diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-pre-handler-buffer.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-pre-handler-buffer.test.ts
index 461a41e7faa..6219fc0105c 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-pre-handler-buffer.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-pre-handler-buffer.test.ts
@@ -276,6 +276,20 @@ describe('pre-handler PTY buffer', () => {
     expect(hasPreHandlerPtyExit(RECYCLED_PTY_ID)).toBe(true)
   })
 
+  // A malformed incarnation is evidence of nothing. Treating it as a value that disagrees with
+  // everything would discard the very exits the buffer exists to deliver.
+  it('treats a malformed incarnation as unknown rather than as a disagreement', () => {
+    bufferPreHandlerPtyExit(RECYCLED_PTY_ID, 4, { not: 'a string' })
+    discardPreHandlerPtyExitFromForeignIncarnation(RECYCLED_PTY_ID, FRESH_INCARNATION_ID)
+    expect(hasPreHandlerPtyExit(RECYCLED_PTY_ID)).toBe(true)
+    drainPreHandlerPtyExit(RECYCLED_PTY_ID, vi.fn())
+
+    clearConsumedPreHandlerPtyExit(RECYCLED_PTY_ID)
+    bufferPreHandlerPtyExit(RECYCLED_PTY_ID, 5, PRIOR_INCARNATION_ID)
+    discardPreHandlerPtyExitFromForeignIncarnation(RECYCLED_PTY_ID, 42)
+    expect(hasPreHandlerPtyExit(RECYCLED_PTY_ID)).toBe(true)
+  })
+
   it('re-admits exits for a recycled id whose prior incarnation was consumed', () => {
     consumePreHandlerPtyState(RECYCLED_PTY_ID)
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-pre-handler-buffer.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-pre-handler-buffer.ts
index ee0830c518d..dcf5f0af5dd 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-pre-handler-buffer.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-pre-handler-buffer.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { isPtyIncarnationId } from '../../../../shared/pty-incarnation'
 import { clampUtf8Tail } from './pty-eager-buffer-clamp'
 import type { PtyDataMeta } from './pty-dispatcher'
 
@@ -81,9 +82,11 @@ function reserveBoundedPtySlot<V>(map: Map<string, V>, ptyId: string, cap: numbe
  *  existing id, and re-owning incarnation X is still proof that W's exit was not theirs. */
 export function discardPreHandlerPtyExitFromForeignIncarnation(
   ptyId: string,
-  incarnationId: string | undefined
+  incarnationId: unknown
 ): void {
-  if (!incarnationId) {
+  // Why the shared guard and not a truthiness check: anything that is not a well-formed incarnation
+  // is evidence of nothing, and must read as "unknown" rather than disagree with everything.
+  if (!isPtyIncarnationId(incarnationId)) {
     return
   }
   const exit = preHandlerPtyExit.get(ptyId)
@@ -164,7 +167,11 @@ export function replayPreHandlerPtyData(ptyId: string, observer: (data: string)
   }
 }
 
-export function bufferPreHandlerPtyExit(ptyId: string, code: number, incarnationId?: string): void {
+export function bufferPreHandlerPtyExit(
+  ptyId: string,
+  code: number,
+  incarnationId?: unknown
+): void {
   if (consumedPreHandlerPtyExits.has(ptyId) || discardedPreHandlerPtyStates.has(ptyId)) {
     return
   }
@@ -172,7 +179,8 @@ export function bufferPreHandlerPtyExit(ptyId: string, code: number, incarnation
   preHandlerPtyExit.set(ptyId, {
     code,
     sequence: nextPreHandlerPtySequence(),
-    ...(incarnationId ? { incarnationId } : {})
+    // Record only a well-formed incarnation; a malformed one must not become evidence.
+    ...(isPtyIncarnationId(incarnationId) ? { incarnationId } : {})
   })
 }