diff --git a/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx b/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
index 43b6fbd8..e2fd16ff 100644
--- a/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
+++ b/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
@@ -520,55 +520,58 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
         return a.id.localeCompare(b.id);
       });
       
-      // Use smart merging for silent refreshes if strategy is 'merge'
-      if (silent && refreshStrategy === 'merge') {
-        const mergeResult = smartMergeArray(items, formattedItems, {
-          compareFields: ['status', 'reviewed_at', 'reviewed_by', 'reviewer_notes', 'submission_type', 'entity_name', 'park_name'],
-          preserveOrder: true,
-          addToTop: true,
+      // ALWAYS use smart merge to detect actual changes (prevents flashing)
+      const mergeResult = smartMergeArray(items, formattedItems, {
+        compareFields: ['status', 'reviewed_at', 'reviewed_by', 'reviewer_notes', 'submission_type', 'entity_name', 'park_name'],
+        preserveOrder: silent, // Only preserve order for silent refreshes
+        addToTop: true,
+      });
+
+      // Only update state if there are actual changes
+      if (mergeResult.hasChanges) {
+        const actuallyNewItems = mergeResult.changes.added.length;
+        
+        // Debug logging for smart merge
+        console.log('🔄 Smart merge detected changes:', {
+          added: actuallyNewItems,
+          updated: mergeResult.changes.updated.length,
+          removed: mergeResult.changes.removed.length,
+          totalItems: mergeResult.items.length,
+          silent,
         });
-
-        // Only update state if there are actual changes
-        if (mergeResult.hasChanges) {
-          const actuallyNewItems = mergeResult.changes.added.length;
-          
-          // Debug logging for smart merge
-          console.log('🔄 Smart merge detected changes:', {
-            added: actuallyNewItems,
-            updated: mergeResult.changes.updated.length,
-            removed: mergeResult.changes.removed.length,
-            totalItems: mergeResult.items.length,
+        
+        // Only apply protection map for silent refreshes
+        let finalItems = mergeResult.items;
+        if (silent && preserveInteraction && interactingWith.size > 0) {
+          finalItems = mergeResult.items.map(item => {
+            if (interactingWith.has(item.id)) {
+              const currentItem = items.find(i => i.id === item.id);
+              return currentItem || item;
+            }
+            return item;
           });
-          
-          // Only apply protection map if needed
-          let finalItems = mergeResult.items;
-          if (preserveInteraction && interactingWith.size > 0) {
-            finalItems = mergeResult.items.map(item => {
-              if (interactingWith.has(item.id)) {
-                const currentItem = items.find(i => i.id === item.id);
-                return currentItem || item;
-              }
-              return item;
-            });
-          }
+        }
 
-          // Only call setItems if reference has actually changed
-          if (finalItems !== items) {
-            setItems(finalItems);
-          }
-          
-          // Only set new items count if there are genuinely new items
-          if (actuallyNewItems > 0) {
-            setNewItemsCount(actuallyNewItems);
-          }
-        } else {
-          // No changes detected - skip all state updates
-          console.log('✅ No changes detected, keeping current state');
+        // Only call setItems if reference has actually changed
+        if (finalItems !== items) {
+          setItems(finalItems);
+        }
+        
+        // For non-silent refreshes, reset the counter
+        if (!silent) {
+          setNewItemsCount(0);
+        } else if (actuallyNewItems > 0) {
+          // For silent refreshes, show new items count
+          setNewItemsCount(actuallyNewItems);
         }
       } else {
-        // Full replacement for non-silent refreshes or 'replace' strategy
-        setItems(formattedItems);
-        setNewItemsCount(0);
+        // No changes detected - skip all state updates
+        console.log('✅ No changes detected, keeping current state');
+        
+        // For non-silent refreshes, still reset the counter even if no changes
+        if (!silent) {
+          setNewItemsCount(0);
+        }
       }
     } catch (error: any) {
       console.error('Error fetching moderation items:', error);