diff --git a/surfaces/gui/e2e/boot.spec.ts b/surfaces/gui/e2e/boot.spec.ts
index c5000875..53743b95 100644
--- a/surfaces/gui/e2e/boot.spec.ts
+++ b/surfaces/gui/e2e/boot.spec.ts
@@ -42,3 +42,34 @@ test("model picker recovers when settings fetches die during sidecar boot", asyn
   });
   await expect(page.getByTestId("models-loading")).toHaveCount(0);
 });
+
+test("coworker picker recovers when the persona fetch dies during sidecar boot", async ({
+  page,
+}) => {
+  // Same cold-start shape as above, for /v1/personas (owner-hit 2026-08-13, packaged app):
+  // the mount-time fetch loses to the sidecar boot and its only other trigger is
+  // PERSONAS_CHANGED, so the composer's picker stayed empty for the WHOLE session — while
+  // Settings ▸ Coworkers (mounted later) listed everything and looked healthy.
+  let sidecarUp = false;
+  await page.route("**/v1/health", async (route) => {
+    await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 700));
+    sidecarUp = true;
+    await route.fallback();
+  });
+  await page.route("**/v1/personas", async (route) => {
+    if (route.request().method() === "GET" && !sidecarUp) {
+      await route.abort();
+      return;
+    }
+    await route.fallback();
+  });
+
+  await page.goto("/");
+  await page.getByText("New session").first().click();
+  await page.getByTestId("coworker-chip").click();
+
+  // The menu must list real coworkers, not just its Import/Manage footer.
+  const menu = page.locator(".setup-menu");
+  await expect(menu.getByText("Code Coworker")).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+  await expect(menu.getByTestId("import-coworker")).toBeVisible();
+});
diff --git a/surfaces/gui/src/App.tsx b/surfaces/gui/src/App.tsx
index bf11dc57..006b3d07 100644
--- a/surfaces/gui/src/App.tsx
+++ b/surfaces/gui/src/App.tsx
@@ -338,14 +338,16 @@ export function App() {
   // Persona metadata drives workspace behavior by FAMILY, not by hardcoded id (so a DevOps/SecOps
   // code-family persona gates a folder like Code, and a knowledge persona starts orphan like Cowork).
   const [personas, setPersonas] = useState<Persona[] | null>(null);
+  const loadPersonas = useCallback(() => {
+    getPersonas().then(setPersonas).catch(() => {});
+  }, []);
   useEffect(() => {
-    const load = () => getPersonas().then(setPersonas).catch(() => {});
-    load();
+    loadPersonas();
     // The composer's coworker picker is always mounted on a fresh session — refetch on
     // mutations (enable/install from Settings) instead of going stale.
-    window.addEventListener(PERSONAS_CHANGED, load);
-    return () => window.removeEventListener(PERSONAS_CHANGED, load);
-  }, []);
+    window.addEventListener(PERSONAS_CHANGED, loadPersonas);
+    return () => window.removeEventListener(PERSONAS_CHANGED, loadPersonas);
+  }, [loadPersonas]);
   const personaOf = (a: string) => personas?.find((p) => p.id === a);
 
   // Pending Inbox items for the ACTIVE session — surfaced inline above the composer so an
@@ -505,6 +507,11 @@ export function App() {
           // on a cold start that left "Loading models…" stuck until the user visited
           // Settings (owner-hit 2026-07-23). Health just answered, so this one lands.
           loadSettings();
+          // Same race, same fix: the mount-time persona fetch loses to the sidecar boot in
+          // the packaged app, and its only other trigger is PERSONAS_CHANGED — so the
+          // composer's coworker picker stayed empty for the whole session while Settings
+          // (mounted later) looked fine (owner-hit 2026-08-13).
+          loadPersonas();
           if (!cancelled) setBooting(false);
         })
         .catch(() => {