diff --git a/extension/content.js b/extension/content.js
index e0f30ad..4e05c1c 100644
--- a/extension/content.js
+++ b/extension/content.js
@@ -577,6 +577,9 @@
     setupListeners();
     schedulePeriodicHeartbeat();
 
+    // Immediate heartbeat on injection — populate peer data without waiting 15s
+    setTimeout(() => sendHeartbeat(), 300);
+
     // Episode Auto-Sync: Boot recovery — check if background has an active lobby
     chrome.runtime.sendMessage({ type: 'CONTENT_BOOT' }, (res) => {
         if (res && res.lobbyActive && res.expectedTitle) {
diff --git a/extension/popup.js b/extension/popup.js
index c7b5a50..000e7d5 100644
--- a/extension/popup.js
+++ b/extension/popup.js
@@ -431,8 +431,11 @@ async function populateTabs(providedPeers = null, providedTargetTabId = null) {
         option.value = tab.id;
         const title = (tab.title || 'Loading...');
         
-        // Smart Matching Logic
-        const peerTitles = peerIds.map(p => p.tabTitle).filter(t => t && t.length > 3);
+        // Smart Matching Logic — exclude own tabTitle to prevent self-match
+        const peerTitles = peerIds
+            .filter(p => (typeof p === 'object' ? p.peerId : p) !== localPeerId)
+            .map(p => (typeof p === 'object' ? p.tabTitle : null))
+            .filter(t => t && t.length > 3);
         const isMatch = peerTitles.some(pt => {
             const t1 = title.toLowerCase();
             const t2 = pt.toLowerCase();