diff --git a/src/claude/runClaude.ts b/src/claude/runClaude.ts
index bcdd74fd..9eec8ce7 100644
--- a/src/claude/runClaude.ts
+++ b/src/claude/runClaude.ts
@@ -162,12 +162,15 @@ export async function runClaude(credentials: Credentials, options: StartOptions
         logger.debug('[START] Failed to report to daemon (may not be running):', error);
     }
 
+    // Create realtime session FIRST (before SDK metadata extraction)
+    const session = api.sessionSyncClient(response);
+
     // Extract SDK metadata in background and update session when ready
     extractSDKMetadataAsync(async (sdkMetadata) => {
         logger.debug('[start] SDK metadata extracted, updating session:', sdkMetadata);
         try {
             // Update session metadata with tools and slash commands
-            api.sessionSyncClient(response).updateMetadata((currentMetadata) => ({
+            session.updateMetadata((currentMetadata) => ({
                 ...currentMetadata,
                 tools: sdkMetadata.tools,
                 slashCommands: sdkMetadata.slashCommands
@@ -178,9 +181,6 @@ export async function runClaude(credentials: Credentials, options: StartOptions
         }
     });
 
-    // Create realtime session
-    const session = api.sessionSyncClient(response);
-
     // Start Happy MCP server
     const happyServer = await startHappyServer(session);
     logger.debug(`[START] Happy MCP server started at ${happyServer.url}`);