diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0884b617..da2f032d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ Status of the `main` branch. Changes prior to the next official version change w
     and `workspace/configuration` pulls. Enables Yarn PnP setups with `typescript.tsdk` pointing
     at the Yarn-generated SDK.
 
+* Dashboard: 
+  - Fix: Host validation required a local host regardless of the listen address (regression introduced in v1.5.2),
+    preventing remote connections
+
 # v1.5.3 (2026-05-26)
 
 # v1.5.2 (2026-05-26)
@@ -17,6 +21,9 @@ Status of the `main` branch. Changes prior to the next official version change w
   - Add `serena-agent` CLI command so that `uvx serena-agent` can be used as entrypoint.
   - Fortls and pyright are now installed on the fly instead of being bundled in the serena-agent package.
 
+* Dashboard:
+  - Add host validation
+
 * Hooks:
   - Extend list of extensions that are considered code files (affects the reminder hook counter).
 
diff --git a/src/serena/agent.py b/src/serena/agent.py
index c8e0d1e5..ce4c1191 100644
--- a/src/serena/agent.py
+++ b/src/serena/agent.py
@@ -664,8 +664,12 @@ class SerenaAgent:
         # may access various parts of the agent
         if self.serena_config.web_dashboard:
             self._dashboard_thread, port = SerenaDashboardAPI(
-                get_memory_log_handler(), tool_names, agent=self, tool_usage_stats=self._tool_usage_stats
-            ).run_in_thread(host=self.serena_config.web_dashboard_listen_address)
+                get_memory_log_handler(),
+                tool_names,
+                agent=self,
+                tool_usage_stats=self._tool_usage_stats,
+                host=self.serena_config.web_dashboard_listen_address,
+            ).run_in_thread()
             self._dashboard_manager = DashboardManager(
                 port,
                 self.serena_config.web_dashboard_listen_address,
diff --git a/src/serena/dashboard.py b/src/serena/dashboard.py
index 914b28e5..f7c5c3cc 100644
--- a/src/serena/dashboard.py
+++ b/src/serena/dashboard.py
@@ -197,14 +197,16 @@ class SerenaDashboardAPI:
         tool_names: list[str],
         agent: "SerenaAgent",
         tool_usage_stats: ToolUsageStats | None = None,
+        host: str = "127.0.0.1",
     ) -> None:
         self._memory_log_handler = memory_log_handler
         self._tool_names = tool_names
         self._agent = agent
+        self._host = host
         self._app = Flask(__name__)
-
-        self._app.config["TRUSTED_HOSTS"] = ["127.0.0.1", "localhost"]
-
+        local_hosts = ["127.0.0.1", "localhost"]
+        if self._host in local_hosts:
+            self._app.config["TRUSTED_HOSTS"] = local_hosts
         self._tool_usage_stats = tool_usage_stats
         self._loaded_news: dict[str, str] = {}
         self._news_ready = threading.Event()
@@ -770,7 +772,7 @@ class SerenaDashboardAPI:
 
         raise RuntimeError(f"No free ports found starting from {start_port}")
 
-    def run(self, host: str, port: int) -> int:
+    def run(self, port: int) -> int:
         """
         Runs the dashboard on the given host and port and returns the port number.
         """
@@ -778,13 +780,13 @@ class SerenaDashboardAPI:
         from flask import cli
 
         cli.show_server_banner = lambda *args, **kwargs: None
-        self._app.run(host=host, port=port, debug=False, use_reloader=False, threaded=True)
+        self._app.run(host=self._host, port=port, debug=False, use_reloader=False, threaded=True)
         return port
 
-    def run_in_thread(self, host: str) -> tuple[threading.Thread, int]:
-        port = self._find_first_free_port(self.BASE_PORT, host)
-        log.info("Starting dashboard (listen_address=%s, port=%d)", host, port)
-        thread = threading.Thread(target=lambda: self.run(host=host, port=port), daemon=True)
+    def run_in_thread(self) -> tuple[threading.Thread, int]:
+        port = self._find_first_free_port(self.BASE_PORT, self._host)
+        log.info("Starting dashboard (listen_address=%s, port=%d)", self._host, port)
+        thread = threading.Thread(target=lambda: self.run(port=port), daemon=True)
         thread.start()
         return thread, port