diff --git a/src/services/api.test.ts b/src/services/api.test.ts
index 37587fb..3bf7380 100644
--- a/src/services/api.test.ts
+++ b/src/services/api.test.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ describe("api client session gate", () => {
 
   const burst = () =>
     Promise.allSettled([
-      apiClient.get("/users/me"),
+      apiClient.get("/containers"),
       apiClient.get("/deployments"),
       apiClient.get("/stats"),
       apiClient.get("/ai/status"),
@@ -82,6 +82,23 @@ describe("api client session gate", () => {
     expect(location.href).toBe("/login");
   });
 
+  it("keeps the session when reading the current user is refused", async () => {
+    localStorage.setItem("auth_token", "good");
+    apiClient.defaults.adapter = ((config: Parameters<AxiosAdapter>[0]) =>
+      (config.url || "").startsWith("/users/me") ? unauthorized(config) : ok(config)) as AxiosAdapter;
+
+    const [me, ...rest] = await Promise.allSettled([
+      apiClient.get("/users/me"),
+      apiClient.get("/deployments"),
+      apiClient.get("/stats"),
+    ]);
+
+    expect(me.status).toBe("rejected");
+    expect(rest.every((r) => r.status === "fulfilled")).toBe(true);
+    expect(localStorage.getItem("auth_token")).toBe("good");
+    expect(location.href).toBe("/");
+  });
+
   // A page that loaded fine can still be holding a token that lapses while it is open.
   it("gates the next burst again after the first one has drained", async () => {
     localStorage.setItem("auth_token", "good-then-stale");
diff --git a/src/services/api.ts b/src/services/api.ts
index 4dbe059..3664541 100755
--- a/src/services/api.ts
+++ b/src/services/api.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,13 @@ export const apiClient = axios.create({
 
 const publicPaths = ["/auth/login", "/auth/status", "/setup", "/health"];
 const isPublic = (url: string) => publicPaths.some((p) => url.startsWith(p));
+
+// The agent answers 401 on /users/me for an authenticated actor with no user record, so this call
+// stays outside the gate until that becomes a 403: https://github.com/flatrun/agent/issues/208
+const sessionAgnosticPaths = ["/users/me"];
+const isSessionAgnostic = (url: string) => sessionAgnosticPaths.some((p) => url.startsWith(p));
+
+const isUngated = (url: string) => isPublic(url) || isSessionAgnostic(url);
 const onAuthPage = () => window.location.pathname.includes("/login") || window.location.pathname.includes("/setup");
 
 // A page load fans out into a dozen calls at once. Firing them all against a token the agent
@@ -93,11 +100,15 @@ apiClient.interceptors.request.use(async (config) => {
   }
   config.headers.Authorization = `Bearer ${token}`;
 
+  if (sessionRejected) {
+    throw new axios.Cancel("session already rejected");
+  }
+  if (isSessionAgnostic(url)) {
+    return config;
+  }
+
   inFlight++;
   try {
-    if (sessionRejected) {
-      throw new axios.Cancel("session already rejected");
-    }
     if (!gate) {
       gate = startGate();
       return config;
@@ -122,14 +133,14 @@ apiClient.interceptors.request.use(async (config) => {
 
 apiClient.interceptors.response.use(
   (response) => {
-    if (!isPublic(response.config.url || "")) {
+    if (!isUngated(response.config.url || "")) {
       settleGate(true);
       finish();
     }
     return response;
   },
   (error) => {
-    if (axios.isCancel(error) || isPublic(error.config?.url || "")) {
+    if (axios.isCancel(error) || isUngated(error.config?.url || "")) {
       return Promise.reject(error);
     }