diff --git a/apps/bot/src/whatsapp/sender.ts b/apps/bot/src/whatsapp/sender.ts
index a66ada0..d1db645 100644
--- a/apps/bot/src/whatsapp/sender.ts
+++ b/apps/bot/src/whatsapp/sender.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,29 @@ export async function sendTextToGroup(
   groupJid: string,
   text: string,
 ): Promise<{ messageId: string | undefined }> {
-  const result = await socket.sendMessage(groupJid, { text });
-  return { messageId: result?.key?.id ?? undefined };
+  // Force-fetch group metadata so Baileys populates its internal participant
+  // map and triggers libsignal session establishment for any unknown member.
+  // Without this, the first send to a freshly-paired group fails with
+  // "No sessions" from libsignal-node.
+  try {
+    await socket.groupMetadata(groupJid);
+  } catch {
+    // If metadata fetch itself fails we still try the send — sendMessage will
+    // surface a clearer error than the metadata layer.
+  }
+
+  try {
+    const result = await socket.sendMessage(groupJid, { text });
+    return { messageId: result?.key?.id ?? undefined };
+  } catch (err) {
+    // libsignal session establishment can race on the very first send. Retry
+    // once after a brief delay before giving up.
+    const message = (err as Error)?.message ?? "";
+    if (message.includes("No sessions")) {
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 1500));
+      const result = await socket.sendMessage(groupJid, { text });
+      return { messageId: result?.key?.id ?? undefined };
+    }
+    throw err;
+  }
 }