diff --git a/backend/app/dependencies.py b/backend/app/dependencies.py
index 7d69898..d037258 100644
--- a/backend/app/dependencies.py
+++ b/backend/app/dependencies.py
@@ -28,13 +28,13 @@ from app.repositories.protocols import (
     GeoCacheRepository,
     HistoryArchiveRepository,
     ImportLogRepository,
-    SettingsRepository,
     SessionRepository,
+    SettingsRepository,
 )
 from app.services.geo_cache import GeoCache
 from app.utils.constants import SESSION_COOKIE_NAME
 from app.utils.runtime_state import RuntimeState
-from app.utils.session_cache import InMemorySessionCache, NoOpSessionCache, SessionCache
+from app.utils.session_cache import NoOpSessionCache, SessionCache
 
 log: structlog.stdlib.BoundLogger = structlog.get_logger()
 
@@ -91,13 +91,6 @@ def _build_app_context(request: Request) -> ApplicationContext:
     session_cache = getattr(state, "session_cache", None)
     if session_cache is None:
         session_cache = NoOpSessionCache()
-        state.session_cache = session_cache
-    elif _session_cache_enabled(state.settings) and isinstance(session_cache, NoOpSessionCache):
-        session_cache = InMemorySessionCache()
-        state.session_cache = session_cache
-    elif not _session_cache_enabled(state.settings) and not isinstance(session_cache, NoOpSessionCache):
-        session_cache = NoOpSessionCache()
-        state.session_cache = session_cache
 
     return ApplicationContext(
         settings=state.settings,
diff --git a/backend/app/main.py b/backend/app/main.py
index ae51e19..a50a9f6 100644
--- a/backend/app/main.py
+++ b/backend/app/main.py
@@ -117,6 +117,23 @@ def _configure_logging(log_level: str) -> None:
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
+def _update_session_cache(app: FastAPI, settings: Settings) -> None:
+    """Update the session cache backend based on settings.
+
+    Replaces the current cache with InMemorySessionCache or NoOpSessionCache
+    depending on whether session caching is enabled and configured with a
+    positive TTL.
+
+    Args:
+        app: The :class:`fastapi.FastAPI` instance.
+        settings: The effective application settings.
+    """
+    cache_enabled = settings.session_cache_enabled and settings.session_cache_ttl_seconds > 0.0
+    app.state.session_cache = (
+        InMemorySessionCache() if cache_enabled else NoOpSessionCache()
+    )
+
+
 @asynccontextmanager
 async def _lifespan(app: FastAPI) -> AsyncGenerator[None, None]:
     """Manage the lifetime of all shared application resources.
@@ -137,6 +154,11 @@ async def _lifespan(app: FastAPI) -> AsyncGenerator[None, None]:
     app.state.http_session = http_session
     app.state.scheduler = scheduler
 
+    # Ensure session cache is initialized based on effective settings.
+    # This cache is process-local and not cluster-safe. In multi-worker
+    # deployments, it should be replaced with a shared backend.
+    _update_session_cache(app, settings)
+
     log.info("bangui_started")
 
     try:
diff --git a/backend/app/utils/runtime_state.py b/backend/app/utils/runtime_state.py
index 2f10865..95c60ff 100644
--- a/backend/app/utils/runtime_state.py
+++ b/backend/app/utils/runtime_state.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ from starlette.datastructures import State
 
 from app.models.config import PendingRecovery
 from app.models.server import ServerStatus
+from app.utils.session_cache import InMemorySessionCache, NoOpSessionCache
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:  # pragma: no cover
     from app.config import Settings
@@ -118,10 +119,25 @@ def get_effective_settings(app: Any) -> Settings:
 
 
 def set_runtime_settings(app: Any, settings: Settings) -> None:
-    """Store the resolved runtime settings separately from bootstrap config."""
+    """Store the resolved runtime settings separately from bootstrap config.
+
+    Also updates the session cache backend if the session cache configuration
+    has changed, replacing it with InMemorySessionCache or NoOpSessionCache
+    as appropriate.
+
+    Args:
+        app: The FastAPI application instance.
+        settings: The new effective settings.
+    """
     runtime_state = get_runtime_state(app)
     runtime_state.runtime_settings = settings
 
+    # Update session cache if settings changed
+    cache_enabled = settings.session_cache_enabled and settings.session_cache_ttl_seconds > 0.0
+    new_cache = InMemorySessionCache() if cache_enabled else NoOpSessionCache()
+    app.state.session_cache = new_cache
+    log.debug("session_cache_updated", cache_type=type(new_cache).__name__)
+
 
 def update_app_settings(app: Any, **overrides: Any) -> None:
     """Update the current effective settings immutably."""