diff --git a/src/radicle_reticulum/bridge.py b/src/radicle_reticulum/bridge.py
index 3a75279..a3156d7 100644
--- a/src/radicle_reticulum/bridge.py
+++ b/src/radicle_reticulum/bridge.py
@@ -162,6 +162,8 @@ class RadicleBridge:
         # Remote bridge NIDs: bridge_hash -> radicle_nid (guarded by _remote_bridges_lock)
         self._bridge_nids: Dict[bytes, str] = {}
 
+        self._stop_event = threading.Event()
+
     def start(self):
         """Start the bridge."""
         self._running = True
@@ -174,6 +176,7 @@ class RadicleBridge:
         # after us don't miss it due to interface initialisation timing
         self.announce()
         threading.Thread(target=self._startup_announce_loop, daemon=True).start()
+        threading.Thread(target=self._path_maintenance_loop, daemon=True).start()
 
         RNS.log("Radicle bridge started", RNS.LOG_INFO)
         RNS.log(f"  RNS hash: {self.destination.hexhash}", RNS.LOG_INFO)
@@ -191,9 +194,75 @@ class RadicleBridge:
                 return
             self.announce()
 
+    def _path_maintenance_loop(self):
+        """Periodically re-request paths to known bridges that have gone stale.
+
+        Keeps RNS path table warm so the next radicle-node connection attempt
+        finds a path immediately instead of waiting 15-30s for re-discovery.
+        """
+        while self._running:
+            self._stop_event.wait(timeout=60)
+            self._stop_event.clear()
+            if not self._running:
+                return
+            with self._remote_bridges_lock:
+                bridges = list(self._remote_bridges.keys())
+            for bridge_hash in bridges:
+                if not RNS.Transport.has_path(bridge_hash):
+                    RNS.log(
+                        f"Path stale for {bridge_hash.hex()[:16]}, requesting refresh",
+                        RNS.LOG_INFO,
+                    )
+                    RNS.Transport.request_path(bridge_hash)
+
+    def _reconnect_link(
+        self, bridge_hash: bytes, timeout: float = 20.0
+    ) -> Optional[RNS.Link]:
+        """Re-establish an RNS link to a known bridge after a drop.
+
+        Returns an ACTIVE link on success, None if path is gone or timeout.
+        Splits timeout evenly between path recovery and link handshake.
+        """
+        half = timeout / 2
+
+        if not RNS.Transport.has_path(bridge_hash):
+            RNS.Transport.request_path(bridge_hash)
+            deadline = time.time() + half
+            while not RNS.Transport.has_path(bridge_hash):
+                if time.time() > deadline:
+                    RNS.log(
+                        f"Reconnect: no path to {bridge_hash.hex()[:16]} after {half:.0f}s",
+                        RNS.LOG_WARNING,
+                    )
+                    return None
+                time.sleep(0.5)
+
+        remote_identity = RNS.Identity.recall(bridge_hash)
+        if remote_identity is None:
+            return None
+
+        remote_dest = RNS.Destination(
+            remote_identity,
+            RNS.Destination.OUT,
+            RNS.Destination.SINGLE,
+            APP_NAME,
+            ASPECT_BRIDGE,
+        )
+        link = RNS.Link(remote_dest)
+        deadline = time.time() + half
+        while link.status != RNS.Link.ACTIVE:
+            if link.status in (RNS.Link.CLOSED, RNS.Link.FAILED):
+                return None
+            if time.time() > deadline:
+                return None
+            time.sleep(0.1)
+
+        return link
+
     def stop(self):
         """Stop the bridge."""
         self._running = False
+        self._stop_event.set()
 
         # Close all tunnels
         with self._tunnels_lock:
@@ -394,11 +463,11 @@ class RadicleBridge:
     def _forward_tcp_to_rns(self, tunnel: TunnelConnection):
         """Forward data from TCP socket to RNS link."""
         tcp_socket = tunnel.tcp_socket
-        rns_link = tunnel.rns_link
         tcp_socket.setblocking(False)
 
         while tunnel.active and self._running:
             try:
+                rns_link = tunnel.rns_link  # read each iteration: may be updated by reconnect
                 readable, _, errored = select.select([tcp_socket], [], [tcp_socket], 1.0)
 
                 if errored:
@@ -413,6 +482,33 @@ class RadicleBridge:
                         packet = RNS.Packet(rns_link, data)
                         packet.send()
                         tunnel.bytes_sent += len(data)
+                    elif tunnel.remote_destination:
+                        RNS.log(
+                            f"Tunnel {tunnel.tunnel_id}: link dropped, reconnecting...",
+                            RNS.LOG_WARNING,
+                        )
+                        new_link = self._reconnect_link(tunnel.remote_destination)
+                        if new_link is None:
+                            RNS.log(
+                                f"Tunnel {tunnel.tunnel_id}: reconnect failed",
+                                RNS.LOG_WARNING,
+                            )
+                            break
+                        RNS.log(
+                            f"Tunnel {tunnel.tunnel_id}: reconnected",
+                            RNS.LOG_INFO,
+                        )
+                        tunnel.rns_link = new_link
+                        tid = tunnel.tunnel_id
+                        new_link.set_packet_callback(
+                            lambda d, p: self._on_rns_data(tid, d)
+                        )
+                        new_link.set_link_closed_callback(
+                            lambda l: self._on_tunnel_closed(tid)
+                        )
+                        packet = RNS.Packet(new_link, data)
+                        packet.send()
+                        tunnel.bytes_sent += len(data)
                     else:
                         break