diff --git a/server/providers/mapillary/tiles.js b/server/providers/mapillary/tiles.js
index 76971bb66..4c445c90b 100644
--- a/server/providers/mapillary/tiles.js
+++ b/server/providers/mapillary/tiles.js
@@ -94,9 +94,14 @@ let upstreamActive = 0;
 /** @type {Array<() => void>} fetches waiting for a slot, oldest first */
 const upstreamWaiting = [];
 
-/** Run `task` once an upstream slot is free, unless `signal` aborts first. */
+/**
+ * Run `task` in an upstream slot, waiting for one unless `signal` aborts
+ * first. A freed slot passes straight to the oldest waiter, still counted, so
+ * a request arriving meanwhile cannot take it first.
+ */
 async function withUpstreamSlot(signal, task) {
-  while (upstreamActive >= TILE_UPSTREAM_CONCURRENCY)
+  if (upstreamActive < TILE_UPSTREAM_CONCURRENCY) upstreamActive++;
+  else
     await new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
       const wake = () => {
         signal.removeEventListener('abort', leave);
@@ -110,17 +115,14 @@ async function withUpstreamSlot(signal, task) {
       upstreamWaiting.push(wake);
       signal.addEventListener('abort', leave, { once: true });
     });
-  if (signal.aborted) {
-    // Woken, then left: hand the free slot on.
-    upstreamWaiting.shift()?.();
-    throw signal.reason;
-  }
-  upstreamActive++;
   try {
+    // Handed a slot after leaving: it goes on to the next waiter.
+    signal.throwIfAborted();
     return await task();
   } finally {
-    upstreamActive--;
-    upstreamWaiting.shift()?.();
+    const next = upstreamWaiting.shift();
+    if (next) next();
+    else upstreamActive--;
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/layers/streetLevel/index.js b/src/layers/streetLevel/index.js
index 061344ae4..228368388 100644
--- a/src/layers/streetLevel/index.js
+++ b/src/layers/streetLevel/index.js
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ import {
 
 export { STREET_LEVEL_LAYER_ID } from './policy.js';
 
+/** Longest wait for the server's key status; past it, the bundle's token decides. */
+const KEY_STATUS_TIMEOUT_MS = 10_000;
+
 /** Coverage as the panel sees it while the `mapillary` switch is off. */
 const COVERAGE_OFF = Object.freeze({
   count: 0,
@@ -73,15 +76,25 @@ export function createStreetLevelLayer({
   }
   state.notify = notify;
 
+  /** The key-status request in flight; overlapping checks share it. */
+  let keyCheck = null;
+
   /** Coverage waits for the key status: no tile requests without a key. */
-  async function checkKey() {
-    let configured;
-    try {
-      configured = (await source.getStatus())?.configured === true;
-    } catch {
-      configured = source.hasToken?.() === true;
-    }
-    parts.coverage.setKeyStatus(configured);
+  function checkKey() {
+    keyCheck ||= (async () => {
+      let configured;
+      try {
+        // A hung server must not hold LOADING, or the next check, forever.
+        const signal = AbortSignal.timeout(KEY_STATUS_TIMEOUT_MS);
+        configured = (await source.getStatus({ signal }))?.configured === true;
+      } catch {
+        configured = source.hasToken?.() === true;
+      }
+      parts.coverage.setKeyStatus(configured);
+    })().finally(() => {
+      keyCheck = null;
+    });
+    return keyCheck;
   }
 
   function startDrawing() {
@@ -90,6 +103,9 @@ export function createStreetLevelLayer({
     parts.sequences.setVisible(true);
     parts.coverage.attach(viewer);
     credit.show(viewer);
+    // Without a known key, a switch-on asks again: the server may be back,
+    // or have a key now.
+    if (['status', 'no-key'].includes(state.coverage.blocked)) checkKey();
   }
 
   /** Close the photo, clear lines and cones, forget refusals. */
diff --git a/src/layers/streetLevel/index.test.mjs b/src/layers/streetLevel/index.test.mjs
index 78fd9a5a4..23c6760c4 100644
--- a/src/layers/streetLevel/index.test.mjs
+++ b/src/layers/streetLevel/index.test.mjs
@@ -171,6 +171,64 @@ test('coverage asks for no tiles before the key status is known, and none withou
   }
 });
 
