diff --git a/src/cli.ts b/src/cli.ts
index c682760..d37d35f 100644
--- a/src/cli.ts
+++ b/src/cli.ts
@@ -1319,8 +1319,6 @@ nwcCmd
       method: "POST",
       body: { connectionString },
     });
-
-    console.log("\nRun 'routstrd restart' to connect to the NWC wallet.");
   });
 
 nwcCmd
@@ -1330,7 +1328,6 @@ nwcCmd
     await handleDaemonCommand("/nwc/disconnect", {
       method: "POST",
     });
-    console.log("\nRun 'routstrd restart' to apply.");
   });
 
 nwcCmd
diff --git a/src/daemon/http/index.ts b/src/daemon/http/index.ts
index 23efeb2..ff1b2d0 100644
--- a/src/daemon/http/index.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/http/index.ts
@@ -468,10 +468,12 @@ export function createDaemonRequestHandler(deps: {
         };
         saveDaemonConfig(config);
 
+        // Hot-reload: reconnect the wallet adapter with the new connection string
+        await deps.walletAdapter.reconnect(connectionString);
+
         return {
           output: {
-            message:
-              "NWC connection string saved. Restart the daemon to connect.",
+            message: "NWC connection string saved and connected.",
           },
         };
       });
@@ -488,8 +490,12 @@ export function createDaemonRequestHandler(deps: {
           }
         }
         saveDaemonConfig(config);
+
+        // Hot-reload: disconnect the wallet adapter
+        await deps.walletAdapter.reconnect();
+
         return {
-          output: { message: "NWC disconnected. Restart the daemon to apply." },
+          output: { message: "NWC disconnected." },
         };
       });
       return;
diff --git a/src/daemon/wallet/auto-refill.ts b/src/daemon/wallet/auto-refill.ts
index 8ada839..8305942 100644
--- a/src/daemon/wallet/auto-refill.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/wallet/auto-refill.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ function isFatalError(message: string): boolean {
 
 export function startAutoRefillLoop(
   cocod: CocodClient,
-  wallet: WalletConnect,
+  getWallet: () => WalletConnect | undefined,
   getConfig: () => AutoRefillConfig | undefined,
   intervalMs: number = 5000,
 ): () => void {
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ export function startAutoRefillLoop(
   async function checkAndRefill(): Promise<void> {
     if (!running) return;
     if (checkInProgress) return;
-    if (!wallet.service) {
+    const wallet = getWallet();
+    if (!wallet?.service) {
       // NWC not connected — nothing to do
       return;
     }
@@ -108,7 +109,12 @@ export function startAutoRefillLoop(
 
       // Step 2: Pay the invoice via NWC (applesauce)
       logger.log(`[auto-refill] Paying invoice via NWC...`);
-      const { preimage, fees_paid } = await wallet.payInvoice(invoice);
+      const currentWallet = getWallet();
+      if (!currentWallet?.service) {
+        logger.log("[auto-refill] Wallet disconnected during refill check");
+        return;
+      }
+      const { preimage, fees_paid } = await currentWallet.payInvoice(invoice);
 
       // Step 3: The Cashu mint should automatically detect the paid invoice
       // and issue tokens. We don't need to explicitly mint here; cocod
diff --git a/src/daemon/wallet/index.ts b/src/daemon/wallet/index.ts
index 129e6a2..a7a9711 100644
--- a/src/daemon/wallet/index.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/wallet/index.ts
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@ export async function createWalletAdapter(
   let wallet: WalletConnect | undefined;
   let pool: RelayPool | undefined;
 
+  // Getter for the current wallet instance (used by auto-refill loop)
+  const getWallet = (): WalletConnect | undefined => wallet;
+
   if (options.nwcConnectionString) {
     pool = new RelayPool();
     wallet = WalletConnect.fromConnectURI(options.nwcConnectionString, { pool });
@@ -84,6 +87,42 @@ export async function createWalletAdapter(
   }
 
   const walletAdapter = {
+    async reconnect(connectionString?: string): Promise<void> {
+      logger.log(
+        `[nwc] Reconnecting NWC wallet... ${connectionString ? "new connection string provided" : "disconnecting"}`,
+      );
+
+      // 1. Close existing relay pool connections
+      if (pool) {
+        for (const [url] of pool.relays) {
+          pool.remove(url, true);
+        }
+      }
+
+      // 2. Update wallet reference
+      wallet = undefined;
+      pool = undefined;
+
+      // 3. Create new wallet if connection string provided
+      if (connectionString) {
+        pool = new RelayPool();
+        wallet = WalletConnect.fromConnectURI(connectionString, { pool });
+
+        // Connect in background (non-blocking)
+        wallet.waitForService()
+          .then(() => {
+            logger.log(
+              `[nwc] NWC wallet reconnected. Relay: ${wallet!.relays[0]}, Service: ${wallet!.service}`,
+            );
+          })
+          .catch((err) => {
+            logger.error(`[nwc] NWC reconnection failed: ${err.message}`);
+          });
+      } else {
+        logger.log("[nwc] NWC wallet disconnected.");
+      }
+    },
+
     async getBalances(): Promise<Record<string, number>> {
       return syncMintState();
     },
@@ -278,14 +317,14 @@ export async function createWalletAdapter(
 
   if (autoRefillConfig && wallet) {
     const getConfig = options.getAutoRefillConfig ?? (() => options.autoRefill);
-    stopAutoRefill = startAutoRefillLoop(client, wallet, getConfig);
+    stopAutoRefill = startAutoRefillLoop(client, getWallet, getConfig);
     logger.log(
       `[wallet] Auto-refill enabled: threshold=${autoRefillConfig.threshold} sats, amount=${autoRefillConfig.amount} sats, cooldown=${autoRefillConfig.cooldownMs}ms`,
     );
   } else if (wallet && options.getAutoRefillConfig) {
     // Wallet exists but auto-refill is not currently enabled.
     // Start the loop anyway so it can pick up changes without a restart.
-    stopAutoRefill = startAutoRefillLoop(client, wallet, options.getAutoRefillConfig);
+    stopAutoRefill = startAutoRefillLoop(client, getWallet, options.getAutoRefillConfig);
     logger.log("[wallet] Auto-refill loop started (currently disabled — enable via CLI to activate)");
   }