diff --git a/client/src/pages/DashboardPage.test.tsx b/client/src/pages/DashboardPage.test.tsx
index 2a3530ee..90f079de 100644
--- a/client/src/pages/DashboardPage.test.tsx
+++ b/client/src/pages/DashboardPage.test.tsx
@@ -7,10 +7,12 @@ import { resetAllStores, seedStore } from '../../tests/helpers/store';
 import { buildUser, buildAdmin, buildTrip } from '../../tests/helpers/factories';
 import { useAuthStore } from '../store/authStore';
 import { usePermissionsStore } from '../store/permissionsStore';
+import { offlineDb } from '../db/offlineDb';
 import DashboardPage from './DashboardPage';
 
-beforeEach(() => {
+beforeEach(async () => {
   vi.clearAllMocks();
+  await Promise.all(offlineDb.tables.map(t => t.clear()));
   resetAllStores();
   // Seed auth with authenticated user
   seedStore(useAuthStore, { isAuthenticated: true, user: buildUser() });
@@ -329,7 +331,8 @@ describe('DashboardPage', () => {
       const tokyoTrip = screen.getAllByText('Tokyo Trip')[0];
       await user.click(tokyoTrip);
 
-      expect(tokyoTrip).toBeInTheDocument();
+      // Re-query after click — background refresh may re-render the list
+      expect(screen.getAllByText('Tokyo Trip').length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
     });
   });
 
diff --git a/client/src/repo/accommodationRepo.ts b/client/src/repo/accommodationRepo.ts
index c31ea2ba..80a587a1 100644
--- a/client/src/repo/accommodationRepo.ts
+++ b/client/src/repo/accommodationRepo.ts
@@ -9,10 +9,9 @@ export const accommodationRepo = {
       .where('trip_id').equals(Number(tripId)).toArray()
 
     const refresh = (async () => {
-      if (!navigator.onLine) return null
       try {
         const result = await accommodationsApi.list(tripId)
-        upsertAccommodations(result.accommodations || []).catch(() => {})
+        await upsertAccommodations(result.accommodations || [])
         return result
       } catch {
         return null
@@ -23,7 +22,7 @@ export const accommodationRepo = {
 
     const fresh = await refresh
     if (!fresh) return { accommodations: [], refresh: Promise.resolve(null) }
-    return { accommodations: fresh.accommodations, refresh: Promise.resolve(fresh) }
+    return { accommodations: fresh.accommodations, refresh: Promise.resolve(null) }
   },
 
   async create(tripId: number | string, data: Record<string, unknown>): Promise<{ accommodation: Accommodation }> {
diff --git a/client/src/repo/budgetRepo.ts b/client/src/repo/budgetRepo.ts
index f674faab..81b28662 100644
--- a/client/src/repo/budgetRepo.ts
+++ b/client/src/repo/budgetRepo.ts
@@ -11,10 +11,9 @@ export const budgetRepo = {
       .toArray()
 
     const refresh = (async () => {
-      if (!navigator.onLine) return null
       try {
         const result = await budgetApi.list(tripId)
-        upsertBudgetItems(result.items)
+        await upsertBudgetItems(result.items)
         return result
       } catch {
         return null
@@ -25,7 +24,7 @@ export const budgetRepo = {
 
     const fresh = await refresh
     if (!fresh) return { items: [], refresh: Promise.resolve(null) }
-    return { items: fresh.items, refresh: Promise.resolve(fresh) }
+    return { items: fresh.items, refresh: Promise.resolve(null) }
   },
 
   async create(tripId: number | string, data: Record<string, unknown>): Promise<{ item: BudgetItem }> {
diff --git a/client/src/repo/dayRepo.ts b/client/src/repo/dayRepo.ts
index 74129707..9ddb1d6a 100644
--- a/client/src/repo/dayRepo.ts
+++ b/client/src/repo/dayRepo.ts
@@ -11,10 +11,9 @@ export const dayRepo = {
       .sortBy('day_number' as keyof Day)) as Day[]
 
     const refresh = (async () => {
-      if (!navigator.onLine) return null
       try {
         const result = await daysApi.list(tripId)
-        upsertDays(result.days)
+        await upsertDays(result.days)
         return result
       } catch {
         return null
@@ -25,7 +24,7 @@ export const dayRepo = {
 
     const fresh = await refresh
     if (!fresh) return { days: [], refresh: Promise.resolve(null) }
-    return { days: fresh.days, refresh: Promise.resolve(fresh) }
+    return { days: fresh.days, refresh: Promise.resolve(null) }
   },
 
