diff --git a/src/components/insights/derived/__tests__/coach-read-strip-placeholder.test.tsx b/src/components/insights/derived/__tests__/coach-read-strip-placeholder.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ab5660e09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/insights/derived/__tests__/coach-read-strip-placeholder.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, vi } from "vitest";
+import { renderToStaticMarkup } from "react-dom/server";
+import { QueryClient, QueryClientProvider } from "@tanstack/react-query";
+
+import { I18nProvider } from "@/lib/i18n/context";
+
+/**
+ * The strip sits above the chart on every metric sub-page. While its read is
+ * on the way it holds its place with a card of the same anatomy, so the chart
+ * and everything below it do not jump down when the read lands.
+ */
+
+vi.mock("@/hooks/use-auth", () => ({
+  useAuth: () => ({
+    user: { timezone: "UTC", dateOfBirth: null, gender: null },
+    isAuthenticated: true,
+  }),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("@/hooks/use-mounted", () => ({ useMounted: () => true }));
+
+import { CoachReadStrip } from "../coach-read-strip";
+
+describe("CoachReadStrip — placeholder while the read loads", () => {
+  it("paints the card frame and title before the read lands", () => {
+    const client = new QueryClient({
+      defaultOptions: { queries: { retry: false, enabled: false } },
+    });
+    const markup = renderToStaticMarkup(
+      <QueryClientProvider client={client}>
+        <I18nProvider initialLocale="en">
+          <CoachReadStrip metricType="WEIGHT" unit="kg" />
+        </I18nProvider>
+      </QueryClientProvider>,
+    );
+    expect(markup).toContain('data-slot="coach-read-strip"');
+    expect(markup).toContain('data-state="loading"');
+    expect(markup).toContain('aria-busy="true"');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/components/insights/derived/coach-read-strip.tsx b/src/components/insights/derived/coach-read-strip.tsx
index 9fc2688e6..844ba9528 100644
--- a/src/components/insights/derived/coach-read-strip.tsx
+++ b/src/components/insights/derived/coach-read-strip.tsx
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { queryKeys } from "@/lib/query-keys";
 import { metricFractionDigits } from "@/lib/measurements/value-domain";
 import { apiGet } from "@/lib/api/api-fetch";
 import { Card, CardContent, CardHeader } from "@/components/ui/card";
+import { Skeleton } from "@/components/ui/skeleton";
 import { TileHeader } from "@/components/insights/tile-header";
 import type { CoachReadStripData } from "@/lib/insights/derived/coach-read-shape";
 
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ export function CoachReadStrip({
   const transformed = unitDisplay.isTransformed(metricType);
   const resolvedUnit = transformed ? unitDisplay.unitFor(metricType) : unit;
 
-  const { data } = useQuery({
+  const { data, isError } = useQuery({
     queryKey: queryKeys.insightsCoachRead(metricType, locale),
     queryFn: () =>
       apiGet<CoachReadStripData>(
@@ -88,10 +89,34 @@ export function CoachReadStrip({
     staleTime: 5 * 60 * 1000,
   });
 
-  // Match the rest of the query-dependent insights chrome: don't paint a
-  // branch during SSR / hydration (React #418) and don't paint until the
-  // read lands.
-  if (!mounted || !data) return null;
+  // Don't paint a data branch during SSR / hydration (React #418). While the
+  // read is on its way the strip holds its place with a card of the same
+  // shape: it lands above the chart, and popping in later pushed the chart
+  // and everything under it down the page. A landed read always paints (the
+  // baseline line degrades to the "learning" copy), so the placeholder only
+  // ever gives way to a card of its own height; a failed read drops it.
+  if (!mounted || !data) {
+    if (!isAuthenticated || isError) return null;
+    return (
+      <Card
+        data-slot="coach-read-strip"
+        data-state="loading"
+        aria-busy="true"
+        className="gap-2 py-3 md:py-4"
+      >
+        <CardHeader>
+          <TileHeader
+            icon={Sparkles}
+            title={t("insights.coach.readStrip.label")}
+            titleAs="h2"
+          />
+        </CardHeader>
+        <CardContent>
+          <Skeleton className="h-5.5 w-3/4" />
+        </CardContent>
+      </Card>
+    );
+  }
 
   const fmt = (value: number): string =>
     new Intl.NumberFormat(locale, {