diff --git a/resources/views/partials/payment-checkout-host.blade.php b/resources/views/partials/payment-checkout-host.blade.php
index d40008d..eea2419 100644
--- a/resources/views/partials/payment-checkout-host.blade.php
+++ b/resources/views/partials/payment-checkout-host.blade.php
@@ -5,26 +5,27 @@
         accessCode: '',
         returnUrl: '',
         syncFromStore() {
-            const store = $store.paymentCheckout;
+            const store = this.$store.paymentCheckout;
+            if (!store) return;
             this.showSheet = !!store.isOpen;
             this.checkoutUrl = store.url || '';
             this.accessCode = store.accessCode || '';
         },
         init() {
             // Keep local reactive mirrors so the teleported sheet always re-renders.
-            this.$watch(() => $store.paymentCheckout.isOpen, () => this.syncFromStore());
-            this.$watch(() => $store.paymentCheckout.url, () => this.syncFromStore());
-            this.$watch(() => $store.paymentCheckout.accessCode, () => this.syncFromStore());
+            this.$watch(() => this.$store.paymentCheckout.isOpen, () => this.syncFromStore());
+            this.$watch(() => this.$store.paymentCheckout.url, () => this.syncFromStore());
+            this.$watch(() => this.$store.paymentCheckout.accessCode, () => this.syncFromStore());
             this.$watch('showSheet', (open) => {
-                if (!open && $store.paymentCheckout.isOpen) {
-                    $store.paymentCheckout.close();
+                if (!open && this.$store.paymentCheckout?.isOpen) {
+                    this.$store.paymentCheckout.close();
                 }
             });
 
             const url = @js(session('checkout_url'));
             const code = @js(session('access_code'));
             if (url || code) {
-                $store.paymentCheckout.open(url || '', code || '');
+                this.$store.paymentCheckout.open(url || '', code || '');
                 this.syncFromStore();
             }
         },
diff --git a/resources/views/partials/paystack-sheet.blade.php b/resources/views/partials/paystack-sheet.blade.php
index c269c79..a6724a2 100644
--- a/resources/views/partials/paystack-sheet.blade.php
+++ b/resources/views/partials/paystack-sheet.blade.php
@@ -44,7 +44,8 @@
 @once
 <script>
 (function () {
-    if (window.LadillPayCheckout) return;
+    if (window.__ladillPayCheckoutBootstrapped) return;
+    window.__ladillPayCheckoutBootstrapped = true;
 
     var INLINE_SRC = 'https://js.paystack.co/v2/inline.js';
     var inlineLoading = null;
@@ -94,6 +95,10 @@
         inlineLoading = new Promise(function (resolve, reject) {
             var existing = document.querySelector('script[data-ladill-paystack-inline]');
             if (existing) {
+                if (window.PaystackPop) {
+                    resolve(window.PaystackPop);
+                    return;
+                }
                 existing.addEventListener('load', function () { resolve(window.PaystackPop); });
                 existing.addEventListener('error', function () { reject(new Error('Paystack script failed')); });
                 return;
@@ -112,6 +117,15 @@
         return inlineLoading;
     }
 
+    // Warm the Paystack script early so resumeTransaction is ready on Pay click.
+    if (document.readyState === 'complete' || document.readyState === 'interactive') {
+        loadInlineJs().catch(function () {});
+    } else {
+        document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () {
+            loadInlineJs().catch(function () {});
+        });
+    }
+
     function buildReturnUrl(returnUrl, reference) {
         if (!returnUrl || !reference) return '';
         try {
@@ -133,12 +147,8 @@
         activePopup = null;
     }
 
