diff --git a/frontend/src/store/auth/index.js b/frontend/src/store/auth/index.js
index 33e4b36c..cb889a42 100644
--- a/frontend/src/store/auth/index.js
+++ b/frontend/src/store/auth/index.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // firebase authentication class
 import auth from './config'
 import CV from './CV'
+import { startLoad, endLoad } from '../../utils/helpers'
 
 import { createProfile, updateProfile, getSelf } from '@/utils/api/auth'
 
@@ -194,7 +195,9 @@ const actions = {
    * If anything fails it clears everything
    */
   async checkAuth({ commit, dispatch, state }) {
-    commit('SET_LOADING', true)
+    // app loading screen while checking auth
+    startLoad('Auth')
+
     try {
       // returns user object
       const user = await new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
@@ -238,7 +241,8 @@ const actions = {
     // Note we _need_ to do this before returning!
     commit('SIGNAL_AUTH_CV')
 
-    commit('SET_LOADING', false)
+    // done auth check; show the app
+    endLoad('Auth')
   },
 
   /**