diff --git a/vocero-api/CHANGELOG.md b/vocero-api/CHANGELOG.md
index 1f03219..68eea7b 100644
--- a/vocero-api/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/vocero-api/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,13 @@ the implementation at the recorded date; current operating instructions live in
 
 ## Unreleased
 
+### Fixed
+
+- Make frontend configuration failures retryable, bound startup requests, and
+  load optional reports independently while waiting for caller context before
+  starting a session. Cancel superseded external reasoning and reject stale
+  answers after a new turn, interruption, or session teardown.
+
 ### Changed
 
 - Renamed the API and browser projects to `vocero-api/` and `vocero-frontend/`.
diff --git a/vocero-frontend/src/App.test.tsx b/vocero-frontend/src/App.test.tsx
index 9bfe371..36b94d1 100644
--- a/vocero-frontend/src/App.test.tsx
+++ b/vocero-frontend/src/App.test.tsx
@@ -43,6 +43,15 @@ afterEach(() => {
 });
 
 describe("React application", () => {
+  it("offers configuration retry without exposing a broken start control", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(fetch).mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error("offline"));
+    const user = userEvent.setup();
+    render(<App />);
+    await screen.findByRole("alert");
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("button", { name: "Iniciar conversación de voz" })).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    await user.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Reintentar" }));
+    expect(await screen.findByRole("button", { name: "Iniciar conversación de voz" })).toBeEnabled();
+  });
   it("loads the configured theme and persists voice settings across remounts under StrictMode", async () => {
     const user = userEvent.setup();
     const view = render(
diff --git a/vocero-frontend/src/App.tsx b/vocero-frontend/src/App.tsx
index a018102..0b5cc38 100644
--- a/vocero-frontend/src/App.tsx
+++ b/vocero-frontend/src/App.tsx
@@ -21,17 +21,18 @@ export default function App() {
   const white = state.config.theme === "white";
   const name = profileName(state.profile);
   const hasReports = debug && !white && !!state.reports?.count;
+  const ready = state.configReady && !state.contextLoading;
   useEffect(() => {
     const abort = new AbortController();
     void controller.initialize(abort.signal);
     const leave = () => {
-      void controller.stop();
+      controller.dispose();
     };
     window.addEventListener("pagehide", leave);
     return () => {
       abort.abort();
       window.removeEventListener("pagehide", leave);
-      void controller.stop();
+      controller.dispose();
     };
   }, [controller]);
   useLayoutEffect(() => {
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ export default function App() {
     }
   }, [state.loading, white]);
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (state.loading) {
+    if (!ready) {
       return;
     }
     const timer = setTimeout(() => {
@@ -49,8 +50,8 @@ export default function App() {
     return () => {
       clearTimeout(timer);
     };
-  }, [state.loading, controller]);
-  useWakeWord(!state.loading && !ACTIVE_STATES.has(state.status) && !modal && !state.unlock, controller);
+  }, [ready, controller]);
+  useWakeWord(ready && !ACTIVE_STATES.has(state.status) && !modal && !state.unlock, controller);
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!reportsOpen) {
       return;
@@ -75,6 +76,25 @@ export default function App() {
       </main>
     );
   }
+  if (!state.configReady) {
+    return (
+      <main className="loading-screen">
+        <div className="startup-error">
+          <h1>No pudimos preparar Vocero</h1>
+          <p role="alert">{state.configError}</p>
+          <button
+            className="btn primary"
+            type="button"
+            onClick={() => {
+              void controller.initialize();
+            }}
+          >
+            Reintentar
+          </button>
+        </div>
+      </main>
+    );
+  }
   return (
     <>
       {state.unlock && (
diff --git a/vocero-frontend/src/components/VoiceStage.tsx b/vocero-frontend/src/components/VoiceStage.tsx
index 758e60b..098e764 100644
--- a/vocero-frontend/src/components/VoiceStage.tsx
+++ b/vocero-frontend/src/components/VoiceStage.tsx
@@ -119,8 +119,10 @@ export function VoiceStage({ state, controller }: { state: AppState; controller:
   const live = LIVE_STATES.has(state.status);
   const active = ACTIVE_STATES.has(state.status);
   const status = state.status === "closed" ? "idle" : state.status;
-  const caption =
-    state.muted && (status === "listening" || status === "user-speaking")
+  const ready = state.configReady && !state.contextLoading;
+  const caption = !ready
+    ? "Preparando contexto…"
+    : state.muted && (status === "listening" || status === "user-speaking")
       ? "Micrófono silenciado"
       : CAPTIONS[state.status];
   const label = active
@@ -136,7 +138,7 @@ export function VoiceStage({ state, controller }: { state: AppState; controller:
       void controller.start();
     }
   };
-  const disabled = active && status !== "your-turn";
+  const disabled = !ready || (active && status !== "your-turn");
   return (
     <main className="stage">
       {white ? (
diff --git a/vocero-frontend/src/lib/api.ts b/vocero-frontend/src/lib/api.ts
index 8144f79..f1edcf1 100644
--- a/vocero-frontend/src/lib/api.ts
+++ b/vocero-frontend/src/lib/api.ts
@@ -15,13 +15,40 @@ export class ApiError extends Error {
   }
 }
 
