diff --git a/src/native/skate3_native_ghost.cpp b/src/native/skate3_native_ghost.cpp
index 29ffec0..c7a2b3b 100644
--- a/src/native/skate3_native_ghost.cpp
+++ b/src/native/skate3_native_ghost.cpp
@@ -228,6 +228,10 @@ std::unordered_map<uint32_t, std::array<char, kGhostMaxNameLen>> g_roster_names;
 std::atomic<bool> g_request_rooms{false};
 RoomList g_rooms;
 
+// Last room we logged a join for (to log connection transitions, not the
+// every-5s re-JOIN HELLOs). Network thread only.
+std::string g_last_logged_room;
+
 // Network thread.
 std::thread g_thread;
 std::atomic<bool> g_stop{false};
@@ -549,6 +553,7 @@ void HandlePacket(const GhostAddr& from, const PacketBuf& p, double now) {
         g_refused = false;
       }
       Peer& peer = from_public ? g_peer_public : g_peer_lan;
+      const bool was_joined = peer.joined;
       peer.joined = true;
       peer.last_hello = now;
       if (from_public) {
@@ -575,9 +580,12 @@ void HandlePacket(const GhostAddr& from, const PacketBuf& p, double now) {
         }
       }
       SetStatusPeer(from);
-      if (Debug()) {
+      // Always log connection TRANSITIONS (first join / reconnect / room
+      // change); the periodic re-JOIN HELLOs are not new connections.
+      if (!was_joined || g_last_logged_room != std::string(hp.room, hp.room_len)) {
         REXLOG_INFO("ghost: joined {} room={} roster={}", GhostAddrStr(from).c_str(),
                     std::string(hp.room, hp.room_len).c_str(), hp.roster_count);
+        g_last_logged_room.assign(hp.room, hp.room_len);
       }
       return;
     }
@@ -772,9 +780,7 @@ void GhostNetworkLoop() {
       if (g_peer_public.joined && now - g_peer_public.last_hello > kHelloTimeoutSec) {
         g_peer_public.joined = false;
         g_peer_public.last_join = 0.0;
-        if (debug) {
-          REXLOG_INFO("ghost: public relay timed out; reconnecting");
-        }
+        REXLOG_WARN("ghost: relay connection lost; reconnecting");
       }
     }