diff --git a/js/mobile/package.json b/js/mobile/package.json
index 4ded7b7..84547c4 100644
--- a/js/mobile/package.json
+++ b/js/mobile/package.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   "private": true,
   "main": "index.ts",
   "scripts": {
-    "start": "expo start",
+    "start": "expo start -c",
     "ios": "expo run:ios --device",
     "publish:ios": "eas build --platform ios --auto-submit && echo 'Go to App Store Connect and submit the testflight build for app review. Visit for more information: https://docs.expo.dev/submit/introduction/'",
     "android": "expo run:android",
diff --git a/js/mobile/src/features/stream-view/StreamView.tsx b/js/mobile/src/features/stream-view/StreamView.tsx
index c348478..d4cf69d 100644
--- a/js/mobile/src/features/stream-view/StreamView.tsx
+++ b/js/mobile/src/features/stream-view/StreamView.tsx
@@ -118,6 +118,13 @@ function StreamViewInner({ streamParticle, path, onExit }: StreamViewProps) {
   const [holdActive, setHoldActive] = useState(false);
   useSuspendPlayback(holdActive, "touch-hold");
 
+  // Suspend playback whenever another screen (Huddle, NewStream, modals
+  // routed as screens) is on top. Native stack keeps StreamView mounted, so
+  // without this the stream would keep advancing — and the exit countdown
+  // would fire — behind the huddle.
+  const isFocused = useIsFocused();
+  useSuspendPlayback(!isFocused, "screen-unfocused");
+
   // Reaction sheet — opens via swipe-up on the canvas.
   const [reactionsOpen, setReactionsOpen] = useState(false);
 
@@ -386,11 +393,9 @@ function StreamViewInner({ streamParticle, path, onExit }: StreamViewProps) {
   });
 
   // --- End-of-stream countdown ---
-  // Pause the countdown when this screen isn't focused (e.g. a Huddle screen
-  // is mounted on top). Otherwise the timer keeps ticking under the huddle
-  // and goBack() pops the huddle out from under the user.
-  const isFocused = useIsFocused();
-  const exitRemainingMs = useExitCountdown(status, paused || !isFocused, exit);
+  // `paused` already reflects unfocused state via the "screen-unfocused"
+  // suspender registered above, so the countdown freezes under the huddle.
+  const exitRemainingMs = useExitCountdown(status, paused, exit);
 
   // Chrome reservations: top = safe-area + segmented bar (3) + gap (12) +
   // metadata row (~38) + breathing room (12). Bottom = safe-area + compose