diff --git a/src/agent/agent_loop.rs b/src/agent/agent_loop.rs
index ae9ab041..71c4cba3 100644
--- a/src/agent/agent_loop.rs
+++ b/src/agent/agent_loop.rs
@@ -450,6 +450,14 @@ impl Agent {
             None
         };
 
+        // Eagerly initialize engine v2 so gateway API endpoints can serve
+        // data (projects, missions, threads) before the first chat message.
+        if crate::bridge::is_engine_v2_enabled()
+            && let Err(e) = crate::bridge::init_engine(&self).await
+        {
+            tracing::debug!("engine v2: eager init failed: {e}");
+        }
+
         // Start channels
         let mut message_stream = self.channels.start_all().await?;
 
diff --git a/src/bridge/mod.rs b/src/bridge/mod.rs
index a2e94fde..6d19236a 100644
--- a/src/bridge/mod.rs
+++ b/src/bridge/mod.rs
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ pub use router::{
     get_engine_mission,
     get_engine_project,
     get_engine_thread,
+    // Initialization
+    init_engine,
     // Action handlers
     handle_approval,
     handle_clear,
diff --git a/src/bridge/router.rs b/src/bridge/router.rs
index b633f125..1ae2bfa0 100644
--- a/src/bridge/router.rs
+++ b/src/bridge/router.rs
@@ -84,7 +84,10 @@ enum PendingApprovalResolution {
 }
 
 /// Get or initialize the engine state using the agent's dependencies.
-async fn get_or_init_engine(agent: &Agent) -> Result<(), Error> {
+///
+/// Called eagerly at startup (from `Agent::run()`) when `ENGINE_V2=true`,
+/// and defensively from each handler as a lazy fallback.
+pub async fn init_engine(agent: &Agent) -> Result<(), Error> {
     let lock = ENGINE_STATE.get_or_init(|| RwLock::new(None));
     let guard = lock.read().await;
     if guard.is_some() {
@@ -456,7 +459,7 @@ pub async fn handle_approval(
     approved: bool,
     always: bool,
 ) -> Result<Option<String>, Error> {
-    get_or_init_engine(agent).await?;
+    init_engine(agent).await?;
 
     let lock = ENGINE_STATE
         .get()
@@ -497,7 +500,7 @@ pub async fn handle_exec_approval(
     approved: bool,
     always: bool,
 ) -> Result<Option<String>, Error> {
-    get_or_init_engine(agent).await?;
+    init_engine(agent).await?;
 
     let lock = ENGINE_STATE
         .get()
@@ -642,7 +645,7 @@ pub async fn handle_interrupt(
     agent: &Agent,
     message: &IncomingMessage,
 ) -> Result<Option<String>, Error> {
-    get_or_init_engine(agent).await?;
+    init_engine(agent).await?;
 
     let lock = ENGINE_STATE
         .get()
@@ -703,7 +706,7 @@ pub async fn handle_clear(
 
 /// Stop all active threads and clear conversation entries.
 async fn clear_engine_conversation(agent: &Agent, message: &IncomingMessage) -> Result<(), Error> {
-    get_or_init_engine(agent).await?;
+    init_engine(agent).await?;
 
     let lock = ENGINE_STATE
         .get()
@@ -758,7 +761,7 @@ pub async fn handle_with_engine(
     content: &str,
 ) -> Result<Option<String>, Error> {
     // Ensure engine is initialized
-    get_or_init_engine(agent).await?;
+    init_engine(agent).await?;
 
     let lock = ENGINE_STATE
         .get()