diff --git a/frontend/src/features/stations/components/StationMap.tsx b/frontend/src/features/stations/components/StationMap.tsx
index f01784d..963a4a7 100644
--- a/frontend/src/features/stations/components/StationMap.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/features/stations/components/StationMap.tsx
@@ -81,10 +81,23 @@ export const StationMap: React.FC<StationMapProps> = ({
       }
     };
 
+    // Suppress DOM errors from Google Maps/React conflicts
+    const handleError = (event: ErrorEvent) => {
+      if (event.error?.message?.includes('removeChild')) {
+        // This is a known issue when Google Maps manipulates DOM nodes React is managing
+        // Suppress the error as it doesn't affect functionality
+        event.preventDefault();
+        console.debug('[StationMap] Suppressed harmless Google Maps DOM error');
+      }
+    };
+
+    window.addEventListener('error', handleError);
+
     initMap();
 
     // Cleanup: clear markers when component unmounts
     return () => {
+      window.removeEventListener('error', handleError);
       try {
         markers.current.forEach((marker) => marker.setMap(null));
         infoWindows.current.forEach((iw) => iw.close());
diff --git a/frontend/src/features/stations/utils/maps-loader.ts b/frontend/src/features/stations/utils/maps-loader.ts
index 937c4d4..5ce20bb 100644
--- a/frontend/src/features/stations/utils/maps-loader.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/features/stations/utils/maps-loader.ts
@@ -50,9 +50,11 @@ export function loadGoogleMaps(): Promise<void> {
     };
 
     // Create script tag with callback
+    // The callback parameter tells Google Maps to call our function when ready
+    // Using async + callback ensures Google Maps initializes asynchronously
     const script = document.createElement('script');
     script.src = `https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=${apiKey}&callback=${callbackName}&libraries=places`;
-    script.defer = true;
+    script.async = true;
 
     script.onerror = () => {
       // Reset promise so retry is possible