diff --git a/client/ayon_usd/addon.py b/client/ayon_usd/addon.py
index 685503f..265636d 100644
--- a/client/ayon_usd/addon.py
+++ b/client/ayon_usd/addon.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 import json
 import os
-from datetime import datetime, timezone
 
 from ayon_core import style
 from ayon_core.addon import AYONAddon, IPluginPaths, ITrayAddon
@@ -70,15 +69,7 @@ def _download_global_lakefs_binaries(self):
             self.log.info("USD Binary distribution is disabled.")
             return
 
-        os.makedirs(DOWNLOAD_DIR, exist_ok=True)
-
-        if not os.path.exists(ADDON_DATA_JSON_PATH):
-            now = datetime.now().astimezone(timezone.utc)
-            with open(ADDON_DATA_JSON_PATH, "w+") as json_file:
-                init_data = {
-                    "ayon_usd_addon_first_init_utc": str(now)
-                }
-                json.dump(init_data, json_file)
+        utils.create_addon_data_json_file()
 
         if not utils.is_usd_lib_download_needed(settings):
             self.log.info("USD Libs already available. Skipping download.")
@@ -146,4 +137,4 @@ def _download_global_lakefs_binaries(self):
         )
         download_ui.setStyleSheet(style.load_stylesheet())
         download_ui.start()
-        self._download_window = download_ui
\ No newline at end of file
+        self._download_window = download_ui
diff --git a/client/ayon_usd/hooks/pre_resolver_init.py b/client/ayon_usd/hooks/pre_resolver_init.py
index 2b0171e..5d0a1bf 100644
--- a/client/ayon_usd/hooks/pre_resolver_init.py
+++ b/client/ayon_usd/hooks/pre_resolver_init.py
@@ -51,9 +51,12 @@ def execute(self):
             )
             return
 
-        # Check for existing local resolver that matches the lakefs timestamp
-        with open(ADDON_DATA_JSON_PATH, "r") as data_json:
-            addon_data_json = json.load(data_json)
+        # Bootstrap addon metadata for launches that happen without tray init.
+        addon_data_json = utils.get_addon_data_json()
+        
+        if not addon_data_json:
+            utils.create_addon_data_json_file()
+            addon_data_json = utils.get_addon_data_json()
 
         key = str(self.app_name).replace("/", "_")
         local_resolver_key = f"resolver_data_{key}"
diff --git a/client/ayon_usd/utils.py b/client/ayon_usd/utils.py
index c629a8e..2b2e2c7 100644
--- a/client/ayon_usd/utils.py
+++ b/client/ayon_usd/utils.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 import platform
 import pathlib
 import sys
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
 
 from ayon_usd.ayon_bin_client.ayon_bin_distro.work_handler import worker
 from ayon_usd.ayon_bin_client.ayon_bin_distro.util import zip
@@ -15,6 +16,31 @@
 ADDON_DATA_JSON_PATH = os.path.join(DOWNLOAD_DIR, "ayon_usd_addon_info.json")
 
 
+def get_addon_data_json() -> dict:
+    """Get addon data JSON content as dict."""
+    if os.path.exists(ADDON_DATA_JSON_PATH):
+        with open(ADDON_DATA_JSON_PATH, "r") as json_file:
+            return json.load(json_file)
+    return {}
+
+
+def create_addon_data_json_file():
+    """Create addon data JSON file if it doesn't exist."""
+    if os.path.exists(ADDON_DATA_JSON_PATH):
+        return
+
+    os.makedirs(DOWNLOAD_DIR, exist_ok=True)
+
+    init_data = {
+        "ayon_usd_addon_first_init_utc": str(
+            datetime.now().astimezone(timezone.utc)
+        )
+    }
+
+    with open(ADDON_DATA_JSON_PATH, "w") as json_file:
+        json.dump(init_data, json_file)
+
+
 def get_download_dir(create_if_missing=True):
     """Dir path where files are downloaded.
 
@@ -56,8 +82,7 @@ def is_usd_lib_download_needed(settings: dict) -> bool:
     if not os.path.exists(usd_lib_dir):
         return True
 
-    with open(ADDON_DATA_JSON_PATH, "r") as data_json:
-        addon_data_json = json.load(data_json)
+    addon_data_json = get_addon_data_json()
     try:
         usd_lib_lake_fs_time_stamp_local = addon_data_json[
             "usd_lib_lake_fs_time_cest"