diff --git a/client/public/version.js b/client/public/version.js
index 7e96c6c..cc91bca 100644
--- a/client/public/version.js
+++ b/client/public/version.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // Maintainer-controlled web client version.
 // Format: YYYY.MM.DD Rn (example: 2026.02.20 R2)
-window.CHGRID_WEB_VERSION = "2026.02.22 R169";
+window.CHGRID_WEB_VERSION = "2026.02.22 R170";
 // Optional display timezone for timestamps. Falls back to America/Detroit if unset/invalid.
 window.CHGRID_TIME_ZONE = "America/Detroit";
diff --git a/client/src/main.ts b/client/src/main.ts
index 85105ff..d1f87d2 100644
--- a/client/src/main.ts
+++ b/client/src/main.ts
@@ -2201,9 +2201,17 @@ updateStatus('Welcome to the Chat Grid. Press the Settings button to configure y
 try {
   if (sessionStorage.getItem(AUTO_RECONNECT_AFTER_RELOAD_KEY) === '1') {
     sessionStorage.removeItem(AUTO_RECONNECT_AFTER_RELOAD_KEY);
-    if (storedNickname) {
-      void connect();
-    }
+    window.setTimeout(() => {
+      const effectiveNickname = sanitizeName(dom.preconnectNickname.value || storedNickname);
+      if (effectiveNickname) {
+        dom.preconnectNickname.value = effectiveNickname;
+        state.player.nickname = effectiveNickname;
+        updateConnectAvailability();
+        void connect();
+        return;
+      }
+      updateConnectAvailability();
+    }, 250);
   }
 } catch {
   // Ignore sessionStorage failures.