diff --git a/src/backend/wayland/wl_backend.c b/src/backend/wayland/wl_backend.c
index 604e1f5..12060ba 100644
--- a/src/backend/wayland/wl_backend.c
+++ b/src/backend/wayland/wl_backend.c
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@
  * Phase 65: prop_get_transient_for implemented — walks xdg_toplevel->parent
  * chain and returns the synthetic WNativeWindow ID of the parent view so
  * dialog windows are correctly identified as transients by the policy layer.
+ * Phase 66: XDG popup initial configure — schedule configure for
+ * WLR_XDG_SURFACE_ROLE_POPUP so context menus and autocomplete dropdowns
+ * can commit their first buffer without stalling on the compositor.
  */
 
 #ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
@@ -355,8 +358,18 @@ handle_xdg_new_surface(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data)
     struct wl_toplevel_view *view;
     (void)listener;
 
+    if (xdg_surface->role == WLR_XDG_SURFACE_ROLE_POPUP) {
+        /* Phase 66: schedule the initial configure for XDG popups so clients
+         * that use popups (context menus, autocomplete, tooltips) can commit
+         * their first buffer without stalling.  We do not manage popups in
+         * the policy layer — they are self-contained transient surfaces. */
+        wlr_xdg_surface_schedule_configure(xdg_surface);
+        wwarning("wl_backend: new XDG popup (scheduled configure)");
+        return;
+    }
+
     if (xdg_surface->role != WLR_XDG_SURFACE_ROLE_TOPLEVEL)
-        return; /* ignore popups for now */
+        return;
 
     view = wmalloc(sizeof(*view));
     memset(view, 0, sizeof(*view));
diff --git a/tests/wl-smoke-test.sh b/tests/wl-smoke-test.sh
index 986568e..ca81d56 100755
--- a/tests/wl-smoke-test.sh
+++ b/tests/wl-smoke-test.sh
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@
 #      CLIENT_SIDE mode ("decoration mode=client_side" logged).
 #  23. (Phase 65) prop_get_transient_for returns parent XDG surface ID for
 #      dialog windows (build-only check — weston-simple-shm has no transients).
+#  24. (Phase 66) XDG popup initial configure scheduled so context menus and
+#      autocomplete dropdowns can commit first buffer without stalling
+#      (build-only check — weston-simple-shm creates no popups).
 #
 # This test grows as wl_backend vtable slots are implemented.
 #