diff --git a/config/dot/quickshell/services/SettingsBackup.qml b/config/dot/quickshell/services/SettingsBackup.qml
index e798831..a407c1f 100644
--- a/config/dot/quickshell/services/SettingsBackup.qml
+++ b/config/dot/quickshell/services/SettingsBackup.qml
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ Singleton {
     property var displayCanConfirm: function() { return Displays.canConfirm; }
     property var confirmDisplayLayout: function() { return Displays.confirm(); }
     property var setDisplayBlocked: function(blocked) { Displays.externalChangeBlocked = blocked; }
+    property var applyIdle: function() { IdleLock.apply(); }
+    property var idleBusy: function() { return IdleLock.busy; }
     property var applyCompositor: function() { SystemSettings.applyPersistedDisplayPolicy(); }
     property var reloadKeybinds: function() { Keybinds.applyReload(); }
     property var keybindsReloading: function() { return Keybinds.reloading; }
@@ -147,10 +149,11 @@ Singleton {
             // DesktopPreferences.reload() invalidates reactive shell bindings.
             // These services also own state outside QML and need an explicit
             // replay: compositor options, Lua-generated binds, and hyprpaper.
-            root.applyCompositor();
-            root.reloadKeybinds();
-            root.applyWallpaperPolicy();
+            root.applyIdle();
             root.regenerateLock();
+            root.applyWallpaperPolicy();
+            root.reloadKeybinds();
+            root.applyCompositor();
 
             settleReload.attempts = 0;
             settleReload.restart();
@@ -167,7 +170,7 @@ Singleton {
             // Let the current instances finish their external writes before a
             // soft reload replaces them. The cap keeps a failed external tool
             // from leaving restored Home state stale indefinitely.
-            if ((!root.keybindsReloading() && !root.systemBusy()
+            if ((!root.idleBusy() && !root.keybindsReloading() && !root.systemBusy()
                     && !root.wallpaperBusy() && !root.lockBusy()) || attempts >= 30) {
                 stop();
                 root.setDisplayBlocked(false);
diff --git a/config/dot/quickshell/settings-backup-harness.qml b/config/dot/quickshell/settings-backup-harness.qml
index 73c404b..c246001 100644
--- a/config/dot/quickshell/settings-backup-harness.qml
+++ b/config/dot/quickshell/settings-backup-harness.qml
@@ -93,6 +93,8 @@ ShellRoot {
             root.record("display.block:" + blocked);
             root.displayBlocked = blocked;
         };
+        SettingsBackup.applyIdle = function() { root.record("idle.apply"); };
+        SettingsBackup.idleBusy = function() { return false; };
         SettingsBackup.applyCompositor = function() { root.record("system.apply"); };
         SettingsBackup.reloadKeybinds = function() { root.record("keybinds.reload"); };
         SettingsBackup.keybindsReloading = function() { return false; };
diff --git a/tests/quickshell/settings-backup-live-contract.sh b/tests/quickshell/settings-backup-live-contract.sh
index 39526f2..ba1af7f 100755
--- a/tests/quickshell/settings-backup-live-contract.sh
+++ b/tests/quickshell/settings-backup-live-contract.sh
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ for mapping in \
     'Displays.applyProtectedLayout(layout);' \
     'Displays.canConfirm;' \
     'Displays.confirm();' \
+    'IdleLock.apply();' \
     'Displays.externalChangeBlocked = blocked;' \
     'SystemSettings.applyPersistedDisplayPolicy();' \
     'Keybinds.applyReload();' \
@@ -91,10 +92,11 @@ jq -e '
         "desktop.reload",
         "display.apply:[{\"name\":\"DP-2\",\"width\":4500,\"height\":3000,\"refreshRate\":60,\"mode\":\"4500x3000@60\",\"scale\":1.5,\"transform\":0,\"x\":-2560,\"y\":0,\"primary\":false},{\"name\":\"HDMI-A-1\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1440,\"refreshRate\":60,\"mode\":\"2560x1440@60\",\"scale\":1,\"transform\":0,\"x\":0,\"y\":0,\"primary\":true}]",
         "display.confirm",
-        "system.apply",
-        "keybinds.reload",
-        "wallpaper.apply-policy",
+        "idle.apply",
         "lock.regenerate",
+        "wallpaper.apply-policy",
+        "keybinds.reload",
+        "system.apply",
         "display.block:false",
         "shell.reload"
     ]
@@ -131,10 +133,11 @@ jq -e '
         "desktop.reload",
         "display.apply:[{\"name\":\"DP-2\",\"width\":4500,\"height\":3000,\"refreshRate\":60,\"mode\":\"4500x3000@60\",\"scale\":1.5,\"transform\":0,\"x\":-2560,\"y\":0,\"primary\":false},{\"name\":\"HDMI-A-1\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1440,\"refreshRate\":60,\"mode\":\"2560x1440@60\",\"scale\":1,\"transform\":0,\"x\":0,\"y\":0,\"primary\":true}]",
         "display.confirm",
-        "system.apply",
-        "keybinds.reload",
-        "wallpaper.apply-policy",
+        "idle.apply",
         "lock.regenerate",
+        "wallpaper.apply-policy",
+        "keybinds.reload",
+        "system.apply",
         "display.block:false",
         "shell.reload"
     ]