diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPage.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPage.tsx
index a90bc08..b982bc9 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPage.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useQuery } from "@tanstack/react-query";
+import { useQuery, useQueryClient } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import { useNavigate } from "react-router-dom";
 import {
   Shield,
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
   Users,
   TrendingUp,
   ArrowRight,
+  RefreshCw,
 } from "lucide-react";
 import {
   LineChart,
@@ -87,29 +88,48 @@ export default function DashboardPage() {
     queryFn: getCoverageByTactic,
   });
 
-  // V2 queries — retry:2 so transient failures don't leave widgets blank
-  const { data: pipeline, isLoading: pipelineLoading, isError: pipelineError } = useQuery({
+  const queryClient = useQueryClient();
+
+  // Refresh all V2 metric widgets manually
+  const refreshMetrics = () => {
+    queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["metrics", "test-pipeline"] });
+    queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["metrics", "team-activity"] });
+    queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["metrics", "validation-rate"] });
+    queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["metrics", "recent-tests"] });
+  };
+
+  // V2 queries — retry:3 + refetchOnMount:'always' so queries re-run even
+  // when cached in error state (happens if backend was still starting on first load)
+  const { data: pipeline, isLoading: pipelineLoading, isError: pipelineError, isFetching: pipelineFetching } = useQuery({
     queryKey: ["metrics", "test-pipeline"],
     queryFn: getTestPipeline,
-    retry: 2,
+    retry: 3,
+    refetchOnMount: "always",
+    gcTime: 0,
   });
 
   const { data: teamActivity, isLoading: teamLoading, isError: teamError } = useQuery({
     queryKey: ["metrics", "team-activity"],
     queryFn: getTeamActivity,
-    retry: 2,
+    retry: 3,
+    refetchOnMount: "always",
+    gcTime: 0,
   });
 
   const { data: validationRates, isLoading: validationLoading, isError: validationError } = useQuery({
     queryKey: ["metrics", "validation-rate"],
     queryFn: getValidationRate,
-    retry: 2,
+    retry: 3,
+    refetchOnMount: "always",
+    gcTime: 0,
   });
 
   const { data: recentTests, isLoading: recentLoading, isError: recentError } = useQuery({
     queryKey: ["metrics", "recent-tests"],
     queryFn: getRecentTests,
-    retry: 2,
+    retry: 3,
+    refetchOnMount: "always",
+    gcTime: 0,
   });
 
   const { data: coverageEvolution, isLoading: evolutionLoading } = useQuery({
@@ -147,7 +167,18 @@ export default function DashboardPage() {
             MITRE ATT&CK coverage overview
           </p>
         </div>
-        {summary && (
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+          {/* Manual refresh for metric widgets */}
+          <button
+            onClick={refreshMetrics}
+            disabled={pipelineLoading || pipelineFetching}
+            className="flex items-center gap-1.5 rounded-lg border border-gray-700 bg-gray-800 px-3 py-2 text-xs text-gray-400 hover:bg-gray-700 hover:text-white transition-colors disabled:opacity-50"
+            title="Refresh dashboard metrics"
+          >
+            <RefreshCw className={`h-3.5 w-3.5 ${pipelineFetching ? "animate-spin" : ""}`} />
+            Refresh
+          </button>
+          {summary && (
           <div className="flex items-center gap-2 rounded-lg border border-cyan-500/30 bg-cyan-500/10 px-4 py-2">
             <Percent className="h-5 w-5 text-cyan-400" />
             <span className="text-lg font-bold text-cyan-400">
@@ -155,7 +186,8 @@ export default function DashboardPage() {
             </span>
             <span className="text-sm text-gray-400">Coverage</span>
           </div>
-        )}
+          )}
+        </div>
       </div>
 
       {/* Summary Cards */}