diff --git a/nori-rs/tui/src/app/config_persistence.rs b/nori-rs/tui/src/app/config_persistence.rs
index 46ef3ba51..c0728e55b 100644
--- a/nori-rs/tui/src/app/config_persistence.rs
+++ b/nori-rs/tui/src/app/config_persistence.rs
@@ -345,6 +345,12 @@ impl App {
             return;
         }
 
+        // Sync in-memory state so that ComputeMcpAuthStatuses (which reads
+        // chat_widget.config_ref().mcp_servers) sees the newly added servers.
+        self.config.mcp_servers = servers.into_iter().collect();
+        self.chat_widget
+            .set_mcp_servers(self.config.mcp_servers.clone());
+
         self.chat_widget.add_info_message(
             "MCP servers updated. Restart to apply changes.".to_string(),
             None,
diff --git a/nori-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/helpers.rs b/nori-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/helpers.rs
index f34017068..5db8be0d8 100644
--- a/nori-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/helpers.rs
+++ b/nori-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/helpers.rs
@@ -203,6 +203,15 @@ impl ChatWidget {
         &self.config
     }
 
+    /// Update the in-memory MCP server map so that subsequent reads via
+    /// `config_ref().mcp_servers` reflect the latest persisted state.
+    pub(crate) fn set_mcp_servers(
+        &mut self,
+        servers: std::collections::HashMap<String, codex_core::config::types::McpServerConfig>,
+    ) {
+        self.config.mcp_servers = servers;
+    }
+
     /// Forward MCP auth statuses to the active bottom pane view.
     pub(crate) fn update_mcp_auth_statuses(
         &mut self,
diff --git a/nori-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests/part7.rs b/nori-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests/part7.rs
index ff35fa883..5c8762dec 100644
--- a/nori-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests/part7.rs
+++ b/nori-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests/part7.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,50 @@
 use super::*;
+use codex_core::config::types::McpServerConfig;
+use codex_core::config::types::McpServerTransportConfig;
+
+#[test]
+fn set_mcp_servers_updates_config_ref() {
+    let (mut chat, _rx, _op_rx) = make_chatwidget_manual();
+
+    // Initially empty
+    assert!(
+        chat.config_ref().mcp_servers.is_empty(),
+        "mcp_servers should start empty"
+    );
+
+    // Set servers
+    let mut servers = std::collections::HashMap::new();
+    servers.insert(
+        "test-server".to_string(),
+        McpServerConfig {
+            transport: McpServerTransportConfig::StreamableHttp {
+                url: "https://example.com/mcp".to_string(),
+                bearer_token_env_var: None,
+                http_headers: None,
+                env_http_headers: None,
+                client_id: None,
+                client_secret_env_var: None,
+            },
+            enabled: true,
+            startup_timeout_sec: None,
+            tool_timeout_sec: None,
+            enabled_tools: None,
+            disabled_tools: None,
+        },
+    );
+    chat.set_mcp_servers(servers.clone());
+
+    // config_ref should now reflect the updated servers
+    assert_eq!(
+        chat.config_ref().mcp_servers.len(),
+        1,
+        "config_ref should show 1 server after set_mcp_servers"
+    );
+    assert!(
+        chat.config_ref().mcp_servers.contains_key("test-server"),
+        "config_ref should contain 'test-server'"
+    );
+}
 
 #[test]
 fn cancelling_phase_keeps_task_running_until_prompt_completed() {