diff --git a/src/browser/base/content/browser-init-js.patch b/src/browser/base/content/browser-init-js.patch
index b8ec53782..69de60ba6 100644
--- a/src/browser/base/content/browser-init-js.patch
+++ b/src/browser/base/content/browser-init-js.patch
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 diff --git a/browser/base/content/browser-init.js b/browser/base/content/browser-init.js
-index bcbfab4a3781ff3c7349115751b3830976eec4bf..8176656b6f5e70ccf3766ad9f5406758fdb7034b 100644
+index bcbfab4a3781ff3c7349115751b3830976eec4bf..b1b774e0d335ed3c5ca565a45cd624c7ea2718af 100644
 --- a/browser/base/content/browser-init.js
 +++ b/browser/base/content/browser-init.js
 @@ -186,6 +186,7 @@ var gBrowserInit = {
@@ -10,3 +10,11 @@ index bcbfab4a3781ff3c7349115751b3830976eec4bf..8176656b6f5e70ccf3766ad9f5406758
      gBrowser.addEventListener("DOMUpdateBlockedPopups", e =>
        PopupBlockerObserver.handleEvent(e)
      );
+@@ -344,6 +345,7 @@ var gBrowserInit = {
+ 
+     this._handleURIToLoad();
+ 
++    gZenWorkspaces.selectStartPage();
+     Services.obs.addObserver(gIdentityHandler, "perm-changed");
+     Services.obs.addObserver(gRemoteControl, "devtools-socket");
+     Services.obs.addObserver(gRemoteControl, "marionette-listening");
diff --git a/src/browser/components/tabbrowser/content/tabbrowser-js.patch b/src/browser/components/tabbrowser/content/tabbrowser-js.patch
index 5564fc2af..f8a009de8 100644
--- a/src/browser/components/tabbrowser/content/tabbrowser-js.patch
+++ b/src/browser/components/tabbrowser/content/tabbrowser-js.patch
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 diff --git a/browser/components/tabbrowser/content/tabbrowser.js b/browser/components/tabbrowser/content/tabbrowser.js
-index d5aa64842a35c6697263c63fd3a0571b64b01344..c9a0a404324ae0ae139f92d82270206683470e4f 100644
+index d5aa64842a35c6697263c63fd3a0571b64b01344..adf3d7c318196a8a02158dfaf9d4d91bf07fdb93 100644
 --- a/browser/components/tabbrowser/content/tabbrowser.js
 +++ b/browser/components/tabbrowser/content/tabbrowser.js
 @@ -413,11 +413,41 @@
@@ -493,16 +493,15 @@ index d5aa64842a35c6697263c63fd3a0571b64b01344..c9a0a404324ae0ae139f92d822702066
        } else {
          TabBarVisibility.update();
        }
-@@ -5016,6 +5124,8 @@
+@@ -5016,6 +5124,7 @@
          this.tabs[i]._tPos = i;
        }
  
 +      gZenWorkspaces.updateTabsContainers();
-+
        if (!this._windowIsClosing) {
          if (wasPinned) {
            this.tabContainer._positionPinnedTabs();
-@@ -5230,6 +5340,7 @@
+@@ -5230,6 +5339,7 @@
        }
  
        let excludeTabs = new Set(aExcludeTabs);
@@ -510,7 +509,7 @@ index d5aa64842a35c6697263c63fd3a0571b64b01344..c9a0a404324ae0ae139f92d822702066
  
        // If this tab has a successor, it should be selectable, since
        // hiding or closing a tab removes that tab as a successor.
-@@ -5242,13 +5353,13 @@
+@@ -5242,13 +5352,13 @@
          !excludeTabs.has(aTab.owner) &&
          Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.tabs.selectOwnerOnClose")
        ) {
@@ -526,7 +525,7 @@ index d5aa64842a35c6697263c63fd3a0571b64b01344..c9a0a404324ae0ae139f92d822702066
        );
  
        let tab = this.tabContainer.findNextTab(aTab, {
-@@ -5264,7 +5375,7 @@
+@@ -5264,7 +5374,7 @@
        }
  
        if (tab) {
@@ -535,7 +534,7 @@ index d5aa64842a35c6697263c63fd3a0571b64b01344..c9a0a404324ae0ae139f92d822702066
        }
  
        // If no qualifying visible tab was found, see if there is a tab in
-@@ -5285,7 +5396,7 @@
+@@ -5285,7 +5395,7 @@
          });
        }
  
