diff --git a/frontend/src/components/gallery/HiddenReviewStrip.vue b/frontend/src/components/gallery/HiddenReviewStrip.vue
index 7c25e28..78d0dd3 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/gallery/HiddenReviewStrip.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/gallery/HiddenReviewStrip.vue
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 <template>
-  <!-- Shown atop the gallery when "Show hidden" is on: auto-hidden chrome that
-       ALSO looked like real content, most-concerning first, with keep / un-hide
-       (#141). Renders nothing when there's nothing to review. -->
+  <!-- Auto-hidden chrome that ALSO looked like real content — surfaced PROACTIVELY
+       atop the gallery whenever there's something to review (NOT gated on the
+       Show-hidden toggle, so misfires can't go unnoticed), most-concerning first,
+       with keep / un-hide (#141). Renders nothing when there's nothing to review. -->
   <section v-if="items.length" class="fc-review" aria-label="Hidden images to review">
     <div class="fc-review__head">
       <v-icon size="18" color="warning">mdi-alert-outline</v-icon>
@@ -43,13 +44,11 @@
 </template>
 
 <script setup>
-import { ref, watch } from 'vue'
+import { onMounted, ref } from 'vue'
 import { useApi } from '../../composables/useApi.js'
-import { useGalleryStore } from '../../stores/gallery.js'
 import { toast } from '../../utils/toast.js'
 
 const api = useApi()
-const store = useGalleryStore()
 
 const items = ref([])
 const busy = ref([])
@@ -57,7 +56,8 @@ const busy = ref([])
 function keyOf(it) { return `${it.image_id}:${it.tag_id}` }
 
 async function load() {
-  if (!store.filter.include_hidden) { items.value = []; return }
+  // Fetched unconditionally on mount — the strip prompts for pending misfires
+  // even when the operator is browsing normally (Show-hidden off).
   try {
     const body = await api.get('/api/gallery/hidden-review')
     items.value = body.items || []
@@ -83,8 +83,7 @@ async function resolve(it, action) {
   }
 }
 
-// Fetch whenever "Show hidden" flips on (immediate covers a mount already-on).
-watch(() => store.filter.include_hidden, load, { immediate: true })
+onMounted(load)
 </script>
 
 <style scoped>
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/GalleryView.vue b/frontend/src/views/GalleryView.vue
index be35891..b306468 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/GalleryView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/GalleryView.vue
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
       <div class="fc-gallery-layout__main">
         <PostInfoHeader />
         <GalleryFilterBar v-if="store.filter.post_id == null" />
-        <HiddenReviewStrip />
+        <HiddenReviewStrip v-if="store.filter.post_id == null" />
         <EmptyState v-if="store.isEmpty" />
         <GalleryGrid v-else @open="openImage" />
       </div>