diff --git a/electron/voiceHotkey.js b/electron/voiceHotkey.js
index 01b6e47b..d51fa872 100644
--- a/electron/voiceHotkey.js
+++ b/electron/voiceHotkey.js
@@ -357,12 +357,16 @@ function installVoiceHotkey(getMainWindow) {
   const armNativeTiers = () => {
     if (tiersArmed) return;
     tiersArmed = true;
+    // ORDER IS LOAD-BEARING (rdar://7381305 / FB7381305): once AXIsProcessTrustedWithOptions has
+    // been called, IOHIDRequestAccess stops raising the Input Monitoring dialog entirely. Electron's
+    // isTrustedAccessibilityClient IS that call, and tryStartNativeTap makes it, so asking for the
+    // tap first is what silently ate the fn prompt. Ask for Input Monitoring FIRST, always.
+    startFnWatcher();
     const tapOk = tryStartNativeTap();
     // Ctrl+Win is the Windows fn-equivalent and ONLY this tap can see it, so a tap that never loads
     // is the same dead key as a deaf fn watcher. Off macOS there is no TCC to blame, which is
     // exactly why it would otherwise fail with nothing said at all.
     if (tapOk === false && combo.special === 'ctrlmeta') notifyPrimaryUnusable('native-tap-unavailable');
-    startFnWatcher();
     registerVoiceShortcut();
   };
   try {
diff --git a/electron/voiceHotkeyProbe.test.js b/electron/voiceHotkeyProbe.test.js
index e2a47f02..10762279 100644
--- a/electron/voiceHotkeyProbe.test.js
+++ b/electron/voiceHotkeyProbe.test.js
@@ -121,3 +121,17 @@ test('the intent path spawns WITHOUT --no-prompt, or nothing is ever asked', ()
   const fn = hotkeySrc.split('const askForFnPermission')[1].slice(0, 400);
   assert.match(fn, /startFnWatcher\(\);/, 'a --no-prompt spawn here would silently never prompt');
 });
+
+// ---- rdar://7381305: the AX check poisons the Input Monitoring prompt ----
+// Once AXIsProcessTrustedWithOptions has run, IOHIDRequestAccess never raises its dialog again.
+// Electron's isTrustedAccessibilityClient IS that call, so arming the uiohook tap before the fn
+// watcher silently ate the one prompt that can fix a dead fn key. Order is the whole fix.
+
+test('Input Monitoring is requested BEFORE any Accessibility check', () => {
+  const arm = hotkeySrc.split('const armNativeTiers = () => {')[1].split('};')[0];
+  const fnAt = arm.indexOf('startFnWatcher()');
+  const axAt = arm.indexOf('tryStartNativeTap()');
+  assert.ok(fnAt > -1 && axAt > -1, 'both tiers must still be armed');
+  assert.ok(fnAt < axAt,
+    'rdar://7381305: an AX check first kills the Input Monitoring dialog, so fn must ask first');
+});