@@ -544,7 +543,7 @@ index d5aa64842a35c6697263c63fd3a0571b64b01344..c9a0a404324ae0ae139f92d822702066
      }
  
      _blurTab(aTab) {
-@@ -5686,10 +5797,10 @@
+@@ -5686,10 +5796,10 @@
        SessionStore.deleteCustomTabValue(aTab, "hiddenBy");
      }
  
@@ -557,7 +556,7 @@ index d5aa64842a35c6697263c63fd3a0571b64b01344..c9a0a404324ae0ae139f92d822702066
          aTab.selected ||
          aTab.closing ||
          // Tabs that are sharing the screen, microphone or camera cannot be hidden.
-@@ -5909,7 +6020,7 @@
+@@ -5909,7 +6019,7 @@
       *   `true` if element is a `<tab-group>`
       */
      isTabGroup(element) {
@@ -566,7 +565,7 @@ index d5aa64842a35c6697263c63fd3a0571b64b01344..c9a0a404324ae0ae139f92d822702066
      }
  
      /**
-@@ -5986,7 +6097,7 @@
+@@ -5986,7 +6096,7 @@
  
        // Don't allow mixing pinned and unpinned tabs.
        if (this.isTab(element) && element.pinned) {
@@ -575,7 +574,7 @@ index d5aa64842a35c6697263c63fd3a0571b64b01344..c9a0a404324ae0ae139f92d822702066
        } else {
          tabIndex = Math.max(tabIndex, this.pinnedTabCount);
        }
-@@ -6012,10 +6123,16 @@
+@@ -6012,10 +6122,16 @@
        this.#handleTabMove(
          element,
          () => {
@@ -594,7 +593,7 @@ index d5aa64842a35c6697263c63fd3a0571b64b01344..c9a0a404324ae0ae139f92d822702066
            if (neighbor && this.isTab(element) && tabIndex > element._tPos) {
              neighbor.after(element);
            } else {
-@@ -6084,17 +6201,29 @@
+@@ -6084,17 +6200,29 @@
            targetElement = targetElement.group;
          }
        }
@@ -628,7 +627,7 @@ index d5aa64842a35c6697263c63fd3a0571b64b01344..c9a0a404324ae0ae139f92d822702066
          if (element.pinned && this.tabContainer.verticalMode) {
            return this.tabContainer.verticalPinnedTabsContainer;
          }
-@@ -6154,7 +6283,7 @@
+@@ -6154,7 +6282,7 @@
        if (!this.isTab(aTab)) {
          throw new Error("Can only move a tab into a tab group");
        }
@@ -637,7 +636,7 @@ index d5aa64842a35c6697263c63fd3a0571b64b01344..c9a0a404324ae0ae139f92d822702066
          return;
        }
        if (aTab.group && aTab.group.id === aGroup.id) {
-@@ -6248,6 +6377,10 @@
+@@ -6248,6 +6376,10 @@
  
        moveActionCallback();
  
@@ -648,7 +647,7 @@ index d5aa64842a35c6697263c63fd3a0571b64b01344..c9a0a404324ae0ae139f92d822702066
        // Clear tabs cache after moving nodes because the order of tabs may have
        // changed.
        this.tabContainer._invalidateCachedTabs();
-@@ -7145,7 +7278,7 @@
+@@ -7145,7 +7277,7 @@
              // preventDefault(). It will still raise the window if appropriate.
              break;
            }
@@ -657,7 +656,7 @@ index d5aa64842a35c6697263c63fd3a0571b64b01344..c9a0a404324ae0ae139f92d822702066
            window.focus();
            aEvent.preventDefault();
            break;
-@@ -8044,6 +8177,7 @@
+@@ -8044,6 +8176,7 @@
              aWebProgress.isTopLevel
            ) {
              this.mTab.setAttribute("busy", "true");
@@ -665,7 +664,7 @@ index d5aa64842a35c6697263c63fd3a0571b64b01344..c9a0a404324ae0ae139f92d822702066
              gBrowser._tabAttrModified(this.mTab, ["busy"]);
              this.mTab._notselectedsinceload = !this.mTab.selected;
            }
-@@ -9009,7 +9143,7 @@ var TabContextMenu = {
+@@ -9009,7 +9142,7 @@ var TabContextMenu = {
      );
      contextUnpinSelectedTabs.hidden =
        !this.contextTab.pinned || !this.multiselected;
@@ -674,7 +673,7 @@ index d5aa64842a35c6697263c63fd3a0571b64b01344..c9a0a404324ae0ae139f92d822702066
      // Move Tab items
      let contextMoveTabOptions = document.getElementById(
        "context_moveTabOptions"
-@@ -9278,6 +9412,7 @@ var TabContextMenu = {
+@@ -9278,6 +9411,7 @@ var TabContextMenu = {
          telemetrySource: gBrowser.TabMetrics.METRIC_SOURCE.TAB_STRIP,
        });
      } else {
diff --git a/src/zen/tabs/ZenPinnedTabManager.mjs b/src/zen/tabs/ZenPinnedTabManager.mjs
index 392c53331..8788a2917 100644
--- a/src/zen/tabs/ZenPinnedTabManager.mjs
+++ b/src/zen/tabs/ZenPinnedTabManager.mjs
@@ -126,17 +126,13 @@
     }
 
