diff --git a/frontend/package.json b/frontend/package.json
index 478c986..289d18e 100644
--- a/frontend/package.json
+++ b/frontend/package.json
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
     "bundle:novnc": "node scripts/bundle-novnc.js",
     "build": "node scripts/build.js",
     "dev": "node scripts/build.js --watch",
-    "test": "node scripts/test-session-lifecycle.js && node scripts/test-regressions.js",
+    "test": "node scripts/test-session-lifecycle.js && node scripts/test-irc.js && node scripts/test-regressions.js",
     "postinstall": "npm run install:assets && npm run bundle:novnc"
   },
   "dependencies": {
diff --git a/frontend/scripts/test-irc.js b/frontend/scripts/test-irc.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7433059
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/scripts/test-irc.js
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+const assert = require("assert");
+const fs = require("fs");
+const path = require("path");
+const vm = require("vm");
+
+const frontendRoot = path.resolve(__dirname, "..");
+const source = fs.readFileSync(path.join(frontendRoot, "src/js/irc.js"), "utf8");
+const context = {
+  window: {
+    NexusTerminal: {
+      createElement: () => {
+        throw new Error("formatting tests must not create DOM elements");
+      },
+    },
+  },
+};
+vm.createContext(context);
+vm.runInContext(source, context, { filename: "src/js/irc.js" });
+
+const formatting = context.window.NexusTerminal.IRCFormatting;
+assert.ok(formatting, "IRC formatting helpers should be exported");
+
+assert.strictEqual(
+  formatting.formatText("plain \x02bold\x02 \x1ditalic\x1d \x1funderlined\x1f"),
+  "plain \x1b[1mbold\x1b[22m \x1b[3mitalic\x1b[23m \x1b[4munderlined\x1b[24m",
+);
+assert.strictEqual(
+  formatting.formatText("\x0304red\x03 default"),
+  "\x1b[38;5;9mred\x1b[39;49m default",
+);
+assert.strictEqual(
+  formatting.formatText("\x0352extended \x0303,01matrix"),
+  "\x1b[38;5;196mextended \x1b[38;5;2m\x1b[48;5;0mmatrix",
+);
+assert.strictEqual(
+  formatting.formatText("\x04ff8800orange\x04 default"),
+  "\x1b[38;2;255;136;0morange\x1b[39;49m default",
+);
+assert.strictEqual(
+  formatting.formatText("\x0304,comma"),
+  "\x1b[38;5;9m,comma",
+  "a colour code without a background must leave its comma visible",
+);
+assert.strictEqual(
+  formatting.plainText("\x02bold\x02 \x0304red\x03"),
+  "bold red",
+);
+assert.strictEqual(
+  formatting.formatText("before\x1b[31munsafe\x1b]0;title\x07after"),
+  "beforeunsafeafter",
+  "untrusted ANSI and OSC sequences must not reach xterm",
+);
+
+const message = formatting.formatEvent(
+  {
+    type: "message",
+    from: "alice",
+    text: "hello \x02world\x02",
+  },
+  "12:34:56",
+);
+assert.ok(message.includes("[12:34:56]"));
+assert.ok(message.includes("\x1b[1mworld\x1b[22m"));
+assert.ok(message.includes("\x1b[1m\x1b[38;5;"), "nicknames should be bold and coloured");
+assert.ok(message.endsWith("\x1b[0m"), "every line must reset terminal styling");
+
+const action = formatting.formatEvent(
+  { type: "action", from: "bob", text: "waves" },
+  "01:02:03",
+);
+assert.ok(action.includes("\x1b[3m"), "actions should be italicised");
+
+console.log("IRC formatting regression tests passed.");
diff --git a/frontend/scripts/test-regressions.js b/frontend/scripts/test-regressions.js
index e937850..4126e7a 100644
--- a/frontend/scripts/test-regressions.js
+++ b/frontend/scripts/test-regressions.js
@@ -240,6 +240,16 @@ assertContains(
   "window.NexusTerminal.IRCViewer?.destroyViewer(sessionId)",
   "session teardown must dispose IRC terminals and resize observers",
 );
+assertContains(
+  "frontend/src/js/irc.js",
