diff --git a/android/app/src/main/python/meshchat_wrapper.py b/android/app/src/main/python/meshchat_wrapper.py
index 5833c40d..86ab9d44 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/python/meshchat_wrapper.py
+++ b/android/app/src/main/python/meshchat_wrapper.py
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: 0BSD
 
+import contextlib
 import os
 import signal
 import sys
 import threading
+import time
 
 # Prevents a second meshchat main() if Java starts two threads (e.g. activity edge cases).
 _server_loop_lock = threading.Lock()
@@ -134,6 +136,72 @@ def _install_android_rnode_support(activity=None):
         print(f"meshchat_wrapper: Android RNode support skipped: {exc}")
 
 
+def _probe_local_status_payload(port, timeout=1.5):
+    import http.client
+    import json
+    import ssl
+
+    def _fetch(use_https):
+        conn = None
+        try:
+            if use_https:
+                context = ssl.SSLContext(ssl.PROTOCOL_TLS_CLIENT)
+                context.check_hostname = False
+                context.verify_mode = ssl.CERT_NONE
+                conn = http.client.HTTPSConnection(
+                    "127.0.0.1",
+                    port,
+                    timeout=timeout,
+                    context=context,
+                )
+            else:
+                conn = http.client.HTTPConnection("127.0.0.1", port, timeout=timeout)
+            conn.request("GET", "/api/v1/status")
+            response = conn.getresponse()
+            body = response.read()
+            if response.status != 200:
+                return None
+            return json.loads(body.decode("utf-8"))
+        except Exception:
+            return None
+        finally:
+            if conn is not None:
+                with contextlib.suppress(Exception):
+                    conn.close()
+
+    return _fetch(True) or _fetch(False)
+
+
+def _local_backend_matches(port, timeout=1.5):
+    payload = _probe_local_status_payload(port, timeout=timeout)
+    if not isinstance(payload, dict):
+        return False
+    expected_keys = {"stage", "network_ready", "listen_port", "https_enabled"}
+    if not expected_keys.issubset(payload.keys()):
+        return False
+    return payload.get("listen_port") == port
+
+
+def _wait_for_own_backend_or_free_port(
+    port,
+    *,
+    wait_seconds=3.0,
+    poll_interval=0.3,
+    probe_timeout=1.5,
+):
+    from meshchatx.src.backend.interface_port_check import is_port_in_use
+
+    deadline = time.monotonic() + wait_seconds
+    while True:
+        if not is_port_in_use("127.0.0.1", port):
+            return "free"
+        if _local_backend_matches(port, timeout=probe_timeout):
+            return "serving"
+        if time.monotonic() >= deadline:
+            return "busy"
+        time.sleep(poll_interval)
+
+
 def start_server(port=8000, app_files_dir=None, activity=None):
     global _server_loop_active
     with _server_loop_lock:
@@ -153,6 +221,26 @@ def start_server(port=8000, app_files_dir=None, activity=None):
             _ensure_android_reticulum_config(reticulum_config_dir)
             _clear_stale_storage_lock(storage_dir)
 
+        try:
+            port_outcome = _wait_for_own_backend_or_free_port(port)
+        except Exception as port_check_exc:
+            port_outcome = "free"
+            print(
+                f"meshchat_wrapper: port availability check skipped: {port_check_exc}"
+            )
+
+        if port_outcome == "serving":
+            print(
+                f"meshchat_wrapper: MeshChatX backend already serving on port {port}, "
+                "skipping duplicate start_server (activity was likely recreated)",
+            )
+            return
+        if port_outcome == "busy":
+            print(
+                f"meshchat_wrapper: port {port} is still occupied by another process "
+                "after waiting, attempting to start anyway",
+            )
+
         original_signal = signal.signal
 
         def _safe_signal(sig, handler):
diff --git a/meshchatx.rsm b/meshchatx.rsm
index 6d722303..48055124 100644
Binary files a/meshchatx.rsm and b/meshchatx.rsm differ
diff --git a/meshchatx/src/backend/page_node_manager.py b/meshchatx/src/backend/page_node_manager.py
index bddd894e..d01c6d14 100644
--- a/meshchatx/src/backend/page_node_manager.py
+++ b/meshchatx/src/backend/page_node_manager.py
@@ -10,7 +10,10 @@ storage/page_nodes/<node_id>/.
 import os
 import uuid
 
