diff --git a/src/functional_tests/test_my_buds.py b/src/functional_tests/test_my_buds.py
index 06978e1..759c202 100644
--- a/src/functional_tests/test_my_buds.py
+++ b/src/functional_tests/test_my_buds.py
@@ -55,6 +55,12 @@ class MyBudsPageTest(FunctionalTest):
         self.wait_for(lambda: self.assertIn(
             self.alice, list(self.gamer.buds.all())
         ))
+        # "No buds yet" empty-state row dismisses async as the first bud lands
+        # (shell partial renders w. .applet-list-entry--empty, not .bud-entry--empty)
+        self.wait_for(lambda: self.assertEqual(
+            self.browser.find_elements(By.CSS_SELECTOR, ".applet-list-entry--empty"),
+            [],
+        ))
 
     def test_no_autocomplete_suggestions_on_my_buds_page(self):
         """The bud-autocomplete pool is request.user.buds — surfacing buds
diff --git a/src/templates/apps/billboard/_partials/_bud_add_panel.html b/src/templates/apps/billboard/_partials/_bud_add_panel.html
index cb4aade..2abbd68 100644
--- a/src/templates/apps/billboard/_partials/_bud_add_panel.html
+++ b/src/templates/apps/billboard/_partials/_bud_add_panel.html
@@ -35,8 +35,10 @@
         // Skip if already in DOM (server-side dedup ensures M2M idempotence;
         // this guards a fast double-click that races the post-add refresh).
         if (list.querySelector('[data-bud-id="' + bud.id + '"]')) return;
-        // Drop the empty-state row if present
-        var empty = list.querySelector('.bud-entry--empty');
+        // Drop the empty-state row if present — _applet-list-shell renders
+        // it w. `.applet-list-entry--empty` (NOT `.bud-entry--empty`); the
+        // shell sets the family-agnostic class.
+        var empty = list.querySelector('.applet-list-entry--empty');
         if (empty) empty.remove();
 
         var li = document.createElement('li');