diff --git a/static/css/components/card.css b/static/css/components/card.css
index f3c83105..e9268abc 100644
--- a/static/css/components/card.css
+++ b/static/css/components/card.css
@@ -734,6 +734,21 @@ body.hide-card-version .hl-badge {
     }
 }
 
+/* Grid-scoped loading overlay (replaces full-page overlay for VirtualScroller refreshes) */
+.grid-loading-overlay {
+    position: absolute;
+    top: 0;
+    left: 0;
+    width: 100%;
+    height: 100%;
+    background: var(--lora-bg-transparent, oklch(0% 0 0 / 0.3));
+    display: flex;
+    justify-content: center;
+    align-items: center;
+    z-index: 100;
+    pointer-events: none;
+}
+
 /* Add after the existing .model-card:hover styles */
 
 @keyframes update-pulse {
diff --git a/static/js/api/baseModelApi.js b/static/js/api/baseModelApi.js
index 6b54a352..c1a8d586 100644
--- a/static/js/api/baseModelApi.js
+++ b/static/js/api/baseModelApi.js
@@ -115,7 +115,10 @@ export class BaseModelApiClient {
         const pageState = this.getPageState();
 
         try {
-            state.loadingManager.showSimpleLoading(`Loading more ${this.apiConfig.config.displayName}s...`);
+            // Use grid-scoped loading instead of full-page overlay
+            if (state.virtualScroller?.showGridLoading) {
+                state.virtualScroller.showGridLoading();
+            }
 
             pageState.isLoading = true;
             if (resetPage) {
@@ -154,7 +157,14 @@ export class BaseModelApiClient {
             throw error;
         } finally {
             pageState.isLoading = false;
-            state.loadingManager.hide();
+            // Wait for the next rAF so refreshWithData's scheduleRender has
+            // completed rendering new cards before hiding the grid loading overlay.
+            // This eliminates the ~6.7ms blank-frame gap that caused the flicker.
+            if (state.virtualScroller?.hideGridLoading) {
+                requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+                    state.virtualScroller.hideGridLoading();
+                });
+            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/static/js/utils/VirtualScroller.js b/static/js/utils/VirtualScroller.js
index ea3e21fe..bf216697 100644
--- a/static/js/utils/VirtualScroller.js
+++ b/static/js/utils/VirtualScroller.js
@@ -657,6 +657,9 @@ export class VirtualScroller {
             this.resizeObserver.disconnect();
         }
 
+        // Remove any active grid loading overlay
+        this.hideGridLoading();
+
         // Remove rendered elements
         this.clearRenderedItems();
 
@@ -1130,4 +1133,30 @@ export class VirtualScroller {
             index: targetIndex
         };
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Show a grid-scoped loading indicator (replaces full-page overlay)
+     * Only covers the card grid area, leaving header/sidebar unaffected.
+     */
+    showGridLoading() {
+        // Remove any stale overlay from a prior deferred hide (e.g. from final rAF)
+        this.hideGridLoading();
+        const overlay = document.createElement('div');
+        overlay.className = 'grid-loading-overlay';
+        const spinner = document.createElement('div');
+        spinner.className = 'loading-spinner';
+        overlay.appendChild(spinner);
+        this.gridElement.appendChild(overlay);
+        this.gridLoadingOverlay = overlay;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Hide the grid-scoped loading indicator.
+     */
+    hideGridLoading() {
+        if (this.gridLoadingOverlay) {
+            this.gridLoadingOverlay.remove();
+            this.gridLoadingOverlay = null;
+        }
+    }
 }