diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index e127b7e..0ea5b6c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -36,6 +36,12 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         python: ["3.11", "3.12", "3.13"]
+    env:
+      # .python-version pins 3.11 for local dev; without this, `uv run` in the
+      # 3.12/3.13 jobs re-resolves to 3.11 and rebuilds a bare venv without
+      # dev deps ("Failed to spawn: pytest"). Pin every uv invocation to the
+      # matrix interpreter instead.
+      UV_PYTHON: ${{ matrix.python }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v4
@@ -52,13 +58,13 @@ jobs:
             libfontconfig1 libnss3 libasound2t64 libxcomposite1 libxdamage1 \
             libxrandr2 libxtst6 libxkbfile1
       - name: Install (all extras)
-        run: uv sync --frozen --all-extras --python ${{ matrix.python }}
+        run: uv sync --frozen --all-extras
       - name: pytest (offscreen; coverage floor on 3.11)
         run: |
           if [ "${{ matrix.python }}" = "3.11" ]; then
-            uv run pytest -q --cov
+            uv run --no-sync pytest -q --cov
           else
-            uv run pytest -q
+            uv run --no-sync pytest -q
           fi
 
   docs:
diff --git a/src/qtviz/core/_host.py b/src/qtviz/core/_host.py
index 2695325..45c825e 100644
--- a/src/qtviz/core/_host.py
+++ b/src/qtviz/core/_host.py
@@ -98,7 +98,10 @@ def __init__(self, handle, x_groups, y_groups) -> None:
         self._sub = handle.event_bus.subscribe(RangeEvent, self._on_range)
 
     def _on_range(self, ev) -> None:
-        if self._syncing or ev.pane is None:
+        # A throttled *trailing* delivery rides a QTimer that outlives the
+        # subscription — it can land after the render is disposed. Dead
+        # renders don't link.
+        if self._syncing or ev.pane is None or self._handle.widget is None:
             return
         self._syncing = True
         try:
@@ -118,16 +121,18 @@ def _propagate(self, origin: str, axis: str, rng, groups) -> None:
             for label in group:
                 if label == origin:
                     continue
+                from ..errors import DisposedError  # noqa: PLC0415
+
                 try:
                     pane = self._handle.pane(label)
-                except KeyError:  # the render changed underneath — drop
-                    continue
-                cur = getattr(pane.capture(), f"{axis}_range")
-                if cur is not None and all(
-                        math.isclose(a, b, rel_tol=1e-9, abs_tol=1e-12)
-                        for a, b in zip(cur, rng, strict=True)):
-                    continue  # value guard: already there (async echo)
-                pane.set_range(**{axis: tuple(rng)})
+                    cur = getattr(pane.capture(), f"{axis}_range")
+                    if cur is not None and all(
+                            math.isclose(a, b, rel_tol=1e-9, abs_tol=1e-12)
+                            for a, b in zip(cur, rng, strict=True)):
+                        continue  # value guard: already there (async echo)
+                    pane.set_range(**{axis: tuple(rng)})
+                except (KeyError, DisposedError):
+                    continue  # the render changed/died underneath — drop
             return  # a pane belongs to exactly one group per axis
 
     def dispose(self) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/qtviz/test_resize_tracking.py b/tests/qtviz/test_resize_tracking.py
index 5680093..22eb620 100644
--- a/tests/qtviz/test_resize_tracking.py
+++ b/tests/qtviz/test_resize_tracking.py
@@ -102,9 +102,22 @@ def test_plotly_backend_nudges_after_a_qt_resize(qtbot):
 
     view = PlotView(PlotlyBackend({"data": [], "layout": {}}))
     qtbot.addWidget(view)
+    # Observe the send itself, not the pre-ready queue: whether the command
+    # lands in `_command_queue` or goes straight over the bridge depends on
+    # when Chromium's handshake completes — a race that flaked on CI both
+    # ways. The wiring under test is resize → debounce → send(...).
+    sent: list[str] = []
+    orig_send = view.send
+
+    def send(name, payload=None):
+        sent.append(name)
+        orig_send(name, payload)
+
+    view.send = send
     view.resize(300, 200)
     view.show()
+    qtbot.wait(50)  # let Chromium construction/show settle before the resize
     view.resize(500, 400)
-    qtbot.waitUntil(
-        lambda: any(n == "plotly.resize" for n, _p in view._command_queue),
-        timeout=2000)
+    # generous: a cold CI runner spends seconds spinning up QtWebEngine on the
+    # GUI thread before the debounce timer can even be processed.
+    qtbot.waitUntil(lambda: "plotly.resize" in sent, timeout=10000)