diff --git a/scripts/sync-auth.test.mjs b/scripts/sync-auth.test.mjs
index bca2342..cd1a3a2 100644
--- a/scripts/sync-auth.test.mjs
+++ b/scripts/sync-auth.test.mjs
@@ -12,6 +12,38 @@ async function seed() {
   await store.queueMutation(f.session.accountId, { type: 'uncheckItem', payload: { itemId: 'I1' } }, f.rows.items);
   return f;
 }
+test('idle polling and acknowledged work never announce syncing', async () => {
+  const f = await replayFixture(modules), manager = new SyncManager(), statuses = [];
+  manager.subscribe(s => statuses.push(s.status));
+  await manager.sync(f.client, f.session);
+  await manager.sync(f.client, f.session);
+  assert.deepEqual(statuses, ['synced', 'synced']);
+
+  await store.queueMutation(f.session.accountId, { type: 'checkItem', payload: { itemId: 'I1', checkedAt: 1 } }, f.rows.items);
+  statuses.length = 0;
+  await manager.sync(f.client, f.session);
+  assert.deepEqual(statuses, ['syncing', 'synced']);
+  statuses.length = 0;
+  await manager.sync(f.client, f.session);
+  assert.deepEqual(statuses, ['synced']);
+});
+
+for (const patch of [
+  { state: 'conflict' },
+  { state: 'failed', retryCount: 5 },
+  { state: 'failed', nextAttemptAt: Date.now() + 60_000 },
+]) {
+  test(`polling ineligible work stays out of syncing: ${JSON.stringify(patch)}`, async () => {
+    const f = await seed(), manager = new SyncManager(), statuses = [];
+    for (const operation of await store.getQueuedMutations(f.session.accountId)) {
+      await store.saveOperation(f.session.accountId, { ...operation, ...patch });
+    }
+    manager.subscribe(s => statuses.push(s.status));
+    await manager.sync({ mutation: () => { assert.fail('Ineligible edits must not be sent'); } }, f.session);
+    assert.deepEqual(statuses, ['error']);
+    assert.equal((await store.getQueuedMutations(f.session.accountId)).length, 2);
+  });
+}
 for (const code of ['UNAUTHORIZED', 'INVALID_TOKEN', 'EXPIRED_TOKEN']) {
   test(`${code} across RPC preserves queue/retry budget and resumes with the same account`, async () => {
     const f = await seed(); const manager = new SyncManager(), statuses = [];
diff --git a/src/components/offline/OfflineIndicator.tsx b/src/components/offline/OfflineIndicator.tsx
index 5ed45e9..4e6ca46 100644
--- a/src/components/offline/OfflineIndicator.tsx
+++ b/src/components/offline/OfflineIndicator.tsx
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ export function OfflineIndicator() {
   }, [isOnline]);
 
   // Show syncing state after reconnection
-  if (isOnline && syncStatus.status === 'syncing') {
+  if (isOnline && pendingCount > 0 && syncStatus.status === 'syncing') {
     return (
       <div className="fixed top-0 left-0 right-0 z-50 safe-area-top">
         <div className="bg-amber-500 text-white px-4 py-2.5 text-center text-sm font-medium shadow-lg">
diff --git a/src/lib/sync.ts b/src/lib/sync.ts
index 2738fb5..e4032b4 100644
--- a/src/lib/sync.ts
+++ b/src/lib/sync.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ export class SyncManager {
     }
     this.running.add(accountId);
     const notify = (status: SyncStatus) => { if (isCurrent()) this.listeners.forEach(fn => fn({ ...status, accountId })); };
-    notify({ status: 'syncing' });
+    let announcedSyncing = false;
     try {
       const attempted = new Set<string>();
       while (isCurrent()) {
@@ -43,6 +43,12 @@ export class SyncManager {
           if (!isCurrent()) return;
           if (!current) continue;
           attempted.add(m.operationId);
+          // Background polling also runs with no eligible work. Only surface
+          // syncing once an edit is actually ready to send.
+          if (!announcedSyncing) {
+            notify({ status: 'syncing' });
+            announcedSyncing = true;
+          }
           try {
             const ack = await this.executeMutation(convex, current, token, acknowledged);
             if (ack.operationId !== m.operationId) throw new Error('Missing operation acknowledgment');