diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Layout.jsx b/frontend/src/components/Layout.jsx
index e445815..fa3c0f8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Layout.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Layout.jsx
@@ -203,12 +203,14 @@ export default function Layout() {
     return fmtCount(item.countKey ? counts?.[item.countKey] : null);
   };
 
-  // Smart folders sorted by count desc
-  const sortedSmart = [...SMART_FOLDERS].sort((a, b) => {
-    const ca = counts?.smartFolders?.[a.slug] ?? 0;
-    const cb = counts?.smartFolders?.[b.slug] ?? 0;
-    return cb - ca;
-  });
+  // Smart folders sorted by count desc; hide empty ones once counts have loaded
+  const sortedSmart = [...SMART_FOLDERS]
+    .filter((f) => !counts || (counts.smartFolders?.[f.slug] ?? 0) > 0)
+    .sort((a, b) => {
+      const ca = counts?.smartFolders?.[a.slug] ?? 0;
+      const cb = counts?.smartFolders?.[b.slug] ?? 0;
+      return cb - ca;
+    });
 
   const isPinnedSmart = (slug) => favSlugs.includes(slug);