diff --git a/js/entry.js b/js/entry.js
index 0746da64..78aa3ce0 100644
--- a/js/entry.js
+++ b/js/entry.js
@@ -166,10 +166,13 @@ app.registerExtension({
 
         void checkMajoorVersion();
 
-        // Get ComfyUI API
-        const api = (await waitForComfyApi({ app: runtimeApp, timeoutMs: 4000 })) || getComfyApi(runtimeApp);
-        setComfyApi(api || null);
-        if (api) {
+        // Initialize API listeners in the background so sidebar tab registration
+        // is not blocked by API readiness polling.
+        void (async () => {
+            // Get ComfyUI API
+            const api = (await waitForComfyApi({ app: runtimeApp, timeoutMs: 4000 })) || getComfyApi(runtimeApp);
+            setComfyApi(api || null);
+            if (api) {
             let runtime = null;
             try {
                 runtime = typeof window !== "undefined" ? (window[ENTRY_RUNTIME_KEY] || null) : null;
@@ -353,6 +356,7 @@ app.registerExtension({
         } else {
             console.warn("📂 Majoor [⚠️] API not available, real-time updates disabled");
         }
+        })();
 
         // Register sidebar tab
         if (registerSidebarTabCompat(runtimeApp, {
diff --git a/js/features/grid/GridView_impl.js b/js/features/grid/GridView_impl.js
index 5a29aa94..59fdace8 100644
--- a/js/features/grid/GridView_impl.js
+++ b/js/features/grid/GridView_impl.js
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ const RT_HYDRATE_STATE = new WeakMap(); // gridContainer -> { queue, inflight, s
 // ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 // Upsert Batching - Accumulate upserts and flush once for performance
 // ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-const UPSERT_BATCH_DEBOUNCE_MS = 50;     // Debounce window for batch flush
+const UPSERT_BATCH_DEBOUNCE_MS = 200;    // Debounce window for batch flush
 const UPSERT_BATCH_MAX_SIZE = 50;        // Max items before forced flush
 const UPSERT_BATCH_STATE = new WeakMap(); // gridContainer -> { pending: Map<id, asset>, timer: number|null }
 
diff --git a/js/features/panel/AssetsManagerPanel.js b/js/features/panel/AssetsManagerPanel.js
index 3e3310b0..291e0242 100644
--- a/js/features/panel/AssetsManagerPanel.js
+++ b/js/features/panel/AssetsManagerPanel.js
@@ -1243,7 +1243,11 @@ export async function renderAssetsManager(container, { useComfyThemeUI = true }
             lastKnownIndexEnd = counters.last_index_end;
             return;
         }
-        if (!hasNewScan && !hasNewIndexEnd && !hasNewTotal) return;
+        // hasNewIndexEnd alone does NOT trigger a full reload: the backend pushes
+        // mjr-asset-added immediately after index_paths, which handles it via upsert.
+        // A full reload would flash the loading overlay over already-visible assets.
+        if (hasNewIndexEnd) lastKnownIndexEnd = counters.last_index_end;
+        if (!hasNewScan && !hasNewTotal) return;
 
         // Global throttle against reload storms from frequent watcher/enrichment updates.
         try {
diff --git a/mjr_am_backend/features/index/service.py b/mjr_am_backend/features/index/service.py
index 185723bb..06163fd9 100644
--- a/mjr_am_backend/features/index/service.py
+++ b/mjr_am_backend/features/index/service.py
@@ -206,6 +206,21 @@ class IndexService:
                 PromptServer.instance.send_sync("mjr-scan-complete", res.data)
             except Exception as e:
                 logger.debug("Failed to emit scan-complete event: %s", e)
+            # Push newly-added assets immediately so the frontend can upsert them
+            # into the grid without waiting for the next polling cycle.
+            added_ids = (res.data or {}).get("added_ids") or []
+            if added_ids:
+                try:
+                    from ...routes.registry import PromptServer
+                    batch_res = await self.get_assets_batch(list(added_ids[:20]))
+                    if batch_res.ok and batch_res.data:
+                        for asset in batch_res.data:
+                            try:
+                                PromptServer.instance.send_sync("mjr-asset-added", dict(asset))
+                            except Exception:
+                                pass
+                except Exception as e:
+                    logger.debug("Failed to emit mjr-asset-added events: %s", e)
             mark_directory_indexed(base_dir, source, root_id)
         return res