diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 9a30a30c165db1b9db79e2b46d700390d64b9e4e..a453385bc1e7469dbdf1ab6d5b72678bb575c547 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -387,8 +387,9 @@ func (m *mainModel) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 				}
 			}
 		}
-		if len(cachedFolders) == 0 {
-			cachedFolders = []string{"INBOX"}
+		// Always ensure INBOX is present, even if cache is empty or stale
+		if !seen["INBOX"] {
+			cachedFolders = append([]string{"INBOX"}, cachedFolders...)
 		}
 		m.folderInbox = tui.NewFolderInbox(cachedFolders, m.config.Accounts)
 		m.folderInbox.SetDateFormat(m.config.GetDateFormat())