+  "wailsService.IRCRooms(this.sessionID)",
+  "IRC viewers created after connection must hydrate the already joined rooms",
+);
+assertContains(
+  "internal/sessions/manager.go",
+  "GetIRCLastRooms(profile.ID)",
+  "saved IRC profiles must restore the channels open in their last session",
+);
 assertContains(
   "frontend/src/js/app.js",
   "this.recordings.cleanup(sessionId)",
diff --git a/frontend/src/js/irc.js b/frontend/src/js/irc.js
index 3c21a71..eb6ebf1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/js/irc.js
+++ b/frontend/src/js/irc.js
@@ -11,6 +11,188 @@
   const SERVER_TARGET = "server";
   const MAX_LINES_PER_TARGET = 2000;
   const MAX_LISTED_ROOMS = 200;
+  const ANSI_RESET = "\x1b[0m";
+  const ANSI_DIM = "\x1b[2m";
+  const ANSI_BOLD = "\x1b[1m";
+  const ANSI_ITALIC = "\x1b[3m";
+  const ANSI_UNDERLINE = "\x1b[4m";
+  const ANSI_REVERSE = "\x1b[7m";
+  const ANSI_STRIKE = "\x1b[9m";
+  const ANSI_GREY = "\x1b[38;5;244m";
+  const ANSI_RED = "\x1b[38;5;203m";
+  const ANSI_GREEN = "\x1b[38;5;83m";
+  const ANSI_YELLOW = "\x1b[38;5;221m";
+  const ANSI_CYAN = "\x1b[38;5;81m";
+  const ANSI_MAGENTA = "\x1b[38;5;177m";
+  const NICK_COLOURS = [33, 39, 45, 69, 75, 81, 111, 141, 177, 207, 214, 220];
+
+  // IRC colours 00-98 mapped to the xterm 256-colour palette described by
+  // the modern IRC formatting specification. Colour 99 means terminal default.
+  const IRC_ANSI_COLOURS = [
+    15, 0, 4, 2, 9, 1, 5, 130, 11, 10, 6, 14, 12, 13, 8, 7,
+    52, 94, 100, 58, 22, 29, 23, 24, 17, 54, 53, 89,
+    88, 130, 142, 64, 28, 35, 30, 25, 18, 91, 90, 125,
+    124, 166, 184, 106, 34, 49, 37, 33, 19, 129, 127, 161,
+    196, 208, 226, 154, 46, 86, 51, 75, 21, 171, 201, 198,
+    203, 215, 227, 191, 83, 122, 87, 111, 63, 177, 207, 205,
+    217, 223, 229, 193, 157, 158, 159, 153, 147, 183, 219, 212,
+    16, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 244, 247, 250, 254, 231,
+  ];
+
+  function stripTerminalEscapes(value) {
+    return String(value || "")
+      .replace(/\x1b\][^\x07]*(?:\x07|\x1b\\)/g, "")
+      .replace(/\x1b\[[0-?]*[ -/]*[@-~]/g, "")
+      .replace(/\x1b./g, "")
+      .replace(/[\x80-\x9f]/g, "");
+  }
+
+  function readDecimalColour(input, offset) {
+    const match = input.slice(offset).match(/^\d{1,2}/);
+    if (!match) return null;
+    return { value: Number(match[0]), length: match[0].length };
+  }
+
+  function readHexColour(input, offset) {
+    const value = input.slice(offset, offset + 6);
+    if (!/^[0-9a-f]{6}$/i.test(value)) return null;
+    return { value, length: 6 };
+  }
+
+  function indexedColour(code, background = false) {
+    if (code === 99 || code < 0 || code >= IRC_ANSI_COLOURS.length) {
+      return `\x1b[${background ? 49 : 39}m`;
+    }
+    return `\x1b[${background ? 48 : 38};5;${IRC_ANSI_COLOURS[code]}m`;
+  }
+
+  function hexColour(value, background = false) {
+    const red = parseInt(value.slice(0, 2), 16);
+    const green = parseInt(value.slice(2, 4), 16);
+    const blue = parseInt(value.slice(4, 6), 16);
+    return `\x1b[${background ? 48 : 38};2;${red};${green};${blue}m`;
+  }
+
+  function formatIRCText(value) {
+    const input = stripTerminalEscapes(value);
+    const toggles = {
+      "\x02": [ANSI_BOLD, "\x1b[22m", false],
+      "\x1d": [ANSI_ITALIC, "\x1b[23m", false],
+      "\x1e": [ANSI_STRIKE, "\x1b[29m", false],
+      "\x1f": [ANSI_UNDERLINE, "\x1b[24m", false],
+      "\x16": [ANSI_REVERSE, "\x1b[27m", false],
+    };
+    let output = "";
+
+    for (let index = 0; index < input.length; index += 1) {
+      const char = input[index];
+      if (toggles[char]) {
+        const toggle = toggles[char];
+        toggle[2] = !toggle[2];
