diff --git a/demo/src/native-ui-shell-transition.spec.ts b/demo/src/native-ui-shell-transition.spec.ts
index ccb180751..4bc6e577f 100644
--- a/demo/src/native-ui-shell-transition.spec.ts
+++ b/demo/src/native-ui-shell-transition.spec.ts
@@ -57,10 +57,10 @@ const fixture = () => {
   return { animation, calls, ready, finish: (step: 0 | 1) => finish(step, animation) };
 };
 
-test('normal transition waits for native suspension', async () => {
+test('play starts before native suspension settles', async () => {
   const { animation, calls, ready } = fixture();
   const played = animation.play();
-  expect(calls).toEqual([]);
+  expect(calls).toEqual(['play']);
   ready();
   await played;
   expect(calls).toEqual(['play', 'resume:false']);
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ test('destroy during bridge preparation cannot start an abandoned transition', a
   animation.destroy();
   ready();
   await played;
-  expect(calls).toEqual(['destroy', 'resume:true']);
+  expect(calls).toEqual(['play', 'destroy', 'resume:true']);
 });
 
 test('without native enablement the animation remains untouched', () => {
diff --git a/packages/theme-ios27/src/transition/native-ui.ts b/packages/theme-ios27/src/transition/native-ui.ts
index 4898ba90c..bc89054e3 100644
--- a/packages/theme-ios27/src/transition/native-ui.ts
+++ b/packages/theme-ios27/src/transition/native-ui.ts
@@ -56,11 +56,14 @@ export const connectNativeUIShellTransition = (animation: Animation, entering: H
   };
   animation.onFinish((step) => finish(step === 0));
   animation.play = async (options) => {
-    await prepare();
+    // Overlap suspend with the slide. Awaiting it first retires native chrome while the page is still
+    // at rest, which flashes Web for a frame before the slide starts.
+    const ready = prepare();
     if (disposed) return;
     try {
       await play(options);
     } finally {
+      await ready;
       finish();
     }
   };