diff --git a/src/components/topic-detail-client.test.tsx b/src/components/topic-detail-client.test.tsx
index 912441e..edc0b7c 100644
--- a/src/components/topic-detail-client.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/topic-detail-client.test.tsx
@@ -234,7 +234,8 @@ describe('TopicDetailClient', () => {
       await user.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /reply to this topic/i }))
 
       // The composer should expand and show the reply target banner with the topic author
-      expect(screen.getByText(`Replying to @${topic.authorDid}`)).toBeInTheDocument()
+      const expectedHandle = topic.author?.handle ?? topic.authorDid
+      expect(screen.getByText(`Replying to @${expectedHandle}`)).toBeInTheDocument()
     })
 
     it('clears reply target when dismiss button is clicked', async () => {
diff --git a/src/components/topic-detail-client.tsx b/src/components/topic-detail-client.tsx
index af6da0b..5aa0798 100644
--- a/src/components/topic-detail-client.tsx
+++ b/src/components/topic-detail-client.tsx
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ export function TopicDetailClient({ topic, replies, isLocked = false }: TopicDet
                   handleReply({
                     uri: topic.uri,
                     cid: topic.cid,
-                    authorHandle: topic.authorDid,
+                    authorHandle: topic.author?.handle ?? topic.authorDid,
                     snippet: topic.content.slice(0, 100),
                   })
               : undefined
diff --git a/src/components/topic-view.test.tsx b/src/components/topic-view.test.tsx
index 138bce4..b2042ca 100644
--- a/src/components/topic-view.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/topic-view.test.tsx
@@ -63,8 +63,16 @@ describe('TopicView', () => {
     expect(screen.getByText(topic.content)).toBeInTheDocument()
   })
 
-  it('renders author handle', () => {
+  it('renders author display name with link', () => {
     render(<TopicView topic={topic} />)
+    expect(screen.getByText('Jay')).toBeInTheDocument()
+    const authorLink = screen.getByRole('link', { name: /Jay/ })
+    expect(authorLink).toHaveAttribute('href', `/u/${mockUsers[0]!.handle}`)
+  })
+
+  it('falls back to DID when author profile is missing', () => {
+    const topicWithoutAuthor = { ...topic, author: undefined }
+    render(<TopicView topic={topicWithoutAuthor} />)
     expect(screen.getByText(mockUsers[0]!.did)).toBeInTheDocument()
   })
 
diff --git a/src/components/topic-view.tsx b/src/components/topic-view.tsx
index 137c069..a89d8c1 100644
--- a/src/components/topic-view.tsx
+++ b/src/components/topic-view.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
  */
 
 import Link from 'next/link'
+import Image from 'next/image'
 import {
   ChatCircle,
   Clock,
@@ -108,7 +109,28 @@ export function TopicView({
 
         {/* Author + timestamp */}
         <div className="mt-2 flex flex-wrap items-center gap-x-3 gap-y-1 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-          <span>{topic.authorDid}</span>
+          <Link
+            href={`/u/${topic.author?.handle ?? topic.authorDid}`}
+            className="flex items-center gap-1.5 hover:text-foreground"
+          >
+            {topic.author?.avatarUrl ? (
+              <Image
+                src={topic.author.avatarUrl}
+                alt=""
+                width={24}
+                height={24}
+                className="rounded-full object-cover"
+              />
+            ) : (
+              <span
+                className="flex h-6 w-6 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-muted text-xs font-medium"
+                aria-hidden="true"
+              >
+                {(topic.author?.displayName ?? topic.author?.handle ?? '?')[0]?.toUpperCase()}
+              </span>
+            )}
+            <span>{topic.author?.displayName ?? topic.author?.handle ?? topic.authorDid}</span>
+          </Link>
           <span aria-hidden="true">·</span>
           <time dateTime={topic.createdAt}>{formatRelativeTime(topic.createdAt)}</time>
           {isEdited(topic.createdAt, topic.indexedAt) && (