diff --git a/codex-rs/exec/src/lib.rs b/codex-rs/exec/src/lib.rs
index e025be4fd8..0aafe1c233 100644
--- a/codex-rs/exec/src/lib.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/exec/src/lib.rs
@@ -456,13 +456,6 @@ pub async fn run_main(cli: Cli, arg0_paths: Arg0DispatchPaths) -> anyhow::Result
     }
 
     set_default_client_residency_requirement(config.enforce_residency.value());
-    refresh_managed_chatgpt_token_for_storage_if_near_expiry(
-        config.codex_home.to_path_buf(),
-        /*enable_codex_api_key_env*/ false,
-        config.cli_auth_credentials_store_mode,
-        config.chatgpt_base_url.clone(),
-    )
-    .await;
 
     if let Err(err) = enforce_login_restrictions(&AuthConfig {
         codex_home: config.codex_home.to_path_buf(),
@@ -477,6 +470,14 @@ pub async fn run_main(cli: Cli, arg0_paths: Arg0DispatchPaths) -> anyhow::Result
         std::process::exit(1);
     }
 
+    refresh_managed_chatgpt_token_for_storage_if_near_expiry(
+        config.codex_home.to_path_buf(),
+        /*enable_codex_api_key_env*/ true,
+        config.cli_auth_credentials_store_mode,
+        config.chatgpt_base_url.clone(),
+    )
+    .await;
+
     let otel = match std::panic::catch_unwind(std::panic::AssertUnwindSafe(|| {
         codex_core::otel_init::build_provider(
             &config,
diff --git a/codex-rs/login/src/auth/manager.rs b/codex-rs/login/src/auth/manager.rs
index 7e0dac9762..f4c9285a6f 100644
--- a/codex-rs/login/src/auth/manager.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/login/src/auth/manager.rs
@@ -1751,13 +1751,13 @@ impl AuthManager {
             return Ok(());
         }
 
+        let _refresh_lock = self.acquire_chatgpt_startup_refresh_lock().await?;
         let _refresh_guard = self.refresh_lock.acquire().await.map_err(|_| {
             RefreshTokenError::Permanent(RefreshTokenFailedError::new(
                 RefreshTokenFailedReason::Other,
                 REFRESH_TOKEN_UNKNOWN_MESSAGE.to_string(),
             ))
         })?;
-        let _refresh_lock = self.acquire_chatgpt_startup_refresh_lock().await?;
 
         self.refresh_token_with_refresh_lock_held().await
     }
diff --git a/codex-rs/login/tests/suite/auth_refresh.rs b/codex-rs/login/tests/suite/auth_refresh.rs
index 759204dff6..64af10eb86 100644
--- a/codex-rs/login/tests/suite/auth_refresh.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/login/tests/suite/auth_refresh.rs
@@ -320,6 +320,81 @@ async fn refresh_managed_chatgpt_token_waits_while_startup_refresh_lock_is_held(
     Ok(())
 }
 
+#[serial_test::serial(auth_refresh)]
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn refresh_token_does_not_wait_while_startup_refresh_lock_is_held() -> Result<()> {
+    skip_if_no_network!(Ok(()));
+
+    let server = MockServer::start().await;
+    Mock::given(method("POST"))
+        .and(path("/oauth/token"))
+        .respond_with(ResponseTemplate::new(200).set_body_json(json!({
+            "access_token": "new-access-token",
+            "refresh_token": "new-refresh-token"
+        })))
+        .expect(1)
+        .mount(&server)
+        .await;
+
+    let ctx = RefreshTokenTestContext::new(&server).await?;
+    let initial_last_refresh = Utc::now();
+    let expired_access_token = access_token_with_expiration(Utc::now() - Duration::minutes(1));
+    let initial_tokens = build_tokens(&expired_access_token, INITIAL_REFRESH_TOKEN);
+    ctx.write_auth(&AuthDotJson {
+        auth_mode: Some(AuthMode::Chatgpt),
+        openai_api_key: None,
+        tokens: Some(initial_tokens),
+        last_refresh: Some(initial_last_refresh),
+        agent_identity: None,
+    })
+    .await?;
+
+    let lock_path = ctx
+        .codex_home
+        .path()
+        .join("chatgpt-access-token-startup-refresh.lock");
+    let lock_file = File::options()
+        .read(true)
+        .write(true)
+        .create(true)
+        .truncate(false)
+        .open(lock_path)?;
+    lock_file.try_lock()?;
+
+    let auth_manager = Arc::clone(&ctx.auth_manager);
+    let startup_refresh_task = tokio::spawn(async move {
+        auth_manager
+            .refresh_managed_chatgpt_token_if_near_expiry()
+            .await
+    });
+
+    tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(100)).await;
+    assert!(
+        !startup_refresh_task.is_finished(),
+        "startup refresh should wait while another process holds the file lock"
+    );
+
+    tokio::time::timeout(
+        std::time::Duration::from_secs(1),
+        ctx.auth_manager.refresh_token_from_authority(),
+    )
+    .await
+    .context("normal refresh should not wait for the startup file lock")?
+    .context("normal refresh should succeed")?;
+
+    startup_refresh_task.abort();
+    let _ = startup_refresh_task.await;
+    drop(lock_file);
+
+    let stored = ctx.load_auth()?;
+    let tokens = stored.tokens.as_ref().context("tokens should exist")?;
+    assert_eq!(tokens.access_token, "new-access-token");
+    assert_eq!(tokens.refresh_token, "new-refresh-token");
+    server.verify().await;
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 #[serial_test::serial(auth_refresh)]
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn refresh_token_skips_refresh_when_auth_changed() -> Result<()> {
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/lib.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/lib.rs
index b25b887447..1d83dd0580 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/lib.rs
@@ -1141,13 +1141,6 @@ pub async fn run_main(
     }
 
     set_default_client_residency_requirement(config.enforce_residency.value());
-    refresh_managed_chatgpt_token_for_storage_if_near_expiry(
-        config.codex_home.to_path_buf(),
-        /*enable_codex_api_key_env*/ false,
-        config.cli_auth_credentials_store_mode,
-        config.chatgpt_base_url.clone(),
-    )
-    .await;
 
     if let Some(warning) = add_dir_warning_message(
         &cli.add_dir,
@@ -1175,6 +1168,14 @@ pub async fn run_main(
             eprintln!("{err}");
             std::process::exit(1);
         }
+
+        refresh_managed_chatgpt_token_for_storage_if_near_expiry(
+            config.codex_home.to_path_buf(),
+            /*enable_codex_api_key_env*/ false,
+            config.cli_auth_credentials_store_mode,
+            config.chatgpt_base_url.clone(),
+        )
+        .await;
     }
 
     let log_dir = config.log_dir.clone();