diff --git a/apps/mobile/app/project/[projectId]/[sessionId]/index.tsx b/apps/mobile/app/project/[projectId]/[sessionId]/index.tsx
index b02c4e2..a6472eb 100644
--- a/apps/mobile/app/project/[projectId]/[sessionId]/index.tsx
+++ b/apps/mobile/app/project/[projectId]/[sessionId]/index.tsx
@@ -933,7 +933,9 @@ function SessionScreenInner({ projectId, sessionId }: { projectId: string; sessi
 
         if (assistantMsgs.length === 0) {
             const startAt = sorted[lastUserIdx].time?.created ?? null
-            return startAt == null ? null : { startAt, endAt: null as number | null, agent: optimisticAgent }
+            if (startAt == null) return null
+            const isOptimistic = lastUser.id.startsWith("local-")
+            return { startAt, endAt: null as number | null, agent: optimisticAgent, isSending: isOptimistic }
         }
 
         const startAt = assistantMsgs[0].time?.created ?? null
@@ -955,12 +957,22 @@ function SessionScreenInner({ projectId, sessionId }: { projectId: string; sessi
     // The list is inverted, so the header renders visually below the newest message
     const StreamingIndicator = useMemo(() => {
         if (!turn || turn.startAt == null) return null
+        if (turn.isSending) {
+            return (
+                <View className="pt-1 pb-2">
+                    <View className="flex flex-row items-center gap-2">
+                        <ActivityIndicator size="small" color={THEME[theme].mutedForeground} />
+                        <Text className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">Sending message...</Text>
+                    </View>
+                </View>
+            )
+        }
         return (
             <View className="pt-1 pb-2">
                 <WorkingIndicator startedAt={turn.startAt} endedAt={turn.endAt} agentName={turn.agent} />
             </View>
         )
-    }, [turn])
+    }, [turn, theme])
 
     const ListFooterComponent = useMemo(() => {
         if (!isLoadingMore) return null
diff --git a/apps/mobile/components/hooks/event-stream.ts b/apps/mobile/components/hooks/event-stream.ts
index 2516cbf..9fd5560 100644
--- a/apps/mobile/components/hooks/event-stream.ts
+++ b/apps/mobile/components/hooks/event-stream.ts
@@ -350,6 +350,19 @@ export function useEventStream(url?: string, sessionId?: string, token?: string,
                         }
 
                         const msg = existing[msgIdx]
+                        if (msg.role === "user") {
+                            existing.push({
+                                id: messageID,
+                                sessionID: currentSessionId,
+                                role: "assistant",
+                                time: { created: Date.now() },
+                                agent: "build",
+                                model: { providerID: "...", modelID: "..." },
+                                parts: [{ id: partID, type: "text", text: delta } as Part],
+                            } as unknown as Message)
+                            scheduleFlush()
+                            break
+                        }
                         const parts = msg.parts ?? []
                         const partIdx = parts.findIndex(p => p.id === partID)
                         if (partIdx >= 0) {
@@ -375,16 +388,15 @@ export function useEventStream(url?: string, sessionId?: string, token?: string,
                     let msgIdx = existing.findIndex(m => m.id === part.messageID)
 
                     if (msgIdx < 0) {
-                        // Part arrived before its message (common for user file parts).
-                        // Create a placeholder instead of dropping it.
                         let incoming = part as Part
                         if (incoming.type === "file" && localFileUriBackup.length > 0) {
                             incoming = { ...incoming, url: localFileUriBackup.shift()! } as Part
                         }
+                        const partRole = incoming.type === "text" ? "assistant" : "user"
                         existing.push({
                             id: part.messageID,
                             sessionID: currentSessionId,
-                            role: "user",
+                            role: partRole,
                             time: { created: Date.now() },
                             agent: "build",
                             model: { providerID: "...", modelID: "..." },
@@ -643,7 +655,11 @@ export function useEventStream(url?: string, sessionId?: string, token?: string,
             reconnectAttempts++
             const delay = reconnectDelays[Math.min(reconnectAttempts - 1, reconnectDelays.length - 1)]
 
+            // Only show reconnecting/connectivity-issues after repeated failures
+            // to avoid banner flicker on brief, self-healing stream drops
             if (reconnectAttempts <= 2) {
+                // Keep "connected" — the stream may recover on its own
+            } else if (reconnectAttempts <= 4) {
                 setConnectionStatus("reconnecting")
             } else {
                 setConnectionStatus("connectivity-issues")
diff --git a/apps/mobile/components/session-header.tsx b/apps/mobile/components/session-header.tsx
index 3b05b39..f39b1a9 100644
--- a/apps/mobile/components/session-header.tsx
+++ b/apps/mobile/components/session-header.tsx
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ function SessionHeaderInner({
             className="flex flex-row gap-2 items-center border-b border-accent pb-2 px-4"
             style={{ paddingTop: paddingTop + 10 }}
         >
-            <Button variant="ghost" className="w-10 h-10 text-white" onPress={() => router.push(project ? { pathname: "/sessions", params: { connectionId: project.connectionId } } : "/sessions")}>
+            <Button variant="ghost" className="w-10 h-10 text-white" onPress={() => router.back()}>
                 <ArrowLeftIcon size={20} color={THEME[theme].foreground} />
             </Button>