diff --git a/DESIGN.md b/DESIGN.md
index 15702b43..bbf53463 100644
--- a/DESIGN.md
+++ b/DESIGN.md
@@ -2757,6 +2757,17 @@ WebUI Framework hydration assumes the SSR DOM, hydration markers, and compiled m
 `@microsoft/webui-framework` consumes the metadata object above plus the SSR markers emitted by `WebUIHydrationPlugin`. This follows an Islands Architecture approach: the server delivers fully-rendered HTML, authored Web Components hydrate on startup, and compiler-owned scriptless hosts remain dormant until browser code actually writes state.
 
 - SSR hydration uses one DOM walk to discover `<!--wr-->`, `<!--wi-->`, and `<!--wc-->` comment markers, wire the relevant bindings using compiled metadata path indices, then remove SSR-only markers.
+- Authored browser entries execute only after every SSR instance they may
+  upgrade has complete markup. Parser-inserted, non-async ES module scripts and
+  classic `defer` scripts satisfy this automatically; blocking classic scripts
+  must appear after all such instances. Under this loading contract,
+  `TemplateElement.connectedCallback()` hydrates synchronously, so
+  `super.connectedCallback()` returns only after that component's bindings,
+  events, and references are wired.
+- Before a containing WebUI component hydrates, descendants must not
+  structurally mutate its SSR subtree. Hydration resolves compiled node paths
+  against the trusted server DOM and does not recover from pre-hydration node
+  insertion, removal, or reordering.
 - Client-created DOM never reparses template syntax; it clones marker-free `h`,
   upgrades the detached custom-element subtree, resolves `tx`, `ag`, the slots
   embedded in `c` / `r`, and event target paths directly, then applies the first binding pass before
diff --git a/docs/ai.md b/docs/ai.md
index 42dd30b8..a111fed8 100644
--- a/docs/ai.md
+++ b/docs/ai.md
@@ -1067,7 +1067,14 @@ The handler resolves `tokens.light` from the state, outputting:
     `super.connectedCallback()` cannot reach the DOM — the write is dropped and
     the runtime logs a `[WebUI] Hydration mismatch` warning. If the value must
     appear in the first render, put it in the SSR state JSON; otherwise assign it
-    after `super.connectedCallback()`. The warning is development-only — it is
+    after `super.connectedCallback()`. The call is a synchronous hydration
+    boundary: when it returns, that component's bindings, events, and `w-ref`
+    references are wired. Load definitions through a parser-inserted, non-async
+    ES module script or a classic `defer` script. A blocking classic script must
+    follow every SSR instance it may upgrade. Descendants must not structurally
+    mutate a containing WebUI component's SSR subtree before it hydrates, because
+    node insertion, removal, or reordering shifts compiled paths. The warning is
+    development-only — it is
     stripped from production bundles via the `__WEBUI_DEV__` compile-time flag
     (`webui-press build` sets `__WEBUI_DEV__=false` automatically; self-bundled
     apps add the define for production).
diff --git a/docs/guide/concepts/hydration.md b/docs/guide/concepts/hydration.md
index 5dd99cd1..85f04fb9 100644
--- a/docs/guide/concepts/hydration.md
+++ b/docs/guide/concepts/hydration.md
@@ -46,6 +46,17 @@ not need to enter browser state just because the component has an event handler,
 An authored component with no decorators can therefore wire its behavior
 without adding any startup state.
 
+Load authored component definitions with a parser-inserted, non-async ES module
+script or a classic `defer` script. If a classic script blocks parsing, place it
+after every SSR instance it may upgrade. This guarantees that each component
+subtree exists before upgrade. WebUI then hydrates synchronously inside
+`super.connectedCallback()`; when it returns, bindings, events, and `w-ref`
+references are ready.
+
+Until a containing WebUI component hydrates, descendants must not insert,
+remove, or reorder nodes in its SSR subtree. Hydration resolves compiled paths
+against the trusted server DOM and cannot recover after those paths shift.
