diff --git a/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-errors.ts b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-errors.ts
index fb1244c7b4b..639d47e6537 100644
--- a/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-errors.ts
+++ b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-errors.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
-export const SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED_ERROR = 'SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED'
-export const SSH_PTY_IDENTITY_MISMATCH_ERROR = 'SSH_PTY_IDENTITY_MISMATCH'
+import { SSH_PTY_IDENTITY_MISMATCH_ERROR } from '../../shared/ssh-pty-failure-tokens'
+
+export {
+  SSH_PTY_IDENTITY_MISMATCH_ERROR,
+  SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED_ERROR,
+  SSH_SOURCE_RESTORE_REQUIRED_ERROR
+} from '../../shared/ssh-pty-failure-tokens'
 
 export function isSshPtyNotFoundError(error: unknown): boolean {
   const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)
diff --git a/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-provider-reattach-incarnation.test.ts b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-provider-reattach-incarnation.test.ts
index 74989dc34e5..d1bad9913a4 100644
--- a/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-provider-reattach-incarnation.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-provider-reattach-incarnation.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
-import { SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED_ERROR } from './ssh-pty-errors'
+import { SSH_SOURCE_RESTORE_REQUIRED_ERROR } from './ssh-pty-errors'
 import { SshPtyProvider } from './ssh-pty-provider'
 
 describe('SSH PTY provider session reattach incarnation', () => {
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ describe('SSH PTY provider session reattach incarnation', () => {
     )
   })
 
-  it('fails closed when generic reattach requires source restoration', async () => {
+  it('fails closed after bounded generic reattach restore retries', async () => {
     const mux = {
       request: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
         incarnationId: 'incarnation-reattached',
@@ -45,7 +45,9 @@ describe('SSH PTY provider session reattach incarnation', () => {
     const provider = new SshPtyProvider('conn-1', mux as never)
 
     await expect(provider.spawn({ cols: 80, rows: 24, sessionId: 'pty-old' })).rejects.toThrow(
-      `${SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED_ERROR}: pty-old`
+      `${SSH_SOURCE_RESTORE_REQUIRED_ERROR}: pty-old`
     )
+    // The retry is what repairs a retired delivery; without it the pane needs a respawn to recover.
+    expect(mux.request).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(3)
   })
 })
diff --git a/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-provider.ts b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-provider.ts
index f218cc43eca..47f8015f4f8 100644
--- a/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-provider.ts
+++ b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-provider.ts
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ import { spawnFreshSshPty } from './ssh-agent-session-create-operation'
 import { mapSshPtyProcessList } from './ssh-agent-session-process-list'
 import {
   requestSshPtyAttach,
-  reattachSshPtySessionForSpawn,
   type PtySourceRecoveryRequest,
   type SshPtyAttachResult
 } from './ssh-pty-session-reattach'
+import { reattachSshPtySessionForSpawn } from './ssh-pty-session-reattach-for-spawn'
 import { buildSshPtySpawnRequest } from './ssh-pty-spawn-request'
 import { SshPtySpawnExitRaceTracker } from './ssh-pty-spawn-exit-race'
 import { SshAgentSessionCapabilities } from './ssh-agent-session-capabilities'
diff --git a/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-relay-absence-verdict.test.ts b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-relay-absence-verdict.test.ts
index 9e5b9a555ac..211880573e8 100644
--- a/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-relay-absence-verdict.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-relay-absence-verdict.test.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 import {
   SSH_PTY_IDENTITY_MISMATCH_ERROR,
   SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED_ERROR,
+  SSH_SOURCE_RESTORE_REQUIRED_ERROR,
   isSshPtyAbsentFromRelayError
 } from './ssh-pty-errors'
 import { SshPtyProvider } from './ssh-pty-provider'
@@ -73,6 +74,9 @@ describe('SSH PTY relay absence verdict', () => {
     )
 