+        output += toggle[toggle[2] ? 0 : 1];
+        continue;
+      }
+      if (char === "\x0f") {
+        output += ANSI_RESET;
+        for (const toggle of Object.values(toggles)) toggle[2] = false;
+        continue;
+      }
+      if (char === "\x03" || char === "\x04") {
+        const readColour = char === "\x03" ? readDecimalColour : readHexColour;
+        const foreground = readColour(input, index + 1);
+        if (!foreground) {
+          output += "\x1b[39;49m";
+          continue;
+        }
+        index += foreground.length;
+        output +=
+          char === "\x03"
+            ? indexedColour(foreground.value)
+            : hexColour(foreground.value);
+
+        if (input[index + 1] !== ",") continue;
+        const background = readColour(input, index + 2);
+        if (!background) {
+          output += ",";
+          index += 1;
+          continue;
+        }
+        index += background.length + 1;
+        output +=
+          char === "\x03"
+            ? indexedColour(background.value, true)
+            : hexColour(background.value, true);
+        continue;
+      }
+      // xterm is already monospace, so the IRC monospace toggle needs no SGR.
+      if (char === "\x11") continue;
+      const code = char.charCodeAt(0);
+      if (code < 0x20 || code === 0x7f) continue;
+      output += char;
+    }
+    return output;
+  }
+
+  function plainIRCText(value) {
+    return formatIRCText(value).replace(/\x1b\[[0-?]*[ -/]*[@-~]/g, "");
+  }
+
+  function nickColour(nick) {
+    let hash = 0;
+    for (const char of String(nick || "")) {
+      hash = (hash * 31 + char.codePointAt(0)) >>> 0;
+    }
+    return `\x1b[38;5;${NICK_COLOURS[hash % NICK_COLOURS.length]}m`;
+  }
+
+  function formatIRCEvent(event, time) {
+    const from = plainIRCText(event?.from || "");
+    const text = formatIRCText(event?.text || "");
+    const subject = plainIRCText(event?.command || "");
+    const timestamp = `${ANSI_DIM}${ANSI_GREY}[${time}]${ANSI_RESET}`;
+    const styledNick = from
+      ? `${ANSI_BOLD}${nickColour(from)}${from}${ANSI_RESET}`
+      : "";
+    let body;
+
+    switch (event?.type) {
+      case "message":
+        body = `${ANSI_GREY}<${ANSI_RESET}${styledNick}${ANSI_GREY}>${ANSI_RESET} ${text}`;
+        break;
+      case "action":
+        body = `${ANSI_MAGENTA}${ANSI_ITALIC}* ${styledNick}${ANSI_MAGENTA}${ANSI_ITALIC} ${text}`;
+        break;
+      case "notice":
+        body = `${ANSI_YELLOW}-${styledNick || "notice"}${ANSI_YELLOW}-${ANSI_RESET} ${text}`;
+        break;
+      case "join":
+        body = `${ANSI_GREEN}-->${ANSI_RESET} ${styledNick || "user"} joined`;
+        break;
+      case "part":
+        body = `${ANSI_RED}<--${ANSI_RESET} ${styledNick || "user"} left${text ? ` (${text})` : ""}`;
+        break;
+      case "kick":
+        body = `${ANSI_RED}<--${ANSI_RESET} ${ANSI_BOLD}${subject || "user"}${ANSI_RESET} was kicked by ${styledNick || "server"}${text ? ` (${text})` : ""}`;
+        break;
+      case "quit":
+        body = `${ANSI_RED}<--${ANSI_RESET} ${styledNick || "user"} quit${text ? ` (${text})` : ""}`;
+        break;
+      case "nick":
+        body = `${styledNick || "user"} is now known as ${ANSI_BOLD}${plainIRCText(event?.text || "")}${ANSI_RESET}`;
+        break;
+      case "topic":
+        body = `${ANSI_CYAN}${ANSI_BOLD}topic:${ANSI_RESET} ${text}`;
+        break;
+      case "error":
+        body = `${ANSI_RED}${ANSI_BOLD}error:${ANSI_RESET} ${text}`;
+        break;
+      case "system":
+      default:
+        body = `${ANSI_CYAN}${text}`;
+        break;
+    }
+    return `${timestamp} ${body}${ANSI_RESET}`;
+  }
 
