diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index e90fde6a..fa5bcb63 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ lerna-debug.log*
 # Git Worktrees (parallel builds)
 # ===========================
 .worktrees/
+/config.json
 
 # ===========================
 # Auto Claude Generated
diff --git a/apps/frontend/src/main/ipc-handlers/insights-handlers.ts b/apps/frontend/src/main/ipc-handlers/insights-handlers.ts
index cef96a6d..11a18c0b 100644
--- a/apps/frontend/src/main/ipc-handlers/insights-handlers.ts
+++ b/apps/frontend/src/main/ipc-handlers/insights-handlers.ts
@@ -42,9 +42,27 @@ export function registerInsightsHandlers(
         return;
       }
 
-      // Note: Python environment initialization should be handled by insightsService
-      // or added here with proper dependency injection if needed
-      insightsService.sendMessage(projectId, project.path, message, modelConfig);
+      // Await the async sendMessage to ensure proper error handling and
+      // that all async operations (like getProcessEnv) complete before
+      // the handler returns. This fixes race conditions on Windows where
+      // environment setup wouldn't complete before process spawn.
+      try {
+        await insightsService.sendMessage(projectId, project.path, message, modelConfig);
+      } catch (error) {
+        // Errors during sendMessage (executor errors) are already emitted via
+        // the 'error' event, but we catch here to prevent unhandled rejection
+        // and ensure all error types are reported to the UI
+        console.error('[Insights IPC] Error in sendMessage:', error);
+        const mainWindow = getMainWindow();
+        if (mainWindow) {
+          const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
+          mainWindow.webContents.send(
+            IPC_CHANNELS.INSIGHTS_ERROR,
+            projectId,
+            `Failed to send message: ${errorMessage}`
+          );
+        }
+      }
     }
   );