diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index fa0c77ad1..0c9a6506f 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # shiny (development version)
 
+## New features and improvements
+
+* Small improvements to the default pulse busy indicator to better blend with any background. It's also now slightly smaller by default. (#4122)
+
 # shiny 1.9.1
 
 ## Bug fixes
diff --git a/inst/www/shared/busy-indicators/busy-indicators.css b/inst/www/shared/busy-indicators/busy-indicators.css
index 661461986..ef325bed6 100644
--- a/inst/www/shared/busy-indicators/busy-indicators.css
+++ b/inst/www/shared/busy-indicators/busy-indicators.css
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 /*! shiny 1.9.1.9000 | (c) 2012-2024 RStudio, PBC. | License: GPL-3 | file LICENSE */
-:where([data-shiny-busy-spinners] .recalculating){position:relative}[data-shiny-busy-spinners] .recalculating:after{position:absolute;content:"";--_shiny-spinner-url: var(--shiny-spinner-url, url(spinners/ring.svg));--_shiny-spinner-color: var(--shiny-spinner-color, var(--bs-primary, #007bc2));--_shiny-spinner-size: var(--shiny-spinner-size, 32px);--_shiny-spinner-delay: var(--shiny-spinner-delay, 1s);background:var(--_shiny-spinner-color);width:var(--_shiny-spinner-size);height:var(--_shiny-spinner-size);inset:calc(50% - var(--_shiny-spinner-size) / 2);mask-image:var(--_shiny-spinner-url);-webkit-mask-image:var(--_shiny-spinner-url);opacity:0;animation-delay:var(--_shiny-spinner-delay);animation-name:fade-in;animation-duration:.25s;animation-fill-mode:forwards}[data-shiny-busy-spinners] .recalculating:has(>*),[data-shiny-busy-spinners] .recalculating:empty{opacity:1}[data-shiny-busy-spinners] .recalculating>*:not(.recalculating){opacity:var(--_shiny-fade-opacity);transition:opacity .25s ease var(--shiny-spinner-delay, 1s)}[data-shiny-busy-spinners] .recalculating.shiny-html-output:after{display:none}[data-shiny-busy-spinners][data-shiny-busy-pulse].shiny-busy:after{--_shiny-pulse-background: var( --shiny-pulse-background, linear-gradient( 120deg, var(--bs-body-bg, #fff), var(--bs-indigo, #4b00c1), var(--bs-purple, #74149c), var(--bs-pink, #bf007f), var(--bs-body-bg, #fff) ) );--_shiny-pulse-height: var(--shiny-pulse-height, 5px);--_shiny-pulse-speed: var(--shiny-pulse-speed, 1.85s);position:fixed;top:0;left:0;height:var(--_shiny-pulse-height);background:var(--_shiny-pulse-background);z-index:9999;animation-name:busy-page-pulse;animation-duration:var(--_shiny-pulse-speed);animation-iteration-count:infinite;animation-timing-function:ease-in-out;content:""}[data-shiny-busy-spinners][data-shiny-busy-pulse].shiny-busy:has(.recalculating):after{display:none}[data-shiny-busy-spinners][data-shiny-busy-pulse].shiny-busy:has(#shiny-disconnected-overlay):after{display:none}[data-shiny-busy-pulse]:not([data-shiny-busy-spinners]).shiny-busy:after{--_shiny-pulse-background: var( --shiny-pulse-background, linear-gradient( 120deg, var(--bs-body-bg, #fff), var(--bs-indigo, #4b00c1), var(--bs-purple, #74149c), var(--bs-pink, #bf007f), var(--bs-body-bg, #fff) ) );--_shiny-pulse-height: var(--shiny-pulse-height, 5px);--_shiny-pulse-speed: var(--shiny-pulse-speed, 1.85s);position:fixed;top:0;left:0;height:var(--_shiny-pulse-height);background:var(--_shiny-pulse-background);z-index:9999;animation-name:busy-page-pulse;animation-duration:var(--_shiny-pulse-speed);animation-iteration-count:infinite;animation-timing-function:ease-in-out;content:""}[data-shiny-busy-pulse]:not([data-shiny-busy-spinners]).shiny-busy:has(#shiny-disconnected-overlay):after{display:none}@keyframes fade-in{0%{opacity:0}to{opacity:1}}@keyframes busy-page-pulse{0%{left:-75%;width:75%}50%{left:100%;width:75%}to{left:-75%;width:75%}}.shiny-spinner-output-container{--shiny-spinner-size: 0px}