   class IRCViewer {
     constructor() {
@@ -68,6 +250,7 @@
       this.roomList = [];
       this.roomFilter = "";
       this.unreadTargets = new Set();
+      this.destroyed = false;
 
       this.tabsEl = null;
       this.termHost = null;
@@ -131,6 +314,7 @@
         text: "Connecting...",
         timestamp: Date.now(),
       });
+      void this._refreshJoinedRooms();
     }
 
     handleEvent(event) {
@@ -170,7 +354,7 @@
         this._renderTabs();
       }
 
-      if (["join", "part", "topic"].includes(event.type)) {
+      if (["join", "part", "kick", "topic"].includes(event.type)) {
         this._renderRooms();
       }
     }
@@ -187,6 +371,7 @@
     }
 
     destroy() {
+      this.destroyed = true;
       if (this.observer) {
         this.observer.disconnect();
         this.observer = null;
@@ -350,7 +535,7 @@
       for (const room of this.joinedRooms) {
         const row = createElement("button", "irc-room-row", {
           type: "button",
-          title: room.topic || room.name,
+          title: plainIRCText(room.topic || room.name),
         });
         row.classList.toggle("active", room.name === this.activeTarget);
         row.appendChild(createElement("span", "irc-room-name", { textContent: room.name }));
@@ -420,7 +605,7 @@
         const row = createElement("div", "irc-listed-room");
         const meta = createElement("button", "irc-listed-room-main", {
           type: "button",
-          title: room.topic || room.name,
+          title: plainIRCText(room.topic || room.name),
         });
         meta.appendChild(
           createElement("span", "irc-listed-room-name", {
@@ -429,7 +614,7 @@
         );
         meta.appendChild(
           createElement("span", "irc-listed-room-topic", {
-            textContent: room.topic || "",
+            textContent: plainIRCText(room.topic || ""),
           }),
         );
         meta.addEventListener("click", () => this._joinRoom(room.name));
@@ -507,6 +692,16 @@
       }
     }
 
+    async _refreshJoinedRooms() {
+      try {
+        const rooms = await window.NexusTerminal.wailsService.IRCRooms(this.sessionID);
+        if (this.destroyed) return;
+        this.handleEvent({ type: "rooms", rooms: Array.isArray(rooms) ? rooms : [] });
+      } catch (_) {
+        // The session may have closed while the viewer was being created.
+      }
+    }
+
     _completeMention() {
       if (!this.inputEl || !this._isRoom(this.activeTarget)) return false;
       const start = this.inputEl.selectionStart || 0;
@@ -560,32 +755,7 @@
     }
 
     _formatEvent(event) {
-      const time = this._time(event.timestamp);
-      const from = this._sanitize(event.from || "");
-      const text = this._sanitize(event.text || "");
-      switch (event.type) {
-        case "message":
-          return `[${time}] <${from}> ${text}`;
-        case "action":
-          return `[${time}] * ${from} ${text}`;
-        case "notice":
-          return `[${time}] -${from || "notice"}- ${text}`;
-        case "join":
-          return `[${time}] --> ${from || "user"} joined`;
-        case "part":
-          return `[${time}] <-- ${from || "user"} left${text ? ` (${text})` : ""}`;
-        case "quit":
-          return `[${time}] <-- ${from || "user"} quit${text ? ` (${text})` : ""}`;
-        case "nick":
-          return `[${time}] ${from || "user"} is now known as ${text}`;
-        case "topic":
-          return `[${time}] topic: ${text}`;
-        case "error":
-          return `[${time}] error: ${text}`;
-        case "system":
-        default:
-          return `[${time}] ${text}`;
-      }
+      return formatIRCEvent(event, this._time(event.timestamp));
     }
 
     _time(value) {
@@ -597,11 +767,7 @@
     }
 
     _sanitize(value) {
-      return String(value || "")
-        .replace(/\x1b\[[0-?]*[ -/]*[@-~]/g, "")
-        .replace(/[\x00-\x08\x0b\x0c\x0e-\x1f\x7f]/g, "")
-        .replace(/\x03(\d{1,2}(,\d{1,2})?)?/g, "")
-        .replace(/[\x02\x0f\x16\x1d\x1f]/g, "");
+      return plainIRCText(value);
     }
 
