diff --git a/packages/web/src/App.svelte b/packages/web/src/App.svelte
index 4a3bfd9..2a0b7d8 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/App.svelte
+++ b/packages/web/src/App.svelte
@@ -1397,7 +1397,7 @@
    * not know to ask, and a minute's silence is how they leave. */
   let counciled = false;
   /** The unasked advice is for that one turn: it leaves when the turn does. */
-  let councilUnasked = false;
+  let councilUnasked = $state(false);
   $effect(() => {
     if (!view || !isYourTurn || prefs.coached || view.turn.round !== 1 || counciled || councilHints !== null) return;
     counciled = true;
@@ -1405,8 +1405,12 @@
     void askCouncil();
   });
   $effect(() => {
-    if (!councilUnasked || !view) return;
-    if (!isYourTurn || view.turn.round !== 1) { councilHints = null; councilUnasked = false; }
+    // Read the turn before anything else: an early return that never
+    // touches it would leave this effect with nothing to wake it.
+    const stillFirstTurn = isYourTurn && view?.turn.round === 1;
+    if (!councilUnasked || stillFirstTurn) return;
+    councilHints = null;
+    councilUnasked = false;
   });
 
   /** Arrow keys and WASD walk on the board, as they do in the first-person