-export async function request<T>(path: string, schema: z.ZodType<T>, init?: RequestInit): Promise<T> {
-  const response = await fetch(path, init);
-  const body: unknown = await response.json().catch(() => null);
-  if (!response.ok) {
-    throw new ApiError(response.status, body);
+export async function request<T>(
+  path: string,
+  schema: z.ZodType<T>,
+  init?: RequestInit,
+  timeoutMs?: number,
+): Promise<T> {
+  const abort = new AbortController();
+  const parent = init?.signal;
+  const cancel = () => {
+    abort.abort(parent?.reason);
+  };
+  if (parent?.aborted) {
+    cancel();
+  } else {
+    parent?.addEventListener("abort", cancel, { once: true });
+  }
+  const timer =
+    timeoutMs === undefined
+      ? undefined
+      : setTimeout(() => {
+          abort.abort(new DOMException("Request timed out", "TimeoutError"));
+        }, timeoutMs);
+  try {
+    const response = await fetch(path, { ...init, signal: abort.signal });
+    const body: unknown = await response.json().catch(() => null);
+    abort.signal.throwIfAborted();
+    if (!response.ok) {
+      throw new ApiError(response.status, body);
+    }
+    return schema.parse(body);
+  } finally {
+    clearTimeout(timer);
+    parent?.removeEventListener("abort", cancel);
   }
-  return schema.parse(body);
 }
 
 export function post<T>(path: string, schema: z.ZodType<T>, body: unknown, signal?: AbortSignal) {
@@ -35,7 +62,7 @@ export function post<T>(path: string, schema: z.ZodType<T>, body: unknown, signa
 
 export async function optionalRequest<T>(path: string, schema: z.ZodType<T>, signal: AbortSignal) {
   try {
-    return await request(path, schema, { signal });
+    return await request(path, schema, { signal }, 8000);
   } catch (error) {
     if (signal.aborted) {
       throw error;
@@ -46,7 +73,7 @@ export async function optionalRequest<T>(path: string, schema: z.ZodType<T>, sig
 }
 
