diff --git a/src/lib/pyodide/backend/flask/backend.ts b/src/lib/pyodide/backend/flask/backend.ts
index 384fe2ab..c337ddea 100644
--- a/src/lib/pyodide/backend/flask/backend.ts
+++ b/src/lib/pyodide/backend/flask/backend.ts
@@ -387,7 +387,8 @@ export class FlaskBackend extends AbstractBackend {
 					try {
 						this.streamState.onData(JSON.parse(msg.value as string));
 					} catch {
-						// Ignore parse errors
+						// Surface (don't silently drop) a corrupt stream frame.
+						this.stderrCallback?.('[stream] dropped an unparseable data frame\n');
 					}
 				}
 				break;
diff --git a/src/lib/pyodide/backend/index.ts b/src/lib/pyodide/backend/index.ts
index ce4f4522..1450e7cc 100644
--- a/src/lib/pyodide/backend/index.ts
+++ b/src/lib/pyodide/backend/index.ts
@@ -38,54 +38,47 @@ import { backendState } from './state';
 import { consoleStore } from '$lib/stores/console';
 
 /**
- * Initialize backend from URL parameters.
- * Reads `?backend=flask` and `?host=...` from the current URL.
- * Call this early in page mount, before any backend usage.
+ * Resolve and initialize the execution backend at startup.
+ *
+ * Single entry point replacing the old `initBackendFromUrl` + `autoDetectBackend`
+ * pair (which were both awaited and could each switch+init independently).
+ * Precedence:
+ *   1. `?backend=flask[&host=...]` URL override — explicit wins.
+ *   2. Same-origin Flask server (pip-package mode), detected via `/api/health`.
+ *   3. Default: Pyodide (created lazily by `getBackend()` on first use).
+ * Only switches/initializes a Flask backend; the Pyodide default needs no work
+ * here (it initializes on first `init()`/`exec()`).
  */
-export async function initBackendFromUrl(): Promise<void> {
+export async function resolveBackend(): Promise<void> {
 	if (typeof window === 'undefined') return;
 	const params = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search);
-	const backendParam = params.get('backend');
-	const hostParam = params.get('host');
 
-	if (backendParam === 'flask') {
-		if (hostParam) {
-			setFlaskHost(hostParam);
-		}
+	// 1. Explicit URL override.
+	if (params.get('backend') === 'flask') {
+		const host = params.get('host');
+		if (host) setFlaskHost(host);
 		switchBackend('flask');
 		await init();
+		return;
 	}
-}
-
-/**
- * Auto-detect if a Flask backend is available at the same origin.
- * Used when the frontend is served by the Flask server (pip package mode).
- * URL parameters take precedence — if `?backend=` is set, auto-detection is skipped.
- */
-export async function autoDetectBackend(): Promise<void> {
-	if (typeof window === 'undefined') return;
-
-	// URL params override auto-detection
-	const params = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search);
-	if (params.has('backend')) return;
 
+	// 2. Auto-detect a same-origin Flask server.
 	try {
 		const response = await fetch('/api/health', {
 			method: 'GET',
 			signal: AbortSignal.timeout(2000)
 		});
-		if (response.ok) {
-			const data = await response.json();
-			if (data.status === 'ok') {
-				setFlaskHost(window.location.origin);
-				switchBackend('flask');
-				// Run full init — sets up callbacks, logs progress, initializes worker
-				await init();
-			}
+		if (response.ok && (await response.json())?.status === 'ok') {
+			setFlaskHost(window.location.origin);
+			switchBackend('flask');
+			await init();
+			return;
 		}
 	} catch {
-		// No Flask backend at same origin — will use Pyodide
+		// No Flask backend at same origin — fall through to the Pyodide default.
 	}
+
+	// 3. Default: Pyodide (lazy).
 }
 
 // Alias for backward compatibility
diff --git a/src/lib/pyodide/backend/pyodide/backend.ts b/src/lib/pyodide/backend/pyodide/backend.ts
index b06d1247..fd765ec0 100644
--- a/src/lib/pyodide/backend/pyodide/backend.ts
+++ b/src/lib/pyodide/backend/pyodide/backend.ts
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ interface StreamState {
 export class PyodideBackend extends AbstractBackend {
 	private worker: Worker | null = null;
 	private pendingRequests = new Map<string, PendingRequest>();
-	private isInitializing = false;
 
 	private streamState: StreamState = {
 		id: null,
@@ -66,7 +65,6 @@ export class PyodideBackend extends AbstractBackend {
 			error: null,
 			progress: PROGRESS_MESSAGES.STARTING_WORKER
 		}));
-		this.isInitializing = true;
 
 		try {
 			this.worker = new Worker(new URL('./worker.ts', import.meta.url), { type: 'module' });
@@ -291,7 +289,6 @@ export class PyodideBackend extends AbstractBackend {
 					loading: false,
 					progress: STATUS_MESSAGES.READY
 				}));
-				this.isInitializing = false;
 				break;
 
 			case 'progress':
@@ -341,7 +338,8 @@ export class PyodideBackend extends AbstractBackend {
 					try {
 						this.streamState.onData(JSON.parse(response.value));
 					} catch {
-						// Ignore parse errors
+						// Surface (don't silently drop) a corrupt stream frame.
+						this.stderrCallback?.('[stream] dropped an unparseable data frame\n');
 					}
 				}
 				break;
diff --git a/src/routes/+page.svelte b/src/routes/+page.svelte
index 33a1f4c8..5436e217 100644
--- a/src/routes/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/+page.svelte
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
 	import type { MenuItemType } from '$lib/components/ContextMenu.svelte';
 	import { pyodideState, simulationState, initPyodide, stopSimulation, continueStreamingSimulation, stageMutations, resetSimulation } from '$lib/pyodide/bridge';
 	import { pendingMutationCount } from '$lib/pyodide/mutationQueue';
-	import { initBackendFromUrl, autoDetectBackend } from '$lib/pyodide/backend';
+	import { resolveBackend } from '$lib/pyodide/backend';
 	import { runGraphStreamingSimulation, validateGraphSimulation, exportToPython } from '$lib/pyodide/pathsimRunner';
 	import { consoleStore } from '$lib/stores/console';
 	import { newGraph, saveFile, saveAsFile, setupAutoSave, clearAutoSave, debouncedAutoSave, openImportDialog, importFromUrl, currentFileName, loadGraphFile, listRecentFiles, openRecentFile, removeRecentFile } from '$lib/schema/fileOps';
@@ -598,8 +598,7 @@
 		seedPreloadedToolboxes();
 		backendReady = (async () => {
 			try {
-				await autoDetectBackend();
-				await initBackendFromUrl();
+				await resolveBackend();
 				await initPyodide();
 				statusText = 'Loading toolboxes...';
 				await bootstrapToolboxes();