diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin.rs
index 3ea6d35..5a60169 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/settings_plugin.rs
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ pub struct SettingsChangedEvent(pub Settings);
 
 /// Marker on the root Settings panel entity.
 #[derive(Component, Debug)]
-struct SettingsPanel;
+pub struct SettingsPanel;
 
 /// Marks the `Text` node showing the live SFX volume value.
 #[derive(Component, Debug)]
@@ -1137,6 +1137,7 @@ fn handle_sync_buttons(
     mut configure_sync: MessageWriter<SyncConfigureRequestEvent>,
     mut logout_sync: MessageWriter<SyncLogoutRequestEvent>,
     mut delete_account: MessageWriter<DeleteAccountRequestEvent>,
+    mut screen: ResMut<SettingsScreen>,
 ) {
     for (interaction, button) in &interaction_query {
         if *interaction != Interaction::Pressed {
@@ -1144,7 +1145,12 @@ fn handle_sync_buttons(
         }
         match button {
             SettingsButton::SyncNow => { manual_sync.write(ManualSyncRequestEvent); }
-            SettingsButton::ConnectSync => { configure_sync.write(SyncConfigureRequestEvent); }
+            SettingsButton::ConnectSync => {
+                // Close settings before the sync-setup modal opens so the
+                // guard in open_sync_setup_modal doesn't block on our own scrim.
+                screen.0 = false;
+                configure_sync.write(SyncConfigureRequestEvent);
+            }
             SettingsButton::DisconnectSync => { logout_sync.write(SyncLogoutRequestEvent); }
             SettingsButton::DeleteAccount => { delete_account.write(DeleteAccountRequestEvent); }
             _ => {}
diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/sync_setup_plugin.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/sync_setup_plugin.rs
index 92ef4bf..5e94723 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/sync_setup_plugin.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/sync_setup_plugin.rs
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ use crate::events::{
     SyncLogoutRequestEvent,
 };
 use crate::font_plugin::FontResource;
-use crate::settings_plugin::{SettingsResource, SettingsScreen, SettingsStoragePath};
+use crate::settings_plugin::{SettingsPanel, SettingsResource, SettingsScreen, SettingsStoragePath};
 use crate::resources::TokioRuntimeResource;
 use crate::sync_plugin::SyncProviderResource;
 use crate::ui_modal::{spawn_modal, ModalScrim};
@@ -205,10 +205,14 @@ impl Plugin for SyncSetupPlugin {
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 /// Opens the sync-setup modal when `SyncConfigureRequestEvent` is received.
+#[allow(clippy::type_complexity)]
 fn open_sync_setup_modal(
     mut events: MessageReader<SyncConfigureRequestEvent>,
     existing: Query<(), With<SyncSetupScreen>>,
-    other_modal_scrims: Query<(), (With<ModalScrim>, Without<SyncSetupScreen>)>,
+    // Exclude SettingsPanel: the Connect button closes settings in the same
+    // frame it fires SyncConfigureRequestEvent, but Bevy despawns are deferred
+    // so the settings scrim still exists in the world during this system.
+    other_modal_scrims: Query<(), (With<ModalScrim>, Without<SyncSetupScreen>, Without<SettingsPanel>)>,
     mut commands: Commands,
     mut focused: ResMut<SyncFocusedField>,
     font_res: Option<Res<FontResource>>,