-from meshchatx.src.backend.page_node import PageNode, normalize_announce_interval_seconds
+from meshchatx.src.backend.page_node import (
+    PageNode,
+    normalize_announce_interval_seconds,
+)
 
 
 class PageNodeManager:
diff --git a/meshchatx/src/backend/rns_startup_recovery.py b/meshchatx/src/backend/rns_startup_recovery.py
index c835af35..1d8ffcae 100644
--- a/meshchatx/src/backend/rns_startup_recovery.py
+++ b/meshchatx/src/backend/rns_startup_recovery.py
@@ -29,9 +29,7 @@ _ORIGINAL_PANIC = None
 _ORIGINAL_EXIT = None
 _EXIT_IN_PROGRESS = False
 
-# Prefer disabling these types first when init fails without a named culprit.
 _HIGH_RISK_TYPES = (
-    "I2PInterface",
     "RNodeMultiInterface",
     "RNodeInterface",
     "RNodeIPInterface",
@@ -40,8 +38,46 @@ _HIGH_RISK_TYPES = (
     "KISSInterface",
     "AX25KISSInterface",
     "PipeInterface",
+    "I2PInterface",
 )
 
+_CAPTURED_ERROR_LOG_LINES: list[str] = []
+_ORIGINAL_RNS_LOG = None
+
+
+def _capturing_log(msg, level=3, *args, **kwargs):
+    try:
+        import RNS
+
+        if level <= RNS.LOG_ERROR:
+            _CAPTURED_ERROR_LOG_LINES.append(str(msg))
+            del _CAPTURED_ERROR_LOG_LINES[:-20]
+    except Exception:
+        pass
+    return _ORIGINAL_RNS_LOG(msg, level, *args, **kwargs)
+
+
+@contextlib.contextmanager
+def _capture_rns_error_logs():
+    global _ORIGINAL_RNS_LOG
+    try:
+        import RNS
+    except Exception:
+        yield
+        return
+
+    _CAPTURED_ERROR_LOG_LINES.clear()
+    _ORIGINAL_RNS_LOG = RNS.log
+    RNS.log = _capturing_log
+    try:
+        yield
+    finally:
+        RNS.log = _ORIGINAL_RNS_LOG
+
+
+def _mentions_i2p(text: str) -> bool:
+    return "i2p" in str(text).lower()
+
 
 class RnsPanicError(RuntimeError):
     """Raised instead of os._exit when RNS would panic or hard-exit."""
@@ -75,6 +111,8 @@ def install_rns_panic_containment(*, force: bool = False) -> bool:
         if _args:
             message = f"RNS.panic(): {_args[0]}"
         # Avoid logging handlers here. Panic can run under signal context.
+        if _CAPTURED_ERROR_LOG_LINES:
+            message = message + " | " + " | ".join(_CAPTURED_ERROR_LOG_LINES[-5:])
         raise RnsPanicError(message)
 
     def _contained_exit(code: int = 0):
@@ -289,7 +327,7 @@ def apply_startup_recovery_step(
     """Disable something that might be blocking RNS init. Returns disabled names.
 
