diff --git a/apps/ui/src/components/views/github-issues-view.tsx b/apps/ui/src/components/views/github-issues-view.tsx
index 6081a2f6..10876e38 100644
--- a/apps/ui/src/components/views/github-issues-view.tsx
+++ b/apps/ui/src/components/views/github-issues-view.tsx
@@ -214,7 +214,6 @@ export function GitHubIssuesView() {
         onOpenChange={setShowValidationDialog}
         issue={selectedIssue}
         validationResult={validationResult}
-        isValidating={selectedIssue ? validatingIssues.has(selectedIssue.number) : false}
         onConvertToTask={handleConvertToTask}
       />
 
diff --git a/apps/ui/src/components/views/github-issues-view/dialogs/validation-dialog.tsx b/apps/ui/src/components/views/github-issues-view/dialogs/validation-dialog.tsx
index cc989c8c..fba1a9ea 100644
--- a/apps/ui/src/components/views/github-issues-view/dialogs/validation-dialog.tsx
+++ b/apps/ui/src/components/views/github-issues-view/dialogs/validation-dialog.tsx
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import {
   FileCode,
   Lightbulb,
   AlertTriangle,
-  Loader2,
   Plus,
 } from 'lucide-react';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
@@ -32,7 +31,6 @@ interface ValidationDialogProps {
   onOpenChange: (open: boolean) => void;
   issue: GitHubIssue | null;
   validationResult: IssueValidationResult | null;
-  isValidating: boolean;
   onConvertToTask?: (issue: GitHubIssue, validation: IssueValidationResult) => void;
 }
 
@@ -79,7 +77,6 @@ export function ValidationDialog({
   onOpenChange,
   issue,
   validationResult,
-  isValidating,
   onConvertToTask,
 }: ValidationDialogProps) {
   if (!issue) return null;
@@ -101,12 +98,7 @@ export function ValidationDialog({
           </DialogDescription>
         </DialogHeader>
 
-        {isValidating ? (
-          <div className="flex flex-col items-center justify-center py-12 space-y-4">
-            <Loader2 className="h-8 w-8 animate-spin text-muted-foreground" />
-            <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Analyzing codebase to validate issue...</p>
-          </div>
-        ) : validationResult ? (
+        {validationResult ? (
           <div className="space-y-6 py-4">
             {/* Verdict Badge */}
             <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
diff --git a/apps/ui/src/components/views/github-issues-view/hooks/use-issue-validation.ts b/apps/ui/src/components/views/github-issues-view/hooks/use-issue-validation.ts
index 25665757..136185c5 100644
--- a/apps/ui/src/components/views/github-issues-view/hooks/use-issue-validation.ts
+++ b/apps/ui/src/components/views/github-issues-view/hooks/use-issue-validation.ts
@@ -205,11 +205,8 @@ export function useIssueValidation({
   }, []);
 
   const handleValidateIssue = useCallback(
-    async (
-      issue: GitHubIssue,
-      options: { showDialog?: boolean; forceRevalidate?: boolean } = {}
-    ) => {
-      const { showDialog = true, forceRevalidate = false } = options;
+    async (issue: GitHubIssue, options: { forceRevalidate?: boolean } = {}) => {
+      const { forceRevalidate = false } = options;
 
       if (!currentProject?.path) {
         toast.error('No project selected');
@@ -224,21 +221,17 @@ export function useIssueValidation({
 
       // Check for cached result - if fresh, show it directly (unless force revalidate)
       const cached = cachedValidations.get(issue.number);
-      if (cached && showDialog && !forceRevalidate) {
-        // Check if validation is stale
-        if (!isValidationStale(cached.validatedAt)) {
-          // Show cached result directly
-          onValidationResultChange(cached.result);
-          onShowValidationDialogChange(true);
-          return;
-        }
+      if (cached && !forceRevalidate && !isValidationStale(cached.validatedAt)) {
+        // Show cached result directly
+        onValidationResultChange(cached.result);
+        onShowValidationDialogChange(true);
+        return;
       }
 
-      // Start async validation
-      onValidationResultChange(null);
-      if (showDialog) {
-        onShowValidationDialogChange(true);
-      }
+      // Start async validation in background (no dialog - user will see badge when done)
+      toast.info(`Starting validation for issue #${issue.number}`, {
+        description: 'You will be notified when the analysis is complete',
+      });
 
       try {
         const api = getElectronAPI();
@@ -256,18 +249,12 @@ export function useIssueValidation({
 
           if (!result.success) {
             toast.error(result.error || 'Failed to start validation');
-            if (showDialog) {
-              onShowValidationDialogChange(false);
-            }
           }
           // On success, the result will come through the event stream
         }
       } catch (err) {
         console.error('[GitHubIssuesView] Validation error:', err);
         toast.error(err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Failed to validate issue');
-        if (showDialog) {
-          onShowValidationDialogChange(false);
-        }
       }
     },
     [