diff --git a/hancore.shibumi.status/BarWidget.qml b/hancore.shibumi.status/BarWidget.qml
index 7c02acd..89bfb5d 100644
--- a/hancore.shibumi.status/BarWidget.qml
+++ b/hancore.shibumi.status/BarWidget.qml
@@ -122,13 +122,25 @@ Item {
   property real spacingSavings: 0
   property bool savingsPending: false
   property bool spacingActive: false
+  property real spacingSavingsLeft: -1
+  property double spacingSavingsChangedAt: 0
   // Settle after layout: binding width directly to snapped ink feeds the
   // parent's new position back into its own reservation.
   function syncSpacingSavings() {
     if (!root || !spacingActive) return
     const saved = Math.max(0, updateShift - bellShift)
     savingsPending = false
-    if (Math.abs(spacingSavings - saved) > 1e-7) spacingSavings = saved
+    if (Math.abs(spacingSavings - saved) <= 1e-7) return
+    // Deferring alone does not settle it: a centered compact shell moves with
+    // its own width, and at fractional scales (1.25x) that move flips the
+    // snapped ink edges straight back, resizing the bar every frame. Ignore an
+    // immediate return to the value just left.
+    const now = Date.now()
+    if (Math.abs(saved - spacingSavingsLeft) <= 1e-7
+        && now - spacingSavingsChangedAt < 500) return
+    spacingSavingsLeft = spacingSavings
+    spacingSavingsChangedAt = now
+    spacingSavings = saved
   }
   function scheduleSpacingSavings() {
     savingsPending = true
diff --git a/tests/status-plugin-regression.sh b/tests/status-plugin-regression.sh
index ebed578..7794cc9 100755
--- a/tests/status-plugin-regression.sh
+++ b/tests/status-plugin-regression.sh
@@ -111,6 +111,9 @@ if ('else if (lifecycleBar && "tearingDown" in lifecycleBar\n'
     raise SystemExit("Status no longer handles WidgetSlot's pre-destruction Bar revoke")
 PY
 printf 'status teardown ordering source guard passed\n'
+rg -U -q 'Math\.abs\(saved - spacingSavingsLeft\) <= 1e-7\n[[:space:]]*&& now - spacingSavingsChangedAt < 500\) return' \
+  "$status_widget" \
+  || fail "status spacing savings no longer settle a self-induced width cycle"
 rg -Fq '["full", "icon", "text"]' "$status_widget" \
   || fail "status widget does not expose Full/Icon/Text display modes"
 if rg -q 'SystemTray\.items|NotificationServer|makoctl|pgrep -x hypridle' \