diff --git a/LOTUS_BUGS.md b/LOTUS_BUGS.md
index 7e50cda46..4df384021 100644
--- a/LOTUS_BUGS.md
+++ b/LOTUS_BUGS.md
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ This document tracks identified bugs, edge cases, and architectural discrepancie
 | Performance   | Numerous event handlers (e.g., handleUserClick, handleReplyClick) lack `useCallback`, leading to unnecessary re-renders of message components.                      | `cinny/src/app/features/room/RoomTimeline.tsx`                 | OPEN   |
 | Performance   | The `submit` function and file handling callbacks (e.g., handleSendUpload) are re-created on every render, causing re-renders of the editor and toolbar components. | `cinny/src/app/features/room/RoomInput.tsx`                    | OPEN   |
 | Accessibility | `button` for edit history lacks `aria-label`                                                                                                                        | `cinny/src/app/components/message/content/FallbackContent.tsx` | FIXED ⚠️ UNTESTED — added `aria-label="View edit history"` |
-| Accessibility | `button` for reaction lacks `aria-label`                                                                                                                            | `cinny/src/app/components/message/Reaction.tsx`                | OPEN — emoji content is already screen-reader-accessible via alt text; parent caller would need to set aria-label per reaction |
+| Accessibility | `button` for reaction lacks `aria-label`                                                                                                                            | `cinny/src/app/components/message/Reaction.tsx`                | **FIXED ⚠️ UNTESTED** — `Reaction` component now computes `aria-label="{shortcode} reaction, N people"` internally using `getShortcodeFor`; custom (mxc://) emoji falls back to "custom emoji reaction". |
 | Accessibility | `button` for ThreadIndicator lacks `aria-label`                                                                                                                     | `cinny/src/app/components/message/Reply.tsx`                   | FIXED ⚠️ UNTESTED — added `aria-label="View thread"` |
 | Accessibility | `button` for ReplyLayout lacks `aria-label`                                                                                                                         | `cinny/src/app/components/message/Reply.tsx`                   | FIXED ⚠️ UNTESTED — added `aria-label="Jump to original message"` |
 
diff --git a/src/app/components/message/Reaction.tsx b/src/app/components/message/Reaction.tsx
index 8562c7b9a..b9e69788f 100644
--- a/src/app/components/message/Reaction.tsx
+++ b/src/app/components/message/Reaction.tsx
@@ -15,34 +15,42 @@ export const Reaction = as<
     reaction: string;
     useAuthentication?: boolean;
   }
->(({ className, mx, count, reaction, useAuthentication, ...props }, ref) => (
-  <Box
-    as="button"
-    className={classNames(css.Reaction, className)}
-    alignItems="Center"
-    shrink="No"
-    gap="200"
-    {...props}
-    ref={ref}
-  >
-    <Text className={css.ReactionText} as="span" size="T400">
-      {reaction.startsWith('mxc://') ? (
-        <img
-          className={css.ReactionImg}
-          src={mxcUrlToHttp(mx, reaction, useAuthentication) ?? reaction}
-          alt={reaction}
-        />
-      ) : (
-        <Text as="span" size="Inherit" truncate>
-          {reaction}
-        </Text>
-      )}
-    </Text>
-    <Text as="span" size="T300">
-      {count}
-    </Text>
-  </Box>
-));
+>(({ className, mx, count, reaction, useAuthentication, ...props }, ref) => {
+  const shortcode = reaction.startsWith('mxc://')
+    ? 'custom emoji'
+    : (getShortcodeFor(getHexcodeForEmoji(reaction)) ?? reaction);
+  const label = `${shortcode} reaction, ${count} ${count === 1 ? 'person' : 'people'}`;
+
+  return (
+    <Box
+      as="button"
+      className={classNames(css.Reaction, className)}
+      alignItems="Center"
+      shrink="No"
+      gap="200"
+      aria-label={label}
+      {...props}
+      ref={ref}
+    >
+      <Text className={css.ReactionText} as="span" size="T400">
+        {reaction.startsWith('mxc://') ? (
+          <img
+            className={css.ReactionImg}
+            src={mxcUrlToHttp(mx, reaction, useAuthentication) ?? reaction}
+            alt={reaction}
+          />
+        ) : (
+          <Text as="span" size="Inherit" truncate>
+            {reaction}
+          </Text>
+        )}
+      </Text>
+      <Text as="span" size="T300">
+        {count}
+      </Text>
+    </Box>
+  );
+});
 
 type ReactionTooltipMsgProps = {
   room: Room;