diff --git a/packages/uix-host-react/src/components/Extensible.test.tsx b/packages/uix-host-react/src/components/Extensible.test.tsx
index e0c46f9..b40c752 100644
--- a/packages/uix-host-react/src/components/Extensible.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/uix-host-react/src/components/Extensible.test.tsx
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ describe("Extensible", () => {
       });
     });
 
-    it("should not call unload if host was never created", () => {
+    it("should still create a host when extensions resolve empty, and unload it on unmount", async () => {
       const extensionsProvider = jest.fn().mockResolvedValue({});
 
       const { unmount } = render(
@@ -113,11 +113,74 @@ describe("Extensible", () => {
         </Extensible>
       );
 
+      // The host must exist even with zero extensions, so consumers relying on
+      // host readiness (e.g. useHost/loading state) aren't stuck waiting forever.
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(MockedHost).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      });
+
+      // load() must not be called since there is nothing to load
+      expect(mockLoad).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+      unmount();
+
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(mockUnload).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      });
+    });
+
+    it("should not call unload if the extensions fetch never resolved before unmount", () => {
+      const extensionsProvider = jest
+        .fn()
+        .mockReturnValue(new Promise(() => {}));
+
+      const { unmount } = render(
+        <Extensible appName="test-app" extensionsProvider={extensionsProvider}>
+          <div>Test Child</div>
+        </Extensible>
+      );
+
       unmount();
 
       // Unload should not be called if host was never created
       expect(mockUnload).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     });
+
+    it("reuses the host (does not recreate) once extensions arrive after an initial empty resolve", async () => {
+      const emptyProvider = jest.fn().mockResolvedValue({});
+      const nonEmptyExtensions: InstalledExtensions = {
+        "ext-1": { id: "ext-1", url: "https://example.com/ext1" },
+      };
+      const nonEmptyProvider = jest.fn().mockResolvedValue(nonEmptyExtensions);
+
+      const { rerender } = render(
+        <Extensible appName="test-app" extensionsProvider={emptyProvider}>
+          <div>Test Child</div>
+        </Extensible>
+      );
+
+      // Host is created immediately even though there is nothing to load yet.
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(MockedHost).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      });
+      expect(mockLoad).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+      // Extensions arrive later (e.g. a slower registry response, or a
+      // subsequent provider swap). The existing host must be reused, not
+      // torn down and recreated, and load() should now be called.
+      rerender(
+        <Extensible appName="test-app" extensionsProvider={nonEmptyProvider}>
+          <div>Test Child</div>
+        </Extensible>
+      );
+
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(mockLoad).toHaveBeenCalledWith(nonEmptyExtensions, undefined);
+      });
+
+      expect(MockedHost).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      expect(mockUnload).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
   });
 
   describe("Old host unloading when creating new host", () => {
diff --git a/packages/uix-host-react/src/components/Extensible.tsx b/packages/uix-host-react/src/components/Extensible.tsx
index c60498b..5bc58d6 100644
--- a/packages/uix-host-react/src/components/Extensible.tsx
+++ b/packages/uix-host-react/src/components/Extensible.tsx
@@ -188,11 +188,16 @@ export function Extensible({
       };
     }
 
-    if (!extensions || !Object.keys(extensions).length) {
+    if (!extensionListFetched) {
       return;
     }
 
+    const hasExtensions = !!extensions && !!Object.keys(extensions).length;
+
     const loadExtensions = (hostInstance: Host) => {
+      if (!hasExtensions) {
+        return;
+      }
       hostInstance
         .load(extensions, guestOptions)
         .catch(logError("Load of extensions failed!"));
@@ -220,7 +225,7 @@ export function Extensible({
     } else {
       loadExtensions(host);
     }
-  }, [debug, hostName, runtimeContainer, extensions]);
+  }, [debug, hostName, runtimeContainer, extensions, extensionListFetched]);
 
   const contextValue = useMemo(
     () => ({ host, extensionListFetched }),