+test('a key status that failed is asked again on the next switch-on', async (t) => {
+  let up = false;
+  let asked = 0;
+  const source = fakeMapillarySource({
+    hasToken: () => false,
+    getStatus: async () => {
+      asked++;
+      if (!up) throw new TypeError('fetch failed');
+      return { configured: true };
+    },
+  });
+  const { layer, viewer } = await startLayer(t, { source, view: true });
+  assert.equal(asked, 1, 'one check for init and the first switch-on');
+  assert.equal(layer.getUIState().keyRequired, true);
+  up = true; // the server is reachable again
+  layer.disable();
+  layer.enable(viewer);
+  await settle();
+  assert.equal(asked, 2);
+  assert.equal(layer.getUIState().keyRequired, false);
+  assert.ok(source.calls.tiles.length > 0, 'coverage loads');
+  // A known key is not asked again.
+  layer.disable();
+  layer.enable(viewer);
+  await settle();
+  assert.equal(asked, 2);
+});
+
+test('a key status that never answers gives up, so the next switch-on asks again', async (t) => {
+  // The check's timeout, fired when the test says.
+  const timeouts = [];
+  t.mock.method(AbortSignal, 'timeout', (ms) => {
+    const controller = new AbortController();
+    timeouts.push({ ms, fire: () => controller.abort(new Error('timed out')) });
+    return controller.signal;
+  });
+  let asked = 0;
+  const source = fakeMapillarySource({
+    hasToken: () => false,
+    getStatus: ({ signal } = {}) =>
+      new Promise((_, reject) => {
+        asked++;
+        signal?.addEventListener('abort', () => reject(signal.reason));
+      }),
+  });
+  const { layer, viewer } = await startLayer(t, { source, view: true });
+  assert.equal(asked, 1);
+  assert.equal(timeouts[0].ms, 10_000, 'the check can be cut short');
+  assert.equal(layer.getUIState().coverage.loading, true, 'LOADING meanwhile');
+  timeouts[0].fire();
+  await settle();
+  assert.equal(layer.getUIState().coverage.loading, false);
+  assert.equal(layer.getUIState().keyRequired, true, 'no token: KEY REQUIRED');
+  layer.disable();
+  layer.enable(viewer);
+  assert.equal(asked, 2, 'asked again, not stuck on the first');
+});
+
 test('a rejected key gates the layer as KEY REJECTED until it goes off', async (t) => {
   const rejected = Object.assign(new Error('Mapillary rejected the token'), {
     keyRejected: true,
diff --git a/src/layers/streetLevel/providers/mapillary/coverage.js b/src/layers/streetLevel/providers/mapillary/coverage.js
index 89a31812d..552bfcd84 100644
--- a/src/layers/streetLevel/providers/mapillary/coverage.js
+++ b/src/layers/streetLevel/providers/mapillary/coverage.js
@@ -407,7 +407,10 @@ export function createCoverage({ state, source }) {
     const { blocked } = state.coverage;
     return {
       count: sequenceCount(),
-      loading: state.coverage.pending.size > 0,
+      // Waiting for the key status is loading too, not an empty view.
+      loading:
+        state.coverage.pending.size > 0 ||
+        (blocked === 'status' && isActive(state)),
       hint: state.coverage.hint,
       keyRequired: blocked === 'no-key' || blocked === 'rejected',
       keyRejected: blocked === 'rejected',
diff --git a/src/layers/streetLevel/providers/mapillary/coverage.test.mjs b/src/layers/streetLevel/providers/mapillary/coverage.test.mjs
index 14587059a..082f7f917 100644
--- a/src/layers/streetLevel/providers/mapillary/coverage.test.mjs
+++ b/src/layers/streetLevel/providers/mapillary/coverage.test.mjs
@@ -220,11 +220,16 @@ test('the key status gates coverage: nothing before it answers, nothing without
     state.coverage.blocked = 'status';
     coverage.refresh();
     assert.equal(source.calls.length, 0, 'nothing before the status answers');
+    assert.equal(coverage.stats().loading, true, 'waiting reads as loading');
+    state.enabled = false;
+    assert.equal(coverage.stats().loading, false, 'but not while off');
+    state.enabled = true;
     coverage.setKeyStatus(configured);
     if (configured)
       assert.equal(source.calls.length, 1, 'coverage loads once it is known');
     else {
       assert.equal(source.calls.length, 0, 'a key-less install never asks');
+      assert.equal(coverage.stats().loading, false);
       assert.equal(coverage.stats().keyRequired, true);
       assert.equal(coverage.stats().keyRejected, false);
       coverage.unblock();
diff --git a/src/tooling/mapillaryProvider.test.mjs b/src/tooling/mapillaryProvider.test.mjs
index ca0425742..ce894cede 100644
--- a/src/tooling/mapillaryProvider.test.mjs
+++ b/src/tooling/mapillaryProvider.test.mjs
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ test('identical concurrent tile requests share one upstream fetch', async () =>
 
