diff --git a/src/app/page.tsx b/src/app/page.tsx
index 4d568bf..137809a 100644
--- a/src/app/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/page.tsx
@@ -377,6 +377,7 @@ export default function Home() {
   const [activeKanbanTaskId, setActiveKanbanTaskId] = useState<string | null>(null)
   const [dragOverKanbanColumnKey, setDragOverKanbanColumnKey] = useState<string | null>(null)
   const [authReady, setAuthReady] = useState(false)
+  const [initialSyncComplete, setInitialSyncComplete] = useState(false)
   const [users, setUsers] = useState<AssignableUser[]>([])
 
   const getTags = (taskLike: { tags?: unknown }) => {
@@ -495,7 +496,18 @@ export default function Home() {
 
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!authReady) return
-    syncFromServer()
+    let active = true
+    setInitialSyncComplete(false)
+
+    const runInitialSync = async () => {
+      await syncFromServer()
+      if (active) setInitialSyncComplete(true)
+    }
+
+    void runInitialSync()
+    return () => {
+      active = false
+    }
   }, [authReady, syncFromServer])
 
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -858,6 +870,14 @@ export default function Home() {
     )
   }
 
+  if (!initialSyncComplete) {
+    return (
+      <div className="min-h-screen bg-slate-950 text-slate-100 flex items-center justify-center">
+        <p className="text-sm text-slate-400">Loading board...</p>
+      </div>
+    )
+  }
+
   return (
     <div className="min-h-screen bg-slate-950 text-slate-100">
       {/* Header */}