diff --git a/Checks/app-startup.py b/Checks/app-startup.py
index 3df602d..8e7a94b 100644
--- a/Checks/app-startup.py
+++ b/Checks/app-startup.py
@@ -298,6 +298,7 @@ def check_cli_instances(root, app, fixtures):
                                "queue preserves video size and mouse target", action="queue", visible=True)
         window = opened[first_pid]["window"]
         if (not window["resizable"] or window["aspectWidth"] != 0 or window["aspectHeight"] != 0
+                or window["resizeIncrementWidth"] <= 0 or window["resizeIncrementHeight"] <= 0
                 or window["minWidth"] > 660 or window["minHeight"] > 300
                 or window["maxWidth"] <= window["width"] + 80
                 or window["maxHeight"] <= window["height"] + 80
diff --git a/Checks/app-startup.swift b/Checks/app-startup.swift
index 7a1c799..aab390e 100644
--- a/Checks/app-startup.swift
+++ b/Checks/app-startup.swift
@@ -111,6 +111,8 @@ private enum CLIInstanceCheck {
             "contentMinWidth": window.contentMinSize.width, "contentMinHeight": window.contentMinSize.height,
             "contentMaxWidth": window.contentMaxSize.width, "contentMaxHeight": window.contentMaxSize.height,
             "aspectWidth": window.aspectRatio.width, "aspectHeight": window.aspectRatio.height,
+            "resizeIncrementWidth": window.resizeIncrements.width,
+            "resizeIncrementHeight": window.resizeIncrements.height,
             "resizable": window.styleMask.contains(.resizable),
         ]
         if let surface = surface(in: content) {
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fbf8e6c..1f87a61 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -157,6 +157,8 @@ The full suite requires a graphical macOS session and a working audio device; it
 
 The startup checks verify that playing video remains attached, unhidden and sized to its native drag surface, including with the queue open; playback-state checks alone do not establish renderer visibility.
 
+Queue-open resize checks also require positive native resize increments: clearing AppKit's aspect ratio alone leaves zero increments after aspect-locked video. Physical edge-drag resizing still needs manual verification.
+
 `make benchmark-playback` measures cold source startup, cached/uncached seeks, and sustained native/Cast playback with repeatable loopback fixtures. It requires the same macOS session/audio device and fixture-generation FFmpeg; results exclude live extraction, WAN/TLS, and physical-receiver latency.
 The [benchmark runner](Checks/playback-benchmark.py) accepts `--compare-native <baseline-binary>` for alternating native-only comparisons; add `--seek-work` to isolate cache-miss seeks when both binaries support that mode. Preserve the baseline executable before rebuilding.
 
diff --git a/Sources/App/CompactWindow.swift b/Sources/App/CompactWindow.swift
index 01234c8..001d7db 100644
--- a/Sources/App/CompactWindow.swift
+++ b/Sources/App/CompactWindow.swift
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ final class CompactWindowController: NSObject {
         let minSize: NSSize
         let contentMinSize: NSSize
         let aspectRatio: NSSize
+        let resizeIncrements: NSSize
         let styleMask: NSWindow.StyleMask
         let titleVisibility: NSWindow.TitleVisibility
         let titlebarAppearsTransparent: Bool
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ final class CompactWindowController: NSObject {
             minSize = window.minSize
             contentMinSize = window.contentMinSize
             aspectRatio = window.aspectRatio
+            resizeIncrements = window.resizeIncrements
             styleMask = window.styleMask
             titleVisibility = window.titleVisibility
             titlebarAppearsTransparent = window.titlebarAppearsTransparent
@@ -310,7 +312,11 @@ final class CompactWindowController: NSObject {
         window.minSize = snapshot.minSize
         window.contentMinSize = snapshot.contentMinSize
         window.setFrame(snapshot.frame, display: true)
-        window.aspectRatio = snapshot.aspectRatio
+        if snapshot.aspectRatio == .zero {
+            window.resizeIncrements = snapshot.resizeIncrements
+        } else {
+            window.aspectRatio = snapshot.aspectRatio
+        }
         self.snapshot = nil
     }
 
@@ -380,7 +386,7 @@ final class CompactWindowController: NSObject {
             frame.origin.x = min(max(window.frame.minX, usable.minX), usable.maxX - frame.width)
             frame.origin.y = min(max(window.frame.minY, usable.minY), usable.maxY - frame.height)
         }
-        window.aspectRatio = .zero
+        window.resizeIncrements = NSSize(width: 1, height: 1)
         animateFrame(frame, of: window, animated: animated) { [weak self, weak window] in
             guard let self, let window else { return }
             if Self.canFitAspect(aspect, available: usable.size) {
diff --git a/Sources/App/TerebiApp.swift b/Sources/App/TerebiApp.swift
index 2cb7ef4..cb1a158 100644
--- a/Sources/App/TerebiApp.swift
+++ b/Sources/App/TerebiApp.swift
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ final class PlayerModel: ObservableObject {
         didSet {
             guard showsQueue != oldValue, let window, !isFullScreen,
                   !isCompact, !compactWindow.isTransitioning else { return }
-            window.aspectRatio = .zero
+            // Setting aspectRatio to zero leaves AppKit's resize increments at zero.
+            window.resizeIncrements = NSSize(width: 1, height: 1)
             var frame = window.frame
             frame.size.width += showsQueue ? 260 : -260
             if let screen = window.screen?.visibleFrame {
@@ -706,7 +707,7 @@ final class PlayerModel: ObservableObject {
         youtubeHeight = nil
         youtubeQuality = nil
         needsVideoFit = false
-        window?.aspectRatio = .zero
+        window?.resizeIncrements = NSSize(width: 1, height: 1)
         commandError = nil
         isSeeking = false
         window?.representedURL = nil
@@ -979,7 +980,7 @@ final class PlayerModel: ObservableObject {
         }
         needsVideoFit = false
         guard state.has_video, aspect.isFinite, aspect > 0 else {
-            window.aspectRatio = .zero
+            window.resizeIncrements = NSSize(width: 1, height: 1)
             return
         }
         let screen = (window.screen ?? NSScreen.main)?.visibleFrame ?? window.frame
@@ -988,10 +989,14 @@ final class PlayerModel: ObservableObject {
         let size = NSSize(width: width + sidebarWidth, height: width / aspect)
         // ponytail: extreme ratios retain letterboxing; compact controls if exact fitting is needed.
         guard size.width >= window.minSize.width, size.height >= window.minSize.height else {
-            window.aspectRatio = .zero
+            window.resizeIncrements = NSSize(width: 1, height: 1)
             return
         }
-        window.aspectRatio = showsQueue ? .zero : NSSize(width: aspect, height: 1)
+        if showsQueue {
+            window.resizeIncrements = NSSize(width: 1, height: 1)
+        } else {
+            window.aspectRatio = NSSize(width: aspect, height: 1)
+        }
         let frame = NSRect(
             x: min(max(window.frame.midX - size.width / 2, screen.minX), screen.maxX - size.width),
             y: min(max(window.frame.midY - size.height / 2, screen.minY), screen.maxY - size.height),