 export function getConfig(signal: AbortSignal) {
-  return request("/api/config", configSchema, { signal });
+  return request("/api/config", configSchema, { signal }, 10000);
 }
 export async function getProfile(phone: string, signal: AbortSignal) {
   if (!phone) {
@@ -72,6 +99,7 @@ export async function getTools(signal: AbortSignal, refresh = false) {
     `/api/apipilot/tools?include_unauthorized=true&refresh=${String(refresh)}`,
     toolsEnvelopeSchema,
     { signal },
+    10000,
   );
   if (!result.success || !result.data) {
     throw new Error("No se pudieron cargar las herramientas.");
@@ -108,6 +136,9 @@ export function errorMessage(error: unknown) {
     return "El servidor devolvió una respuesta inesperada.";
   }
   if (error instanceof DOMException) {
+    if (error.name === "TimeoutError") {
+      return "El servidor tardó demasiado en responder. Vuelve a intentarlo.";
+    }
     if (error.name === "NotAllowedError") {
       return "No se pudo acceder al micrófono. Revisa el permiso del navegador y vuelve a intentarlo.";
     }
diff --git a/vocero-frontend/src/realtime/controller.test.ts b/vocero-frontend/src/realtime/controller.test.ts
index c8f3ff9..9b01014 100644
--- a/vocero-frontend/src/realtime/controller.test.ts
+++ b/vocero-frontend/src/realtime/controller.test.ts
@@ -87,6 +87,78 @@ async function start() {
   return client;
 }
 describe("voice application lifecycle", () => {
+  it("renders configuration and starts without waiting for optional reports", async () => {
+    const original = fetchMock.getMockImplementation();
+    if (!original) {
+      throw new Error("Missing fetch mock");
+    }
+    let finishReports: ((value: Response) => void) | undefined;
+    fetchMock.mockImplementation((path, init) =>
+      path.startsWith("/api/user/reports")
+        ? new Promise<Response>((resolve) => {
+            finishReports = resolve;
+          })
+        : original(path, init),
+    );
+    const initializing = controller.initialize();
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1);
+    expect(controller.getSnapshot()).toMatchObject({ loading: false, configReady: true, profile: { name: "Ana" } });
+    await controller.start();
+    expect(MockClient.instances).toHaveLength(1);
+    finishReports?.(new Response(JSON.stringify({ count: 2 })));
+    await initializing;
+    expect(controller.getSnapshot().reports?.count).toBe(2);
+  });
+  it("waits for caller context but bounds an unavailable profile request", async () => {
+    const original = fetchMock.getMockImplementation();
+    if (!original) {
+      throw new Error("Missing fetch mock");
+    }
+    fetchMock.mockImplementation((path, init) =>
+      path.startsWith("/api/user/phone")
+        ? new Promise<Response>((_resolve, reject) => {
+            init?.signal?.addEventListener("abort", () => {
+              reject(new DOMException("Request cancelled", "AbortError"));
+            });
+          })
+        : original(path, init),
+    );
+    const initializing = controller.initialize();
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1);
+    expect(controller.getSnapshot()).toMatchObject({ loading: false, contextLoading: true });
+    await controller.start();
+    expect(MockClient.instances).toHaveLength(0);
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(8000);
+    await initializing;
+    expect(controller.getSnapshot()).toMatchObject({ contextLoading: false, profile: null });
+    await controller.start();
+    expect(MockClient.instances).toHaveLength(1);
+  });
+  it("blocks session startup after a configuration failure and allows retry", async () => {
+    fetchMock.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error("offline"));
+    await controller.initialize();
+    expect(controller.getSnapshot()).toMatchObject({ loading: false, configReady: false });
+    await controller.start();
+    expect(MockClient.instances).toHaveLength(0);
+    await controller.initialize();
+    expect(controller.getSnapshot()).toMatchObject({ configReady: true, configError: "" });
+    await controller.start();
+    expect(MockClient.instances).toHaveLength(1);
+  });
+  it("discards a superseded initialization even if its fetch ignores cancellation", async () => {
