diff --git a/src/cli/journal.ts b/src/cli/journal.ts
index e990a31..9c96462 100644
--- a/src/cli/journal.ts
+++ b/src/cli/journal.ts
@@ -150,6 +150,20 @@ export async function createJournalServer(
     () => {},
   );
 
+  // Publish the initial manifest on startup so clients see existing sessions
+  const initialManifest = loadManifest(root);
+  broker.publish(
+    {
+      topic: $SESSIONS,
+      payload: Buffer.from(JSON.stringify(initialManifest)),
+      qos: 1,
+      retain: true,
+      cmd: "publish" as const,
+      dup: false,
+    },
+    () => {},
+  );
+
   console.log("[journal] persistence listener active");
   console.log("[journal] broker available at ws://<host>:<port>");
 
diff --git a/src/components/journal/JournalPanel.tsx b/src/components/journal/JournalPanel.tsx
index 7b34163..d4ee546 100644
--- a/src/components/journal/JournalPanel.tsx
+++ b/src/components/journal/JournalPanel.tsx
@@ -5,7 +5,14 @@
  * Auto-connects to ws://{current host}:{current port} — no URL input needed.
  */
 
-import { Component, Show, createSignal, onMount, For } from "solid-js";
+import {
+  Component,
+  Show,
+  createSignal,
+  onMount,
+  For,
+  createEffect,
+} from "solid-js";
 import {
   connectStream,
   hydrateFromServer,
@@ -113,6 +120,7 @@ const JournalHeader: Component<JournalHeaderProps> = (props) => {
   const [newSessionName, setNewSessionName] = createSignal("");
   const [showNewInput, setShowNewInput] = createSignal(false);
   let dropdownRef!: HTMLDivElement;
+  let newSessionInputRef!: HTMLInputElement;
 
   const handleSessionSelect = async (id: string) => {
     try {
@@ -132,6 +140,13 @@ const JournalHeader: Component<JournalHeaderProps> = (props) => {
     setShowNewInput(false);
   };
 
+  // Focus the input when it appears
+  createEffect(() => {
+    if (showNewInput() && newSessionInputRef) {
+      newSessionInputRef.focus();
+    }
+  });
+
   const handleDisconnect = () => disconnectStream();
 
   // Close dropdown on outside click
@@ -214,6 +229,7 @@ const JournalHeader: Component<JournalHeaderProps> = (props) => {
                       fallback={
                         <div class="px-3 py-1 flex gap-1">
                           <input
+                            ref={newSessionInputRef}
                             type="text"
                             value={newSessionName()}
                             onInput={(e) =>
@@ -221,7 +237,6 @@ const JournalHeader: Component<JournalHeaderProps> = (props) => {
                             }
                             placeholder="会话名称"
                             class="flex-1 border border-gray-300 rounded px-1.5 py-0.5 text-xs"
-                            autofocus
                             onKeyDown={(e) => {
                               if (e.key === "Enter") handleCreate();
                               if (e.key === "Escape") setShowNewInput(false);
@@ -237,7 +252,10 @@ const JournalHeader: Component<JournalHeaderProps> = (props) => {
                       }
                     >
                       <button
-                        onClick={() => setShowNewInput(true)}
+                        onClick={(e) => {
+                          e.stopPropagation();
+                          setShowNewInput(true);
+                        }}
                         class="w-full text-left px-3 py-1 text-xs text-blue-600 hover:bg-gray-100"
                       >
                         + 新建会话