     get enabled() {
-      if (typeof this._enabled === 'undefined') {
-        this._enabled = !(
-          PrivateBrowsingUtils.isWindowPrivate(window) ||
-          document.documentElement.getAttribute('chromehidden')?.includes('toolbar') ||
-          document.documentElement.getAttribute('chromehidden')?.includes('menubar')
-        );
-      }
-      return this._enabled && !gZenWorkspaces.privateWindowOrDisabled;
+      return !gZenWorkspaces.privateWindowOrDisabled;
     }
 
     async refreshPinnedTabs({ init = false } = {}) {
+      if (!this.enabled) {
+        return;
+      }
       await ZenPinnedTabsStorage.promiseInitialized;
       await gZenWorkspaces.promiseSectionsInitialized;
       await this._initializePinsCache();
diff --git a/src/zen/tests/glance/browser_glance_next_tab.js b/src/zen/tests/glance/browser_glance_next_tab.js
index ce006bad0..5e24340af 100644
--- a/src/zen/tests/glance/browser_glance_next_tab.js
+++ b/src/zen/tests/glance/browser_glance_next_tab.js
@@ -12,7 +12,14 @@ add_task(async function test_Glance_Next_Tab() {
   gBrowser.selectedTab = selectedTab;
   await openGlanceOnTab(async (glanceTab) => {
     gBrowser.tabContainer.advanceSelectedTab(1);
-    Assert.equal(gBrowser.selectedTab, tabToCheck, 'Next glance tab should equal');
+    const nextTab = gBrowser.selectedTab;
+    gBrowser.selectedTab = glanceTab;
+    await new Promise((resolve) => {
+      setTimeout(() => {
+        Assert.equal(nextTab, tabToCheck, 'Next glance tab should equal');
+        resolve();
+      });
+    });
   });
   await BrowserTestUtils.removeTab(gBrowser.selectedTab);
 });
diff --git a/src/zen/tests/glance/browser_glance_prev_tab.js b/src/zen/tests/glance/browser_glance_prev_tab.js
index 5ff1cd723..762e944db 100644
--- a/src/zen/tests/glance/browser_glance_prev_tab.js
+++ b/src/zen/tests/glance/browser_glance_prev_tab.js
@@ -11,7 +11,14 @@ add_task(async function test_Glance_Prev_Tab() {
     const tabToCheck = gBrowser.selectedTab;
     gBrowser.selectedTab = glanceTab;
     gBrowser.tabContainer.advanceSelectedTab(-1);
-    Assert.equal(gBrowser.selectedTab, tabToCheck, 'Previous glance tab should equal');
+    const prevTab = gBrowser.selectedTab;
+    gBrowser.selectedTab = glanceTab;
+    await new Promise((resolve) => {
+      setTimeout(() => {
+        Assert.equal(prevTab, tabToCheck, 'Previous glance tab should equal');
+        resolve();
+      });
+    });
     await BrowserTestUtils.removeTab(tabToCheck);
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/zen/tests/glance/head.js b/src/zen/tests/glance/head.js
index c3604d540..640d83031 100644
--- a/src/zen/tests/glance/head.js
+++ b/src/zen/tests/glance/head.js
@@ -17,17 +17,19 @@ function openGlanceOnTab(callback, close = true) {
         .then(async (glanceTab) => {
           await callback(glanceTab);
           if (close) {
-            gZenGlanceManager
-              .closeGlance({
-                onTabClose: true,
-              })
-              .then(() => {
-                resolve();
-              });
+            setTimeout(() => {
+              gZenGlanceManager
+                .closeGlance({
+                  onTabClose: true,
+                })
+                .then(() => {
+                  resolve();
+                });
+            }, 500); // Give tons of time for the glance to close
           } else {
             resolve();
           }
         });
-    });
+    }, 500); // Give tons of time for the glance to open
   });
 }
diff --git a/src/zen/tests/pinned/browser.toml b/src/zen/tests/pinned/browser.toml
index 6a6e4dea1..fd78aab36 100644
--- a/src/zen/tests/pinned/browser.toml
+++ b/src/zen/tests/pinned/browser.toml
@@ -13,5 +13,8 @@
 ["browser_pinned_reordered.js"]
 ["browser_pinned_to_essential.js"]
 