     expect(isSshPtyAbsentFromRelayError(rejection)).toBe(false)
-    expect((rejection as Error).message).toContain(SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED_ERROR)
+    // restoreRequired is a SUCCESSFUL answer proving the PTY live, so it must not carry the one
+    // token that authorises a respawn.
+    expect((rejection as Error).message).toBe(`${SSH_SOURCE_RESTORE_REQUIRED_ERROR}: pty-1`)
+    expect((rejection as Error).message).not.toContain(SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED_ERROR)
   })
 })
diff --git a/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-session-reattach-for-spawn.ts b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-session-reattach-for-spawn.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6f6ff2399a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-session-reattach-for-spawn.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+import { toRelaySshPtyId } from './ssh-pty-id'
+import { SSH_SOURCE_RESTORE_REQUIRED_ERROR } from './ssh-pty-errors'
+import type { PtySpawnResult } from './types'
+import {
+  reattachSshPtySessionWithExitFence,
+  type SshPtyReattachResult
+} from './ssh-pty-session-reattach'
+
+/**
+ * The full reattach path a spawn takes when it carries a sessionId: fence the exit race, reject a
+ * session whose source the relay could not restore, and commit or roll back the source-activation
+ * lease.
+ *
+ * Lives beside `reattachSshPtySession` rather than in SshPtyProvider.spawn so the lease's commit
+ * and rollback stay in one place — a caller that only wrapped the fence could return without
+ * committing and silently leak the activation.
+ */
+export async function reattachSshPtySessionForSpawn(
+  args: Parameters<typeof reattachSshPtySessionWithExitFence>[0] & {
+    acceptLivePty: (relayPtyId: string) => void
+  }
+): Promise<PtySpawnResult> {
+  let result: SshPtyReattachResult | undefined
+  try {
+    result = await reattachSshPtySessionWithExitFence(args)
+    if (result.sourceRecovery?.status === 'restoreRequired') {
+      // A restoreRequired answer is a SUCCESSFUL RPC that proved the PTY alive — only its output
+      // delivery was retired. Never raise SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED here: that token authorises the
+      // renderer to retire the pane binding and cold-start a fresh agent over the same worktree,
+      // orphaning live remote work (docs/reference/ssh-execution-boundary.md).
+      throw new Error(
+        `${SSH_SOURCE_RESTORE_REQUIRED_ERROR}: ${toRelaySshPtyId(args.connectionId, result.id)}`
+      )
+    }
+    args.acceptLivePty(result.id)
+    result.sourceActivationLease?.commit()
+    const {
+      sourceActivationLease: _lease,
+      sourceRecovery: _sourceRecovery,
+      ...spawnResult
+    } = result
+    return spawnResult
+  } catch (error) {
+    result?.sourceActivationLease?.rollback()
+    throw error
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-session-reattach-restore-retry.test.ts b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-session-reattach-restore-retry.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..70b9f387c7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-session-reattach-restore-retry.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { reattachSshPtySession } from './ssh-pty-session-reattach'
+
+const restoreRequired = {
+  incarnationId: 'incarnation-live',
+  sourceRecovery: { status: 'restoreRequired', reason: 'checkpointUnavailable' }
+}
+
+describe('SSH PTY session reattach restore retry', () => {
+  it('reattaches after restoreRequired and returns replay from the live PTY', async () => {
+    const request = vi
+      .fn()
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce(restoreRequired)
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce({ incarnationId: 'incarnation-live', replay: 'scrollback' })
+
+    const result = await reattachSshPtySession({
+      mux: { request } as never,
+      connectionId: 'conn-1',
+      sessionId: 'pty-live',
+      options: { cols: 80, rows: 24, sessionId: 'pty-live' }
+    })
+
+    expect(request).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+    expect(result).toMatchObject({
+      id: 'ssh:conn-1@@pty-live',
+      isReattach: true,
+      replay: 'scrollback',
+      incarnationId: 'incarnation-live'
+    })
+    expect(result.sourceRecovery).toBeUndefined()
+  })
+
+  it('rolls back a provisional source lease before retrying', async () => {
+    const sourceActivation = {
+      status: 'pending',
+      clientGeneration: 1,
+      ownerGeneration: 1,
+      ptyIncarnation: 'incarnation-live',
+      deliveryToken: 'token-1',
+      checkpointSourceEndSu: 0,
+      recoveryEndSu: 0
+    }
+    const request = vi
+      .fn()
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce({ ...restoreRequired, sourceActivation })
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce({ incarnationId: 'incarnation-live', replay: 'scrollback' })
+    const rollback = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(true)
+    const installSourceActivation = vi.fn().mockReturnValue({ commit: vi.fn(), rollback })
+
+    const result = await reattachSshPtySession({
+      mux: { request } as never,
+      connectionId: 'conn-1',
+      sessionId: 'pty-live',
+      options: { cols: 80, rows: 24, sessionId: 'pty-live' },
+      installSourceActivation
+    })
+
+    expect(rollback).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    expect(result.replay).toBe('scrollback')
+  })
+
+  it('stops before retrying when stale-delivery cancellation is unconfirmed', async () => {
+    const sourceActivation = {
+      status: 'pending',
+      clientGeneration: 1,
+      ownerGeneration: 1,
+      ptyIncarnation: 'incarnation-live',
+      deliveryToken: 'token-1',
+      checkpointSourceEndSu: 0,
+      recoveryEndSu: 0
+    }
+    const request = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ ...restoreRequired, sourceActivation })
+    const rollback = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(false)
+
+    const result = await reattachSshPtySession({
+      mux: { request } as never,
+      connectionId: 'conn-1',
+      sessionId: 'pty-live',
+      options: { cols: 80, rows: 24, sessionId: 'pty-live' },
+      installSourceActivation: vi.fn().mockReturnValue({ commit: vi.fn(), rollback })
+    })
+
+    expect(request).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    expect(rollback).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    expect(result.sourceRecovery).toMatchObject({ status: 'restoreRequired' })
