diff --git a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/federation/handlers.rs b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/federation/handlers.rs
index 90d38102..d80690f0 100644
--- a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/federation/handlers.rs
+++ b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/federation/handlers.rs
@@ -30,6 +30,25 @@ impl RpcHandler {
             mesh::upsert_federation_peer(&svc.shared_state(), pubkey_hex, did, name).await;
         }
     }
+
+    /// Re-seed every federation node from disk into the mesh peer table so the
+    /// chat list reflects what the latest federation sync learned — display
+    /// names (landed in `nodes.json` by `update_node_state` when a peer
+    /// announces its name) and transitively-discovered peers (merged by
+    /// `merge_transitive_peers`) — WITHOUT waiting for a mesh restart.
+    ///
+    /// Without this, a peer accepted via invite (seeded with `name = None`)
+    /// stays "Archipelago <pubkey8>" in chat until the next restart even after
+    /// sync has learned its real name, and transitive peers never appear as
+    /// chat contacts at all. `seed_federation_peers_into_mesh` is idempotent
+    /// and dedups by onion, so calling it after each sync is safe.
+    /// Best-effort: silently no-ops when mesh is off.
+    pub(crate) async fn refresh_federation_mesh_peers(&self) {
+        let svc = self.mesh_service.read().await;
+        if let Some(svc) = svc.as_ref() {
+            mesh::seed_federation_peers_into_mesh(&svc.shared_state(), &self.config.data_dir).await;
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 impl RpcHandler {
@@ -341,6 +360,10 @@ impl RpcHandler {
             }
         }
 
+        // Push any names/roster the sync just learned into the live mesh peer
+        // table so the chat list updates without a restart (#42).
+        self.refresh_federation_mesh_peers().await;
+
         Ok(serde_json::json!({
             "synced": synced,
             "failed": failed,
diff --git a/core/archipelago/src/server.rs b/core/archipelago/src/server.rs
index 113eb891..9978be03 100644
--- a/core/archipelago/src/server.rs
+++ b/core/archipelago/src/server.rs
@@ -508,6 +508,7 @@ impl Server {
         {
             let data_dir = config.data_dir.clone();
             let state = state_manager.clone();
+            let rpc = api_handler.rpc_handler().clone();
             tokio::spawn(async move {
                 // First run 60s after boot to let onboarding settle.
                 tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_secs(60)).await;
@@ -558,6 +559,10 @@ impl Server {
                         }
                         tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_secs(5)).await;
                     }
+                    // After syncing every peer, push the names/roster just
+                    // learned (into nodes.json) into the live mesh peer table
+                    // so chat contacts refresh without a restart (#42).
+                    rpc.refresh_federation_mesh_peers().await;
                 }
             });
         }