-    function ensureStore() {
-        if (!window.Alpine || typeof window.Alpine.store !== 'function') return null;
-        if (window.Alpine.store('ladillPayCheckout')) {
-            return window.Alpine.store('ladillPayCheckout');
-        }
-        window.Alpine.store('ladillPayCheckout', {
+    function createStoreDefinition() {
+        return {
             frameable: false,
             inline: false,
             ready: false,
@@ -156,6 +166,10 @@
                 cancelInline();
             },
             sync(show, url, accessCode, returnUrl) {
+                url = (url || '').toString();
+                accessCode = (accessCode || '').toString();
+                returnUrl = (returnUrl || '').toString();
+
                 if (!show) {
                     this._launchToken += 1;
                     this.reset();
@@ -165,7 +179,8 @@
                 if (!url && !accessCode) {
                     this.frameable = false;
                     this.inline = false;
-                    this.launching = false;
+                    this.launching = true; // waiting for checkout payload
+                    this.error = '';
                     this._activeCode = '';
                     return;
                 }
@@ -173,6 +188,7 @@
                     this.frameable = true;
                     this.inline = false;
                     this.launching = false;
+                    this.error = '';
                     this._activeCode = '';
                     cancelInline();
                     return;
@@ -187,7 +203,7 @@
                     this.launchInline(code, returnUrl);
                     return;
                 }
-                // Never open checkout.paystack.com in an external tab.
+                // Never navigate to checkout.paystack.com (external tab/window).
                 this.frameable = false;
                 this.inline = false;
                 this.launching = false;
@@ -222,7 +238,6 @@
                                 window.location.assign(dest);
                                 return;
                             }
-                            // Fallback: reload so server can reconcile via webhook.
                             window.location.reload();
                         },
                         onCancel: function () {
@@ -246,25 +261,34 @@
                     store.error = (err && err.message) ? String(err.message) : 'Could not load payment script.';
                 });
             },
-        });
+        };
+    }
+
+    function ensureStore() {
+        if (!window.Alpine || typeof window.Alpine.store !== 'function') return null;
+        try {
+            var existing = window.Alpine.store('ladillPayCheckout');
+            if (existing) return existing;
+        } catch (e) {}
+        window.Alpine.store('ladillPayCheckout', createStoreDefinition());
         return window.Alpine.store('ladillPayCheckout');
     }
 
-    function onAlpineReady() {
+    document.addEventListener('alpine:init', function () {
+        ensureStore();
+    });
+
+    // If Alpine already started (late include), register immediately.
+    if (window.Alpine && window.Alpine.version) {
         ensureStore();
     }
 
-    if (window.Alpine) {
-        onAlpineReady();
-    }
-    document.addEventListener('alpine:init', onAlpineReady);
-
     window.LadillPayCheckout = {
         isFrameable: isFrameable,
         isPaystackCheckoutUrl: isPaystackCheckoutUrl,
         accessCodeFromUrl: accessCodeFromUrl,
         resolveAccessCode: resolveAccessCode,
-        prepare: function () { return null; },
+        prepare: function () { loadInlineJs().catch(function () {}); return null; },
         cancel: function () {
             cancelInline();
             var store = ensureStore();
@@ -277,31 +301,37 @@
 </script>
 @endonce
 <template x-teleport="body">
-<div x-show="showSheet"
-     x-cloak
-     data-ladill-pay-sheet
-     x-effect="
-        document.documentElement.style.overflow = showSheet ? 'hidden' : '';
-        if (typeof window.LadillPayCheckout !== 'undefined') {
-            window.LadillPayCheckout.ensureStore();
-        }
-        const store = $store.ladillPayCheckout;
-        if (store) {
+{{-- No local x-data: inherit showSheet/checkoutUrl/accessCode from the including scope. --}}
+<div
+    x-init="
+        window.LadillPayCheckout && window.LadillPayCheckout.ensureStore();
+        const runSync = () => {
+            const store = $store.ladillPayCheckout;
+            if (!store) return;
             store.sync(
-                showSheet,
-                typeof checkoutUrl !== 'undefined' ? checkoutUrl : '',
-                typeof accessCode !== 'undefined' ? accessCode : '',
-                typeof returnUrl !== 'undefined' ? returnUrl : ''
+                !!showSheet,
+                (typeof checkoutUrl === 'undefined' || checkoutUrl === null) ? '' : String(checkoutUrl),
+                (typeof accessCode === 'undefined' || accessCode === null) ? '' : String(accessCode),
+                (typeof returnUrl === 'undefined' || returnUrl === null) ? '' : String(returnUrl)
             );
-        }
-     "
-     @keydown.escape.window="if (showSheet) showSheet = false"
-     @ladill-pay-cancelled.window="showSheet = false"
-     class="fixed inset-0 z-[9999] flex items-end justify-center md:items-center md:p-6"
-     role="dialog"
-     aria-modal="true"
-     :aria-hidden="(!showSheet).toString()"
-     aria-label="{{ $sheetAria }}">
+        };
+        $watch('showSheet', () => runSync());
+        $watch('checkoutUrl', () => runSync());
+        $watch('accessCode', () => runSync());
+        $watch('returnUrl', () => runSync());
+        $nextTick(() => runSync());
+    "
+    x-show="showSheet"
+    x-cloak
+    data-ladill-pay-sheet
+    x-effect="document.documentElement.style.overflow = showSheet ? 'hidden' : ''"
+    @keydown.escape.window="if (showSheet) showSheet = false"
+    @ladill-pay-cancelled.window="showSheet = false"
+    class="fixed inset-0 z-[9999] flex items-end justify-center md:items-center md:p-6"
+    role="dialog"
+    aria-modal="true"
+    :aria-hidden="(!showSheet).toString()"
+    aria-label="{{ $sheetAria }}">
 
