diff --git a/internal/tui/clipboard.go b/internal/tui/clipboard.go
index a7ab2b2..c070447 100644
--- a/internal/tui/clipboard.go
+++ b/internal/tui/clipboard.go
@@ -241,7 +241,11 @@ func validSessionID(id string) bool {
 // copySessionID puts the active session id on the clipboard — the payload
 // for a later `bodek --session <id>`. The ✓ Copied flash is the only ack.
 func (m *Model) copySessionID() tea.Cmd {
-	if !validSessionID(m.sessionID) {
+	// sessionLive, not just a non-empty id: the connect-time session event
+	// stamps an id before any prompt — that placeholder is never the
+	// operator's session, so the command stays dormant until a prompt (or
+	// a resume) makes the session real.
+	if !m.sessionLive || !validSessionID(m.sessionID) {
 		return m.transientNoteCmd("no session yet — the id exists once a session is created; send a prompt first")
 	}
 	return m.copyText(m.sessionID)
diff --git a/internal/tui/commands.go b/internal/tui/commands.go
index c5a00a4..a68847f 100644
--- a/internal/tui/commands.go
+++ b/internal/tui/commands.go
@@ -19,6 +19,17 @@ type command struct {
 	run  func(m *Model, args string) tea.Cmd
 }
 
+// commandOffered gates discoverability (slash popup + /help). A command
+// with no gate is always offered; /copy-session-id stays hidden until a
+// session actually exists — the connect-time session frame stamps an id
+// before any prompt, and that placeholder must not be copied.
+func commandOffered(m *Model, c command) bool {
+	if c.name == "copy-session-id" {
+		return m.sessionLive
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
 // slashCommands is the registry. Keeping it a function keeps the closures
 // simple and avoids package-init ordering concerns.
 func slashCommands() []command {
@@ -205,6 +216,9 @@ func (m *Model) runSelectedCommand() tea.Cmd {
 func (m *Model) openCmdAC(query string) {
 	var items []client.Resource
 	for _, c := range slashCommands() {
+		if !commandOffered(m, c) {
+			continue
+		}
 		if strings.HasPrefix(c.name, query) {
 			items = append(items, client.Resource{
 				ID: "/" + c.name, Type: "command", Label: "/" + c.name, Detail: c.desc,
@@ -301,6 +315,9 @@ func (m *Model) buildHelpCard() string {
 	b.WriteString("\n" + th.statsLabel.Render("commands"))
 	const cmdW = 10 // longest name is "/thinking"
 	for _, c := range slashCommands() {
+		if !commandOffered(m, c) {
+			continue
+		}
 		b.WriteString("\n" + th.tipKey.Render(padRight("/"+c.name, cmdW)) + " " + th.tipText.Render(c.desc))
 	}
 	b.WriteString(rule)
diff --git a/internal/tui/commands_e2e_test.go b/internal/tui/commands_e2e_test.go
index 43cd327..2c0d908 100644
--- a/internal/tui/commands_e2e_test.go
+++ b/internal/tui/commands_e2e_test.go
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ func TestE2EAllCommands(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		"/copy-session-id": func(t *testing.T, m *Model) {
 			m.sessionID = "sess-e2e"
+			m.sessionLive = true // a live session is the copy gate
 			if cmd := m.copySessionID(); cmd == nil {
 				t.Fatal("/copy-session-id returned nil cmd with a session on record")
 			}
diff --git a/internal/tui/copy_session_id_test.go b/internal/tui/copy_session_id_test.go
index 29fa7bf..6f3be9f 100644
--- a/internal/tui/copy_session_id_test.go
+++ b/internal/tui/copy_session_id_test.go
@@ -34,12 +34,83 @@ func TestCopySessionIDRegistered(t *testing.T) {
 func TestCopySessionIDCopiesActiveSession(t *testing.T) {
 	m := newTestModel()
 	m.sessionID = "sess-abc123"
+	m.sessionLive = true
 	runCopySessionID(m)
 	if !m.copyFlashing() {
 		t.Error("copying a session id must arm the ✓ Copied flash")
 	}
 }
 
