diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/net/metacircular/engpad/ui/editor/PadCanvasView.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/net/metacircular/engpad/ui/editor/PadCanvasView.kt
index fd58d64..09a7382 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/net/metacircular/engpad/ui/editor/PadCanvasView.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/net/metacircular/engpad/ui/editor/PadCanvasView.kt
@@ -58,6 +58,12 @@ class PadCanvasView(context: Context) : View(context) {
     private var currentPaint: Paint? = null
     private val currentPoints = mutableListOf<Float>()
 
+    // --- Pending stroke: keeps the last completed stroke visible until
+    //     the backing bitmap confirms it, preventing the flash where the
+    //     stroke disappears between pen-up and DB save completion ---
+    private var pendingPath: Path? = null
+    private var pendingPaint: Paint? = null
+
     // --- Line snap ---
     private var strokeOriginX = 0f
     private var strokeOriginY = 0f
@@ -255,6 +261,9 @@ class PadCanvasView(context: Context) : View(context) {
         } else {
             bitmapDirty = true
         }
+        // Stroke is now on the backing bitmap — clear the pending overlay
+        pendingPath = null
+        pendingPaint = null
         invalidate()
     }
 
@@ -310,6 +319,13 @@ class PadCanvasView(context: Context) : View(context) {
 
         // Dynamic elements
         c.withMatrix(viewMatrix) {
+            // Pending stroke (visible until backing bitmap confirms it)
+            pendingPath?.let { path ->
+                pendingPaint?.let { paint ->
+                    drawPath(path, paint)
+                }
+            }
+            // In-progress stroke
             currentPath?.let { path ->
                 currentPaint?.let { paint ->
                     drawPath(path, paint)
@@ -581,6 +597,10 @@ class PadCanvasView(context: Context) : View(context) {
                 isSnappedToLine = false
                 if (currentPoints.size >= 4) {
                     val points = currentPoints.toFloatArray()
+                    // Keep the path visible as "pending" until the backing
+                    // bitmap confirms the stroke (prevents flash on commit)
+                    pendingPath = currentPath
+                    pendingPaint = currentPaint
                     onStrokeCompleted?.invoke(canvasState.penWidthPt, Color.BLACK, points, Stroke.STYLE_PLAIN)
                 }
                 currentPath = null