   async update(tripId: number | string, dayId: number | string, data: Record<string, unknown>): Promise<{ day: Day }> {
diff --git a/client/src/repo/fileRepo.ts b/client/src/repo/fileRepo.ts
index 030ca815..691c753e 100644
--- a/client/src/repo/fileRepo.ts
+++ b/client/src/repo/fileRepo.ts
@@ -11,10 +11,9 @@ export const fileRepo = {
       .toArray()
 
     const refresh = (async () => {
-      if (!navigator.onLine) return null
       try {
         const result = await filesApi.list(tripId)
-        upsertTripFiles(result.files)
+        await upsertTripFiles(result.files)
         return result
       } catch {
         return null
@@ -25,7 +24,7 @@ export const fileRepo = {
 
     const fresh = await refresh
     if (!fresh) return { files: [], refresh: Promise.resolve(null) }
-    return { files: fresh.files, refresh: Promise.resolve(fresh) }
+    return { files: fresh.files, refresh: Promise.resolve(null) }
   },
 
   async update(tripId: number | string, id: number, data: Record<string, unknown>): Promise<{ file: TripFile }> {
diff --git a/client/src/repo/packingRepo.ts b/client/src/repo/packingRepo.ts
index 49130813..18a2c001 100644
--- a/client/src/repo/packingRepo.ts
+++ b/client/src/repo/packingRepo.ts
@@ -11,10 +11,9 @@ export const packingRepo = {
       .toArray()
 
     const refresh = (async () => {
-      if (!navigator.onLine) return null
       try {
         const result = await packingApi.list(tripId)
-        upsertPackingItems(result.items)
+        await upsertPackingItems(result.items)
         return result
       } catch {
         return null
@@ -25,7 +24,7 @@ export const packingRepo = {
 
     const fresh = await refresh
     if (!fresh) return { items: [], refresh: Promise.resolve(null) }
-    return { items: fresh.items, refresh: Promise.resolve(fresh) }
+    return { items: fresh.items, refresh: Promise.resolve(null) }
   },
 
   async create(tripId: number | string, data: Record<string, unknown>): Promise<{ item: PackingItem }> {
diff --git a/client/src/repo/placeRepo.ts b/client/src/repo/placeRepo.ts
index 320f44b9..dad8fcae 100644
--- a/client/src/repo/placeRepo.ts
+++ b/client/src/repo/placeRepo.ts
@@ -11,10 +11,9 @@ export const placeRepo = {
       .toArray()
 
     const refresh = (async () => {
-      if (!navigator.onLine) return null
       try {
         const result = await placesApi.list(tripId, params)
-        upsertPlaces(result.places)
+        await upsertPlaces(result.places)
         return result
       } catch {
         return null
@@ -25,7 +24,7 @@ export const placeRepo = {
 
     const fresh = await refresh
     if (!fresh) return { places: [], refresh: Promise.resolve(null) }
-    return { places: fresh.places, refresh: Promise.resolve(fresh) }
+    return { places: fresh.places, refresh: Promise.resolve(null) }
   },
 
   async create(tripId: number | string, data: Record<string, unknown>): Promise<{ place: Place }> {
diff --git a/client/src/repo/reservationRepo.ts b/client/src/repo/reservationRepo.ts
index d0a4759c..ea104b0f 100644
--- a/client/src/repo/reservationRepo.ts
+++ b/client/src/repo/reservationRepo.ts
@@ -11,10 +11,9 @@ export const reservationRepo = {
       .toArray()
 
     const refresh = (async () => {
-      if (!navigator.onLine) return null
       try {
         const result = await reservationsApi.list(tripId)
-        upsertReservations(result.reservations)
+        await upsertReservations(result.reservations)
         return result
       } catch {
         return null
@@ -25,7 +24,7 @@ export const reservationRepo = {
 
     const fresh = await refresh
     if (!fresh) return { reservations: [], refresh: Promise.resolve(null) }
-    return { reservations: fresh.reservations, refresh: Promise.resolve(fresh) }
+    return { reservations: fresh.reservations, refresh: Promise.resolve(null) }
   },
 
   async create(tripId: number | string, data: Record<string, unknown>): Promise<{ reservation: Reservation }> {
diff --git a/client/src/repo/todoRepo.ts b/client/src/repo/todoRepo.ts
index 27b54db6..6cf8f7c4 100644
--- a/client/src/repo/todoRepo.ts
+++ b/client/src/repo/todoRepo.ts
@@ -11,10 +11,9 @@ export const todoRepo = {
       .toArray()
 
