diff --git a/lib/common.sh b/lib/common.sh
index db04d3c..219d35b 100644
--- a/lib/common.sh
+++ b/lib/common.sh
@@ -117,6 +117,12 @@ ui_quiet_run() {
     # "solid blue, no breathing" on the console). Cap to the 16-color path.
     case "${TERM:-}" in linux*|console*) depth=16 ;; esac
 
+    # Per-depth frame interval: the console colour-pulse runs slower (a fast
+    # blue/grey flip reads as flicker — YuKu asked for half-to-third speed);
+    # the 256-colour breathe ramp keeps its 50ms.
+    local tick=0.05
+    (( depth == 16 )) && tick=0.15
+
     local -a bg=()
     case "$depth" in
         # Deep-amplitude breathe: dark navy (17) to BRIGHT blue (45). Adjacent
@@ -152,7 +158,7 @@ ui_quiet_run() {
             fi
         fi
         f=$(( f + 1 ))
-        sleep 0.05
+        sleep "$tick"
     done
 
     local rc=0
diff --git a/lib/ui-block.sh b/lib/ui-block.sh
index 7210ecf..6845b7f 100644
--- a/lib/ui-block.sh
+++ b/lib/ui-block.sh
@@ -41,8 +41,9 @@ _ub_paint() {
 }
 
 _ub_busy_loop() {
-  local depth pal=() i
+  local depth pal=() i tick=0.05
   depth=$(_ub_depth)
+  [[ "$depth" -eq 16 ]] && tick=0.15   # console pulse: slow, not flicker
   case "$depth" in
     256) pal=(17 19 21 27 33 39 45 39 33 27 21 19) ;;  # deep breathe: dark navy to bright blue
     16)  pal=(44 44 100 100) ;;                          # blue <-> dark grey, constant layout
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ _ub_busy_loop() {
       else
         printf '\r[%s] %s' "$i" "$_UB_MSG" >&"$_UB_FD"
       fi
-      sleep 0.05 || return 0
+      sleep "$tick" || return 0
     done
   done
 }