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-session-reattach.ts b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-session-reattach.ts
index d6da283cab9..e948609df36 100644
--- a/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-session-reattach.ts
+++ b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-session-reattach.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ export type SshPtyAttachResult = {
   sourceActivationLease?: SshPtyReceivingActivationLease
 }
 
-type SshPtyReattachResult = PtySpawnResult & {
+export type SshPtyReattachResult = PtySpawnResult & {
   sourceRecovery?: PtySourceRecoveryResult
   sourceActivationLease?: SshPtyReceivingActivationLease
 }
@@ -172,6 +172,8 @@ function sameSourceActivation(
 
 export type { PtySourceRecoveryRequest }
 
+const SSH_PTY_RESTORE_REQUIRED_ATTACH_ATTEMPTS = 3
+
 export async function reattachSshPtySession(args: {
   mux: SshChannelMultiplexer
   connectionId: string
@@ -189,27 +191,51 @@ export async function reattachSshPtySession(args: {
     // Why: expected pane identity prevents a reused relay id from attaching the wrong shell.
     const expectedPaneKey = args.options.paneKey ?? args.options.env?.ORCA_PANE_KEY
     const expectedTabId = args.options.tabId ?? args.options.env?.ORCA_TAB_ID
-    const attachResult = await requestSshPtyAttach({
-      mux: args.mux,
-      relayPtyId: relaySessionId,
-      params: {
-        id: relaySessionId,
-        cols: args.options.cols,
-        rows: args.options.rows,
-        suppressReplayNotification: true,
-        // A reattach always paints into a NEW terminal: a reconnect bumps tab.generation, which is
-        // the pane's React key, so TerminalPane remounts and the old xterm is disposed with its
-        // buffer. Without this the relay sees a delivery still open under our unchanged client id,
-        // answers "you already have this", and the pane stays blank until new output arrives.
-        requireReplay: true,
-        ...(expectedPaneKey ? { expectedPaneKey } : {}),
-        ...(expectedTabId ? { expectedTabId } : {})
-      },
-      installSourceActivation: args.installSourceActivation,
-      rememberPtyIncarnation: args.rememberPtyIncarnation
-    })
+    let attachResult: SshPtyAttachResult
+    for (let attempt = 1; ; attempt += 1) {
+      attachResult = await requestSshPtyAttach({
+        mux: args.mux,
+        relayPtyId: relaySessionId,
+        params: {
+          id: relaySessionId,
+          cols: args.options.cols,
+          rows: args.options.rows,
+          suppressReplayNotification: true,
+          // A reattach always paints into a NEW terminal: a reconnect bumps tab.generation, which is
+          // the pane's React key, so TerminalPane remounts and the old xterm is disposed with its
+          // buffer. Without this the relay sees a delivery still open under our unchanged client id,
+          // answers "you already have this", and the pane stays blank until new output arrives.
+          requireReplay: true,
+          ...(expectedPaneKey ? { expectedPaneKey } : {}),
+          ...(expectedTabId ? { expectedTabId } : {})
+        },
+        installSourceActivation: args.installSourceActivation,
+        rememberPtyIncarnation: args.rememberPtyIncarnation
+      })
+      if (
+        attachResult.sourceRecovery?.status !== 'restoreRequired' ||
+        attempt >= SSH_PTY_RESTORE_REQUIRED_ATTACH_ATTEMPTS
+      ) {
+        break
+      }
+      // restoreRequired proves the PTY is live and only its delivery was retired, so retrying the
+      // attach is the repair. Cancel the provisional delivery first, or the retry races the lease
+      // it is meant to replace; if cancellation cannot be confirmed, stop rather than stack leases.
+      const staleDeliveryCanceled = attachResult.sourceActivationLease
+        ? await attachResult.sourceActivationLease.rollback()
+        : true
+      if (!staleDeliveryCanceled) {
+        console.warn(
+          `[ssh-pty] pty.attach for ${args.sessionId} could not confirm stale delivery cancellation; failing closed`
+        )
+        break
+      }
+      console.warn(
+        `[ssh-pty] pty.attach for ${args.sessionId} requires restore (${attachResult.sourceRecovery.reason}), retrying attach ${attempt + 1}/${SSH_PTY_RESTORE_REQUIRED_ATTACH_ATTEMPTS}`
+      )
+    }
     console.warn(
-      `[ssh-pty] pty.attach succeeded for ${args.sessionId}, replay=${!!attachResult.replay}`
+      `[ssh-pty] pty.attach ${attachResult.sourceRecovery?.status === 'restoreRequired' ? 'still requires restore' : 'succeeded'} for ${args.sessionId}, replay=${!!attachResult.replay}`
     )
     return {
       id: toAppSshPtyId(args.connectionId, relaySessionId),
@@ -267,39 +293,3 @@ export async function reattachSshPtySessionWithExitFence(
     args.exitRaceTracker.finish(operation)
   }
 }
-
-/**
- * The full reattach path a spawn takes when it carries a sessionId: fence the
- * exit race, reject a session the relay can no longer restore, and commit or
- * roll back the source-activation lease.
- *
- * Lives here rather than in SshPtyProvider.spawn so the lease's commit and
- * rollback stay in one place — a caller that only wrapped the fence could
- * return without committing and silently leak the activation.
- */
-export async function reattachSshPtySessionForSpawn(
-  args: Parameters<typeof reattachSshPtySessionWithExitFence>[0] & {
-    acceptLivePty: (relayPtyId: string) => void
-  }
-): Promise<PtySpawnResult> {
-  let result: SshPtyReattachResult | undefined
-  try {
-    result = await reattachSshPtySessionWithExitFence(args)
-    if (result.sourceRecovery?.status === 'restoreRequired') {
-      throw new Error(
-        `${SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED_ERROR}: ${toRelaySshPtyId(args.connectionId, result.id)}`
-      )
-    }
-    args.acceptLivePty(result.id)
-    result.sourceActivationLease?.commit()
-    const {
-      sourceActivationLease: _lease,
-      sourceRecovery: _sourceRecovery,
-      ...spawnResult
-    } = result
-    return spawnResult
-  } catch (error) {
-    result?.sourceActivationLease?.rollback()
-    throw error
-  }
-}
diff --git a/src/relay/dispatcher-contract.ts b/src/relay/dispatcher-contract.ts
index 15d4578c9bf..bef91dff5e3 100644
--- a/src/relay/dispatcher-contract.ts
+++ b/src/relay/dispatcher-contract.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import type { DispatcherClientWriter, SinkWriteSettlement } from './dispatcher-c
 
