diff --git a/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/Services/WorkerClient.cs b/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/Services/WorkerClient.cs
index b301859..08562f0 100644
--- a/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/Services/WorkerClient.cs
+++ b/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/Services/WorkerClient.cs
@@ -7,13 +7,32 @@ namespace ClaudeDo.Ui.Services;
 
 public record ActiveTask(string Slot, string TaskId, DateTime StartedAt);
 
+sealed class IndefiniteRetryPolicy : IRetryPolicy
+{
+    private static readonly TimeSpan[] _delays =
+    [
+        TimeSpan.Zero,
+        TimeSpan.FromSeconds(2),
+        TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5),
+        TimeSpan.FromSeconds(10),
+        TimeSpan.FromSeconds(30),
+    ];
+
+    public TimeSpan? NextRetryDelay(RetryContext retryContext) =>
+        _delays[Math.Min(retryContext.PreviousRetryCount, _delays.Length - 1)];
+}
+
 public partial class WorkerClient : ObservableObject, IAsyncDisposable
 {
     private readonly HubConnection _hub;
+    private CancellationTokenSource? _startCts;
 
     [ObservableProperty]
     private bool _isConnected;
 
+    [ObservableProperty]
+    private bool _isReconnecting;
+
     public ObservableCollection<ActiveTask> ActiveTasks { get; } = new();
 
     public event Action<string, string, DateTime>? TaskStartedEvent;
@@ -26,18 +45,18 @@ public partial class WorkerClient : ObservableObject, IAsyncDisposable
     {
         _hub = new HubConnectionBuilder()
             .WithUrl(signalRUrl)
-            .WithAutomaticReconnect()
+            .WithAutomaticReconnect(new IndefiniteRetryPolicy())
             .Build();
 
         _hub.Reconnected += async _ =>
         {
-            Dispatcher.UIThread.Post(() => IsConnected = true);
+            Dispatcher.UIThread.Post(() => { IsConnected = true; IsReconnecting = false; });
             await SeedActiveTasksAsync();
         };
 
         _hub.Reconnecting += _ =>
         {
-            Dispatcher.UIThread.Post(() => IsConnected = false);
+            Dispatcher.UIThread.Post(() => { IsConnected = false; IsReconnecting = true; });
             return Task.CompletedTask;
         };
 
@@ -46,6 +65,7 @@ public partial class WorkerClient : ObservableObject, IAsyncDisposable
             Dispatcher.UIThread.Post(() =>
             {
                 IsConnected = false;
+                IsReconnecting = false;
                 ActiveTasks.Clear();
             });
             return Task.CompletedTask;
@@ -87,22 +107,43 @@ public partial class WorkerClient : ObservableObject, IAsyncDisposable
         });
     }
 
-    public async Task StartAsync()
+    public Task StartAsync()
     {
-        try
+        _startCts = new CancellationTokenSource();
+        _ = ConnectWithRetryAsync(_startCts.Token);
+        return Task.CompletedTask;
+    }
+
+    private async Task ConnectWithRetryAsync(CancellationToken ct)
+    {
+        var delays = new[] { 0, 2, 5, 10, 30 };
+        int attempt = 0;
+        Dispatcher.UIThread.Post(() => IsReconnecting = true);
+        while (!ct.IsCancellationRequested)
         {
-            await _hub.StartAsync();
-            Dispatcher.UIThread.Post(() => IsConnected = true);
-            await SeedActiveTasksAsync();
-        }
-        catch
-        {
-            Dispatcher.UIThread.Post(() => IsConnected = false);
+            try
+            {
+                await _hub.StartAsync(ct);
+                Dispatcher.UIThread.Post(() => { IsConnected = true; IsReconnecting = false; });
+                await SeedActiveTasksAsync();
+                return;
+            }
+            catch (OperationCanceledException)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+            catch
+            {
+                var delay = delays[Math.Min(attempt++, delays.Length - 1)];
+                try { await Task.Delay(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(delay), ct); }
+                catch (OperationCanceledException) { return; }
+            }
         }
     }
 
     public async Task StopAsync()
     {
+        _startCts?.Cancel();
         try { await _hub.StopAsync(); } catch { /* swallow */ }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/ViewModels/StatusBarViewModel.cs b/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/ViewModels/StatusBarViewModel.cs
index 8b1dc00..792bd08 100644
--- a/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/ViewModels/StatusBarViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/ViewModels/StatusBarViewModel.cs
@@ -18,9 +18,12 @@ public partial class StatusBarViewModel : ViewModelBase
 
         worker.PropertyChanged += (_, e) =>
         {
-            if (e.PropertyName == nameof(WorkerClient.IsConnected))
+            if (e.PropertyName == nameof(WorkerClient.IsConnected) ||
+                e.PropertyName == nameof(WorkerClient.IsReconnecting))
             {
-                ConnectionStatus = worker.IsConnected ? "Online" : "Offline";
+                ConnectionStatus = worker.IsConnected ? "Online"
+                    : worker.IsReconnecting ? "Connecting..."
+                    : "Offline";
             }
         };