diff --git a/tests/tui_gateway/test_inline_rpc_gil_starvation.py b/tests/tui_gateway/test_inline_rpc_gil_starvation.py
index e9a01a76c58..80244b71a73 100644
--- a/tests/tui_gateway/test_inline_rpc_gil_starvation.py
+++ b/tests/tui_gateway/test_inline_rpc_gil_starvation.py
@@ -64,9 +64,11 @@ def capture(server):
 # seconds when the GIL is contended by concurrent agent turns.
 
 FRONTEND_POLLED_RPCS = [
-    "session.list",   # loads session list — SQLite query
-    "pet.info",       # petdex poll — file/network read
-    "process.list",   # background process status — process registry scan
+    "session.list",          # loads session list — SQLite query
+    "pet.info",              # petdex poll — file/network read
+    "process.list",          # background process status — process registry scan
+    "setup.runtime_check",   # runtime readiness — resolve_runtime_provider() I/O
+    "setup.status",          # provider configured check — config/credential scan
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/tui_gateway/server.py b/tui_gateway/server.py
index faa09ff18c6..944d5273fd9 100644
--- a/tui_gateway/server.py
+++ b/tui_gateway/server.py
@@ -212,6 +212,16 @@ _LONG_HANDLERS = frozenset(
         "projects.for_cwd",
         "projects.tree",
         "projects.project_sessions",
+        # Setup readiness RPCs are polled by the Desktop frontend on connect
+        # and periodically (use-status-snapshot → evaluateRuntimeReadiness).
+        # setup.runtime_check calls resolve_runtime_provider() which reads
+        # config, checks auth state, and may probe the provider endpoint;
+        # setup.status calls _has_any_provider_configured() which scans
+        # provider config + credential files. Under GIL pressure from
+        # concurrent agent turns, either can take seconds inline, blocking
+        # the WS read loop and causing false "needs setup" (#50005 family).
+        "setup.runtime_check",
+        "setup.status",
         "session.branch",
         "session.compress",
         "session.list",