 export type RequestContext = {
   clientId: number
+  /** Transport incarnation of the client id; changes when the primary socket is replaced. */
+  transportGeneration?: number
   isStale: () => boolean
   signal?: AbortSignal
   sessionIdentity?: RelayClientSessionIdentity
diff --git a/src/relay/dispatcher-rpc-routing.ts b/src/relay/dispatcher-rpc-routing.ts
index 164a375e1c6..524628953b3 100644
--- a/src/relay/dispatcher-rpc-routing.ts
+++ b/src/relay/dispatcher-rpc-routing.ts
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ export abstract class RelayDispatcherRpcRouting extends RelayDispatcherFrameCode
     }
     const context: RequestContext = {
       clientId: client.id,
+      transportGeneration: gen,
       isStale: () =>
         client.generation !== gen || !this.clients.has(client.id) || abortController.signal.aborted,
       signal: abortController.signal,
@@ -179,6 +180,7 @@ export abstract class RelayDispatcherRpcRouting extends RelayDispatcherFrameCode
       const gen = client.generation
       handler(notif.params ?? {}, {
         clientId: client.id,
+        transportGeneration: gen,
         isStale: () => client.generation !== gen || !this.clients.has(client.id),
         sessionIdentity: client.sessionIdentity,
         onResponseSettled: () => {
diff --git a/src/relay/relay-pty-source-delivery-record.ts b/src/relay/relay-pty-source-delivery-record.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..064db33ea5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/relay/relay-pty-source-delivery-record.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+import type { PtySourceDeliveryIdentity } from '../shared/pty-source-credit-contract'
+import type { PtySourceRecoveryCheckpoint } from '../shared/pty-source-recovery-contract'
+import type { PtySourceReceivingActivation } from '../shared/pty-source-receiving-activation'
+
+export type RelayPtySourceDeliveryRecord = {
+  clientId: number
+  /** Transport incarnation of clientId; undefined preserves legacy harness behavior. */
+  clientTransportGeneration?: number
+  identity: PtySourceDeliveryIdentity
+  sourceActivation: PtySourceReceivingActivation
+  displayEnd: number
+  activating: boolean
+  activationRecoveryRequest: PtySourceRecoveryCheckpoint | null
+  sealed: boolean
+  legacyExitAccepted: boolean
+  sourceExitState: 'idle' | 'pending' | 'published'
+  sending: boolean
+  turnFrames: number
+  turnSourceSu: number
+  turnScheduled: boolean
+  sendWaiters: Set<() => void>
+  recoveryCheckpointSourceEndSu: number | null
+  recoveryEndSu: number | null
+  recoveryCompletionPending: boolean
+  restoreRequired: boolean
+  rotationPending: boolean
+}
+
+/**
+ * Match a delivery's owner including its socket incarnation. Keying on clientId alone lets a
+ * re-bound primary channel act on — or inherit — a delivery bound to the previous, dead sink;
+ * the dispatcher's own publication ledger has always keyed on `${id}:${generation}`.
+ */
+export function sameClientTransport(
+  record: { clientId: number; clientTransportGeneration?: number },
+  context: { clientId: number; transportGeneration?: number }
+): boolean {
+  return (
+    record.clientId === context.clientId &&
+    record.clientTransportGeneration === context.transportGeneration
+  )
+}
diff --git a/src/relay/relay-pty-source-publication.ts b/src/relay/relay-pty-source-publication.ts
index bad396b5b68..a04600c3827 100644
--- a/src/relay/relay-pty-source-publication.ts
+++ b/src/relay/relay-pty-source-publication.ts
@@ -7,12 +7,17 @@ import type { PtySourceReceivingActivation } from '../shared/pty-source-receivin
 import {
   createPtySourceReceivingActivation,
   pendingPtySourceRecoveryResult,
-  registerCanceledPtySourceRetirement,
   registerPtySourceActivationSettlement,
   samePtySourceRecoveryRequest
 } from './relay-pty-source-activation'
+import {
+  publishPtySourceRestoreRequired,
+  requirePtySourceRestore,
+  type PtySourceRestoreDeps
+} from './relay-pty-source-restore-required'
 import {
   RelayPtySourceSendScheduler,
+  sameClientTransport,
   type RelayPtySourceDeliveryRecord,
   type RelayPtySourcePublicationCounters
 } from './relay-pty-source-send-scheduler'
@@ -65,18 +70,30 @@ export class RelayPtySourcePublication {
     context: RequestContext | undefined,
     recovery?: PtySourceRecoveryRequest
   ): false | 'opened' | 'rotated' | 'existing' | PtySourceRecoveryResult {
-    if (!context?.onResponseSettled) {
-      this.sender.releaseRotationFence(this.deliveries.get(id))
+    let current = this.deliveries.get(id)
+    // Every bail-out below releases or retires `current`, but a superseded request may find the
+    // delivery its own replacement opened. Releasing that fence resumes a send the replacement is
+    // still rotating; retiring it blanks the pane that owns it. So each acts only on a record this
+    // transport still owns. Safe because pty.attach arms the fence (waitForPendingSend) and
+    // releases it here in the same handler: a record that changed underneath was rotated away, and
+    // its fence died with it.
+    const ownsCurrent =
+      context !== undefined && current !== undefined ? sameClientTransport(current, context) : false
+    if (!context?.onResponseSettled || context.isStale()) {
+      if (ownsCurrent) {
+        this.sender.releaseRotationFence(current)
+      }
       return false
     }
     const mode = this.session.deliveryMode(context.clientId)
-    let current = this.deliveries.get(id)
     if (mode === 'unadmitted' || mode === 'subscriber') {
-      this.sender.releaseRotationFence(current)
+      if (ownsCurrent) {
+        this.sender.releaseRotationFence(current)
+      }
       return false
     }
     if (mode === 'legacy-owner') {
-      if (current) {
+      if (current && ownsCurrent) {
         this.session.cancelDelivery(current.identity, 'source-credit-disabled')
         this.sender.wakeSendWaiters(current)
         this.deliveries.delete(id)
@@ -85,7 +102,8 @@ export class RelayPtySourcePublication {
       return false
     }
     if (
-      current?.clientId === context.clientId &&
+      current !== undefined &&
+      sameClientTransport(current, context) &&
       !current.restoreRequired &&
       current.sourceExitState !== 'pending' &&
       this.deliveryClosedUnderRecord(current)
@@ -96,11 +114,16 @@ export class RelayPtySourcePublication {
       this.onCapacity(id)
       current = undefined
     }
-    if (current?.clientId === context.clientId) {
+    if (current !== undefined && sameClientTransport(current, context)) {
       this.sender.releaseRotationFence(current)
       if (current.activating && current.activationRecoveryRequest) {
         if (!samePtySourceRecoveryRequest(current.activationRecoveryRequest, recovery)) {
-          return this.publishRestoreRequired(id, context, 'checkpointUnavailable')
+          return publishPtySourceRestoreRequired(
+            this.restoreDeps,
+            id,
+            context,
+            'checkpointUnavailable'
+          )
         }
         this.registerActivationSettlement(id, current, context)
         return pendingPtySourceRecoveryResult(current)
@@ -113,7 +136,7 @@ export class RelayPtySourcePublication {
     let recoveryEndSu: number | null = null
     let recoveryWasSealed = false
     if (!current && recovery) {
-      return this.publishRestoreRequired(id, context, 'deliveryUnavailable')
+      return publishPtySourceRestoreRequired(this.restoreDeps, id, context, 'deliveryUnavailable')
     }
     if (current) {
       try {
@@ -127,7 +150,13 @@ export class RelayPtySourcePublication {
           recovery.ownerGeneration !== current.identity.ownerGeneration ||
           recovery.ptyIncarnation !== current.identity.ptyIncarnation
         ) {
-          return this.requireRestore(id, current, context, 'checkpointUnavailable')
+          return requirePtySourceRestore(
+            this.restoreDeps,
+            id,
+            current,
+            context,
+            'checkpointUnavailable'
+          )
         }
         const rotation = this.session.rotateDelivery(
           current.identity,
@@ -141,7 +170,8 @@ export class RelayPtySourcePublication {
         recoveryWasSealed = snapshot.state === 'sealed-unsettled'
         this.counters.rotated++
       } catch (error) {
-        return this.requireRestore(
+        return requirePtySourceRestore(
+          this.restoreDeps,
           id,
           current,
           context,
@@ -162,6 +192,7 @@ export class RelayPtySourcePublication {
     const activationRecoveryEndSu = recoveryEndSu ?? activationSnapshot.receivedEndSu
     const record: RelayPtySourceDeliveryRecord = {
       clientId: context.clientId,
+      clientTransportGeneration: context.transportGeneration,
       identity,
       sourceActivation: createPtySourceReceivingActivation(
         identity,
@@ -295,32 +326,13 @@ export class RelayPtySourcePublication {
     })
   }
 
