diff --git a/app/assets/css/main.css b/app/assets/css/main.css
index 4b39e60..4167651 100644
--- a/app/assets/css/main.css
+++ b/app/assets/css/main.css
@@ -273,6 +273,14 @@ p a, blockquote a {
   min-width: 0;
 }
 
+/* ---- Nuxt UI placeholder contrast ----
+   Default Nuxt UI placeholder uses `text-dimmed` (#a6a09b) which fails WCAG
+   AA on cream and white backgrounds (≈2.4:1). Override globally to --text-dim
+   so USelect/USelectMenu placeholders meet the 4.5:1 ratio. */
+[data-slot="placeholder"] {
+  color: var(--text-dim);
+}
+
 /* ---- SHARED USelectMenu STYLES ----
    Apply via: <USelectMenu class="zine-select" :ui="{ content: 'tz-content', item: 'tz-item', input: 'tz-input' }" />
    Classes are global (not scoped) because Nuxt UI portals the popup content to body. */
diff --git a/e2e/auth.spec.js b/e2e/auth.spec.js
index 5b0daca..f7c60f0 100644
--- a/e2e/auth.spec.js
+++ b/e2e/auth.spec.js
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ test.describe('Authentication flows', () => {
   test('logout clears auth', async ({ page }) => {
     await loginAsAdmin(page)
     await page.goto('/admin')
+    await page.waitForLoadState('networkidle')
     await expect(page.locator('.admin-tag')).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15000 })
 
     // Set up response listener BEFORE clicking to avoid race