diff --git a/dots/.config/quickshell/ii/modules/ii/dock/DockAppButton.qml b/dots/.config/quickshell/ii/modules/ii/dock/DockAppButton.qml
index 8d2d270ae..297d363af 100644
--- a/dots/.config/quickshell/ii/modules/ii/dock/DockAppButton.qml
+++ b/dots/.config/quickshell/ii/modules/ii/dock/DockAppButton.qml
@@ -18,7 +18,18 @@ DockButton {
     property bool appIsActive: appToplevel.toplevels.find(t => (t.activated == true)) !== undefined
 
     readonly property bool isSeparator: appToplevel.appId === "SEPARATOR"
-    readonly property var desktopEntry: DesktopEntries.heuristicLookup(appToplevel.appId)
+    property var desktopEntry: DesktopEntries.heuristicLookup(appToplevel.appId)
+
+    Timer {
+        // Retry looking up the desktop entry if it failed (e.g. database not loaded yet)
+        interval: 500
+        running: !root.isSeparator && root.desktopEntry === null
+        repeat: true
+        onTriggered: {
+            root.desktopEntry = DesktopEntries.heuristicLookup(root.appToplevel.appId);
+        }
+    }
+
     enabled: !isSeparator
     implicitWidth: isSeparator ? 1 : implicitHeight - topInset - bottomInset