diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 495ff72..439f371 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -87,13 +87,17 @@ if(OLLIE_KF5)
     add_executable(ollie-gui
         gui/main.cpp
         gui/ollie9pclient.cpp
+        gui/lib9pclient.cpp
         gui/ninepconnection.cpp
         gui/chatblockmodel.cpp
         gui/thememanager.cpp
         gui/streamfsm.cpp
         ${GUI_KF5_QRC}
     )
-    target_include_directories(ollie-gui PRIVATE ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/gui)
+    target_include_directories(ollie-gui PRIVATE
+        ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/gui
+        $ENV{HOME}/.local/include
+    )
     target_link_libraries(ollie-gui
         Qt5::Core
         Qt5::Widgets
@@ -101,6 +105,7 @@ if(OLLIE_KF5)
         Qt5::QuickControls2
         KF5::ConfigCore
         KF5::SyntaxHighlighting
+        $ENV{HOME}/.local/lib/libollie9p.so
     )
 
     # --- Install ---
@@ -148,6 +153,7 @@ else()
     add_executable(ollie-gui
         gui/main.cpp
         gui/ollie9pclient.cpp
+        gui/lib9pclient.cpp
         gui/ninepconnection.cpp
         gui/chatblockmodel.cpp
         gui/thememanager.cpp
@@ -155,6 +161,7 @@ else()
     )
     target_include_directories(ollie-gui PRIVATE
         ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/gui
+        $ENV{HOME}/.local/include
     )
     target_link_libraries(ollie-gui
         Qt6::Core
@@ -163,6 +170,7 @@ else()
         Qt6::QuickControls2
         KF6::ConfigCore
         KF6::SyntaxHighlighting
+        $ENV{HOME}/.local/lib/libollie9p.so
     )
     qt_add_resources(ollie-gui "gui"
         PREFIX "/"
diff --git a/gui/lib9pclient.cpp b/gui/lib9pclient.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..924102c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gui/lib9pclient.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,245 @@
+#include "lib9pclient.h"
+
+Lib9pClient::Lib9pClient(QObject *parent)
+    : QObject(parent)
+{
+}
+
+Lib9pClient::~Lib9pClient()
+{
+    disconnect();
+}
+
+void Lib9pClient::updateLastError()
+{
+    char *err = ollie9p_last_error();
+    if (err) {
+        m_lastError = QString::fromUtf8(err);
+        ollie9p_free(err);
+    } else {
+        m_lastError.clear();
+    }
+}
+
+bool Lib9pClient::connect(const QString &addr, const QString &user, const QString &aname)
+{
+    if (m_handle > 0) {
+        disconnect();
+    }
+    
+    QByteArray addrUtf8 = addr.toUtf8();
+    QByteArray userUtf8 = user.toUtf8();
+    QByteArray anameUtf8 = aname.toUtf8();
+    
+    m_handle = ollie9p_connect(addrUtf8.data(), userUtf8.data(), anameUtf8.data());
+    if (m_handle < 0) {
+        updateLastError();
+        return false;
+    }
+    m_lastError.clear();
+    return true;
+}
+
+bool Lib9pClient::connectDefault()
+{
+    if (m_handle > 0) {
+        disconnect();
+    }
+    
+    m_handle = ollie9p_connect_default();
+    if (m_handle < 0) {
+        updateLastError();
+        return false;
+    }
+    m_lastError.clear();
+    return true;
+}
+
+void Lib9pClient::disconnect()
+{
+    if (m_handle > 0) {
+        ollie9p_close(m_handle);
+        m_handle = -1;
+    }
+}
+
+QByteArray Lib9pClient::read(const QString &path)
+{
+    if (m_handle <= 0) {
+        m_lastError = QStringLiteral("not connected");
+        return {};
+    }
+    
+    QByteArray pathUtf8 = path.toUtf8();
+    int len = 0;
+    char *data = ollie9p_read(m_handle, pathUtf8.data(), &len);
+    if (!data) {
+        updateLastError();
+        return {};
+    }
+    
+    QByteArray result(data, len);
+    ollie9p_free(data);
+    m_lastError.clear();
+    return result;
+}
+
+bool Lib9pClient::write(const QString &path, const QByteArray &data)
+{
+    if (m_handle <= 0) {
+        m_lastError = QStringLiteral("not connected");
+        return false;
+    }
+    
+    QByteArray pathUtf8 = path.toUtf8();
+    int written = ollie9p_write(m_handle, pathUtf8.data(), 
+                                const_cast<char*>(data.data()), data.size());
+    if (written < 0) {
+        updateLastError();
+        return false;
+    }
+    m_lastError.clear();
