diff --git a/electron/ipc/handlers.ts b/electron/ipc/handlers.ts
index 81e706c08..d17e51290 100644
--- a/electron/ipc/handlers.ts
+++ b/electron/ipc/handlers.ts
@@ -1682,8 +1682,12 @@ function attachNativeMacCaptureOutputDrain(
 	});
 }
 
+/**
+ * Resolves with the helper's own stamp of its first appended frame: the file's t=0, and
+ * so the instant the HUD timer counts from (#901). Null from a helper that sends none.
+ */
 function waitForNativeMacCaptureStart(proc: ChildProcessWithoutNullStreams) {
-	return new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
+	return new Promise<number | null>((resolve, reject) => {
 		const timer = setTimeout(() => {
 			cleanup();
 			reject(new Error("Timed out waiting for native macOS capture to start"));
@@ -1692,7 +1696,11 @@ function waitForNativeMacCaptureStart(proc: ChildProcessWithoutNullStreams) {
 		const inspect = (event: Record<string, unknown>) => {
 			if (event.event === "recording-started") {
 				cleanup();
-				resolve();
+				resolve(
+					typeof event.timestampMs === "number" && Number.isFinite(event.timestampMs)
+						? event.timestampMs
+						: null,
+				);
 				return;
 			}
 			if (event.event === "error") {
@@ -3165,8 +3173,7 @@ export function registerIpcHandlers(
 				},
 			);
 
-			await waitForNativeMacCaptureStart(proc);
-			const captureStartedAtMs = Date.now();
+			const captureStartedAtMs = (await waitForNativeMacCaptureStart(proc)) ?? Date.now();
 			const microphoneDefaulted =
 				request.audio.microphone.enabled && readMicrophoneDefaulted(nativeMacCaptureOutput);
 			if (microphoneDefaulted) {
@@ -3201,6 +3208,7 @@ export function registerIpcHandlers(
 				recordingId,
 				path: outputPath,
 				helperPath,
+				startedAtMs: captureStartedAtMs,
 				microphoneDefaulted,
 				microphoneUnavailable,
 			};
diff --git a/src/hooks/useScreenRecorder.nativeMacStartWarning.test.tsx b/src/hooks/useScreenRecorder.nativeMacStartWarning.test.tsx
index 2fc860d77..a56c7bcc4 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useScreenRecorder.nativeMacStartWarning.test.tsx
+++ b/src/hooks/useScreenRecorder.nativeMacStartWarning.test.tsx
@@ -287,6 +287,25 @@ describe("useScreenRecorder native macOS start warnings", () => {
 		expect(view.result.current.recording).toBe(true);
 	});
 
+	// The file starts at the helper's first frame, however late the start reply lands (#901).
+	it("counts the HUD timer from the helper's first frame, not from the start reply", async () => {
+		api.startNativeMacRecording.mockImplementation(async () => ({
+			success: true,
+			recordingId: 9,
+			startedAtMs: Date.now() - 20_000,
+		}));
+		const view = renderHook(() => useScreenRecorder());
+		await settle();
+
+		await act(async () => {
+			view.result.current.toggleRecording();
+		});
+		await settle(3_500);
+
+		expect(view.result.current.recording).toBe(true);
+		expect(view.result.current.elapsedSeconds).toBe(20);
+	});
+
 	it("does not warn after the recording start is cancelled", async () => {
 		let resolveStart:
 			| ((result: Awaited<ReturnType<ElectronAPI["startNativeMacRecording"]>>) => void)
diff --git a/src/hooks/useScreenRecorder.ts b/src/hooks/useScreenRecorder.ts
index 5feea0ace..33a6039aa 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useScreenRecorder.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useScreenRecorder.ts
@@ -1465,7 +1465,9 @@ export function useScreenRecorder(): UseScreenRecorderReturn {
 			};
 			webcamRecorder.current = nativeWebcamRecorder;
 			accumulatedDurationMs.current = 0;
-			segmentStartedAt.current = Date.now();
+			// From the file's first frame, not from this reply, so the timer reads what the
+			// file holds however late the reply arrives (#901).
+			segmentStartedAt.current = result.startedAtMs ?? Date.now();
 			allowAutoFinalize.current = true;
 			setRecording(true);
 			setPaused(false);
diff --git a/src/lib/nativeMacRecording.ts b/src/lib/nativeMacRecording.ts
index 971b36112..83c9509dc 100644
--- a/src/lib/nativeMacRecording.ts
+++ b/src/lib/nativeMacRecording.ts
@@ -94,6 +94,8 @@ export type NativeMacRecordingStartResult = {
 	recordingId?: number;
 	path?: string;
 	helperPath?: string;
+	/** Wall-clock ms of the take's first appended frame: the file's t=0. */
+	startedAtMs?: number;
 	/** The helper could not resolve the selected device and is using the system default. */
 	microphoneDefaulted?: boolean;
 	/** The microphone was asked for, but this macOS cannot capture it: the take has no voice. */