-  private requireRestore(
-    id: string,
-    current: RelayPtySourceDeliveryRecord,
-    context: RequestContext,
-    reason: string
-  ): Readonly<{ status: 'restoreRequired'; reason: string }> {
-    this.session.cancelDelivery(current.identity, `recovery-${reason}`)
-    current.restoreRequired = true
-    current.activating = false
-    this.sender.wakeSendWaiters(current)
-    registerCanceledPtySourceRetirement(current, context, this.deliveries, this.onCapacity)
-    return this.publishRestoreRequired(id, context, reason)
-  }
-
-  private publishRestoreRequired(
-    id: string,
-    context: RequestContext,
-    reason: string
-  ): Readonly<{ status: 'restoreRequired'; reason: string }> {
-    const result = Object.freeze({ status: 'restoreRequired' as const, reason })
-    context.onResponseSettled?.((settlement) => {
-      if (settlement.ok) {
-        this.dispatcher.notifyClient(context.clientId, 'pty.restoreRequired', { id, reason })
-      }
-    })
-    this.onCapacity(id)
-    return result
+  private get restoreDeps(): PtySourceRestoreDeps {
+    return {
+      dispatcher: this.dispatcher,
+      onCapacity: this.onCapacity,
+      session: this.session,
+      sender: this.sender,
+      deliveries: this.deliveries
+    }
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/relay/relay-pty-source-restore-required.ts b/src/relay/relay-pty-source-restore-required.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a2e6ccd96d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/relay/relay-pty-source-restore-required.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+import type { RelayDispatcher, RequestContext } from './dispatcher'
+import type { RelayPtySourceDeliveryRecord } from './relay-pty-source-delivery-record'
+import { registerCanceledPtySourceRetirement } from './relay-pty-source-activation'
+import type { RelayPtySourceSendScheduler } from './relay-pty-source-send-scheduler'
+import type { SshPtyConsumerSessionAdapter } from './ssh-pty-consumer-session-adapter'
+
+export type PtySourceRestoreDeps = Readonly<{
+  dispatcher: RelayDispatcher
+  onCapacity: (id: string) => void
+  session: SshPtyConsumerSessionAdapter
+  sender: RelayPtySourceSendScheduler
+  deliveries: Map<string, RelayPtySourceDeliveryRecord>
+}>
+
+type RestoreRequired = Readonly<{ status: 'restoreRequired'; reason: string }>
+
+/**
+ * The PTY is live and only its delivery is unusable, so retire the delivery and tell the client to
+ * open a new one. Never an absence verdict — see docs/reference/ssh-execution-boundary.md.
+ */
+export function requirePtySourceRestore(
+  deps: PtySourceRestoreDeps,
+  id: string,
+  current: RelayPtySourceDeliveryRecord,
+  context: RequestContext,
+  reason: string
+): RestoreRequired {
+  deps.session.cancelDelivery(current.identity, `recovery-${reason}`)
+  current.restoreRequired = true
+  current.activating = false
+  deps.sender.wakeSendWaiters(current)
+  registerCanceledPtySourceRetirement(current, context, deps.deliveries, deps.onCapacity)
+  return publishPtySourceRestoreRequired(deps, id, context, reason)
+}
+
+export function publishPtySourceRestoreRequired(
+  deps: PtySourceRestoreDeps,
+  id: string,
+  context: RequestContext,
+  reason: string
+): RestoreRequired {
+  const result = Object.freeze({ status: 'restoreRequired' as const, reason })
+  context.onResponseSettled?.((settlement) => {
+    if (settlement.ok) {
+      deps.dispatcher.notifyClient(context.clientId, 'pty.restoreRequired', { id, reason })
+    }
+  })
+  deps.onCapacity(id)
+  return result
+}
diff --git a/src/relay/relay-pty-source-send-scheduler.ts b/src/relay/relay-pty-source-send-scheduler.ts
index bbec1a824d3..2181066153c 100644
--- a/src/relay/relay-pty-source-send-scheduler.ts
+++ b/src/relay/relay-pty-source-send-scheduler.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
-import type {
-  PtySourceDeliveryIdentity,
-  PtySourceDeliverySnapshot
-} from '../shared/pty-source-credit-contract'
-import type { PtySourceRecoveryCheckpoint } from '../shared/pty-source-recovery-contract'
-import type { PtySourceReceivingActivation } from '../shared/pty-source-receiving-activation'
+import type { PtySourceDeliverySnapshot } from '../shared/pty-source-credit-contract'
+import type { RelayPtySourceDeliveryRecord } from './relay-pty-source-delivery-record'
+
+export { sameClientTransport } from './relay-pty-source-delivery-record'
+export type { RelayPtySourceDeliveryRecord } from './relay-pty-source-delivery-record'
 import type { RelayDispatcher, SinkWriteSettlement } from './dispatcher'
 import {
   PTY_SOURCE_SCHEDULER_MAX_FRAMES,
@@ -12,28 +11,6 @@ import {
 import type { SshPtyConsumerSessionAdapter } from './ssh-pty-consumer-session-adapter'
 import { completePtySourceRecovery } from './relay-pty-source-recovery-completion'
 
