diff --git a/ui-gpui/src/components/project_box.rs b/ui-gpui/src/components/project_box.rs
index 973a8a5..8131dbc 100644
--- a/ui-gpui/src/components/project_box.rs
+++ b/ui-gpui/src/components/project_box.rs
@@ -97,8 +97,9 @@ impl ProjectBox {
             AgentStatus::Error => DotStatus::Error,
         };
         let dot = cx.new(|_cx| PulsingDot::new(dot_status, 8.0));
+        // Start blinking AFTER entity registered (Zed BlinkManager pattern)
+        dot.update(cx, |d, cx| d.start_blinking(cx));
         self.status_dot = Some(dot);
-        // NOTE: start_blinking NOT called yet — testing if app stays alive without it
 
         // Create agent pane with demo messages
         let agent_pane = cx.new(|_cx| {