diff --git a/src/BlockchainBackend.cpp b/src/BlockchainBackend.cpp
index 8a9b065..1db39b2 100644
--- a/src/BlockchainBackend.cpp
+++ b/src/BlockchainBackend.cpp
@@ -88,27 +88,42 @@ BlockchainBackend::BlockchainBackend(LogosAPI* logosAPI, QObject* parent)
         return;
     }
 
+    // NOTE: do NOT call requestObject() here. ui-host invokes initLogos()
+    // (and therefore this constructor) synchronously via Qt::DirectConnection
+    // and only signals "READY" once it returns. requestObject() blocks for up
+    // to its 20s timeout when the backend module isn't running yet — which is
+    // the normal case, since the node is started later from this UI. Blocking
+    // here makes ui-host miss its readiness deadline, so the host kills it and
+    // the whole view fails to load. The newBlock subscription is only
+    // meaningful once the node is running, so it is deferred to
+    // subscribeToBlockEvents(), called after a successful startBlockchain().
+    qDebug() << "BlockchainBackend: initialized";
+}
+
+void BlockchainBackend::subscribeToBlockEvents()
+{
+    if (m_blockEventsSubscribed || !m_blockchainClient)
+        return;
+
     LogosObject* replica =
         m_blockchainClient->requestObject(BLOCKCHAIN_MODULE_NAME);
-    if (replica) {
-        m_blockchainClient->onEvent(
-            replica, "newBlock",
-            [this](const QString&, const QVariantList& data) {
-                const QString timestamp =
-                    QDateTime::currentDateTime().toString("HH:mm:ss");
-                QString line;
-                if (!data.isEmpty())
-                    line = QString("[%1] New block: %2")
-                               .arg(timestamp, data.first().toString());
-                else
-                    line = QString("[%1] New block (no data)").arg(timestamp);
-                m_logModel->append(line);
-            });
-    } else {
-        setStatus(ErrorSubscribeFailed);
-    }
+    if (!replica)
+        return;
 
-    qDebug() << "BlockchainBackend: initialized";
+    m_blockchainClient->onEvent(
+        replica, "newBlock",
+        [this](const QString&, const QVariantList& data) {
+            const QString timestamp =
+                QDateTime::currentDateTime().toString("HH:mm:ss");
+            QString line;
+            if (!data.isEmpty())
+                line = QString("[%1] New block: %2")
+                           .arg(timestamp, data.first().toString());
+            else
+                line = QString("[%1] New block (no data)").arg(timestamp);
+            m_logModel->append(line);
+        });
+    m_blockEventsSubscribed = true;
 }
 
 BlockchainBackend::~BlockchainBackend()
@@ -132,6 +147,7 @@ void BlockchainBackend::startBlockchain()
 
     if (resultCode == 0 || resultCode == 1) {
         setStatus(Running);
+        subscribeToBlockEvents();
         QTimer::singleShot(500, this, [this]() { refreshAccounts(); });
     } else if (resultCode == 2) {
         setStatus(ErrorConfigMissing);
diff --git a/src/BlockchainBackend.h b/src/BlockchainBackend.h
index ee58990..1460216 100644
--- a/src/BlockchainBackend.h
+++ b/src/BlockchainBackend.h
@@ -52,11 +52,17 @@ public slots:
 
 private:
     void fetchBalancesForAccounts(const QStringList& list);
+    // Subscribes to the backend "newBlock" event. Deferred out of the
+    // constructor because requestObject() blocks until the backend module is
+    // running; calling it during the synchronous initLogos() would stall
+    // ui-host past its readiness deadline and the view would fail to load.
+    void subscribeToBlockEvents();
 
     LogosAPI* m_logosAPI = nullptr;
     LogosAPIClient* m_blockchainClient = nullptr;
     AccountsModel* m_accountsModel = nullptr;
     LogModel* m_logModel = nullptr;
+    bool m_blockEventsSubscribed = false;
 
     static const QString BLOCKCHAIN_MODULE_NAME;
 };
diff --git a/tests/ui-tests.mjs b/tests/ui-tests.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bcb0270
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ui-tests.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import { resolve } from "node:path";
+
+// CI sets LOGOS_QT_MCP automatically; for interactive use:
+//   nix build .#test-framework -o result-mcp
+const root =
+  process.env.LOGOS_QT_MCP ||
+  new URL("../result-mcp", import.meta.url).pathname;
+const { test, run } = await import(resolve(root, "test-framework/framework.mjs"));
+
+// Smoke test: the blockchain UI module must load in the host
+// (logos-standalone-app / logos-basecamp), connect to its process-isolated
+// C++ backend over Qt Remote Objects, and render the QML view — even when the
+// backend node module is not running yet (the node is started from this UI).
+test("blockchain_ui: backend connects and config view renders", async (app) => {
+  await app.waitFor(
+    async () => {
+      // Once the BlockchainBackend replica is Valid, the loading state is
+      // replaced by the ConfigChoiceView. This static label proves the QML
+      // (including the Logos.Theme / Logos.Controls design-system imports)
+      // loaded and the backend replica connected.
+      await app.expectTexts(["Choose how to set up your node config"]);
+    },
+    {
+      timeout: 30000,
+      interval: 1000,
+      description: "blockchain UI to load and backend to connect",
+    }
+  );
+});
+
+test("blockchain_ui: config setup actions are visible", async (app) => {
+  await app.expectTexts(["Generate config", "Set path to config"]);
+});
+
+run();