diff --git a/backend/apps/agents/browser/browser_plan_dispatch.py b/backend/apps/agents/browser/browser_plan_dispatch.py
index f8655e85..4fcfa790 100644
--- a/backend/apps/agents/browser/browser_plan_dispatch.py
+++ b/backend/apps/agents/browser/browser_plan_dispatch.py
@@ -105,7 +105,8 @@ async def run_plan_dispatch(
             ), timeout=P_AUX_TIMEOUT_S))
         steps = parse_plan(reply)
         if not steps:
-            logger.info("[plan-dispatch] aux emitted no safe mechanical steps")
+            logger.info(f"[plan-dispatch] aux emitted no safe mechanical steps "
+                        f"(state={len(state_text)}ch, reply: {(reply or '')[:160]!r})")
             return ""
         done: list[str] = []
         for step in steps:
diff --git a/backend/apps/agents/browser/browser_prestage.py b/backend/apps/agents/browser/browser_prestage.py
index 5c7adf1e..4887ca9a 100644
--- a/backend/apps/agents/browser/browser_prestage.py
+++ b/backend/apps/agents/browser/browser_prestage.py
@@ -337,6 +337,13 @@ async def run_prestage(
         if steps or not li_text:
             li_text, gt_text, seen_url = await perceive()
             current_url = seen_url or current_url
+        # Perceive-only lost the aux asks that ACCIDENTALLY doubled as settle time, so a cold SPA hands back a half-hydrated list (measured: plan-dispatch emitted [] on a thin search page). Wait for substance, bounded.
+        if perceive_only:
+            p_sub_t0 = time.monotonic()
+            while len(li_text or "") < 800 and time.monotonic() - p_sub_t0 < 4.0:
+                await asyncio.sleep(0.8)
+                li_text, gt_text, seen_url = await perceive()
+                current_url = seen_url or current_url
         block = perception_block(li_text, gt_text, stage_note_for(start_url, done_desc, current_url, staged_complete))
         for tool_name, text in (("BrowserListInteractives", li_text), ("BrowserGetText", gt_text)):
             if text: