diff --git a/app/sovran_systemsos_hub/application.py b/app/sovran_systemsos_hub/application.py
index 8d43dd1..42e04a2 100644
--- a/app/sovran_systemsos_hub/application.py
+++ b/app/sovran_systemsos_hub/application.py
@@ -16,13 +16,18 @@ from .service_tile import ServiceTile
 
 APP_ID = "com.sovransystems.hub"
 
+# Initialize libadwaita BEFORE any widget creation
+Adw.init()
+
 
 class SovranHubWindow(Adw.ApplicationWindow):
 
     def __init__(self, app, config):
         super().__init__(
-            application=app, title="Sovran_SystemsOS Hub",
-            default_width=680, default_height=700,
+            application=app,
+            title="Sovran_SystemsOS Hub",
+            default_width=680,
+            default_height=700,
         )
         self._config = config
         self._tiles = []
@@ -37,22 +42,33 @@ class SovranHubWindow(Adw.ApplicationWindow):
             )
 
         header = Adw.HeaderBar()
-        refresh_btn = Gtk.Button(icon_name="view-refresh-symbolic", tooltip_text="Refresh now")
+        refresh_btn = Gtk.Button(
+            icon_name="view-refresh-symbolic",
+            tooltip_text="Refresh now",
+        )
         refresh_btn.connect("clicked", lambda _b: self._refresh_all())
         header.pack_end(refresh_btn)
 
         self._flowbox = Gtk.FlowBox(
-            max_children_per_line=4, min_children_per_line=2,
-            selection_mode=Gtk.SelectionMode.NONE, homogeneous=True,
-            row_spacing=12, column_spacing=12,
-            margin_top=16, margin_bottom=16, margin_start=16, margin_end=16,
-            halign=Gtk.Align.CENTER, valign=Gtk.Align.START,
+            max_children_per_line=4,
+            min_children_per_line=2,
+            selection_mode=Gtk.SelectionMode.NONE,
+            homogeneous=True,
+            row_spacing=12,
+            column_spacing=12,
+            margin_top=16,
+            margin_bottom=16,
+            margin_start=16,
+            margin_end=16,
+            halign=Gtk.Align.CENTER,
+            valign=Gtk.Align.START,
         )
 
         scrolled = Gtk.ScrolledWindow(
             hscrollbar_policy=Gtk.PolicyType.NEVER,
             vscrollbar_policy=Gtk.PolicyType.AUTOMATIC,
-            vexpand=True, child=self._flowbox,
+            vexpand=True,
+            child=self._flowbox,
         )
 
         toolbar_view = Adw.ToolbarView()
@@ -61,25 +77,31 @@ class SovranHubWindow(Adw.ApplicationWindow):
         self.set_content(toolbar_view)
 
         self._build_tiles()
+
         interval = config.get("refresh_interval", 5)
         if interval and interval > 0:
             GLib.timeout_add_seconds(interval, self._auto_refresh)
 
     def _build_tiles(self):
+        method = self._config.get("command_method", "systemctl")
         for entry in self._config.get("services", []):
             tile = ServiceTile(
                 name=entry.get("name", entry["unit"]),
                 unit=entry["unit"],
                 scope=entry.get("type", "system"),
-                method=self._config.get("command_method", "systemctl"),
+                method=method,
                 icon_name=entry.get("icon", ""),
             )
             self._flowbox.append(tile)
             self._tiles.append(tile)
 
+        # Defer first status poll so the window renders immediately
+        GLib.idle_add(self._refresh_all)
+
     def _refresh_all(self):
         for t in self._tiles:
             t.refresh()
+        return False
 
     def _auto_refresh(self):
         self._refresh_all()
@@ -89,7 +111,10 @@ class SovranHubWindow(Adw.ApplicationWindow):
 class SovranHubApp(Adw.Application):
 
     def __init__(self):
-        super().__init__(application_id=APP_ID, flags=Gio.ApplicationFlags.DEFAULT_FLAGS)
+        super().__init__(
+            application_id=APP_ID,
+            flags=Gio.ApplicationFlags.DEFAULT_FLAGS,
+        )
         self._config = load_config()
 
     def do_activate(self):
diff --git a/app/sovran_systemsos_hub/service_tile.py b/app/sovran_systemsos_hub/service_tile.py
index 33376f7..5966f03 100644
--- a/app/sovran_systemsos_hub/service_tile.py
+++ b/app/sovran_systemsos_hub/service_tile.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ gi.require_version("Gtk", "4.0")
 gi.require_version("Adw", "1")
 gi.require_version("Gdk", "4.0")
 
-from gi.repository import Adw, Gdk, GdkPixbuf, GLib, Gtk
+from gi.repository import Gdk, GdkPixbuf, GLib, Gtk
 
 from . import systemctl
 
@@ -47,7 +47,11 @@ class ServiceTile(Gtk.Box):
             halign=Gtk.Align.CENTER, ellipsize=3, max_width_chars=14,
         ))
 
-        self._status_label = Gtk.Label(css_classes=["caption"], halign=Gtk.Align.CENTER)
+        self._status_label = Gtk.Label(
+            label="● …",
+            css_classes=["caption", "dim-label"],
+            halign=Gtk.Align.CENTER,
+        )
         self.append(self._status_label)
 
         controls = Gtk.Box(
@@ -66,22 +70,24 @@ class ServiceTile(Gtk.Box):
         controls.append(restart_btn)
         self.append(controls)
 
-        self.refresh()
+        # No self.refresh() here — the application calls it via GLib.idle_add
 
     def _set_logo(self, icon_name):
         if icon_name and ICON_DIR:
             for ext in ICON_EXTENSIONS:
                 path = os.path.join(ICON_DIR, f"{icon_name}{ext}")
                 if os.path.isfile(path):
-                    pixbuf = GdkPixbuf.Pixbuf.new_from_file_at_scale(path, 48, 48, True)
-                    texture = Gdk.Texture.new_for_pixbuf(pixbuf)
-                    self._logo.set_from_paintable(texture)
-                    return
+                    try:
+                        pixbuf = GdkPixbuf.Pixbuf.new_from_file_at_scale(path, 48, 48, True)
+                        texture = Gdk.Texture.new_for_pixbuf(pixbuf)
+                        self._logo.set_from_paintable(texture)
+                        return
+                    except Exception:
+                        break
         self._logo.set_from_icon_name("system-run-symbolic")
 
     def refresh(self):
         active = systemctl.is_active(self._unit, self._scope)
-        enabled = systemctl.is_enabled(self._unit, self._scope)
         is_on = active == "active"
         is_loading = active in LOADING_STATES
         is_failed = active == "failed"