diff --git a/cmd/status.go b/cmd/status.go
index e81b31e..b27fd61 100644
--- a/cmd/status.go
+++ b/cmd/status.go
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func runStatus(gitClient git.GitClient, githubClient github.GitHubClient) error
 		prCache = make(map[string]*github.PRInfo)
 	}
 
-	// Build the stack tree (runs in parallel with PR fetch)
+	// Build the stack tree AND wait for PR fetch (runs in parallel)
 	if err := spinner.WrapWithAutoDelay("Loading stack...", 300*time.Millisecond, func() error {
 		// Get current branch
 		var err error
@@ -125,6 +125,45 @@ func runStatus(gitClient git.GitClient, githubClient github.GitHubClient) error
 
 		// Get ALL branch names in the tree (including intermediate branches without stackparent)
 		allTreeBranches = getAllBranchNamesFromTree(tree)
+
+		// Wait for PR fetch to complete (if running)
+		if !noPR {
+			wg.Wait()
+
+			// GetAllPRs only fetches open PRs (to avoid 502 timeouts on large repos).
+			// For branches in our stack that aren't in the cache, check individually
+			// to detect merged PRs that need special handling.
+			// OPTIMIZATION: Only check branches in the current tree, not all stack branches.
+			branchSet := make(map[string]bool)
+			for _, name := range allTreeBranches {
+				branchSet[name] = true
+			}
+			baseBranch := stack.GetBaseBranch(gitClient)
+
+			for _, branch := range stackBranches {
+				// Skip branches not in the current tree
+				if !branchSet[branch.Name] {
+					continue
+				}
+				// Skip if already in cache (has open PR)
+				if _, exists := prCache[branch.Name]; exists {
+					continue
+				}
+				// Fetch PR info for this branch (might be merged or non-existent)
+				if pr, err := githubClient.GetPRForBranch(branch.Name); err == nil && pr != nil {
+					prCache[branch.Name] = pr
+				}
+				// Also check parent if not in cache and not base branch
+				if branch.Parent != baseBranch {
+					if _, exists := prCache[branch.Parent]; !exists {
+						if pr, err := githubClient.GetPRForBranch(branch.Parent); err == nil && pr != nil {
+							prCache[branch.Parent] = pr
+						}
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
 		return nil
 	}); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -143,6 +182,14 @@ func runStatus(gitClient git.GitClient, githubClient github.GitHubClient) error
 	// Check this BEFORE waiting for PR fetch to avoid long delays
 	if tree == nil {
 		baseBranch := stack.GetBaseBranch(gitClient)
+
+		// Don't offer to add the base branch to a stack - it can't have a parent
+		if currentBranch == baseBranch {
+			fmt.Printf("Branch '%s' is the base branch and cannot be part of a stack.\n", ui.Branch(currentBranch))
+			fmt.Printf("\nUse '%s' to create a new stack branch.\n", ui.Command("stack new <branch-name>"))
+			return nil
+		}
+
 		fmt.Printf("Current branch '%s' is not part of a stack.\n\n", ui.Branch(currentBranch))
 		fmt.Printf("Add to stack with '%s' as parent? [Y/n] ", ui.Branch(baseBranch))
 
@@ -167,33 +214,6 @@ func runStatus(gitClient git.GitClient, githubClient github.GitHubClient) error
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	// Wait for PR fetch to complete (if running)
-	if !noPR {
-		wg.Wait()
-
-		// GetAllPRs only fetches open PRs (to avoid 502 timeouts on large repos).
-		// For branches in our stack that aren't in the cache, check individually
-		// to detect merged PRs that need special handling.
-		for _, branch := range stackBranches {
-			// Skip if already in cache (has open PR)
-			if _, exists := prCache[branch.Name]; exists {
-				continue
-			}
-			// Fetch PR info for this branch (might be merged or non-existent)
-			if pr, err := githubClient.GetPRForBranch(branch.Name); err == nil && pr != nil {
-				prCache[branch.Name] = pr
-			}
-			// Also check parent if not in cache and not base branch
-			if branch.Parent != stack.GetBaseBranch(gitClient) {
-				if _, exists := prCache[branch.Parent]; !exists {
-					if pr, err := githubClient.GetPRForBranch(branch.Parent); err == nil && pr != nil {
-						prCache[branch.Parent] = pr
-					}
-				}
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
 	// Print the tree
 	fmt.Println()
 	printTree(gitClient, tree, "", true, currentBranch, prCache)
diff --git a/internal/spinner/spinner.go b/internal/spinner/spinner.go
index e1a7f51..ac2bf42 100644
--- a/internal/spinner/spinner.go
+++ b/internal/spinner/spinner.go
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ func (s *Spinner) run() {
 		case <-ticker.C:
 			s.mu.Lock()
 			frame := s.frames[frameIdx%len(s.frames)]
-			fmt.Fprintf(s.writer, "\r%s %s", frame, s.message)
+			fmt.Fprintf(s.writer, "\r%s %s", frame, dim.Sprint(s.message))
 			s.mu.Unlock()
 			frameIdx++
 		}
@@ -133,13 +133,14 @@ func Wrap(message string, fn func() error) error {
 var (
 	green = color.New(color.FgGreen)
 	red   = color.New(color.FgRed)
+	dim   = color.New(color.Faint)
 )
 
 // WrapWithSuccess runs a function with a spinner and shows success/error message
 func WrapWithSuccess(message, successMessage string, fn func() error) error {
 	if !Enabled {
 		// When disabled (verbose mode), print message and run
-		fmt.Println(message)
+		fmt.Println(dim.Sprint(message))
 		err := fn()
 		if err != nil {
 			fmt.Printf("%s Error: %v\n", red.Sprint("✗"), err)
@@ -160,7 +161,7 @@ func WrapWithSuccess(message, successMessage string, fn func() error) error {
 func WrapWithSuccessIndented(indent, message, successMessage string, fn func() error) error {
 	if !Enabled {
 		// When disabled (verbose mode), print message and run
-		fmt.Println(indent + message)
+		fmt.Println(indent + dim.Sprint(message))
 		err := fn()
 		if err != nil {
 			fmt.Printf("%s%s Error: %v\n", indent, red.Sprint("✗"), err)