diff --git a/src/ui/material/draw_helpers.h b/src/ui/material/draw_helpers.h
index e96a03e..dd8ea65 100644
--- a/src/ui/material/draw_helpers.h
+++ b/src/ui/material/draw_helpers.h
@@ -1288,6 +1288,9 @@ inline int SegmentedControl(ImDrawList* dl, ImVec2 origin, float totalW, float h
 // carries the active dialog's key from BeginOverlayDialog to EndOverlayDialog (overlays don't nest).
 inline std::unordered_map<std::string, float> g_overlayCardHeights;
 inline std::string g_overlayCurrentKey;
+// Set when BeginOverlayDialog clips the card on an auto-height dialog's measuring frame (so it never
+// flashes off-center); EndOverlayDialog pops the clip. Overlays don't nest, so a single flag is fine.
+inline bool g_overlayHideFrameClip = false;
 
 // The dark base color for any full-window overlay backdrop (dialog scrims + the shutdown screen),
 // so every overlay shares one backdrop tone. `opacity` is the alpha (dialogs vary it per call).
@@ -1402,6 +1405,7 @@ inline bool BeginOverlayDialog(const OverlayDialogSpec& spec)
     // first open of a given dialog this session briefly anchors near the top before it re-centers).
     float cardX = vp_pos.x + (vp_size.x - cardWidth) * 0.5f;
     float cardY, cardBottomY;
+    bool hideForMeasure = false;   // true on an auto-height dialog's first (unmeasured) frame
     const bool fixedHeight = (spec.cardHeight > 0.0f);
     if (fixedHeight) {
         float cardH = std::min(spec.cardHeight * dp, vp_size.y - 32.0f);
@@ -1419,23 +1423,27 @@ inline bool BeginOverlayDialog(const OverlayDialogSpec& spec)
                         : vp_pos.y + 16.0f;
             cardBottomY = cardY + measuredH;
         } else {
-            // First frame: content height not yet known. Anchor near the top; it re-centers next frame.
+            // First frame: content height not yet known. Lay it out (so the auto-height child gets
+            // measured) but keep the card hidden (hideForMeasure below) so it never flashes off-center
+            // — it appears, already centered, on the next frame once the height is known.
+            hideForMeasure = true;
             cardY = vp_pos.y + vp_size.y * 0.15f;
             cardBottomY = vp_pos.y + vp_size.y * spec.cardBottomViewportRatio;
         }
     }
     ImVec2 cardMin(cardX, cardY), cardMax(cardX + cardWidth, cardBottomY);
 
-    // Card background — a glass panel unless the content floats directly on the backdrop.
-    if (!floating) {
+    // Card background — a glass panel unless the content floats directly on the backdrop. Skipped on
+    // the measuring frame (its geometry is a placeholder; the whole card is hidden until centered).
+    if (!floating && !hideForMeasure) {
         GlassPanelSpec cardGlass;
         cardGlass.rounding = 16.0f; cardGlass.fillAlpha = 35; cardGlass.borderAlpha = 50; cardGlass.borderWidth = 1.0f;
         DrawGlassPanel(dl, cardMin, cardMax, cardGlass);
     }
 
-    // Click outside the card dismisses — but not on the appearing frame (the opening click) or while
-    // a popup opened from the dialog is showing (a click in an overhanging combo would look outside).
-    if (spec.p_open && !overlayPopupOpen && !ImGui::IsWindowAppearing() &&
+    // Click outside the card dismisses — but not on the measuring frame (placeholder geometry), the
+    // appearing frame (the opening click), or while a popup opened from the dialog is showing.
+    if (spec.p_open && !hideForMeasure && !overlayPopupOpen && !ImGui::IsWindowAppearing() &&
         ImGui::IsMouseClicked(ImGuiMouseButton_Left) &&
         !ImGui::IsMouseHoveringRect(cardMin, cardMax, false)) {
         *spec.p_open = false;
@@ -1458,6 +1466,14 @@ inline bool BeginOverlayDialog(const OverlayDialogSpec& spec)
         ImGui::PushStyleVar(ImGuiStyleVar_ButtonTextAlign, ImVec2(0.5f, 0.5f));
     }
 
+    // Measuring frame: clip the card to nothing. Content (title + the caller's body) still lays out,
+    // so the child's auto-height is measured for next frame, but nothing is drawn — no off-center
+    // flash. EndOverlayDialog pops this before EndChild. Only entered when childVisible (End runs).
+    if (childVisible && hideForMeasure) {
+        ImGui::PushClipRect(ImVec2(0, 0), ImVec2(0, 0), false);
+        g_overlayHideFrameClip = true;
+    }
+
     if (childVisible && spec.title) {
         if (plainHd) {
             ImGui::PushFont(Type().h6());
@@ -1491,6 +1507,7 @@ inline bool BeginOverlayDialog(const char* title, bool* p_open, float cardWidth
 
 inline void EndOverlayDialog()
 {
+    if (g_overlayHideFrameClip) { ImGui::PopClipRect(); g_overlayHideFrameClip = false; }
     ImGui::EndChild();
     // Remember the rendered card height (the child is the last item) so the next frame's
     // BeginOverlayDialog can size the glass to the content — kills the empty band under short dialogs.