diff --git a/src/lib/init/local-ops.ts b/src/lib/init/local-ops.ts
index 429bea2f..ec201091 100644
--- a/src/lib/init/local-ops.ts
+++ b/src/lib/init/local-ops.ts
@@ -141,6 +141,19 @@ function safePath(cwd: string, relative: string): string {
   return resolved;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Pre-compute directory listing before the first API call.
+ * Uses the same parameters the server's discover-context step would request.
+ */
+export function precomputeDirListing(directory: string): LocalOpResult {
+  return listDir({
+    type: "local-op",
+    operation: "list-dir",
+    cwd: directory,
+    params: { path: ".", recursive: true, maxDepth: 3, maxEntries: 500 },
+  });
+}
+
 export async function handleLocalOp(
   payload: LocalOpPayload,
   options: WizardOptions
diff --git a/src/lib/init/wizard-runner.ts b/src/lib/init/wizard-runner.ts
index ea38246f..842e1329 100644
--- a/src/lib/init/wizard-runner.ts
+++ b/src/lib/init/wizard-runner.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ import {
 } from "./constants.js";
 import { formatError, formatResult } from "./formatters.js";
 import { handleInteractive } from "./interactive.js";
-import { handleLocalOp } from "./local-ops.js";
+import { handleLocalOp, precomputeDirListing } from "./local-ops.js";
 import type {
   InteractivePayload,
   LocalOpPayload,
@@ -153,9 +153,22 @@ export async function runWizard(options: WizardOptions): Promise<void> {
 
   let result: WorkflowRunResult;
   try {
-    spin.start("Connecting to wizard...");
+    spin.start("Scanning project...");
+    const listing = precomputeDirListing(directory);
+    const dirListing =
+      (
+        listing.data as {
+          entries: Array<{
+            name: string;
+            path: string;
+            type: "file" | "directory";
+          }>;
+        }
+      )?.entries ?? [];
+
+    spin.message("Connecting to wizard...");
     result = (await run.startAsync({
-      inputData: { directory, force, yes, dryRun, features },
+      inputData: { directory, force, yes, dryRun, features, dirListing },
       tracingOptions,
     })) as WorkflowRunResult;
   } catch (err) {