-export type RelayPtySourceDeliveryRecord = {
-  clientId: number
-  identity: PtySourceDeliveryIdentity
-  sourceActivation: PtySourceReceivingActivation
-  displayEnd: number
-  activating: boolean
-  activationRecoveryRequest: PtySourceRecoveryCheckpoint | null
-  sealed: boolean
-  legacyExitAccepted: boolean
-  sourceExitState: 'idle' | 'pending' | 'published'
-  sending: boolean
-  turnFrames: number
-  turnSourceSu: number
-  turnScheduled: boolean
-  sendWaiters: Set<() => void>
-  recoveryCheckpointSourceEndSu: number | null
-  recoveryEndSu: number | null
-  recoveryCompletionPending: boolean
-  restoreRequired: boolean
-  rotationPending: boolean
-}
-
 export type RelayPtySourcePublicationCounters = {
   opened: number
   rotated: number
diff --git a/src/relay/relay-pty-source-transport-generation.test.ts b/src/relay/relay-pty-source-transport-generation.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..71457484f69
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/relay/relay-pty-source-transport-generation.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,214 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import {
+  RelayDispatcher,
+  type RelayClientSessionIdentity,
+  type RequestContext,
+  type SinkWriteSettlement
+} from './dispatcher'
+import { encodeJsonRpcFrame, MessageType } from './protocol'
+import { RelayPtySourcePublication } from './relay-pty-source-publication'
+import { SshPtyConsumerSessionAdapter } from './ssh-pty-consumer-session-adapter'
+
+const endpointIdentity: RelayClientSessionIdentity = {
+  principal: 'endpoint-principal',
+  authenticated: true,
+  allowSessionOwner: true,
+  authenticationKind: 'endpoint-credential'
+}
+
+function requestFrame(id: number, method: string, params: Record<string, unknown>): Buffer {
+  return encodeJsonRpcFrame({ jsonrpc: '2.0', id, method, params }, id, 0)
+}
+
+function responseResult(buffer: Buffer): Record<string, unknown> | null {
+  if (buffer[0] !== MessageType.Regular) {
+    return null
+  }
+  const length = buffer.readUInt32BE(9)
+  const message = JSON.parse(buffer.subarray(13, 13 + length).toString('utf8'))
+  return message.id === undefined ? null : (message.result ?? null)
+}
+
+async function flushRequests(): Promise<void> {
+  await new Promise((resolve) => setImmediate(resolve))
+}
+
+describe('PTY source activation across a transport change', () => {
+  let dispatcher: RelayDispatcher | null = null
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    dispatcher?.dispose()
+    dispatcher = null
+  })
+
+  async function createHarness() {
+    const settlements: ((result: SinkWriteSettlement) => void)[] = []
+    const writes: Buffer[] = []
+    dispatcher = new RelayDispatcher(
+      (data, onSettled) => {
+        writes.push(Buffer.from(data))
+        onSettled({ ok: true })
+        return true
+      },
+      { supportsWriteCallback: true },
+      endpointIdentity
+    )
+    let publication: RelayPtySourcePublication
+    const adapter = new SshPtyConsumerSessionAdapter(dispatcher, 'build-a', undefined, (id) =>
+      publication.onCreditAvailable(id)
+    )
+    publication = new RelayPtySourcePublication(dispatcher, adapter, () => {})
+    dispatcher.feed(
+      requestFrame(1, 'pty.openClient', {
+        protocolVersion: 1,
+        clientInstanceId: 'client-1',
+        requestedRole: 'session-owner',
+        capabilities: { outputFlowControl: { versions: [1], requestedWindowSu: 4 } }
+      })
+    )
+    await flushRequests()
+    return { adapter, publication, settlements, writes }
+  }
+
+  function contextOn(
+    transportGeneration: number | undefined,
+    settlements: unknown[]
+  ): RequestContext {
+    return {
+      clientId: 1,
+      ...(transportGeneration === undefined ? {} : { transportGeneration }),
+      isStale: () => false,
+      sessionIdentity: endpointIdentity,
+      onResponseSettled: (callback) => settlements.push(callback)
+    }
+  }
+
+  it('short-circuits same-client activation on the same transport', async () => {
+    const { publication, settlements } = await createHarness()
+    expect(publication.activate('pty-1', 'incarnation-1', contextOn(0, settlements))).toBe('opened')
+    ;(settlements[0] as (result: SinkWriteSettlement) => void)({ ok: true })
+    expect(publication.activate('pty-1', 'incarnation-1', contextOn(0, settlements))).toBe(
+      'existing'
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('does not claim existing when the client returns on a new transport', async () => {
+    const { publication, settlements } = await createHarness()
+    expect(publication.activate('pty-1', 'incarnation-1', contextOn(0, settlements))).toBe('opened')
+    ;(settlements[0] as (result: SinkWriteSettlement) => void)({ ok: true })
+    expect(publication.activate('pty-1', 'incarnation-1', contextOn(1, settlements))).not.toBe(
+      'existing'
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('keeps id-only behavior for callers without transport generations', async () => {
+    const { publication, settlements } = await createHarness()
+    expect(publication.activate('pty-1', 'incarnation-1', contextOn(undefined, settlements))).toBe(
+      'opened'
+    )
+    ;(settlements[0] as (result: SinkWriteSettlement) => void)({ ok: true })
+    expect(publication.activate('pty-1', 'incarnation-1', contextOn(undefined, settlements))).toBe(
+      'existing'
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('ignores a stale activation before it can cancel the replacement delivery', async () => {
+    const { publication, adapter, settlements } = await createHarness()
+    expect(publication.activate('pty-1', 'incarnation-1', contextOn(1, settlements))).toBe('opened')
+    settlements[0]({ ok: true })
+    const cancelDelivery = vi.spyOn(adapter, 'cancelDelivery')
+    const staleSettlements: ((result: SinkWriteSettlement) => void)[] = []
+    const staleContext: RequestContext = {
+      ...contextOn(0, staleSettlements),
+      isStale: () => true
+    }
+
+    expect(
+      publication.activate('pty-1', 'incarnation-2', staleContext, {
+        status: 'checkpoint',
+        clientGeneration: 999,
+        ownerGeneration: 999,
+        ptyIncarnation: 'stale-incarnation',
+        deliveryToken: 'stale-token',
+        acceptedSourceEndSu: 0
+      })
+    ).toBe(false)
+    expect(cancelDelivery).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(staleSettlements).toHaveLength(0)
+  })
+
+  it('does not release a replacement fence from a stale activation', async () => {
+    const { publication, settlements, writes } = await createHarness()
+    expect(publication.activate('pty-1', 'incarnation-1', contextOn(0, settlements))).toBe('opened')
+    settlements[0]({ ok: true })
+    const activation = publication.receivingActivation('pty-1', 1)!
+    const ownerGrant = writes.map(responseResult).find((result) => result?.ownerLease)!
+
+    // The old transport arms its rotation fence while waiting for a checkpoint-safe send.
+    await expect(publication.waitForPendingSend('pty-1')).resolves.toBe(true)
+
+    const replacementWrites: Buffer[] = []
+    const replacementClientId = dispatcher!.attachClient(
+      (data, onSettled) => {
+        replacementWrites.push(Buffer.from(data))
+        onSettled({ ok: true })
+        return true
+      },
+      { supportsWriteCallback: true },
+      endpointIdentity
+    )
+    dispatcher!.feedClient(
+      replacementClientId,
+      requestFrame(2, 'pty.openClient', {
+        protocolVersion: 1,
+        clientInstanceId: 'client-1',
+        requestedRole: 'session-owner',
+        resume: {
+          ownerGeneration: ownerGrant.ownerGeneration,
+          ownerLease: ownerGrant.ownerLease
+        },
+        capabilities: { outputFlowControl: { versions: [1], requestedWindowSu: 4 } }
+      })
+    )
+    await flushRequests()
+
+    const replacementSettlements: ((result: SinkWriteSettlement) => void)[] = []
+    const recovery = {
+      status: 'checkpoint' as const,
+      clientGeneration: activation.clientGeneration,
+      ownerGeneration: activation.ownerGeneration,
+      ptyIncarnation: activation.ptyIncarnation,
+      deliveryToken: activation.deliveryToken,
+      acceptedSourceEndSu: 0
+    }
+    expect(
+      publication.activate(
+        'pty-1',
+        'incarnation-1',
+        {
+          ...contextOn(0, replacementSettlements),
+          clientId: replacementClientId
+        },
+        recovery
+      )
+    ).toMatchObject({ status: 'pending' })
+    replacementSettlements[0]({ ok: true })
+
+    // Arm the replacement fence, then let the superseded transport's activation resume.
+    // isStale() stays false on purpose: the original client is still attached at its original
+    // generation, so production would report it live and execution reaches the delivery-mode
+    // bail-outs rather than the stale early-out. Hard-coding true here hid that path entirely.
+    await expect(publication.waitForPendingSend('pty-1')).resolves.toBe(true)
+    expect(publication.activate('pty-1', 'incarnation-1', contextOn(0, []), recovery)).toBe(false)
+    expect(publication.publish('pty-1', { data: 'replacement-output' }, false)).toBe(false)
+
+    // Release the replacement fence through its owning transport so this test leaves no parked work.
+    expect(
+      publication.activate('pty-1', 'incarnation-1', {
+        ...contextOn(0, []),
+        clientId: replacementClientId
+      })
+    ).toBe('existing')
+    expect(replacementWrites.length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalErrorToast.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalErrorToast.test.ts
index 069ed371ec0..e7c8839d269 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalErrorToast.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalErrorToast.test.ts
@@ -148,6 +148,16 @@ describe('humanizeTerminalError', () => {
     expect(humanized).not.toContain('exited')
   })
 
