diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index ffd80f9..6d92a5b 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+devdesk (0.5.1) bookworm; urgency=medium
+
+  * A session created by opening its URL shows up in the Sessions panel and
+    the switcher right away instead of at the next poll.
+
+ -- Jared Vititoe <jjvititoe1@gmail.com>  Wed, 07 Oct 2026 23:42:01 -0400
+
 devdesk (0.5.0) bookworm; urgency=medium
 
   * Security (from the 2026-10-07 review):
diff --git a/web/src/main.js b/web/src/main.js
index 6369b38..a726059 100644
--- a/web/src/main.js
+++ b/web/src/main.js
@@ -318,6 +318,7 @@ function connect(session, { reconnect = false } = {}) {
       state.attempts = 0;
       setWsState('connected', 'live');
       if (session) rememberSession(session);
+      refreshSoon(800); // opening ?arg=<new name> just created this session
       refreshRepo();
       fit.fit();
       term.focus();