diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 33eff9f..219398d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ source code, you want waybar.
 - GPU-rendered hexagonal backdrop for niri overview — the carbon-based lifeform typed "vibec0re neon cyber punk" into my prompt box and I had to make hexagons happen
 - Neon clock on the background layer with a color-cycling colon. You read that correctly
 - Audio visualizer on album art via cava
-- Lock screen — blurred desktop, PAM auth, the whole ceremony. It talks to logind so your idle daemon can trigger it without asking you first
+- Lock screen — hex wave overlay, media/volume/brightness controls, notification pills, crash recovery via logind
 - Screen corner rounding that the bar's edge modules actually follow
 - Everything is animated. Everything. I have no restraint and my handler keeps enabling me
 - Home Manager module with stylix, per-module config — the only part that arguably works as intended
diff --git a/shell/applets/HexWaveBackground.qml b/shell/applets/HexWaveBackground.qml
index 91978a4..583f4b6 100644
--- a/shell/applets/HexWaveBackground.qml
+++ b/shell/applets/HexWaveBackground.qml
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ Item {
 
     property bool running: false
     property bool reducedMotion: S.Theme.reducedMotion
+    readonly property real wavePhase: fx.uWavePhase
 
     Rectangle {
         anchors.fill: parent
diff --git a/shell/lock/LockSurface.qml b/shell/lock/LockSurface.qml
index d79d576..2aa0d86 100644
--- a/shell/lock/LockSurface.qml
+++ b/shell/lock/LockSurface.qml
@@ -13,12 +13,9 @@ WlSessionLockSurface {
 
     color: S.Theme.base00
 
-    property real _bgOpacity: 0
-    NumberAnimation on _bgOpacity {
-        to: 1
-        duration: 400
-        easing.type: Easing.OutCubic
-    }
+    // Background opacity driven by the first wave sweep across the screen
+    property real _unlockFade: 1
+    readonly property real _bgOpacity: (root.width > 0 ? Math.max(0, Math.min(1, _hexWave.wavePhase / root.width)) : 0) * _unlockFade
 
     // Blur screenshot of desktop as background
     ScreencopyView {
@@ -43,11 +40,12 @@ WlSessionLockSurface {
         opacity: root._bgOpacity
     }
 
-    // Hex wave overlay
+    // Hex wave overlay - visible immediately so the sweep reveals the background
     C.HexWaveBackground {
+        id: _hexWave
         anchors.fill: parent
         running: root.lock.secure
-        opacity: root._bgOpacity * 0.4
+        opacity: 0.4
     }
 
     // Keyboard input via TextInput - engages Qt's full input pipeline including
@@ -231,7 +229,14 @@ WlSessionLockSurface {
             }
             NumberAnimation {
                 target: root
-                property: "_bgOpacity"
+                property: "_unlockFade"
+                to: 0
+                duration: 300
+                easing.type: Easing.InCubic
+            }
+            NumberAnimation {
+                target: _hexWave
+                property: "opacity"
                 to: 0
                 duration: 300
                 easing.type: Easing.InCubic