diff --git a/settings/hyprland.nix b/settings/hyprland.nix
index 254b51d..d73970c 100644
--- a/settings/hyprland.nix
+++ b/settings/hyprland.nix
@@ -440,7 +440,11 @@ in
               # inhibitor, but the loginctl → logind Lock signal → lock_cmd
               # detour is async and the box can suspend unlocked. Lid close
               # (HandleLidSwitch=suspend) goes through here too.
-              before_sleep_cmd = "qs ipc call lock lock";
+              # The sleep is not padding: `qs ipc call` returns once the
+              # handler sets locked=true, before the lock surface has
+              # committed a frame. Without it the box freezes mid-transition
+              # and the pre-lock frame flashes on resume.
+              before_sleep_cmd = "qs ipc call lock lock; sleep 1";
               after_sleep_cmd  = "hyprctl dispatch dpms on";
             };
             listener = [