diff --git a/.github/workflows/macos-profile-build.yml b/.github/workflows/macos-profile-build.yml
index 43aa552b2..4d42e76c5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/macos-profile-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/macos-profile-build.yml
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         arch: [x86_64, aarch64]
-
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.arch == 'x86_64' && 'macos-15-intel' || 'macos-26' }}
 
     steps:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/src/release-build.sh b/.github/workflows/src/release-build.sh
index d3e9720e6..6daa7c7ce 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/src/release-build.sh
+++ b/.github/workflows/src/release-build.sh
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ bash ./scripts/mar_sign.sh -i
 
 ulimit -n 4096
 
+export ZEN_DISABLE_BOOTSTRAP=1
+
 if command -v Xvfb &> /dev/null; then
   if ! test "$ZEN_CROSS_COMPILING"; then
     Xvfb :2 -nolisten tcp -noreset -screen 0 1024x768x24 &
diff --git a/.github/workflows/windows-profile-build.yml b/.github/workflows/windows-profile-build.yml
index 694672647..3ba3ffa11 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/windows-profile-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/windows-profile-build.yml
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         arch: [x86_64, aarch64]
-
     runs-on: ${{ inputs.release-branch == 'release' && 'windows-latest' || 'windows-latest' }}
 
     steps:
diff --git a/configs/common/mozconfig b/configs/common/mozconfig
index 2adf9d0eb..c4ecea44d 100644
--- a/configs/common/mozconfig
+++ b/configs/common/mozconfig
@@ -53,7 +53,10 @@ fi
 if test "$ZEN_RELEASE"; then
 
   ac_add_options --enable-clang-plugin
-  ac_add_options --enable-bootstrap=-sccache
+  
+  if ! test "$ZEN_DISABLE_BOOTSTRAP"; then
+    ac_add_options --enable-bootstrap=-sccache
+  fi
 
   ac_add_options --enable-optimize
 
@@ -69,16 +72,11 @@ if test "$ZEN_RELEASE"; then
   ac_add_options --disable-geckodriver
   ac_add_options --disable-rust-tests
 
-  if ! test "$ZEN_DISABLE_LTO"; then
-    # only enable full LTO when ZEN_RELEASE_BRANCH is 'release'
-    if test "$ZEN_RELEASE_BRANCH" = "release"; then
-      # TODO: make it "full" once we have the resources to build it
-      export MOZ_LTO=cross,full
-      ac_add_options --enable-lto=cross,full
-    else
-      export MOZ_LTO=cross,thin
-      ac_add_options --enable-lto=cross,thin
-    fi
+  if test "$ZEN_DISABLE_LTO"; then
+    ac_add_options --disable-lto
+  else
+    export MOZ_LTO=cross,thin
+    ac_add_options --enable-lto=cross,thin
   fi
 
   mk_add_options MOZILLA_OFFICIAL=1
diff --git a/configs/linux/mozconfig b/configs/linux/mozconfig
index c959a8eec..4ea92b3e5 100644
--- a/configs/linux/mozconfig
+++ b/configs/linux/mozconfig
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ if test "$ZEN_RELEASE"; then
 
         # Enable Profile Guided Optimization
         if ! test "$ZEN_GA_DISABLE_PGO"; then
+            export MOZ_LTO=cross,full
+            ac_add_options --enable-lto=cross,full
+
             if test "$ZEN_GA_GENERATE_PROFILE"; then
                 mk_add_options "export MOZ_AUTOMATION_PACKAGE_GENERATED_SOURCES=0"
                 ac_add_options --enable-profile-generate=cross
diff --git a/configs/windows/mozconfig b/configs/windows/mozconfig
index cc93620e7..ae38f3791 100644
--- a/configs/windows/mozconfig
+++ b/configs/windows/mozconfig
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ if test "$ZEN_CROSS_COMPILING"; then
       ac_add_options --enable-profile-use=cross
       ac_add_options --with-pgo-profile-path=$(echo ~)/artifact/merged.profdata
       ac_add_options --with-pgo-jarlog=$(echo ~)/artifact/en-US.log
+
+      export MOZ_LTO=cross,full
+      ac_add_options --enable-lto=cross,full
     fi
   fi
 fi
diff --git a/src/browser/components/preferences/zen-settings.js b/src/browser/components/preferences/zen-settings.js
index 90151667c..f6618158b 100644
--- a/src/browser/components/preferences/zen-settings.js
+++ b/src/browser/components/preferences/zen-settings.js
@@ -741,7 +741,6 @@ var gZenWorkspacesSettings = {
 
