diff --git a/lib/core/widgets/app_pull_to_refresh.dart b/lib/core/widgets/app_pull_to_refresh.dart
index 647c080..1961981 100644
--- a/lib/core/widgets/app_pull_to_refresh.dart
+++ b/lib/core/widgets/app_pull_to_refresh.dart
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import '../theme/app_colors.dart';
 
 const double _maxPullDistance = 96;
 const double _refreshThreshold = 56;
-const double _holdDistance = 56;
 const double _indicatorHeight = 56;
 const double _indicatorMaxOffset = 10;
 const Duration _arrowTurnDuration = Duration(milliseconds: 160);
@@ -42,6 +41,7 @@ class _AppPullToRefreshState extends State<AppPullToRefresh>
   late final AnimationController _offsetController;
   _PullState _state = _PullState.idle;
   bool _refreshing = false;
+  bool _retracting = false;
 
   @override
   void initState() {
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ class _AppPullToRefreshState extends State<AppPullToRefresh>
   }
 
   bool _onScroll(ScrollNotification notification) {
-    if (notification.depth != 0 || _refreshing) return false;
+    if (notification.depth != 0 || _refreshing || _retracting) return false;
     if (notification is ScrollStartNotification) {
       if (notification.dragDetails != null) _setPullDistance(0);
     } else if (notification is ScrollUpdateNotification) {
@@ -91,24 +91,31 @@ class _AppPullToRefreshState extends State<AppPullToRefresh>
   }
 
   void _release() {
-    if (_refreshing) return;
+    if (_refreshing || _retracting) return;
     if (_state == _PullState.armed) {
       unawaited(_refresh());
     } else if (_state == _PullState.pull) {
-      _offsetController.value = 0;
-      setState(() {
-        _state = _PullState.idle;
-      });
+      unawaited(_retract());
     }
   }
 
+  Future<void> _retract() async {
+    if (_retracting) return;
+    _retracting = true;
+    await _animateOffsetTo(0);
+    if (!mounted) return;
+    setState(() {
+      _state = _PullState.idle;
+      _retracting = false;
+    });
+  }
+
   Future<void> _refresh() async {
     if (_refreshing) return;
     _refreshing = true;
     setState(() => _state = _PullState.refreshing);
     final refreshFuture = Future<void>.sync(widget.onRefresh);
     try {
-      await _animateOffsetTo(_holdDistance);
       await refreshFuture;
     } finally {
       if (mounted) {
@@ -152,7 +159,10 @@ class _AppPullToRefreshState extends State<AppPullToRefresh>
               Transform.translate(
                 key: const Key('pull-refresh-content'),
                 offset: Offset(0, offset),
-                child: IgnorePointer(ignoring: _refreshing, child: child),
+                child: IgnorePointer(
+                  ignoring: _refreshing || _retracting,
+                  child: child,
+                ),
               ),
               if (_state != _PullState.idle && offset > 0)
                 Positioned(
diff --git a/test/core/app_pull_to_refresh_test.dart b/test/core/app_pull_to_refresh_test.dart
index d69d032..8cf5e49 100644
--- a/test/core/app_pull_to_refresh_test.dart
+++ b/test/core/app_pull_to_refresh_test.dart
@@ -9,9 +9,10 @@ import 'package:fruitshorts/core/widgets/app_pull_to_refresh.dart';
 import 'package:fruitshorts/l10n/app_localizations.dart';
 
 void main() {
-  testWidgets('should_hold_pull_offset_until_refresh_completes', (
+  testWidgets('should_freeze_pull_offset_until_refresh_completes', (
     tester,
   ) async {
+    expect(AppPullToRefresh.physics.parent, isA<ClampingScrollPhysics>());
     final refresh = Completer<void>();
     var calls = 0;
     await tester.pumpWidget(
@@ -66,13 +67,12 @@ void main() {
       AppColors.blue,
     );
     expect(calls, 1);
-    expect(_contentOffset(tester), greaterThan(56));
+    final releaseOffset = _contentOffset(tester);
+    expect(releaseOffset, greaterThan(56));
     expect(find.byType(CircularProgressIndicator), findsOneWidget);
 
-    await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 200));
-    expect(_contentOffset(tester), closeTo(56, 0.1));
     await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 300));
-    expect(_contentOffset(tester), closeTo(56, 0.1));
+    expect(_contentOffset(tester), closeTo(releaseOffset, 0.1));
 
     final duplicate = await tester.startGesture(
       tester.getCenter(find.byKey(const Key('pull-refresh-list'))),
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ void main() {
     await duplicate.up();
     await tester.pump();
     expect(calls, 1);
-    expect(_contentOffset(tester), closeTo(56, 0.1));
+    expect(_contentOffset(tester), closeTo(releaseOffset, 0.1));
 
     refresh.complete();
     await tester.pump();
@@ -90,6 +90,54 @@ void main() {
     expect(find.text('Refreshing…'), findsNothing);
     expect(find.text('Pull to refresh'), findsNothing);
   });
+
+  testWidgets('should_animate_back_when_released_below_threshold', (
+    tester,
+  ) async {
+    var calls = 0;
+    await tester.pumpWidget(
+      MaterialApp(
+        locale: const Locale('en'),
+        localizationsDelegates: AppLocalizations.localizationsDelegates,
+        supportedLocales: AppLocalizations.supportedLocales,
+        home: Scaffold(
+          body: AppPullToRefresh(
+            onRefresh: () async {
+              calls++;
+            },
+            child: ListView(
+              key: const Key('pull-refresh-list'),
+              physics: AppPullToRefresh.physics,
+              children: const [SizedBox(height: 1200)],
+            ),
+          ),
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+
+    final list = find.byKey(const Key('pull-refresh-list'));
+    final gesture = await tester.startGesture(tester.getCenter(list));
+    await gesture.moveBy(const Offset(0, 30));
+    await tester.pump();
+    final releaseOffset = _contentOffset(tester);
+    expect(releaseOffset, greaterThan(0));
+    expect(releaseOffset, lessThan(56));
+    expect(find.text('Pull to refresh'), findsOneWidget);
+
+    await gesture.up();
+    await tester.pump();
+    expect(calls, 0);
+    expect(find.text('Refreshing…'), findsNothing);
+    expect(_contentOffset(tester), greaterThan(0));
+
+    await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 100));
+    expect(_contentOffset(tester), greaterThan(0));
+    expect(_contentOffset(tester), lessThan(releaseOffset));
+
+    await tester.pumpAndSettle();
+    expect(_contentOffset(tester), closeTo(0, 0.1));
+    expect(find.text('Pull to refresh'), findsNothing);
+  });
 }
 
 double _contentOffset(WidgetTester tester) {