diff --git a/psmux/psmux.conf b/psmux/psmux.conf
index 892e2b1..4e31deb 100644
--- a/psmux/psmux.conf
+++ b/psmux/psmux.conf
@@ -260,7 +260,14 @@ set -g status-left-length 60
 # `set -g @vpn_pill '<text>'` on refresh (arm with `psmux-pill-enable`, `-AllNetworks`
 # for the plain-LAN IP). Reading #{@vpn_pill} is a free in-process lookup. Deliberately
 # NOT defaulted to "" here — a `set` on reload would clobber the refresher's poked value.
-set -g status-left " #[fg=#{?client_prefix,#{@tn_orange},#{?pane_in_mode,#{@tn_yellow},#{@tn_blue}}},bold]#S#{?client_prefix, 󰠠 ,#{?pane_in_mode, 󰆏 ,   }}#[nobold,fg=#{@tn_fg}]#{@vpn_pill}#[default] "
+# The pill's TEXT and its COLOUR are poked as two separate options: @vpn_pill (plain text,
+# no #[…]) and @vpn_fg (accent hex, applied below as #[fg=#{@vpn_fg}]). They must stay split
+# — a #[…] style run stuffed inside @vpn_pill is not re-interpreted on expansion and the
+# segment renders blank (that was the "pill never shows" bug). Unlike @vpn_pill, @vpn_fg IS
+# defaulted (harmless — it's just a colour; the refresher re-pokes the live one each cycle),
+# so #[fg=#{@vpn_fg}] is never empty on the first paint or right after a reload.
+set -g @vpn_fg "#9ece6a"
+set -g status-left " #[fg=#{?client_prefix,#{@tn_orange},#{?pane_in_mode,#{@tn_yellow},#{@tn_blue}}},bold]#S#{?client_prefix, 󰠠 ,#{?pane_in_mode, 󰆏 ,   }}#[nobold,fg=#{@vpn_fg}]#{@vpn_pill}#[default] "
 
 # ── WINDOWS: flat underlined tabs (Core parity) — inactive muted + activity/bell dots ·
 #      active blue + underline. No pills here: the flat tabs are what makes the centered
diff --git a/psmux/scripts/psmux-netinfo.ps1 b/psmux/scripts/psmux-netinfo.ps1
index 5c04b43..e9cd1ce 100644
--- a/psmux/scripts/psmux-netinfo.ps1
+++ b/psmux/scripts/psmux-netinfo.ps1
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ $ErrorActionPreference = 'SilentlyContinue'
 # Stashed by Pill() so the file-write at the bottom can persist the chosen pill
 # without re-running detection. Empty string = "render nothing".
 $script:LastPill = ''
+# The pill's accent colour travels in its OWN psmux option (@vpn_fg), applied as
+# #[fg=#{@vpn_fg}] in status-left — see the Pill() note for why the colour can't ride
+# inside @vpn_pill. Default green; Pill() overrides it per state (orange tunnel / green LAN).
+$script:LastFg = '#9ece6a'
 
 # tokyonight-storm palette. Literal hex on purpose: psmux does not expand #{@tn_*}
 # inside #[...] (whether in style options or in #() output), and BG is the bar's
@@ -53,7 +57,14 @@ function Pill {
     param([string]$Accent, [string]$Text)
     # Chip-less: plain colored icon+text, no caps/background — matches the transparent
     # bar's session/cwd/clock segments (macOS sketchybar + Zebar are chip-less too).
-    $script:LastPill = "#[fg=$Accent,bold]$Text"
+    #
+    # Store the pill as PLAIN text (glyph + address, no #[...]). It's poked into psmux as
+    # `set -g @vpn_pill '<text>'`, and an option VALUE that contains a #[…] style run is NOT
+    # re-interpreted when the bar expands #{@vpn_pill} — the segment renders blank. So the
+    # COLOUR travels separately in @vpn_fg (applied as #[fg=#{@vpn_fg}] in status-left, the
+    # same way the @tn_* palette colours are consumed), and @vpn_pill carries text only.
+    $script:LastFg   = $Accent
+    $script:LastPill = $Text
     $script:LastPill
 }
 
@@ -136,4 +147,10 @@ try {
 # it with a free in-process lookup (#{@vpn_pill} in psmux.conf's status-left) instead of
 # a #(type) shell-out — the lag-safe transport the retired-pill note recommends. Empty
 # LastPill (no tunnel / no LAN) clears the segment. Harmless if no psmux server is up.
-try { & psmux set -g @vpn_pill $script:LastPill 2>$null } catch { }
+# Poke the colour first, then the text: the bar reads #[fg=#{@vpn_fg}]#{@vpn_pill}, so the
+# colour option should be current before the text it paints appears. Empty text clears the
+# segment. Harmless if no psmux server is up.
+try {
+    & psmux set -g @vpn_fg   $script:LastFg   2>$null
+    & psmux set -g @vpn_pill $script:LastPill 2>$null
+} catch { }