diff --git a/src/browser/cdp.ts b/src/browser/cdp.ts
index 080e0f33..fd01ddce 100644
--- a/src/browser/cdp.ts
+++ b/src/browser/cdp.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import {
   scrollJs,
   autoScrollJs,
   networkRequestsJs,
+  waitForDomStableJs,
 } from './dom-helpers.js';
 
 export interface CDPTarget {
@@ -166,10 +167,11 @@ class CDPPage implements IPage {
       .catch(() => {}); // Don't fail if event times out
     await this.bridge.send('Page.navigate', { url });
     await loadPromise;
-    // Post-load settle: SPA frameworks need extra time to render after load event
+    // Smart settle: use DOM stability detection instead of fixed sleep.
+    // settleMs is now a timeout cap (default 1000ms), not a fixed wait.
     if (options?.waitUntil !== 'none') {
-      const settleMs = options?.settleMs ?? 1000;
-      await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, settleMs));
+      const maxMs = options?.settleMs ?? 1000;
+      await this.evaluate(waitForDomStableJs(maxMs, Math.min(500, maxMs)));
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/src/browser/dom-helpers.ts b/src/browser/dom-helpers.ts
index 63c07fa9..bcc9b413 100644
--- a/src/browser/dom-helpers.ts
+++ b/src/browser/dom-helpers.ts
@@ -145,3 +145,37 @@ export function networkRequestsJs(includeStatic: boolean): string {
     })()
   `;
 }
+
+/**
+ * Generate JS to wait until the DOM stabilizes (no mutations for `quietMs`),
+ * with a hard cap at `maxMs`. Uses MutationObserver in the browser.
+ *
+ * Returns as soon as the page stops changing, avoiding unnecessary fixed waits.
+ * If document.body is not available, falls back to a fixed sleep of maxMs.
+ */
+export function waitForDomStableJs(maxMs: number, quietMs: number): string {
+  return `
+    new Promise(resolve => {
+      if (!document.body) {
+        setTimeout(() => resolve('nobody'), ${maxMs});
+        return;
+      }
+      let timer = null;
+      let cap = null;
+      const done = (reason) => {
+        clearTimeout(timer);
+        clearTimeout(cap);
+        obs.disconnect();
+        resolve(reason);
+      };
+      const resetQuiet = () => {
+        clearTimeout(timer);
+        timer = setTimeout(() => done('quiet'), ${quietMs});
+      };
+      const obs = new MutationObserver(resetQuiet);
+      obs.observe(document.body, { childList: true, subtree: true, attributes: true });
+      resetQuiet();
+      cap = setTimeout(() => done('capped'), ${maxMs});
+    })
+  `;
+}
diff --git a/src/browser/page.ts b/src/browser/page.ts
index ddb139ec..0a38a7f7 100644
--- a/src/browser/page.ts
+++ b/src/browser/page.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import {
   scrollJs,
   autoScrollJs,
   networkRequestsJs,
+  waitForDomStableJs,
 } from './dom-helpers.js';
 
 /**
@@ -53,11 +54,15 @@ export class Page implements IPage {
     if (result?.tabId) {
       this._tabId = result.tabId;
     }
-    // Post-load settle: the extension already waits for tab.status === 'complete',
-    // but SPA frameworks (React/Vue) need extra time to render after DOM load.
+    // Smart settle: use DOM stability detection instead of fixed sleep.
+    // settleMs is now a timeout cap (default 1000ms), not a fixed wait.
     if (options?.waitUntil !== 'none') {
-      const settleMs = options?.settleMs ?? 1000;
-      await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, settleMs));
+      const maxMs = options?.settleMs ?? 1000;
+      await sendCommand('exec', {
+        code: waitForDomStableJs(maxMs, Math.min(500, maxMs)),
+        ...this._workspaceOpt(),
+        ...this._tabOpt(),
+      });
     }
   }