diff --git a/evalharness/model/runner.py b/evalharness/model/runner.py
index 450a49b..7084237 100644
--- a/evalharness/model/runner.py
+++ b/evalharness/model/runner.py
@@ -829,6 +829,13 @@ async def run_eval(
 
     if status_callback:
         status_callback('Scoring predictions against the benchmark recipe')
+    # retarget the bar to scoring IMMEDIATELY (0/N): waiting for the first
+    # on_scored left the stale GENERATION counters (100%, +N new) on screen
+    # through minute-long preflights (image pulls) -- reading as 'done'
+    if progress_reporter is not None and _records is None:
+        _ss0 = getattr(progress_reporter, 'set_scoring', None)
+        if _ss0 is not None:
+            _ss0(0, len(samples))
     _meta = {'gen_input_tokens': usage.input_tokens,
              'gen_output_tokens': usage.output_tokens,
              'gen_total_tokens': usage.total_tokens,