diff --git a/static/svrnty_nav.js b/static/svrnty_nav.js
index f107e1e..fd6d1ee 100644
--- a/static/svrnty_nav.js
+++ b/static/svrnty_nav.js
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@
   "use strict";
   if (window.__svrntyNavLoaded) return;
   window.__svrntyNavLoaded = true;
+  const LOG = (...a) => console.log("[svrnty-nav]", ...a);
+  const ERR = (...a) => console.error("[svrnty-nav]", ...a);
+  LOG("loaded", { readyState: document.readyState });
 
   const TABS = [
     {
@@ -31,23 +34,36 @@
 
   function _injectButtons() {
     const nav = document.querySelector(".sidebar-nav");
-    if (!nav) return false;
+    if (!nav) {
+      LOG("_injectButtons: .sidebar-nav not found yet");
+      return false;
+    }
+    let added = 0;
     TABS.forEach((t) => {
       if (nav.querySelector('[data-panel="' + t.id + '"]')) return;
-      const btn = document.createElement("button");
-      btn.className = "nav-tab has-tooltip has-tooltip--bottom svrnty-nav-tab";
-      btn.setAttribute("data-panel", t.id);
-      btn.setAttribute("data-label", t.label);
-      btn.setAttribute("data-tooltip", t.tooltip);
-      btn.setAttribute("aria-label", t.label);
-      btn.innerHTML = t.svg;
-      btn.addEventListener("click", () => {
-        if (typeof window.switchPanel === "function") {
-          window.switchPanel(t.id, { fromRailClick: true });
-        }
-      });
-      nav.appendChild(btn);
+      try {
+        const btn = document.createElement("button");
+        btn.className = "nav-tab has-tooltip has-tooltip--bottom svrnty-nav-tab";
+        btn.setAttribute("data-panel", t.id);
+        btn.setAttribute("data-label", t.label);
+        btn.setAttribute("data-tooltip", t.tooltip);
+        btn.setAttribute("aria-label", t.label);
+        btn.innerHTML = t.svg;
+        btn.addEventListener("click", () => {
+          LOG("button clicked:", t.id);
+          if (typeof window.switchPanel === "function") {
+            window.switchPanel(t.id, { fromRailClick: true });
+          } else {
+            ERR("switchPanel is not a function — cannot route click");
+          }
+        });
+        nav.appendChild(btn);
+        added++;
+      } catch (e) {
+        ERR("failed to inject button", t.id, e);
+      }
     });
+    LOG("_injectButtons: added", added, "of", TABS.length, "(nav children:", nav.children.length, ")");
     return true;
   }
 
@@ -81,13 +97,20 @@
     return true;
   }
 
+  let _initAttempts = 0;
   function _init() {
+    _initAttempts++;
     const buttonsOk = _injectButtons();
     const wrapOk = _wrapSwitchPanel();
     if (!buttonsOk || !wrapOk) {
-      // DOM not ready yet — retry on next paint
-      requestAnimationFrame(_init);
+      if (_initAttempts < 100) {
+        requestAnimationFrame(_init);
+      } else {
+        ERR("_init gave up after", _initAttempts, "attempts. buttonsOk=", buttonsOk, "wrapOk=", wrapOk);
+      }
+      return;
     }
+    LOG("_init completed in", _initAttempts, "attempt(s)");
   }
 
   if (document.readyState === "loading") {