+    let finishConfig: ((value: Response) => void) | undefined;
+    fetchMock.mockImplementationOnce(
+      () =>
+        new Promise<Response>((resolve) => {
+          finishConfig = resolve;
+        }),
+    );
+    const earlier = controller.initialize();
+    await controller.initialize();
+    finishConfig?.(new Response(JSON.stringify({ theme: "stale" })));
+    await earlier;
+    expect(controller.getSnapshot()).toMatchObject({ configReady: true, config: { theme: "" } });
+  });
   it("loads configuration and caller context without an account request on startup or stop", async () => {
     const client = await start();
     await controller.stop();
@@ -130,6 +202,34 @@ describe("voice application lifecycle", () => {
     expect(client.renderExternalAnswer).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     expect(controller.getSnapshot().messages.map((message) => message.text)).toEqual(["Consulta"]);
   });
+  it("aborts an older answer and discards it if it finishes after the current turn", async () => {
+    const client = await start();
+    client.emit("transcript", { id: "older", role: "user", text: "Anterior", partial: false });
+    const earlier = pendingReasoning;
+    const earlierSignal = fetchMock.mock.calls.find(([path]) => path === "/api/reasoning")?.[1]?.signal;
+    client.emit("transcript", { id: "newer", role: "user", text: "Actual", partial: false });
+    expect(earlierSignal?.aborted).toBe(true);
+    pendingReasoning?.(new Response(JSON.stringify({ answer: "Respuesta actual" })));
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1);
+    earlier?.(new Response(JSON.stringify({ answer: "Respuesta anterior" })));
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1);
+    expect(client.renderExternalAnswer).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith("Respuesta actual");
+    expect(controller.getSnapshot().messages.map((message) => message.text)).toEqual([
+      "Anterior",
+      "Actual",
+      "Respuesta actual",
+    ]);
+    expect(controller.getSnapshot().error).toBe("");
+  });
+  it("invalidates pending reasoning as soon as the user interrupts", async () => {
+    const client = await start();
+    client.emit("transcript", { id: "u1", role: "user", text: "Pregunta", partial: false });
+    client.emit("status", "user-speaking");
+    pendingReasoning?.(new Response(JSON.stringify({ answer: "Respuesta interrumpida" })));
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1);
+    expect(client.renderExternalAnswer).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(controller.getSnapshot().status).toBe("user-speaking");
+  });
   it("applies and removes RAG context in the live session", async () => {
     const client = await start();
     controller.setRag("Datos importantes");
diff --git a/vocero-frontend/src/realtime/controller.ts b/vocero-frontend/src/realtime/controller.ts
index 8348e54..bbc09fa 100644
--- a/vocero-frontend/src/realtime/controller.ts
+++ b/vocero-frontend/src/realtime/controller.ts
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ export const LIVE_STATES = new Set<ConnectionStatus>(["listening", "user-speakin
 export const ACTIVE_STATES = new Set<ConnectionStatus>([...LIVE_STATES, "connecting", "queued", "your-turn"]);
 export interface AppState {
   loading: boolean;
+  configReady: boolean;
+  configError: string;
+  contextLoading: boolean;
   config: ServerConfig;
   settings: Settings;
   profile: Profile | null;
@@ -65,6 +68,9 @@ export class VoiceController {
   private client: RealtimeClient | null = null;
   private subscriptions: (() => void)[] = [];
   private requests = new AbortController();
+  private initialization: AbortController | null = null;
+  private reasoningRequest: AbortController | null = null;
+  private reasoningTurn = 0;
   private idleTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | undefined;
   private lastActivity = Date.now();
   private lastMeter = 0;
@@ -76,6 +82,9 @@ export class VoiceController {
     this.caller = caller;
     this.state = {
       loading: true,
+      configReady: false,
+      configError: "",
+      contextLoading: false,
       config: defaultConfig,
       settings: loadSettings(),
       profile: null,
@@ -109,25 +118,64 @@ export class VoiceController {
     });
   }
 
