diff --git a/src/main.py b/src/main.py
index 3dea1f7..1fa2482 100644
--- a/src/main.py
+++ b/src/main.py
@@ -275,12 +275,23 @@ def handle_display_npub(password_manager: PasswordManager):
 def _display_live_stats(
     password_manager: PasswordManager, interval: float = 1.0
 ) -> None:
-    """Continuously refresh stats until the user presses Enter."""
+    """Continuously refresh stats until the user presses Enter.
+
+    Each refresh also triggers a background sync so the latest stats are
+    displayed if newer data exists on Nostr.
+    """
 
     display_fn = getattr(password_manager, "display_stats", None)
+    sync_fn = getattr(password_manager, "start_background_sync", None)
     if not callable(display_fn):
         return
 
+    if callable(sync_fn):
+        try:
+            sync_fn()
+        except Exception as exc:  # pragma: no cover - sync best effort
+            logging.debug("Background sync failed during stats display: %s", exc)
+
     if not sys.stdin or not sys.stdin.isatty():
         clear_screen()
         display_fn()
@@ -292,6 +303,11 @@ def _display_live_stats(
         return
 
     while True:
+        if callable(sync_fn):
+            try:
+                sync_fn()
+            except Exception:  # pragma: no cover - sync best effort
+                logging.debug("Background sync failed during stats display")
         clear_screen()
         display_fn()
         note = get_notification_text(password_manager)
diff --git a/src/nostr/client.py b/src/nostr/client.py
index 0155617..76fdb00 100644
--- a/src/nostr/client.py
+++ b/src/nostr/client.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from nostr_sdk import (
     Kind,
     KindStandard,
     Tag,
+    RelayUrl,
 )
 from datetime import timedelta
 from nostr_sdk import EventId, Timestamp
@@ -173,14 +174,26 @@ class NostrClient:
     async def _initialize_client_pool(self) -> None:
         if self.offline_mode or not self.relays:
             return
+
+        formatted = []
+        for relay in self.relays:
+            if isinstance(relay, str):
+                try:
+                    formatted.append(RelayUrl.parse(relay))
+                except Exception:
+                    logger.error("Invalid relay URL: %s", relay)
+            else:
+                formatted.append(relay)
+
         if hasattr(self.client, "add_relays"):
-            await self.client.add_relays(self.relays)
+            await self.client.add_relays(formatted)
         else:
-            for relay in self.relays:
+            for relay in formatted:
                 await self.client.add_relay(relay)
+
         await self.client.connect()
         self._connected = True
-        logger.info(f"NostrClient connected to relays: {self.relays}")
+        logger.info("NostrClient connected to relays: %s", formatted)
 
     async def _ping_relay(self, relay: str, timeout: float) -> bool:
         """Attempt to retrieve the latest event from a single relay."""
diff --git a/src/tests/test_nostr_client.py b/src/tests/test_nostr_client.py
index 1aa998f..0fc5a61 100644
--- a/src/tests/test_nostr_client.py
+++ b/src/tests/test_nostr_client.py
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ def test_initialize_client_pool_add_relays_used(tmp_path):
     client = _setup_client(tmp_path, FakeAddRelaysClient)
     fc = client.client
     client.connect()
-    assert fc.added == [client.relays]
+    assert [[str(r) for r in relays] for relays in fc.added] == [client.relays]
     assert fc.connected is True
 
 
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ def test_initialize_client_pool_add_relay_fallback(tmp_path):
     client = _setup_client(tmp_path, FakeAddRelayClient)
     fc = client.client
     client.connect()
-    assert fc.added == client.relays
+    assert [str(r) for r in fc.added] == client.relays
     assert fc.connected is True
 
 
diff --git a/src/tests/test_stats_screen.py b/src/tests/test_stats_screen.py
index f65d72d..182c7b9 100644
--- a/src/tests/test_stats_screen.py
+++ b/src/tests/test_stats_screen.py
@@ -9,7 +9,10 @@ import main
 
 
 def _make_pm():
-    return SimpleNamespace(display_stats=lambda: print("stats"))
+    return SimpleNamespace(
+        display_stats=lambda: print("stats"),
+        start_background_sync=lambda: None,
+    )
 
 
 def test_live_stats_shows_message(monkeypatch, capsys):
@@ -36,3 +39,21 @@ def test_live_stats_shows_notification(monkeypatch, capsys):
     main._display_live_stats(pm)
     out = capsys.readouterr().out
     assert "note" in out
+
+
+def test_live_stats_triggers_background_sync(monkeypatch):
+    called = {"sync": 0}
+
+    pm = _make_pm()
+    pm.start_background_sync = lambda: called.__setitem__("sync", called["sync"] + 1)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(main, "get_notification_text", lambda *_: "")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        main,
+        "timed_input",
+        lambda *_: (_ for _ in ()).throw(KeyboardInterrupt()),
+    )
+
+    main._display_live_stats(pm)
+
+    assert called["sync"] >= 1