diff --git a/src/tui.zig b/src/tui.zig
index 6f679b3..9580b14 100644
--- a/src/tui.zig
+++ b/src/tui.zig
@@ -484,6 +484,16 @@ pub const App = struct {
     status_msg: [256]u8 = undefined,
     status_len: usize = 0,
 
+    /// True between the refresh keypress and the deferred refresh
+    /// work completing. While set, the status bar shows the
+    /// in-progress indicator; the poll tick is armed so the
+    /// (blocking) refresh runs one frame later, letting the
+    /// indicator paint first (vxfw draws after the handler returns).
+    refresh_pending: bool = false,
+    /// Wall-clock seconds when the last manual refresh completed
+    /// (0 = never). Drives the "refreshed Xs ago" status readout.
+    last_refresh_s: i64 = 0,
+
     // Input mode state
     mode: InputMode = .normal,
     // SAFETY: paired with `input_len`; only the prefix
@@ -536,7 +546,7 @@ pub const App = struct {
         // picked up automatically because dispatch targets the
         // active tab. 100ms cadence — fast enough to feel
         // responsive, slow enough to be invisible in CPU terms.
-        defer if (!self.poll_tick_armed and self.dispatchBool("wantsPollTick", .{})) {
+        defer if (!self.poll_tick_armed and (self.refresh_pending or self.dispatchBool("wantsPollTick", .{}))) {
             if (ctx.tick(100, self.widget())) {
                 self.poll_tick_armed = true;
             } else |err| {
@@ -583,12 +593,21 @@ pub const App = struct {
                 self.loadTabData();
             },
             .tick => {
-                // Our scheduled poll timer fired. Mark it
-                // un-armed (the defer above re-arms if the active
-                // tab still wants polling) and request a redraw
-                // so the draw pass runs the tab's tick hook.
+                // Our scheduled timer fired. Mark it un-armed (the
+                // defer above re-arms if there's more work).
                 self.poll_tick_armed = false;
-                if (self.dispatchBool("wantsPollTick", .{})) {
+                if (self.refresh_pending) {
+                    // Phase 2 of refresh: the indicator painted last
+                    // frame; now run the (blocking) refresh.
+                    self.refresh_pending = false;
+                    self.refreshCurrentTab();
+                    // wall-clock required: timestamp the completed
+                    // refresh for the "refreshed Xs ago" readout.
+                    self.last_refresh_s = std.Io.Timestamp.now(self.io, .real).toSeconds();
+                    ctx.redraw = true;
+                } else if (self.dispatchBool("wantsPollTick", .{})) {
+                    // Poll-driven redraw so the draw pass runs the
+                    // active tab's tick hook.
                     ctx.redraw = true;
                 }
             },
@@ -1004,7 +1023,11 @@ pub const App = struct {
                 return ctx.consumeAndRedraw();
             },
             .refresh => {
-                self.refreshCurrentTab();
+                // Two-phase so the "Refreshing..." indicator paints
+                // before the (blocking) refresh runs. Flag it and
+                // redraw now; the armed poll tick runs the actual
+                // refresh one frame later (see the `.tick` branch).
+                self.refresh_pending = true;
                 return ctx.consumeAndRedraw();
             },
             .prev_tab => {
@@ -1299,15 +1322,29 @@ pub const App = struct {
         };
     }
 
-    /// Returns the current status message. When no message has been
-    /// set, builds a dynamic default hint composed from a small set
-    /// of always-shown global keys plus the active tab's
-    /// `status_hints`. Allocated in `arena` for the dynamic default;
-    /// the user-set buffer is returned by reference.
+    /// Returns the current status message. While a refresh is in
+    /// flight, shows the in-progress indicator. Otherwise: a
+    /// user-set message if present, else a dynamic default hint
+    /// (global keys + the active tab's `status_hints`), prefixed
+    /// with a "refreshed Xs ago" readout once a refresh has run.
+    /// Allocated in `arena` for the dynamic forms; the user-set
+    /// buffer is returned by reference.
     fn getStatus(self: *App, arena: std.mem.Allocator) []const u8 {
+        if (self.refresh_pending) return "Refreshing...";
         if (self.status_len > 0) return self.status_msg[0..self.status_len];
-        return self.buildDefaultStatusHint(arena) catch
+        const hint = self.buildDefaultStatusHint(arena) catch
             "h/l tabs | j/k select | / symbol | ? help";
+        if (self.last_refresh_s > 0) {
+            // wall-clock required: per-frame "now" for the relative
+            // "refreshed Xs ago" readout.
+            const now_s = std.Io.Timestamp.now(self.io, .real).toSeconds();
+            var ago_buf: [24]u8 = undefined;
+            const ago = fmt.fmtTimeAgo(&ago_buf, self.last_refresh_s, now_s);
+            if (ago.len > 0) {
+                return std.fmt.allocPrint(arena, "refreshed {s} | {s}", .{ ago, hint }) catch hint;
+            }
+        }
+        return hint;
     }
 
     /// Build the dynamic default status hint: a small set of always-