-  async initialize(signal: AbortSignal) {
-    try {
-      const [config, profile, reports] = await Promise.all([
-        getConfig(signal),
-        getProfile(this.caller.phoneNumber, signal),
-        getReports(this.caller.phoneNumber, signal),
-      ]);
-      if (signal.aborted) {
-        return;
-      }
-      this.update({ config, profile, reports, loading: false, error: "" });
-      if (config.apipilot) {
-        await this.refreshTools(signal, !!profile);
-      }
-    } catch (error) {
-      if (!signal.aborted) {
-        this.update({ loading: false, error: `No se pudo cargar la configuración. ${errorMessage(error)}` });
-      }
+  async initialize(parent?: AbortSignal) {
+    this.initialization?.abort();
+    const initialization = new AbortController();
+    this.initialization = initialization;
+    const { signal } = initialization;
+    const cancel = () => {
+      initialization.abort();
+    };
+    if (parent?.aborted) {
+      cancel();
+      return;
     }
+    parent?.addEventListener("abort", cancel, { once: true });
+    this.update({ loading: true, configReady: false, configError: "", contextLoading: !!this.caller.phoneNumber });
+    const configuration = getConfig(signal);
+    const profile = getProfile(this.caller.phoneNumber, signal)
+      .then((profile) => {
+        if (!signal.aborted) {
+          this.update({ profile, contextLoading: false });
+          this.pushSettings();
+        }
+      })
+      .catch(() => undefined);
+    const reports = getReports(this.caller.phoneNumber, signal)
+      .then((reports) => {
+        if (!signal.aborted) {
+          this.update({ reports });
+        }
+      })
+      .catch(() => undefined);
+    const configure = async () => {
+      try {
+        const config = await configuration;
+        if (signal.aborted) {
+          return;
+        }
+        this.update({ config, configReady: true, loading: false });
+        if (config.apipilot) {
+          await profile;
+          if (!signal.aborted) {
+            await this.refreshTools(signal, !!this.state.profile);
+          }
+        }
+      } catch (error) {
+        if (!signal.aborted) {
+          this.update({ loading: false, configError: `No se pudo cargar la configuración. ${errorMessage(error)}` });
+        }
+      }
+    };
+    try {
+      await Promise.all([configure(), profile, reports]);
+    } finally {
+      parent?.removeEventListener("abort", cancel);
+    }
+  }
+  dispose() {
+    this.initialization?.abort();
+    void this.stop();
   }
   async refreshTools(signal: AbortSignal, refresh = false) {
     this.update({ toolsLoading: true, toolsError: "" });
@@ -182,7 +230,7 @@ export class VoiceController {
     this.update({ error: "" });
   }
   offerAutoStart() {
-    if (this.autoStarted || this.client || this.state.loading) {
+    if (this.autoStarted || this.client || !this.state.configReady || this.state.contextLoading) {
       return;
     }
     this.autoStarted = true;
@@ -194,7 +242,7 @@ export class VoiceController {
     }
   }
   async start(automatic = false, preparedContext?: AudioContext, greeting?: string) {
-    if (this.client || this.state.loading) {
+    if (this.client || !this.state.configReady || this.state.contextLoading) {
       if (preparedContext) {
         void preparedContext.close().catch(() => undefined);
       }
@@ -250,6 +298,7 @@ export class VoiceController {
             this.lastActivity = Date.now();
           }
           if (status === "user-speaking") {
+            this.cancelReasoning();
             window.speechSynthesis?.cancel();
             this.update({
               messages: this.state.messages.map((message) =>
@@ -360,11 +409,22 @@ export class VoiceController {
         : [...this.state.messages, message],
     });
   }
+  private cancelReasoning() {
+    this.reasoningTurn++;
+    this.reasoningRequest?.abort();
+    this.reasoningRequest = null;
+  }
   private async reason(transcript: Transcript, client: RealtimeClient) {
     const { config, profile, rag } = this.state;
     if (config.reasoningType === "PROXY" || !transcript.text.trim()) {
       return;
     }
+    this.cancelReasoning();
+    const turn = this.reasoningTurn;
+    const request = new AbortController();
+    this.reasoningRequest = request;
+    const current = () => this.client === client && turn === this.reasoningTurn && !request.signal.aborted;
+    window.speechSynthesis?.cancel();
     try {
       const result = await post(
         "/api/reasoning",
@@ -377,9 +437,9 @@ export class VoiceController {
           phoneNumber: this.caller.phoneNumber || null,
           episode_id: this.caller.episodeId || null,
         },
-        this.requests.signal,
+        request.signal,
       );
-      if (this.client !== client) {
+      if (!current()) {
         return;
       }
       const answer = result.answer.trim();
@@ -396,12 +456,12 @@ export class VoiceController {
           utterance.voice = voice;
         }
         utterance.onstart = () => {
-          if (this.client === client) {
+          if (current()) {
             this.update({ status: "ai-speaking" });
           }
         };
         utterance.onend = utterance.onerror = () => {
-          if (this.client === client) {
+          if (current()) {
             this.lastActivity = Date.now();
             this.update({ status: "listening" });
           }
@@ -410,9 +470,13 @@ export class VoiceController {
         window.speechSynthesis.speak(utterance);
       }
     } catch (error) {
-      if (this.client === client && !this.requests.signal.aborted) {
+      if (current()) {
         this.update({ error: errorMessage(error) });
       }
+    } finally {
+      if (turn === this.reasoningTurn) {
+        this.reasoningRequest = null;
+      }
     }
   }
   private async runTool(call: ToolCall, client: RealtimeClient) {
@@ -491,6 +555,7 @@ export class VoiceController {
     this.subscriptions = [];
     clearInterval(this.idleTimer);
     this.requests.abort();
+    this.cancelReasoning();
     window.speechSynthesis?.cancel();
     this.update({
       status,
diff --git a/vocero-frontend/src/styles.css b/vocero-frontend/src/styles.css
index 02674ba..0c5a5e7 100644
--- a/vocero-frontend/src/styles.css
+++ b/vocero-frontend/src/styles.css
@@ -48,6 +48,11 @@
     font: 500 16px system-ui;
     z-index: 1000;
   }
+  .startup-error {
+    max-width: 32rem;
+    padding: 24px;
+    text-align: center;
+  }
   .app-error {
     display: flex;
     align-items: center;