diff --git a/src/toad/frame_presentation.py b/src/toad/frame_presentation.py
index 541be9c76..3e8bbd805 100644
--- a/src/toad/frame_presentation.py
+++ b/src/toad/frame_presentation.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 
 from agent_comms.nominal.declared_family import DeclaredFamily
 from textual._paint_state import PaintState
+from textual.geometry import Region
 from textual.app import ScreenStackError, UnknownModeError
 from textual import events
 from textual.strip import Strip
@@ -537,8 +538,21 @@ def frame_moved(self) -> None:
 
     def redraw(self) -> None:
         """A frame paints over the lines (paint_effects in render_line); the content they
-        show is unchanged, so it is not rendered again."""
-        self.repaint_lines()
+        show is unchanged, so it is not rendered again. Invalidate only the lines the
+        running effects actually paint; a one-row throbber or a two-row sidebar name
+        should not flush the styles cache of a 200-line conversation widget."""
+        if not self.effects:
+            return
+        region = self._effect_region()
+        if region is not None:
+            self._invalidate_lines(region)
+            self._repaint_required = True
+        else:
+            self.repaint_lines()
+
+    def _effect_region(self) -> Region | None:
+        """The region the running effects paint, or None for the whole widget."""
+        return None
 
 
 class EffectInContent:
diff --git a/src/toad/widgets/conversation.py b/src/toad/widgets/conversation.py
index 47029deec..857bb699e 100644
--- a/src/toad/widgets/conversation.py
+++ b/src/toad/widgets/conversation.py
@@ -375,6 +375,13 @@ def on_mount(self) -> None:
     def animation_visible(self) -> bool:
         return super().animation_visible and self.query_ancestor(Window).has_focus
 
+    def _effect_region(self) -> Region | None:
+        cursor = self.query_ancestor(Conversation).navigation.cursor
+        visible = cursor.visible_region
+        if visible.height == 0:
+            return Region(0, 0, 1, 0)
+        return Region(0, visible.y - self.region.y, 1, visible.height)
+
     def render_lines(self, crop: Region) -> list[Strip]:
         colours = self.app.colours
         strips = [colours.paint_mix(self.RAIL, Strip([Segment("▌")], cell_length=1))] * crop.height