+["browser_private_mode_no_essentials.js"]
+["browser_private_mode_no_ctx_menu.js"]
+
 ["browser_issue_7654.js"]
 ["browser_issue_8726.js"]
diff --git a/src/zen/tests/pinned/browser_private_mode_no_ctx_menu.js b/src/zen/tests/pinned/browser_private_mode_no_ctx_menu.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2974005bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/zen/tests/pinned/browser_private_mode_no_ctx_menu.js
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+/* Any copyright is dedicated to the Public Domain.
+   https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ */
+
+'use strict';
+
+add_task(async function test_Private_Mode_No_Essentials() {
+  let privateWindow = await BrowserTestUtils.openNewBrowserWindow({
+    private: true,
+  });
+  await privateWindow.gZenWorkspaces.promiseInitialized;
+  await BrowserTestUtils.openNewForegroundTab(privateWindow.gBrowser, 'https://example.com/', true);
+
+  await new Promise((resolve) => {
+    privateWindow.gBrowser.selectedTab.addEventListener('popupshown', function (event) {
+      ok(
+        privateWindow.document.getElementById('context_zen-add-essentials').hidden,
+        'Context menu should not show Zen Essentials option in private mode'
+      );
+
+      ok(
+        privateWindow.document.getElementById('context_pinTab').hidden,
+        'Context menu should not show Pin Tab option in private mode'
+      );
+    });
+
+    EventUtils.synthesizeMouseAtCenter(privateWindow.gBrowser.selectedTab, {
+      type: 'contextmenu',
+    });
+  });
+
+  await BrowserTestUtils.closeWindow(privateWindow);
+});
diff --git a/src/zen/tests/pinned/browser_private_mode_no_essentials.js b/src/zen/tests/pinned/browser_private_mode_no_essentials.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..06b178289
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/zen/tests/pinned/browser_private_mode_no_essentials.js
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/* Any copyright is dedicated to the Public Domain.
+   https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ */
+
+'use strict';
+
+add_task(async function test_Private_Mode_No_Essentials() {
+  await BrowserTestUtils.openNewForegroundTab(window.gBrowser, 'https://example.com/', true);
+  let resolvePromise;
+  const promise = new Promise((resolve) => {
+    resolvePromise = resolve;
+  });
+
+  const newTab = gBrowser.selectedTab;
+  newTab.addEventListener(
+    'ZenPinnedTabCreated',
+    async function (event) {
+      ok(newTab.pinned, 'The tab should be pinned after calling gBrowser.pinTab()');
+
+      const pinTabID = newTab.getAttribute('zen-pin-id');
+      ok(pinTabID, 'The tab should have a zen-pin-id attribute after being pinned');
+
+      try {
+        const pins = await ZenPinnedTabsStorage.getPins();
+        const pinObject = pins.find((pin) => pin.uuid === pinTabID);
+        ok(pinObject, 'The pin object should exist in the ZenPinnedTabsStorage');
+
+        let privateWindow = await BrowserTestUtils.openNewBrowserWindow({
+          private: true,
+        });
+        await privateWindow.gZenWorkspaces.promiseInitialized;
+        ok(
+          !privateWindow.gBrowser.tabs.some((tab) => tab.pinned),
+          'Private window should not have any pinned tabs initially'
+        );
+
+        await BrowserTestUtils.closeWindow(privateWindow);
+      } catch (error) {
+        ok(false, 'Error while checking the pin object in ZenPinnedTabsStorage: ' + error);
+      }
+      resolvePromise();
+    },
+    { once: true }
+  );
+  gZenPinnedTabManager.addToEssentials(newTab);
+
+  await promise;
+  await BrowserTestUtils.removeTab(newTab);
+});
diff --git a/src/zen/tests/workspaces/browser.toml b/src/zen/tests/workspaces/browser.toml
index 12d4c9027..1cc57677b 100644
--- a/src/zen/tests/workspaces/browser.toml
+++ b/src/zen/tests/workspaces/browser.toml
@@ -7,4 +7,6 @@ support-files = [
 ["browser_workspace_bookmarks.js"]
 ["browser_double_click_newtab.js"]
 ["browser_overflow_scrollbox.js"]
+
 ["browser_private_mode.js"]
+["browser_private_mode_startup.js"]
diff --git a/src/zen/tests/workspaces/browser_private_mode.js b/src/zen/tests/workspaces/browser_private_mode.js
index 1bc02d42b..3c889bee5 100644
--- a/src/zen/tests/workspaces/browser_private_mode.js
+++ b/src/zen/tests/workspaces/browser_private_mode.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-add_task(async function testPrivateMode() {
+add_task(async function test_Private_Mode() {
   await SpecialPowers.pushPrefEnv({
     set: [['privacy.userContext.enabled', true]],
   });
diff --git a/src/zen/tests/workspaces/browser_private_mode_startup.js b/src/zen/tests/workspaces/browser_private_mode_startup.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c964207a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/zen/tests/workspaces/browser_private_mode_startup.js
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+/* Any copyright is dedicated to the Public Domain.
+   https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ */
+
+'use strict';
+
+add_task(async function test_Private_Mode_Startup() {
+  let privateWindow = await BrowserTestUtils.openNewBrowserWindow({
+    private: true,
+  });
+  await privateWindow.gZenWorkspaces.promiseInitialized;
+  await new Promise((resolve) => {
+    setTimeout(() => {
+      Assert.equal(
+        privateWindow.gBrowser.tabs.length,
+        1,
+        'Private window should start with one tab'
+      );
+      resolve();
+    }, 1000);
+  });
+  await BrowserTestUtils.closeWindow(privateWindow);
+});
diff --git a/src/zen/workspaces/ZenGradientGenerator.mjs b/src/zen/workspaces/ZenGradientGenerator.mjs
index daa540124..f65004661 100644
--- a/src/zen/workspaces/ZenGradientGenerator.mjs
+++ b/src/zen/workspaces/ZenGradientGenerator.mjs
@@ -1106,9 +1106,14 @@
       let workspaceTheme = theme || workspace.theme;
 
