diff --git a/src/langbot/pkg/core/app.py b/src/langbot/pkg/core/app.py
index 4b82b3efc..3c1a74402 100644
--- a/src/langbot/pkg/core/app.py
+++ b/src/langbot/pkg/core/app.py
@@ -304,10 +304,10 @@ class Application:
     async def run(self):
         self.event_loop_monitor.start()
         try:
-            if self.directory_projection_service is not None:
-                self.task_mgr.create_task(
+            if self.directory_projection_service is not None and getattr(self, "directory_projection_task", None) is None:
+                self.directory_projection_task = self.task_mgr.create_task(
                     self.directory_projection_service.run(),
-                    name='cloud-directory-projection',
+                    name="cloud-directory-projection",
                     scopes=[core_entities.LifecycleControlScope.APPLICATION],
                 )
             if self.cloud_model_catalog_service is not None:
diff --git a/src/langbot/pkg/core/stages/build_app.py b/src/langbot/pkg/core/stages/build_app.py
index 14d533dcc..001696d45 100644
--- a/src/langbot/pkg/core/stages/build_app.py
+++ b/src/langbot/pkg/core/stages/build_app.py
@@ -292,6 +292,16 @@ class BuildAppStage(stage.BootingStage):
         async def runtime_disconnect_callback(connector: plugin_connector.PluginRuntimeConnector) -> None:
             connector.schedule_reconnect()
 
+        if ap.directory_projection_service is not None:
+            # Keep the projection fresh while shared Runtime cold restore runs.
+            # BuildApp initializes the connector before Application.run() starts
+            # its long-lived tasks, so start the single refresh task here.
+            ap.directory_projection_task = ap.task_mgr.create_task(
+                ap.directory_projection_service.run(),
+                name="cloud-directory-projection",
+                scopes=[core_entities.LifecycleControlScope.APPLICATION],
+            )
+
         plugin_connector_inst = plugin_connector.PluginRuntimeConnector(ap, runtime_disconnect_callback)
         try:
             await plugin_connector_inst.initialize()