+:where([data-shiny-busy-spinners] .recalculating){position:relative}[data-shiny-busy-spinners] .recalculating:after{position:absolute;content:"";--_shiny-spinner-url: var(--shiny-spinner-url, url(spinners/ring.svg));--_shiny-spinner-color: var(--shiny-spinner-color, var(--bs-primary, #007bc2));--_shiny-spinner-size: var(--shiny-spinner-size, 32px);--_shiny-spinner-delay: var(--shiny-spinner-delay, 1s);background:var(--_shiny-spinner-color);width:var(--_shiny-spinner-size);height:var(--_shiny-spinner-size);inset:calc(50% - var(--_shiny-spinner-size) / 2);mask-image:var(--_shiny-spinner-url);-webkit-mask-image:var(--_shiny-spinner-url);opacity:0;animation-delay:var(--_shiny-spinner-delay);animation-name:fade-in;animation-duration:.25s;animation-fill-mode:forwards}[data-shiny-busy-spinners] .recalculating:has(>*),[data-shiny-busy-spinners] .recalculating:empty{opacity:1}[data-shiny-busy-spinners] .recalculating>*:not(.recalculating){opacity:var(--_shiny-fade-opacity);transition:opacity .25s ease var(--shiny-spinner-delay, 1s)}[data-shiny-busy-spinners] .recalculating.shiny-html-output:after{display:none}[data-shiny-busy-spinners][data-shiny-busy-pulse].shiny-busy:after{--_shiny-pulse-background: var( --shiny-pulse-background, linear-gradient( 120deg, transparent, var(--bs-indigo, #4b00c1), var(--bs-purple, #74149c), var(--bs-pink, #bf007f), transparent ) );--_shiny-pulse-height: var(--shiny-pulse-height, 3px);--_shiny-pulse-speed: var(--shiny-pulse-speed, 1.2s);position:fixed;top:0;left:0;height:var(--_shiny-pulse-height);background:var(--_shiny-pulse-background);z-index:9999;animation-name:busy-page-pulse;animation-duration:var(--_shiny-pulse-speed);animation-direction:alternate;animation-iteration-count:infinite;animation-timing-function:ease-in-out;content:""}[data-shiny-busy-spinners][data-shiny-busy-pulse].shiny-busy:has(.recalculating):after{display:none}[data-shiny-busy-spinners][data-shiny-busy-pulse].shiny-busy:has(#shiny-disconnected-overlay):after{display:none}[data-shiny-busy-pulse]:not([data-shiny-busy-spinners]).shiny-busy:after{--_shiny-pulse-background: var( --shiny-pulse-background, linear-gradient( 120deg, transparent, var(--bs-indigo, #4b00c1), var(--bs-purple, #74149c), var(--bs-pink, #bf007f), transparent ) );--_shiny-pulse-height: var(--shiny-pulse-height, 3px);--_shiny-pulse-speed: var(--shiny-pulse-speed, 1.2s);position:fixed;top:0;left:0;height:var(--_shiny-pulse-height);background:var(--_shiny-pulse-background);z-index:9999;animation-name:busy-page-pulse;animation-duration:var(--_shiny-pulse-speed);animation-direction:alternate;animation-iteration-count:infinite;animation-timing-function:ease-in-out;content:""}[data-shiny-busy-pulse]:not([data-shiny-busy-spinners]).shiny-busy:has(#shiny-disconnected-overlay):after{display:none}@keyframes fade-in{0%{opacity:0}to{opacity:1}}@keyframes busy-page-pulse{0%{left:-14%;right:97%}45%{left:0%;right:14%}55%{left:14%;right:0%}to{left:97%;right:-14%}}.shiny-spinner-output-container{--shiny-spinner-size: 0px}
diff --git a/srcts/extras/busy-indicators/busy-indicators.scss b/srcts/extras/busy-indicators/busy-indicators.scss
index 587b6deaa..eee39bd01 100644
--- a/srcts/extras/busy-indicators/busy-indicators.scss
+++ b/srcts/extras/busy-indicators/busy-indicators.scss
@@ -64,15 +64,15 @@
     --shiny-pulse-background,
     linear-gradient(
       120deg,
-      var(--bs-body-bg, #fff),
+      transparent,
       var(--bs-indigo, #4b00c1),
       var(--bs-purple, #74149c),
       var(--bs-pink, #bf007f),
-      var(--bs-body-bg, #fff)
+      transparent
     )
   );
-  --_shiny-pulse-height: var(--shiny-pulse-height, 5px);
-  --_shiny-pulse-speed: var(--shiny-pulse-speed, 1.85s);
+  --_shiny-pulse-height: var(--shiny-pulse-height, 3px);
+  --_shiny-pulse-speed: var(--shiny-pulse-speed, 1.2s);
 
   /* Color, sizing, & positioning */
   position: fixed;
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@
   /* Animation */
   animation-name: busy-page-pulse;
   animation-duration: var(--_shiny-pulse-speed);
+  animation-direction: alternate;
   animation-iteration-count: infinite;
   animation-timing-function: ease-in-out;
 
@@ -130,17 +131,23 @@
 /* Keyframes for the pulsing banner */
 @keyframes busy-page-pulse {
   0% {
-    left: -75%;
-    width: 75%;
+    left: -14%;
+    right: 97%;
   }
-  50% {
-    left: 100%;
-    width: 75%;
+
+  45% {
+    left: 0%;
+    right: 14%;
   }
-  /* Go back */
-  100% {
-    left: -75%;
-    width: 75%;
+
+  55% {
+    left: 14%;
+    right: 0%;
+  }
+
+  to {
+    left: 97%;
+    right: -14%;
   }
 }