diff --git a/www/app.js b/www/app.js
index 93d71e5..811fe32 100644
--- a/www/app.js
+++ b/www/app.js
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ const STORAGE_KEY = 'kokoro-config';
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 let config = { ...CONFIG_DEFAULTS };
 let ws = null;
+let everConnected = false;  // true after first successful onopen
 let reconnectTimer = null;
 const audioQueue = [];
 const AUDIO_QUEUE_MAX = 25;
@@ -138,13 +139,19 @@ function connect() {
   }
 
   clearReconnectTimer();
-  setStatus('connecting', 'Connecting...');
+  // Only show "Connecting..." on the very first attempt.
+  // Once we've ever connected, preserve "Disconnected — retrying..." until
+  // onopen fires so there's no flicker during the reconnect loop.
+  if (!everConnected) {
+    setStatus('connecting', 'Connecting...');
+  }
 
   try {
     ws = new WebSocket(getWsUrl());
     ws.binaryType = 'arraybuffer';
 
     ws.onopen = () => {
+      everConnected = true;
       setStatus('connected', 'Connected — waiting for audio');
     };
 
@@ -171,16 +178,17 @@ function connect() {
     };
 
     ws.onclose = () => {
-      const hadError = ws && ws._hadError;
       ws = null;
-      setStatus(hadError ? 'error' : 'connecting',
-                hadError ? 'Disconnected — retrying...' : 'Reconnecting...');
+      if (everConnected) {
+        setStatus('error', 'Disconnected — retrying...');
+      } else {
+        setStatus('connecting', 'Connecting...');
+      }
       scheduleReconnect();
     };
 
     ws.onerror = () => {
       if (ws) ws._hadError = true;
-      setStatus('error', 'Connection error');
     };
   } catch (e) {
     console.error('WebSocket connection failed:', e);
@@ -312,6 +320,8 @@ async function init() {
       saveBtn.classList.remove('saved');
     }, 1500);
 
+    // Treat as fresh connection to the new server
+    everConnected = false;
     connect();
   });