diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c1ae7a4..d83389b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ Open Conjure, type an application name, and press Return to launch it or bring i
 
 Favorited launcher entries show a small star before their **Application** or **Command** label.
 
+Launcher results and the emoji grid start below the top fade; scrolling moves content naturally through it.
+
 Conjure searches the system and user Applications folders. Hover over a result to see its path; duplicate names show their locations. Drag the launcher background to reposition it; its position is remembered.
 
 Conjure runs without a Dock icon. Dismissing the launcher leaves it running; reopen it from Finder or use your configured global shortcut.
diff --git a/Sources/Conjure/EmojiPickerController.swift b/Sources/Conjure/EmojiPickerController.swift
index 591e632..7efe47d 100644
--- a/Sources/Conjure/EmojiPickerController.swift
+++ b/Sources/Conjure/EmojiPickerController.swift
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ final class EmojiPickerController: NSViewController, NSCollectionViewDataSource,
         layout.itemSize = NSSize(width: 64, height: 56)
         layout.minimumInteritemSpacing = 6
         layout.minimumLineSpacing = 6
-        layout.sectionInset = NSEdgeInsets(top: 12, left: 16, bottom: 12, right: 16)
+        layout.sectionInset = NSEdgeInsets(top: LauncherScrollView.fadeHeight, left: 16, bottom: 12, right: 16)
         collection.collectionViewLayout = layout
         collection.backgroundColors = [.clear]
         collection.dataSource = self
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ final class EmojiPickerController: NSViewController, NSCollectionViewDataSource,
     }
 
     func collectionView(_ collectionView: NSCollectionView, layout collectionViewLayout: NSCollectionViewLayout, insetForSectionAt section: Int) -> NSEdgeInsets {
-        NSEdgeInsets(top: section == 1 ? 18 : 12, left: 16, bottom: splitFavorites && section == 0 ? 0 : 12, right: 16)
+        NSEdgeInsets(top: section == 1 ? 18 : LauncherScrollView.fadeHeight, left: 16, bottom: splitFavorites && section == 0 ? 0 : 12, right: 16)
     }
 
     func collectionView(_ collectionView: NSCollectionView, itemForRepresentedObjectAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> NSCollectionViewItem {
diff --git a/Sources/Conjure/LauncherWindowController.swift b/Sources/Conjure/LauncherWindowController.swift
index c6cf37d..ee118a4 100644
--- a/Sources/Conjure/LauncherWindowController.swift
+++ b/Sources/Conjure/LauncherWindowController.swift
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ final class LauncherWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate, NSSe
         scrollView.contentView.drawsBackground = false
         scrollView.horizontalScrollElasticity = .none
         scrollView.automaticallyAdjustsContentInsets = false
-        scrollView.contentInsets = NSEdgeInsets(top: 16, left: 0, bottom: 16, right: 0)
+        scrollView.contentInsets = NSEdgeInsets(top: LauncherScrollView.fadeHeight, left: 0, bottom: 16, right: 0)
 
         statusLabel.font = .systemFont(ofSize: 12)
         statusLabel.textColor = SunsetPalette.secondaryText
@@ -1079,6 +1079,7 @@ final class ApplicationCell: NSTableCellView {
 
 @MainActor
 final class LauncherScrollView: NSScrollView {
+    static let fadeHeight: CGFloat = 32
     private let edgeFade = CAGradientLayer()
 
     override init(frame frameRect: NSRect) {
@@ -1095,7 +1096,7 @@ final class LauncherScrollView: NSScrollView {
 
