitySessionStartController extends State<ActivitySessionStartPage>
     if (mounted) setState(() => _selectedRoleId = id);
   }
 
-  Future<bool> courseHasEnoughParticipants() async {
+  Future<int> neededCourseParticipants() async {
     final courseParticipants = await courseParent?.requestParticipants(
           [Membership.join, Membership.invite, Membership.knock],
           false,
@@ -214,7 +214,10 @@ class ActivitySessionStartController extends State<ActivitySessionStartPage>
     final addBotToAvailableUsers = !botInCourse && !isBotRoomMember;
     final availableParticipants =
         courseParticipants.length + (addBotToAvailableUsers ? 1 : 0);
-    return availableParticipants >= (activity?.req.numberOfParticipants ?? 0);
+    if (availableParticipants >= (activity?.req.numberOfParticipants ?? 0)) {
+      return 0;
+    }
+    return (activity?.req.numberOfParticipants ?? 0) - availableParticipants;
   }
 
   Future<void> _loadActivity() async {
diff --git a/lib/pangea/activity_sessions/activity_session_start/activity_sessions_start_view.dart b/lib/pangea/activity_sessions/activity_session_start/activity_sessions_start_view.dart
index 50b98a86e..e07189307 100644
--- a/lib/pangea/activity_sessions/activity_session_start/activity_sessions_start_view.dart
+++ b/lib/pangea/activity_sessions/activity_session_start/activity_sessions_start_view.dart
@@ -258,21 +258,20 @@ class _ActivityStartButtons extends StatelessWidget {
   Widget build(BuildContext context) {
     final hasActiveSession = controller.canJoinExistingSession;
     return FutureBuilder(
-      future: controller.courseHasEnoughParticipants(),
+      future: controller.neededCourseParticipants(),
       builder: (context, snapshot) {
         if (snapshot.connectionState == ConnectionState.waiting) {
           return const LinearProgressIndicator();
         }
 
-        final bool hasEnoughParticipants = snapshot.data ?? true;
+        final int neededParticipants = snapshot.data ?? 0;
+        final bool hasEnoughParticipants = neededParticipants <= 0;
         return Column(
           spacing: 16.0,
           children: [
             if (!hasEnoughParticipants) ...[
               Text(
-                L10n.of(context).activityNeedsMembers(
-                  (controller.activity?.req.numberOfParticipants ?? 2) - 1,
-                ),
+                L10n.of(context).activityNeedsMembers(neededParticipants),
                 textAlign: TextAlign.center,
               ),
               if (controller.courseParent?.canInvite ?? false)