diff --git a/shell/shellApp.c b/shell/shellApp.c
index 9747225..b98ffcd 100644
--- a/shell/shellApp.c
+++ b/shell/shellApp.c
@@ -343,12 +343,16 @@ int32_t shellLoadApp(AppContextT *ctx, const char *path) {
     // Snapshot free memory before loading so we can estimate app usage
     dvxMemSnapshotLoad(id);
 
+    // Show hourglass during the load (dlopen + symbol resolution + appMain)
+    dvxSetBusy(ctx, true);
+
     // Load the DXE
     void *handle = dlopen(loadPath, RTLD_GLOBAL);
 
     if (!handle) {
         char msg[512];
         snprintf(msg, sizeof(msg), "Failed to load %s:\n%s", baseName(path), dlerror());
+        dvxSetBusy(ctx, false);
         dvxMessageBox(ctx, "Error", msg, MB_OK | MB_ICONERROR);
 
         if (tempPath[0]) {
@@ -364,6 +368,7 @@ int32_t shellLoadApp(AppContextT *ctx, const char *path) {
     if (!desc) {
         char msg[256];
         snprintf(msg, sizeof(msg), "%s: missing appDescriptor", baseName(path));
+        dvxSetBusy(ctx, false);
         dvxMessageBox(ctx, "Error", msg, MB_OK | MB_ICONERROR);
         dlclose(handle);
 
@@ -379,6 +384,7 @@ int32_t shellLoadApp(AppContextT *ctx, const char *path) {
     if (!entry) {
         char msg[256];
         snprintf(msg, sizeof(msg), "%s: missing appMain", baseName(path));
+        dvxSetBusy(ctx, false);
         dvxMessageBox(ctx, "Error", msg, MB_OK | MB_ICONERROR);
         dlclose(handle);
 
@@ -464,6 +470,7 @@ int32_t shellLoadApp(AppContextT *ctx, const char *path) {
 
         if (taskId < 0) {
             ctx->currentAppId = 0;
+            dvxSetBusy(ctx, false);
             dvxMessageBox(ctx, "Error", "Failed to create task for application.", MB_OK | MB_ICONERROR);
             dlclose(handle);
             free(app->dxeCtx);
@@ -485,6 +492,7 @@ int32_t shellLoadApp(AppContextT *ctx, const char *path) {
     app->state = AppStateRunningE;
 
     dvxLog("Shell: loaded '%s' (id=%ld, mainLoop=%s, entry=0x%08lx, desc=0x%08lx)", app->name, (long)id, app->hasMainLoop ? "yes" : "no", (unsigned long)entry, (unsigned long)desc);
+    dvxSetBusy(ctx, false);
     shellDesktopUpdate();
     return id;
 }