diff --git a/photomap/frontend/static/css/control-and-search-panels.css b/photomap/frontend/static/css/control-and-search-panels.css
index 5b27c1c5..b3e745a0 100644
--- a/photomap/frontend/static/css/control-and-search-panels.css
+++ b/photomap/frontend/static/css/control-and-search-panels.css
@@ -56,7 +56,9 @@
 }
 
 #controlPanel button.back-nav-disabled,
-#controlPanel button.back-nav-disabled:hover {
+#controlPanel button.back-nav-disabled:hover,
+#controlPanel button.slideshow-disabled,
+#controlPanel button.slideshow-disabled:hover {
   opacity: 0.25;
   cursor: default;
 }
diff --git a/photomap/frontend/static/javascript/events.js b/photomap/frontend/static/javascript/events.js
index 9f7497da..f9bf2b57 100644
--- a/photomap/frontend/static/javascript/events.js
+++ b/photomap/frontend/static/javascript/events.js
@@ -205,7 +205,9 @@ export function showHidePanelText(hide) {
 
 // Listen for slide changes to update UI
 window.addEventListener("slideChanged", () => {
-  // nothing to do here yet, but could be used to update UI elements
+  // Refresh the play/pause button so it grays out when we land on the last
+  // slide in sequential mode (and re-activates when we navigate away).
+  updateSlideshowButtonIcon();
 });
 
 // Toggle grid/swiper views
diff --git a/photomap/frontend/static/javascript/slideshow.js b/photomap/frontend/static/javascript/slideshow.js
index 11ba50a4..0d81b15c 100644
--- a/photomap/frontend/static/javascript/slideshow.js
+++ b/photomap/frontend/static/javascript/slideshow.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { saveSettingsToLocalStorage, state } from "./state.js";
+import { slideState } from "./slide-state.js";
 import { isUmapFullscreen, toggleUmapWindow } from "./umap.js";
 
 // SVG icons used for the button/menu
@@ -15,6 +16,14 @@ export function slideShowRunning() {
   return !!state.single_swiper?.swiper?.autoplay?.running;
 }
 
+// In sequential mode there is a genuine end of the list, so a stopped slideshow
+// resting on the final slide has nowhere to advance to. resolveOffset(+1)
+// reports null only at that end (wrap mode always resolves to a real index, and
+// random mode has no end), so it cleanly captures the "last slide" case.
+function atSequentialEnd() {
+  return state.mode !== "random" && slideState.resolveOffset(+1).globalIndex === null;
+}
+
 // public: update the icon displayed on the start/stop button according to state
 export function updateSlideshowButtonIcon() {
   const container = document.getElementById("slideshowIcon");
@@ -42,6 +51,13 @@ export function updateSlideshowButtonIcon() {
       btn.title = `Start Slideshow (${modeLabel})`;
     }
   }
+
+  // Gray out and disable Play when stopped on the final slide in sequential
+  // mode — there is nothing left to play. Never disable the Pause button.
+  if (btn) {
+    const disabled = !isRunning && atSequentialEnd();
+    btn.classList.toggle("slideshow-disabled", disabled);
+  }
 }
 
 // small fullscreen/play indicator (moved from events.js)
@@ -92,6 +108,12 @@ export async function toggleSlideshowWithIndicator(e) {
     e.stopPropagation();
   }
 
+  // Ignore clicks while parked on the last sequential slide (button is grayed
+  // out): there is nothing to start.
+  if (!slideShowRunning() && atSequentialEnd()) {
+    return;
+  }
+
   if (slideShowRunning()) {
     // pause
     try {