diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/plugin.js b/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/plugin.js
index cf7b36a5cd..712042ef53 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/plugin.js
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/plugin.js
@@ -6158,7 +6158,7 @@ function CreateAgentDialog({ open, onClose, roster }) {
 
     host
       .connections()
-      .then(value => setConnections(Array.isArray(value) ? value : []))
+      .then(value => setConnections(Array.isArray(value?.connections) ? value.connections : []))
       .catch(() => setConnections([]))
   }, [open, connections])
 
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/tests/cross-connection-bots.test.mjs b/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/tests/cross-connection-bots.test.mjs
index 876e0a1966..5092884e08 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/tests/cross-connection-bots.test.mjs
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/tests/cross-connection-bots.test.mjs
@@ -162,3 +162,18 @@ test('source contract: group chat turns route through requestForBot on the membe
   // Room records persist remote member descriptors.
   assert.match(pluginSource, /members: Array\.isArray\(room\.members\) \? room\.members : \[\]/)
 })
+
+test('regression: host.connections() registry object is unwrapped before the picker gate', () => {
+  // host.connections() resolves the IPC handler hermes:connections:list, which
+  // returns the registry OBJECT ({version, primary, connections: [...]}) — not
+  // a bare array. The picker gate (Array.isArray(connections) && length > 1)
+  // never fired, so the "Create on" picker stayed hidden on multi-connection
+  // desktops. The plugin must unwrap .connections before storing.
+  assert.match(
+    pluginSource,
+    /setConnections\(Array\.isArray\(value\?\.connections\) \? value\.connections : \[\]\)/
+  )
+  // The built-in Connections UI consumes the registry object, so the IPC
+  // handler contract must NOT change to a bare array.
+  assert.doesNotMatch(pluginSource, /setConnections\(Array\.isArray\(value\) \? value : \[\]\)/)
+})