diff --git a/lib/daemon.js b/lib/daemon.js
index 1972368b..817190aa 100644
--- a/lib/daemon.js
+++ b/lib/daemon.js
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ delete process.env.CLAUDECODE;
 
 var fs = require("fs");
 var path = require("path");
-var { loadConfig, saveConfig, socketPath, generateSlug, syncClayrc, removeFromClayrc, writeCrashInfo, readCrashInfo, clearCrashInfo, isPidAlive, clearStaleConfig, REAL_HOME } = require("./config");
+var { loadConfig, saveConfig, socketPath, ensureConfigDir, generateSlug, syncClayrc, removeFromClayrc, writeCrashInfo, readCrashInfo, clearCrashInfo, isPidAlive, clearStaleConfig, REAL_HOME } = require("./config");
 var { createIPCServer } = require("./ipc");
 var { createServer, generateAuthToken } = require("./server");
 var { checkAclSupport, grantProjectAccess, revokeProjectAccess, provisionAllUsers, provisionLinuxUser, grantAllUsersAccess, deactivateLinuxUser, ensureProjectsDir } = require("./os-users");
@@ -1150,6 +1150,9 @@ if (existingConfig && existingConfig.pid && existingConfig.pid !== process.pid)
     clearStaleConfig();
   }
 }
+// Ensure config dirs exist before binding the socket. The daemon may start
+// without a prior CLI invocation (systemd, supervisor), so it must be self-sufficient.
+ensureConfigDir();
 var ipc = createIPCServer(socketPath(), function (msg) {
   console.log("[daemon] IPC:", msg.cmd);
   switch (msg.cmd) {
diff --git a/lib/ipc.js b/lib/ipc.js
index 301f7c2f..87964029 100644
--- a/lib/ipc.js
+++ b/lib/ipc.js
@@ -6,6 +6,12 @@ var fs = require("fs");
  * handler(msg) should return a response object (or a Promise of one).
  */
 function createIPCServer(sockPath, handler) {
+  // Ensure the socket's parent directory exists (e.g. ~/.clagentic/console/).
+  // The daemon may start without a prior CLI invocation, so it must be self-sufficient.
+  if (process.platform !== "win32") {
+    try { fs.mkdirSync(require("path").dirname(sockPath), { recursive: true }); } catch (e) {}
+  }
+
   // Remove stale socket file (not needed for Windows named pipes)
   if (process.platform !== "win32") {
     try { fs.unlinkSync(sockPath); } catch (e) {}
@@ -53,6 +59,12 @@ function createIPCServer(sockPath, handler) {
       console.log("[ipc] Socket in use, removing stale socket and retrying...");
       try { fs.unlinkSync(sockPath); } catch (e) {}
       server.listen(sockPath);
+    } else if (err.code === "ENOENT" && !retried) {
+      // Parent directory missing — create it and retry once.
+      retried = true;
+      console.log("[ipc] Socket directory missing, creating and retrying...");
+      try { fs.mkdirSync(require("path").dirname(sockPath), { recursive: true }); } catch (e) {}
+      server.listen(sockPath);
     } else {
       console.error("[ipc] Failed to bind socket:", err.message);
       process.exit(1);