diff --git a/src/components/layout/__tests__/auth-shell-status-bar.browser.test.tsx b/src/components/layout/__tests__/auth-shell-status-bar.browser.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..caf53e592
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/layout/__tests__/auth-shell-status-bar.browser.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+/**
+ * The strip behind the status bar on the sign-in pages.
+ *
+ * The installed iOS app draws the clock in white over whatever the page
+ * paints there. The signed-in shell paints the strip; the sign-in pages only
+ * padded it, so after a sign-out in the light theme the clock was white on
+ * near-white.
+ */
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+import { renderWithApp } from "../../../../tests/browser/render";
+import { stubFetch } from "../../../../tests/browser/fetch-stub";
+
+import { AuthShell } from "../auth-shell";
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  document.documentElement.classList.remove("light");
+  document.documentElement.classList.add("dark");
+});
+
+describe("AuthShell status bar strip", () => {
+  it("is painted on the sign-in page in the light theme", async () => {
+    document.documentElement.classList.remove("dark");
+    document.documentElement.classList.add("light");
+    stubFetch().on("GET", "/api/auth/me", {
+      status: 401,
+      error: "Unauthorized",
+      meta: { errorCode: "auth.missing" },
+    });
+    window.history.replaceState(null, "", "/auth/login");
+    await renderWithApp(
+      <AuthShell>
+        <div data-slot="page" />
+      </AuthShell>,
+      { user: null },
+    );
+    await expect
+      .poll(() => document.querySelector('[data-slot="page"]'))
+      .toBeTruthy();
+
+    const wrapper = document.getElementById("main-content")!.parentElement!;
+    expect(getComputedStyle(wrapper).backgroundImage).toContain(
+      "linear-gradient",
+    );
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/components/layout/auth-shell.tsx b/src/components/layout/auth-shell.tsx
index df9bc0f95..6aec4f08f 100644
--- a/src/components/layout/auth-shell.tsx
+++ b/src/components/layout/auth-shell.tsx
@@ -345,9 +345,11 @@ export function AuthShell({
     // a sign-in form that is taller than a fixed-height box centres out of
     // it at the top, where nothing can scroll back to it. A minimum lets the
     // box grow and the document scroll. The safe-area padding keeps the form
-    // off the status bar and the home indicator in an installed app.
+    // off the status bar and the home indicator in an installed app, and
+    // `shell-safe-area` paints the strip behind the status bar so its white
+    // clock stays readable in the light theme, as in the signed-in shell.
     return (
-      <div className="flex min-h-dvh flex-col pt-[env(safe-area-inset-top,0px)] pr-[env(safe-area-inset-right,0px)] pb-[env(safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)] pl-[env(safe-area-inset-left,0px)]">
+      <div className="shell-safe-area flex min-h-dvh flex-col pb-[env(safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)]">
         {demoMode ? <DemoBanner /> : null}
         <main
           id="main-content"
@@ -419,7 +421,7 @@ export function AuthShell({
         {showUnlockNotifier && user?.id ? (
           <AchievementUnlockNotifier userId={user.id} />
         ) : null}
-        <div className="flex min-h-dvh flex-col pt-[env(safe-area-inset-top,0px)] pr-[env(safe-area-inset-right,0px)] pl-[env(safe-area-inset-left,0px)]">
+        <div className="shell-safe-area flex min-h-dvh flex-col">
           <MaintainershipBanner />
           <div className="flex flex-1 items-center justify-center px-4 py-8">
             {children}