diff --git a/src/channels/whatsapp.test.ts b/src/channels/whatsapp.test.ts
index de5cb90..5baa9fc 100644
--- a/src/channels/whatsapp.test.ts
+++ b/src/channels/whatsapp.test.ts
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ vi.mock('@whiskeysockets/baileys', () => {
       timedOut: 408,
       restartRequired: 515,
     },
+    fetchLatestWaWebVersion: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ version: [2, 3000, 0] }),
     makeCacheableSignalKeyStore: vi.fn((keys: unknown) => keys),
     useMultiFileAuthState: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
       state: {
@@ -159,6 +160,31 @@ describe('WhatsAppChannel', () => {
     return p;
   }
 
+  // --- Version fetch ---
+
+  describe('version fetch', () => {
+    it('connects with fetched version', async () => {
+      const opts = createTestOpts();
+      const channel = new WhatsAppChannel(opts);
+      await connectChannel(channel);
+
+      const { fetchLatestWaWebVersion } = await import('@whiskeysockets/baileys');
+      expect(fetchLatestWaWebVersion).toHaveBeenCalledWith({});
+    });
+
+    it('falls back gracefully when version fetch fails', async () => {
+      const { fetchLatestWaWebVersion } = await import('@whiskeysockets/baileys');
+      vi.mocked(fetchLatestWaWebVersion).mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('network error'));
+
+      const opts = createTestOpts();
+      const channel = new WhatsAppChannel(opts);
+      await connectChannel(channel);
+
+      // Should still connect successfully despite fetch failure
+      expect(channel.isConnected()).toBe(true);
+    });
+  });
+
   // --- Connection lifecycle ---
 
   describe('connection lifecycle', () => {
diff --git a/src/channels/whatsapp.ts b/src/channels/whatsapp.ts
index a62cf7a..6c912f3 100644
--- a/src/channels/whatsapp.ts
+++ b/src/channels/whatsapp.ts
@@ -56,7 +56,10 @@ export class WhatsAppChannel implements Channel {
 
     const { state, saveCreds } = await useMultiFileAuthState(authDir);
 
-    const { version } = await fetchLatestWaWebVersion({});
+    const { version } = await fetchLatestWaWebVersion({}).catch((err) => {
+      logger.warn({ err }, 'Failed to fetch latest WA Web version, using default');
+      return { version: undefined };
+    });
     this.sock = makeWASocket({
       version,
       auth: {
diff --git a/src/whatsapp-auth.ts b/src/whatsapp-auth.ts
index 264b22b..b826f18 100644
--- a/src/whatsapp-auth.ts
+++ b/src/whatsapp-auth.ts
@@ -54,7 +54,10 @@ async function connectSocket(phoneNumber?: string, isReconnect = false): Promise
     process.exit(0);
   }
 
-  const { version } = await fetchLatestWaWebVersion({});
+  const { version } = await fetchLatestWaWebVersion({}).catch((err) => {
+    logger.warn({ err }, 'Failed to fetch latest WA Web version, using default');
+    return { version: undefined };
+  });
   const sock = makeWASocket({
     version,
     auth: {