diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ChannelPage.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ChannelPage.tsx
index fef3c01..baa1448 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ChannelPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ChannelPage.tsx
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ export default function ChannelPage({
         .then((r) => {
           setNextToken(r.next_page_token);
           qc.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["feed"] });
+          // Refetch the detail so `explored` flips true → the "Exploring" badge shows on the
+          // first visit (the GET that drove this render predated the explore that just ran).
+          qc.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["channel", channelId] });
         })
         .finally(() => setExploring(false));
     },