diff --git a/src/core/NxDisplay.lua b/src/core/NxDisplay.lua
index 65b815b6..e72abb77 100644
--- a/src/core/NxDisplay.lua
+++ b/src/core/NxDisplay.lua
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 -- Switch-only display size: handheld 1280x720, docked (TV) 1920x1080.
 -- love-nx's SDL backend can auto-resize on dock/undock when the window is
--- resizable; this module also syncs on boot and every frame so a docked
--- launch is not stuck at the conf.lua 720p hint until the next mode change.
+-- resizable; this module also syncs on boot and when the operation mode
+-- changes so a docked launch is not stuck at the conf.lua 720p hint.
+--
+-- Important: only call love.window.setMode when width/height must change.
+-- Re-applying every frame (e.g. to "fix" fullscreen/resizable flags that
+-- love-nx reports differently) recreates the EGL surface and flickers the launcher.
 
 local Platform = require("src.core.Platform")
 
@@ -58,16 +62,21 @@ function NxDisplay.operationMode()
   return mode
 end
 
--- Map operation mode → framebuffer size. Unknown / nil → handheld 720p.
+-- Map operation mode → framebuffer size.
+-- Unknown / nil → nil,nil (do not fight SDL or force a wrong size).
 function NxDisplay.desiredSize(mode)
   if mode == nil then mode = NxDisplay.operationMode() end
   if mode == MODE_CONSOLE then
     return NxDisplay.DOCKED_W, NxDisplay.DOCKED_H
   end
-  return NxDisplay.HANDHELD_W, NxDisplay.HANDHELD_H
+  if mode == MODE_HANDHELD then
+    return NxDisplay.HANDHELD_W, NxDisplay.HANDHELD_H
+  end
+  return nil
 end
 
--- Apply handheld/dock size when on NX and the window differs. No-op elsewhere.
+-- Apply handheld/dock size when on NX and the window size differs.
+-- Never setMode just to tweak flags — that flickers on love-nx.
 -- Returns true when setMode ran.
 function NxDisplay.sync()
   if not isNX() then return false end
@@ -75,12 +84,12 @@ function NxDisplay.sync()
     return false
   end
   local wantW, wantH = NxDisplay.desiredSize()
+  if not wantW or not wantH then return false end
   local curW, curH, flags = love.window.getMode()
-  flags = flags or {}
-  if curW == wantW and curH == wantH
-     and flags.fullscreen == false and flags.resizable == true then
+  if curW == wantW and curH == wantH then
     return false
   end
+  flags = flags or {}
   flags.fullscreen = false
   flags.resizable = true
   love.window.setMode(wantW, wantH, flags)
diff --git a/tests/engine/nx_display_test.lua b/tests/engine/nx_display_test.lua
index 23d7284f..ce446232 100644
--- a/tests/engine/nx_display_test.lua
+++ b/tests/engine/nx_display_test.lua
@@ -59,10 +59,10 @@ do
   eq(w, 1920, "console/docked mode → 1920 wide")
   eq(h, 1080, "console/docked mode → 1080 tall")
   w, h = NxDisplay.desiredSize(nil)
-  eq(w, 1280, "nil mode falls back to handheld width")
-  eq(h, 720, "nil mode falls back to handheld height")
+  -- With no test hook and no real Switch FFI, operationMode is nil → no size.
+  check(w == nil and h == nil, "nil/unknown mode returns no size (do not force)")
   w, h = NxDisplay.desiredSize(99)
-  eq(w, 1280, "unknown mode falls back to handheld width")
+  check(w == nil and h == nil, "unknown mode returns no size")
 end
 
 -- Non-NX: sync is a no-op
@@ -73,14 +73,14 @@ withWindow({ os = "Linux", w = 1024, h = 768, fullscreen = false, resizable = tr
   eq(#setCalls, 0, "sync never calls setMode off NX")
 end)
 
--- NX handheld already correct: no setMode
+-- NX handheld already correct: no setMode (even if flags look "wrong")
 withWindow({
-  os = "NX", w = 1280, h = 720, fullscreen = false, resizable = true,
+  os = "NX", w = 1280, h = 720, fullscreen = true, resizable = false,
 }, function(setCalls)
   NxDisplay._forceNXForTests = true
   NxDisplay._operationModeForTests = 0
-  eq(NxDisplay.sync(), false, "sync skips setMode when already handheld")
-  eq(#setCalls, 0, "no setMode calls when size+flags match handheld")
+  eq(NxDisplay.sync(), false, "sync skips setMode when size already matches")
+  eq(#setCalls, 0, "no setMode when only flags differ (avoids flicker)")
 end)
 
 -- NX docked boot from 720p hint → 1080p
@@ -95,6 +95,9 @@ withWindow({
   eq(setCalls[1].h, 1080, "docked setMode height")
   eq(setCalls[1].flags.fullscreen, false, "docked setMode clears exclusive fullscreen")
   eq(setCalls[1].flags.resizable, true, "docked setMode enables resizable for SDL backup")
+  -- Second sync must not setMode again (flicker guard)
+  eq(NxDisplay.sync(), false, "second sync is no-op after size matches")
+  eq(#setCalls, 1, "still only one setMode after repeated sync")
 end)
 
 -- NX undock: 1080p → 720p
@@ -108,16 +111,20 @@ withWindow({
   eq(setCalls[1].h, 720, "undock setMode height")
 end)
 
--- Flags-only fix when size already matches
+-- Unknown mode: do not force a size (would fight SDL and flicker)
 withWindow({
-  os = "NX", w = 1280, h = 720, fullscreen = true, resizable = false,
+  os = "NX", w = 1920, h = 1080, fullscreen = false, resizable = true,
 }, function(setCalls)
   NxDisplay._forceNXForTests = true
-  NxDisplay._operationModeForTests = 0
-  eq(NxDisplay.sync(), true, "sync fixes fullscreen/resizable even if size matches")
-  eq(setCalls[1].w, 1280, "flags-only setMode keeps handheld width")
-  eq(setCalls[1].flags.fullscreen, false, "flags-only clears fullscreen")
-  eq(setCalls[1].flags.resizable, true, "flags-only sets resizable")
+  NxDisplay._operationModeForTests = nil
+  -- Force operationMode() to return nil by using a sentinel the API treats
+  -- as "use live" then stubbing via desiredSize path — set a mode that
+  -- desiredSize rejects by clearing the hook after setting force NX, and
+  -- monkey-patching operationMode through the test hook to a non-value:
+  -- _operationModeForTests = false is not nil, so use a dedicated unknown.
+  -- Actually nil hook means live FFI; in tests FFI has no symbol → nil mode.
+  eq(NxDisplay.sync(), false, "sync no-ops when mode unknown")
+  eq(#setCalls, 0, "unknown mode never calls setMode")
 end)
 
 T.finish("nx_display")