     const refresh = (async () => {
-      if (!navigator.onLine) return null
       try {
         const result = await todoApi.list(tripId)
-        upsertTodoItems(result.items)
+        await upsertTodoItems(result.items)
         return result
       } catch {
         return null
@@ -25,7 +24,7 @@ export const todoRepo = {
 
     const fresh = await refresh
     if (!fresh) return { items: [], refresh: Promise.resolve(null) }
-    return { items: fresh.items, refresh: Promise.resolve(fresh) }
+    return { items: fresh.items, refresh: Promise.resolve(null) }
   },
 
   async create(tripId: number | string, data: Record<string, unknown>): Promise<{ item: TodoItem }> {
diff --git a/client/src/repo/tripRepo.ts b/client/src/repo/tripRepo.ts
index 07efc624..1d91019b 100644
--- a/client/src/repo/tripRepo.ts
+++ b/client/src/repo/tripRepo.ts
@@ -11,14 +11,15 @@ export const tripRepo = {
     const all = await offlineDb.trips.toArray()
 
     const refresh: TripsRefresh = (async () => {
-      if (!navigator.onLine) return null
       try {
         const [active, archived] = await Promise.all([
           tripsApi.list(),
           tripsApi.list({ archived: 1 }),
         ])
-        active.trips.forEach(t => upsertTrip(t))
-        archived.trips.forEach(t => upsertTrip(t))
+        await Promise.all([
+          ...active.trips.map(t => upsertTrip(t)),
+          ...archived.trips.map(t => upsertTrip(t)),
+        ])
         return { trips: active.trips, archivedTrips: archived.trips }
       } catch {
         return null
@@ -35,17 +36,17 @@ export const tripRepo = {
 
     const fresh = await refresh
     if (!fresh) return { trips: [], archivedTrips: [], refresh: Promise.resolve(null) }
-    return { ...fresh, refresh: Promise.resolve(fresh) }
+    // Data came straight from network — no background re-fetch needed
+    return { ...fresh, refresh: Promise.resolve(null) }
   },
 
   async get(tripId: number | string): Promise<{ trip: Trip; refresh: TripRefresh }> {
     const cached = await offlineDb.trips.get(Number(tripId))
 
     const refresh: TripRefresh = (async () => {
-      if (!navigator.onLine) return null
       try {
         const result = await tripsApi.get(tripId)
-        upsertTrip(result.trip)
+        await upsertTrip(result.trip)
         return result
       } catch {
         return null
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ export const tripRepo = {
 
     const fresh = await refresh
     if (!fresh) throw new Error('No cached trip data available offline')
-    return { trip: fresh.trip, refresh: Promise.resolve(fresh) }
+    return { trip: fresh.trip, refresh: Promise.resolve(null) }
   },
 
   async update(tripId: number | string, data: Partial<Trip>): Promise<{ trip: Trip }> {
diff --git a/client/tests/unit/repo/packingRepo.test.ts b/client/tests/unit/repo/packingRepo.test.ts
index 97c9b44b..855e0100 100644
--- a/client/tests/unit/repo/packingRepo.test.ts
+++ b/client/tests/unit/repo/packingRepo.test.ts
@@ -58,8 +58,10 @@ describe('packingRepo.list', () => {
     expect(restCalled).toBe(false);
   });
 
-  it('offline — returns empty array when nothing cached', async () => {
-    Object.defineProperty(navigator, 'onLine', { value: false });
+  it('offline — returns empty array when nothing cached and network fails', async () => {
+    server.use(
+      http.get('/api/trips/99/packing', () => HttpResponse.error()),
+    );
     const result = await packingRepo.list(99);
     expect(result.items).toHaveLength(0);
   });
diff --git a/client/tests/unit/repo/placeRepo.test.ts b/client/tests/unit/repo/placeRepo.test.ts
index 9ee808ff..d88f2dfe 100644
--- a/client/tests/unit/repo/placeRepo.test.ts
+++ b/client/tests/unit/repo/placeRepo.test.ts
@@ -59,8 +59,10 @@ describe('placeRepo.list', () => {
     expect(restCalled).toBe(false);
   });
 
-  it('offline — returns empty array when nothing cached', async () => {
-    Object.defineProperty(navigator, 'onLine', { value: false });
+  it('offline — returns empty array when nothing cached and network fails', async () => {
+    server.use(
+      http.get('/api/trips/99/places', () => HttpResponse.error()),
+    );
     const result = await placeRepo.list(99);
     expect(result.places).toHaveLength(0);
   });