diff --git a/packages/client-python/src/rocketride/mixins/data.py b/packages/client-python/src/rocketride/mixins/data.py
index c96c10166..9b9f231c2 100644
--- a/packages/client-python/src/rocketride/mixins/data.py
+++ b/packages/client-python/src/rocketride/mixins/data.py
@@ -139,6 +139,20 @@ def pipe_id(self) -> Optional[int]:
             """Get the unique ID assigned to this pipe by the server."""
             return self._pipe_id
 
+        @staticmethod
+        def _is_transient_open_error(message: str) -> bool:
+            """Return True for short-lived connection errors while task ports are starting."""
+            if not message:
+                return False
+
+            lowered = message.lower()
+            transient_markers = [
+                'connect call failed',
+                '[errno 111]',
+                'connection refused',
+            ]
+            return any(marker in lowered for marker in transient_markers)
+
         async def open(self) -> 'DataMixin.DataPipe':
             """
             Open the pipe for data transmission.
@@ -171,10 +185,24 @@ async def open(self) -> 'DataMixin.DataPipe':
                 token=self._token,
             )
 
-            response = await self._client.request(request)
+            # Right after use(), the task's data port may need a brief warm-up.
+            # Retry connect-refused open errors for a short period.
+            max_attempts = 20
+            retry_delay_seconds = 0.25
+            response = None
 
-            if self._client.did_fail(response):
-                raise RuntimeError(response.get('message', 'Your pipeline is not currently running.'))
+            for attempt in range(max_attempts):
+                response = await self._client.request(request)
+
+                if not self._client.did_fail(response):
+                    break
+
+                message = response.get('message', '')
+                is_last_attempt = attempt == (max_attempts - 1)
+                if is_last_attempt or not self._is_transient_open_error(message):
+                    raise RuntimeError(response.get('message', 'Your pipeline is not currently running.'))
+
+                await asyncio.sleep(retry_delay_seconds)
 
             self._pipe_id = response.get('body', {}).get('pipe_id')
             self._opened = True
diff --git a/packages/client-python/tests/RocketRideClient_test.py b/packages/client-python/tests/RocketRideClient_test.py
index c70540f14..2737c9e19 100644
--- a/packages/client-python/tests/RocketRideClient_test.py
+++ b/packages/client-python/tests/RocketRideClient_test.py
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@
 import json
 import random
 import string
+import tempfile
 import time
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Dict, Any
@@ -348,6 +349,47 @@ async def test_should_send_text_data_no_mime_type(self):
             if client.is_connected():
                 await client.disconnect()
 
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_should_send_text_data_after_use_with_filepath(self):
+        """Regression for docs flow: use(filepath=...) followed by send(...)."""
+        client = RocketRideClient(auth=TEST_CONFIG['auth'], uri=TEST_CONFIG['uri'])
+        pipeline_token = None
+        token = f'{self.DATA_TOKEN}-filepath'
+        try:
+            await client.connect()
+            await ensure_clean_pipeline(client, token)
+
+            # Mirror docs-style usage where pipeline config is loaded from disk.
+            pipeline_config = get_echo_pipeline()
+            with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode='w', suffix='.json', encoding='utf-8', delete=False) as temp_file:
+                json.dump(pipeline_config, temp_file)
+                temp_path = temp_file.name
+
+            try:
+                result = await client.use(filepath=temp_path, token=token)
+                pipeline_token = result['token']
+
+                send_result = await client.send(pipeline_token, 'Hello, pipeline!', objinfo={'name': 'input.txt'}, mimetype='text/plain')
+
+                assert send_result is not None
+                assert isinstance(send_result, dict)
+                assert 'result_types' in send_result
+                assert isinstance(send_result['result_types'], dict)
+                assert send_result['result_types'].get('text') == 'text'
+                assert 'text' in send_result
+                assert isinstance(send_result['text'], list)
+                assert any('Hello, pipeline!' in chunk for chunk in send_result['text'])
+            finally:
+                if os.path.exists(temp_path):
+                    os.unlink(temp_path)
+        finally:
+            if pipeline_token:
+                await ensure_clean_pipeline(client, pipeline_token)
+            else:
+                await ensure_clean_pipeline(client, token)
+            if client.is_connected():
+                await client.disconnect()
+
     @pytest.mark.asyncio
     async def test_should_send_text_data_with_mime_type(self):
         client = RocketRideClient(auth=TEST_CONFIG['auth'], uri=TEST_CONFIG['uri'])