diff --git a/server/public/home.html b/server/public/home.html
index 5210cdd..28fc5bf 100644
--- a/server/public/home.html
+++ b/server/public/home.html
@@ -788,7 +788,7 @@
-
@@ -1795,9 +1795,19 @@ async function openConvo(kind,id){
if(!selected||selected.kind!==kind||selected.id!==id) return;
wireMentions();
const url=kind==='group'?('/api/messages/thread?group='+encodeURIComponent(id)):('/api/messages/thread?with='+encodeURIComponent(id));
- let msgs=[]; try{ msgs=await fetch(url).then(r=>r.json()); }catch(_){}
+ // msgs stays null on a failed/non-OK fetch (distinct from a genuinely empty [] thread), so a flaky
+ // desktop network can't be mistaken for "no messages".
+ let msgs=null; try{ const r=await fetch(url); if(r.ok) msgs=await r.json(); }catch(_){}
if(!selected||selected.kind!==kind||selected.id!==id) return; // switched away while loading
- THREAD=Array.isArray(msgs)?msgs:[];
+ if(!Array.isArray(msgs)){
+ // Fetch failed / errored — DO NOT blank the chat or overwrite the cache (that wiped messages that
+ // are still safely on the server → the "messages disappear after reopen" bug). Keep the cached
+ // render; only show empty if we truly have nothing cached to fall back to.
+ if(!THREAD_CACHE.has(ckey)){ THREAD=[]; renderThread(); }
+ const inp0=document.getElementById('msgInput'); if(inp0) inp0.focus();
+ return;
+ }
+ THREAD=msgs;
THREAD_CACHE.set(ckey, THREAD.slice());
renderThread();
// #3: if there were unread messages, drop a "New messages" divider, scroll to the first unread,