diff --git a/crates/gl/src/http.rs b/crates/gl/src/http.rs
index dc9f45d..712af13 100644
--- a/crates/gl/src/http.rs
+++ b/crates/gl/src/http.rs
@@ -77,6 +77,18 @@ impl NodeClient {
         self.send_signed("POST", path, body).await
     }
 
+    /// POST with JSON body + RFC 9421 signing and an optional user-provided
+    /// iCaptcha proof, sent on the initial request.
+    pub async fn post_with_proof(
+        &self,
+        path: &str,
+        body: &[u8],
+        initial_proof: Option<&str>,
+    ) -> Result<reqwest::Response> {
+        self.send_signed_with_proof("POST", path, body, initial_proof)
+            .await
+    }
+
     /// PUT with RFC 9421 signing + transparent iCaptcha solve/retry.
     pub async fn put(&self, path: &str, body: &[u8]) -> Result<reqwest::Response> {
         self.send_signed("PUT", path, body).await
@@ -91,16 +103,32 @@ impl NodeClient {
     /// `x-icaptcha-*` headers) solve it and retry the same signed request with
     /// the proof header, up to [`MAX_ICAPTCHA_RETRIES`]. Emits an actionable
     /// hint on a 401 "not an agent" (the old-CLI / unregistered failure mode).
+    /// Existing call path: no user-supplied proof on the first request.
     async fn send_signed(
         &self,
         method: &str,
         path: &str,
         body: &[u8],
     ) -> Result<reqwest::Response> {
-        let mut proof: Option<String> = None;
+        self.send_signed_with_proof(method, path, body, None).await
+    }
+
+    /// Sign + send a write. `initial_proof`, if provided, is attached to the
+    /// first request. On a 403 iCaptcha challenge advertised via
+    /// `x-icaptcha-*` headers, solve and retry up to MAX_ICAPTCHA_RETRIES.
+    async fn send_signed_with_proof(
+        &self,
+        method: &str,
+        path: &str,
+        body: &[u8],
+        initial_proof: Option<&str>,
+    ) -> Result<reqwest::Response> {
+        let mut proof = initial_proof.map(str::to_owned);
         let mut attempts = 0;
+
         loop {
             let resp = self.send_once(method, path, body, proof.as_deref()).await?;
+
             let status = resp.status();
 
             if status == reqwest::StatusCode::UNAUTHORIZED
@@ -124,6 +152,7 @@ impl NodeClient {
                     continue;
                 }
             }
+
             return Ok(resp);
         }
     }
diff --git a/crates/gl/src/register.rs b/crates/gl/src/register.rs
index 8a17a77..2b16635 100644
--- a/crates/gl/src/register.rs
+++ b/crates/gl/src/register.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ pub struct RegisterArgs {
     #[arg(long, default_value = "https://node.gitlawb.com", env = "GITLAWB_NODE")]
     pub node: String,
 
+    #[arg(long, env = "GITLAWB_ICAPTCHA_PROOF")]
+    pub icaptcha_proof: Option<String>,
+
     /// Capabilities to advertise (comma-separated)
     #[arg(
         long,
@@ -51,7 +54,7 @@ pub async fn run(args: RegisterArgs) -> Result<()> {
     }))?;
 
     let resp = client
-        .post("/api/register", &body)
+        .post_with_proof("/api/register", &body, args.icaptcha_proof.as_deref())
         .await
         .context("failed to connect to node")?;
 
@@ -147,6 +150,7 @@ mod tests {
             capabilities: vec!["git:push".to_string(), "git:fetch".to_string()],
             model: None,
             dir: Some(dir.path().to_path_buf()),
+            icaptcha_proof: None,
         })
         .await
         .unwrap();
@@ -179,6 +183,7 @@ mod tests {
             capabilities: vec!["git:push".to_string()],
             model: None,
             dir: Some(dir.path().to_path_buf()),
+            icaptcha_proof: None,
         })
         .await;
 
@@ -198,6 +203,7 @@ mod tests {
             capabilities: vec![],
             model: None,
             dir: Some(dir.path().to_path_buf()),
+            icaptcha_proof: None,
         })
         .await;