diff --git a/src/tabs/muctab.py b/src/tabs/muctab.py
index bb0f51d9..6c961874 100644
--- a/src/tabs/muctab.py
+++ b/src/tabs/muctab.py
@@ -10,12 +10,12 @@ user list, and updates private tabs when necessary.
 import logging
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+import bisect
 import curses
 import os
 import random
 import re
 from datetime import datetime
-from functools import reduce
 
 from . import ChatTab, Tab
 
@@ -1089,7 +1089,7 @@ class MucTab(ChatTab):
                     and typ != "unavailable"):
                 new_user = User(from_nick, affiliation, show,
                                 status, role, jid, deterministic, color)
-                self.users.append(new_user)
+                bisect.insort_left(self.users, new_user)
                 self.core.events.trigger('muc_join', presence, self)
                 if '110' in status_codes or self.own_nick == from_nick:
                     # second part of the condition is a workaround for old
@@ -1200,7 +1200,7 @@ class MucTab(ChatTab):
                                            affiliation, role, show, status)
         if self.core.current_tab() is self:
             self.text_win.refresh()
-            self.user_win.refresh(self.users)
+            self.user_win.refresh_if_changed(self.users)
             self.info_header.refresh(self, self.text_win)
             self.input.refresh()
             self.core.doupdate()
@@ -1230,7 +1230,7 @@ class MucTab(ChatTab):
         deterministic = config.get_by_tabname('deterministic_nick_colors', self.name)
         user = User(from_nick, affiliation,
                     show, status, role, jid, deterministic, color)
-        self.users.append(user)
+        bisect.insort_left(self.users, user)
         hide_exit_join = config.get_by_tabname('hide_exit_join',
                                                self.general_jid)
         if hide_exit_join != 0:
@@ -1277,6 +1277,8 @@ class MucTab(ChatTab):
                                                       self.name)
                 user.change_color(color, deterministic)
         user.change_nick(new_nick)
+        self.users.remove(user)
+        bisect.insort_left(self.users, user)
 
         if config.get_by_tabname('display_user_color_in_join_part',
                                  self.general_jid):
@@ -1698,8 +1700,7 @@ class MucTab(ChatTab):
             return color
         nick_color_aliases = config.get_by_tabname('nick_color_aliases', self.name)
         if nick_color_aliases:
-            nick_alias = re.sub('^_*', '', nick)
-            nick_alias = re.sub('_*$', '', nick_alias)
+            nick_alias = re.sub('^_*(.*?)_*$', '\\1', nick)
             color = config.get_by_tabname(nick_alias, 'muc_colors')
         return color
 
diff --git a/src/windows/muc.py b/src/windows/muc.py
index c4e8df6e..84775787 100644
--- a/src/windows/muc.py
+++ b/src/windows/muc.py
@@ -13,10 +13,17 @@ import poopt
 from config import config
 from theming import to_curses_attr, get_theme
 
+def userlist_to_cache(userlist):
+    result = []
+    for user in userlist:
+        result.append((user.nick, user.status, user.chatstate, user.affiliation, user.role))
+    return result
+
 class UserList(Win):
     def __init__(self):
         Win.__init__(self)
         self.pos = 0
+        self.cache = []
 
     def scroll_up(self):
         self.pos += self.height-1
@@ -32,25 +39,36 @@ class UserList(Win):
     def draw_plus(self, y):
         self.addstr(y, self.width-2, '++', to_curses_attr(get_theme().COLOR_MORE_INDICATOR))
 
+
+    def refresh_if_changed(self, users):
+        old = self.cache
+        new = userlist_to_cache(users[self.pos:self.pos+self.height])
+        if len(old) != len(new):
+            self.cache = new
+            self.refresh(users)
+            return
+        for i in range(len(old)):
+            if old[i] != new[i]:
+                self.cache = new
+                self.refresh(users)
+
     def refresh(self, users):
         log.debug('Refresh: %s', self.__class__.__name__)
         if config.get('hide_user_list'):
             return # do not refresh if this win is hidden.
+        if len(users) < self.height:
+            self.pos = 0
+        elif self.pos >= len(users) - self.height and self.pos != 0:
+            self.pos = len(users) - self.height
         self._win.erase()
         asc_sort = (config.get('user_list_sort').lower() == 'asc')
         if asc_sort:
             y, x = self._win.getmaxyx()
             y -= 1
-            users = sorted(users)
         else:
             y = 0
-            users = sorted(users)
 
-        if len(users) < self.height:
-            self.pos = 0
-        elif self.pos >= len(users) - self.height and self.pos != 0:
-            self.pos = len(users) - self.height
-        for user in users[self.pos:]:
+        for user in users[self.pos:self.pos+self.height]:
             self.draw_role_affiliation(y, user)
             self.draw_status_chatstate(y, user)
             self.addstr(y, 2,