diff --git a/src/cli/program.test.ts b/src/cli/program.test.ts
index 56cffd215..c63f0f5b1 100644
--- a/src/cli/program.test.ts
+++ b/src/cli/program.test.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ const sendCommand = vi.fn();
 const statusCommand = vi.fn();
 const loginWeb = vi.fn();
 const startWebChatServer = vi.fn(async () => ({ port: 18788 }));
-const ensureWebChatServerFromConfig = vi.fn(async () => ({ port: 18788 }));
 
 const runtime = {
   log: vi.fn(),
@@ -22,7 +21,6 @@ vi.mock("../provider-web.js", () => ({
 }));
 vi.mock("../webchat/server.js", () => ({
   startWebChatServer,
-  ensureWebChatServerFromConfig,
   getWebChatServer: () => null,
 }));
 vi.mock("./deps.js", () => ({
diff --git a/src/cli/program.ts b/src/cli/program.ts
index b6cba2b4c..a6ce81a25 100644
--- a/src/cli/program.ts
+++ b/src/cli/program.ts
@@ -13,10 +13,7 @@ import { loginWeb, logoutWeb } from "../provider-web.js";
 import { runRpcLoop } from "../rpc/loop.js";
 import { defaultRuntime } from "../runtime.js";
 import { VERSION } from "../version.js";
-import {
-  ensureWebChatServerFromConfig,
-  startWebChatServer,
-} from "../webchat/server.js";
+import { startWebChatServer } from "../webchat/server.js";
 import { createDefaultDeps } from "./deps.js";
 import {
   forceFreePort,
@@ -285,22 +282,6 @@ Examples:
       }
       try {
         await startGatewayServer(port);
-        try {
-          const webchat = await ensureWebChatServerFromConfig({
-            gatewayUrl: `ws://127.0.0.1:${port}`,
-          });
-          if (webchat) {
-            defaultRuntime.log(
-              info(
-                `webchat listening on http://127.0.0.1:${webchat.port}/`,
-              ),
-            );
-          } else {
-            defaultRuntime.log(info("webchat disabled via config"));
-          }
-        } catch (webchatErr) {
-          defaultRuntime.error(`WebChat failed to start: ${String(webchatErr)}`);
-        }
       } catch (err) {
         if (err instanceof GatewayLockError) {
           defaultRuntime.error(`Gateway failed to start: ${err.message}`);
diff --git a/src/gateway/server.ts b/src/gateway/server.ts
index 144f8f080..dcfa0c0fd 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server.ts
@@ -734,9 +734,17 @@ export async function startGatewayServer(port = 18789): Promise<GatewayServer> {
   // Start loopback WebChat server (unless disabled via config).
   void ensureWebChatServerFromConfig({
     gatewayUrl: `ws://127.0.0.1:${port}`,
-  }).catch((err) => {
-    logError(`gateway: webchat failed to start: ${String(err)}`);
-  });
+  })
+    .then((webchat) => {
+      if (webchat) {
+        defaultRuntime.log(
+          `webchat listening on http://127.0.0.1:${webchat.port}/`,
+        );
+      }
+    })
+    .catch((err) => {
+      logError(`gateway: webchat failed to start: ${String(err)}`);
+    });
 
   // Launch configured providers (WhatsApp Web, Telegram) so gateway replies via the
   // surface the message came from. Tests can opt out via CLAWDIS_SKIP_PROVIDERS.