       await this.foreachWindowAsActive(async (browser) => {
+        if (!browser.gZenThemePicker.promiseInitialized) {
+          return;
+        }
+
         if (browser.closing || (await browser.gZenThemePicker?.promiseInitialized)) {
           return;
         }
+
         // Do not rebuild if the workspace is not the same as the current one
         const windowWorkspace = await browser.gZenWorkspaces.getActiveWorkspace();
         if (windowWorkspace.uuid !== uuid && theme !== null) {
diff --git a/src/zen/workspaces/ZenWorkspaces.mjs b/src/zen/workspaces/ZenWorkspaces.mjs
index 31e0aae52..bbd35c7cd 100644
--- a/src/zen/workspaces/ZenWorkspaces.mjs
+++ b/src/zen/workspaces/ZenWorkspaces.mjs
@@ -854,7 +854,6 @@ var gZenWorkspaces = new (class extends ZenMultiWindowFeature {
     await this.workspaceBookmarks();
     await gZenPinnedTabManager.refreshPinnedTabs({ init: true });
     await this.changeWorkspace(activeWorkspace, { onInit: true });
-    await this.#selectStartPage();
     this._fixTabPositions();
     this._resolveInitialized();
     this._clearAnyZombieTabs(); // Dont call with await
@@ -871,10 +870,11 @@ var gZenWorkspaces = new (class extends ZenMultiWindowFeature {
     window.addEventListener('TabBrowserInserted', this.onTabBrowserInserted.bind(this));
   }
 
-  async #selectStartPage() {
-    if (gZenUIManager.testingEnabled) {
+  async selectStartPage() {
+    if (gZenUIManager.testingEnabled || !this.workspaceEnabled) {
       return;
     }
+    await this.promiseInitialized;
     let showed = false;
     let resolveSelectPromise;
     let selectPromise = new Promise((resolve) => {
@@ -926,6 +926,7 @@ var gZenWorkspaces = new (class extends ZenMultiWindowFeature {
           this._removedByStartupPage = true;
           gBrowser.removeTab(this._tabToRemoveForEmpty, {
             skipSessionStore: true,
+            animate: false,
           });
           cleanup();
         }, 0);