diff --git a/plugin-designs/doxa-simple-map/doxa-simple-map.vue b/plugin-designs/doxa-simple-map/doxa-simple-map.vue
index d1550b350..70f271b3c 100644
--- a/plugin-designs/doxa-simple-map/doxa-simple-map.vue
+++ b/plugin-designs/doxa-simple-map/doxa-simple-map.vue
@@ -1356,9 +1356,18 @@ onMounted(async () => {
   })
 
   // 2. Initialize map (returns before 'load' fires)
+  // ★ A PANE RELEASED WHILE ITS MAP IS STILL STARTING IS A CANCEL, NOT A FAILURE. This map is a heavy
+  // gallery tab: switching away empties its slot. initializeMap then returns SILENTLY (useMapInstance's
+  // liveness checks) and leaves map.value null, which this reported as "Map failed to initialize —
+  // check token and container": a console ERROR blaming the token for a tab switch (measured
+  // 2026-09-29, a phone in Arabic, switched away 150 and 500 ms in: 2 runs in 10; 0 when the map was
+  // left to start). Nobody is waiting for this map any more, so return quietly. A mounted pane that
+  // really fails still logs.
+  const released = () => !mapContainer.value || !mapContainer.value.isConnected
   try {
     await initializeMap()
   } catch (err) {
+    if (released()) return
     // `new mapboxgl.Map()` throws outright when the device has no WebGL context.
     console.error('[doxa-simple-map] Map failed to initialize —', err)
     mapError.value = String(err?.message || err)
@@ -1367,6 +1376,7 @@ onMounted(async () => {
   unwrapMap()
 
   if (!map.value) {
+    if (released()) return
     console.error('[doxa-simple-map] Map failed to initialize — check token and container')
     mapError.value = t('simpleMap.initFailed')
     return