diff --git a/src/game/game.ts b/src/game/game.ts
index 7e9768b..cead9f2 100644
--- a/src/game/game.ts
+++ b/src/game/game.ts
@@ -659,12 +659,36 @@ export class Game {
     this.beginDay();
   }
 
-  async init(): Promise<void> {
-    await this.drawer.init();
+  private drawerInit?: Promise<void>;
+  private drawerReady = false;
+
+  /**
+   * Rapier's wasm compile. Memoised: the drawer gates on this promise when the
+   * toast lands before physics is up (main.ts boots without waiting), and a
+   * second call must join the first, not build a second World.
+   */
+  init(): Promise<void> {
+    this.drawerInit ??= this.drawer.init().then(() => {
+      this.drawerReady = true;
+    });
+    return this.drawerInit;
   }
 
   /** Fresh out of the toaster, and now you need something to spread with. */
   private openDrawer(): void {
+    if (!this.drawerReady) {
+      // The toast beat the wasm: on a slow device Rapier can still be
+      // compiling when the slice lands. Opening anyway dereferenced an
+      // undefined World mid-update — the round softlocked on a landed slice
+      // with no hint and a dead ENTER. Hold on the plate until physics is in;
+      // if it never arrives, skip the fishing and hand over the ordered tool.
+      this.kitchen.flash('rummaging for the drawer…');
+      void this.init().then(
+        () => this.openDrawer(),
+        () => this.closeDrawer(this.order.tool),
+      );
+      return;
+    }
     this.drawer.reset(this.order.tool);
     this.drawer.setTimerLabel('your toast is going cold');
     this.drawer.warmth = this.kitchen.currentSlice.warmth;
@@ -1523,6 +1547,18 @@ export class Game {
   /** The toaster half of the day: the loaf knife-trip, or straight to the bench. */
   private enterToastFlow(): void {
     if (this.order.fromLoaf) {
+      if (!this.drawerReady) {
+        // Same wasm race as openDrawer, at the day's front door. Wait it out;
+        // a physics that never arrives skips the trip and hands them the knife.
+        void this.init().then(
+          () => this.enterToastFlow(),
+          () => {
+            this.knifeTrip = true;
+            this.closeDrawer('bread_knife');
+          },
+        );
+        return;
+      }
       // Bakery bread: first find something to slice it with.
       this.knifeTrip = true;
       this.drawer.reset('bread_knife');
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index 6933a0b..24a41ff 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -13,8 +13,10 @@ app.scene.background = new THREE.Color(0x241a15);
 
 const game = new Game(app);
 // Rapier's wasm has to be up before the drawer can be opened, but the toaster
-// works without it — so boot the game now and let physics catch up.
-void game.init();
+// works without it — so boot the game now and let physics catch up. A compile
+// failure is handled at the drawer's door (it degrades to handing over the
+// ordered tool); swallow it here so it isn't also an unhandled rejection.
+void game.init().catch(() => {});
 
 // The main harness ships in production too: it powers the in-game
 // demonstrations ("watch him do it"), and console cooks are welcome guests.
diff --git a/src/scenes/kitchen.ts b/src/scenes/kitchen.ts
index f2e6b88..a5aff79 100644
--- a/src/scenes/kitchen.ts
+++ b/src/scenes/kitchen.ts
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ export class KitchenView implements View {
   private vel = new THREE.Vector3();
   private spin = 0;
   private toastSeconds = 0;
+  private flyingSeconds = 0;
 
   knife: Knife = newKnife();
   /** Brand quality for the current order's bread. */
@@ -386,6 +387,7 @@ export class KitchenView implements View {
     const T = (vy + Math.sqrt(disc)) / g;
     this.vel.set((PLATE_X - p0.x) / T, vy, (PLATE_Z - p0.z) / T);
     this.spin = Math.PI / 2 / T;
+    this.flyingSeconds = 0;
     this.app.shake = 0.045;
     this.hintEl.textContent = '';
   }
@@ -423,11 +425,18 @@ export class KitchenView implements View {
       this.placeInSlot(this.leverT);
     } else if (this.phase === 'flying') {
       this.vel.y -= 9.8 * dt;
+      this.flyingSeconds += dt;
       this.slice.mesh.position.addScaledVector(this.vel, dt);
       this.slice.mesh.rotation.x = Math.max(0, this.slice.mesh.rotation.x - this.spin * dt);
       this.slice.mesh.rotation.z += dt * 1.1;
       this.slice.setHeatGlow(0);
-      if (this.slice.mesh.position.y <= PLATE_Y + 0.02 && this.vel.y < 0) {
+      // The arc is deterministic and takes ~1s, so the timeout is pure
+      // insurance: whatever leaves a slice hanging mid-air (a hitch, a bug,
+      // a hostile embed), the round must never be able to hang with it.
+      if (
+        (this.slice.mesh.position.y <= PLATE_Y + 0.02 && this.vel.y < 0) ||
+        this.flyingSeconds > 3
+      ) {
         this.slice.mesh.position.set(PLATE_X, PLATE_Y + 0.02, PLATE_Z);
         this.slice.mesh.rotation.set(0, 0, 0);
         this.app.shake = 0.02;