diff --git a/apps/penpal/frontend/src/pages/FilePage.test.tsx b/apps/penpal/frontend/src/pages/FilePage.test.tsx
index 0dfe82b9..d863d823 100644
--- a/apps/penpal/frontend/src/pages/FilePage.test.tsx
+++ b/apps/penpal/frontend/src/pages/FilePage.test.tsx
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ describe('FilePage', () => {
     expect(api.startAgent).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
-  it('refreshes agent status and threads on SSE reconnect', async () => {
+  it('refreshes content, agent status, and threads on SSE reconnect', async () => {
     vi.mocked(api.getAgentStatus).mockResolvedValue(agentNotRunning);
 
     renderFilePage();
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ describe('FilePage', () => {
     await waitFor(() => {
       expect(api.getAgentStatus).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
       expect(api.getThreads).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      expect(api.getRawFile).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     });
 
     // Get the onReconnect callback (2nd argument to useSSE)
@@ -169,13 +170,41 @@ describe('FilePage', () => {
     // Simulate SSE reconnect
     vi.mocked(api.getAgentStatus).mockClear();
     vi.mocked(api.getThreads).mockClear();
+    vi.mocked(api.getRawFile).mockClear();
     act(() => {
       onReconnect!();
     });
 
     await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(api.getRawFile).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
       expect(api.getAgentStatus).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
       expect(api.getThreads).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     });
   });
+
+  it('refreshes content on SSE files event', async () => {
+    vi.mocked(api.getAgentStatus).mockResolvedValue(agentNotRunning);
+
+    renderFilePage();
+
+    // Wait for initial load
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(api.getRawFile).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    });
+
+    // Get the onEvent callback (1st argument to useSSE)
+    const useSSEMock = vi.mocked(useSSE);
+    const onEvent = useSSEMock.mock.calls[0]?.[0];
+    expect(onEvent).toBeDefined();
+
+    // Simulate a 'files' SSE event for our project
+    vi.mocked(api.getRawFile).mockClear();
+    act(() => {
+      onEvent!({ type: 'files', project: 'ws/proj' });
+    });
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(api.getRawFile).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/apps/penpal/frontend/src/pages/FilePage.tsx b/apps/penpal/frontend/src/pages/FilePage.tsx
index 5ef64bea..59a92242 100644
--- a/apps/penpal/frontend/src/pages/FilePage.tsx
+++ b/apps/penpal/frontend/src/pages/FilePage.tsx
@@ -122,14 +122,16 @@ export default function FilePage() {
   }, [location.pathname, projects]);
 
   // Fetch raw file content
-  const fetchContent = useCallback(async () => {
+  const fetchContent = useCallback(async (opts?: { silent?: boolean }) => {
     if (!project || !path) return;
     try {
       const content = await api.getRawFile(project, path);
       setRawMarkdown(content);
       setError(null);
     } catch (err) {
-      setError('Failed to load file');
+      if (!opts?.silent) {
+        setError('Failed to load file');
+      }
       console.error(err);
     } finally {
       setLoading(false);
@@ -262,9 +264,10 @@ export default function FilePage() {
       [project, fetchThreads, fetchContent, fetchAgentStatus],
     ),
     useCallback(() => {
+      fetchContent({ silent: true });
       fetchAgentStatus();
       fetchThreads();
-    }, [fetchAgentStatus, fetchThreads]),
+    }, [fetchContent, fetchAgentStatus, fetchThreads]),
   );
 
   const handleComment = useCallback((anchor: Anchor, selectedText: string) => {