diff --git a/quickshell/Modules/DankBar/DankBarWindow.qml b/quickshell/Modules/DankBar/DankBarWindow.qml
index 3b9901485..22f3a7d8a 100644
--- a/quickshell/Modules/DankBar/DankBarWindow.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Modules/DankBar/DankBarWindow.qml
@@ -663,7 +663,7 @@ PanelWindow {
 
     IdleInhibitor {
         window: barWindow
-        enabled: SessionService.idleInhibited
+        enabled: SessionService.idleInhibited || IdleService.externalInhibitActive
     }
 
     Connections {
diff --git a/quickshell/Services/IdleService.qml b/quickshell/Services/IdleService.qml
index 95c123aaa..38516dc04 100644
--- a/quickshell/Services/IdleService.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Services/IdleService.qml
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ Singleton {
         // compositor honoring the bar-surface zwp_idle_inhibit inhibitor,
         // which goes inactive whenever the bar surface is occluded
         // (fullscreen windows) or hidden (auto-hide).
-        const base = enabled && !SessionService.idleInhibited;
+        const base = enabled && !SessionService.idleInhibited && !externalInhibitActive;
         monitorOffMonitor.enabled = base && monitorTimeout > 0 && !postLockMonitorActive;
         postLockMonitorOffMonitor.enabled = enabled && postLockMonitorActive;
         lockMonitor.enabled = base && lockTimeout > 0;
@@ -182,21 +182,11 @@ Singleton {
         if (externalInhibitActive) {
             const apps = DMSService.screensaverInhibitors.map(i => i.appName).join(", ");
             log.info("External idle inhibit active from:", apps || "unknown");
-            SessionService.idleInhibited = true;
-            SessionService.inhibitReason = "External app: " + (apps || "unknown");
         } else {
             log.info("External idle inhibit released");
-            SessionService.idleInhibited = false;
-            SessionService.inhibitReason = "Keep system awake";
         }
+        _rearmIdleMonitors();
     }
 
-    Component.onCompleted: {
-        _applyMonitorEnableds();
-        if (externalInhibitActive) {
-            const apps = DMSService.screensaverInhibitors.map(i => i.appName).join(", ");
-            SessionService.idleInhibited = true;
-            SessionService.inhibitReason = "External app: " + (apps || "unknown");
-        }
-    }
+    Component.onCompleted: _applyMonitorEnableds()
 }