diff --git a/quickshell/DMSShell.qml b/quickshell/DMSShell.qml
index 94698343c..90b85cd4c 100644
--- a/quickshell/DMSShell.qml
+++ b/quickshell/DMSShell.qml
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ Item {
     }
 
     Component.onCompleted: {
-        dockRecreateDebounce.start();
+        dockEnabled = true;
         loginSoundTimer.start();
         osdStartupTimer.start();
 
diff --git a/quickshell/Modules/BlurredWallpaperBackground.qml b/quickshell/Modules/BlurredWallpaperBackground.qml
index d403e7df1..8fe67894e 100644
--- a/quickshell/Modules/BlurredWallpaperBackground.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Modules/BlurredWallpaperBackground.qml
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ Variants {
 
         color: "transparent"
 
+        visible: root.contentReady && !root.surfaceBounce
+
         updatesEnabled: root.renderActive || root._settleFrames > 0
 
         mask: Region {
@@ -56,6 +58,8 @@ Variants {
 
             property string source: SessionData.getMonitorWallpaper(modelData.name) || ""
             property bool isColorSource: source.startsWith("#")
+            property bool contentReady: false
+            property bool surfaceBounce: false
 
             Connections {
                 target: SessionData
@@ -94,6 +98,9 @@ Variants {
 
             Component.onCompleted: {
                 isInitialized = true;
+                if (!source || isColorSource) {
+                    contentReady = true;
+                }
             }
 
             property bool isInitialized: false
@@ -136,9 +143,9 @@ Variants {
                 interval: 0
                 repeat: false
                 onTriggered: {
-                    blurWallpaperWindow.visible = false;
+                    root.surfaceBounce = true;
                     Qt.callLater(() => {
-                        blurWallpaperWindow.visible = true;
+                        root.surfaceBounce = false;
                     });
                 }
             }
@@ -246,6 +253,8 @@ Variants {
                 transitionAnimation.stop();
                 root.transitionProgress = 0.0;
                 root.effectActive = false;
+                if (!newSource)
+                    root.contentReady = true;
                 currentWallpaper.source = newSource;
                 nextWallpaper.source = "";
             }
@@ -318,6 +327,9 @@ Variants {
                     if (status === Image.Error) {
                         log.warn("failed to load active wallpaper for", modelData.name + ":", source);
                     }
+                    if (status === Image.Ready || status === Image.Error) {
+                        root.contentReady = true;
+                    }
                 }
             }
 
diff --git a/quickshell/Modules/Dock/Dock.qml b/quickshell/Modules/Dock/Dock.qml
index d623f7745..deb1fd68c 100644
--- a/quickshell/Modules/Dock/Dock.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Modules/Dock/Dock.qml
@@ -340,7 +340,19 @@ Variants {
             return ConnectedModeState.dockRetractActiveForSide(dock._dockScreenName, dock.connectedBarSide);
         }
 
+        property bool startupRevealDone: false
+
+        Timer {
+            id: startupRevealTimer
+            interval: 200
+            running: true
+            onTriggered: dock.startupRevealDone = true
+        }
+
         property bool reveal: {
+            if (!startupRevealDone)
+                return false;
+
             if (_modalRetractActive)
                 return false;
 
@@ -628,6 +640,7 @@ Variants {
                     id: dockContainer
                     anchors.fill: parent
                     clip: false
+                    opacity: dock.startupRevealDone ? 1 : 0
 
                     transform: Translate {
                         id: dockSlide
diff --git a/quickshell/Modules/Plugins/DesktopPluginWrapper.qml b/quickshell/Modules/Plugins/DesktopPluginWrapper.qml
index 7ddf16e5a..47032c324 100644
--- a/quickshell/Modules/Plugins/DesktopPluginWrapper.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Modules/Plugins/DesktopPluginWrapper.qml
@@ -359,6 +359,17 @@ Item {
             anchors.fill: parent
             active: root.widgetEnabled && root.activeComponent !== null
             sourceComponent: root.activeComponent
+            opacity: 0
+
+            NumberAnimation {
+                id: revealFade
+                target: contentLoader
+                property: "opacity"
+                from: 0
+                to: 1
+                duration: Theme.mediumDuration
+                easing.type: Theme.standardEasing
+            }
 
             function reloadComponent() {
                 active = false;
@@ -384,6 +395,8 @@ Item {
                 if (!item)
                     return;
 
+                revealFade.restart();
+
                 if (item.pluginService !== undefined) {
                     item.pluginService = root.isInstance ? instanceScopedPluginService : root.pluginService;
                 }
diff --git a/quickshell/Modules/WallpaperBackground.qml b/quickshell/Modules/WallpaperBackground.qml
index 0f38f71fa..e755a2480 100644
--- a/quickshell/Modules/WallpaperBackground.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Modules/WallpaperBackground.qml
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ Variants {
 
         color: "transparent"
 
+        visible: root.contentReady && !root.surfaceBounce
+
         updatesEnabled: root.renderActive || root._settleFrames > 0
 
         mask: Region {
@@ -64,6 +66,9 @@ Variants {
             property string actualTransitionType: transitionType
             property bool isInitialized: false
 
+            property bool contentReady: false
+            property bool surfaceBounce: false
+
             property string scrollMode: SettingsData.wallpaperFillMode
             property bool scrollingEnabled: scrollMode === "Scrolling"
             property int currentWorkspaceIndex: 0
@@ -263,9 +268,9 @@ Variants {
                 interval: 0
                 repeat: false
                 onTriggered: {
-                    wallpaperWindow.visible = false;
+                    root.surfaceBounce = true;
                     Qt.callLater(() => {
-                        wallpaperWindow.visible = true;
+                        root.surfaceBounce = false;
                     });
                 }
             }
@@ -506,6 +511,9 @@ Variants {
 
             Component.onCompleted: {
                 isInitialized = true;
+                if (!source || isColorSource) {
+                    contentReady = true;
+                }
 
                 if (scrollingEnabled) {
                     updateWorkspaceData();
@@ -574,8 +582,10 @@ Variants {
                 root.effectActive = false;
                 root.screenScale = CompositorService.getScreenScale(modelData);
                 // No status change coming to clear the flag
-                if (!newSource || currentWallpaper.source.toString() === newSource)
+                if (!newSource || currentWallpaper.source.toString() === newSource) {
                     root.changePending = false;
+                    root.contentReady = true;
+                }
                 currentWallpaper.source = newSource;
                 nextWallpaper.source = "";
 
@@ -746,6 +756,7 @@ Variants {
                     }
                     if (status === Image.Ready || status === Image.Error) {
                         root.changePending = false;
+                        root.contentReady = true;
                     }
                 }