diff --git a/src/cmdforge/gui/pages/tools_page.py b/src/cmdforge/gui/pages/tools_page.py
index 7154d79..dc75206 100644
--- a/src/cmdforge/gui/pages/tools_page.py
+++ b/src/cmdforge/gui/pages/tools_page.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ class StatusSyncWorker(QThread):
     """Background worker to sync tool statuses from registry using hash-based batch lookup."""
     finished = Signal()
     tool_updated = Signal(str)  # Emits tool name when status changes
+    slug_fetched = Signal(str)  # Emits current user's slug
 
     def __init__(self, tool_names: list):
         super().__init__()
@@ -44,6 +45,15 @@ class StatusSyncWorker(QThread):
             client = RegistryClient()
             client.token = config.registry.token
 
+            # Fetch current user slug (needed for rating ownership checks)
+            try:
+                me = client.get_me()
+                slug = me.get("slug")
+                if slug:
+                    self.slug_fetched.emit(slug)
+            except Exception:
+                pass
+
             # Collect all tools that have a registry_hash
             # Multiple tools can share the same hash (copies/forks)
             tools_dir = get_tools_dir()
@@ -600,6 +610,7 @@ class ToolsPage(QWidget):
         # Start new sync
         self._sync_worker = StatusSyncWorker(published_tools)
         self._sync_worker.tool_updated.connect(self._on_tool_status_updated)
+        self._sync_worker.slug_fetched.connect(self._on_slug_fetched)
         self._sync_worker.finished.connect(self._on_sync_finished)
         self._syncing = True
         self._sync_worker.start()
@@ -819,10 +830,6 @@ class ToolsPage(QWidget):
 
         self.info_text.setHtml("\n".join(lines))
 
-        # Ensure slug is available for own published tools (fallback owner).
-        if not self._my_slug_fetched:
-            self._fetch_my_slug()
-
         # Update rating bar below the detail text
         self._update_rating_bar(qname)
 
@@ -1004,31 +1011,15 @@ class ToolsPage(QWidget):
         else:
             self.btn_rate.setText("Rate Tool")
 
-    def _fetch_my_slug(self):
-        """Fetch and cache the current user's slug."""
-        if self._my_slug_fetched:
-            return
+    def _on_slug_fetched(self, slug: str):
+        """Handle slug fetched from background sync."""
+        self._my_slug = slug
         self._my_slug_fetched = True
-
-        config = load_config()
-        if not config.registry.token:
-            return
-
-        try:
-            from ...registry_client import RegistryClient, RegistryError
-            client = RegistryClient()
-            client.token = config.registry.token
-            me = client.get_me()
-            self._my_slug = me.get("slug")
-        except Exception:
-            pass
+        # Re-evaluate the rate button now that we know the owner
+        self._update_rate_button()
 
     def _fetch_rating_if_needed(self, tool_name: str):
         """Fetch rating data for a registry tool if not cached."""
-        # Ensure we have the user slug (non-blocking first time; runs in main thread once)
-        if not self._my_slug_fetched:
-            self._fetch_my_slug()
-
         registry_info = get_tool_registry_info(tool_name, self._my_slug)
         if not registry_info:
             return