diff --git a/crates/matrix-sdk/src/room/timeline/inner.rs b/crates/matrix-sdk/src/room/timeline/inner.rs
index 386784330..02a069d00 100644
--- a/crates/matrix-sdk/src/room/timeline/inner.rs
+++ b/crates/matrix-sdk/src/room/timeline/inner.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use std::{
     sync::Arc,
 };
 
-use futures_signals::signal_vec::{MutableVec, MutableVecLockMut};
+use futures_signals::signal_vec::{MutableVec, MutableVecLockMut, MutableVecLockRef, SignalVec};
 use matrix_sdk_base::{
     crypto::OlmMachine,
     deserialized_responses::{EncryptionInfo, SyncTimelineEvent, TimelineEvent},
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ use crate::events::SyncTimelineEventWithoutContent;
 
 #[derive(Debug, Default)]
 pub(super) struct TimelineInner {
-    pub(super) items: MutableVec<Arc<TimelineItem>>,
-    pub(super) metadata: Mutex<TimelineInnerMetadata>,
+    items: MutableVec<Arc<TimelineItem>>,
+    metadata: Mutex<TimelineInnerMetadata>,
 }
 
 /// Non-signalling parts of `TimelineInner`.
@@ -47,6 +47,14 @@ pub(super) struct TimelineInnerMetadata {
 }
 
 impl TimelineInner {
+    pub(super) fn items(&self) -> MutableVecLockRef<'_, Arc<TimelineItem>> {
+        self.items.lock_ref()
+    }
+
+    pub(super) fn items_signal(&self) -> impl SignalVec<Item = Arc<TimelineItem>> {
+        self.items.signal_vec_cloned()
+    }
+
     pub(super) fn add_initial_events(
         &mut self,
         events: Vec<SyncTimelineEvent>,
diff --git a/crates/matrix-sdk/src/room/timeline/mod.rs b/crates/matrix-sdk/src/room/timeline/mod.rs
index af7211941..4aa5a1d83 100644
--- a/crates/matrix-sdk/src/room/timeline/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/matrix-sdk/src/room/timeline/mod.rs
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ impl Timeline {
     pub async fn paginate_backwards(&self, mut opts: PaginationOptions<'_>) -> Result<()> {
         let mut start_lock = self.start_token.lock().await;
         if start_lock.is_none()
-            && self.inner.items.lock_ref().first().map_or(false, |item| item.is_timeline_start())
+            && self.inner.items().first().map_or(false, |item| item.is_timeline_start())
         {
             warn!("Start of timeline reached, ignoring backwards-pagination request");
             return Ok(());
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ impl Timeline {
 
     /// Get the latest of the timeline's event items.
     pub fn latest_event(&self) -> Option<EventTimelineItem> {
-        self.inner.items.lock_ref().last()?.as_event().cloned()
+        self.inner.items().last()?.as_event().cloned()
     }
 
     /// Get a signal of the timeline's items.
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ impl Timeline {
     /// See [`SignalVecExt`](futures_signals::signal_vec::SignalVecExt) for a
     /// high-level API on top of [`SignalVec`].
     pub fn signal(&self) -> impl SignalVec<Item = Arc<TimelineItem>> {
-        self.inner.items.signal_vec_cloned()
+        self.inner.items_signal()
     }
 
     /// Get a stream of timeline changes.
diff --git a/crates/matrix-sdk/src/room/timeline/tests.rs b/crates/matrix-sdk/src/room/timeline/tests.rs
index e6c8e56a9..e1801d158 100644
--- a/crates/matrix-sdk/src/room/timeline/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/matrix-sdk/src/room/timeline/tests.rs
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ async fn invalid_edit() {
 
     // Can't easily test the non-arrival of an item using the stream. Instead
     // just assert that there is still just a couple items in the timeline.
-    assert_eq!(timeline.inner.items.lock_ref().len(), 2);
+    assert_eq!(timeline.inner.items().len(), 2);
 }
 
 #[async_test]
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ async fn edit_redacted() {
     });
     timeline.handle_live_message_event(&ALICE, edit).await;
 
-    assert_eq!(timeline.inner.items.lock_ref().len(), 2);
+    assert_eq!(timeline.inner.items().len(), 2);
 }
 
 #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ async fn unable_to_decrypt() {
         )
         .await;
 
-    assert_eq!(timeline.inner.items.lock_ref().len(), 2);
+    assert_eq!(timeline.inner.items().len(), 2);
 
     let _day_divider = assert_matches!(stream.next().await, Some(VecDiff::Push { value }) => value);
     let item = assert_matches!(stream.next().await, Some(VecDiff::Push { value }) => value);
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ async fn unable_to_decrypt() {
         )
         .await;
 
-    assert_eq!(timeline.inner.items.lock_ref().len(), 2);
+    assert_eq!(timeline.inner.items().len(), 2);
 
     let item =
         assert_matches!(stream.next().await, Some(VecDiff::UpdateAt { index: 1, value }) => value);
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ async fn invalid_event() {
             "type": "m.room.message",
         }))
         .await;
-    assert_eq!(timeline.inner.items.lock_ref().len(), 0);
+    assert_eq!(timeline.inner.items().len(), 0);
 }
 
 #[async_test]
@@ -568,7 +568,7 @@ impl TestTimeline {
     }
 
     fn stream(&self) -> impl Stream<Item = VecDiff<Arc<TimelineItem>>> {
-        self.inner.items.signal_vec_cloned().to_stream()
+        self.inner.items_signal().to_stream()
     }
 
     async fn handle_live_message_event<C>(&self, sender: &UserId, content: C)