     _displayNick(user) {
@@ -620,5 +786,10 @@
   }
 
   window.NexusTerminal = window.NexusTerminal || {};
+  window.NexusTerminal.IRCFormatting = Object.freeze({
+    formatEvent: formatIRCEvent,
+    formatText: formatIRCText,
+    plainText: plainIRCText,
+  });
   window.NexusTerminal.IRCViewer = new IRCViewer();
 })();
diff --git a/internal/ircclient/ircclient.go b/internal/ircclient/ircclient.go
index 3660584..4a75a27 100644
--- a/internal/ircclient/ircclient.go
+++ b/internal/ircclient/ircclient.go
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	OnEvent        func(Event)
 	OnError        func(error)
 	OnClose        func()
+	OnRoomsChanged func([]string)
 }
 
 // Event is a typed IRC event suitable for JSON delivery to the frontend.
@@ -85,6 +86,7 @@ type Client struct {
 	connected bool
 	closing   bool
 	listRooms []RoomInfo
+	roomNames []string
 }
 
 // New creates an IRC client wrapper.
@@ -406,10 +408,14 @@ func (c *Client) Rooms() []RoomInfo {
 	if c.client == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
-	channels := c.client.Channels()
-	rooms := make([]RoomInfo, 0, len(channels))
-	for _, ch := range channels {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	roomNames := append([]string{}, c.roomNames...)
+	c.mu.Unlock()
+	rooms := make([]RoomInfo, 0, len(roomNames))
+	for _, roomName := range roomNames {
+		ch := c.client.LookupChannel(roomName)
 		if ch == nil {
+			rooms = append(rooms, RoomInfo{Name: roomName})
 			continue
 		}
 		rooms = append(rooms, RoomInfo{
@@ -445,6 +451,7 @@ func (c *Client) registerHandlers() {
 	c.client.Handlers.Add(girc.NOTICE, c.handleNotice)
 	c.client.Handlers.Add(girc.JOIN, c.handleJoin)
 	c.client.Handlers.Add(girc.PART, c.handlePart)
+	c.client.Handlers.Add(girc.KICK, c.handleKick)
 	c.client.Handlers.Add(girc.QUIT, c.handleQuit)
 	c.client.Handlers.Add(girc.NICK, c.handleNick)
 	c.client.Handlers.Add(girc.TOPIC, c.handleTopic)
@@ -499,6 +506,9 @@ func (c *Client) handleJoin(gc *girc.Client, e girc.Event) {
 		return
 	}
 	from := sourceName(e)
+	if strings.EqualFold(from, gc.GetNick()) {
+		c.rememberRoomMembership(room, true)
+	}
 	c.emit(Event{Type: "join", Target: room, From: from, Text: fmt.Sprintf("%s joined %s", from, room), Timestamp: eventTime(e)})
 	c.emitRooms()
 	c.emitUsers(room)
@@ -514,11 +524,35 @@ func (c *Client) handlePart(gc *girc.Client, e girc.Event) {
 	if len(e.Params) > 1 {
 		message = strings.TrimSpace(e.Last())
 	}
+	if strings.EqualFold(from, gc.GetNick()) {
+		c.rememberRoomMembership(room, false)
+	}
 	c.emit(Event{Type: "part", Target: room, From: from, Text: message, Timestamp: eventTime(e)})
 	c.emitRooms()
 	c.emitUsers(room)
 }
 
+func (c *Client) handleKick(gc *girc.Client, e girc.Event) {
+	if len(e.Params) < 2 {
+		return
+	}
+	room := e.Params[0]
+	kicked := e.Params[1]
+	if strings.EqualFold(kicked, gc.GetNick()) {
+		c.rememberRoomMembership(room, false)
+	}
+	c.emit(Event{
+		Type:      "kick",
+		Target:    room,
+		From:      sourceName(e),
+		Command:   kicked,
+		Text:      strings.TrimSpace(e.Last()),
+		Timestamp: eventTime(e),
+	})
+	c.emitRooms()
+	c.emitUsers(room)
+}
+
 func (c *Client) handleQuit(gc *girc.Client, e girc.Event) {
 	from := sourceName(e)
 	c.emit(Event{Type: "quit", Target: ServerTarget, From: from, Text: strings.TrimSpace(e.Last()), Timestamp: eventTime(e)})
@@ -661,7 +695,39 @@ func (c *Client) sshAuthMethods() ([]ssh.AuthMethod, error) {
 }
 
