diff --git a/app/src/main/cpp/waylandcomp/src/sc_layer.c b/app/src/main/cpp/waylandcomp/src/sc_layer.c
index 1fcbf3357..e8a651c42 100644
--- a/app/src/main/cpp/waylandcomp/src/sc_layer.c
+++ b/app/src/main/cpp/waylandcomp/src/sc_layer.c
@@ -836,6 +836,7 @@ int sc_layer_present_ahb(AHardwareBuffer *ahb, int w, int h, int acquire_fd, voi
             apply_geometry(tx, l, r); apply_frame_rate(tx, l); apply_colour(tx, l, color);
             api.txApply(tx); api.txDelete(tx);
         }
+        vkp_signal_first_frame();
         return 0;
     }
     ASurfaceTransaction *tx = api.txCreate();
@@ -863,7 +864,10 @@ int sc_layer_present_ahb(AHardwareBuffer *ahb, int w, int h, int acquire_fd, voi
     l->cur_slot = -1;
     l->cur_token = token;
     if (!l->shown) { l->shown = 1; banner_log("layer", "%s: layer shown", l->name); }
-    if (!l->first_logged) { l->first_logged = 1; vkp_signal_first_frame(); }
+    /* The notification is re-armed for each session; the layer and its logging flag can
+     * outlive it. Let the notification's own one-shot decide whether to fire. */
+    if (!l->first_logged) l->first_logged = 1;
+    vkp_signal_first_frame();
     if (color && color->dataspace) banner_color_frame_shown(color, BANNER_HDR_ZERO_COPY, ahb_format);
     return 0;
 unavailable:
@@ -891,8 +895,8 @@ int sc_layer_present(struct vkp_image *src, int scene_w, int scene_h, const stru
         banner_log("layer", "presenting %dx%d game frames on their own SurfaceControl layer (%s pool, %d buffers); "
                    "HUD and pointer stay Android views above it", sw, sh,
                    l->pool_modifier == MOD_QCOM_COMPRESSED ? "UBWC" : "linear", l->pool_n);
-        vkp_signal_first_frame();
     }
+    vkp_signal_first_frame();
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -915,8 +919,8 @@ int sc_layer_present_pass(const struct vkp_draw *draws, int n, int scene_w, int
         banner_log("layer", "presenting %dx%d frames on their own SurfaceControl layer (%s pool, %d buffers); "
                    "HUD and pointer stay Android views above it", rw, rh,
                    l->pool_modifier == MOD_QCOM_COMPRESSED ? "UBWC" : "linear", l->pool_n);
-        vkp_signal_first_frame();
     }
+    vkp_signal_first_frame();
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -971,7 +975,8 @@ int sc_layer_present_hdr_scene(const struct vkp_draw *draws, int n, const struct
                        cov[0] ? ", " : "", cov);
         }
     }
-    if (!l->first_logged) { l->first_logged = 1; vkp_signal_first_frame(); }
+    if (!l->first_logged) l->first_logged = 1;
+    vkp_signal_first_frame();
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/droiddeck/launcher/SessionActivity.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/droiddeck/launcher/SessionActivity.kt
index 83d4e726d..c6c03b320 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/droiddeck/launcher/SessionActivity.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/droiddeck/launcher/SessionActivity.kt
@@ -907,7 +907,6 @@ class SessionActivity : ComponentActivity(), SurfaceHolder.Callback {
         // whole process, so the second Play after a session ended used to re-attach the Surface,
         // start nothing, and leave the loading panel counting up over a dead session.
         if (!SessionState.running) {
-            CompositorHost.newSession()
             SessionEvents.transition(SessionPhase.STARTING_GUEST, "guest.starting")
             SessionService.start(
                 this, intent.getStringExtra(SessionService.EXTRA_MODE) ?: SessionService.MODE_STEAM,
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/droiddeck/launcher/session/SessionService.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/droiddeck/launcher/session/SessionService.kt
index 4c31cba4f..139db9fae 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/droiddeck/launcher/session/SessionService.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/droiddeck/launcher/session/SessionService.kt
@@ -217,6 +217,9 @@ class SessionService : Service() {
         SessionState.firstFrameSeen = false
         SessionState.guestPid = -1
         SessionEvents.transition(SessionPhase.STARTING_GUEST, "service.started", mapOf("mode" to SessionState.mode))
+        // Re-arm after clearing readiness: a retained picture can present between the activity's
+        // start request and this callback, and that notice must not be erased by the reset above.
+        com.droiddeck.launcher.wayland.CompositorHost.newSession()
         // This session's number, claimed here and not when its process starts: the session it
         // replaces can report its own exit in the gap between the two, and that exit must not
         // be taken as this one's.