diff --git a/src/features/decks/deck-column.tsx b/src/features/decks/deck-column.tsx
index 5719af0..6758670 100644
--- a/src/features/decks/deck-column.tsx
+++ b/src/features/decks/deck-column.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { Icon } from "#/components/icon";
 import { Badge } from "#/components/ui/badge";
 import { Button } from "#/components/ui/button";
+import { Skeleton } from "#/components/ui/skeleton";
 import {
   DropdownMenu,
   DropdownMenuContent,
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ import { describeSource } from "./source-description";
 export function ResearchColumn({
   column,
   connectionLabel,
+  connectionLoading = false,
   onEdit,
   onRemove,
   onMove,
@@ -32,6 +34,7 @@ export function ResearchColumn({
 }: {
   column: DeckColumn;
   connectionLabel?: string;
+  connectionLoading?: boolean;
   onEdit: () => void;
   onRemove: () => void;
   onMove: (direction: -1 | 1) => void;
@@ -112,9 +115,13 @@ export function ResearchColumn({
           </DropdownMenu>
         </div>
         <div className="deck-column-label">
-          <span title={`Connection profile: ${connectionLabel ?? "Connection not found"}`}>
-            {connectionLabel ?? "Connection not found"}
-          </span>
+          {connectionLoading ? (
+            <Skeleton className="h-3 w-24 shrink-0" aria-hidden="true" />
+          ) : (
+            <span title={`Connection profile: ${connectionLabel ?? "Connection not found"}`}>
+              {connectionLabel ?? "Connection not found"}
+            </span>
+          )}
           <Badge variant="outline" className="deck-source-label">
             <Icon name={column.source.kind} />
             {sourceDescription.label}
diff --git a/src/features/decks/deck-page.tsx b/src/features/decks/deck-page.tsx
index 21f8573..8db578a 100644
--- a/src/features/decks/deck-page.tsx
+++ b/src/features/decks/deck-page.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
   EmptyTitle,
 } from "#/components/ui/empty";
 import { Input } from "#/components/ui/input";
+import { Skeleton } from "#/components/ui/skeleton";
 import { loadConnections } from "#/features/connections/server-functions";
 import { syncResearchDeck } from "#/features/research/research-deck-sync";
 import { ResearchPanel } from "#/features/research/research-panel";
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ import { type ColumnRegistry, useColumnTools } from "./column-tools";
 import { ResearchColumn } from "./deck-column";
 import { DeckSwitcher } from "./deck-switcher";
 import { type DeckColumn, MAX_COLUMNS, moveColumn } from "./model";
+import { ResearchDeckSkeleton } from "./research-deck-skeleton";
 import { useDeck } from "./use-deck";
 import { useDeckTools } from "./webmcp-tools";
 
@@ -202,10 +204,19 @@ export function DeckPage() {
         >
           <div className="deck-heading">
             <div>
-              <h1>{deck.title}</h1>
-              <span className="deck-count">
-                {deck.columns.length} / {MAX_COLUMNS} columns
-              </span>
+              {ready ? (
+                <>
+                  <h1>{deck.title}</h1>
+                  <span className="deck-count">
+                    {deck.columns.length} / {MAX_COLUMNS} columns
+                  </span>
+                </>
+              ) : (
+                <div className="space-y-2" aria-hidden="true">
+                  <Skeleton className="h-5 w-40" />
+                  <Skeleton className="h-3 w-20" />
+                </div>
+              )}
             </div>
             <div className="deck-actions">
               {deck.persisted ? (
@@ -260,11 +271,6 @@ export function DeckPage() {
               </Button>
             </p>
           ) : null}
-          {!ready ? (
-            <p className="deck-save-status" role="status">
-              Loading decks…
-            </p>
-          ) : null}
           {profiles.isError ? (
             <p role="alert" className="deck-error">
               Unable to load connection profiles.
@@ -288,7 +294,6 @@ export function DeckPage() {
               {profiles.data.relayError}
             </p>
           ) : null}
-          {profiles.isPending ? <p role="status">Loading connection profiles…</p> : null}
           {!renaming && editing === null && !switcherEditing ? storageErrorNotice : null}
           {renaming ? (
             <Dialog title="Rename deck" onClose={() => setRenaming(false)}>
@@ -355,6 +360,7 @@ export function DeckPage() {
               </Button>
             </div>
           ) : null}
+          {!ready && !storageError ? <ResearchDeckSkeleton /> : null}
           {ready && deck.columns.length === 0 && editing === null ? (
             <Empty>
               <EmptyHeader>
@@ -388,6 +394,7 @@ export function DeckPage() {
                   key={`${deck.id}:${column.id}`}
                   registry={registry}
                   column={column}
+                  connectionLoading={profiles.isPending}
                   citation={
                     citationNavigation.target?.deckId === deck.id &&
                     citationNavigation.target.column.id === column.id &&
diff --git a/src/features/decks/research-deck-skeleton.tsx b/src/features/decks/research-deck-skeleton.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7ff003a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/features/decks/research-deck-skeleton.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+import { Skeleton } from "#/components/ui/skeleton";
+import { ResearchPostSkeleton } from "./research-post-skeleton";
+
+export function ResearchDeckSkeleton() {
+  return (
+    <div className="deck-board" role="status" aria-label="Loading research">
+      {["first", "second", "third"].map((column) => (
+        <div key={column} className="deck-column" aria-hidden="true">
+          <div className="deck-column-header space-y-3">
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+              <Skeleton className="size-4 shrink-0" />
+              <Skeleton className="h-4 w-32" />
+            </div>
+            <Skeleton className="h-3 w-24" />
+            <Skeleton className="h-3 w-40" />
+            <Skeleton className="h-3 w-20" />
+          </div>
+          <div className="deck-column-results">
+            <ResearchPostSkeleton />
+            <ResearchPostSkeleton />
+            <ResearchPostSkeleton />
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      ))}
+    </div>
+  );
+}