 func (c *Client) emitRooms() {
-	c.emit(Event{Type: "rooms", Target: ServerTarget, Rooms: c.Rooms(), Timestamp: time.Now().UnixMilli()})
+	rooms := c.Rooms()
+	c.emit(Event{Type: "rooms", Target: ServerTarget, Rooms: rooms, Timestamp: time.Now().UnixMilli()})
+}
+
+func (c *Client) rememberRoomMembership(room string, joined bool) {
+	room = strings.TrimSpace(room)
+	if room == "" {
+		return
+	}
+
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	position := -1
+	changed := false
+	for i, existing := range c.roomNames {
+		if strings.EqualFold(existing, room) {
+			position = i
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if joined && position == -1 {
+		c.roomNames = append(c.roomNames, room)
+		changed = true
+	}
+	if !joined && position >= 0 {
+		c.roomNames = append(c.roomNames[:position], c.roomNames[position+1:]...)
+		changed = true
+	}
+	names := append([]string{}, c.roomNames...)
+	c.mu.Unlock()
+
+	if changed && c.cfg.OnRoomsChanged != nil {
+		c.cfg.OnRoomsChanged(names)
+	}
 }
 
 func (c *Client) emitUsers(room string) {
diff --git a/internal/ircclient/ircclient_test.go b/internal/ircclient/ircclient_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d050cd3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/ircclient/ircclient_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+package ircclient
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestRememberRoomMembershipTracksConfirmedChannels(t *testing.T) {
+	var updates []string
+	client := &Client{cfg: Config{
+		OnRoomsChanged: func(rooms []string) {
+			updates = append(updates, strings.Join(rooms, ","))
+		},
+	}}
+
+	client.rememberRoomMembership("#One", true)
+	client.rememberRoomMembership("#two", true)
+	client.rememberRoomMembership("#one", true)
+	client.rememberRoomMembership("#missing", false)
+	client.rememberRoomMembership("#ONE", false)
+
+	if got, want := strings.Join(updates, "|"), "#One|#One,#two|#two"; got != want {
+		t.Fatalf("room updates = %q, want %q", got, want)
+	}
+	if got := strings.Join(client.roomNames, ","); got != "#two" {
+		t.Fatalf("remembered rooms = %q, want %q", got, "#two")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/sessions/manager.go b/internal/sessions/manager.go
index d31afc1..92d150f 100644
--- a/internal/sessions/manager.go
+++ b/internal/sessions/manager.go
@@ -1466,6 +1466,15 @@ func (m *Manager) connectIRC(sess *Session, getSecret func(prompt string) (strin
 		nickServPass = password
 	}
 
+	autoJoinRooms := append([]string{}, ircConf.AutoJoinRooms...)
+	if m.store != nil && profile.ID != "" {
+		lastRooms, err := m.store.GetIRCLastRooms(profile.ID)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("loading remembered IRC rooms: %w", err)
+		}
+		autoJoinRooms = mergeIRCRooms(autoJoinRooms, lastRooms)
+	}
+
 	cfg := ircclient.Config{
 		Server:             profile.Host,
 		Port:               profile.Port,
@@ -1474,7 +1483,7 @@ func (m *Manager) connectIRC(sess *Session, getSecret func(prompt string) (strin
 		RealName:           ircConf.RealName,
 		UseTLS:             ircConf.UseTLS,
 		ServerPass:         serverPass,
-		AutoJoinRooms:      append([]string{}, ircConf.AutoJoinRooms...),
+		AutoJoinRooms:      autoJoinRooms,
 		NickServIdentify:   ircConf.NickServIdentify,
 		NickServAccount:    ircConf.NickServAccount,
 		NickServPassword:   nickServPass,
@@ -1490,6 +1499,19 @@ func (m *Manager) connectIRC(sess *Session, getSecret func(prompt string) (strin
 		SSHAgentAuth:       ircConf.SSHAgentAuth,
 		SSHHostKeyCallback: m.hostKeyCallback(sess.Info.ID, models.HostKeyAsk),
 	}
+	if m.store != nil && profile.ID != "" {
+		profileID := profile.ID
+		cfg.OnRoomsChanged = func(rooms []string) {
+			if err := m.store.SaveIRCLastRooms(profileID, rooms); err != nil {
+				m.emitIRCEvent(sess.Info.ID, ircclient.Event{
+					Type:      "system",
+					Target:    ircclient.ServerTarget,
+					Text:      "Could not remember open IRC rooms: " + err.Error(),
+					Timestamp: time.Now().UnixMilli(),
+				})
+			}
+		}
+	}
 
 	if cfg.User == "" {
 		cfg.User = ircConf.Nick
@@ -1554,6 +1576,26 @@ func (m *Manager) connectIRC(sess *Session, getSecret func(prompt string) (strin
 	return nil
 }
 