+    return true;
+}
+
+QByteArray Lib9pClient::rdwr(const QString &path, const QByteArray &data)
+{
+    if (m_handle <= 0) {
+        m_lastError = QStringLiteral("not connected");
+        return {};
+    }
+    
+    QByteArray pathUtf8 = path.toUtf8();
+    int outLen = 0;
+    char *resp = ollie9p_rdwr(m_handle, pathUtf8.data(),
+                              const_cast<char*>(data.data()), data.size(), &outLen);
+    if (!resp) {
+        updateLastError();
+        return {};
+    }
+    
+    QByteArray result(resp, outLen);
+    ollie9p_free(resp);
+    m_lastError.clear();
+    return result;
+}
+
+QStringList Lib9pClient::ls(const QString &path)
+{
+    if (m_handle <= 0) {
+        m_lastError = QStringLiteral("not connected");
+        return {};
+    }
+    
+    QByteArray pathUtf8 = path.toUtf8();
+    char *names = ollie9p_ls(m_handle, pathUtf8.data());
+    if (!names) {
+        updateLastError();
+        return {};
+    }
+    
+    QString str = QString::fromUtf8(names);
+    ollie9p_free(names);
+    m_lastError.clear();
+    
+    if (str.isEmpty()) {
+        return {};
+    }
+    return str.split(QLatin1Char('\n'), Qt::SkipEmptyParts);
+}
+
+Lib9pClient::StatResult Lib9pClient::stat(const QString &path)
+{
+    StatResult result;
+    if (m_handle <= 0) {
+        m_lastError = QStringLiteral("not connected");
+        return result;
+    }
+    
+    QByteArray pathUtf8 = path.toUtf8();
+    char *data = ollie9p_stat(m_handle, pathUtf8.data());
+    if (!data) {
+        updateLastError();
+        return result;
+    }
+    
+    // Parse "mode\tsize\tmtime\tname"
+    QString str = QString::fromUtf8(data);
+    ollie9p_free(data);
+    
+    QStringList parts = str.split(QLatin1Char('\t'));
+    if (parts.size() >= 4) {
+        result.mode = parts[0];
+        result.size = parts[1].toLongLong();
+        result.mtime = parts[2].toLongLong();
+        result.name = parts[3];
+        result.valid = true;
+    }
+    m_lastError.clear();
+    return result;
+}
+
+bool Lib9pClient::remove(const QString &path)
+{
+    if (m_handle <= 0) {
+        m_lastError = QStringLiteral("not connected");
+        return false;
+    }
+    
+    QByteArray pathUtf8 = path.toUtf8();
+    if (ollie9p_remove(m_handle, pathUtf8.data()) < 0) {
+        updateLastError();
+        return false;
+    }
+    m_lastError.clear();
+    return true;
+}
+
+bool Lib9pClient::create(const QString &path, uint perm)
+{
+    if (m_handle <= 0) {
+        m_lastError = QStringLiteral("not connected");
+        return false;
+    }
+    
+    QByteArray pathUtf8 = path.toUtf8();
+    if (ollie9p_create(m_handle, pathUtf8.data(), perm) < 0) {
+        updateLastError();
+        return false;
+    }
+    m_lastError.clear();
+    return true;
+}
+
+bool Lib9pClient::mkdir(const QString &path)
+{
+    if (m_handle <= 0) {
+        m_lastError = QStringLiteral("not connected");
+        return false;
+    }
+    
+    QByteArray pathUtf8 = path.toUtf8();
+    if (ollie9p_mkdir(m_handle, pathUtf8.data()) < 0) {
+        updateLastError();
+        return false;
+    }
+    m_lastError.clear();
+    return true;
+}
+
+bool Lib9pClient::rename(const QString &oldPath, const QString &newName)
+{
+    if (m_handle <= 0) {
+        m_lastError = QStringLiteral("not connected");
+        return false;
+    }
+    
+    QByteArray oldPathUtf8 = oldPath.toUtf8();
+    QByteArray newNameUtf8 = newName.toUtf8();
+    if (ollie9p_rename(m_handle, oldPathUtf8.data(), newNameUtf8.data()) < 0) {
+        updateLastError();
+        return false;
+    }
+    m_lastError.clear();
+    return true;
+}
diff --git a/gui/lib9pclient.h b/gui/lib9pclient.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4ec48cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gui/lib9pclient.h
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+#ifndef LIB9PCLIENT_H
+#define LIB9PCLIENT_H
+
+#include <QObject>
+#include <QString>
+#include <QByteArray>
+#include <libollie9p.h>
+
+// Qt wrapper for libollie9p - provides a clean C++ interface to the Go 9P library.
+// Single persistent connection, thread-safe (Go handles internal locking).
