diff --git a/wp-content/themes/apus-theme/inc/enqueue-scripts.php b/wp-content/themes/apus-theme/inc/enqueue-scripts.php
index e46bc664..b00c8064 100644
--- a/wp-content/themes/apus-theme/inc/enqueue-scripts.php
+++ b/wp-content/themes/apus-theme/inc/enqueue-scripts.php
@@ -194,8 +194,8 @@ function apus_enqueue_custom_assets() {
         'apus-main-js',
         get_template_directory_uri() . '/assets/js/main.js',
         array('apus-bootstrap-js'),
-        '1.0.2', // Cache bust: remove defer for wp_localize_script compatibility
-        true // Load in footer (defer removed for wp_localize_script to work)
+        '1.0.3', // Cache bust: force remove defer with filter
+        true // Load in footer
     );
 
     // Localize script to pass theme URL to JavaScript
@@ -211,6 +211,21 @@ function apus_enqueue_custom_assets() {
 
 add_action('wp_enqueue_scripts', 'apus_enqueue_custom_assets', 11);
 
+/**
+ * Remove defer from apus-main-js to make wp_localize_script work
+ * WordPress 6.3+ adds defer automatically to footer scripts with dependencies
+ * but wp_localize_script requires synchronous execution
+ */
+function apus_remove_defer_from_main_js($tag, $handle) {
+    if ('apus-main-js' === $handle) {
+        // Remove defer and data-wp-strategy attributes
+        $tag = str_replace(' defer', '', $tag);
+        $tag = str_replace(' data-wp-strategy="defer"', '', $tag);
+    }
+    return $tag;
+}
+add_filter('script_loader_tag', 'apus_remove_defer_from_main_js', 20, 2);
+
 /**
  * Enqueue footer styles
  */