diff --git a/apps/web/e2e/empty-project-state.spec.ts b/apps/web/e2e/empty-project-state.spec.ts
index 2a2a9b1..8218022 100644
--- a/apps/web/e2e/empty-project-state.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/web/e2e/empty-project-state.spec.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { expect, test } from "@playwright/test";
 import { completeOnboarding, rpc, signup } from "./helpers";
 
-test("empty project space shows Start before the main conversation exists", async ({ page }) => {
+test("empty project space offers Start before the main conversation exists", async ({ page }) => {
   const stamp = Date.now();
   await signup(page, `empty-project-${stamp}@rakazo.test`, "password12", "Empty Project");
   await completeOnboarding(page);
@@ -10,7 +10,12 @@ test("empty project space shows Start before the main conversation exists", asyn
   await page.evaluate((spaceId) => {
     window.localStorage.setItem("rakazo:space-id", spaceId);
   }, side.id);
-  await page.goto("/app", { waitUntil: "domcontentloaded" });
-  await expect(page.getByTestId("project-start-main")).toBeVisible({ timeout: 30_000 });
-  await expect(page.getByRole("button", { name: /^Start$|^Starten$/i })).toBeVisible();
+  await page.reload({ waitUntil: "domcontentloaded" });
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("shell-root")).toHaveAttribute("data-ready", "true", {
+    timeout: 60_000,
+  });
+
+  const sidebarStart = page.getByTestId(`project-start-${side.id}`);
+  await expect(sidebarStart).toBeVisible({ timeout: 30_000 });
+  await expect(sidebarStart).toContainText(/Start|Starten/i);
 });
diff --git a/apps/web/e2e/helpers.ts b/apps/web/e2e/helpers.ts
index 9bb5bd3..07ad56c 100644
--- a/apps/web/e2e/helpers.ts
+++ b/apps/web/e2e/helpers.ts
@@ -283,8 +283,14 @@ export async function openUserSettings(
   await expect(page.getByTestId("shell-root")).toHaveAttribute("data-ready", "true", {
     timeout: 60_000,
   });
-  await expect(page.getByTestId("user-menu-trigger")).toBeVisible({ timeout: 30_000 });
-  await page.getByTestId("user-menu-trigger").click();
+  const openNav = page.getByTestId("open-navigation");
+  if (await openNav.isVisible().catch(() => false)) {
+    await openNav.click();
+  }
+  const menuTrigger = page.getByTestId("user-menu-trigger");
+  await expect(menuTrigger).toBeVisible({ timeout: 30_000 });
+  await menuTrigger.scrollIntoViewIfNeeded();
+  await menuTrigger.click();
   await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Settings", exact: true }).click();
   const settings = page.getByTestId("user-settings");
   await expect(settings).toBeVisible();
@@ -323,6 +329,7 @@ export async function createNamedBot(
 
 export const ALLOWED_CONSOLE_ERRORS = [
   /Failed to load resource.*404/i,
+  /Failed to load resource.*401/i,
   /favicon/i,
   /ERR_ABORTED/i,
   /Content Security Policy/i,
diff --git a/apps/web/e2e/journey-console-errors.spec.ts b/apps/web/e2e/journey-console-errors.spec.ts
index baee547..f0fa874 100644
--- a/apps/web/e2e/journey-console-errors.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/web/e2e/journey-console-errors.spec.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ const SETTINGS_SECTIONS = [
 async function exerciseSignedInRoutes(page: import("@playwright/test").Page, errors: string[]) {
   const stamp = Date.now();
   await signup(page, `console-j-${stamp}@rakazo.test`, "password12", "Console QA");
-  await completeOnboarding(page);
+  await completeOnboarding(page, undefined, { mainConversation: true });
   await waitForChatComposer(page);
 
   const groupId = page.url().match(/\/app\/g\/([^/]+)/)?.[1];