+func mergeIRCRooms(groups ...[]string) []string {
+	var rooms []string
+	seen := make(map[string]struct{})
+	for _, group := range groups {
+		for _, room := range group {
+			room = strings.TrimSpace(room)
+			if room == "" {
+				continue
+			}
+			key := strings.ToLower(room)
+			if _, exists := seen[key]; exists {
+				continue
+			}
+			seen[key] = struct{}{}
+			rooms = append(rooms, room)
+		}
+	}
+	return rooms
+}
+
 func (m *Manager) emitIRCEvent(sessionID string, event ircclient.Event) {
 	m.emitEvent("session:irc:event", map[string]interface{}{
 		"sessionID": sessionID,
diff --git a/internal/sessions/manager_test.go b/internal/sessions/manager_test.go
index 3c236de..4b2af30 100644
--- a/internal/sessions/manager_test.go
+++ b/internal/sessions/manager_test.go
@@ -102,6 +102,16 @@ func TestCreateTabName(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestMergeIRCRoomsPreservesConfiguredAndRememberedOrder(t *testing.T) {
+	got := mergeIRCRooms(
+		[]string{" #configured ", "#Shared"},
+		[]string{"#shared", "#last-session", "", "#CONFIGURED"},
+	)
+	if joined := strings.Join(got, ","); joined != "#configured,#Shared,#last-session" {
+		t.Fatalf("mergeIRCRooms() = %q, want configured rooms followed by new remembered rooms", joined)
+	}
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // RenameSession on non-existent session
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/internal/storage/migrations/006_irc_channel_state.sql b/internal/storage/migrations/006_irc_channel_state.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..08c71f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/storage/migrations/006_irc_channel_state.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+-- Migration 006: Remember the channels open for each saved IRC profile.
+
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS irc_channel_state (
+    profile_id TEXT NOT NULL,
+    room_name TEXT NOT NULL,
+    position INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+    updated_at TEXT NOT NULL,
+    PRIMARY KEY (profile_id, room_name)
+);
+
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_irc_channel_state_profile_position
+    ON irc_channel_state (profile_id, position);
+
+INSERT INTO schema_version (version, applied_at)
+VALUES (6, datetime('now'));
diff --git a/internal/storage/storage_test.go b/internal/storage/storage_test.go
index 9d8016e..3a4afcf 100644
--- a/internal/storage/storage_test.go
+++ b/internal/storage/storage_test.go
@@ -33,6 +33,15 @@ func makeSSHProfile(name, host string) *models.Profile {
 	return &p
 }
 
+func makeIRCProfile(name, host string) *models.Profile {
+	p := models.NewProfile(models.ProtocolIRC)
+	p.DisplayName = name
+	p.Host = host
+	p.Username = "nexus"
+	p.IRC.Nick = "nexus"
+	return &p
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Profile CRUD
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -104,6 +113,54 @@ func TestDeleteProfileNotFound(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestIRCLastRoomsRoundTripReplaceAndDelete(t *testing.T) {
+	store := setupTestStore(t)
+	p := makeIRCProfile("IRC Network", "irc.example.com")
+	if err := store.CreateProfile(p); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("CreateProfile() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if err := store.SaveIRCLastRooms(p.ID, []string{" #Go-Nuts ", "#nexus", "#go-nuts", ""}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("SaveIRCLastRooms() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	rooms, err := store.GetIRCLastRooms(p.ID)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("GetIRCLastRooms() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if got, want := strings.Join(rooms, ","), "#Go-Nuts,#nexus"; got != want {
+		t.Fatalf("GetIRCLastRooms() = %q, want %q", got, want)
+	}
+
+	if err := store.SaveIRCLastRooms(p.ID, []string{"#new-room"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("SaveIRCLastRooms(replace) error = %v", err)
+	}
+	rooms, err = store.GetIRCLastRooms(p.ID)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("GetIRCLastRooms(replaced) error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if got, want := strings.Join(rooms, ","), "#new-room"; got != want {
+		t.Fatalf("GetIRCLastRooms(replaced) = %q, want %q", got, want)
+	}
+
+	if err := store.DeleteProfile(p.ID); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("DeleteProfile() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	rooms, err = store.GetIRCLastRooms(p.ID)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("GetIRCLastRooms(after delete) error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(rooms) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("GetIRCLastRooms(after delete) = %v, want empty", rooms)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSaveIRCLastRoomsRejectsEmptyProfileID(t *testing.T) {
+	store := setupTestStore(t)
+	if err := store.SaveIRCLastRooms(" ", []string{"#room"}); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("SaveIRCLastRooms() accepted an empty profile ID")
+	}
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // List and search
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/internal/storage/store.go b/internal/storage/store.go
index 52824d5..bb26fb3 100644
--- a/internal/storage/store.go
+++ b/internal/storage/store.go
@@ -215,7 +215,16 @@ func (s *Store) UpdateProfile(p *models.Profile) error {
 
