diff --git a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/lnd/channels.rs b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/lnd/channels.rs
index c5e58ee4..62271591 100644
--- a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/lnd/channels.rs
+++ b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/lnd/channels.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,21 @@ use tracing::info;
 
 use super::LND_REST_BASE_URL;
 
+/// LND rejects RPCs with "server is still in the process of starting" for a
+/// short window after wallet unlock (p2p/graph subsystems still loading).
+/// Transient by design — match it so callers retry and, if it persists,
+/// surface a calm notice instead of a scary failure. The exact phrase below
+/// is what the frontend keys its softer (non-red) styling on.
+fn lnd_still_starting(msg: &str) -> bool {
+    let m = msg.to_ascii_lowercase();
+    m.contains("in the process of starting") || m.contains("server is still starting")
+}
+
+/// User-facing text for the still-starting state. Deliberately calm: this is
+/// a "wait a moment", not an error.
+const LND_STARTING_MSG: &str = "Your Lightning node is still finishing its startup — this \
+     usually takes a minute or two after the node comes online. Please try again shortly.";
+
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize)]
 struct ChannelInfo {
     chan_id: String,
@@ -251,25 +266,45 @@ impl RpcHandler {
                 "perm": false,
                 "timeout": "30"
             });
-            let connect_resp = client
-                .post(format!("{LND_REST_BASE_URL}/v1/peers"))
-                .header("Grpc-Metadata-macaroon", &macaroon_hex)
-                .json(&connect_body)
-                .timeout(std::time::Duration::from_secs(35))
-                .send()
-                .await
-                .context("Failed to connect to peer")?;
+            // Right after wallet unlock, LND's RPC answers while its p2p
+            // server is still spinning up, and every connect attempt gets
+            // "server is still in the process of starting". That's a
+            // transient state, not a failure — it clears in seconds — so
+            // retry quietly for ~30s before surfacing a calm, non-scary
+            // notice (the frontend styles LND_STARTING_MSG as info, not red).
+            let mut attempt = 0u32;
+            loop {
+                let connect_resp = client
+                    .post(format!("{LND_REST_BASE_URL}/v1/peers"))
+                    .header("Grpc-Metadata-macaroon", &macaroon_hex)
+                    .json(&connect_body)
+                    .timeout(std::time::Duration::from_secs(35))
+                    .send()
+                    .await
+                    .context("Failed to connect to peer")?;
 
-            if !connect_resp.status().is_success() {
+                if connect_resp.status().is_success() {
+                    break;
+                }
                 let body: serde_json::Value = connect_resp.json().await.unwrap_or_default();
                 let msg = body
                     .get("message")
                     .and_then(|v| v.as_str())
                     .unwrap_or("Unknown error");
                 // LND returns an error if we already have this peer — that is fine
-                if !msg.contains("already connected") {
-                    return Err(anyhow::anyhow!("Failed to connect to peer: {}", msg));
+                if msg.contains("already connected") {
+                    break;
                 }
+                if lnd_still_starting(msg) && attempt < 5 {
+                    attempt += 1;
+                    info!(attempt, "LND still starting — retrying peer connect in 6s");
+                    tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_secs(6)).await;
+                    continue;
+                }
+                if lnd_still_starting(msg) {
+                    return Err(anyhow::anyhow!("{LND_STARTING_MSG}"));
+                }
+                return Err(anyhow::anyhow!("Failed to connect to peer: {}", msg));
             }
         }
 
@@ -305,6 +340,9 @@ impl RpcHandler {
                 .get("message")
                 .and_then(|v| v.as_str())
                 .unwrap_or("Unknown error");
+            if lnd_still_starting(msg) {
+                return Err(anyhow::anyhow!("{LND_STARTING_MSG}"));
+            }
             return Err(anyhow::anyhow!("Failed to open channel: {}", msg));
         }
 
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/components/LightningChannelsPanel.vue b/neode-ui/src/components/LightningChannelsPanel.vue
index 266b71e4..fdb09fcc 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/components/LightningChannelsPanel.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/components/LightningChannelsPanel.vue
@@ -245,8 +245,18 @@
           </div>
         </div>
 
-        <div v-if="openError" class="mt-3 alert-error">
-          <p class="text-xs">{{ openError }}</p>
+        <!-- "Still starting" is a wait-a-moment notice, not a failure — show
+             it as calm amber info instead of the red error treatment. -->
+        <div
+          v-if="openError"
+          class="mt-3"
+          :class="isStartupNotice(openError)
+            ? 'p-3 rounded-lg border border-amber-400/25 bg-amber-500/10 text-amber-200/90'
+            : 'alert-error'"
+        >
+          <p class="text-xs">
+            <span v-if="isStartupNotice(openError)" class="mr-1">⏳</span>{{ openError }}
+          </p>
         </div>
 
         <div class="flex gap-3 mt-6">
@@ -356,6 +366,14 @@ const openForm = ref(defaultOpenForm())
 const openingChannel = ref(false)
 const openError = ref<string | null>(null)
 
+/** LND's transient post-unlock state ("still finishing its startup") is a
+ *  wait-a-moment notice, not a failure — the template styles it amber. */
+function isStartupNotice(msg: string | null): boolean {
+  if (!msg) return false
+  const m = msg.toLowerCase()
+  return m.includes('still finishing its startup') || m.includes('in the process of starting')
+}
+
 const closeTarget = ref<Channel | null>(null)
 const closingChannel = ref(false)
 const closeError = ref<string | null>(null)