diff --git a/__init__.py b/__init__.py
index 9f098a1..01f0013 100644
--- a/__init__.py
+++ b/__init__.py
@@ -86,7 +86,12 @@ async def _issue(rest: str, session_id: str) -> str:
             from .api import build_data_router, build_view_router
 
             registry.register_router(build_view_router(), prefix="/plugins/github")
-            registry.register_router(build_data_router(cfg), prefix="/api/plugins/github")
+            # Pass a LIVE config getter when the host offers one (registry.live_config),
+            # so a repo/default_repo edit shows in the board with no server restart — a
+            # hot-reload can't re-mount this router, but reading config per request does.
+            # Older hosts (no live_config) fall back to the register-time snapshot.
+            get_cfg = registry.live_config if hasattr(registry, "live_config") else cfg
+            registry.register_router(build_data_router(get_cfg), prefix="/api/plugins/github")
             view = True
         except Exception:  # noqa: BLE001
             log.exception("[github] registering the board view failed")
diff --git a/api.py b/api.py
index 5c59ebd..76e85dd 100644
--- a/api.py
+++ b/api.py
@@ -105,25 +105,37 @@ async def _new_issue():
     return router
 
 
-def build_data_router(cfg: dict):
+def build_data_router(cfg):
     """The board's DATA routes — mounted under the GATED ``/api/plugins/github`` prefix.
 
-    Reads the plugin's own configured repo picker (no host coupling). ``/issue`` reuses
-    the SAME gate-checked `file_issue` path as the `/issue` chat command, so the dialog
-    and the command can never diverge.
+    ``cfg`` is either the config dict OR a zero-arg callable returning it. Pass a callable
+    (e.g. ``registry.live_config``) so the board reflects config edits WITHOUT a server
+    restart: a hot-reload can't re-mount this router, but reading the config per request
+    picks up the freshly-saved repos/default_repo. A plain dict (tests, older host) is a
+    fixed snapshot. ``/issue`` reuses the SAME gate-checked `file_issue` path as the
+    `/issue` chat command, so the dialog and the command can never diverge.
     """
     from fastapi import APIRouter, Body
 
     from .gh_issue import IssueRequest, effective_default_repo, file_issue, labels_for, resolve_repo
 
+    get_cfg = cfg if callable(cfg) else (lambda: cfg)
+
     router = APIRouter()
 
     @router.get("/config")
     async def _config() -> dict:
-        repos = _repos(cfg)
+        current = get_cfg()
+        repos = _repos(current)
+        default = effective_default_repo(current.get("default_repo", ""), repos)
+        # The picker is built from `repos`. A very common config sets `default_repo` but
+        # leaves `repos` empty — without folding the default in, the picker has zero
+        # options and the board shows "nothing to select" even though a repo IS configured.
+        # Surface the resolved default as a selectable option (first), deduped.
+        selectable = [default, *repos] if default and default not in repos else repos
         return {
-            "repos": repos,
-            "default_repo": effective_default_repo(cfg.get("default_repo", ""), repos),
+            "repos": selectable,
+            "default_repo": default,
             "gh_available": gh_available(),
         }
 
@@ -137,12 +149,13 @@ async def _prs(repo: str, state: str = "open") -> dict:
 
     @router.post("/issue")
     async def _create_issue(body: dict = Body(...)) -> dict:
+        current = get_cfg()
         kind = (body.get("kind") or "generic").lower()
         if kind not in ("bug", "feature", "generic"):
             kind = "generic"
         title = (body.get("title") or "").strip()
         issue_body = (body.get("body") or "").strip()
-        repo = resolve_repo(body.get("repo"), effective_default_repo(cfg.get("default_repo", ""), _repos(cfg)))
+        repo = resolve_repo(body.get("repo"), effective_default_repo(current.get("default_repo", ""), _repos(current)))
         labels = labels_for(kind, [str(x) for x in (body.get("labels") or [])])
         dry_run = bool(body.get("dry_run"))
         if not title:
diff --git a/tests/test_board_view.py b/tests/test_board_view.py
index ce20285..3a4e732 100644
--- a/tests/test_board_view.py
+++ b/tests/test_board_view.py
@@ -97,6 +97,38 @@ def test_config_route_returns_repos_and_default():
     assert isinstance(body["gh_available"], bool)
 
 
+def test_config_folds_default_repo_into_picker_when_repos_empty():
+    """default_repo set + repos empty (a common config) must still give the picker a
+    selectable option — otherwise the board shows "nothing to select" though a repo is
+    configured."""
+    c = TestClient(_app({"repos": [], "default_repo": "o/solo"}))
+    body = c.get("/api/plugins/github/config").json()
+    assert body["repos"] == ["o/solo"]  # default surfaced as the selectable option
+    assert body["default_repo"] == "o/solo"
+
+
+def test_config_does_not_duplicate_default_already_in_repos():
+    c = TestClient(_app({"repos": ["o/a", "o/b"], "default_repo": "o/b"}))
+    body = c.get("/api/plugins/github/config").json()
+    assert body["repos"] == ["o/a", "o/b"]  # no dup; order preserved
+    assert body["default_repo"] == "o/b"
+
+
+def test_data_router_reads_config_live_from_a_getter():
+    """Given a config GETTER (callable), /config reflects edits per request — so a saved
+    repo shows in the board without a server restart (the mounted router can't re-mount)."""
+    from fastapi import FastAPI
+
+    live = {"repos": [], "default_repo": ""}
+    app = FastAPI()
+    app.include_router(build_data_router(lambda: live), prefix="/api/plugins/github")
+    c = TestClient(app)
+
+    assert c.get("/api/plugins/github/config").json()["repos"] == []  # nothing yet
+    live["repos"] = ["o/added"]  # operator saves a repo (config reloaded under us)
+    assert c.get("/api/plugins/github/config").json()["repos"] == ["o/added"]  # no restart
+
+
 def test_issues_route_proxies_fetch():
     fake = AsyncMock(return_value=(0, '[{"number":3,"title":"X"}]', ""))
     with patch("ghplugin.api.run_gh", fake):