     Steps escalate with *attempt*:
-    0. Named interfaces from the error (if any), else I2P
+    0. Named interfaces from the error (if any), else I2P when error mentions I2P
     1. RNode / serial / kiss family
     2. AutoInterface
     3. Any remaining enabled high-risk interface (one at a time)
@@ -308,7 +346,7 @@ def apply_startup_recovery_step(
             return disabled
 
     if attempt <= 0:
-        if i2p_support.disable_all_i2p_in_config(config_path):
+        if _mentions_i2p(error) and i2p_support.disable_all_i2p_in_config(config_path):
             # Names unknown here, so report a synthetic marker for logs/tests.
             disabled.append("__i2p__")
         return disabled
@@ -354,7 +392,8 @@ def create_reticulum_with_recovery(
     last_exc: Exception | None = None
     for attempt in range(max_attempts):
         try:
-            return construct()
+            with _capture_rns_error_logs():
+                return construct()
         except Exception as exc:
             last_exc = exc
             disabled = apply_startup_recovery_step(
diff --git a/tests/backend/test_rns_startup_recovery.py b/tests/backend/test_rns_startup_recovery.py
index e2b74821..68c06534 100644
--- a/tests/backend/test_rns_startup_recovery.py
+++ b/tests/backend/test_rns_startup_recovery.py
@@ -150,6 +150,84 @@ peers = aaa.b32.i2p
     )
 
 
+def test_apply_startup_recovery_step_does_not_blindly_disable_i2p(tmp_path):
+    config_path = tmp_path / "config"
+    config_path.write_text(
+        """[reticulum]
+enable_transport = True
+[interfaces]
+[[MyI2P]]
+type = I2PInterface
+interface_enabled = true
+peers = aaa.b32.i2p
+""",
+        encoding="utf-8",
+    )
+    disabled = recovery.apply_startup_recovery_step(
+        str(config_path),
+        "some unrelated bind failure with no interface name",
+        attempt=0,
+    )
+    assert disabled == []
+    cfg = ConfigObj(str(config_path))
+    assert str(cfg["interfaces"]["MyI2P"]["interface_enabled"]).lower() in (
+        "true",
+        "yes",
+        "1",
+    )
+
+
+def test_create_reticulum_with_recovery_uses_rns_log_for_unnamed_panic(tmp_path):
+    import RNS
+
+    config_path = tmp_path / "config"
+    config_path.write_text(
+        """[reticulum]
+enable_transport = True
+[interfaces]
+[[MyI2P]]
+type = I2PInterface
+interface_enabled = true
+peers = aaa.b32.i2p
+[[FlakyTcp]]
+type = TCPClientInterface
+interface_enabled = true
+""",
+        encoding="utf-8",
+    )
+    recovery.install_rns_panic_containment(force=True)
+    calls = {"n": 0}
+
+    def construct():
+        calls["n"] += 1
+        if calls["n"] == 1:
+            RNS.log(
+                'The interface "FlakyTcp" could not be created. Check your '
+                "configuration file for errors!",
+                RNS.LOG_ERROR,
+            )
+            RNS.panic()
+        return "ok"
+
+    result = recovery.create_reticulum_with_recovery(
+        str(tmp_path),
+        construct=construct,
+        max_attempts=3,
+    )
+    assert result == "ok"
+    cfg = ConfigObj(str(config_path))
+    assert str(cfg["interfaces"]["FlakyTcp"]["interface_enabled"]).lower() in (
+        "false",
+        "no",
+        "0",
+    )
+    assert str(cfg["interfaces"]["MyI2P"]["interface_enabled"]).lower() in (
+        "true",
+        "yes",
+        "1",
+    )
+
+
 def test_extract_interface_names_from_error():
     names = recovery.extract_interface_names_from_error(
         'AutoInterface[HomeLAN] failed; also interface "Radio1" offline',
diff --git a/tests/test_android_meshchat_wrapper.py b/tests/test_android_meshchat_wrapper.py
index c87a78d5..f685dd8d 100644
--- a/tests/test_android_meshchat_wrapper.py
+++ b/tests/test_android_meshchat_wrapper.py
@@ -4,9 +4,13 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import http.server
 import importlib
+import json
+import socket
 import sys
 import threading
+import time
 from pathlib import Path
 