 test('at most a few upstream fetches run at once; the rest wait their turn', async () => {
   let release;
-  const gate = new Promise((resolve) => (release = resolve));
+  let gate = new Promise((resolve) => (release = resolve));
   await withUpstream(
     async () => (await gate, ok()),
     async ({ calls, call }) => {
@@ -419,6 +419,17 @@ test('at most a few upstream fetches run at once; the rest wait their turn', asy
       const done = await Promise.all(pending);
       assert.ok(done.every((res) => res.statusCode === 200));
       assert.equal(calls.length, tiles, 'the waiting ones ran too');
+      // Every slot came back: a second burst runs as many at once again.
+      let reopen;
+      gate = new Promise((resolve) => (reopen = resolve));
+      const again = Array.from({ length: tiles }, (_, i) =>
+        call('/api/mapillary/tiles', `/coverage/14/${i}/4`),
+      );
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 10));
+      assert.equal(calls.length, tiles + TILE_UPSTREAM_CONCURRENCY);
+      reopen();
+      await Promise.all(again);
+      assert.equal(calls.length, 2 * tiles);
     },
   );
 });
diff --git a/src/ui/streetLevelControls.js b/src/ui/streetLevelControls.js
index 140ddef72..7fe42a1d3 100644
--- a/src/ui/streetLevelControls.js
+++ b/src/ui/streetLevelControls.js
@@ -118,18 +118,18 @@ export class StreetLevelControls {
       this.listen(el.viewerExpand, 'click', () => this._toggleExpanded());
       if (this._expandMode === 'fullscreen')
         this.listen(document, 'fullscreenchange', () => this._syncExpanded());
-      else {
+      else
         this.listen(el.viewerWrap, 'toggle', (event) =>
           this._onPopoverToggle(event),
         );
-        // Esc shrinks the photo before the panel's own Esc can collapse it.
-        this.listen(el.viewerWrap, 'keydown', (event) => {
-          if (event.key !== 'Escape' || !this.isViewerExpanded()) return;
-          event.preventDefault();
-          event.stopPropagation();
-          this._exitExpanded();
-        });
-      }
+      // Esc shrinks the photo before the panel's own Esc can collapse it, in
+      // a browser that hands the key to the page while full screen too.
+      this.listen(el.viewerWrap, 'keydown', (event) => {
+        if (event.key !== 'Escape' || !this.isViewerExpanded()) return;
+        event.preventDefault();
+        event.stopPropagation();
+        this._exitExpanded();
+      });
     } else setProp(el.viewerExpand, 'hidden', true);
     for (const button of el.renderButtons) {
       this.listen(button, 'click', () => {
@@ -430,6 +430,10 @@ export class StreetLevelControls {
     if (this.destroyed) return;
     this.destroyed = true;
     this._exitExpanded();
+    // Its `toggle` is not heard once destroyed: a popover left on the wrap
+    // would hide the viewer even inside the panel.
+    if (this._expandMode === 'popover')
+      this._elements.viewerWrap?.removeAttribute('popover');
     this._watchPanelHidingModes(false);
     this.listeners.abort();
     this._resizeObserver?.disconnect();
diff --git a/src/ui/streetLevelControls.test.mjs b/src/ui/streetLevelControls.test.mjs
index 3d04a3bbc..fa1168b02 100644
--- a/src/ui/streetLevelControls.test.mjs
+++ b/src/ui/streetLevelControls.test.mjs
@@ -185,6 +185,11 @@ function panelDom({ fullscreen = true, popover = false } = {}) {
   const wrap = add(root, 'div', { id: 'sl-viewer-wrap' });
   if (fullscreen) wrap.requestFullscreen = async () => fullscreenTo(wrap);
   if (popover) {
+    // `popover` reflects its attribute, as in the DOM.
+    Object.defineProperty(wrap, 'popover', {
+      get: () => wrap.getAttribute('popover'),
+      set: (value) => wrap.setAttribute('popover', value),
+    });
     // The browser fires `toggle` after the popover opens or closes.
     const toggleTo = (newState) =>
       setTimeout(() => wrap.dispatchEvent({ type: 'toggle', newState }), 0);
@@ -559,6 +564,28 @@ test('EXPAND puts the viewer full screen in place, and the button shrinks it aga
     controls.destroy();
   }));
 
