diff --git a/src/client/styles.css b/src/client/styles.css
index 974bcf2..6821d7a 100644
--- a/src/client/styles.css
+++ b/src/client/styles.css
@@ -306,7 +306,9 @@ body {
   font-family: var(--mono);
   font-size: 12px;
   padding: 5px 13px;
-  transition: all 0.16s ease;
+  transition:
+    color 0.16s ease,
+    border-color 0.16s ease;
 }
 
 .chip:hover {
@@ -481,7 +483,9 @@ body {
   letter-spacing: 0.03em;
   padding: 11px;
   border-radius: 8px;
-  transition: all 0.16s ease;
+  transition:
+    color 0.16s ease,
+    border-color 0.16s ease;
 }
 
 .btn-ghost:hover {
@@ -534,13 +538,26 @@ body {
 }
 
 @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
-  *,
-  *::before,
-  *::after {
-    animation: none !important;
-    transition: none !important;
-    opacity: 1 !important;
-    transform: none !important;
+  [data-anim],
+  .scan__beam,
+  .scan__dot,
+  .ticker__caret {
+    animation: none;
+  }
+
+  [data-anim] {
+    opacity: 1;
+  }
+
+  .scan__dot {
+    transform: none;
+  }
+
+  .btn-primary,
+  .chip,
+  .btn-ghost,
+  .btn-quiet {
+    transition: none;
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/e2e/card.spec.ts b/tests/e2e/card.spec.ts
index f0bc631..8ed831e 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/card.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/e2e/card.spec.ts
@@ -153,3 +153,29 @@ test('a spent budget is stated plainly rather than spinning', async ({ page }) =
 
   await expect(page.getByRole('alert')).toContainText('generation budget');
 });
+
+test('reduced motion keeps the landing and loading screens static and readable', async ({
+  page,
+}) => {
+  await page.emulateMedia({ reducedMotion: 'reduce' });
+  await stubApi(page, {});
+  await page.goto('/');
+
+  for (const element of await page.locator('[data-anim]').all()) {
+    await expect(element).toHaveCSS('animation-name', 'none');
+    await expect(element).toHaveCSS('opacity', '1');
+  }
+  for (const element of await page.locator('.btn-primary, .chip, .footer__social').all()) {
+    await expect(element).toHaveCSS('transition-duration', '0s');
+  }
+
+  await page.getByLabel('GitHub repository, as owner/repo').fill('atlas/pipeline');
+  await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Read →' }).click();
+  await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { level: 2 })).toContainText('Cortex is reading');
+  await expect(page.locator('.scan__beam')).toBeVisible();
+  for (const element of await page.locator('.scan__beam, .scan__dot, .ticker__caret').all()) {
+    await expect(element).toHaveCSS('animation-name', 'none');
+    await expect(element).toHaveCSS('opacity', '1');
+  }
+  await expect(page.locator('.scan__dot').first()).toHaveCSS('transform', 'none');
+});