diff --git a/docs/installation.md b/docs/installation.md
index 980a1d8..8a9048a 100644
--- a/docs/installation.md
+++ b/docs/installation.md
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@ session helper activates `ferese-session.target` after exporting the compositor'
 Wayland display, and stops it when the shell exits. This keeps
 `graphical-session.target` active so desktop portals can start. The native portal
 is D-Bus activated and supervised by systemd; it stops with the session so a
-previous release cannot remain running after logout. Nested previews
+previous release cannot remain running after logout. Session startup also refreshes
+an already-running native portal after importing the current display environment.
+Nested previews
 do not alter the host's activation environment or session targets.
 
 ### Fedora
diff --git a/packaging/ferese-session-shell b/packaging/ferese-session-shell
index c3d6629..1caeb76 100755
--- a/packaging/ferese-session-shell
+++ b/packaging/ferese-session-shell
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@ if [[ ${FERESE_SESSION_IMPORT_ENV:-0} == 1 ]]; then
         systemctl --user daemon-reload || true
         if systemctl --user start ferese-session.target; then
             session_target_started=1
+            # A user manager can retain the target across session transitions.
+            # Refresh an already-running portal after importing this session's
+            # environment so it uses the installed release and current display.
+            systemctl --user try-restart xdg-desktop-portal-ferese.service || true
         else
             echo 'Ferese: graphical session target could not start; portal activation may be unavailable.' >&2
         fi
diff --git a/scripts/tests/test_session_startup.py b/scripts/tests/test_session_startup.py
index 71ca7ff..dc6d553 100644
--- a/scripts/tests/test_session_startup.py
+++ b/scripts/tests/test_session_startup.py
@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ class SessionStartupTest(unittest.TestCase):
         status, events = self.run_session(shell_status=7)
         self.assertEqual(status, 7)
         self.assertEqual(events, ['import:public-display', 'reload-bus', '--user daemon-reload',
-                                  '--user start ferese-session.target', 'shell:77',
+                                  '--user start ferese-session.target',
+                                  '--user try-restart xdg-desktop-portal-ferese.service', 'shell:77',
                                   '--user stop ferese-session.target'])
 
     def test_nested_session_never_changes_host_activation(self):
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ class SessionStartupTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(status, 0)
         self.assertIn('shell:77', events)
         self.assertNotIn('--user stop ferese-session.target', events)
+        self.assertNotIn('--user try-restart xdg-desktop-portal-ferese.service', events)
 
     def test_termination_stops_the_session_target(self):
         status, events = self.run_session(terminate=True)