+test('Esc in full screen shrinks the photo; the panel never sees it', () =>
+  withDom(async (dom) => {
+    const { controls } = stubPanel(dom, uiState({ open: true }));
+    const expand = dom.root.querySelector('#sl-viewer-expand');
+    expand.click();
+    await settle();
+    await settle();
+    assert.equal(dom.document.fullscreenElement, dom.wrap);
+    let panelEsc = 0;
+    dom.root.addEventListener('keydown', () => panelEsc++);
+    expand.dispatchEvent({ type: 'keydown', key: 'Escape', bubbles: true });
+    await settle();
+    await settle();
+    assert.equal(dom.document.fullscreenElement, null);
+    assert.equal(panelEsc, 0, 'the panel stays open');
+    assert.deepEqual(expandLabel(dom), ['EXPAND', 'false']);
+    // Not expanded, Esc is the panel's again.
+    expand.dispatchEvent({ type: 'keydown', key: 'Escape', bubbles: true });
+    assert.equal(panelEsc, 1);
+    controls.destroy();
+  }));
+
 test('an image closed while full screen leaves full screen', () =>
   withDom(async (dom) => {
     const { layer, controls } = stubPanel(dom, uiState({ open: true }));
@@ -622,6 +649,26 @@ test('on iPhone (no element fullscreen) EXPAND opens the viewer as a popover ove
     { fullscreen: false, popover: true },
   ));
 
+test('destroying the panel while the iPhone popover is open leaves no popover behind', () =>
+  withDom(
+    async (dom) => {
+      const { controls } = stubPanel(dom, uiState({ open: true }));
+      dom.root.querySelector('#sl-viewer-expand').click();
+      await settle();
+      await settle();
+      assert.equal(dom.wrap.getAttribute('popover'), 'auto');
+      controls.destroy();
+      await settle();
+      assert.equal(dom.wrap.popoverOpen, false);
+      assert.equal(
+        dom.wrap.getAttribute('popover'),
+        null,
+        'its toggle is not heard any more',
+      );
+    },
+    { fullscreen: false, popover: true },
+  ));
+
 /** A MutationObserver stand-in whose callback the test fires. */
 function fakeMutationObserver() {
   const observers = new Set();
diff --git a/src/ui/streetLevelPresentation.js b/src/ui/streetLevelPresentation.js
index 63640d1f4..0ada603f8 100644
--- a/src/ui/streetLevelPresentation.js
+++ b/src/ui/streetLevelPresentation.js
@@ -103,7 +103,14 @@ function presentMeta(state) {
       : `${state.sequence.images.toLocaleString()} images in this sequence · Esc clears`;
   if (state.coverage.count > 0)
     return `${state.coverage.count.toLocaleString()} sequences in view · click a line for its photos`;
-  return state.coverage.hint || '';
+  if (state.coverage.hint) return state.coverage.hint;
+  // Still loading, or the error line already says why.
+  if (state.coverage.loading || state.keyRequired || state.coverage.error)
+    return '';
+  const filter = state.filter || {};
+  return (filter.pano || 'all') !== 'all' || Number(filter.sinceDays) > 0
+    ? 'No sequences in view match the filter'
+    : 'No Mapillary coverage in view';
 }
 
 /** @param {{now?: number}} [options] Clock for the SINCE readout. */
diff --git a/src/ui/streetLevelPresentation.test.mjs b/src/ui/streetLevelPresentation.test.mjs
index 69b6a784f..0b4f28631 100644
--- a/src/ui/streetLevelPresentation.test.mjs
+++ b/src/ui/streetLevelPresentation.test.mjs
@@ -201,6 +201,24 @@ test('the meta line never mixes the visible-sequence count with the selected seq
   assert.equal(hinted.meta, 'Point the camera at the globe');
 });
 
+test('an empty view says so, and whether the filter emptied it', () => {
+  const meta = (overrides) =>
+    presentStreetLevelPanel(snapshot({ enabled: true, ...overrides })).meta;
+  assert.equal(meta({}), 'No Mapillary coverage in view');
+  assert.equal(
+    meta({ filter: { pano: 'flat', sinceDays: 0 } }),
+    'No sequences in view match the filter',
+  );
+  assert.equal(
+    meta({ filter: { pano: 'all', sinceDays: 365 } }),
+    'No sequences in view match the filter',
+  );
+  // Nothing to claim while it loads, or when the error line explains it.
+  assert.equal(meta({ coverage: { loading: true } }), '');
+  assert.equal(meta({ keyRequired: true }), '');
+  assert.equal(meta({ coverage: { error: 'Tile HTTP 502' } }), '');
+});
+
 test('viewer caption reads "Image by" left, date right, and links to Mapillary', () => {
   const view = presentStreetLevelPanel(
     snapshot({