diff --git a/client/src/ui/TimeIndicator.ts b/client/src/ui/TimeIndicator.ts
index 0ad6d08..7644f19 100644
--- a/client/src/ui/TimeIndicator.ts
+++ b/client/src/ui/TimeIndicator.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ export class TimeIndicator {
       color: #e0d0b0;
       text-shadow: 0 0 4px #00000088;
       white-space: nowrap;
+      line-height: 1;
     `;
     this.dayLabel.textContent = 'Day 1';
 
@@ -129,17 +130,17 @@ export class TimeIndicator {
 
   /** @param gameTime normalized 0-1 through the full day/night cycle */
   update(gameTime: number, dayNumber: number): void {
-    // Only update when visually changed (quantize to avoid thrash)
-    const key = Math.round(gameTime * 200).toString();
-    if (key === this.lastTimeKey) return;
-    this.lastTimeKey = key;
-
-    // Update day label when day changes
+    // Update day label when day changes (before early return so it's never skipped)
     if (dayNumber !== this.lastDayNumber) {
       this.lastDayNumber = dayNumber;
       this.dayLabel.textContent = `Day ${dayNumber}`;
     }
 
+    // Only update when visually changed (quantize to avoid thrash)
+    const key = Math.round(gameTime * 200).toString();
+    if (key === this.lastTimeKey) return;
+    this.lastTimeKey = key;
+
     // gameTime 0-1 maps linearly across the track
     // Track total inner width = daySection + 2px divider + nightSection
     const totalWidth = 240 + 2; // 240px sections + 2px divider