diff --git a/packages/lint/src/rules/gsap.test.ts b/packages/lint/src/rules/gsap.test.ts
index 23c488dd3a..6587c51596 100644
--- a/packages/lint/src/rules/gsap.test.ts
+++ b/packages/lint/src/rules/gsap.test.ts
@@ -138,6 +138,79 @@ describe("GSAP rules", () => {
     expect(finding).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
+  it.each([
+    ["bracket / load", 'window.__timelines["c1"]', 'document.fonts.load("16px Inter")'],
+    ["dot / ready", "window.__timelines.c1", "document.fonts.ready"],
+    ["dot / load", "window.__timelines.c1", 'document.fonts.load("16px Inter")'],
+    ["spaced dot / load", "window . __timelines . c1", 'document . fonts . load("16px Inter")'],
+  ])("flags early registration with %s", async (_label, registry, fontWait) => {
+    const html = `
+<html><body>
+  <div data-composition-id="c1" data-width="1920" data-height="1080"><h1 id="title">Text</h1></div>
+  <script>
+    const tl = gsap.timeline({ paused: true });
+    ${registry} = tl;
+    ${fontWait}.then(() => {
+      tl.to("#title", { x: 20, duration: 1 });
+    });
+  </script>
+</body></html>`;
+
+    const result = await lintHyperframeHtml(html);
+    expect(
+      result.findings.filter(
+        (finding) => finding.code === "gsap_timeline_registered_before_async_build",
+      ),
+    ).toEqual([expect.objectContaining({ severity: "error" })]);
+  });
+
+  it.each([
+    ['window.__timelines["c1"]', "document.fonts.ready"],
+    ['window.__timelines["c1"]', 'document.fonts.load("16px Inter")'],
+    ["window.__timelines.c1", "document.fonts.ready"],
+    ["window.__timelines.c1", 'document.fonts.load("16px Inter")'],
+  ])("accepts %s registered after %s builds the timeline", async (registry, fontWait) => {
+    const html = `
+<html><body>
+  <div data-composition-id="c1" data-width="1920" data-height="1080"><h1 id="title">Text</h1></div>
+  <script>
+    const tl = gsap.timeline({ paused: true });
+    const existing = ${registry};
+    ${fontWait}.then(() => {
+      tl.to("#title", { x: 20, duration: 1 });
+      ${registry} = tl;
+    });
+  </script>
+</body></html>`;
+
+    const result = await lintHyperframeHtml(html);
+    expect(
+      result.findings.find(
+        (finding) => finding.code === "gsap_timeline_registered_before_async_build",
+      ),
+    ).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it("accepts a fonts.load callback that adds no deferred animation", async () => {
+    const html = `
+<html><body>
+  <div data-composition-id="c1" data-width="1920" data-height="1080"><h1 id="title">Text</h1></div>
+  <script>
+    const tl = gsap.timeline({ paused: true });
+    tl.to("#title", { x: 20, duration: 1 });
+    window.__timelines.c1 = tl;
+    document.fonts.load("16px Inter").then(() => console.log("fonts loaded"));
+  </script>
+</body></html>`;
+
+    const result = await lintHyperframeHtml(html);
+    expect(
+      result.findings.find(
+        (finding) => finding.code === "gsap_timeline_registered_before_async_build",
+      ),
+    ).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
   it("does NOT error when GSAP animates opacity on a clip element (by id)", async () => {
     const html = `
 <html><body>
diff --git a/packages/lint/src/rules/gsap.ts b/packages/lint/src/rules/gsap.ts
index fa11b63255..b6d222b81e 100644
--- a/packages/lint/src/rules/gsap.ts
+++ b/packages/lint/src/rules/gsap.ts
@@ -1671,7 +1671,7 @@ export const gsapRules: LintRule<LintContext>[] = [
   },
 
   // gsap_timeline_registered_before_async_build — registering window.__timelines[id]
-  // BEFORE the timeline is built inside document.fonts.ready (or any async callback)
+  // BEFORE the timeline is built inside a font-ready callback
   // leaves an EMPTY timeline registered. The runtime's sub-composition readiness gate
   // treats "key present" as "ready" and nests the child ONCE, while still empty — so the
   // animation never renders when this composition is mounted as a sub-composition.
@@ -1680,14 +1680,16 @@ export const gsapRules: LintRule<LintContext>[] = [
     const findings: HyperframeLintFinding[] = [];
     for (const script of scripts) {
       const content = stripJsComments(script.content);
-      const regIdx = content.search(/window\s*\.\s*__timelines\s*\[/);
+      const regIdx = content.search(
+        /window\s*\.\s*__timelines\s*(?:\[[^\]]+\]|\.\s*[A-Za-z_$][\w$]*)\s*=\s*(?!=)/,
+      );
       if (regIdx < 0) continue;
-      const fontsReadyIdx = content.search(/document\s*\.\s*fonts\s*\.\s*ready/);
+      const fontsReadyIdx = content.search(/document\s*\.\s*fonts\s*\.\s*(?:ready\b|load\s*\()/);
       if (fontsReadyIdx < 0) continue;
       // Registering after the async boundary is the correct pattern — skip it.
       if (regIdx >= fontsReadyIdx) continue;
       // Confirm the build is actually deferred past the boundary (a tween/build call
-      // appears after document.fonts.ready), i.e. the registered timeline starts empty.
+      // appears after the font wait), i.e. the registered timeline starts empty.
       const tail = content.slice(fontsReadyIdx);
       if (!/\.(?:to|from|fromTo)\s*\(|buildEffect\s*\(/.test(tail)) continue;
       findings.push({
@@ -1695,12 +1697,12 @@ export const gsapRules: LintRule<LintContext>[] = [
         severity: "error",
         message:
           "window.__timelines is assigned BEFORE the timeline is built inside " +
-          "document.fonts.ready. An empty timeline registered early gets nested empty " +
+          "document.fonts.ready or document.fonts.load(). An empty timeline registered early gets nested empty " +
           "when this composition is used as a sub-composition (the readiness gate treats " +
           '"key present" as "ready" and never re-nests), so the animation renders blank.',
         fixHint:
           "Move the `window.__timelines[id] = tl;` assignment to the END of the " +
-          "document.fonts.ready callback, after the tweens are added. Optionally call " +
+          "font-ready callback, after the tweens are added. Optionally call " +
           "window.__hfForceTimelineRebind() right after, to re-nest the populated timeline.",
       });
     }