diff --git a/SPEC.md b/SPEC.md
index ad22cc9..2ca5be1 100644
--- a/SPEC.md
+++ b/SPEC.md
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ Help a small Discord group (4–8 players) pick a co-op game via phased flow:
 - Players see only their own votes; can finalize/unfinalize their ballot
 - **Linked games**: admins can link duplicates; linked games share a vote group. Moving a slider on one updates all linked siblings.
 - Linking or unlinking games clears votes for the linked group and unfinalizes **all** players so ballots can be reviewed again
+- The “new/linked games” vote popup appears only when the vote list changes after the player has already seen that vote list
 
 ## Results Phase
 - Visible only after admin enables results; players auto-advance when opened
diff --git a/wwwroot/data/i18n/faq/de.md b/wwwroot/data/i18n/faq/de.md
index f83af2e..842e8a0 100644
--- a/wwwroot/data/i18n/faq/de.md
+++ b/wwwroot/data/i18n/faq/de.md
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ Mit **„Finalisieren"** werden deine Bewertungen gesperrt. Deaktiviere es, um e
 Wenn neue Spiele hinzugefügt oder Verknüpfungen geändert werden:
  - Betroffene Stimmen werden gelöscht
  - Deine Abstimmung wird automatisch zurückgesetzt
+ - Das Update-Popup erscheint nur, wenn sich deine bereits sichtbare Abstimmungsliste verändert
 
 Überprüfe deine Liste und bewerte erneut, bevor du wieder finalisierst.
 
diff --git a/wwwroot/data/i18n/faq/en.md b/wwwroot/data/i18n/faq/en.md
index 9affefb..85ded74 100644
--- a/wwwroot/data/i18n/faq/en.md
+++ b/wwwroot/data/i18n/faq/en.md
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ Finalize is only available during the Vote phase and will automatically reset if
 If new games are added or links are modified:
  - Affected votes are cleared
  - You are automatically unfinalized
+ - The update popup appears only when your already-visible Vote list changes
 
 Review your list and rescore before finalizing again.
 
diff --git a/wwwroot/js/data.js b/wwwroot/js/data.js
index 60fe5d7..c9d4db8 100644
--- a/wwwroot/js/data.js
+++ b/wwwroot/js/data.js
@@ -34,7 +34,12 @@ export async function loadSuggestionsData() {
         const latest = await api.allSuggestions();
         const latestSig = signatureSuggestions(latest);
         const changed = latestSig !== state.allSuggestionsSig;
-        if (changed && state.phase === "Vote" && state.allSuggestionsSig) {
+        if (
+            changed &&
+            state.phase === "Vote" &&
+            state.votesRendered &&
+            state.allSuggestionsSig
+        ) {
             const added = latest
                 .filter((s) => !prevById[s.id])
                 .map((s) => s.name);
diff --git a/wwwroot/js/state.js b/wwwroot/js/state.js
index 98d7ded..1317e42 100644
--- a/wwwroot/js/state.js
+++ b/wwwroot/js/state.js
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ export function clearUserState() {
     state.counts = null;
     state.mySuggestions = [];
     state.allSuggestions = [];
+    state.allSuggestionsSig = null;
     state.myVotes = [];
     state.results = [];
     state.votesRendered = false;