diff --git a/web/src/events.ts b/web/src/events.ts
index 5aed7e5..644175d 100644
--- a/web/src/events.ts
+++ b/web/src/events.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ export class CatalogStore {
   private backoffMs = 500;
 
   start(): void {
+    // Seed the catalog from REST so the UI renders even when the events WS
+    // hasn't connected yet (or isn't available — e.g. talking to a daemon's
+    // local /api surface, which has no /api/events). The WS, when it
+    // succeeds, takes over with live deltas.
+    void this.resync();
     this.connect();
   }