diff --git a/features/c4game/pages/game.templ b/features/c4game/pages/game.templ
index 455c91d..7d49eaf 100644
--- a/features/c4game/pages/game.templ
+++ b/features/c4game/pages/game.templ
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ templ GamePage(g *connect4.Game, myColor int, messages []chat.Message, chatCfg c
 			data-signals="{chatMsg: ''}"
 			data-init={ fmt.Sprintf("@get('/games/%s/events',{requestCancellation:'disabled'})", g.ID) }
 		>
-			@sharedcomponents.ConnectionIndicator(0)
+			@sharedcomponents.ConnectionIndicatorWithScript(0)
 			@GameContent(g, myColor, messages, chatCfg)
 		</main>
 	}
diff --git a/features/common/components/shared.templ b/features/common/components/shared.templ
index a9b783b..a5fc089 100644
--- a/features/common/components/shared.templ
+++ b/features/common/components/shared.templ
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ func isStale(lastPing int64) bool {
 
 // ConnectionIndicator shows a small dot indicating SSE connection status.
 // Server patches this with a timestamp; client JS detects staleness.
+// Use ConnectionIndicatorWithScript for initial render, ConnectionIndicator for patches.
 templ ConnectionIndicator(lastPing int64) {
 	<div
 		id="connection-indicator"
@@ -79,6 +80,12 @@ templ ConnectionIndicator(lastPing int64) {
 			></div>
 		</div>
 	</div>
+}
+
+// ConnectionIndicatorWithScript renders the indicator with the staleness watcher script.
+// Use this for initial page render only.
+templ ConnectionIndicatorWithScript(lastPing int64) {
+	@ConnectionIndicator(lastPing)
 	@connectionWatcher()
 }
 
diff --git a/features/snakegame/pages/game.templ b/features/snakegame/pages/game.templ
index a1b2cd4..0a83165 100644
--- a/features/snakegame/pages/game.templ
+++ b/features/snakegame/pages/game.templ
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ templ GamePage(sg *snake.SnakeGame, mySlot int, messages []chat.Message, chatCfg
 			data-on:keydown__throttle.100ms={ keydownScript(gameID) }
 			tabindex="0"
 		>
-			@components.ConnectionIndicator(0)
+			@components.ConnectionIndicatorWithScript(0)
 			@GameContent(sg, mySlot, messages, chatCfg, gameID)
 		</main>
 	}