diff --git a/engine/MUNGA_L4/L4VIDEO.cpp b/engine/MUNGA_L4/L4VIDEO.cpp
index 7056c61..b34fe1a 100644
--- a/engine/MUNGA_L4/L4VIDEO.cpp
+++ b/engine/MUNGA_L4/L4VIDEO.cpp
@@ -8697,6 +8697,14 @@ void DPLRenderer::ExecuteImplementation(RendererComplexity, RendererOrigin::Inte
 	// DIAG (turn-hitch hunt): draw CPU is _rt0..here; Present blocks on the GPU.
 	LARGE_INTEGER _rt1; QueryPerformanceCounter(&_rt1);
 	hr = mDevice->Present(NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+	// The wait-screen overlay stands down PERMANENTLY the moment the first
+	// REAL scene frame presents (user report 2026-07-22: the launch handoff
+	// briefly interleaved idle-overlay presents with game frames = flicker).
+	extern Logical gBTSceneHasPresented;
+	if (!gBTSceneHasPresented)
+		DEBUG_STREAM << "[waitscreen] scene LIVE (first real present) t="
+			<< GetTickCount() << std::endl << std::flush;
+	gBTSceneHasPresented = True;
 	{
 		LARGE_INTEGER _rt2, _rf; QueryPerformanceCounter(&_rt2); QueryPerformanceFrequency(&_rf);
 		const double drawMs    = (double)(_rt1.QuadPart - _rt0.QuadPart) * 1000.0 / (double)_rf.QuadPart;
@@ -8844,10 +8852,30 @@ void BTWaitScreenPaint(const char *line1, const char *line2)
 	ReleaseDC(wnd, dc);
 }
 
+// One-way per-process latch: the real render path has presented a frame.
+// ExecuteIdle (the wait-screen overlay) stands down for good once set -- the
+// launch handoff must never interleave an idle black-clear/overlay present
+// with live game frames.
+Logical gBTSceneHasPresented = False;
+
 void DPLRenderer::ExecuteIdle()
 {
 	HRESULT hr;
 
+	if (gBTSceneHasPresented)
+		return;								// game graphics own the screen now
+	{
+		static unsigned long s_lastIdleLog = 0;
+		unsigned long now = GetTickCount();
+		if (now - s_lastIdleLog > 1000UL)
+		{
+			s_lastIdleLog = now;
+			DEBUG_STREAM << "[waitscreen] idle paint t=" << now << " state="
+				<< (application ? (int)application->GetApplicationState() : -1)
+				<< std::endl << std::flush;
+		}
+	}
+
 	hr = mDevice->Clear(0, NULL, D3DCLEAR_TARGET, 0xFF000000, 1.0f, 0);
 
 	hr = mDevice->BeginScene();