+// A session id stamped by the connect-time session event is not a live
+// session yet: no prompt was sent, so the id may point at a placeholder
+// the operator never created. /copy-session-id must stay unavailable.
+func TestCopySessionIDUnavailableBeforeFirstPrompt(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newTestModel()
+	m.sessionID = "sess-connect-stamp" // wire session frame, no prompt sent
+	runCopySessionID(m)
+	if m.copyFlashing() {
+		t.Error("pre-session copy must not arm the ✓ Copied flash")
+	}
+	if n := len(m.notices); n == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("pre-session copy must record a visible note")
+	} else if got := m.notices[n-1]; !strings.Contains(got, "no session") || !strings.Contains(got, "prompt") {
+		t.Errorf("note = %q, want a warning naming the session and a prompt hint", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// The first prompt creates the session: the command becomes usable.
+func TestCopySessionIDAvailableAfterFirstPrompt(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newTestModel()
+	m.sessionID = "sess-abc123"
+	m.sessionLive = true // armed by sendPrompt
+	runCopySessionID(m)
+	if !m.copyFlashing() {
+		t.Error("after a prompt the session id must copy")
+	}
+}
+
+// /new tears the session down: the command goes dormant again until the
+// next prompt creates the replacement session.
+func TestCopySessionIDDormantAfterNewSession(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newTestModel()
+	m.sessionID = "sess-old"
+	m.sessionLive = true
+	m.startFreshSession()
+	if m.sessionLive {
+		t.Error("startFreshSession must clear sessionLive")
+	}
+}
+
+// Hidden surfaces: the slash popup and /help must not offer the command
+// before the session exists — unavailable means not discoverable.
+func TestCopySessionIDHiddenPreSession(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newTestModel()
+	m.sessionID = "sess-connect-stamp"
+	m.openCmdAC("")
+	for _, it := range m.ac.items {
+		if it.ID == "/copy-session-id" {
+			t.Error("AC popup must not offer /copy-session-id before the session exists")
+		}
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(m.buildHelpCard(), "/copy-session-id") {
+		t.Error("/help must not list /copy-session-id before the session exists")
+	}
+	m.sessionLive = true
+	m.openCmdAC("")
+	found := false
+	for _, it := range m.ac.items {
+		if it.ID == "/copy-session-id" {
+			found = true
+		}
+	}
+	if !found {
+		t.Error("AC popup must offer /copy-session-id once the session is live")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(m.buildHelpCard(), "/copy-session-id") {
+		t.Error("/help must list /copy-session-id once the session is live")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestCopySessionIDWithoutSession(t *testing.T) {
 	m := newTestModel()
 	if cmd := m.copySessionID(); cmd == nil {
diff --git a/internal/tui/events.go b/internal/tui/events.go
index 1a0ee35..f8ccb50 100644
--- a/internal/tui/events.go
+++ b/internal/tui/events.go
@@ -674,6 +674,7 @@ func (m *Model) beginWireTurn(wake bool) {
 	m.msgs = append(m.msgs, message{role: roleAsst, streaming: true, systemWake: wake})
 	m.curIdx = len(m.msgs) - 1
 	m.busy = true
+	m.sessionLive = true    // a wire turn runs inside a real session
 	m.cancelAck = false     // a wake run's errors are real errors again
 	m.failBellFired = false // a fresh turn re-arms the failure BEL
 	m.skillSuggest = nil    // the suggestion's window closed with the last turn
diff --git a/internal/tui/input.go b/internal/tui/input.go
index 696a88f..e6d7ee0 100644
--- a/internal/tui/input.go
+++ b/internal/tui/input.go
@@ -515,6 +515,7 @@ func (m *Model) sendPrompt(text string) tea.Cmd {
 	m.ta.Reset()
 	m.closeAC()
 	m.busy = true
+	m.sessionLive = true    // the first prompt creates the session
 	m.cancelAck = false     // a fresh run's errors are real errors again
 	m.failBellFired = false // a fresh local turn re-arms the failure BEL
 	m.skillSuggest = nil    // the suggestion's window closed with the turn
diff --git a/internal/tui/model.go b/internal/tui/model.go
index cb26ed9..ad5e970 100644
--- a/internal/tui/model.go
+++ b/internal/tui/model.go
@@ -262,13 +262,14 @@ type Model struct {
 	histIdx   int      // index into history while navigating
 	histDraft string   // input stashed while navigating history
 
-	model     string
-	sandbox   bool
-	sessionID string
-	authToken string // session-scoped token (for cancel / resume)
-	pendModel string // model to apply on the next prompt
-	thinking  string // canonical: "" inherit, or disabled|low|medium|high
-	expandAll bool   // Ctrl+E: render every step's full output/logs
+	model       string
+	sandbox     bool
+	sessionID   string
+	sessionLive bool   // a prompt created/adopted this session — copy-session-id's gate
+	authToken   string // session-scoped token (for cancel / resume)
+	pendModel   string // model to apply on the next prompt
+	thinking    string // canonical: "" inherit, or disabled|low|medium|high
+	expandAll   bool   // Ctrl+E: render every step's full output/logs
 
 	odekVersion  string // engine version, shown in the cockpit stats sheet ("" hides it)
 	bodekVersion string // bodek's own version, for the startup update check
@@ -1243,6 +1244,7 @@ func (m *Model) clearConversation() tea.Cmd {
 func (m *Model) startFreshSession() tea.Cmd {
 	homeFetch := m.clearConversation()
 	m.sessionID = ""
+	m.sessionLive = false // /new: no session until the next prompt creates one
 	m.authToken = ""
 	m.pendModel = m.model // the new session re-asserts the active model
 	m.resetPlanState()
diff --git a/internal/tui/panels.go b/internal/tui/panels.go
index 27a91bd..4a47554 100644
--- a/internal/tui/panels.go
+++ b/internal/tui/panels.go
@@ -1007,6 +1007,7 @@ func (m *Model) handleSessionDetail(msg sessionDetailMsg) tea.Cmd {
 	// on the connection (session_switch restores the server-side memory
 	// buffer; the reply's session event re-syncs state).
 	m.sessionID = msg.sess.ID
+	m.sessionLive = true // an adopted session is live: its id is copyable
 	m.authToken = msg.token
 	m.tokens.Set(msg.sess.ID, msg.token)
 	if msg.sess.Model != "" {