diff --git a/frontend/src/app.css b/frontend/src/app.css
index 4bbf0b5..ed66cf3 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app.css
+++ b/frontend/src/app.css
@@ -190,12 +190,6 @@ a:focus-visible {
 	25%, 75% { box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px var(--color-primary), 0 0 20px color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-primary) 30%, transparent); }
 }
 
-.card-highlight {
-	animation: cardHighlight 2s ease-in-out;
-	position: relative;
-	z-index: 11;
-}
-
 .nav-dim-overlay {
 	position: fixed;
 	inset: 0;
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/highlight.ts b/frontend/src/lib/highlight.ts
index 5326ad6..4fa4a09 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/highlight.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/highlight.ts
@@ -45,12 +45,15 @@ function _highlightCard(card: HTMLElement): void {
 	// Scroll to card
 	card.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'center' });
 
-	// Apply highlight
-	card.classList.add('card-highlight');
+	// Apply highlight via inline style to avoid interfering with stagger animation
+	const saved = card.style.cssText;
+	card.style.animation = 'cardHighlight 2s ease-in-out';
+	card.style.position = 'relative';
+	card.style.zIndex = '11';
 
-	// Cleanup after duration
+	// Cleanup after duration — restore original inline styles
 	setTimeout(() => {
-		card.classList.remove('card-highlight');
+		card.style.cssText = saved;
 		overlay.classList.remove('active');
 		setTimeout(() => overlay.remove(), 300); // wait for fade-out
 	}, HIGHLIGHT_DURATION);