diff --git a/public/assets/desktop/desktop.css b/public/assets/desktop/desktop.css
index 054fe8ca..f6b392c3 100644
--- a/public/assets/desktop/desktop.css
+++ b/public/assets/desktop/desktop.css
@@ -322,6 +322,10 @@ h1 {
     backdrop-filter: blur(24px);
 }
 
+.start-menu[hidden] {
+    display: none !important;
+}
+
 .start-menu-header {
     display: flex;
     align-items: flex-start;
diff --git a/public/assets/desktop/desktop.js b/public/assets/desktop/desktop.js
index d79effc2..15ae7a21 100644
--- a/public/assets/desktop/desktop.js
+++ b/public/assets/desktop/desktop.js
@@ -16,6 +16,20 @@ if (payloadNode) {
     const activeWidgets = new Set(payload.widgets.active_ids);
     let zIndex = 20;
 
+    const setStartMenuOpen = (isOpen) => {
+        if (!startMenu) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (isOpen) {
+            startMenu.removeAttribute('hidden');
+        } else {
+            startMenu.setAttribute('hidden', 'hidden');
+        }
+
+        startButton?.setAttribute('aria-expanded', String(isOpen));
+    };
+
     const renderClock = () => {
         if (!clockNode) {
             return;
@@ -47,12 +61,7 @@ if (payloadNode) {
     };
 
     const closeStartMenu = () => {
-        if (!startMenu) {
-            return;
-        }
-
-        startMenu.hidden = true;
-        startButton?.setAttribute('aria-expanded', 'false');
+        setStartMenuOpen(false);
     };
 
     const applyWindowLayout = (record) => {
@@ -433,13 +442,13 @@ if (payloadNode) {
             return;
         }
 
-        const willOpen = startMenu.hidden;
-        startMenu.hidden = !willOpen;
-        startButton.setAttribute('aria-expanded', String(willOpen));
+        const isClosed = startMenu.hasAttribute('hidden');
+        setStartMenuOpen(isClosed);
     });
 
     renderWidgets();
     renderStartMenu();
+    setStartMenuOpen(false);
     payload.windows.forEach(createWindow);
     renderClock();
     window.setInterval(renderClock, 1000);