diff --git a/shell/modules/TrayModule.qml b/shell/modules/TrayModule.qml
index 539ced5..492c82c 100644
--- a/shell/modules/TrayModule.qml
+++ b/shell/modules/TrayModule.qml
@@ -10,27 +10,28 @@ import "../services" as S
 M.BarModule {
     id: root
     spacing: S.Theme.moduleSpacing + 2
-    visible: S.Modules.tray.enable && _trayRepeater.count > 0
     cursorShape: Qt.ArrowCursor
 
+    // Workaround: Qt 6 compiled bindings break on `visible` when the expression
+    // references Repeater.count on a Row-derived component. The binding silently
+    // dies (imperative overwrite by the engine) and never re-evaluates. Routing
+    // through a custom property forces the interpreted binding path, which works.
+    property bool _shouldBeVisible: S.Modules.tray.enable && _trayRepeater.count > 0
+    visible: _shouldBeVisible
+
     required property var bar
     property var _activeMenu: null
 
-    // Shadow binding to test if QML dependency tracking works on a fresh property
-    property bool _shouldBeVisible: S.Modules.tray.enable && _trayRepeater.count > 0
+    // --- debug logging (remove once tray is confirmed working) ---
     on_ShouldBeVisibleChanged: console.log("[TrayModule] _shouldBeVisible:", _shouldBeVisible, "actual visible:", visible)
-
     Component.onCompleted: console.log("[TrayModule] created, enable:", S.Modules.tray.enable, "repeater count:", _trayRepeater.count)
-
     onVisibleChanged: console.log("[TrayModule] visible:", visible, "enable:", S.Modules.tray.enable, "count:", _trayRepeater.count)
-
     Connections {
         target: _trayRepeater
         function onCountChanged() {
             console.log("[TrayModule] repeater count:", _trayRepeater.count, "visible:", root.visible, "shouldBe:", S.Modules.tray.enable && _trayRepeater.count > 0);
         }
     }
-
     Connections {
         target: SystemTray.items
         function onValuesChanged() {