diff --git a/server/spaces.ts b/server/spaces.ts
index 455f7b4..2f38020 100644
--- a/server/spaces.ts
+++ b/server/spaces.ts
@@ -240,8 +240,12 @@ spaces.get("/", async (c) => {
 			const isPermissioned = vis === "permissioned";
 			const accessible = isPublicSpace || isOwner || isMember || (isPermissioned && !!claims);
 
-			// For unauthenticated: only show public spaces
-			if (!claims && !isPublicSpace) continue;
+			// For unauthenticated: only show demo
+			if (!claims && slug !== "demo") continue;
+
+			// For authenticated: skip public spaces the user has no role in
+			// (demo is shown separately, other public spaces are noise)
+			if (claims && isPublicSpace && !isOwner && !isMember && slug !== "demo") continue;
 
 			// Determine relationship
 			const relationship = isOwner
diff --git a/shared/components/rstack-identity.ts b/shared/components/rstack-identity.ts
index 7dc954f..f42449a 100644
--- a/shared/components/rstack-identity.ts
+++ b/shared/components/rstack-identity.ts
@@ -223,6 +223,18 @@ function autoResolveSpace(token: string, username: string): void {
 		.catch(() => {});
 }
 
+// ── Silent provisioning (no redirect) — ensures user's space exists ──
+
+function autoProvisionSpace(token: string): void {
+	fetch("/api/spaces/auto-provision", {
+		method: "POST",
+		headers: {
+			Authorization: `Bearer ${token}`,
+			"Content-Type": "application/json",
+		},
+	}).catch(() => {});
+}
+
 // ── Inline URL helpers (avoid import cycle with url-helpers) ──
 const _RESERVED = ["www", "rspace", "create", "new", "start", "auth"];
 function _isSubdomain(): boolean {
@@ -264,12 +276,12 @@ export class RStackIdentity extends HTMLElement {
 		this.#refreshIfNeeded();
 		this.#render();
 
-		// Belt-and-suspenders: if a session already exists on page load,
-		// ensure the user's personal space is provisioned (catches edge
-		// cases like iframe embedding or direct navigation).
+		// If a session already exists on page load, provision the
+		// user's personal space in the background (but do NOT redirect —
+		// the user intentionally navigated to this space).
 		const session = getSession();
 		if (session?.accessToken && session.claims.username) {
-			autoResolveSpace(session.accessToken, session.claims.username);
+			autoProvisionSpace(session.accessToken);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/shared/components/rstack-space-switcher.ts b/shared/components/rstack-space-switcher.ts
index ace79d6..9b89c08 100644
--- a/shared/components/rstack-space-switcher.ts
+++ b/shared/components/rstack-space-switcher.ts
@@ -171,9 +171,8 @@ export class RStackSpaceSwitcher extends HTMLElement {
 			return;
 		}
 
-		// 3-section split — exclude demo from public since we show it separately
+		// Split: user's own spaces vs permissioned spaces they can discover
 		const mySpaces = this.#spaces.filter((s) => s.role);
-		const publicSpaces = this.#spaces.filter((s) => s.accessible !== false && !s.role && s.slug !== "demo");
 		const discoverSpaces = this.#spaces.filter((s) => s.accessible === false);
 
 		const hasOwnedSpace = mySpaces.some((s) => s.relationship === "owner");
@@ -214,25 +213,7 @@ export class RStackSpaceSwitcher extends HTMLElement {
 				.join("");
 		}
 
-		// ── Public spaces ──
-		if (publicSpaces.length > 0) {
-			if (mySpaces.length > 0) html += `<div class="divider"></div>`;
-			html += `<div class="section-label">Public spaces</div>`;
-			html += publicSpaces
-				.map((s) => {
-					const vis = this.#visibilityInfo(s);
-					return `
-				<a class="item ${vis.cls} ${s.slug === current ? "active" : ""}"
-				   href="${rspaceNavUrl(s.slug, moduleId)}">
-					<span class="item-icon">${s.icon || "🌐"}</span>
-					<span class="item-name">${this.#displayName(s)}</span>
-					<span class="item-vis ${vis.cls}">${vis.label}</span>
-				</a>`;
-				})
-				.join("");
-		}
-
-		// ── Discover (inaccessible spaces) ──
+		// ── Discover (permissioned spaces the user can request access to) ──
 		if (auth && discoverSpaces.length > 0) {
 			html += `<div class="divider"></div>`;
 			html += `<div class="section-label">Discover</div>`;