diff --git a/osu.Game/Online/Chat/ChannelManager.cs b/osu.Game/Online/Chat/ChannelManager.cs
index 82e042ae4e..77b52c34d9 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Online/Chat/ChannelManager.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Online/Chat/ChannelManager.cs
@@ -90,13 +90,16 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
         {
             // Polling will eventually be replaced with websocket, but let's avoid doing these background operations as much as possible for now.
             // The only loss will be delayed PM/message highlight notifications.
+            int millisecondsBetweenPolls = HighPollRate.Value ? 1000 : 60000;
 
-            if (HighPollRate.Value)
-                TimeBetweenPolls.Value = 1000;
-            else if (!isIdle.Value)
-                TimeBetweenPolls.Value = 60000;
-            else
-                TimeBetweenPolls.Value = 600000;
+            if (isIdle.Value)
+                millisecondsBetweenPolls *= 10;
+
+            if (TimeBetweenPolls.Value != millisecondsBetweenPolls)
+            {
+                TimeBetweenPolls.Value = millisecondsBetweenPolls;
+                Logger.Log($"Chat is now polling every {TimeBetweenPolls.Value} ms");
+            }
         }
 
         /// <summary>
diff --git a/osu.Game/Online/Chat/StandAloneChatDisplay.cs b/osu.Game/Online/Chat/StandAloneChatDisplay.cs
index 81fd5ad98c..f83bf4877e 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Online/Chat/StandAloneChatDisplay.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Online/Chat/StandAloneChatDisplay.cs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
 
         protected readonly ChatTextBox TextBox;
 
-        protected ChannelManager ChannelManager;
+        private ChannelManager channelManager;
 
         private StandAloneDrawableChannel drawableChannel;
 
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
         [BackgroundDependencyLoader(true)]
         private void load(ChannelManager manager)
         {
-            ChannelManager ??= manager;
+            channelManager ??= manager;
         }
 
         protected virtual StandAloneDrawableChannel CreateDrawableChannel(Channel channel) =>
@@ -94,9 +94,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
                 return;
 
             if (text[0] == '/')
-                ChannelManager?.PostCommand(text.Substring(1), Channel.Value);
+                channelManager?.PostCommand(text.Substring(1), Channel.Value);
             else
-                ChannelManager?.PostMessage(text, target: Channel.Value);
+                channelManager?.PostMessage(text, target: Channel.Value);
 
             TextBox.Text = string.Empty;
         }
diff --git a/osu.Game/OsuGame.cs b/osu.Game/OsuGame.cs
index c5a465ae96..21d84a365b 100644
--- a/osu.Game/OsuGame.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/OsuGame.cs
@@ -820,7 +820,17 @@ namespace osu.Game
 
             loadComponentSingleFile(CreateHighPerformanceSession(), Add);
 
-            chatOverlay.State.ValueChanged += state => channelManager.HighPollRate.Value = state.NewValue == Visibility.Visible;
+            chatOverlay.State.BindValueChanged(_ => updateChatPollRate());
+            // Multiplayer modes need to increase poll rate temporarily.
+            API.Activity.BindValueChanged(_ => updateChatPollRate(), true);
+
+            void updateChatPollRate()
+            {
+                channelManager.HighPollRate.Value =
+                    chatOverlay.State.Value == Visibility.Visible
+                    || API.Activity.Value is UserActivity.InLobby
+                    || API.Activity.Value is UserActivity.InMultiplayerGame;
+            }
 
             Add(difficultyRecommender);
             Add(externalLinkOpener = new ExternalLinkOpener());