diff --git a/cmd/dash.go b/cmd/dash.go
index 415f908..95e3817 100644
--- a/cmd/dash.go
+++ b/cmd/dash.go
@@ -90,8 +90,9 @@ type dashModel struct {
 	interval    time.Duration
 	self        string // path to this binary, for re-invoking subcommands
 
-	auth   checks.AuthStatus
-	docker dockerMsg
+	auth        checks.AuthStatus
+	authChecked bool // true once the first auth result has arrived
+	docker      dockerMsg
 	drift  driftMsg
 	repos  repoMsg
 
@@ -325,6 +326,7 @@ func (m dashModel) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		}
 	case authMsg:
 		m.auth = checks.AuthStatus(msg)
+		m.authChecked = true
 		m.lastRefresh = time.Now()
 	case dockerMsg:
 		m.docker = msg
@@ -582,17 +584,23 @@ func (m dashModel) footer() string {
 func (m dashModel) authPanel() string {
 	var s strings.Builder
 	s.WriteString(headerStyle.Render("AWS AUTH") + "\n")
-	if m.auth.Authed {
+	switch {
+	case !m.authChecked:
+		s.WriteString(dimStyle.Render("checking…"))
+	case m.auth.Authed:
 		mark := okStyle.Render("✓ authed")
 		// Warn when the session expires within 30 min.
 		if !m.auth.Expires.IsZero() && time.Until(m.auth.Expires) < 30*time.Minute {
 			mark = badStyle.Render("⚠ expiring")
 		}
 		s.WriteString(mark + dimStyle.Render(" "+m.auth.Detail))
-	} else if m.auth.Err != "" {
-		s.WriteString(badStyle.Render("✗ re-auth needed") + "\n" + dimStyle.Render(truncate(m.auth.Err, 70)))
-	} else {
-		s.WriteString(dimStyle.Render("checking…"))
+	default:
+		// Not authed: awsmfa errored, or the session is gone/expired.
+		detail := m.auth.Err
+		if detail == "" {
+			detail = m.auth.Detail
+		}
+		s.WriteString(badStyle.Render("✗ re-auth needed") + "\n" + dimStyle.Render(truncate(detail, 70)))
 	}
 	return s.String()
 }
diff --git a/cmd/dash_render_test.go b/cmd/dash_render_test.go
index 5fbcf55..ce36ba8 100644
--- a/cmd/dash_render_test.go
+++ b/cmd/dash_render_test.go
@@ -38,6 +38,26 @@ func TestDashViewRenders(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestAuthPanelExpiredShowsReauth(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newDash([]string{"/tmp"}, "/x/awsmfa", "", 10*time.Second)
+
+	// Before any check result has arrived, the panel shows the spinner.
+	if !strings.Contains(m.View(), "checking…") {
+		t.Errorf("initial panel should show checking…\n---\n%s", m.authPanel())
+	}
+
+	// Expired session: awsmfa printed "Not authenticated." → Authed false, Err empty.
+	um, _ := m.Update(authMsg(checks.AuthStatus{Authed: false, Detail: "Not authenticated."}))
+	m = um.(dashModel)
+	got := m.authPanel()
+	if strings.Contains(got, "checking…") {
+		t.Errorf("expired session still shows checking…\n---\n%s", got)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(got, "re-auth needed") {
+		t.Errorf("expired session should show re-auth needed\n---\n%s", got)
+	}
+}
+
 func names(items []suggestion) string {
 	var b strings.Builder
 	for _, it := range items {