     Services.prefs.addObserver("zen.glance.enabled", tabsUnloaderPrefListener); // We can use the same listener for both prefs
     Services.prefs.addObserver("zen.workspaces.separate-essentials", tabsUnloaderPrefListener);
-    Services.prefs.addObserver("zen.glance.activation-method", tabsUnloaderPrefListener);
     Services.prefs.addObserver("zen.window-sync.sync-only-pinned-tabs", tabsUnloaderPrefListener);
     Services.prefs.addObserver(
       "zen.tabs.ctrl-tab.ignore-essential-tabs",
@@ -750,7 +749,6 @@ var gZenWorkspacesSettings = {
     Services.prefs.addObserver("browser.ctrlTab.sortByRecentlyUsed", toggleZenCycleByAttrWarning);
     window.addEventListener("unload", () => {
       Services.prefs.removeObserver("zen.glance.enabled", tabsUnloaderPrefListener);
-      Services.prefs.removeObserver("zen.glance.activation-method", tabsUnloaderPrefListener);
       Services.prefs.removeObserver("zen.workspaces.separate-essentials", tabsUnloaderPrefListener);
       Services.prefs.removeObserver(
         "zen.window-sync.sync-only-pinned-tabs",
diff --git a/src/browser/components/tabbrowser/content/tabbrowser-js.patch b/src/browser/components/tabbrowser/content/tabbrowser-js.patch
index ddd1b60db..05bdb13a4 100644
--- a/src/browser/components/tabbrowser/content/tabbrowser-js.patch
+++ b/src/browser/components/tabbrowser/content/tabbrowser-js.patch
@@ -751,7 +751,7 @@ index 43180487a2fac15b7a65fac94f233eeed9094990..ef6d30eb681caeae48d15280687b3bc3
      }
  
      /**
-@@ -6422,6 +6618,7 @@
+@@ -6422,11 +6618,12 @@
        }
  
        let excludeTabs = new Set(aExcludeTabs);
@@ -759,6 +759,12 @@ index 43180487a2fac15b7a65fac94f233eeed9094990..ef6d30eb681caeae48d15280687b3bc3
  
        // If this tab has a successor, it should be selectable, since
        // hiding or closing a tab removes that tab as a successor.
+       if (aTab.successor && !excludeTabs.has(aTab.successor)) {
+-        return aTab.successor;
++        return gZenWorkspaces.findTabToBlur(aTab.successor);
+       }
+ 
+       if (
 @@ -6434,13 +6631,13 @@
          !excludeTabs.has(aTab.owner) &&
          Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.tabs.selectOwnerOnClose")
diff --git a/src/zen/boosts/actors/ZenBoostsChild.sys.mjs b/src/zen/boosts/actors/ZenBoostsChild.sys.mjs
index 364490698..805de7a89 100644
--- a/src/zen/boosts/actors/ZenBoostsChild.sys.mjs
+++ b/src/zen/boosts/actors/ZenBoostsChild.sys.mjs
@@ -70,8 +70,10 @@ export class ZenBoostsChild extends JSWindowActorChild {
 
   static PREVENTABLE_SET = new Set(ZenBoostsChild.PREVENTABLE_EVENTS);
 
-  actorCreated() {
-    this.#applyBoostForPageIfAvailable();
+  handleEvent(event) {
+    if (event.type === "DOMDocElementInserted") {
+      this.#applyBoostForPageIfAvailable();
+    }
   }
 
   didDestroy() {
@@ -330,6 +332,22 @@ export class ZenBoostsChild extends JSWindowActorChild {
     return this.sendQuery("ZenBoost:GetBoostForDomain", domain);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Sets a synced BrowsingContext field only when its value changes. Every
+   * setter commits a transaction that is broadcast to the whole browsing
+   * context group, even when the value is unchanged, so this avoids three
+   * such broadcasts on every page load that has no boost.
+   *
+   * @param {BrowsingContext} browsingContext
+   * @param {string} field - The synced field name.
+   * @param {number | boolean} value
+   */
+  #setSyncedField(browsingContext, field, value) {
+    if (browsingContext[field] !== value) {
+      browsingContext[field] = value;
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Applies the boost settings for the current page if available.
    *
@@ -360,7 +378,11 @@ export class ZenBoostsChild extends JSWindowActorChild {
         sizeOverride: boostData.sizeOverride,
       });
 
