diff --git a/src/process.c b/src/process.c
index d46be48821f..3a14f60b3c2 100644
--- a/src/process.c
+++ b/src/process.c
@@ -7656,6 +7656,12 @@ child_signal_notify (void)
 static void dummy_handler (int sig) {}
 static signal_handler_t volatile lib_child_handler;
 
+/* True if Glib installs its own SIGCHLD handler that Emacs must work
+   around.  Determined once in init_process_emacs; consulted elsewhere
+   (e.g. xwidget.c) to decide whether the about:blank load workaround
+   is needed.  */
+bool glib_installs_sigchld_handler;
+
 /* Handle a SIGCHLD signal by looking for known child processes of
    Emacs whose status have changed.  For each one found, record its
    new status.
@@ -8718,6 +8724,7 @@ init_process_emacs (int sockfd)
   if (lib_child_handler != dummy_handler)
     {
       /* The hacky workaround is needed on this platform.  */
+      glib_installs_sigchld_handler = true;
       signal_handler_t lib_child_handler_glib = lib_child_handler;
       catch_child_signal ();
       eassert (lib_child_handler == dummy_handler);
diff --git a/src/process.h b/src/process.h
index 1c9b04aa06e..c43f2fe1ea9 100644
--- a/src/process.h
+++ b/src/process.h
@@ -263,6 +263,8 @@ pset_gnutls_cred_type (struct Lisp_Process *p, Lisp_Object val)
 /* True means don't run process sentinels.  This is used
    when exiting.  */
 extern bool inhibit_sentinels;
+/* True means that Glib clobbers Emacs SIGCHLD handler.  */
+extern bool glib_installs_sigchld_handler;
 
 /* Exit statuses for GNU programs that exec other programs.  */
 enum
diff --git a/src/xwidget.c b/src/xwidget.c
index 0b890375c30..e2ab7499927 100644
--- a/src/xwidget.c
+++ b/src/xwidget.c
@@ -361,13 +361,26 @@ fails.  */)
 	      g_signal_connect (G_OBJECT (ctx),
 				"download-started",
 				G_CALLBACK (webkit_download_cb), xw);
+	      /* In process.c:init_process_emacs(), we determine whether GLib
+		 overrides Emacs' SIGCHLD handler (based on Glib version
+		 and kernel; see process.c for details).
 
-	      webkit_web_view_load_uri (WEBKIT_WEB_VIEW (xw->widget_osr),
-					"about:blank");
-	      /* webkitgtk uses GSubprocess which sets sigaction causing
-		 Emacs to not catch SIGCHLD with its usual handle setup in
-		 'catch_child_signal'.  This resets the SIGCHLD sigaction.  */
-	      catch_child_signal ();
+		 webkit_web_view_load_uri() is potentially affected by this
+		 (through GSubProcess), so as a workaround we load a minimal
+		 about:blank url and restore the SIGCHLD handler afterward.
+
+		 With PGTK, this workaround has the unfortunate side-effect of
+		 making the first load of an URI not work immediately (it needs
+		 a refresh), so avoid the workaround when we can.
+
+		 See thread
+		 <https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-devel/2026-04/msg00810.html>.  */
+	      if (glib_installs_sigchld_handler)
+		{
+		  webkit_web_view_load_uri (WEBKIT_WEB_VIEW (xw->widget_osr),
+					  "about:blank");
+		  catch_child_signal ();
+		}
 	    }
 	  else
 	    {