diff --git a/cypress/e2e/screenshots.cy.ts b/cypress/e2e/screenshots.cy.ts
index cf6c7942..f90865f7 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/screenshots.cy.ts
+++ b/cypress/e2e/screenshots.cy.ts
@@ -60,7 +60,10 @@ describe("Game Visual Documentation", () => {
       win.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('test:targetClick'));
       win.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('test:targetClick'));
     });
-    
+
+    // Wait for React to process the state updates (consistent with gameplay.cy.ts pattern)
+    cy.wait(100);
+
     // Verify score updated
     cy.get("[data-testid=score-value]").should("not.contain", "0");
     
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index e7149128..d0a20b2d 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -7101,9 +7101,9 @@
       "license": "MIT"
     },
     "node_modules/systeminformation": {
-      "version": "5.31.5",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/systeminformation/-/systeminformation-5.31.5.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-5SyLdip4/3alxD4Kh+63bUQTJmu7YMfYQTC+koZy7X73HgNqZSD2P4wOZQWtUncvPvcEmnfIjCoygN4MRoEejQ==",
+      "version": "5.31.6",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/systeminformation/-/systeminformation-5.31.6.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-Uv2b2uGGM6ns+26czgW2cYRabYdnswM0ddSOOlryHOaelzsmDSet1iM/NT7VOYxW8x/BW+HkY+b1Ve2pLTSGSA==",
       "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "os": [
diff --git a/src/App.tsx b/src/App.tsx
index 342d798c..a30ff160 100644
--- a/src/App.tsx
+++ b/src/App.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { Canvas } from "@react-three/fiber";
-import { useRef, useState, useCallback, useEffect } from "react";
+import { useRef, useState, useCallback, useEffect, useLayoutEffect } from "react";
 import type { JSX } from "react";
 import { useGameState } from "./hooks/useGameState";
 import { useAudioManager } from "./hooks/useAudioManager";
@@ -96,7 +96,10 @@ function App(): JSX.Element {
   const gameStateRef = useRef(gameState);
   gameStateRef.current = gameState;
 
-  useEffect(() => {
+  // useLayoutEffect (not useEffect) ensures the listener is registered synchronously
+  // before the browser paints, preventing a race where Cypress finds the target-sphere
+  // in the DOM before the test event listener is ready to receive events.
+  useLayoutEffect(() => {
     const handleTestTargetClick = (): void => {
       const gs = gameStateRef.current;
       if (gs.isPlaying && gs.timeLeft > 0 && gs.targets.length > 0) {