+  // A live PTY whose delivery was retired must never get the "open a new terminal" copy: acting on
+  // that abandons a running agent on the host.
+  it('describes a retired output source as reconnecting, not as a lost session', () => {
+    const humanized = humanizeTerminalError('SSH_SOURCE_RESTORE_REQUIRED: ssh:conn@@pty-7')
+    expect(humanized).not.toContain('SSH_SOURCE_RESTORE_REQUIRED')
+    expect(humanized).not.toContain('ssh:conn@@pty-7')
+    expect(humanized).not.toContain('Open a new terminal')
+    expect(humanized).toContain('still running')
+  })
+
   it('replaces only the unreattachable line in an aggregated error', () => {
     const humanized = humanizeTerminalError('Paste failed.\nSSH_SESSION_EXPIRED: orca:2f1c@@pty-7')
     expect(humanized.startsWith('Paste failed.\n')).toBe(true)
@@ -179,6 +189,10 @@ describe('isExplainedTerminalError', () => {
     ).toBe(true)
   })
 
+  it('suppresses the issue link while a live session restores its output source', () => {
+    expect(isExplainedTerminalError('SSH_SOURCE_RESTORE_REQUIRED: ssh:conn@@pty-7')).toBe(true)
+  })
+
   it('suppresses the issue link for a session the host cannot reattach', () => {
     expect(isExplainedTerminalError('SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED: orca:2f1c@@pty-7')).toBe(true)
     expect(
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalErrorToast.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalErrorToast.tsx
index ee876ae719e..10f080e2806 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalErrorToast.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalErrorToast.tsx
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
 import { translate } from '@/i18n/i18n'
 import { resolveClientEnvironmentFooter } from '@/lib/client-environment-info'
 import { hasClientEnvironmentFooter } from '../../../../shared/client-environment-info'
+import { SSH_SOURCE_RESTORE_REQUIRED_ERROR } from '../../../../shared/ssh-pty-failure-tokens'
 
 const SSH_PREFIX = 'SSH connection is not active'
 // Produced by pty-connection.ts reportError() when a PTY reattach can't reach its SSH host.
@@ -32,6 +33,12 @@ const UNREATTACHABLE_SESSION_SOURCES = [
   'SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED:[ \\t]*\\S*(?:[ \\t]+SSH_PTY_IDENTITY_MISMATCH)?',
   'PTY "[^"\\r\\n]*" not found(?: \\(identity mismatch\\))?'
 ]
+// The relay answered and proved the shell is still running — only its output delivery was retired.
+// Deliberately NOT one of the sources above: that copy tells the user to open a new terminal, which
+// here would abandon a live agent. Same lastIndex hazard, so keep test and replace forms separate.
+const SOURCE_RESTORE_REQUIRED_SOURCE = `${SSH_SOURCE_RESTORE_REQUIRED_ERROR}(?::[ \\t]*\\S*)?`
+const SOURCE_RESTORE_REQUIRED_PATTERN = new RegExp(SOURCE_RESTORE_REQUIRED_SOURCE)
+const SOURCE_RESTORE_REQUIRED_REPLACE_PATTERN = new RegExp(SOURCE_RESTORE_REQUIRED_SOURCE, 'g')
 const UNREATTACHABLE_SESSION_PATTERNS = UNREATTACHABLE_SESSION_SOURCES.map(
   (source) => new RegExp(source)
 )
@@ -74,6 +81,7 @@ export function isExplainedTerminalError(error: string): boolean {
       (line) =>
         TERMINAL_HOST_GONE_PATTERN.test(line) ||
         LEGACY_TERMINAL_HOST_GONE_PATTERN.test(line) ||
+        SOURCE_RESTORE_REQUIRED_PATTERN.test(line) ||
         UNREATTACHABLE_SESSION_PATTERNS.some((pattern) => pattern.test(line))
     )
 }
@@ -102,6 +110,12 @@ export function humanizeTerminalError(error: string): string {
       )
     )
   }
+  humanized = humanized.replace(SOURCE_RESTORE_REQUIRED_REPLACE_PATTERN, () =>
+    translate(
+      'auto.components.terminal.pane.TerminalErrorToast.sourceRestoring',
+      'Reconnecting this terminal — its output is being re-established. The session is still running.'
+    )
+  )
   humanized = humanizeUnreattachableSession(humanized)
   if (!isExplainedTerminalError(humanized)) {
     return humanized
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/ipc-pty-connect.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/ipc-pty-connect.ts
index 27ed837af6c..a04703b9edb 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/ipc-pty-connect.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/ipc-pty-connect.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { isRuntimeOwnedSshTargetId } from '../../../../shared/execution-host'
+import { SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED_ERROR } from '../../../../shared/ssh-pty-failure-tokens'
 import { extractIpcErrorMessage } from '@/lib/ipc-error'
 import { ensurePtyDispatcher } from './pty-dispatcher'
 import {
@@ -15,7 +16,6 @@ import type { IpcPtySessionHandlers } from './ipc-pty-session-handlers'
 import { spawnIpcPty } from './ipc-pty-spawn-request'
 import type { IpcPtyTransportOptions, PtyConnectResult, PtyTransport } from './pty-transport-types'
 
-const SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED_ERROR = 'SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED'
 const SSH_PTY_CONNECTION_MISMATCH_MARKER = 'belongs to SSH connection'
 
 type PtyConnectOptions = Parameters<PtyTransport['connect']>[0]
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-connection-direct-ssh-reattach-retry.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-connection-direct-ssh-reattach-retry.test.ts
index 5f2ec0ad37a..be62debe615 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-connection-direct-ssh-reattach-retry.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-connection-direct-ssh-reattach-retry.test.ts
@@ -282,6 +282,128 @@ describe('connectPanePty', () => {
     )
   })
 
