diff --git a/docs/api/helpers/ui-helper.md b/docs/api/helpers/ui-helper.md
index 15eb6ce..4be1149 100644
--- a/docs/api/helpers/ui-helper.md
+++ b/docs/api/helpers/ui-helper.md
@@ -33,10 +33,11 @@ Alias for `waitForLoad()`.
 #### `dismissQuickstartIfVisible()`
 ```typescript
 async dismissQuickstartIfVisible(options?: {
+  waitVisibleMs?: number;
   waitHiddenMs?: number;
 }): Promise<void>
 ```
-If the RHDH quickstart drawer is open, clicks its **Hide** button and waits for the control to disappear. Does nothing when the button is not visible. Use before catalog search or other UI that the drawer can cover. Default `waitHiddenMs` is `5000`.
+Waits briefly for the RHDH quickstart **Hide** button (`waitVisibleMs`, default `5000`), clicks it if it appears, then waits for it to disappear (`waitHiddenMs`, default `5000`). Returns quietly if Hide never shows. Call after login before `waitForAppReady` — the open drawer keeps a progressbar visible that would otherwise block app-ready waits.
 
 ### Verification Methods
 
diff --git a/docs/changelog.md b/docs/changelog.md
index 5bdbb65..d67ee69 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/changelog.md
@@ -2,7 +2,13 @@
 
 All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
-## [2.1.4] - Current
+## [2.1.5] - Current
+
+### Fixed
+
+- **`dismissQuickstartIfVisible()` race after login**: The helper used an immediate `isVisible()` check, so it no-op'd when the Quickstart drawer mounted shortly after login. Later `waitForAppReady` / `waitForLoad` calls then timed out on the drawer's sticky `[role="progressbar"]`. The helper now waits briefly for the **Hide** button (`waitVisibleMs`, default `5000`) before clicking, and still returns quietly if Quickstart never appears.
+
+## [2.1.4]
 
 ### Changed
 
diff --git a/docs/guide/helpers/ui-helper.md b/docs/guide/helpers/ui-helper.md
index 0b6aeda..8422397 100644
--- a/docs/guide/helpers/ui-helper.md
+++ b/docs/guide/helpers/ui-helper.md
@@ -34,14 +34,17 @@ On instances using the new frontend system (BUI), `waitForLoad` waits for both l
 
 ### `dismissQuickstartIfVisible(options?)`
 
-When the [quickstart](https://github.com/redhat-developer/rhdh-plugins/tree/main/workspaces/quickstart) plugin opens its drawer (for example after login), it can sit over the catalog, search field, or other controls. This method clicks **Hide** only if that button is visible, then waits for it to go away; otherwise it returns immediately.
+When the [quickstart](https://github.com/redhat-developer/rhdh-plugins/tree/main/workspaces/quickstart) plugin opens its drawer (for example after login), it can sit over the catalog, search field, or other controls — and its sticky progressbar blocks `waitForAppReady`. This method waits briefly for **Hide** to appear (`waitVisibleMs`, default `5000`), clicks it, then waits for it to go away (`waitHiddenMs`, default `5000`). If Hide never shows, it returns immediately.
 
 ```typescript
 await uiHelper.dismissQuickstartIfVisible();
-await uiHelper.dismissQuickstartIfVisible({ waitHiddenMs: 10_000 });
+await uiHelper.dismissQuickstartIfVisible({
+  waitVisibleMs: 10_000,
+  waitHiddenMs: 10_000,
+});
 ```
 
-Typical use is right after navigation or login, before assertions or interactions that need an unobstructed main view.
+Typical use is right after login, before `waitForAppReady` or assertions that need an unobstructed main view. Do not call `waitForAppReady` first — that wait includes the quickstart progressbar.
 
 ## Verification Methods
 
diff --git a/docs/overlay/reference/patterns.md b/docs/overlay/reference/patterns.md
index c076a60..9f72089 100644
--- a/docs/overlay/reference/patterns.md
+++ b/docs/overlay/reference/patterns.md
@@ -284,10 +284,11 @@ await uiHelper.selectMuiBox("Category", "Option 1");
 
 ### Dismiss quickstart drawer
 
-When the RHDH quickstart plugin shows its drawer, it can cover catalog search and other controls. Call this after login or navigation if needed (it is a no-op when **Hide** is not visible):
+When the RHDH quickstart plugin shows its drawer, it can cover catalog search and other controls — and its progressbar blocks `waitForAppReady`. Call this after login (it waits briefly for **Hide**, then no-ops if the drawer never appears). Call it *before* `waitForAppReady`:
 
 ```typescript
 await uiHelper.dismissQuickstartIfVisible();
+await uiHelper.waitForAppReady();
 ```
 
 See [UIhelper](/guide/helpers/ui-helper) and [UIhelper API](/api/helpers/ui-helper).
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e6b67a1..a65216b 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@red-hat-developer-hub/e2e-test-utils",
-  "version": "2.1.4",
+  "version": "2.1.5",
   "description": "Test utilities for RHDH E2E tests",
   "license": "Apache-2.0",
   "repository": {
diff --git a/src/playwright/helpers/ui-helper.ts b/src/playwright/helpers/ui-helper.ts
index 44b871e..9f9e064 100644
--- a/src/playwright/helpers/ui-helper.ts
+++ b/src/playwright/helpers/ui-helper.ts
@@ -29,19 +29,34 @@ export class UIhelper {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Closes the quickstart drawer when the "Hide" button is visible (RHDH quickstart plugin),
-   * so it does not cover catalog or other UI under test.
+   * Closes the quickstart drawer when the "Hide" button appears (RHDH quickstart plugin),
+   * so it does not cover catalog or other UI under test / block waitForAppReady via its
+   * sticky progressbar. Waits briefly for Hide to mount (drawer often appears after login
+   * settles); returns without error if it never shows.
+   *
+   * Do not call waitForAppReady before this — that wait includes `[role="progressbar"]`,
+   * which the open quickstart drawer keeps visible until dismissed.
    */
-  async dismissQuickstartIfVisible(options?: { waitHiddenMs?: number }) {
+  async dismissQuickstartIfVisible(options?: {
+    waitVisibleMs?: number;
+    waitHiddenMs?: number;
+  }) {
+    const waitVisibleMs = options?.waitVisibleMs ?? 5000;
     const waitHiddenMs = options?.waitHiddenMs ?? 5000;
     const quickstartHide = this.page.getByRole("button", { name: "Hide" });
-    if (await quickstartHide.isVisible()) {
-      await quickstartHide.click();
+    try {
       await quickstartHide.waitFor({
-        state: "hidden",
-        timeout: waitHiddenMs,
+        state: "visible",
+        timeout: waitVisibleMs,
       });
+    } catch {
+      return;
     }
+    await quickstartHide.click();
+    await quickstartHide.waitFor({
+      state: "hidden",
+      timeout: waitHiddenMs,
+    });
   }
 
   async verifyComponentInCatalog(kind: string, expectedRows: string[]) {