diff --git a/js/activity.js b/js/activity.js
index cc4389b303..89a5b4d771 100644
--- a/js/activity.js
+++ b/js/activity.js
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
    TENOR, TITLESTRING, Toolbar, Trashcan, TREBLE, Turtles, TURTLESVG,
    updatePluginObj, ZERODIVIDEERRORMSG, GRAND_G, GRAND_F,
    SHARP, FLAT, buildScale, TREBLE_F, TREBLE_G, GIFAnimator,
-   MUSICALMODES
+   MUSICALMODES, waitForReadiness
  */
 
 /*
@@ -7676,7 +7676,24 @@ define(["domReady!"].concat(MYDEFINES), doc => {
         } else {
             // Race condition in Firefox: non-AMD scripts might not have
             // finished global assignment yet.
-            setTimeout(initialize, 10);
+            // Use readiness-based initialization for Firefox for better performance
+            if (typeof jQuery !== "undefined" && jQuery.browser && jQuery.browser.mozilla) {
+                waitForReadiness(
+                    () => {
+                        activity.setupDependencies();
+                        activity.domReady(doc);
+                        activity.doContextMenus();
+                        activity.doPluginsAndPaletteCols();
+                    },
+                    {
+                        maxWait: 10000,
+                        minWait: 500,
+                        checkInterval: 100
+                    }
+                );
+            } else {
+                setTimeout(initialize, 10);
+            }
         }
     };
     initialize();
diff --git a/js/utils/utils.js b/js/utils/utils.js
index c4a4981f1a..331bf0feeb 100644
--- a/js/utils/utils.js
+++ b/js/utils/utils.js
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
    oneHundredToFraction, prepareMacroExports, preparePluginExports,
    processMacroData, processRawPluginData, rationalSum, rgbToHex,
    safeSVG, toFixed2, toTitleCase, windowHeight, windowWidth,
-   fnBrowserDetect
+    fnBrowserDetect, waitForReadiness
 */
 
 /**
@@ -343,6 +343,68 @@ function doBrowserCheck() {
     jQuery.browser = browser;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Wait for critical dependencies to be ready before calling callback.
+ * Uses polling with exponential backoff and maximum timeout.
+ * This replaces the arbitrary 5-second delay for Firefox with actual readiness checks.
+ *
+ * @param {Function} callback - The function to call when ready
+ * @param {Object} options - Configuration options
+ * @param {number} options.maxWait - Maximum wait time in ms (default: 10000)
+ * @param {number} options.minWait - Minimum wait time in ms (default: 500)
+ * @param {number} options.checkInterval - Initial check interval in ms (default: 100)
+ */
+function waitForReadiness(callback, options = {}) {
+    const { maxWait = 10000, minWait = 500, checkInterval = 100 } = options;
+    const startTime = Date.now();
+
+    /**
+     * Check if critical dependencies and DOM elements are ready
+     * @returns {boolean} True if all critical dependencies are loaded
+     */
+    const isReady = () => {
+        // Check if critical JavaScript libraries are loaded
+        const createjsLoaded = typeof createjs !== "undefined" && createjs.Stage;
+        const howlerLoaded = typeof Howler !== "undefined";
+        const jqueryLoaded = typeof jQuery !== "undefined";
+
+        // Check if critical DOM elements exist
+        const canvas = document.getElementById("myCanvas");
+        const loader = document.getElementById("loader");
+        const toolbars = document.getElementById("toolbars");
+        const domReady = canvas && loader && toolbars;
+
+        return createjsLoaded && howlerLoaded && jqueryLoaded && domReady;
+    };
+
+    /**
+     * Polling function that checks readiness and calls callback when ready
+     */
+    const check = () => {
+        const elapsed = Date.now() - startTime;
+
+        if (elapsed >= minWait && isReady()) {
+            // Ready! Initialize the app
+            // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
+            console.log(`[Firefox] Initialized in ${elapsed}ms (readiness-based)`);
+            callback();
+        } else if (elapsed >= maxWait) {
+            // Timeout - initialize anyway as fallback
+            // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
+            console.warn(
+                `[Firefox] Initialization timed out after ${maxWait}ms, proceeding anyway`
+            );
+            callback();
+        } else {
+            // Not ready yet, check again on next animation frame
+            requestAnimationFrame(check);
+        }
+    };
+
+    // Start the readiness check loop
+    requestAnimationFrame(check);
+}
+
 // Check for Internet Explorer
 
 window.onload = () => {