diff --git a/frontend/src/components/notifications/NotificationToaster.tsx b/frontend/src/components/notifications/NotificationToaster.tsx
index 11597f0..9ac1f36 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/notifications/NotificationToaster.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/notifications/NotificationToaster.tsx
@@ -17,17 +17,17 @@ export default function NotificationToaster() {
     async (requestId: number, action: 'accept' | 'reject', toastId: string | number) => {
       try {
         await api.put(`/connections/requests/${requestId}/respond`, { action });
-        toast.dismiss(toastId);
-        toast.success(action === 'accept' ? 'Connection accepted' : 'Request declined');
-        await Promise.all([
-          queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['connections'] }),
-          queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['people'] }),
-          queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['notifications'] }),
-        ]);
       } catch (err) {
         toast.dismiss(toastId);
         toast.error(getErrorMessage(err, 'Failed to respond to request'));
+        return;
       }
+      toast.dismiss(toastId);
+      toast.success(action === 'accept' ? 'Connection accepted' : 'Request declined');
+      // Fire-and-forget — invalidation errors should not surface as "Failed to respond"
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['connections'] });
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['people'] });
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['notifications'] });
     },
     [queryClient],
   );