+  // Positive control for the test below. Without it that assertion is untestable: it would pass on a
+  // build where nothing can fresh-spawn at all. This pins that THIS harness does respawn on the one
+  // token that authorises it, so "did not respawn" there is a real result.
+  it('fresh-spawns when the host proves the reattach session is gone', async () => {
+    const { connectPanePty } = await import('./pty-connection')
+    const restoredPtyId = toAppSshPtyId('target-a', 'pty-gone-session')
+    const transport = createMockTransport()
+    transport.connect.mockImplementationOnce(async (options) => {
+      options.callbacks?.onError?.(`SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED: target-a@@pty-gone-session`)
+      return undefined
+    })
+    transportFactoryQueue.push(transport)
+    const pendingRetry = {
+      attemptId: 'attempt-gone-session',
+      authority: {
+        targetId: 'target-a',
+        providerEpoch: 'epoch-1',
+        connectionGeneration: 3
+      },
+      tabGeneration: 7,
+      startedAt: 1
+    }
+    const settleDirectSshPaneRetry = vi.fn()
+    mockStoreState = {
+      ...mockStoreState,
+      tabsByWorktree: {
+        'wt-1': [{ id: 'tab-1', ptyId: restoredPtyId, generation: 7 }]
+      },
+      ptyIdsByTabId: { 'tab-1': [restoredPtyId] },
+      repos: [{ id: 'repo1', connectionId: 'target-a', displayName: 'orca' }],
+      sshConnectionStates: new Map([
+        [
+          'target-a',
+          {
+            targetId: 'target-a',
+            status: 'connected',
+            providerEpoch: 'epoch-1',
+            connectionGeneration: 3
+          }
+        ]
+      ]),
+      directSshPaneRetryByTabId: { 'tab-1': pendingRetry },
+      settleDirectSshPaneRetry
+    }
+    const deps = createDeps({
+      restoredLeafId: LEAF_1,
+      restoredPtyIdByLeafId: { [LEAF_1]: restoredPtyId }
+    })
+
+    connectPanePty(createPane(1) as never, createManager(1) as never, deps as never)
+    await flushAsyncTicks(16)
+
+    expect(deps.clearTabPtyId).toHaveBeenCalledWith('tab-1', restoredPtyId)
+  })
+
+  it('does not fresh-spawn when reattach only needs its live source restored', async () => {
+    const { connectPanePty } = await import('./pty-connection')
+    const restoredPtyId = toAppSshPtyId('target-a', 'pty-live-source')
+    const transport = createMockTransport()
+    transport.connect.mockImplementationOnce(async (options) => {
+      options.callbacks?.onError?.('SSH_SOURCE_RESTORE_REQUIRED: target-a@@pty-live-source')
+      return undefined
+    })
+    transportFactoryQueue.push(transport)
+    const pendingRetry = {
+      attemptId: 'attempt-live-source-restore',
+      authority: {
+        targetId: 'target-a',
+        providerEpoch: 'epoch-1',
+        connectionGeneration: 3
+      },
+      tabGeneration: 7,
+      startedAt: 1
+    }
+    const settleDirectSshPaneRetry = vi.fn()
+    mockStoreState = {
+      ...mockStoreState,
+      tabsByWorktree: {
+        'wt-1': [{ id: 'tab-1', ptyId: restoredPtyId, generation: 7 }]
+      },
+      ptyIdsByTabId: { 'tab-1': [restoredPtyId] },
+      repos: [{ id: 'repo1', connectionId: 'target-a', displayName: 'orca' }],
+      sshConnectionStates: new Map([
+        [
+          'target-a',
+          {
+            targetId: 'target-a',
+            status: 'connected',
+            providerEpoch: 'epoch-1',
+            connectionGeneration: 3
+          }
+        ]
+      ]),
+      directSshPaneRetryByTabId: { 'tab-1': pendingRetry },
+      settleDirectSshPaneRetry
+    }
+    const deps = createDeps({
+      restoredLeafId: LEAF_1,
+      restoredPtyIdByLeafId: { [LEAF_1]: restoredPtyId }
+    })
+
+    connectPanePty(createPane(1) as never, createManager(1) as never, deps as never)
+    await flushAsyncTicks(16)
+
+    expect(transport.connect).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({ sessionId: restoredPtyId })
+    )
+    // The exact call the positive control above proves this harness makes on SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED.
+    expect(deps.clearTabPtyId).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(transport.connect).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.not.objectContaining({ sessionId: restoredPtyId })
+    )
+    expect(settleDirectSshPaneRetry).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      status: 'failed',
+      tabId: 'tab-1',
+      attemptId: pendingRetry.attemptId,
+      authority: pendingRetry.authority,
+      tabGeneration: pendingRetry.tabGeneration
+    })
+    expect(window.api.pty.kill).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
   // Why both directions: #15166 dropped #14844's reconnect model-paint gate and pinned the
   // degraded relay-only paint here. The gate's contract is that the relay wins only when the
   // replay SHOWS the app left the alternate screen, so pin the veto and its absence together.
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-connection/pty-connect-limits.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-connection/pty-connect-limits.ts
index e082c5703c9..d1bbf1b586a 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-connection/pty-connect-limits.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-connection/pty-connect-limits.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { e2eConfig } from '@/lib/e2e-config'
 
 export const pendingSpawnByPaneKey = new Map<string, Promise<string | null>>()
 export const pendingSpawnGenerationByPaneKey = new Map<string, number>()
-export const SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED_ERROR = 'SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED'
+export { SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED_ERROR } from '../../../../../shared/ssh-pty-failure-tokens'
 // Why: relay requests expire at 30s; leave one second for their fallback before re-arming locally.
 export const DIRECT_SSH_PANE_RETRY_SETTLEMENT_TIMEOUT_MS = 31_000
 export const REMOTE_PTY_ID_PREFIX = 'remote:'
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/remote-runtime-pty-transport.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/remote-runtime-pty-transport.ts
index 62c3ebee134..4b0541ec6db 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/remote-runtime-pty-transport.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/remote-runtime-pty-transport.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import type {
   RuntimeTerminalSend
 } from '../../../../shared/runtime-types'
 import { TERMINAL_CREATE_IDEMPOTENCY_RUNTIME_CAPABILITY } from '../../../../shared/protocol-version'
+import { SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED_ERROR } from '../../../../shared/ssh-pty-failure-tokens'
 import { agentResumeHostAuthorityCapability } from '../../runtime/agent-resume-host-authority-capability'
 import {
   isTerminalInputTooLargeWithDeferredMeasurement,
@@ -116,7 +117,6 @@ type RemoteAgentSessionLaunchResult =
   | RuntimeEnsureAgentSessionResult
   | RuntimeCreateAgentSessionResult
   | { terminal: RuntimeTerminalCreate; disposition?: undefined }
-const SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED_ERROR = 'SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED'
 
 function isRemoteTerminalStaleMessage(message: string): boolean {
   return message.includes('terminal_handle_stale')
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json
index 1c38d89f358..97966b754f2 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json
+++ b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json
@@ -3072,7 +3072,8 @@
             "cc6d997c65": "Restart the terminal daemon from here to clear stale daemon state.",
             "7ee11bc0db": "Orca couldn't confirm whether this terminal's previous session is still running, so it left the session untouched. Reopen this pane to retry.",
             "e16012e31e": "The terminal daemon that owned this session exited, so the session and its scrollback could not be recovered. Open a new terminal to continue.",
-            "sessionUnavailable": "Orca couldn't reattach to this pane's terminal session on the host. Open a new terminal to continue."
+            "sessionUnavailable": "Orca couldn't reattach to this pane's terminal session on the host. Open a new terminal to continue.",
+            "sourceRestoring": "Reconnecting this terminal — its output is being re-established. The session is still running."
           },
           "TerminalProcessExitOverlay": {
             "capacityTitle": "Git Bash console limit reached",
diff --git a/src/shared/ssh-pty-failure-tokens.ts b/src/shared/ssh-pty-failure-tokens.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..71c2b580e7e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/shared/ssh-pty-failure-tokens.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+/**
+ * Tokens a failed SSH PTY reattach can carry, shared by the main-process provider that throws them
+ * and the renderer consumers that decide what a pane may do next.
+ *
+ * They are deliberately disjoint strings: every consumer matches with `includes()`, so a token that
+ * embedded another would silently inherit its authority.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * A reachable relay answered for this exact PTY id and the session is gone. The only token that
+ * authorises replacing the pane's PTY (see docs/reference/ssh-execution-boundary.md — `exited`
+ * requires positive evidence of absence from the host that owns the process).
+ */
+export const SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED_ERROR = 'SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED'
+
+/** The relay found the PTY, but it is bound to a different pane identity. */
+export const SSH_PTY_IDENTITY_MISMATCH_ERROR = 'SSH_PTY_IDENTITY_MISMATCH'
+
+/**
+ * The relay proved the PTY is live and only retired its output delivery. Never respawn on this:
+ * the shell, its agent, and its work are all still running on the host.
+ */
+export const SSH_SOURCE_RESTORE_REQUIRED_ERROR = 'SSH_SOURCE_RESTORE_REQUIRED'