+class Lib9pClient : public QObject
+{
+    Q_OBJECT
+public:
+    explicit Lib9pClient(QObject *parent = nullptr);
+    ~Lib9pClient() override;
+
+    // Connection management
+    bool connect(const QString &addr, const QString &user, const QString &aname);
+    bool connectDefault();  // Uses NAMESPACE and USER env vars
+    void disconnect();
+    bool isConnected() const { return m_handle > 0; }
+
+    // File operations - all return empty/false on error, check lastError()
+    QByteArray read(const QString &path);
+    bool write(const QString &path, const QByteArray &data);
+    QByteArray rdwr(const QString &path, const QByteArray &data);  // Write then read
+    
+    // Directory operations
+    QStringList ls(const QString &path);
+    
+    // Metadata
+    struct StatResult {
+        QString mode;
+        qint64 size;
+        qint64 mtime;
+        QString name;
+        bool valid = false;
+    };
+    StatResult stat(const QString &path);
+    
+    // File management
+    bool remove(const QString &path);
+    bool create(const QString &path, uint perm = 0666);
+    bool mkdir(const QString &path);
+    bool rename(const QString &oldPath, const QString &newName);
+
+    // Error handling
+    QString lastError() const { return m_lastError; }
+
+private:
+    void updateLastError();
+    
+    int m_handle = -1;
+    QString m_lastError;
+};
+
+#endif // LIB9PCLIENT_H
diff --git a/gui/ollie9pclient.cpp b/gui/ollie9pclient.cpp
index b615bf6..e6da079 100644
--- a/gui/ollie9pclient.cpp
+++ b/gui/ollie9pclient.cpp
@@ -81,12 +81,22 @@ Ollie9pClient::Ollie9pClient(QObject *parent)
     m_daemon = new NinePConnection(this);
     connect(m_daemon, &NinePConnection::connected, this, [this]() {
         setDaemonConnected(true);
+        // Initialize native 9P client for fast operations
+        if (!m_9p) {
+            m_9p = new Lib9pClient(this);
+        }
+        if (!m_9p->isConnected()) {
+            m_9p->connectDefault();
+        }
         refreshSessions();
         ensureRootDataLoaded();
         startAgentConnections();
     });
     connect(m_daemon, &NinePConnection::disconnected, this, [this]() {
         setDaemonConnected(false);
+        if (m_9p) {
+            m_9p->disconnect();
+        }
         stopAgentConnections();
     });
     connect(m_daemon, &NinePConnection::readyRead, this, [this](const QByteArray &data) {
@@ -342,7 +352,14 @@ QString Ollie9pClient::agentState(const QString &sessionId, const QString &agent
 void Ollie9pClient::refreshSessions()
 {
 	if (!m_daemonConnected) return;
-	QByteArray out = run9p({"read", "session/idx"});
+	
+	// Use native 9P client if available (fast path)
+	QByteArray out;
+	if (m_9p && m_9p->isConnected()) {
+		out = m_9p->read(QStringLiteral("session/idx"));
+	} else {
+		out = run9p({"read", "session/idx"});
+	}
 	QString raw = QString::fromUtf8(out);
 
 	m_sessions.clear();
@@ -615,7 +632,12 @@ void Ollie9pClient::switchAgent(const QString &sessionId, const QString &agentId
 void Ollie9pClient::loadRootBackends()
 {
     if (m_rootBackendsLoaded) return;
-    QByteArray out = run9p({"read", "backends"});
+    QByteArray out;
+    if (m_9p && m_9p->isConnected()) {
+        out = m_9p->read(QStringLiteral("backends"));
+    } else {
+        out = run9p({"read", "backends"});
+    }
     QString raw = QString::fromUtf8(out).trimmed();
     if (!raw.isEmpty()) {
         m_availableBackends = raw.split('\n', Qt::SkipEmptyParts);
@@ -628,7 +650,12 @@ void Ollie9pClient::loadRootBackends()
 void Ollie9pClient::loadRootAgents()
 {
     if (m_rootAgentsLoaded) return;
-    QByteArray out = run9p({"read", "agents"});
+    QByteArray out;
+    if (m_9p && m_9p->isConnected()) {
+        out = m_9p->read(QStringLiteral("agents"));
+    } else {
+        out = run9p({"read", "agents"});
+    }
     QString raw = QString::fromUtf8(out).trimmed();
     if (!raw.isEmpty()) {
         m_availableAgents = raw.split('\n', Qt::SkipEmptyParts);
diff --git a/gui/ollie9pclient.h b/gui/ollie9pclient.h
index 4175dcc..dde6b3f 100644
--- a/gui/ollie9pclient.h
+++ b/gui/ollie9pclient.h
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 
 #include "streamfsm.h"
 #include "ninepconnection.h"
+#include "lib9pclient.h"
 
 // 9P-based client for ollie. Uses ollie-9p subprocess for transport.
 // Streaming files (chat, statewait) use StreamFsm instances for lifecycle.
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ private:
     void stopAgentStreams();
     void stopStreams();
     QString agentPath() const;
-    QByteArray run9p(const QStringList &args);
+    QByteArray run9p(const QStringList &args);  // Fallback for streaming (uses subprocess)
     void ensureRootDataLoaded();
     void setDaemonConnected(bool connected);
     void startAgentConnections();
@@ -123,6 +124,9 @@ private:
     void stopAgentConnections();
     void handleEvent(const QString &eventLine);
 
+    // Native 9P client (persistent connection, no subprocess overhead)
+    Lib9pClient *m_9p = nullptr;
+
     QVariantList m_sessions;
     QString m_activeSessionId;
     QString m_activeState = "idle";