diff --git a/.config/sway/config b/.config/sway/config
index 30740c6..f5ab4f8 100644
--- a/.config/sway/config
+++ b/.config/sway/config
@@ -71,7 +71,10 @@ exec systemctl --user start xdg-desktop-portal-wlr.service
 exec_always --no-startup-id "pkill -x waybar; waybar -c ~/.config/sway/waybar/config.jsonc -s ~/.config/sway/waybar/style.css"
 exec nm-applet
 exec blueman-applet
-exec hypridle
+# Guarded with pkill because `exec`/`exec_always` re-runs on every sway config
+# reload: a second hypridle instance would double-fire every listener (two
+# suspend timers, two lock screens) and fight over the sleep inhibitor.
+exec_always --no-startup-id "pkill -x hypridle; sleep 0.3; hypridle >/dev/null 2>&1 &"
 # hyprlock can outlive a sway session; a stale instance then makes hypridle's
 # "pidof hyprlock || hyprlock" guard a permanent no-op. Clear leftovers at login.
 exec --no-startup-id pkill -x hyprlock