diff --git a/quickshell/Modules/DankBar/Widgets/SystemTrayBar.qml b/quickshell/Modules/DankBar/Widgets/SystemTrayBar.qml
index 9ed9d95e..4caee776 100644
--- a/quickshell/Modules/DankBar/Widgets/SystemTrayBar.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Modules/DankBar/Widgets/SystemTrayBar.qml
@@ -645,11 +645,43 @@ Item {
             property bool showMenu: false
             property var menuHandle: null
 
+            property bool shouldLoadMenu: false
+            property var menuItems: []
+
             ListModel { id: entryStack }
             function topEntry() {
                 return entryStack.count ? entryStack.get(entryStack.count - 1).handle : null
             }
 
+            onShouldLoadMenuChanged: {
+                if (shouldLoadMenu) {
+                    loadMenuItemsSafely()
+                }
+            }
+
+            function loadMenuItemsSafely() {
+                menuLoadTimer.start()
+            }
+
+            Timer {
+                id: menuLoadTimer
+                interval: 50
+                repeat: false
+                onTriggered: {
+                    try {
+                        const currentOpener = entryStack.count ? subOpener : rootOpener
+                        if (currentOpener && currentOpener.children && currentOpener.children.values) {
+                            const values = currentOpener.children.values
+                            if (values && values.length > 0) {
+                                menuRoot.menuItems = [...values]
+                            }
+                        }
+                    } catch (e) {
+                        console.warn("Failed to load menu items:", e)
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
             function showForTrayItem(item, anchor, screen, atBottom, vertical, axisObj) {
                 trayItem = item
                 anchorItem = anchor
@@ -657,7 +689,12 @@ Item {
                 isAtBottom = atBottom
                 isVertical = vertical
                 axis = axisObj
-                menuHandle = item?.menu
+
+                if (item && item.menu) {
+                    menuHandle = item.menu
+                }
+
+                menuItems = []
 
                 if (parentScreen) {
                     for (var i = 0; i < Quickshell.screens.length; i++) {
@@ -669,6 +706,7 @@ Item {
                     }
                 }
 
+                shouldLoadMenu = true
                 showMenu = true
             }
 
@@ -690,17 +728,17 @@ Item {
 
                 entryStack.append({ handle: entry });
 
-                const h = entry.menu || entry;
-                if (h && typeof h.updateLayout === "function") h.updateLayout();
+                menuItems = []
 
-                submenuHydrator.menu = h;
-                submenuHydrator.open();
-                Qt.callLater(() => submenuHydrator.close());
+                shouldLoadMenu = true
             }
 
             function goBack() {
                 if (!entryStack.count) return;
                 entryStack.remove(entryStack.count - 1);
+
+                menuItems = []
+                Qt.callLater(() => loadMenuItemsSafely())
             }
 
             width: 0
@@ -879,14 +917,16 @@ Item {
                         }
                     }
 
-                    QsMenuAnchor {
-                        id: submenuHydrator
-                        anchor.window: menuWindow
-                    }
-
                     QsMenuOpener {
                         id: rootOpener
                         menu: menuRoot.menuHandle
+
+                        onMenuChanged: {
+                            if (menuRoot.shouldLoadMenu && !entryStack.count) {
+                                menuRoot.menuItems = []
+                                Qt.callLater(() => menuRoot.loadMenuItemsSafely())
+                            }
+                        }
                     }
 
                     QsMenuOpener {
@@ -895,6 +935,13 @@ Item {
                             const e = menuRoot.topEntry();
                             return e ? (e.menu || e) : null;
                         }
+
+                        onMenuChanged: {
+                            if (menuRoot.shouldLoadMenu && entryStack.count) {
+                                menuRoot.menuItems = []
+                                Qt.callLater(() => menuRoot.loadMenuItemsSafely())
+                            }
+                        }
                     }
 
 
@@ -1005,10 +1052,7 @@ Item {
                         }
 
                         Repeater {
-                            model: entryStack.count
-                                   ? (subOpener.children ? subOpener.children
-                                                         : (menuRoot.topEntry()?.children || []))
-                                   : rootOpener.children
+                            model: menuRoot.menuItems
 
                             Rectangle {
                                 property var menuEntry: modelData