     <div class="absolute inset-0 bg-black/60"
          data-ladill-pay-backdrop
@@ -361,7 +391,7 @@
                  class="flex min-h-[60dvh] flex-col items-center justify-center gap-4 px-6 py-10 text-center md:min-h-[28rem] md:px-8 md:py-12"
                  data-ladill-pay-inline-status>
                 <div class="flex h-12 w-12 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-indigo-50 text-indigo-600" aria-hidden="true">
-                    <svg x-show="!$store.ladillPayCheckout || $store.ladillPayCheckout.launching || $store.ladillPayCheckout && !$store.ladillPayCheckout.error && !$store.ladillPayCheckout.inline"
+                    <svg x-show="!$store.ladillPayCheckout || $store.ladillPayCheckout.launching || ($store.ladillPayCheckout && !$store.ladillPayCheckout.error && !$store.ladillPayCheckout.inline)"
                          class="h-6 w-6 animate-spin" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
                         <circle class="opacity-25" cx="12" cy="12" r="10" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="4"></circle>
                         <path class="opacity-75" fill="currentColor" d="M4 12a8 8 0 018-8V0C5.373 0 0 5.373 0 12h4z"></path>
@@ -391,7 +421,7 @@
                 <button type="button"
                         data-ladill-pay-retry
                         x-show="$store.ladillPayCheckout && $store.ladillPayCheckout.error"
-                        @click="$store.ladillPayCheckout.sync(true, typeof checkoutUrl !== 'undefined' ? checkoutUrl : '', typeof accessCode !== 'undefined' ? accessCode : '', typeof returnUrl !== 'undefined' ? returnUrl : '')"
+                        @click="window.LadillPayCheckout?.ensureStore()?.sync(true, (typeof checkoutUrl==='undefined'||checkoutUrl===null)?'':String(checkoutUrl), (typeof accessCode==='undefined'||accessCode===null)?'':String(accessCode), (typeof returnUrl==='undefined'||returnUrl===null)?'':String(returnUrl))"
                         class="inline-flex w-full max-w-xs items-center justify-center rounded-xl bg-indigo-600 px-4 py-3 text-sm font-semibold text-white hover:bg-indigo-700">
                     Try again
                 </button>
diff --git a/tests/Feature/ResponsivePaystackSheetTest.php b/tests/Feature/ResponsivePaystackSheetTest.php
index 397090d..423a573 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/ResponsivePaystackSheetTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/ResponsivePaystackSheetTest.php
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ class ResponsivePaystackSheetTest extends TestCase
         $this->assertStringContainsString('safe-area-inset-bottom', $html);
         $this->assertStringContainsString('LadillPayCheckout', $html);
         $this->assertStringContainsString('resumeTransaction', $html);
+        $this->assertStringContainsString("\$watch('showSheet'", $html);
         $this->assertStringContainsString('js.paystack.co/v2/inline.js', $html);
         $this->assertStringContainsString('Starting secure checkout', $html);
         $this->assertStringContainsString('Complete payment on this screen', $html);