diff --git a/shared/components/rstack-collab-overlay.ts b/shared/components/rstack-collab-overlay.ts
index 572dae7..d663e5c 100644
--- a/shared/components/rstack-collab-overlay.ts
+++ b/shared/components/rstack-collab-overlay.ts
@@ -121,6 +121,8 @@ export class RStackCollabOverlay extends HTMLElement {
 		}
 		if (this.#gcInterval) clearInterval(this.#gcInterval);
 		this.#gcInterval = null;
+		if (this.#runtimePollInterval) clearInterval(this.#runtimePollInterval);
+		this.#runtimePollInterval = null;
 	}
 
 	// ── Public bridge API (for canvas CommunitySync) ──
@@ -171,21 +173,36 @@ export class RStackCollabOverlay extends HTMLElement {
 
 	// ── Runtime connection ──
 
+	#runtimePollInterval: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
+
 	#tryConnect() {
 		const runtime = (window as any).__rspaceOfflineRuntime;
 		if (runtime?.isInitialized) {
 			this.#onRuntimeReady(runtime);
 		} else {
-			// Retry until runtime is ready
-			const check = setInterval(() => {
+			// Poll until runtime is ready (no timeout — WS connect can take 30s+)
+			let polls = 0;
+			this.#runtimePollInterval = setInterval(() => {
 				const rt = (window as any).__rspaceOfflineRuntime;
 				if (rt?.isInitialized) {
-					clearInterval(check);
+					clearInterval(this.#runtimePollInterval!);
+					this.#runtimePollInterval = null;
 					this.#onRuntimeReady(rt);
 				}
+				// Slow down after 15s (30 polls × 500ms) to reduce overhead
+				polls++;
+				if (polls === 30 && this.#runtimePollInterval) {
+					clearInterval(this.#runtimePollInterval);
+					this.#runtimePollInterval = setInterval(() => {
+						const rt2 = (window as any).__rspaceOfflineRuntime;
+						if (rt2?.isInitialized) {
+							clearInterval(this.#runtimePollInterval!);
+							this.#runtimePollInterval = null;
+							this.#onRuntimeReady(rt2);
+						}
+					}, 2000);
+				}
 			}, 500);
-			// Give up after 15s
-			setTimeout(() => clearInterval(check), 15000);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/shared/local-first/runtime.ts b/shared/local-first/runtime.ts
index f1d7681..db41378 100644
--- a/shared/local-first/runtime.ts
+++ b/shared/local-first/runtime.ts
@@ -88,7 +88,11 @@ export class RSpaceOfflineRuntime {
 			// 1. Open IndexedDB
 			await this.#store.open();
 
-			// 2. Connect WebSocket (non-blocking — works offline)
+			// 2. Mark initialized early so UI components can start tracking state
+			//    (WS connect can take 30s+ if the server is slow to respond)
+			this.#initialized = true;
+
+			// 3. Connect WebSocket (non-blocking — works offline)
 			const proto = location.protocol === 'https:' ? 'wss:' : 'ws:';
 			const wsUrl = `${proto}//${location.host}/ws/${this.#activeSpace}`;
 
@@ -103,9 +107,7 @@ export class RSpaceOfflineRuntime {
 				this.#setStatus('offline');
 			}
 
-			this.#initialized = true;
-
-			// 3. Storage housekeeping (non-blocking)
+			// 4. Storage housekeeping (non-blocking)
 			this.#runStorageHousekeeping();
 		} catch (e) {
 			this.#setStatus('error');