diff --git a/src/components/ChatPanel.vue b/src/components/ChatPanel.vue
index 4a09c9d..3ec94b7 100644
--- a/src/components/ChatPanel.vue
+++ b/src/components/ChatPanel.vue
@@ -46,13 +46,16 @@ const messagesEl = ref<HTMLElement | null>(null)
 let unlisten: UnlistenFn | null = null
 
 onMounted(async () => {
-  // Drain any events that fired while the panel was closed
-  const pending = await invoke<RobinEvent[]>('get_pending_events')
-  for (const e of pending) {
-    pushRobinEvent(e)
+  try {
+    const pending = await invoke<RobinEvent[]>('get_pending_events')
+    for (const e of pending) {
+      pushRobinEvent(e)
+    }
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.warn('Robin: failed to drain pending events:', err)
   }
 
-  // Listen for live events while panel is open
+  // Always set up the live listener, even if drain failed
   unlisten = await listen<RobinEvent>('robin:event', ({ payload }) => {
     pushRobinEvent(payload)
   })