diff --git a/tui_gateway/server.py b/tui_gateway/server.py
index e5b1447d76..2ba156587d 100644
--- a/tui_gateway/server.py
+++ b/tui_gateway/server.py
@@ -1726,6 +1726,17 @@ def _(rid, params: dict) -> dict:
         "transport": current_transport() or _stdio_transport,
     }
 
+    # Return the lightweight session immediately so Ink can paint the composer
+    # + skeleton panel, then build the real AIAgent just after this response is
+    # flushed.  This keeps startup responsive while still hydrating tools/skills
+    # without requiring the user to submit a first prompt.
+    def _deferred_build() -> None:
+        session = _sessions.get(sid)
+        if session is not None:
+            _start_agent_build(sid, session)
+
+    threading.Timer(0.05, _deferred_build).start()
+
     return _ok(
         rid,
         {
diff --git a/ui-tui/src/components/branding.tsx b/ui-tui/src/components/branding.tsx
index 0a7509f696..84e502aada 100644
--- a/ui-tui/src/components/branding.tsx
+++ b/ui-tui/src/components/branding.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,32 @@
 import { Box, Text, useStdout } from '@hermes/ink'
+import { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
+import unicodeSpinners from 'unicode-animations'
 
 import { artWidth, caduceus, CADUCEUS_WIDTH, logo, LOGO_WIDTH } from '../banner.js'
 import { flat } from '../lib/text.js'
 import type { Theme } from '../theme.js'
 import type { PanelSection, SessionInfo } from '../types.js'
 
+const LOADER_TICK_MS = 120
+
+function InlineLoader({ label, t }: { label: string; t: Theme }) {
+  const [tick, setTick] = useState(0)
+  const spinner = unicodeSpinners.braille
+  const frame = spinner.frames[tick % spinner.frames.length] ?? '⠋'
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const id = setInterval(() => setTick(n => n + 1), Math.max(LOADER_TICK_MS, spinner.interval))
+
+    return () => clearInterval(id)
+  }, [spinner.interval])
+
+  return (
+    <Text color={t.color.muted} wrap="truncate">
+      <Text color={t.color.accent}>{frame}</Text> {label}
+    </Text>
+  )
+}
+
 export function ArtLines({ lines }: { lines: [string, string][] }) {
   return (
     <>
@@ -64,7 +86,6 @@ export function SessionPanel({ info, sid, t }: SessionPanelProps) {
   }
 
   const section = (title: string, data: Record<string, string[]>, max = 8, overflowLabel = 'more…') => {
-    const skeletonRows = title === 'Tools' ? ['browser', 'terminal', 'file'] : ['apple', 'creative', 'software-development']
     const entries = Object.entries(data).sort()
     const shown = entries.slice(0, max)
     const overflow = entries.length - max
@@ -76,19 +97,16 @@ export function SessionPanel({ info, sid, t }: SessionPanelProps) {
           Available {title}
         </Text>
 
-        {skeleton
-          ? skeletonRows.map(k => (
-              <Text dimColor key={k} wrap="truncate">
-                <Text color={t.color.muted}>{k}: </Text>
-                <Text color={t.color.text}>━━━━━━━━━━━━━━</Text>
-              </Text>
-            ))
-          : shown.map(([k, vs]) => (
-              <Text key={k} wrap="truncate">
-                <Text color={t.color.muted}>{strip(k)}: </Text>
-                <Text color={t.color.text}>{truncLine(strip(k) + ': ', vs)}</Text>
-              </Text>
-            ))}
+        {skeleton ? (
+          <InlineLoader label={title === 'Tools' ? 'discovering tools' : 'scanning skills'} t={t} />
+        ) : (
+          shown.map(([k, vs]) => (
+            <Text key={k} wrap="truncate">
+              <Text color={t.color.muted}>{strip(k)}: </Text>
+              <Text color={t.color.text}>{truncLine(strip(k) + ': ', vs)}</Text>
+            </Text>
+          ))
+        )}
 
         {overflow > 0 && (
           <Text color={t.color.muted}>