diff --git a/src/nvim/bufwrite.c b/src/nvim/bufwrite.c
index 27bb77f82c..c8930dc909 100644
--- a/src/nvim/bufwrite.c
+++ b/src/nvim/bufwrite.c
@@ -1710,7 +1710,10 @@ restore_backup:
         xstrlcat(IObuff, shortmess(SHM_WRI) ? _(" [w]") : _(" written"), IOSIZE);
       }
     }
+    // Hide cursor while emitting "written" message, so cursor doesn't flicker in cmdline. #25974
+    ui_busy_start();
     set_keep_msg(msg_progress(IObuff, msg_id, "success", 0, true, true), 0);
+    ui_busy_stop();
   }
 
   // When written everything correctly: reset 'modified'.  Unless not
diff --git a/src/nvim/tui/tui.c b/src/nvim/tui/tui.c
index 3a0fd6bbfc..a1b57a932a 100644
--- a/src/nvim/tui/tui.c
+++ b/src/nvim/tui/tui.c
@@ -2634,12 +2634,17 @@ static void flush_buf(TUIData *tui, FlushBufFinish finish)
       fwrite(bufs[i].base, bufs[i].len, 1, tui->screenshot);
     }
   } else {
-    int ret
-      = uv_write(&req, (uv_stream_t *)&tui->output_handle, bufs, ARRAY_SIZE(bufs), NULL);
-    if (ret) {
-      ELOG("uv_write failed: %s", uv_strerror(ret));
+    unsigned nbufs = ARRAY_SIZE(bufs);
+    while (nbufs > 0 && bufs[nbufs - 1].len == 0) {
+      nbufs--;  // Trim trailing zero-length buffers. https://github.com/libuv/libuv/issues/5182
+    }
+    if (nbufs > 0) {
+      int ret = uv_write(&req, (uv_stream_t *)&tui->output_handle, bufs, nbufs, NULL);
+      if (ret) {
+        ELOG("uv_write failed: %s", uv_strerror(ret));
+      }
+      uv_run(&tui->write_loop, UV_RUN_DEFAULT);
     }
-    uv_run(&tui->write_loop, UV_RUN_DEFAULT);
   }
   tui->buf_to_flush = NULL;
   tui->bufpos = 0;
diff --git a/test/functional/ui/messages_spec.lua b/test/functional/ui/messages_spec.lua
index fa45293ebe..e79decbc3f 100644
--- a/test/functional/ui/messages_spec.lua
+++ b/test/functional/ui/messages_spec.lua
@@ -1727,6 +1727,30 @@ describe('ui/builtin messages', function()
     }
   end)
 
+  it('no cursor flicker during :write message (marks UI busy) #25974', function()
+    local fname = 'Xtest_write_busy'
+    finally(function()
+      os.remove(fname)
+    end)
+    local busy_start, busy_stop = 0, 0
+    screen._handle_busy_start = (function(orig)
+      return function()
+        orig(screen)
+        busy_start = busy_start + 1
+      end
+    end)(screen._handle_busy_start)
+    screen._handle_busy_stop = (function(orig)
+      return function()
+        orig(screen)
+        busy_stop = busy_stop + 1
+      end
+    end)(screen._handle_busy_stop)
+    command('write ' .. fname)
+    screen:expect({ any = 'written' })
+    eq(true, busy_start >= 1) -- cursor was hidden while the message was emitted
+    eq(busy_start, busy_stop) -- balanced: cursor restored afterwards
+  end)
+
   it(':hi Group output', function()
     screen:try_resize(70, 7)
     feed(':hi ErrorMsg<cr>')