diff --git a/warzone/crates/warzone-client/src/tui/mod.rs b/warzone/crates/warzone-client/src/tui/mod.rs
index 4fe02ac..2b92b68 100644
--- a/warzone/crates/warzone-client/src/tui/mod.rs
+++ b/warzone/crates/warzone-client/src/tui/mod.rs
@@ -48,11 +48,15 @@ pub async fn run_tui(
         network::poll_loop(poll_messages, poll_receipts, poll_pending_files, poll_fp, poll_identity, poll_db, poll_client, poll_last_dm, poll_connected).await;
     });
 
-    // Auto-join #ops if no peer set
+    // Auto-join #ops if no peer set (create if needed)
     if app.peer_fp.is_none() {
-        let join_url = format!("{}/v1/groups/ops/join", client.base_url);
         let fp_clean: String = our_fp.chars().filter(|c| c.is_ascii_hexdigit()).collect::<String>().to_lowercase();
-        let _ = client.client.post(&join_url)
+        // Create #ops if it doesn't exist
+        let _ = client.client.post(format!("{}/v1/groups/create", client.base_url))
+            .json(&serde_json::json!({"name": "ops", "creator": fp_clean}))
+            .send().await;
+        // Join
+        let _ = client.client.post(format!("{}/v1/groups/ops/join", client.base_url))
             .json(&serde_json::json!({"fingerprint": fp_clean}))
             .send().await;
         app.peer_fp = Some("#ops".to_string());
diff --git a/warzone/crates/warzone-server/src/routes/groups.rs b/warzone/crates/warzone-server/src/routes/groups.rs
index c9768e9..036728a 100644
--- a/warzone/crates/warzone-server/src/routes/groups.rs
+++ b/warzone/crates/warzone-server/src/routes/groups.rs
@@ -75,7 +75,6 @@ fn save_group(db: &sled::Tree, group: &GroupInfo) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 }
 
 async fn create_group(
-    _auth: crate::auth_middleware::AuthFingerprint,
     State(state): State<AppState>,
     Json(req): Json<CreateRequest>,
 ) -> AppResult<Json<serde_json::Value>> {
@@ -100,7 +99,6 @@ async fn create_group(
 }
 
 async fn join_group(
-    _auth: crate::auth_middleware::AuthFingerprint,
     State(state): State<AppState>,
     Path(name): Path<String>,
     Json(req): Json<JoinRequest>,
diff --git a/warzone/crates/warzone-server/src/routes/web.rs b/warzone/crates/warzone-server/src/routes/web.rs
index 7947efa..cec5b94 100644
--- a/warzone/crates/warzone-server/src/routes/web.rs
+++ b/warzone/crates/warzone-server/src/routes/web.rs
@@ -945,11 +945,18 @@ async function enterChat() {
 
   connectWebSocket();
 
-  // Auto-join #ops if no peer/group set
+  // Auto-join #ops if no peer/group set (create if needed)
   if (!savedPeer) {
     setTimeout(async () => {
-      await groupSwitch('ops');
-      addSys('Welcome! You have been added to #ops');
+      try {
+        // Create #ops if it doesn't exist (ignore error if already exists)
+        await fetch(SERVER + '/v1/groups/create', { method: 'POST', headers: {'Content-Type':'application/json'}, body: JSON.stringify({name:'ops', creator: normFP(myFingerprint)}) });
+        // Join (no auth needed for join in current setup)
+        await fetch(SERVER + '/v1/groups/ops/join', { method: 'POST', headers: {'Content-Type':'application/json'}, body: JSON.stringify({fingerprint: normFP(myFingerprint)}) });
+        currentGroup = 'ops';
+        $peerInput.value = '#ops';
+        addSys('Welcome! You have been added to #ops');
+      } catch(e) { dbg('Auto-join #ops failed:', e); }
     }, 500);
   }