diff --git a/MQTT_IMPLEMENTATION.md b/MQTT_IMPLEMENTATION.md
index 69fd7b58..f5a5f01e 100644
--- a/MQTT_IMPLEMENTATION.md
+++ b/MQTT_IMPLEMENTATION.md
@@ -864,6 +864,8 @@ the radio actually performs in that case.
 - Ethernet-preferred builds wait the full configured boot probe window for an Ethernet IP;
   delayed or unavailable PHY carrier reporting does not shorten the DHCP deadline. The boot
   selection log includes the measured probe duration.
+- CH390 startup initializes Arduino's shared network event runtime without associating WiFi;
+  this keeps the framework's DNS and TLS hostname paths safe when Ethernet wins directly.
 - Ethernet/WiFi transitions are logged. A lost or changed route stops every started MQTT
   client, including one whose disconnect callback arrived first; once a usable route returns,
   route-caused backoff is cleared and one immediate reconnect is allowed
diff --git a/src/helpers/NetworkInterface.cpp b/src/helpers/NetworkInterface.cpp
index c22399a1..c8953aac 100644
--- a/src/helpers/NetworkInterface.cpp
+++ b/src/helpers/NetworkInterface.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@
 
 #if defined(NETWORK_PREFER_ETHERNET)
 #include "ethernet/ch390/CH390Config.h"
+
+// Arduino-ESP32's built-in ETH implementation calls this before bringing up
+// Ethernet. It creates the shared Arduino network event group/task used by
+// WiFiGenericClass::hostByName(), even when no Wi-Fi interface is started.
+// ESP32-CH390 initializes esp_netif directly and omits this Arduino layer.
+extern void tcpipInit();
 #endif
 
 namespace {
@@ -236,6 +242,10 @@ class EthernetNetworkInterface final : public NetworkInterfaceBase {
 
   bool begin(const char*, const char*) override {
     if (_started) return true;
+    // DNS and WiFiClientSecure are transport-neutral sockets in this Arduino
+    // core, but their hostname path still uses WiFiGeneric's event group.
+    // Initialize that shared runtime without enabling or associating Wi-Fi.
+    tcpipInit();
     if (!_event_registered) {
       WiFi.onEvent([this](WiFiEvent_t event, WiFiEventInfo_t) {
         switch (event) {