diff --git a/frontend/src/shell/AppShell.tsx b/frontend/src/shell/AppShell.tsx
index 022b00ed..04c1c9e2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/shell/AppShell.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/shell/AppShell.tsx
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ export function AppShell() {
   const ungroupedActive = activeList.filter((s) => !s.group);
   const archivedList = sessions.filter((s) => s.archived);
   const refresh = () => queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["sessions"] });
+  const activeSession = sessions.find((s) => s.id === activeSessionId) ?? null;
+  const finalized = activeSession?.status === "finalized";
 
   function openPanel(id: string) {
     const s = sessions.find((x) => x.id === id);
@@ -169,7 +171,7 @@ export function AppShell() {
         {activeSessionId && (
           <div className="shrink-0 border-b border-border/70 bg-background/80 px-6 py-2.5 backdrop-blur">
             <div className="mx-auto max-w-3xl">
-              <WorkflowBar />
+              <WorkflowBar finalized={finalized} />
             </div>
           </div>
         )}
diff --git a/frontend/src/shell/SteerInput.tsx b/frontend/src/shell/SteerInput.tsx
index 2abda292..6dd47327 100644
--- a/frontend/src/shell/SteerInput.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/shell/SteerInput.tsx
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ export function SteerInput({ sessionId, onSessionCreated, onStop, inputRef }: Pr
   const [text, setText] = useState("");
   const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false);
   const setLastUserEntry = useSessionStore((s) => s.setLastUserEntry);
+  const setPhase = useSessionStore((s) => s.setPhase);
 
   async function submit() {
     const trimmed = text.trim();
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ export function SteerInput({ sessionId, onSessionCreated, onStop, inputRef }: Pr
         await postSteer(sessionId, trimmed);
       } else {
         const { id } = await createSession({ question: trimmed });
+        setPhase("F1"); // optimistic: paint F1 yellow during the cold start, before the first gate
         onSessionCreated?.(id);
       }
       setLastUserEntry({ kind: "input", text: trimmed });
diff --git a/frontend/src/shell/WorkflowBar.test.tsx b/frontend/src/shell/WorkflowBar.test.tsx
index bcc60b10..59090edb 100644
--- a/frontend/src/shell/WorkflowBar.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/shell/WorkflowBar.test.tsx
@@ -36,3 +36,17 @@ test("the active dot turns to the error state when phaseError flags it", () => {
   render(<WorkflowBar />);
   expect(screen.getByTestId("phase-F3")).toHaveAttribute("data-state", "error");
 });
+
+test("currentPhase F1 renders F1 as running (yellow)", () => {
+  useSessionStore.getState().setPhase("F1");
+  render(<WorkflowBar />);
+  expect(screen.getByTestId("phase-F1")).toHaveAttribute("data-state", "running");
+});
+
+test("finalized marks all phases done (green)", () => {
+  useSessionStore.getState().setPhase("F8");
+  render(<WorkflowBar finalized />);
+  for (const id of ["F1", "F4", "F8"]) {
+    expect(screen.getByTestId(`phase-${id}`)).toHaveAttribute("data-state", "done");
+  }
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/shell/WorkflowBar.tsx b/frontend/src/shell/WorkflowBar.tsx
index 0439b041..9caed2b8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/shell/WorkflowBar.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/shell/WorkflowBar.tsx
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ const DOT: Record<DotState, string> = {
   pending: "bg-transparent text-muted-foreground/70 ring-border",
 };
 
-export function WorkflowBar() {
+export function WorkflowBar({ finalized = false }: { finalized?: boolean }) {
   const currentPhase = useSessionStore((s) => s.currentPhase);
   const phaseError = useSessionStore((s) => s.phaseError);
   const activeIdx = PHASES.findIndex((p) => p.id === currentPhase);
@@ -37,14 +37,16 @@ export function WorkflowBar() {
       {PHASES.map((p, i) => {
         const isActive = currentPhase === p.id;
         const isDone = activeIdx > -1 && i < activeIdx;
-        const state: DotState = isActive
-          ? phaseError === p.id
-            ? "error"
-            : "running"
-          : isDone
-            ? "done"
-            : "pending";
-        const connectorDone = activeIdx > -1 && i <= activeIdx;
+        const state: DotState = finalized
+          ? "done"
+          : isActive
+            ? phaseError === p.id
+              ? "error"
+              : "running"
+            : isDone
+              ? "done"
+              : "pending";
+        const connectorDone = finalized || (activeIdx > -1 && i <= activeIdx);
         return (
           <div key={p.id} className="flex items-center">
             {i > 0 && (
diff --git a/frontend/src/shell/f1-loop.test.tsx b/frontend/src/shell/f1-loop.test.tsx
index 3e9eba7b..57982c69 100644
--- a/frontend/src/shell/f1-loop.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/shell/f1-loop.test.tsx
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ test("F1: create session -> widget via SSE -> respond -> POST /response", async
   // Wait for the session to be created and SSE to connect
   await waitFor(() => expect(FakeEventSource.instances).toHaveLength(1));
 
+  // Optimistic lifecycle: a brand-new question paints F1 immediately (before any gate).
+  await waitFor(() => expect(useSessionStore.getState().currentPhase).toBe("F1"));
+
   // Simulate the backend emitting the F1 widget via a NAMED SSE event
   // (`event: ui_request`) — the same addEventListener path production uses.
   act(() =>