diff --git a/src/utils/apiPreconnect.ts b/src/utils/apiPreconnect.ts
index 6a8de649b..253926f19 100644
--- a/src/utils/apiPreconnect.ts
+++ b/src/utils/apiPreconnect.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 
 import { getOauthConfig } from '../constants/oauth.js'
 import { isEnvTruthy } from './envUtils.js'
+import { isEssentialTrafficOnly } from './privacyLevel.js'
 
 let fired = false
 
@@ -32,6 +33,10 @@ export function preconnectAnthropicApi(): void {
   if (fired) return
   fired = true
 
+  // Also skip when non-essential traffic is disabled via
+  // CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_NONESSENTIAL_TRAFFIC / DISABLE_TELEMETRY / proxy env.
+  if (isEssentialTrafficOnly()) return
+
   // Skip if using a cloud provider — different endpoint + auth
   if (
     isEnvTruthy(process.env.CLAUDE_CODE_USE_BEDROCK) ||