-      browsingContext.isZenBoostsInverted = boostData.smartInvert;
+      this.#setSyncedField(
+        browsingContext,
+        "isZenBoostsInverted",
+        !!boostData.smartInvert
+      );
       if (boostData.enableColorBoost) {
         let primaryColor;
         if (boostData.autoTheme) {
@@ -396,18 +418,21 @@ export class ZenBoostsChild extends JSWindowActorChild {
             boostData
           );
         }
-        browsingContext.zenBoostsData = primaryColor;
+        this.#setSyncedField(browsingContext, "zenBoostsData", primaryColor);
         // The complementary accent is derived in the backend by rotating the
         // primary accent's hue by this delta (in degrees).
-        browsingContext.zenBoostsComplementaryRotation =
-          boostData.secondaryDotAngleDegDelta ?? 0;
+        this.#setSyncedField(
+          browsingContext,
+          "zenBoostsComplementaryRotation",
+          boostData.secondaryDotAngleDegDelta ?? 0
+        );
         return;
       }
     } else {
-      browsingContext.isZenBoostsInverted = false;
+      this.#setSyncedField(browsingContext, "isZenBoostsInverted", false);
     }
-    browsingContext.zenBoostsData = 0;
-    browsingContext.zenBoostsComplementaryRotation = 0;
+    this.#setSyncedField(browsingContext, "zenBoostsData", 0);
+    this.#setSyncedField(browsingContext, "zenBoostsComplementaryRotation", 0);
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/src/zen/common/sys/ZenActorsManager.sys.mjs b/src/zen/common/sys/ZenActorsManager.sys.mjs
index 4b3fc1471..c7864f261 100644
--- a/src/zen/common/sys/ZenActorsManager.sys.mjs
+++ b/src/zen/common/sys/ZenActorsManager.sys.mjs
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ let JSWINDOWACTORS = {
     child: {
       esModuleURI: "resource:///actors/ZenGlanceChild.sys.mjs",
       events: {
-        DOMContentLoaded: {},
         mousedown: {
           capture: true,
         },
@@ -86,9 +85,7 @@ if (!Services.appinfo.inSafeMode) {
     child: {
       esModuleURI: "resource:///actors/ZenBoostsChild.sys.mjs",
       events: {
-        // Needed to let the actor be created, please don't remove
-        // without checking if boosts still work without it, thanks <3
-        DOMWindowCreated: {},
+        DOMDocElementInserted: {},
       },
     },
     safeForUntrustedWebProcess: true,
diff --git a/src/zen/glance/actors/ZenGlanceChild.sys.mjs b/src/zen/glance/actors/ZenGlanceChild.sys.mjs
index 1758204d6..f91185fc3 100644
--- a/src/zen/glance/actors/ZenGlanceChild.sys.mjs
+++ b/src/zen/glance/actors/ZenGlanceChild.sys.mjs
@@ -17,12 +17,18 @@ XPCOMUtils.defineLazyPreferenceGetter(
   true
 );
 
+XPCOMUtils.defineLazyPreferenceGetter(
+  lazy,
+  "activationMethod",
+  "zen.glance.activation-method",
+  "ctrl"
+);
+
 // A small threshold to allow for minor mouse jitter during a normal click.
 // Anything beyond this is likely an intentional drag (like selecting text).
 const CLICK_DRAG_THRESHOLD_PX = 4;
 
 export class ZenGlanceChild extends JSWindowActorChild {
-  #activationMethod;
   #mouseDownX = null;
   #mouseDownY = null;
 
@@ -37,12 +43,6 @@ export class ZenGlanceChild extends JSWindowActorChild {
     }
   }
 
-  async #initActivationMethod() {
-    this.#activationMethod = await this.sendQuery(
-      "ZenGlance:GetActivationMethod"
-    );
-  }
-
   #ensureOnlyKeyModifiers(event) {
     return !(event.ctrlKey ^ event.altKey ^ event.shiftKey ^ event.metaKey);
   }
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ export class ZenGlanceChild extends JSWindowActorChild {
     ) {
       return;
     }
-    const activationMethod = this.#activationMethod;
+    const activationMethod = lazy.activationMethod;
     if (activationMethod === "ctrl" && !event.ctrlKey) {
       return;
     } else if (activationMethod === "alt" && !event.altKey) {
@@ -184,8 +184,4 @@ export class ZenGlanceChild extends JSWindowActorChild {
         this.contentWindow.document.body,
     });
   }
-
-  async on_DOMContentLoaded() {
-    await this.#initActivationMethod();
-  }
 }
diff --git a/src/zen/glance/actors/ZenGlanceParent.sys.mjs b/src/zen/glance/actors/ZenGlanceParent.sys.mjs
index 748c18912..74446ab70 100644
--- a/src/zen/glance/actors/ZenGlanceParent.sys.mjs
+++ b/src/zen/glance/actors/ZenGlanceParent.sys.mjs
@@ -11,12 +11,6 @@ export class ZenGlanceParent extends JSWindowActorParent {
 
   async receiveMessage(message) {
     switch (message.name) {
-      case "ZenGlance:GetActivationMethod": {
-        return Services.prefs.getStringPref(
-          "zen.glance.activation-method",
-          "ctrl"
-        );
-      }
       case "ZenGlance:OpenGlance": {
         this.openGlance(this.browsingContext.topChromeWindow, message.data);
         break;
diff --git a/src/zen/spaces/ZenSpaceManager.mjs b/src/zen/spaces/ZenSpaceManager.mjs
index 727d0e754..e7e57a67a 100644
--- a/src/zen/spaces/ZenSpaceManager.mjs
+++ b/src/zen/spaces/ZenSpaceManager.mjs
@@ -2911,7 +2911,10 @@ class nsZenWorkspaces {
   }
 
   findTabToBlur(tab) {
-    if ((!this._shouldChangeToTab(tab) || !tab) && this._emptyTab) {
+    if (
+      (!tab || !this._shouldChangeToTab(tab) || !gBrowser.tabs.includes(tab)) &&
+      this._emptyTab
+    ) {
       return this._emptyTab;
     }
     return tab;