diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 38eeae4..9f33b5f 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ dashboard:
 	@cd ui && npm install --silent && npm run build
 	@rm -rf internal/worker/static
 	@mkdir -p internal/worker/static
+	@touch internal/worker/static/placeholder.html
 	@cp -r ui/dist/* internal/worker/static/
 
 # Build worker service
diff --git a/internal/update/update.go b/internal/update/update.go
index 88d660f..d96be29 100644
--- a/internal/update/update.go
+++ b/internal/update/update.go
@@ -537,14 +537,16 @@ func isNewerVersion(latest, current string) bool {
 	latest = strings.TrimPrefix(latest, "v")
 	current = strings.TrimPrefix(current, "v")
 
-	// Handle dev/dirty versions
-	if strings.Contains(current, "-dirty") || strings.Contains(current, "-dev") {
-		return true // Always show update available for dev builds
+	// For dev/dirty builds, extract the base version for comparison
+	// e.g., "0.3.5-2-gca711a8-dirty" -> "0.3.5"
+	currentBase := current
+	if idx := strings.Index(current, "-"); idx > 0 {
+		currentBase = current[:idx]
 	}
 
-	// Simple semver comparison
+	// Simple semver comparison using base version
 	latestParts := strings.Split(latest, ".")
-	currentParts := strings.Split(current, ".")
+	currentParts := strings.Split(currentBase, ".")
 
 	for i := 0; i < len(latestParts) && i < len(currentParts); i++ {
 		latestNum, _ := strconv.Atoi(latestParts[i])
diff --git a/internal/worker/handlers.go b/internal/worker/handlers.go
index 1cbabb2..95f55a2 100644
--- a/internal/worker/handlers.go
+++ b/internal/worker/handlers.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 package worker
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"net/http"
 	"strconv"
@@ -153,7 +154,7 @@ func (s *Service) handleSessionInit(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		log.Warn().Err(err).Msg("Failed to save user prompt")
 		// Non-fatal: continue with session initialization
 	} else if s.chromaSync != nil {
-		// Sync to vector DB
+		// Sync to vector DB asynchronously (non-blocking)
 		now := time.Now()
 		promptWithSession := &models.UserPromptWithSession{
 			UserPrompt: models.UserPrompt{
@@ -168,9 +169,13 @@ func (s *Service) handleSessionInit(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 			Project:      req.Project,
 			SDKSessionID: req.ClaudeSessionID,
 		}
-		if err := s.chromaSync.SyncUserPrompt(r.Context(), promptWithSession); err != nil {
-			log.Warn().Err(err).Int64("id", promptID).Msg("Failed to sync user prompt to ChromaDB")
-		}
+		go func() {
+			ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Second)
+			defer cancel()
+			if err := s.chromaSync.SyncUserPrompt(ctx, promptWithSession); err != nil {
+				log.Warn().Err(err).Int64("id", promptID).Msg("Failed to sync user prompt to ChromaDB")
+			}
+		}()
 	}
 
 	log.Info().
diff --git a/pkg/hooks/worker.go b/pkg/hooks/worker.go
index b1912d1..168b8ae 100644
--- a/pkg/hooks/worker.go
+++ b/pkg/hooks/worker.go
@@ -58,9 +58,13 @@ func EnsureWorkerRunning() (int, error) {
 
 	// Check if already running and healthy
 	if IsWorkerRunning(port) {
-		// Check version - if mismatch, restart
+		// Check version - if mismatch, restart (unless both are dev builds)
 		if runningVersion := GetWorkerVersion(port); runningVersion != "" {
 			if runningVersion != Version {
+				// For dev/dirty builds, don't restart if base versions match
+				if versionsCompatible(runningVersion, Version) {
+					return port, nil
+				}
 				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "[claude-mnemonic] Worker version mismatch (running: %s, expected: %s), restarting...\n", runningVersion, Version)
 				if err := KillProcessOnPort(port); err != nil {
 					fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "[claude-mnemonic] Warning: failed to kill old worker: %v\n", err)
@@ -275,3 +279,34 @@ func GET(port int, path string) (map[string]interface{}, error) {
 
 	return result, nil
 }
+
+// versionsCompatible checks if two versions are compatible for dev builds.
+// Returns true if both versions share the same base version (ignoring -dirty, -dev, commit suffixes).
+// This prevents unnecessary restarts during development.
+func versionsCompatible(v1, v2 string) bool {
+	// If either is a plain "dev" version, consider it compatible with anything
+	if v1 == "dev" || v2 == "dev" {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	// Extract base versions (e.g., "v0.3.5" from "v0.3.5-2-gca711a8-dirty")
+	base1 := extractBaseVersion(v1)
+	base2 := extractBaseVersion(v2)
+
+	// If base versions match, they're compatible
+	return base1 == base2
+}
+
+// extractBaseVersion extracts the semver base from a version string.
+// e.g., "v0.3.5-2-gca711a8-dirty" -> "0.3.5"
+func extractBaseVersion(version string) string {
+	// Remove leading 'v' if present
+	v := strings.TrimPrefix(version, "v")
+
+	// Find first hyphen (start of suffix like -2-gcommit-dirty)
+	if idx := strings.Index(v, "-"); idx > 0 {
+		v = v[:idx]
+	}
+
+	return v
+}