diff --git a/admin/index.php b/admin/index.php
index 50dfed3..66ea8c2 100644
--- a/admin/index.php
+++ b/admin/index.php
@@ -2480,6 +2480,7 @@ async function submitPayout(){
 
 // ─── REFERRAL MANAGEMENT ──────────────────────────────────
 let _refTiers = [];
+let _refListReqId = 0;
 
 function showRefSection(section) {
   document.getElementById('ref-admin-list').style.display     = section==='list'?'block':'none';
@@ -2490,6 +2491,7 @@ function showRefSection(section) {
 }
 
 async function loadAdminReferrals(status, btn) {
+  const reqId = ++_refListReqId;
   document.getElementById('ref-admin-list').style.display='block';
   document.getElementById('ref-tiers-section').style.display='none';
   document.getElementById('ref-shares-section').style.display='none';
@@ -2497,6 +2499,7 @@ async function loadAdminReferrals(status, btn) {
   const el = document.getElementById('ref-admin-list');
   el.innerHTML = '<div style="padding:16px;text-align:center;color:var(--text2)">Loading...</div>';
   const d = await fetch('/api/referrals.php?action=admin_list&status='+status).then(r=>r.json());
+  if (reqId !== _refListReqId) return; // discard stale response
   if (!d.success||!d.referrals.length) { el.innerHTML='<div class="empty" style="padding:24px;text-align:center">No '+status+' referrals.</div>'; return; }
   el.innerHTML = d.referrals.map(r => buildRefCard(r, status)).join('');
 }
@@ -2525,7 +2528,9 @@ async function resolveReferral(id, status) {
   }).then(r=>r.json());
   if (d.success) {
     toast(status==='verified' ? 'Verified! '+d.tokens_awarded+' tokens awarded' : 'Denied', status==='verified'?'ok':'err');
-    loadAdminReferrals('pending', document.querySelector('#section-referrals .ftab'));
+    // Reload the pending tab (items resolved out of pending); active tab indicator stays correct
+    const pendingBtn = document.querySelector('#section-referrals .ftab');
+    loadAdminReferrals('pending', pendingBtn);
     loadStats();
   } else toast(d.error||'Error','err');
 }