diff --git a/src/app.rs b/src/app.rs
index bca0f110..28e7ada5 100644
--- a/src/app.rs
+++ b/src/app.rs
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ impl AppBuilder {
                                             server_name,
                                             e
                                         );
-                                        return;
+                                        return None;
                                     }
                                 };
 
@@ -553,6 +553,10 @@ impl AppBuilder {
                                                     tool_count,
                                                     server_name
                                                 );
+                                                return Some((
+                                                    server_name,
+                                                    Arc::new(client),
+                                                ));
                                             }
                                             Err(e) => {
                                                 tracing::warn!(
@@ -583,14 +587,27 @@ impl AppBuilder {
                                         }
                                     }
                                 }
+                                None
                             });
                         }
 
+                        let mut startup_clients = Vec::new();
                         while let Some(result) = join_set.join_next().await {
-                            if let Err(e) = result {
-                                tracing::warn!("MCP server loading task panicked: {}", e);
+                            match result {
+                                Ok(Some(client_pair)) => {
+                                    startup_clients.push(client_pair);
+                                }
+                                Ok(None) => {}
+                                Err(e) => {
+                                    if e.is_panic() {
+                                        tracing::error!("MCP server loading task panicked: {}", e);
+                                    } else {
+                                        tracing::warn!("MCP server loading task failed: {}", e);
+                                    }
+                                }
                             }
                         }
+                        return startup_clients;
                     }
                     Err(e) => {
                         if matches!(
@@ -608,10 +625,12 @@ impl AppBuilder {
                         }
                     }
                 }
+                Vec::new()
             }
         };
 
-        let (dev_loaded_tool_names, _) = tokio::join!(wasm_tools_future, mcp_servers_future);
+        let (dev_loaded_tool_names, startup_mcp_clients) =
+            tokio::join!(wasm_tools_future, mcp_servers_future);
 
         // Load registry catalog entries for extension discovery
         let mut catalog_entries = match crate::registry::RegistryCatalog::load_or_embedded() {
@@ -673,6 +692,17 @@ impl AppBuilder {
             ));
             tools.register_extension_tools(Arc::clone(&manager));
             tracing::debug!("Extension manager initialized with in-chat discovery tools");
+
+            if !startup_mcp_clients.is_empty() {
+                tracing::info!(
+                    count = startup_mcp_clients.len(),
+                    "Injecting startup MCP clients into extension manager"
+                );
+                for (name, client) in startup_mcp_clients {
+                    manager.inject_mcp_client(name, client).await;
+                }
+            }
+
             Some(manager)
         };
 
diff --git a/src/extensions/manager.rs b/src/extensions/manager.rs
index f06def20..b8af4c68 100644
--- a/src/extensions/manager.rs
+++ b/src/extensions/manager.rs
@@ -937,6 +937,31 @@ impl ExtensionManager {
         &self.secrets
     }
 
+    /// Inject a pre-created MCP client (from startup loading) into the manager.
+    ///
+    /// Startup-loaded MCP clients register their tools in `ToolRegistry` but are
+    /// otherwise dropped. This method stores the client so that `list()` reports
+    /// accurate "connected" status and reconnection/session management works.
+    pub(crate) async fn inject_mcp_client(
+        &self,
+        name: String,
+        client: Arc<crate::tools::mcp::McpClient>,
+    ) {
+        if name.is_empty() {
+            tracing::warn!("inject_mcp_client called with empty name; ignoring");
+            return;
+        }
+        if let Err(e) = Self::validate_extension_name(&name) {
+            tracing::warn!(
+                error = %e,
+                name = %name,
+                "inject_mcp_client called with invalid name; ignoring"
+            );
+            return;
+        }
+        self.mcp_clients.write().await.insert(name, client);
+    }
+
     /// Register channel names that were loaded at startup.
     /// Called after WASM channels are loaded so `list()` reports accurate active status.
     pub async fn set_active_channels(&self, names: Vec<String>) {