diff --git a/src/plugins/built-in/globalSearch/src/core/index.ts b/src/plugins/built-in/globalSearch/src/core/index.ts
index c86d9f34..a4b58b61 100644
--- a/src/plugins/built-in/globalSearch/src/core/index.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/built-in/globalSearch/src/core/index.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import { initVectorSearch } from "../search/vector/vectorSearch";
 import { cleanupSearchBar, mountSearchBar } from "./mountSearchBar";
 import { IndexedDbManager } from "embeddia";
 import { VectorWorkerManager } from "../indexing/worker/vectorWorkerManager";
+import { checkAndHandleUpdate } from "../utils/versionCheck";
 
 // Platform-aware default hotkey
 const getDefaultHotkey = () => {
@@ -152,15 +153,25 @@ const globalSearchPlugin: Plugin<typeof settings> = {
     const appRef = { current: null };
 
     // Check for extension updates and clear caches if needed
-    try {
-      const { checkAndHandleUpdate } = await import("../utils/versionCheck");
-      const wasUpdated = await checkAndHandleUpdate();
-      if (wasUpdated) {
-        console.log("[Global Search] Extension updated - caches cleared");
+    // Use a timeout to avoid blocking initialization
+    setTimeout(async () => {
+      try {
+        const wasUpdated = await checkAndHandleUpdate();
+        if (wasUpdated) {
+          console.log("[Global Search] Extension updated - caches cleared");
+        }
+      } catch (error: any) {
+        // Handle CSS preload errors and other failures gracefully
+        // These can happen in Firefox or when assets aren't available
+        if (error?.message?.includes("preload CSS") || 
+            error?.message?.includes("MIME type") || 
+            error?.message?.includes("NS_ERROR_CORRUPTED_CONTENT")) {
+          console.debug("[Global Search] Version check skipped due to asset loading restrictions:", error.message);
+        } else {
+          console.warn("[Global Search] Failed to check for updates:", error);
+        }
       }
-    } catch (error) {
-      console.warn("[Global Search] Failed to check for updates:", error);
-    }
+    }, 100);
 
     try {
       await IndexedDbManager.create("embeddiaDB", "embeddiaObjectStore", {
diff --git a/src/plugins/built-in/globalSearch/src/core/styles.css b/src/plugins/built-in/globalSearch/src/core/styles.css
index 2978dc46..1c50394e 100644
--- a/src/plugins/built-in/globalSearch/src/core/styles.css
+++ b/src/plugins/built-in/globalSearch/src/core/styles.css
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@
   gap: 8px;
   margin-left: 8px;
   min-width: 120px;
+  max-width: 200px;
+  height: 32px;
 }
 
 .search-progress-bar-wrapper {
@@ -99,6 +101,7 @@
   border-radius: 2px;
   overflow: hidden;
   display: none;
+  min-width: 60px;
 }
 
 .dark .search-progress-bar-wrapper {
@@ -111,6 +114,7 @@
   transition: width 0.3s ease-out;
   width: 0%;
   position: relative;
+  border-radius: 2px;
 }
 
 .search-progress-bar::after {
@@ -119,6 +123,7 @@
   inset: 0;
   background: linear-gradient(90deg, transparent, rgba(255,255,255,0.3), transparent);
   animation: shimmer 2s infinite;
+  border-radius: 2px;
 }
 
 .search-progress-text {
@@ -126,6 +131,7 @@
   color: #666;
   white-space: nowrap;
   display: none;
+  font-weight: 500;
 }
 
 .dark .search-progress-text {
diff --git a/src/plugins/built-in/globalSearch/src/utils/versionCheck.ts b/src/plugins/built-in/globalSearch/src/utils/versionCheck.ts
index c3dec89d..31f9aa3d 100644
--- a/src/plugins/built-in/globalSearch/src/utils/versionCheck.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/built-in/globalSearch/src/utils/versionCheck.ts
@@ -84,19 +84,28 @@ export async function clearAllCaches(): Promise<void> {
     }
     
     // Also try to directly clear caches if modules are already loaded
-    try {
-      const { clearSearchCache } = await import("../search/searchUtils");
-      clearSearchCache();
-    } catch (e) {
-      // Module might not be loaded yet, that's okay
-    }
-    
-    try {
-      const { clearEmbeddingCache } = await import("../search/vector/vectorSearch");
-      clearEmbeddingCache();
-    } catch (e) {
-      // Module might not be loaded yet, that's okay
-    }
+    // Use setTimeout to avoid blocking and handle CSS preload errors
+    setTimeout(async () => {
+      try {
+        const { clearSearchCache } = await import("../search/searchUtils");
+        clearSearchCache();
+      } catch (e: any) {
+        // Module might not be loaded yet, or CSS preload error - that's okay
+        if (!e?.message?.includes("preload CSS") && !e?.message?.includes("MIME type")) {
+          console.debug("[Version Check] Could not clear search cache:", e);
+        }
+      }
+      
+      try {
+        const { clearEmbeddingCache } = await import("../search/vector/vectorSearch");
+        clearEmbeddingCache();
+      } catch (e: any) {
+        // Module might not be loaded yet, or CSS preload error - that's okay
+        if (!e?.message?.includes("preload CSS") && !e?.message?.includes("MIME type")) {
+          console.debug("[Version Check] Could not clear embedding cache:", e);
+        }
+      }
+    }, 50);
     
     console.debug("[Version Check] All caches cleared");
   } catch (e) {