diff --git a/src/components/__tests__/SplitGridNode.test.tsx b/src/components/__tests__/SplitGridNode.test.tsx
index 0d4d3606..a6dacdbe 100644
--- a/src/components/__tests__/SplitGridNode.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/__tests__/SplitGridNode.test.tsx
@@ -209,15 +209,27 @@ describe("SplitGridNode", () => {
       expect(screen.queryByTestId("split-grid-settings-modal")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
     });
 
-    it("should auto-open settings when not configured and no child nodes", () => {
+    it("should auto-open settings for a freshly created split grid node", () => {
       render(
         <TestWrapper>
-          <SplitGridNode {...createNodeProps({ isConfigured: false, childNodeIds: [] })} />
+          <SplitGridNode {...createNodeProps({ shouldOpenSettingsOnCreate: true })} />
         </TestWrapper>
       );
 
-      // Modal should be open automatically
       expect(screen.getByTestId("split-grid-settings-modal")).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(mockUpdateNodeData).toHaveBeenCalledWith("split-grid-node-1", {
+        shouldOpenSettingsOnCreate: false,
+      });
+    });
+
+    it("should not auto-open settings for loaded unconfigured split grid nodes", () => {
+      render(
+        <TestWrapper>
+          <SplitGridNode {...createNodeProps({ isConfigured: false, childNodeIds: [] })} />
+        </TestWrapper>
+      );
+
+      expect(screen.queryByTestId("split-grid-settings-modal")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
     });
 
     it("should not auto-open settings when already configured", () => {
diff --git a/src/components/nodes/SplitGridNode.tsx b/src/components/nodes/SplitGridNode.tsx
index 82bdba27..9b62c182 100644
--- a/src/components/nodes/SplitGridNode.tsx
+++ b/src/components/nodes/SplitGridNode.tsx
@@ -43,12 +43,14 @@ export function SplitGridNode({ id, data, selected }: NodeProps<SplitGridNodeTyp
     }
   }, [connectedSourceImage, id, updateNodeData, nodeData.sourceImage]);
 
-  // Show settings modal on first creation (when not configured)
+  // Show settings only for freshly created nodes. Loaded workflows may contain
+  // unconfigured split grids and should not open dialogs when the node mounts.
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!nodeData.isConfigured && (!nodeData.childNodeIds || nodeData.childNodeIds.length === 0)) {
+    if (nodeData.shouldOpenSettingsOnCreate) {
       setShowSettings(true);
+      updateNodeData(id, { shouldOpenSettingsOnCreate: false });
     }
-  }, [nodeData.isConfigured, nodeData.childNodeIds]);
+  }, [id, nodeData.shouldOpenSettingsOnCreate, updateNodeData]);
 
   const handleOpenSettings = useCallback(() => {
     setShowSettings(true);
diff --git a/src/store/utils/__tests__/nodeDefaults.test.ts b/src/store/utils/__tests__/nodeDefaults.test.ts
index 3daf040f..e7d856fc 100644
--- a/src/store/utils/__tests__/nodeDefaults.test.ts
+++ b/src/store/utils/__tests__/nodeDefaults.test.ts
@@ -193,6 +193,7 @@ describe("nodeDefaults utilities", () => {
       expect(data).toHaveProperty("gridRows", 2);
       expect(data).toHaveProperty("gridCols", 3);
       expect(data).toHaveProperty("isConfigured", false);
+      expect(data).toHaveProperty("shouldOpenSettingsOnCreate", true);
       expect(data).toHaveProperty("status", "idle");
       expect(data).toHaveProperty("error", null);
     });
diff --git a/src/store/utils/nodeDefaults.ts b/src/store/utils/nodeDefaults.ts
index 9190c94e..d9cb11d5 100644
--- a/src/store/utils/nodeDefaults.ts
+++ b/src/store/utils/nodeDefaults.ts
@@ -364,6 +364,7 @@ export const createDefaultNodeData = (type: NodeType): WorkflowNodeData => {
         gridRows: 2,
         gridCols: 3,
         isConfigured: false,
+        shouldOpenSettingsOnCreate: true,
         status: "idle",
         error: null,
       } as SplitGridNodeData;
diff --git a/src/types/nodes.ts b/src/types/nodes.ts
index 4a11b97f..d7f37132 100644
--- a/src/types/nodes.ts
+++ b/src/types/nodes.ts
@@ -542,6 +542,7 @@ export interface SplitGridNodeData extends BaseNodeData {
   gridRows: number;
   gridCols: number;
   isConfigured: boolean;
+  shouldOpenSettingsOnCreate?: boolean;
   status: NodeStatus;
   error: string | null;
 }