diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 3e36555..6096ef2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -65,15 +65,6 @@ jobs:
       - name: Lint mtmharness package metadata
         run: pnpm dlx publint run "${{ steps.pack.outputs.tarball }}" --strict
 
-      - name: Install DSH CLI for Web smoke
-        if: ${{ matrix.node == '22.19.0' }}
-        run: npm install --global @deepseek-ai/dsh@0.1.1-rc.2
-
-      - name: Verify isolated DSH Web profile and tool catalog
-        if: ${{ matrix.node == '22.19.0' }}
-        env:
-          DSH_SMOKE_TOOL_CATALOG: "1"
-        run: pnpm run smoke:mtmharness -- "${{ steps.pack.outputs.tarball }}"
 
       - name: Verify mtmharness profile migration
         if: ${{ matrix.node == '22.19.0' }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-mtmharness.yml b/.github/workflows/release-mtmharness.yml
index df4fcfb..6c991ea 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-mtmharness.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-mtmharness.yml
@@ -85,13 +85,6 @@ jobs:
       - name: Lint package metadata
         run: pnpm dlx publint run "${{ steps.pack.outputs.tarball }}" --strict
 
-      - name: Install DSH CLI for Web smoke
-        run: npm install --global @deepseek-ai/dsh@0.1.1-rc.2
-
-      - name: Verify isolated DSH Web profile and tool catalog
-        env:
-          DSH_SMOKE_TOOL_CATALOG: "1"
-        run: pnpm run smoke:mtmharness -- "${{ steps.pack.outputs.tarball }}"
 
       - name: Verify mtmharness profile migration
         run: pnpm --filter mtmharness run profile:check -- "${{ steps.pack.outputs.tarball }}"
diff --git a/packages/mtmharness/package.json b/packages/mtmharness/package.json
index db00691..f841f10 100644
--- a/packages/mtmharness/package.json
+++ b/packages/mtmharness/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "mtmharness",
-  "version": "0.5.3",
+  "version": "0.5.4",
   "description": "Unified DeepSeek Harness Web plugin with Connect, Canvas, Codebase Memory, Ponytail, and independent static/embed clients.",
   "type": "module",
   "engines": { "node": ">=22.19.0", "pnpm": ">=11.7.0" },
diff --git a/packages/mtmharness/standalone/src/components/conversation-surface.test.tsx b/packages/mtmharness/standalone/src/components/conversation-surface.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..35b2a5d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/mtmharness/standalone/src/components/conversation-surface.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+// @vitest-environment jsdom
+
+import { act } from "react";
+import { createRoot } from "react-dom/client";
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import type { MtmHarnessRuntime, RuntimeSnapshot } from "@/runtime";
+import { ConversationSurface } from "./conversation-surface";
+
+(globalThis as { IS_REACT_ACT_ENVIRONMENT?: boolean }).IS_REACT_ACT_ENVIRONMENT = true;
+
+const snapshot: RuntimeSnapshot = {
+  status: "auth-required",
+  messages: [],
+  registryStatus: "idle",
+  sandboxCatalogStatus: "idle",
+  sandboxes: [],
+  workspaces: [],
+  archivedSessionIds: [],
+  sessions: [],
+};
+
+function createRuntime(): MtmHarnessRuntime {
+  return {
+    getSnapshot: () => snapshot,
+    subscribe: vi.fn(() => () => undefined),
+    connect: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
+    prompt: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
+  } as unknown as MtmHarnessRuntime;
+}
+
+let container: HTMLDivElement | undefined;
+let root: ReturnType<typeof createRoot> | undefined;
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  act(() => root?.unmount());
+  container?.remove();
+  container = undefined;
+  root = undefined;
+});
+
+describe("ConversationSurface authentication gate", () => {
+  it("explains the anonymous path without presenting auth as transport failure", async () => {
+    container = document.createElement("div");
+    document.body.append(container);
+    root = createRoot(container);
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      root?.render(
+        <ConversationSurface
+          config={{ apiOrigin: "https://api.example.test", allowedParentOrigins: [], mode: "floating" }}
+          runtime={createRuntime()}
+        />,
+      );
+    });
+
+    expect(container.querySelector('[role="status"]')?.textContent).toContain("Sign in above or continue anonymously on the sign-in page");
+    expect((container.querySelector("#mtmharness-prompt") as HTMLTextAreaElement).disabled).toBe(true);
+    expect((container.querySelector('button[aria-label="Send message"]') as HTMLButtonElement).disabled).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/mtmharness/standalone/src/components/conversation-surface.tsx b/packages/mtmharness/standalone/src/components/conversation-surface.tsx
index bb8c0d0..317011b 100644
--- a/packages/mtmharness/standalone/src/components/conversation-surface.tsx
+++ b/packages/mtmharness/standalone/src/components/conversation-surface.tsx
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ function statusLabel(snapshot: RuntimeSnapshot): string {
 }
 
 function statusVariant(snapshot: RuntimeSnapshot): "default" | "secondary" | "destructive" | "outline" {
-  if (snapshot.status === "error" || snapshot.status === "auth-required") return "destructive";
-  if (snapshot.status === "loading" || snapshot.status === "streaming") return "secondary";
+  if (snapshot.status === "error") return "destructive";
+  if (snapshot.status === "loading" || snapshot.status === "streaming" || snapshot.status === "auth-required") return "secondary";
   return "outline";
 }
 
@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@ export function ConversationSurface({ config, runtime, compact = false, connectO
         </>
       ) : null}
       {snapshot.status === "auth-required" ? (
-        <div className="mx-4 mt-4 rounded-lg border border-destructive/30 bg-destructive/5 px-3 py-2 text-sm" role="alert">
-          An OAuth access token is required. Configure the token-aware API and WebSocket transport before connecting.
+        <div className="mx-4 mt-4 rounded-lg border border-border bg-muted/40 px-3 py-2 text-sm" role="status">
+          Sign in above or continue anonymously on the sign-in page to start a conversation.
         </div>
       ) : null}
       {snapshot.status === "error" ? (