diff --git a/neode-ui/src/components/CompanionIntroOverlay.vue b/neode-ui/src/components/CompanionIntroOverlay.vue
index c7d9ea8a..c0ace1a1 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/components/CompanionIntroOverlay.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/components/CompanionIntroOverlay.vue
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@
 import { ref, onMounted, watch } from 'vue'
 import * as QRCode from 'qrcode'
 import { IS_DEMO } from '@/composables/useDemoIntro'
+import { useLoginTransitionStore } from '@/stores/loginTransition'
 
 const STORAGE_KEY = 'neode_companion_intro_seen'
 // Absolute URL so the QR works when scanned by a phone (a relative path has no
@@ -93,17 +94,40 @@ const visible = ref(false)
 const qrDataUrl = ref('')
 const companionDownloadUrl = import.meta.env.VITE_COMPANION_APK_URL || DEFAULT_DOWNLOAD_URL
 
+const loginTransition = useLoginTransitionStore()
+
+// Base delay before the popup may appear, and extra breathing room after the
+// dashboard entrance cinematic ends so the popup never cuts into the reveal.
+const BASE_DELAY_MS = 5000
+const POST_INTRO_GRACE_MS = 2000
+
 onMounted(() => {
   try {
     if (localStorage.getItem(STORAGE_KEY) !== '1') {
-      // Delay slightly so it doesn't compete with login animation
-      setTimeout(() => { visible.value = true }, 5000)
+      setTimeout(maybeShow, BASE_DELAY_MS)
     }
   } catch {
     // localStorage unavailable
   }
 })
 
+function maybeShow() {
+  if (loginTransition.introCinematicPlaying) {
+    // First-visit reveal is still running — hold until it finishes.
+    const stop = watch(
+      () => loginTransition.introCinematicPlaying,
+      (playing) => {
+        if (!playing) {
+          stop()
+          setTimeout(() => { visible.value = true }, POST_INTRO_GRACE_MS)
+        }
+      },
+    )
+    return
+  }
+  visible.value = true
+}
+
 watch(visible, async (isVisible) => {
   if (!isVisible) return
   qrDataUrl.value = await QRCode.toDataURL(companionDownloadUrl, {
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/stores/loginTransition.ts b/neode-ui/src/stores/loginTransition.ts
index c1004000..8931fbdc 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/stores/loginTransition.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/stores/loginTransition.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,12 @@ export const useLoginTransitionStore = defineStore('loginTransition', () => {
   const pendingWelcomeTyping = ref(false)
   /** Trigger welcome typing on Home - set true after dashboard animation finishes */
   const startWelcomeTyping = ref(false)
+  /**
+   * True while the dashboard entrance cinematic (zoom/glitch reveal) is
+   * playing. Overlays that would visually compete with it (e.g. the
+   * companion intro popup) hold off until this flips back to false.
+   */
+  const introCinematicPlaying = ref(false)
 
   function setJustLoggedIn(value: boolean) {
     justLoggedIn.value = value
@@ -32,6 +38,10 @@ export const useLoginTransitionStore = defineStore('loginTransition', () => {
     startWelcomeTyping.value = value
   }
 
+  function setIntroCinematicPlaying(value: boolean) {
+    introCinematicPlaying.value = value
+  }
+
   return {
     justLoggedIn,
     setJustLoggedIn,
@@ -41,5 +51,7 @@ export const useLoginTransitionStore = defineStore('loginTransition', () => {
     setPendingWelcomeTyping,
     startWelcomeTyping,
     setStartWelcomeTyping,
+    introCinematicPlaying,
+    setIntroCinematicPlaying,
   }
 })
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/Dashboard.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/Dashboard.vue
index f6d84fe9..77ba6832 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/Dashboard.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/Dashboard.vue
@@ -373,6 +373,7 @@ onMounted(() => {
     // un-forced call would gate itself silent.
     playDashboardLoadOomph(true)
     showZoomIn.value = true
+    loginTransition.setIntroCinematicPlaying(true)
     loginTransition.setPendingWelcomeTyping(true)
     loginTransition.setJustCompletedOnboarding(false)
     loginTransition.setJustLoggedIn(false)
@@ -383,7 +384,10 @@ onMounted(() => {
     scheduledTimeout(triggerRevealGlitch, 500)
     scheduledTimeout(triggerRevealGlitch, 1200)
     scheduledTimeout(triggerRevealGlitch, 2000)
-    scheduledTimeout(() => { showZoomIn.value = false }, 8000)
+    scheduledTimeout(() => {
+      showZoomIn.value = false
+      loginTransition.setIntroCinematicPlaying(false)
+    }, 8000)
     scheduledTimeout(() => {
       loginTransition.setStartWelcomeTyping(true)
       loginTransition.setPendingWelcomeTyping(false)
@@ -405,6 +409,9 @@ onMounted(() => {
 
 onBeforeUnmount(() => {
   document.body.classList.remove('dashboard-active')
+  // Timers are cleared below; make sure overlays waiting on the cinematic
+  // aren't left blocked forever if we unmount mid-reveal.
+  loginTransition.setIntroCinematicPlaying(false)
   window.removeEventListener('keydown', handleKioskShortcuts)
   for (const id of pendingTimers) clearTimeout(id)
   pendingTimers.length = 0