diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/stores/conversations/index.svelte.ts b/tools/ui/src/lib/stores/conversations/index.svelte.ts
index 9b40c413fa..98bf6a0310 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/stores/conversations/index.svelte.ts
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/stores/conversations/index.svelte.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 import { browser } from '$app/environment';
 import { goto } from '$app/navigation';
 import { ROUTES } from '$lib/constants';
-import { NEW_CHAT_TAB_ID } from '$lib/constants';
 import { MessageRole } from '$lib/enums';
 import { ConversationTransferService } from '$lib/services/conversation-transfer.service';
 import { DatabaseService } from '$lib/services/database.service';
@@ -107,8 +106,8 @@ class ConversationsStore implements ConversationsPreferencesHost {
 
 	/**
 	 * Deletes multiple conversations in sequence.
-	 * Mirrors deleteConversation() per-id; navigates to NEW_CHAT only if the
-	 * currently-open chat was among the deleted ones.
+	 * Mirrors deleteConversation() per-id; navigates to the new-chat screen only
+	 * if the currently-open chat was among the deleted ones.
 	 * @param convIds - Conversation IDs to delete
 	 */
 	async bulkDeleteConversations(convIds: string[]): Promise<void> {
@@ -590,11 +589,9 @@ class ConversationsStore implements ConversationsPreferencesHost {
 	 * Start a fresh chat by navigating to the bare `#/` new-chat screen. The
 	 * chat layout opens a new-chat tab for it when Conversation tabs are on.
 	 */
-	async openNewChat(): Promise<string> {
+	async openNewChat(): Promise<void> {
 		this.clearActiveConversation();
 		await goto(ROUTES.START);
-
-		return NEW_CHAT_TAB_ID;
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/stores/init.ts b/tools/ui/src/lib/stores/init.ts
index 46d64893ca..37ea87b17c 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/stores/init.ts
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/stores/init.ts
@@ -20,10 +20,12 @@ export function initStores(): Promise<void> {
 		permissionsStore.initialize();
 		toolsStore.initialize();
 		void versionStore.initialize();
-		await conversationsStore.initialize();
 
-		// prune persisted tabs against the loaded conversation list
-		tabsStore.init(conversationsStore.conversations.map((c) => c.id));
+		// the full conversation list loads in the background; once it is back,
+		// prune persisted tabs against the conversations that still exist
+		void conversationsStore.initialize().then(() => {
+			tabsStore.init(conversationsStore.conversations.map((c) => c.id));
+		});
 	})();
 
 	return startup;