diff --git a/circuitforge_core/resources/coordinator/app.py b/circuitforge_core/resources/coordinator/app.py
index 1fd7c91..c51f32d 100644
--- a/circuitforge_core/resources/coordinator/app.py
+++ b/circuitforge_core/resources/coordinator/app.py
@@ -316,15 +316,26 @@ def create_coordinator_app(
                     )
                     if resp.is_success:
                         data = resp.json()
+                        svc_url = data.get("url", "")
                         alloc = service_registry.allocate(
                             service=service,
                             node_id=node_id,
                             gpu_id=gpu_id,
                             model=model,
                             caller=req.caller,
-                            url=data.get("url", ""),
+                            url=svc_url,
                             ttl_s=req.ttl_s,
                         )
+                        # Seed the instance state for first-time starts
+                        instance_state = "running" if warm else "starting"
+                        service_registry.upsert_instance(
+                            service=service,
+                            node_id=node_id,
+                            gpu_id=gpu_id,
+                            state=instance_state,
+                            model=model,
+                            url=svc_url,
+                        )
                         return {
                             "allocation_id": alloc.allocation_id,
                             "service": service,