diff --git a/kitty/shaders/slang.py b/kitty/shaders/slang.py
index 76f5745a3..270df0c15 100644
--- a/kitty/shaders/slang.py
+++ b/kitty/shaders/slang.py
@@ -403,6 +403,30 @@ def topological_sort(graph: dict[str, SlangFile]) -> list[str]:
     return order
 
 
+def topological_layers(graph: dict[str, SlangFile]) -> list[list[str]]:
+    layer_of: dict[str, int] = {}
+
+    def compute_layer(node: str) -> int:
+        if node in layer_of:
+            return layer_of[node]
+        if node not in graph:
+            return -1
+        layer = max((compute_layer(dep) + 1 for dep in graph[node].imports), default=0)
+        layer_of[node] = layer
+        return layer
+
+    for node in graph:
+        compute_layer(node)
+
+    if not layer_of:
+        return []
+    max_layer = max(layer_of.values())
+    layers: list[list[str]] = [[] for _ in range(max_layer + 1)]
+    for node, layer in layer_of.items():
+        layers[layer].append(node)
+    return layers
+
+
 def get_ordered_sources_in_tree(dirpath: str) -> OrderedDict[str, SlangFile]:
     g = build_import_graph(dirpath)
     return OrderedDict({k: g[k] for k in topological_sort(g)})
@@ -819,8 +843,10 @@ def compile_builtin_shaders(build_dir: str, dest_dir: str, parallel_run: Paralle
     source_tree = get_ordered_sources_in_tree(src_dir)
     serialize_source_metadata(source_tree, dest_dir)
 
-    # First ensure all IR is generated
-    parallel_run(commands_to_compile_dir_to_ir(source_tree, src_dir, build_dir))
+    # Compile IR layer by layer so each module's dependencies finish before it starts
+    for layer in topological_layers(source_tree):
+        layer_sources = {k: source_tree[k] for k in layer}
+        parallel_run(commands_to_compile_dir_to_ir(layer_sources, src_dir, build_dir))
     # Create the specializations
     parallel_run(create_specialisations(source_tree, build_dir))
     # Now Vulkan shaders
diff --git a/kitty_tests/slang.py b/kitty_tests/slang.py
index 235f9d7c1..97c6806a9 100644
--- a/kitty_tests/slang.py
+++ b/kitty_tests/slang.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 import os
 import tempfile
 
-from kitty.shaders.slang import EntryPoint, SlangFile, Stage, build_import_graph, parse_slang_text, topological_sort
+from kitty.shaders.slang import EntryPoint, SlangFile, Stage, build_import_graph, parse_slang_text, topological_layers, topological_sort
 
 from .base import BaseTest
 
@@ -189,3 +189,42 @@ void vsMain() {}
                 f.write('not a slang file\n')
             graph3 = build_import_graph(tmpdir)
             self.assertNotIn('ignored', graph3)
+
+    def test_topological_layers(self):
+        # Linear chain a <- b <- c produces three layers
+        graph: dict[str, SlangFile] = {
+            'a': SlangFile('', '', frozenset(), frozenset(), 'a'),
+            'b': SlangFile('', '', frozenset({'a'}), frozenset(), 'b'),
+            'c': SlangFile('', '', frozenset({'b'}), frozenset(), 'c'),
+        }
+        layers = topological_layers(graph)
+        self.assertEqual(len(layers), 3)
+        self.assertIn('a', layers[0])
+        self.assertIn('b', layers[1])
+        self.assertIn('c', layers[2])
+
+        # Diamond: base <- left, base <- right, left+right <- top
+        # base is layer 0, left and right are layer 1, top is layer 2
+        diamond: dict[str, SlangFile] = {
+            'base': SlangFile('', '', frozenset(), frozenset(), 'base'),
+            'left': SlangFile('', '', frozenset({'base'}), frozenset(), 'left'),
+            'right': SlangFile('', '', frozenset({'base'}), frozenset(), 'right'),
+            'top': SlangFile('', '', frozenset({'left', 'right'}), frozenset(), 'top'),
+        }
+        layers2 = topological_layers(diamond)
+        self.assertEqual(len(layers2), 3)
+        self.assertIn('base', layers2[0])
+        self.assertIn('left', layers2[1])
+        self.assertIn('right', layers2[1])
+        self.assertIn('top', layers2[2])
+
+        # Node with import not in graph is treated as layer 0
+        partial: dict[str, SlangFile] = {
+            'x': SlangFile('', '', frozenset({'missing'}), frozenset(), 'x'),
+        }
+        layers3 = topological_layers(partial)
+        self.assertEqual(len(layers3), 1)
+        self.assertIn('x', layers3[0])
+
+        # Empty graph
+        self.assertEqual(topological_layers({}), [])