 // DeleteProfile removes a profile by ID.
 func (s *Store) DeleteProfile(id string) error {
-	res, err := s.db.Exec("DELETE FROM profiles WHERE id = ?", id)
+	tx, err := s.db.Begin()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("storage: failed to begin profile deletion: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = tx.Rollback() }()
+
+	if _, err := tx.Exec("DELETE FROM irc_channel_state WHERE profile_id = ?", id); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("storage: failed to delete IRC channel state: %w", err)
+	}
+	res, err := tx.Exec("DELETE FROM profiles WHERE id = ?", id)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("storage: failed to delete profile: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -223,6 +232,9 @@ func (s *Store) DeleteProfile(id string) error {
 	if n == 0 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("storage: profile %q not found", id)
 	}
+	if err := tx.Commit(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("storage: failed to commit profile deletion: %w", err)
+	}
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -550,6 +562,80 @@ func (s *Store) ListAuditEntries(limit int) ([]*models.AuditEntry, error) {
 	return entries, rows.Err()
 }
 
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// IRC channel state
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+// GetIRCLastRooms returns the channels that were open the last time the given
+// saved IRC profile was connected.
+func (s *Store) GetIRCLastRooms(profileID string) ([]string, error) {
+	rows, err := s.db.Query(`SELECT room_name FROM irc_channel_state
+		WHERE profile_id = ? ORDER BY position, room_name`, profileID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("storage: failed to get IRC channel state: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+
+	rooms := make([]string, 0)
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var room string
+		if err := rows.Scan(&room); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("storage: failed to scan IRC channel state: %w", err)
+		}
+		rooms = append(rooms, room)
+	}
+	if err := rows.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("storage: failed to read IRC channel state: %w", err)
+	}
+	return rooms, nil
+}
+
+// SaveIRCLastRooms atomically replaces the remembered channel set for a saved
+// IRC profile. Empty names and case-insensitive duplicates are discarded.
+func (s *Store) SaveIRCLastRooms(profileID string, rooms []string) error {
+	profileID = strings.TrimSpace(profileID)
+	if profileID == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("storage: IRC channel state requires a profile ID")
+	}
+
+	normalized := make([]string, 0, len(rooms))
+	seen := make(map[string]struct{}, len(rooms))
+	for _, room := range rooms {
+		room = strings.TrimSpace(room)
+		if room == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+		key := strings.ToLower(room)
+		if _, exists := seen[key]; exists {
+			continue
+		}
+		seen[key] = struct{}{}
+		normalized = append(normalized, room)
+	}
+
+	tx, err := s.db.Begin()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("storage: failed to begin IRC channel state update: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = tx.Rollback() }()
+
+	if _, err := tx.Exec("DELETE FROM irc_channel_state WHERE profile_id = ?", profileID); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("storage: failed to clear IRC channel state: %w", err)
+	}
+	now := time.Now().Format(time.RFC3339)
+	for position, room := range normalized {
+		if _, err := tx.Exec(`INSERT INTO irc_channel_state
+			(profile_id, room_name, position, updated_at) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)`,
+			profileID, room, position, now); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("storage: failed to save IRC channel state: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+	if err := tx.Commit(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("storage: failed to commit IRC channel state: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Preferences (key-value)
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------