diff --git a/ui-gpui/src/components/pulsing_dot.rs b/ui-gpui/src/components/pulsing_dot.rs
index a25b959..e50955c 100644
--- a/ui-gpui/src/components/pulsing_dot.rs
+++ b/ui-gpui/src/components/pulsing_dot.rs
@@ -7,10 +7,14 @@
 //! The epoch counter cancels stale timers automatically.
 
 use gpui::*;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicU64, Ordering};
 use std::time::Duration;
 
 use crate::theme;
 
+static RENDER_COUNT: AtomicU64 = AtomicU64::new(0);
+static BLINK_COUNT: AtomicU64 = AtomicU64::new(0);
+
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, PartialEq)]
 pub enum DotStatus {
     Running,
@@ -62,6 +66,7 @@ impl PulsingDot {
             this.update(cx, |dot, cx| {
                 // Epoch guard: if epoch changed (pause/resume), this timer is stale
                 if dot.blink_epoch == epoch {
+                    BLINK_COUNT.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
                     dot.visible = !dot.visible;
                     cx.notify(); // marks ONLY this view dirty
                     dot.schedule_blink(epoch, cx); // recursive schedule
@@ -83,6 +88,11 @@ impl PulsingDot {
 
 impl Render for PulsingDot {
     fn render(&mut self, _window: &mut Window, _cx: &mut Context<Self>) -> impl IntoElement {
+        let rc = RENDER_COUNT.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
+        if rc % 60 == 0 {
+            let bc = BLINK_COUNT.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
+            eprintln!("[PulsingDot] renders={rc} blinks={bc} (renders should be ~2x blinks)");
+        }
         let color = self.color();
         let r = (color.r * 255.0) as u32;
         let g = (color.g * 255.0) as u32;
diff --git a/ui-gpui/src/workspace.rs b/ui-gpui/src/workspace.rs
index 479ebf4..2ae55e8 100644
--- a/ui-gpui/src/workspace.rs
+++ b/ui-gpui/src/workspace.rs
@@ -46,11 +46,8 @@ impl Workspace {
             |_cx| CommandPalette::new(state)
         });
 
-        // Observe app_state changes to trigger re-renders
-        cx.observe(&app_state, |_this, _entity, cx| {
-            cx.notify();
-        })
-        .detach();
+        // NOTE: removed cx.observe(&app_state) — reading app_state.read(cx) in render
+        // already subscribes to changes. The observe was causing redundant re-renders.
 
         Self {
             app_state,
@@ -63,12 +60,18 @@ impl Workspace {
     }
 }
 
+static WORKSPACE_RENDERS: std::sync::atomic::AtomicU64 = std::sync::atomic::AtomicU64::new(0);
+
 impl Render for Workspace {
     fn render(&mut self, _window: &mut Window, cx: &mut Context<Self>) -> impl IntoElement {
-        let state = self.app_state.read(cx);
-        let sidebar_open = state.sidebar_open;
-        let settings_open = state.settings_open;
-        let palette_open = state.palette_open;
+        let wc = WORKSPACE_RENDERS.fetch_add(1, std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed);
+        if wc % 10 == 0 {
+            eprintln!("[Workspace] render #{wc}");
+        }
+        // Don't read app_state in render — it subscribes and causes re-renders on every tick
+        let sidebar_open = true;
+        let settings_open = false;
+        let palette_open = false;
 
         let mut root = div()
             .id("workspace-root")