diff --git a/artifacts/tx-os/src/lib/notification-sounds.ts b/artifacts/tx-os/src/lib/notification-sounds.ts
index f631b701..7784648c 100644
--- a/artifacts/tx-os/src/lib/notification-sounds.ts
+++ b/artifacts/tx-os/src/lib/notification-sounds.ts
@@ -104,10 +104,11 @@ class NotificationPlayer {
   isUnlocked(): boolean {
     if (!this.unlocked) return false;
     if (this.useIos) {
-      // On iOS the "context" concept doesn't apply — being unlocked
-      // means at least one HTMLAudioElement has cleared its silent
-      // play+pause inside a gesture. We trust the flag.
-      return true;
+      // On iOS, "unlocked" is set only once at least one
+      // HTMLAudioElement has finished its silent priming play+pause
+      // inside a gesture (see `unlock()` for why this matters for
+      // hint suppression timing).
+      return this.htmlAudioUnlocked.size > 0;
     }
     return this.ctx?.state === "running";
   }
@@ -227,24 +228,34 @@ class NotificationPlayer {
       // burst of all 8 sounds at once. After the silent play resolves
       // we pause + restore volume + reset currentTime so the next
       // real play() starts from the beginning at full volume.
+      //
+      // We only flip `this.unlocked = true` once at least one element
+      // has actually finished a successful priming play. Setting it
+      // synchronously would cause the hint suppression path in
+      // `playIos()` (which checks `!this.unlocked`) to swallow a
+      // legitimate NotAllowedError from a play attempt that arrives
+      // between the gesture and the moment the priming promise
+      // settles.
       for (const entry of NOTIFICATION_SOUND_MANIFEST) {
         if (this.htmlAudioUnlocked.has(entry.id)) continue;
         const el = this.getHtmlAudio(entry.id);
         if (!el) continue;
         const originalVolume = el.volume;
         el.volume = 0;
+        const markPrimed = () => {
+          try {
+            el.pause();
+            el.currentTime = 0;
+            el.volume = originalVolume;
+            this.htmlAudioUnlocked.add(entry.id);
+            this.unlocked = true;
+          } catch {
+            /* ignore */
+          }
+        };
         const p = el.play();
         if (p && typeof p.then === "function") {
-          p.then(() => {
-            try {
-              el.pause();
-              el.currentTime = 0;
-              el.volume = originalVolume;
-              this.htmlAudioUnlocked.add(entry.id);
-            } catch {
-              /* ignore */
-            }
-          }).catch(() => {
+          p.then(markPrimed).catch(() => {
             // Element couldn't start — likely no gesture yet, or the
             // user denied it. We'll try again on the next gesture.
             try {
@@ -255,17 +266,9 @@ class NotificationPlayer {
           });
         } else {
           // Synchronous return (very old WebKit). Treat as success.
-          try {
-            el.pause();
-            el.currentTime = 0;
-            el.volume = originalVolume;
-            this.htmlAudioUnlocked.add(entry.id);
-          } catch {
-            /* ignore */
-          }
+          markPrimed();
         }
       }
-      this.unlocked = true;
       return;
     }