+
 Components using `@event` must be authored because the compiler needs a real
 handler implementation. Do not add an empty class merely to make template
 bindings or routing work.
diff --git a/docs/guide/concepts/interactivity.md b/docs/guide/concepts/interactivity.md
index 7b91e759..ee19ed3d 100644
--- a/docs/guide/concepts/interactivity.md
+++ b/docs/guide/concepts/interactivity.md
@@ -559,6 +559,17 @@ Follow one rule to stay correct:
 - **A value that must appear in the first render belongs in the SSR state.** Provide it in the JSON state so the server renders it; the client then hydrates against a matching DOM.
 - **Assign anything else after `super.connectedCallback()`**, where `@observable` writes flow through live bindings.
 
+WebUI treats `super.connectedCallback()` as a synchronous hydration boundary.
+When it returns, that component's bindings, events, and `w-ref` references are
+wired. This relies on the WebUI loading contract: load authored component code
+with a parser-inserted, non-async ES module script or a classic `defer` script.
+If a classic script blocks parsing, place it after every SSR instance it may
+upgrade.
+
+Descendants must not structurally mutate a containing WebUI component's SSR
+subtree before that component hydrates. Inserting, removing, or reordering nodes
+can shift compiled paths before WebUI wires them.
+
 ```ts
 export class MyCounter extends WebUIElement {
   @observable count = 0;
diff --git a/packages/webui-framework/README.md b/packages/webui-framework/README.md
index b12f8684..0408563b 100644
--- a/packages/webui-framework/README.md
+++ b/packages/webui-framework/README.md
@@ -151,6 +151,13 @@ development-only and is dead-code-eliminated from production bundles via the
 `false`). See the
 [Interactivity Guide](https://microsoft.github.io/webui/guide/concepts/interactivity#setting-observable-state-during-setup).
 
+`super.connectedCallback()` is the synchronous hydration boundary for an
+authored component. When it returns, bindings, events, and `w-ref` references
+are wired. Use a parser-inserted, non-async ES module script or a classic
+`defer` script. A blocking classic script must follow every SSR instance it may
+upgrade. Descendants must not structurally mutate a containing component's SSR
+subtree before it hydrates, because hydration relies on stable compiled paths.
+
 ### DOM strategy (`--dom`)
 
 The `--dom` flag controls how the server renders component content:
diff --git a/packages/webui-framework/src/template-element.ts b/packages/webui-framework/src/template-element.ts
index 76903a48..692b8a43 100644
--- a/packages/webui-framework/src/template-element.ts
+++ b/packages/webui-framework/src/template-element.ts
@@ -151,32 +151,11 @@ const EMPTY_SET: Set<string> = Object.freeze(new Set<string>()) as Set<string>;
 const WEBUI_SET_STATE_KEY = Symbol.for('microsoft.webui.setStateKey');
 
 const templateMetaByCtor = new WeakMap<Function, TemplateMeta>();
-let domReadyQueue: Array<() => void> | null = null;
 
 type TemplateObservedConstructor = CustomElementConstructor & {
   readonly observedAttributes?: readonly string[];
 };
 
-function runWhenDomReady(callback: () => void): void {
-  if (document.readyState !== 'loading') {
-    callback();
-    return;
-  }
-  if (domReadyQueue) {
-    domReadyQueue.push(callback);
-    return;
-  }
-  domReadyQueue = [callback];
-  document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', flushDomReadyQueue, { once: true });
-}
-
-function flushDomReadyQueue(): void {
-  const queue = domReadyQueue;
-  domReadyQueue = null;
-  if (!queue) return;
-  for (let i = 0; i < queue.length; i++) queue[i]();
-}
-
 // ── Helper: snapshot child nodes into a pre-allocated array ──────
 
 function childNodesArray(parent: Node): Node[] {
@@ -357,15 +336,10 @@ export class TemplateElement extends HTMLElement {
       return;
     }
     this.$meta = meta;
-    // Custom element upgrade timing: when the HTML parser encounters the
-    // opening tag, connectedCallback fires BEFORE children are parsed.
-    // If the document is still loading, defer to let the parser finish.
-    if (document.readyState === 'loading') {
-      runWhenDomReady(() => this.$mount(meta, false));
-    } else {
-      // Document is already parsed — children are available
-      this.$mount(meta, false);
-    }
+    // Under WebUI's loading contract, deferred scripts run after parsing and
+    // blocking scripts follow every component instance they may upgrade.
