diff --git a/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx b/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
index d2e41f00..0bdb302f 100644
--- a/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
+++ b/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useState, useImperativeHandle, forwardRef } from 'react';
+import { useState, useImperativeHandle, forwardRef, useMemo } from 'react';
 import { Card, CardContent } from '@/components/ui/card';
 import { useToast } from '@/hooks/use-toast';
 import { useUserRole } from '@/hooks/useUserRole';
@@ -28,20 +28,30 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
   const { isAdmin, isSuperuser } = useUserRole();
   const adminSettings = useAdminSettings();
   
+  // Memoize settings to prevent unnecessary effect re-runs
+  const settings = useMemo(() => ({
+    refreshMode: adminSettings.getAdminPanelRefreshMode(),
+    pollInterval: adminSettings.getAdminPanelPollInterval(),
+    refreshStrategy: adminSettings.getAutoRefreshStrategy(),
+    preserveInteraction: adminSettings.getPreserveInteractionState(),
+    useRealtimeQueue: adminSettings.getUseRealtimeQueue(),
+    refreshOnTabVisible: adminSettings.getRefreshOnTabVisible(),
+  }), [
+    adminSettings.getAdminPanelRefreshMode(),
+    adminSettings.getAdminPanelPollInterval(),
+    adminSettings.getAutoRefreshStrategy(),
+    adminSettings.getPreserveInteractionState(),
+    adminSettings.getUseRealtimeQueue(),
+    adminSettings.getRefreshOnTabVisible(),
+  ]);
+  
   // Initialize queue manager (replaces all state management, fetchItems, effects)
   const queueManager = useModerationQueueManager({
     user,
     isAdmin: isAdmin(),
     isSuperuser: isSuperuser(),
     toast,
-    settings: {
-      refreshMode: adminSettings.getAdminPanelRefreshMode(),
-      pollInterval: adminSettings.getAdminPanelPollInterval(),
-      refreshStrategy: adminSettings.getAutoRefreshStrategy(),
-      preserveInteraction: adminSettings.getPreserveInteractionState(),
-      useRealtimeQueue: adminSettings.getUseRealtimeQueue(),
-      refreshOnTabVisible: adminSettings.getRefreshOnTabVisible(),
-    }
+    settings,
   });
   
   // UI-only state
diff --git a/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts b/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts
index 42ac071c..78024997 100644
--- a/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts
@@ -794,13 +794,23 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(
   
   // Visibility change handler
   useEffect(() => {
+    console.log('🔍 Visibility effect running - refreshOnTabVisible:', settings.refreshOnTabVisible);
+    
     // Early return if feature is disabled
     if (!settings.refreshOnTabVisible) {
       console.log('⚙️ refreshOnTabVisible is DISABLED - no listener attached');
       return;
     }
     
+    console.log('✅ refreshOnTabVisible is ENABLED - attaching listener');
+    
     const handleVisibilityChange = () => {
+      // Double-check setting before doing anything (defensive check)
+      if (!settings.refreshOnTabVisible) {
+        console.log('⚠️ Visibility handler called but setting is disabled - ignoring');
+        return;
+      }
+      
       if (document.hidden) {
         console.log('📴 Tab hidden - pausing queue updates');
         pauseFetchingRef.current = true;