diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/intelligence/health_snapshot.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/intelligence/health_snapshot.rs
index 0b309fd..b1588e1 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/intelligence/health_snapshot.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/intelligence/health_snapshot.rs
@@ -47,9 +47,30 @@ pub async fn health_snapshot(
 ) -> Result<HealthSnapshot, String> {
     let engines = heartbeat_state.lock().await;
 
-    let engine = engines
-        .get(&agent_id)
-        .ok_or_else(|| format!("Heartbeat engine not initialized for agent: {}", agent_id))?;
+    // If heartbeat engine not yet initialized, return a graceful "pending" snapshot
+    // instead of erroring — this avoids race conditions when HealthPanel mounts
+    // before the heartbeat bootstrap sequence completes.
+    let engine = match engines.get(&agent_id) {
+        Some(e) => e,
+        None => {
+            tracing::debug!("[health_snapshot] Engine not initialized for {}, returning pending snapshot", agent_id);
+            return Ok(HealthSnapshot {
+                timestamp: chrono::Utc::now().to_rfc3339(),
+                intelligence: IntelligenceHealth {
+                    engine_running: false,
+                    config: HeartbeatConfig::default(),
+                    last_tick: None,
+                    alert_count_24h: 0,
+                    total_checks: 5,
+                },
+                memory: MemoryHealth {
+                    total_entries: 0,
+                    storage_size_bytes: 0,
+                    last_extraction: None,
+                },
+            });
+        }
+    };
 
     let engine_running = engine.is_running().await;
     let config = engine.get_config().await;
diff --git a/desktop/src/store/configStore.ts b/desktop/src/store/configStore.ts
index 4151bab..2ca5692 100644
--- a/desktop/src/store/configStore.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/store/configStore.ts
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ export interface ConfigActionsSlice {
     description?: string;
     enabled?: boolean;
   }) => Promise<ScheduledTask | undefined>;
-  loadSkillsCatalog: () => Promise<void>;
+  loadSkillsCatalog: (retryCount?: number) => Promise<void>;
   getSkill: (id: string) => Promise<SkillInfo | undefined>;
   createSkill: (skill: {
     name: string;
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ export const useConfigStore = create<ConfigStateSlice & ConfigActionsSlice>((set
 
   // === Skill Actions ===
 
-  loadSkillsCatalog: async () => {
+  loadSkillsCatalog: async (retryCount = 0) => {
     const client = get().client;
 
     // Path A: via injected client (KernelClient or GatewayClient)
@@ -494,10 +494,19 @@ export const useConfigStore = create<ConfigStateSlice & ConfigActionsSlice>((set
           source: ((s.source as string) || 'builtin') as 'builtin' | 'extra',
           path: s.path as string | undefined,
         })) });
+        return;
       }
     } catch (err) {
       console.warn('[configStore] skill_list direct invoke also failed:', err);
     }
+
+    // Path C: delayed retry — kernel may still be initializing
+    if (retryCount < 2) {
+      const delay = (retryCount + 1) * 1500; // 1.5s, 3s
+      console.log(`[configStore] Skills empty, retrying in ${delay}ms (attempt ${retryCount + 1}/2)`);
+      await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, delay));
+      return get().loadSkillsCatalog(retryCount + 1);
+    }
   },
 
   getSkill: async (id: string) => {