diff --git a/neode-ui/src/components/CompanionIntroOverlay.vue b/neode-ui/src/components/CompanionIntroOverlay.vue
index 5461fe39..c86b47ee 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/components/CompanionIntroOverlay.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/components/CompanionIntroOverlay.vue
@@ -487,6 +487,19 @@ function backFromPair() {
   }
 }
 
+// Network-class failures: the node itself was unreachable (as opposed to the
+// backend answering with an RPC error). Includes the client's own timeout.
+const WG_NETWORK_ERR = /failed to fetch|networkerror|load failed|abort|request timeout/i
+
+// Auto-retry ladder for network-class failures. On a first install this step
+// is often reached while the backend is still settling (services starting,
+// backend restarting during container orchestration) — a single failed fetch
+// left a permanently blank QR unless the user spotted the retry button.
+const WG_RETRY_DELAYS_MS = [2000, 4000, 8000]
+
+const sleep = (ms: number) => new Promise<void>((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, ms))
+const stillOnWgStep = () => visible.value && step.value === 'wgqr'
+
 // Create (or fetch) the phone's VPN peer and render its config as a QR.
 // Reuses the same RPCs as the Server page's Add Device modal; the peer is
 // looked up first so reopening the modal never duplicates it.
@@ -494,53 +507,65 @@ async function loadWgPeer() {
   if (wgQrDataUrl.value || wgLoading.value) return
   wgLoading.value = true
   wgError.value = ''
-  try {
-    const listed = await rpcClient
-      .call<{ peers: { name: string }[] }>({ method: 'vpn.list-peers' })
-      .catch(() => null)
-    // list-peers unreachable → don't guess "doesn't exist": create-peer on an
-    // existing name would fail. Try create first, fall back to peer-config.
-    const exists = listed === null
-      ? null
-      : (listed.peers || []).some((p) => p.name === WG_PEER_NAME)
-    let res: { config: string; peer_ip: string }
-    if (exists === true) {
-      res = await rpcClient.call({ method: 'vpn.peer-config', params: { name: WG_PEER_NAME } })
-    } else {
-      try {
-        res = await rpcClient.call({ method: 'vpn.create-peer', params: { name: WG_PEER_NAME } })
-      } catch (e) {
-        // Peer already provisioned on a previous visit (list failed or raced).
-        const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : ''
-        if (/exist|duplicate/i.test(msg)) {
-          res = await rpcClient.call({ method: 'vpn.peer-config', params: { name: WG_PEER_NAME } })
-        } else {
-          throw e
-        }
+  for (let attempt = 0; ; attempt++) {
+    try {
+      await provisionWgPeer()
+      break
+    } catch (e) {
+      const raw = e instanceof Error ? e.message : ''
+      const isNetworkErr = WG_NETWORK_ERR.test(raw)
+      if (isNetworkErr && attempt < WG_RETRY_DELAYS_MS.length && stillOnWgStep()) {
+        await sleep(WG_RETRY_DELAYS_MS[attempt])
+        if (stillOnWgStep()) continue
+      }
+      // fetch()'s raw "Failed to fetch" means the node itself was unreachable —
+      // after the retry ladder that's usually the phone's network mid-change
+      // (WiFi drop, or a half-configured tunnel already routing 10.44.0.0/16).
+      // Say so, and leave a Retry path instead of a dead end.
+      wgError.value = isNetworkErr
+        ? "Can't reach your node. Check the phone is on the same network as the node (and any half-set-up tunnel is switched off), then tap Try again."
+        : raw || 'Failed to generate the tunnel config'
+      break
+    }
+  }
+  wgLoading.value = false
+}
+
+async function provisionWgPeer() {
+  const listed = await rpcClient
+    .call<{ peers: { name: string }[] }>({ method: 'vpn.list-peers' })
+    .catch(() => null)
+  // list-peers unreachable → don't guess "doesn't exist": create-peer on an
+  // existing name would fail. Try create first, fall back to peer-config.
+  const exists = listed === null
+    ? null
+    : (listed.peers || []).some((p) => p.name === WG_PEER_NAME)
+  let res: { config: string; peer_ip: string }
+  if (exists === true) {
+    res = await rpcClient.call({ method: 'vpn.peer-config', params: { name: WG_PEER_NAME } })
+  } else {
+    try {
+      res = await rpcClient.call({ method: 'vpn.create-peer', params: { name: WG_PEER_NAME } })
+    } catch (e) {
+      // Peer already provisioned on a previous visit (list failed or raced).
+      const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : ''
+      if (/exist|duplicate/i.test(msg)) {
+        res = await rpcClient.call({ method: 'vpn.peer-config', params: { name: WG_PEER_NAME } })
+      } else {
+        throw e
       }
     }
-    wgConfig.value = res.config
-    wgQrDataUrl.value = await QRCode.toDataURL(res.config, {
-      width: 512,
-      margin: 3,
-      errorCorrectionLevel: 'M',
-      color: {
-        dark: '#111111',
-        light: '#ffffff',
-      },
-    })
-  } catch (e) {
-    // fetch()'s raw "Failed to fetch" means the node itself was unreachable —
-    // on this screen that's usually the phone's network mid-change (WiFi drop,
-    // or a half-configured tunnel already routing 10.44.0.0/16). Say so, and
-    // leave a Retry path instead of a dead end.
-    const raw = e instanceof Error ? e.message : ''
-    wgError.value = /failed to fetch|networkerror|load failed|abort/i.test(raw)
-      ? "Can't reach your node. Check the phone is on the same network as the node (and any half-set-up tunnel is switched off), then tap Try again."
-      : raw || 'Failed to generate the tunnel config'
-  } finally {
-    wgLoading.value = false
   }
+  wgConfig.value = res.config
+  wgQrDataUrl.value = await QRCode.toDataURL(res.config, {
+    width: 512,
+    margin: 3,
+    errorCorrectionLevel: 'M',
+    color: {
+      dark: '#111111',
+      light: '#ffffff',
+    },
+  })
 }
 
 function retryWgPeer() {