diff --git a/packages/react-devtools-extensions/src/contentScripts/backendManager.js b/packages/react-devtools-extensions/src/contentScripts/backendManager.js
index 402a1378576..8969bf7bedf 100644
--- a/packages/react-devtools-extensions/src/contentScripts/backendManager.js
+++ b/packages/react-devtools-extensions/src/contentScripts/backendManager.js
@@ -207,4 +207,12 @@ if (!window.__REACT_DEVTOOLS_BACKEND_MANAGER_INJECTED__) {
   window.__REACT_DEVTOOLS_BACKEND_MANAGER_INJECTED__ = true;
 
   window.addEventListener('message', welcome);
+
+  // Signal to the content script that the backend manager has been injected.
+  // This allows the content script to connect immediately without polling.
+  window.document.documentElement.setAttribute(
+    'data-react-devtools-ready',
+    'true',
+  );
+  window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('react-devtools-ready'));
 }
diff --git a/packages/react-devtools-extensions/src/contentScripts/proxy.js b/packages/react-devtools-extensions/src/contentScripts/proxy.js
index a4e7dd68241..e7d79a5f959 100644
--- a/packages/react-devtools-extensions/src/contentScripts/proxy.js
+++ b/packages/react-devtools-extensions/src/contentScripts/proxy.js
@@ -17,18 +17,23 @@ function injectProxy({target}: {target: any}) {
     window.__REACT_DEVTOOLS_PROXY_INJECTED__ = true;
 
     connectPort();
-    sayHelloToBackendManager();
 
     // The backend waits to install the global hook until notified by the content script.
     // In the event of a page reload, the content script might be loaded before the backend manager is injected.
-    // Because of this we need to poll the backend manager until it has been initialized.
-    const intervalID: IntervalID = setInterval(() => {
-      if (backendInitialized) {
-        clearInterval(intervalID);
-      } else {
-        sayHelloToBackendManager();
-      }
-    }, 500);
+    // Because of this we need to synchronize with the backend manager.
+    // We use a data attribute and a custom event to detect when the backend manager is ready,
+    // avoiding the need for CPU-intensive polling (see issue #35515).
+
+    const onBackendReady = () => {
+      window.removeEventListener('react-devtools-ready', onBackendReady);
+      sayHelloToBackendManager();
+    };
+
+    if (document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-react-devtools-ready')) {
+      onBackendReady();
+    } else {
+      window.addEventListener('react-devtools-ready', onBackendReady);
+    }
   }
 }