diff --git a/tests/test_video_wishlist_clear.py b/tests/test_video_wishlist_clear.py
index 6e154a75..01bd1863 100644
--- a/tests/test_video_wishlist_clear.py
+++ b/tests/test_video_wishlist_clear.py
@@ -143,3 +143,12 @@ def test_nav_badge_uses_the_endpoint_total_not_a_partial_sum():
     assert "refreshBadge();" in sc and "refreshBadge();" in syc
     assert "state.counts.movie + state.counts.episode" not in _JS   # old partial-total math gone
     assert "/api/video/wishlist/counts" in _JS                       # the endpoint is the source
+
+
+def test_nav_badge_polls_for_server_side_wishlist_changes():
+    # a finished download removes its wishlist item server-side and fires no frontend event,
+    # so the badge must poll the count to stay honest (faster while downloads are active).
+    assert "function scheduleBadgePoll(" in _JS
+    assert "_vdpgAnyActive" in _JS                  # polls quicker while downloads run
+    assert "document.hidden" in _JS                 # paused when the tab is hidden
+    assert "scheduleBadgePoll();" in _JS            # started from init
diff --git a/webui/static/video/video-wishlist.js b/webui/static/video/video-wishlist.js
index 953295da..da63413f 100644
--- a/webui/static/video/video-wishlist.js
+++ b/webui/static/video/video-wishlist.js
@@ -600,11 +600,25 @@
 
     function onShown(e) { if (e && e.detail === PAGE_ID) { state.page = 1; load(); refreshYtCount(); } }
 
+    // The nav badge also has to track wishlist changes that happen SERVER-SIDE — when a
+    // download finishes it removes its item from the wishlist, and that fires no frontend
+    // 'changed' event. So poll the authoritative count: quicker while downloads are active
+    // (the downloads page exposes _vdpgAnyActive), slower when idle, paused when hidden.
+    function scheduleBadgePoll() {
+        var active = (typeof window._vdpgAnyActive === 'function') && window._vdpgAnyActive();
+        if (scheduleBadgePoll._t) clearTimeout(scheduleBadgePoll._t);
+        scheduleBadgePoll._t = setTimeout(function () {
+            if (!document.hidden) refreshBadge();
+            scheduleBadgePoll();
+        }, active ? 8000 : 30000);
+    }
+
     function init() {
         wire();
         document.addEventListener('soulsync:video-page-shown', onShown);
         refreshBadge();
         refreshYtCount();
+        scheduleBadgePoll();
     }
 
     if (document.readyState === 'loading') document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', init);