diff --git a/core/internal/server/trayrecovery/manager.go b/core/internal/server/trayrecovery/manager.go
index 3610f1b8..6053609d 100644
--- a/core/internal/server/trayrecovery/manager.go
+++ b/core/internal/server/trayrecovery/manager.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/AvengeMedia/DankMaterialShell/core/internal/log"
 	"github.com/AvengeMedia/DankMaterialShell/core/internal/server/loginctl"
 	"github.com/godbus/dbus/v5"
+	"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
 )
 
 const resumeDelay = 3 * time.Second
@@ -29,11 +30,14 @@ func NewManager() (*Manager, error) {
 		stopChan: make(chan struct{}),
 	}
 
-	// Run a startup scan after a delay — covers the case where the process
-	// was killed during suspend and restarted by systemd (Type=dbus).
-	// The fresh process never sees the PrepareForSleep true→false transition,
-	// so the loginctl watcher alone is not enough.
-	go m.scheduleRecovery()
+	// Only run a startup scan when the system has been suspended at least once.
+	// On a fresh boot CLOCK_BOOTTIME ≈ CLOCK_MONOTONIC (difference ~0).
+	// After any suspend/resume cycle the difference grows by the time spent
+	// sleeping.  This avoids duplicate registrations on normal boot where apps
+	// are still starting up and will register their own tray icons shortly.
+	if timeSuspended() > 5*time.Second {
+		go m.scheduleRecovery()
+	}
 
 	return m, nil
 }
@@ -91,3 +95,21 @@ func (m *Manager) Close() {
 	}
 	log.Info("TrayRecovery manager closed")
 }
+
+// timeSuspended returns how long the system has spent in suspend since boot.
+// It is the difference between CLOCK_BOOTTIME (includes suspend) and
+// CLOCK_MONOTONIC (excludes suspend).
+func timeSuspended() time.Duration {
+	var bt, mt unix.Timespec
+	if err := unix.ClockGettime(unix.CLOCK_BOOTTIME, &bt); err != nil {
+		return 0
+	}
+	if err := unix.ClockGettime(unix.CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &mt); err != nil {
+		return 0
+	}
+	diff := (bt.Sec-mt.Sec)*int64(time.Second) + (bt.Nsec - mt.Nsec)
+	if diff < 0 {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return time.Duration(diff)
+}