 _REPO_ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
@@ -15,6 +19,40 @@ if str(_ANDROID_PY) not in sys.path:
     sys.path.insert(0, str(_ANDROID_PY))
 
 
+def _free_port():
+    sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
+    sock.bind(("127.0.0.1", 0))
+    port = sock.getsockname()[1]
+    sock.close()
+    return port
+
+
+class _FakeStatusHandler(http.server.BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
+    def do_GET(self):
+        if self.path != "/api/v1/status":
+            self.send_response(404)
+            self.end_headers()
+            return
+        body = json.dumps(
+            {
+                "status": "ok",
+                "stage": "ready",
+                "network_ready": True,
+                "network_degraded": False,
+                "listen_port": self.server.server_port,
+                "https_enabled": True,
+            },
+        ).encode("utf-8")
+        self.send_response(200)
+        self.send_header("Content-Type", "application/json")
+        self.send_header("Content-Length", str(len(body)))
+        self.end_headers()
+        self.wfile.write(body)
+
+    def log_message(self, *_args, **_kwargs):
+        pass
+
+
 def test_start_server_second_call_skips_while_main_blocks(monkeypatch):
     import meshchatx.meshchat as mm
 
@@ -114,3 +152,80 @@ def test_start_server_systemexit_includes_cause(monkeypatch):
     message = str(excinfo.value)
     assert "code=1" in message
     assert "storage lock held by pid 12345" in message
+
+
+def test_wait_for_own_backend_or_free_port_reports_free_port():
+    import meshchat_wrapper
+
+    importlib.reload(meshchat_wrapper)
+    port = _free_port()
+    outcome = meshchat_wrapper._wait_for_own_backend_or_free_port(
+        port,
+        wait_seconds=1.0,
+        poll_interval=0.1,
+    )
+    assert outcome == "free"
+
+
+def test_wait_for_own_backend_or_free_port_detects_existing_backend():
+    import meshchat_wrapper
+
+    importlib.reload(meshchat_wrapper)
+    port = _free_port()
+    server = http.server.HTTPServer(("127.0.0.1", port), _FakeStatusHandler)
+    thread = threading.Thread(target=server.serve_forever, daemon=True)
+    thread.start()
+    try:
+        started = time.monotonic()
+        outcome = meshchat_wrapper._wait_for_own_backend_or_free_port(
+            port,
+            wait_seconds=5.0,
+            poll_interval=0.1,
+            probe_timeout=1.0,
+        )
+        elapsed = time.monotonic() - started
+        assert outcome == "serving"
+        assert elapsed < 4.0
+    finally:
+        server.shutdown()
+        thread.join(timeout=5.0)
+
+
+def test_wait_for_own_backend_or_free_port_reports_busy_for_foreign_listener():
+    import meshchat_wrapper
+
+    importlib.reload(meshchat_wrapper)
+    port = _free_port()
+    listener = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
+    listener.bind(("127.0.0.1", port))
+    listener.listen(1)
+    try:
+        outcome = meshchat_wrapper._wait_for_own_backend_or_free_port(
+            port,
+            wait_seconds=0.2,
+            poll_interval=0.1,
+            probe_timeout=0.3,
+        )
+        assert outcome == "busy"
+    finally:
+        listener.close()
+
+
+def test_start_server_skips_duplicate_when_backend_already_serving(monkeypatch):
+    import meshchatx.meshchat as mm
+
+    calls: list[int] = []
+    monkeypatch.setattr(mm, "main", lambda: calls.append(1))
+
+    import meshchat_wrapper
+
+    importlib.reload(meshchat_wrapper)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        meshchat_wrapper,
+        "_wait_for_own_backend_or_free_port",
+        lambda *_a, **_k: "serving",
+    )
+
+    meshchat_wrapper.start_server(8000, None)
+    assert calls == []
+    assert meshchat_wrapper._server_loop_active is False