diff --git a/lib/host/blog.sx b/lib/host/blog.sx
index 528b1c79..ed48f5db 100644
--- a/lib/host/blog.sx
+++ b/lib/host/blog.sx
@@ -592,7 +592,26 @@
     ;; current edges read up front (a perform) — NOT inside the quasiquote, where
     ;; a perform would raise VmSuspended under http-listen.
     (let ((spec (host/blog--kind-spec kind))
-          (current (host/blog-out slug kind)))
+          (current (host/blog-out slug kind))
+          ;; the results <ul>, server-rendered with the first page of candidates so a
+          ;; re-rendered editor's picker is never briefly empty (the load trigger then
+          ;; re-fetches the same page and morphs it in, invisibly). Built by cons so
+          ;; the candidate li-trees splice in as children (the same pattern the current
+          ;; list uses) — they can't be passed through a component arg (those evaluate).
+          (results-ul
+            (let ((cands (take (host/blog--relate-candidates slug "" kind)
+                           host/blog--picker-limit)))
+              (let ((rows (append
+                            (map (fn (p) (host/blog--picker-item slug p kind)) cands)
+                            (if (= (len cands) host/blog--picker-limit)
+                              (list (host/blog--picker-more slug kind "" host/blog--picker-limit))
+                              (list)))))
+                (cons (quote ul)
+                  (append
+                    (quasiquote (:id (unquote (str "rp-" kind "-results"))
+                                 :class "rp-results"
+                                 :style "list-style:none;padding:0;margin:0.5em 0;border:1px solid #ddd"))
+                    rows))))))
       (quasiquote
         ;; #rel-editor-KIND wraps the WHOLE editor (current list + picker) so relate
         ;; and unrelate can re-render it with one outerHTML swap — keeping the two
@@ -623,12 +642,25 @@
                              (button :type "submit" "remove")))))
                   current))
               (quote (p :style "opacity:0.7" "None yet."))))
-          ;; The picker is now a reusable, content-addressed SX component
-          ;; (lib/host/sx/relate-picker.sx). render-page expands it server-side on a
-          ;; full load; on a boosted SPA nav the body serialises to the compact
-          ;; (~relate-picker …) and the CLIENT expands it (the component module is
-          ;; loaded content-addressed via the manifest at boot).
-          (~relate-picker :slug (unquote slug) :kind (unquote kind)))))))
+          ;; The picker, rendered INLINE (not via the ~relate-picker component) so the
+          ;; first page of candidates is server-rendered into the results <ul> — the
+          ;; re-rendered editor shows them immediately, no empty flash. Same declarative
+          ;; SX-htmx form: GET relate-options, innerHTML-swap the results on a debounced
+          ;; "input" and on "load"; sx-retry self-heals a dropped fetch.
+          (form
+            :class "relate-picker"
+            :data-slug (unquote slug)
+            :data-kind (unquote kind)
+            :sx-get (unquote (str "/" slug "/relate-options"))
+            :sx-trigger "input delay:200ms, load"
+            :sx-target (unquote (str "#rp-" kind "-results"))
+            :sx-swap "innerHTML"
+            :sx-retry "exponential:1000:30000"
+            :style "margin:0"
+            (input :type "hidden" :name "kind" :value (unquote kind))
+            (input :type "text" :name "q" :class "rp-filter" :placeholder "filter…"
+              :autocomplete "off" :style "width:100%;padding:0.4em;box-sizing:border-box")
+            (unquote results-ul)))))))
 
 ;; "Is this post a tag?" toggle — marking a post a tag is just an is-a edge to the
 ;; "tag" type-post, so it reuses the relate/unrelate routes (no new endpoint).
diff --git a/lib/host/tests/blog.sx b/lib/host/tests/blog.sx
index 72f3cb30..4293a4aa 100644
--- a/lib/host/tests/blog.sx
+++ b/lib/host/tests/blog.sx
@@ -281,6 +281,14 @@
           (contains? html "input delay:200ms, load")
           (contains? html "rp-related-results")))
   (list true true true))
+;; the editor server-renders the first page of candidates INTO the picker's results
+;; <ul>, so a re-rendered editor is never briefly empty (no flash). The candidate row
+;; for an existing post appears inside the results ul.
+(host-bl-test "editor server-renders the first page of candidates into the picker"
+  (let ((html (render-page (host/blog--relation-editor "alpha-post" "related"))))
+    (list (contains? html "id=\"cand-related-")          ;; a candidate row is present
+          (contains? html "Beta Post")))                 ;; an unrelated post is offered
+  (list true true))
 ;; Paging is server-driven: a full page carries a "load more" sentinel that, when
 ;; revealed, GETs the next page and replaces itself (outerHTML), preserving q.
 (host-bl-test "load-more sentinel: revealed, outerHTML-swap, next offset, preserved q"