diff --git a/backend/services/cctv_pipeline.py b/backend/services/cctv_pipeline.py
index a67e6b2..54e98e7 100644
--- a/backend/services/cctv_pipeline.py
+++ b/backend/services/cctv_pipeline.py
@@ -299,6 +299,9 @@ class BaseCCTVIngestor(ABC):
         pass
 
     def ingest(self):
+        # Ingestors may run independently (including from worker threads), so
+        # make sure a fresh checkout has both the directory and schema ready.
+        init_db()
         conn = sqlite3.connect(str(DB_PATH))
         try:
             cameras = self.fetch_data()
diff --git a/backend/services/layer_enable_refresh.py b/backend/services/layer_enable_refresh.py
index 1fff1de..336be52 100644
--- a/backend/services/layer_enable_refresh.py
+++ b/backend/services/layer_enable_refresh.py
@@ -51,8 +51,15 @@ def _instant_fetch(key: str) -> None:
 
 def _slow_fetch(key: str) -> None:
     if key == "cctv":
+        from services.cctv_pipeline import get_camera_count, run_all_ingestors
         from services.fetchers.infrastructure import fetch_cctv
 
+        # A fresh checkout can have an empty SQLite catalog even though the
+        # public camera feeds are available. Seed it the first time CCTV is
+        # enabled; otherwise the layer stays ON with zero map records until a
+        # later scheduler cycle happens to run.
+        if get_camera_count() == 0:
+            run_all_ingestors()
         fetch_cctv()
         logger.info("CCTV loaded (layer enabled)")
         return
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_layer_enable_refresh.py b/backend/tests/test_layer_enable_refresh.py
index a2518e6..061093d 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_layer_enable_refresh.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_layer_enable_refresh.py
@@ -56,3 +56,35 @@ def test_refresh_cctv_runs_on_slow_executor():
     assert slow_exec.submit.call_args[0][1] == ("cctv",)
 
     active_layers["cctv"] = before.get("cctv", False)
+
+
+def test_cctv_enable_seeds_empty_catalog_before_loading():
+    """An empty CCTV DB must trigger the public ingestors on first enable."""
+    from services.layer_enable_refresh import _slow_fetch
+
+    with (
+        patch("services.cctv_pipeline.get_camera_count", return_value=0) as count,
+        patch("services.cctv_pipeline.run_all_ingestors") as seed,
+        patch("services.fetchers.infrastructure.fetch_cctv") as fetch_cctv,
+    ):
+        _slow_fetch("cctv")
+
+    count.assert_called_once()
+    seed.assert_called_once()
+    fetch_cctv.assert_called_once()
+
+
+def test_cctv_enable_reuses_nonempty_catalog():
+    """A populated CCTV DB should stay fast and avoid re-seeding on enable."""
+    from services.layer_enable_refresh import _slow_fetch
+
+    with (
+        patch("services.cctv_pipeline.get_camera_count", return_value=12) as count,
+        patch("services.cctv_pipeline.run_all_ingestors") as seed,
+        patch("services.fetchers.infrastructure.fetch_cctv") as fetch_cctv,
+    ):
+        _slow_fetch("cctv")
+
+    count.assert_called_once()
+    seed.assert_not_called()
+    fetch_cctv.assert_called_once()
diff --git a/frontend/src/__tests__/map/maplibreBehavior.test.ts b/frontend/src/__tests__/map/maplibreBehavior.test.ts
index d0c9d31..3a8d617 100644
--- a/frontend/src/__tests__/map/maplibreBehavior.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/__tests__/map/maplibreBehavior.test.ts
@@ -88,6 +88,19 @@ describe('MaplibreViewer behavior — CCTV proxy wiring', () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe('MaplibreViewer behavior — Telegram visibility fallback', () => {
+  const viewer = fs.readFileSync(path.join(COMP_DIR, 'MaplibreViewer.tsx'), 'utf-8');
+
+  it('keeps a visible MapLibre fallback while HTML pins are temporarily hidden', () => {
+    const telegramSection = viewer.slice(
+      viewer.indexOf('<Source id="telegram-osint-source"'),
+      viewer.indexOf('</Source>', viewer.indexOf('<Source id="telegram-osint-source"')) + '</Source>'.length,
+    );
+    expect(telegramSection).toContain('minzoom={2}');
+    expect(telegramSection).toContain("'circle-opacity': 0.65");
+  });
+});
+
 // ─── Popup subscription isolation ─────────────────────────────────────────
 
 describe('MaplibreViewer behavior — popup components have no keyed subscriptions', () => {
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/MaplibreViewer.tsx b/frontend/src/components/MaplibreViewer.tsx
index 118ebd4..fd9c4f9 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/MaplibreViewer.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/MaplibreViewer.tsx
@@ -3856,7 +3856,7 @@ const MaplibreViewer = ({
           <Layer
             id="telegram-osint-layer"
             type="circle"
-            minzoom={4}
+            minzoom={2}
             paint={{
               'circle-radius': [
                 'interpolate',
@@ -3870,9 +3870,11 @@ const MaplibreViewer = ({
                 ['case', ['>', ['get', 'post_count'], 1], 26, 22],
               ],
               'circle-color': '#ef4444',
-              'circle-stroke-width': 0,
+              'circle-stroke-width': 1,
               'circle-stroke-color': '#fca5a5',
-              'circle-opacity': 0,
+              // Keep a visible MapLibre fallback while the HTML pins are
+              // temporarily suppressed during map interaction.
+              'circle-opacity': 0.65,
             }}
           />
         </Source>