diff --git a/internal/driver/ioscompanion/driver.go b/internal/driver/ioscompanion/driver.go
index 132db65..486f662 100644
--- a/internal/driver/ioscompanion/driver.go
+++ b/internal/driver/ioscompanion/driver.go
@@ -594,6 +594,12 @@ func (d *Driver) WaitForIdle(ctx context.Context, _ time.Duration) error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil
 		}
+		// Unresolved bridge values mean the tree is mid-update; report the
+		// snapshot transitional so the streak resets instead of declaring a
+		// half-readable screen stable.
+		if hasUnresolvedValues(dump) {
+			return nil
+		}
 		mapped, err := MapHierarchy(dump, d.screenWidth, d.screenHeight)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil
diff --git a/internal/driver/ioscompanion/hierarchymap.go b/internal/driver/ioscompanion/hierarchymap.go
index fa8a227..205ccd2 100644
--- a/internal/driver/ioscompanion/hierarchymap.go
+++ b/internal/driver/ioscompanion/hierarchymap.go
@@ -108,6 +108,11 @@ func mapElement(element *rawElement) (treeNode, bool) {
 	}
 
 	value := stringValue(element.AXValue)
+	if value == unresolvedValueSentinel {
+		// Bridge state, not app content: surfacing it would show phantom
+		// field values in snapshots taken while the bridge catches up.
+		value = ""
+	}
 	label := stringValue(element.AXLabel)
 	editable := isEditable(element.Type)