     override func layout() {
         super.layout()
-        let fade = min(0.5, 32 / max(bounds.height, 1))
+        let fade = min(0.5, Self.fadeHeight / max(bounds.height, 1))
         CATransaction.begin()
         CATransaction.setDisableActions(true)
         edgeFade.frame = bounds
diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index 8924ee4..f58f0ba 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 - [x] add an emoji picker inspired raycast's emoji picker
 - [x] make the star/favorite symbol a bit smaller when prefixed launcher list entries (e.g. "<star> Application", or "<star> Command")
-- [ ] currently the top fade (from the top section/overlay, typically some search input) overshadows the top of main content of the window.
+- [x] currently the top fade (from the top section/overlay, typically some search input) overshadows the top of main content of the window.
     - spacing should be added such that the fade doesn't overlay the content.
     - of course, if the user scrolls some scrollable content, the content would (and should) naturally be overshadowed.
 - [ ] add a notes app inspired by raycast notes
diff --git a/Tests/ConjureKitTests/LauncherFadeTests.swift b/Tests/ConjureKitTests/LauncherFadeTests.swift
index dc9f213..2ad057f 100644
--- a/Tests/ConjureKitTests/LauncherFadeTests.swift
+++ b/Tests/ConjureKitTests/LauncherFadeTests.swift
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import AppKit
+import ConjureKit
 import Testing
 @testable import Conjure
 
@@ -23,3 +24,47 @@ func launcherFadesStayAtViewportEdgesAfterScrollingAndResizing() throws {
         #expect(alpha(height - 1) < 20)
     }
 }
+
+@Test @MainActor
+func launcherAndEmojiContentStartBelowTheTopFade() throws {
+    _ = NSApplication.shared
+    let suite = "ConjureFade.\(UUID().uuidString)"
+    let defaults = UserDefaults(suiteName: suite)!
+    defer { defaults.removePersistentDomain(forName: suite) }
+    func topOpacity(_ rect: NSRect, in scroll: LauncherScrollView) throws -> UInt8 {
+        let width = Int(scroll.bounds.width), height = Int(scroll.bounds.height)
+        let y = Int(rect.minY - scroll.contentView.bounds.minY)
+        try #require((0..<height).contains(y))
+        let context = try #require(CGContext(data: nil, width: width, height: height,
+            bitsPerComponent: 8, bytesPerRow: width * 4, space: CGColorSpaceCreateDeviceRGB(),
+            bitmapInfo: CGImageAlphaInfo.premultipliedLast.rawValue))
+        let mask = try #require(scroll.layer?.mask)
+        mask.render(in: context)
+        let pixels = try #require(context.data?.assumingMemoryBound(to: UInt8.self))
+        return pixels[y * width * 4 + width / 2 * 4 + 3]
+    }
+    let launcher = LauncherWindowController(
+        history: LaunchHistory(defaults: defaults, now: { Date(timeIntervalSinceReferenceDate: 12_000) })
+    )
+    let content = try #require(launcher.window?.contentView)
+    let search = try #require(content.subviews.compactMap { $0 as? NSStackView }
+        .flatMap(\.arrangedSubviews).compactMap { $0 as? NSSearchField }.first)
+    launcher.controlTextDidChange(Notification(name: NSControl.textDidChangeNotification, object: search))
+    content.layoutSubtreeIfNeeded()
+    let tableScroll = try #require(content.subviews.compactMap { $0 as? LauncherScrollView }.first)
+    let table = try #require(tableScroll.documentView as? NSTableView)
+    let firstRow = tableScroll.contentView.convert(table.rect(ofRow: 0), from: table)
+    #expect(try topOpacity(firstRow, in: tableScroll) == 255)
+
+    let picker = EmojiPickerController(defaults: defaults)
+    let window = NSWindow(contentRect: NSRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: 750, height: 400),
+                          styleMask: [.borderless], backing: .buffered, defer: false)
+    window.contentView = picker.view
+    picker.view.layoutSubtreeIfNeeded()
+    let emojiScroll = try #require(picker.view.subviews.compactMap { $0 as? LauncherScrollView }.first)
+    let grid = try #require(emojiScroll.documentView as? NSCollectionView)
+    let path = IndexPath(item: 0, section: 0)
+    let attributes = try #require(grid.collectionViewLayout?.layoutAttributesForItem(at: path))
+    let firstEmoji = emojiScroll.contentView.convert(attributes.frame, from: grid)
+    #expect(try topOpacity(firstEmoji, in: emojiScroll) == 255)
+}