diff --git a/src/lib/HeardleGame.svelte b/src/lib/HeardleGame.svelte
index b6a6b73..1d6a86c 100644
--- a/src/lib/HeardleGame.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/HeardleGame.svelte
@@ -232,17 +232,23 @@
 		countdownInterval = setInterval(updateTime, 1000);
 
 		widget = SC.Widget(iframeElement);
-		widget.bind(SC.Widget.Events.READY, () => {
-			widget.getDuration((d: number) => (fullDuration = d));
-			widget.getCurrentSound((sound: any) => {
-				artworkUrl = sound.artwork_url || '';
+		// wait for full page load (or you could just use setTimeout)
+		window.addEventListener('load', () => {
+			widget.bind(SC.Widget.Events.READY, () => {
+				widget.getDuration((d: number) => (fullDuration = d));
+				widget.getCurrentSound((sound: any) => {
+					artworkUrl = sound.artwork_url || '';
+				});
+
+				// give SC widget 2s to settle on Netlify before probing
+				setTimeout(() => {
+					widget.play();
+					widget.pause();
+					widget.seekTo(0);
+					loading = false;
+					widgetReady = true;
+				}, 2000);
 			});
-			// preload silently:
-			widget.play();
-			widget.pause();
-			widget.seekTo(0);
-			loading = false;
-			widgetReady = true;
 		});
 
 		widget.bind(SC.Widget.Events.PLAY, () => {