diff --git a/src/lib/notificationPoller.ts b/src/lib/notificationPoller.ts
index 7af3948..d3d6efc 100644
--- a/src/lib/notificationPoller.ts
+++ b/src/lib/notificationPoller.ts
@@ -109,7 +109,9 @@ async function pollOnce(pubkey: string) {
 
 export function startNotificationPoller(pubkey: string) {
   stopNotificationPoller();
-  // Run first poll after a short delay (let relays connect)
+  // Fetch notification counts immediately (before full poll)
+  useNotificationsStore.getState().fetchNotifications(pubkey).catch(() => {});
+  // Run first full poll after a short delay (let relays connect)
   setTimeout(() => pollOnce(pubkey).catch(() => {}), 5000);
   intervalId = setInterval(() => pollOnce(pubkey).catch(() => {}), POLL_INTERVAL);
 }
diff --git a/src/stores/notifications.ts b/src/stores/notifications.ts
index 2e99f88..599aa05 100644
--- a/src/stores/notifications.ts
+++ b/src/stores/notifications.ts
@@ -74,11 +74,18 @@ export const useNotificationsStore = create<NotificationsState>((set, get) => ({
       // Filter out own events — your replies shouldn't be notifications
       const others = events.filter((e) => e.pubkey !== pubkey);
       const sorted = others.sort((a, b) => (b.created_at ?? 0) - (a.created_at ?? 0)).slice(0, MAX_NOTIFICATIONS);
-      const { readIds } = get();
+
+      // Don't overwrite existing notifications with empty results (relay timeout/disconnect)
+      const { readIds, notifications: existing } = get();
+      if (sorted.length === 0 && existing.length > 0) {
+        // Keep existing notifications — relay probably timed out
+        return;
+      }
+
       const unreadCount = sorted.filter((e) => !readIds.has(e.id!)).length;
       set({ notifications: sorted, unreadCount });
     } catch {
-      // Non-critical
+      // Non-critical — keep existing notifications on error
     } finally {
       set({ loading: false });
     }