+    // Mount synchronously so super.connectedCallback() is the hydration boundary.
+    this.$mount(meta, false);
   }
 
   /** Mount the component after children are available. */
diff --git a/packages/webui-framework/tests/fixtures/hydration-mismatch/element.ts b/packages/webui-framework/tests/fixtures/hydration-mismatch/element.ts
index 5a047c25..98fc3806 100644
--- a/packages/webui-framework/tests/fixtures/hydration-mismatch/element.ts
+++ b/packages/webui-framework/tests/fixtures/hydration-mismatch/element.ts
@@ -51,13 +51,21 @@ export class MismatchBeforeSuper extends WebUIElement {
 }
 MismatchBeforeSuper.define('mismatch-before-super');
 
-/** Assigns after `super.connectedCallback()`. No warning; the DOM updates. */
+/**
+ * Assigns after `super.connectedCallback()`. No warning; the DOM updates.
+ * Also covers synchronous hydration during parsing for issue #393.
+ */
 export class MismatchAfterSuper extends WebUIElement {
   @observable show = false;
   @observable value = '';
+  box!: HTMLDivElement;
+  readyStateAtConnect = '';
+  referencesReadyAfterSuper = false;
 
   connectedCallback(): void {
+    this.readyStateAtConnect = document.readyState;
     super.connectedCallback();
+    this.referencesReadyAfterSuper = this.box instanceof HTMLDivElement;
     this.show = true;
     this.value = '3';
   }
diff --git a/packages/webui-framework/tests/fixtures/hydration-mismatch/hydration-mismatch.spec.ts b/packages/webui-framework/tests/fixtures/hydration-mismatch/hydration-mismatch.spec.ts
index 16a684c7..0664452d 100644
--- a/packages/webui-framework/tests/fixtures/hydration-mismatch/hydration-mismatch.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/webui-framework/tests/fixtures/hydration-mismatch/hydration-mismatch.spec.ts
@@ -92,6 +92,24 @@ test.describe('hydration-mismatch (#379)', () => {
     }
   });
 
+  test('super.connectedCallback hydrates synchronously while the document is loading', async ({ page }) => {
+    const lifecycle = await page.evaluate(() => {
+      const el = document.querySelector('mismatch-after-super') as {
+        readyStateAtConnect?: string;
+        referencesReadyAfterSuper?: boolean;
+      } | null;
+      return {
+        readyStateAtConnect: el?.readyStateAtConnect,
+        referencesReadyAfterSuper: el?.referencesReadyAfterSuper,
+      };
+    });
+
+    expect(lifecycle).toEqual({
+      readyStateAtConnect: 'loading',
+      referencesReadyAfterSuper: true,
+    });
+  });
+
   test('seeded pre-ready values match the server render and do not warn', async ({ page }) => {
     await expect(page.locator('mismatch-seeded .content')).toHaveText('CONTENT');
     expect(await page.locator('mismatch-seeded .box').getAttribute('data-value')).toBe('3');
diff --git a/packages/webui-framework/tests/fixtures/hydration-mismatch/src/mismatch-after-super/mismatch-after-super.html b/packages/webui-framework/tests/fixtures/hydration-mismatch/src/mismatch-after-super/mismatch-after-super.html
index b0b8ad6f..ca6b8d25 100644
--- a/packages/webui-framework/tests/fixtures/hydration-mismatch/src/mismatch-after-super/mismatch-after-super.html
+++ b/packages/webui-framework/tests/fixtures/hydration-mismatch/src/mismatch-after-super/mismatch-after-super.html
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-<div class="box" data-value="{{value}}">
+<div class="box" data-value="{{value}}" w-ref="{box}">
   <if condition="show"><span class="content">CONTENT</span></if>
 </div>
diff --git a/packages/webui-framework/tests/fixtures/hydration-mismatch/webui.config.json b/packages/webui-framework/tests/fixtures/hydration-mismatch/webui.config.json
index 36c92002..0967ef42 100644
--- a/packages/webui-framework/tests/fixtures/hydration-mismatch/webui.config.json
+++ b/packages/webui-framework/tests/fixtures/hydration-mismatch/webui.config.json
@@ -1,3 +1 @@
-{
-  "script": "module"
-}
+{}