diff --git a/src/lib/actions/motion.test.ts b/src/lib/actions/motion.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d3e6b3a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/actions/motion.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+import { vi, describe, test, expect, beforeEach } from 'vitest';
+
+// Control the reduced-motion preference the helper reads. `vi.hoisted` builds
+// the stub before the (hoisted) mock factory runs so we can flip `.current`
+// per test.
+const { state } = vi.hoisted(() => ({ state: { current: false } }));
+vi.mock('./reducedMotion.js', () => ({ reducedMotion: state }));
+
+import { motionSafe } from './motion.js';
+
+describe('motionSafe', () => {
+	beforeEach(() => {
+		state.current = false;
+	});
+
+	test('passes transition params through unchanged when motion is allowed', () => {
+		const params = { y: -8, duration: 300 };
+		expect(motionSafe(params)).toBe(params);
+	});
+
+	test('collapses to an instant cut under reduced motion — no leftover offsets', () => {
+		state.current = true;
+		// The whole point: a partial gate (zeroing duration but keeping `y`) would
+		// still animate position. motionSafe must drop everything but duration: 0.
+		expect(motionSafe({ y: -8, duration: 300 })).toEqual({ duration: 0 });
+	});
+});
diff --git a/src/lib/actions/motion.ts b/src/lib/actions/motion.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0bdac48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/actions/motion.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+import { reducedMotion } from './reducedMotion.js';
+
+/** Every Svelte transition params object accepts an optional `duration` (ms). */
+type MotionParams = { duration?: number };
+
+/**
+ * Gate a Svelte transition's params on `prefers-reduced-motion`.
+ *
+ * Returns `{ duration: 0 }` (an instant cut — no travel, no fade) when the user
+ * has requested reduced motion, otherwise `params` unchanged. This keeps the
+ * reduced-motion contract in one place instead of each animated component
+ * re-deriving `reducedMotion.current ? { duration: 0 } : …` (and risking a
+ * partial gate, e.g. zeroing `duration` but leaving a `y` offset).
+ *
+ * Call inside a `$derived` so it re-runs when the preference changes:
+ *
+ * ```svelte
+ * const params = $derived(motionSafe({ y: -8, duration: 300 }));
+ * // <div in:fly={params} …>
+ * ```
+ */
+export function motionSafe<T extends MotionParams>(params: T): T | { duration: 0 } {
+	return reducedMotion.current ? { duration: 0 } : params;
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/components/FilterToolbar.svelte b/src/lib/components/FilterToolbar.svelte
index 8521251..bc8ae58 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/FilterToolbar.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/FilterToolbar.svelte
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <script lang="ts">
 	import type { Snippet } from 'svelte';
 	import { slide } from 'svelte/transition';
-	import { reducedMotion } from '../actions/reducedMotion.js';
+	import { motionSafe } from '../actions/motion.js';
 
 	interface Props {
 		/** Search text (two-way bindable). Escape clears it. */
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 
 	let inputEl = $state<HTMLInputElement>();
 
-	const slideParams = $derived(reducedMotion.current ? { duration: 0 } : { duration: 140 });
+	const slideParams = $derived(motionSafe({ duration: 140 }));
 
 	// The shortcut focuses search from anywhere on the page — a nod to the
 	// terminal identity — but must never fire while the user is typing elsewhere.
diff --git a/src/lib/components/Toaster.svelte b/src/lib/components/Toaster.svelte
index 8f2a3c3..b81fb01 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/Toaster.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/Toaster.svelte
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 	import type { Snippet } from 'svelte';
 	import { fly, fade } from 'svelte/transition';
 	import { reducedMotion } from '../actions/reducedMotion.js';
+	import { motionSafe } from '../actions/motion.js';
 	import { useOverlayTheme } from '../theme/context.js';
 	import { store, remove, type ToastItem } from '../toast/store.svelte.js';
 
@@ -23,8 +24,8 @@
 	const overlayTheme = useOverlayTheme(() => invert);
 
 	// Motion is opt-out under prefers-reduced-motion.
-	const inParams = $derived(reducedMotion.current ? { duration: 0 } : { y: -8, duration: 300 });
-	const outParams = $derived(reducedMotion.current ? { duration: 0 } : { duration: 300 });
+	const inParams = $derived(motionSafe({ y: -8, duration: 300 }));
+	const outParams = $derived(motionSafe({ duration: 300 }));
 
 	// Decorative default glyphs so level is not signalled by color alone (WCAG 1.4.1).
 	const glyphs: Record<ToastItem['level'], string> = {