diff --git a/config.el b/config.el
index cff6ed1..518f25b 100644
--- a/config.el
+++ b/config.el
@@ -883,19 +883,38 @@ Keeps the status bar and tab bar fully visible at any zoom level.")
   ) ; end after! ement
 
 ;; Defined outside after! so Doom registers them as proper interactive commands.
+
+(defun my/ement-open-after-sync (&rest _)
+  "Open room list after ement finishes initial sync. Self-removing."
+  (remove-hook 'ement-after-initial-sync-hook #'my/ement-open-after-sync)
+  (when (fboundp 'ement-list-rooms)
+    (ement-list-rooms)))
+
 (defun my/ement-maybe-restore ()
   "Restore saved ement session silently (no credentials prompt)."
   (require 'ement)
-  (when (file-exists-p (expand-file-name ement-sessions-file))
+  (when (file-readable-p (expand-file-name ement-sessions-file))
     (ement-connect :user-id "@martin:sukany.cz")))
 
 (defun my/ement-open ()
-  "Switch to Matrix: reconnect if needed, then open room list."
+  "Open Matrix panel: show room list (connect/restore if needed).
+If already connected: opens room list immediately.
+If sessions file exists: auto-restores without credentials, opens rooms after sync.
+Otherwise: runs interactive ement-connect, then opens rooms after sync."
   (interactive)
   (require 'ement)
-  (if (and (boundp 'ement-sessions) ement-sessions)
-      (ement-list-rooms)
-    (my/ement-maybe-restore)))
+  (cond
+   ;; Already connected — open rooms immediately
+   ((and (boundp 'ement-sessions) ement-sessions)
+    (ement-list-rooms))
+   ;; Saved session exists — restore without credentials, open rooms after sync
+   ((file-readable-p (expand-file-name ement-sessions-file))
+    (add-hook 'ement-after-initial-sync-hook #'my/ement-open-after-sync)
+    (ement-connect :user-id "@martin:sukany.cz"))
+   ;; No saved session — interactive connect, open rooms after sync
+   (t
+    (add-hook 'ement-after-initial-sync-hook #'my/ement-open-after-sync)
+    (call-interactively #'ement-connect))))
 
 ;; Auto-connect on Emacs startup (outside after! — ement may be deferred)
 (add-hook 'doom-after-init-hook #'my/ement-maybe-restore)