diff --git a/extension/background.js b/extension/background.js
index 5ab34f4..dfac02a 100644
--- a/extension/background.js
+++ b/extension/background.js
@@ -1705,8 +1705,11 @@ async function handleAsyncMessage(message, sender, sendResponse) {
         emit(EVENTS.SET_CONTROL_MODE, { controlMode: mode });
         sendResponse({ status: 'ok' });
     } else if (message.type === 'GET_CONTROL_MODE') {
-        // content.js asks for current mode/role (e.g. injected after ROOM_DATA).
-        sendResponse({ controlMode, hostPeerId, amHost: amHost() });
+        // content.js asks for current mode/role on (re)injection. Include the
+        // persisted desync state so a page reload re-adopts it — otherwise a fresh
+        // content script would start synced while background keeps relaying us as
+        // "Solo" to the host (stale-badge split-brain).
+        sendResponse({ controlMode, hostPeerId, amHost: amHost(), desynced: hcmDesynced });
     } else if (message.type === 'REQUEST_HOST_SYNC') {
         // content.js resync: hand back the host's extrapolated current position.
         sendResponse({ target: getHostSyncTarget() });
diff --git a/extension/content.js b/extension/content.js
index 4f1b385..66f97d3 100644
--- a/extension/content.js
+++ b/extension/content.js
@@ -1435,6 +1435,13 @@
         if (chrome.runtime.lastError || !res) return;
         hcmControlMode = res.controlMode || 'everyone';
         hcmAmHost = !!res.amHost;
+        hcmHostPeerId = res.hostPeerId || null;
+        // Re-adopt persisted desync after a page reload so we don't start synced
+        // while background still relays us as "Solo" to the host (split-brain).
+        if (res.desynced && !hcmDesynced) {
+            hcmDesynced = true;
+            hcmShowBadge();
+        }
     });
 
 })();