diff --git a/src/plugin_system/state_reconciliation.py b/src/plugin_system/state_reconciliation.py
index f1e68b8c..e549090a 100644
--- a/src/plugin_system/state_reconciliation.py
+++ b/src/plugin_system/state_reconciliation.py
@@ -184,8 +184,6 @@ class StateReconciliation:
                     continue
                 if 'enabled' not in plugin_config:
                     continue
-                if '.standalone-backup-' in plugin_id:
-                    continue
                 state[plugin_id] = {
                     'enabled': plugin_config.get('enabled', False),
                     'version': plugin_config.get('version'),
@@ -203,6 +201,8 @@ class StateReconciliation:
                 for plugin_dir in self.plugins_dir.iterdir():
                     if plugin_dir.is_dir():
                         plugin_id = plugin_dir.name
+                        if '.standalone-backup-' in plugin_id:
+                            continue
                         manifest_path = plugin_dir / "manifest.json"
                         if manifest_path.exists():
                             import json
diff --git a/web_interface/app.py b/web_interface/app.py
index 67ab420c..96b8d169 100644
--- a/web_interface/app.py
+++ b/web_interface/app.py
@@ -652,13 +652,13 @@ def _initialize_health_monitor():
     _health_monitor_initialized = True
 
 _reconciliation_done = False
+_reconciliation_started = False
 
 def _run_startup_reconciliation():
-    """Run state reconciliation on startup to auto-repair missing plugins."""
+    """Run state reconciliation in background to auto-repair missing plugins."""
     global _reconciliation_done
-    if _reconciliation_done:
-        return
-    _reconciliation_done = True
+    from src.logging_config import get_logger
+    _logger = get_logger('reconciliation')
 
     try:
         from src.plugin_system.state_reconciliation import StateReconciliation
@@ -671,20 +671,24 @@ def _run_startup_reconciliation():
         )
         result = reconciler.reconcile_state()
         if result.inconsistencies_found:
-            print(f"[Reconciliation] {result.message}")
+            _logger.info("[Reconciliation] %s", result.message)
         if result.inconsistencies_fixed:
             plugin_manager.discover_plugins()
+        _reconciliation_done = True
     except Exception as e:
-        print(f"[Reconciliation] Error: {e}")
+        _logger.error("[Reconciliation] Error: %s", e, exc_info=True)
 
 # Initialize health monitor and run reconciliation on first request
 @app.before_request
 def check_health_monitor():
-    """Ensure health monitor and reconciliation run on first request."""
+    """Ensure health monitor is initialized; launch reconciliation in background."""
+    global _reconciliation_started
     if not _health_monitor_initialized:
         _initialize_health_monitor()
-    if not _reconciliation_done:
-        _run_startup_reconciliation()
+    if not _reconciliation_started:
+        _reconciliation_started = True
+        import threading
+        threading.Thread(target=_run_startup_reconciliation, daemon=True).start()
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     app.run(host='0.0.0.0', port=5000, debug=True)
diff --git a/web_interface/blueprints/api_v3.py b/web_interface/blueprints/api_v3.py
index f232caf0..6a5091cd 100644
--- a/web_interface/blueprints/api_v3.py
+++ b/web_interface/blueprints/api_v3.py
@@ -33,19 +33,25 @@ from src.web_interface.secret_helpers import (
     separate_secrets,
 )
 
-import re
-
 _SECRET_KEY_PATTERN = re.compile(
     r'(api_key|api_secret|password|secret|token|auth_key|credential)',
     re.IGNORECASE,
 )
 
-def _conservative_mask_config(config):
+def _conservative_mask_config(config, _parent_key=None):
     """Mask string values whose keys look like secrets (no schema available)."""
+    if isinstance(config, list):
+        return [
+            _conservative_mask_config(item, _parent_key) if isinstance(item, (dict, list))
+            else ('' if isinstance(item, str) and item and _parent_key and _SECRET_KEY_PATTERN.search(_parent_key) else item)
+            for item in config
+        ]
     result = dict(config)
     for key, value in result.items():
         if isinstance(value, dict):
             result[key] = _conservative_mask_config(value)
+        elif isinstance(value, list):
+            result[key] = _conservative_mask_config(value, key)
         elif isinstance(value, str) and value and _SECRET_KEY_PATTERN.search(key):
             result[key] = ''
     return result
@@ -2523,7 +2529,12 @@ def get_plugin_config():
 
         # Mask secret fields before returning to prevent exposing API keys
         schema_mgr = api_v3.schema_manager
-        schema_for_mask = schema_mgr.load_schema(plugin_id, use_cache=True) if schema_mgr else None
+        schema_for_mask = None
+        if schema_mgr:
+            try:
+                schema_for_mask = schema_mgr.load_schema(plugin_id, use_cache=True)
+            except Exception as e:
+                logger.error("[PluginConfig] Error loading schema for %s: %s", plugin_id, e, exc_info=True)
 
         if schema_for_mask and 'properties' in schema_for_mask:
             plugin_config = mask_secret_fields(plugin_config, schema_for_mask['properties'])