diff --git a/config/scripts/relay-json-payload-benchmark.ts b/config/scripts/relay-json-payload-benchmark.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8c05fea0227
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/scripts/relay-json-payload-benchmark.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,166 @@
+import { performance } from 'node:perf_hooks'
+import { platform, release } from 'node:os'
+import {
+  HEADER_LENGTH,
+  MAX_MESSAGE_SIZE,
+  MessageType,
+  encodeFrame,
+  encodePreparedJsonRpcFrame,
+  prepareJsonRpcPayload,
+  type JsonRpcNotification
+} from '../../src/relay/protocol'
+
+type BenchmarkCase = {
+  name: string
+  message: JsonRpcNotification
+  targets: number
+  iterations: number
+}
+
+type BenchmarkResult = {
+  name: string
+  targets: number
+  payloadBytes: number
+  legacyMicros: number
+  preparedMicros: number
+  reductionPercent: number
+  speedup: number
+}
+
+const SAMPLES = 17
+let checksum = 0
+
+function encodeLegacyJsonRpcFrame(message: JsonRpcNotification, id: number, ack: number): Buffer {
+  const payload = Buffer.from(JSON.stringify(message), 'utf8')
+  if (payload.length > MAX_MESSAGE_SIZE) {
+    throw new Error(`Message too large: ${payload.length} bytes`)
+  }
+  return encodeFrame(MessageType.Regular, id, ack, payload)
+}
+
+function runLegacy(message: JsonRpcNotification, targets: number, iteration: number): void {
+  const estimated = encodeLegacyJsonRpcFrame(message, 0, 0).length
+  checksum = (checksum + estimated) >>> 0
+  for (let target = 0; target < targets; target++) {
+    consume(encodeLegacyJsonRpcFrame(message, iteration + target + 1, iteration))
+  }
+}
+
+function runPrepared(message: JsonRpcNotification, targets: number, iteration: number): void {
+  const payload = prepareJsonRpcPayload(message)
+  checksum = (checksum + HEADER_LENGTH + payload.byteLength) >>> 0
+  for (let target = 0; target < targets; target++) {
+    consume(encodePreparedJsonRpcFrame(payload, iteration + target + 1, iteration))
+  }
+}
+
+function consume(frame: Buffer): void {
+  checksum = (checksum + frame.length + frame[0] + frame.at(-1)!) >>> 0
+}
+
+function measure(operation: (iteration: number) => void, iterations: number): number {
+  const startedAt = performance.now()
+  for (let iteration = 0; iteration < iterations; iteration++) {
+    operation(iteration)
+  }
+  return ((performance.now() - startedAt) * 1000) / iterations
+}
+
+function median(values: readonly number[]): number {
+  const sorted = [...values].sort((left, right) => left - right)
+  return sorted[Math.floor(sorted.length / 2)]
+}
+
+function benchmarkCase(entry: BenchmarkCase): BenchmarkResult {
+  const legacy = (iteration: number): void => runLegacy(entry.message, entry.targets, iteration)
+  const prepared = (iteration: number): void => runPrepared(entry.message, entry.targets, iteration)
+  for (let warmup = 0; warmup < 3; warmup++) {
+    measure(legacy, Math.min(20, entry.iterations))
+    measure(prepared, Math.min(20, entry.iterations))
+  }
+  const legacySamples: number[] = []
+  const preparedSamples: number[] = []
+  for (let sample = 0; sample < SAMPLES; sample++) {
+    if (sample % 2 === 0) {
+      legacySamples.push(measure(legacy, entry.iterations))
+      preparedSamples.push(measure(prepared, entry.iterations))
+    } else {
+      preparedSamples.push(measure(prepared, entry.iterations))
+      legacySamples.push(measure(legacy, entry.iterations))
+    }
+  }
+  const legacyMicros = median(legacySamples)
+  const preparedMicros = median(preparedSamples)
+  return {
+    name: entry.name,
+    targets: entry.targets,
+    payloadBytes: Buffer.byteLength(JSON.stringify(entry.message)),
+    legacyMicros,
+    preparedMicros,
+    reductionPercent: ((legacyMicros - preparedMicros) / legacyMicros) * 100,
+    speedup: legacyMicros / preparedMicros
+  }
+}
+
+function terminalData(bytes: number): string {
+  const row = '\u001b[38;5;45mcompile src/renderer/pane.ts\u001b[0m\r\n'
+  return row.repeat(Math.ceil(bytes / row.length)).slice(0, bytes)
+}
+
+function watcherEvents(count: number): {
+  kind: string
+  absolutePath: string
+  isDirectory: boolean
+}[] {
+  return Array.from({ length: count }, (_, index) => ({
+    kind: index % 7 === 0 ? 'create' : 'update',
+    absolutePath: `/repo/src/features/terminal/generated-${String(index).padStart(4, '0')}.ts`,
+    isDirectory: false
+  }))
+}
+
+const ptyMessage: JsonRpcNotification = {
+  jsonrpc: '2.0',
+  method: 'pty.data',
+  params: { id: 'pty-42', data: terminalData(16 * 1024), seq: 18_432, rawLength: 16 * 1024 }
+}
+const watcherMessage: JsonRpcNotification = {
+  jsonrpc: '2.0',
+  method: 'fs.changed',
+  params: { events: watcherEvents(256) }
+}
+const fileMessage: JsonRpcNotification = {
+  jsonrpc: '2.0',
+  method: 'fs.streamChunk',
+  params: {
+    streamId: 37,
+    seq: 11,
+    data: Buffer.alloc(256 * 1024, 0x61).toString('base64')
+  }
+}
+
+const cases: BenchmarkCase[] = [
+  { name: 'PTY 16KiB', message: ptyMessage, targets: 1, iterations: 800 },
+  { name: 'PTY 16KiB', message: ptyMessage, targets: 2, iterations: 600 },
+  { name: 'watcher 256 events', message: watcherMessage, targets: 1, iterations: 400 },
+  { name: 'watcher 256 events', message: watcherMessage, targets: 2, iterations: 300 },
+  { name: 'file 256KiB raw', message: fileMessage, targets: 1, iterations: 50 },
+  { name: 'file 256KiB raw', message: fileMessage, targets: 2, iterations: 35 }
+]
+
+const results = cases.map(benchmarkCase)
+const lines = [
+  `relay JSON payload benchmark: Node ${process.version}, ${platform()} ${release()}, ${SAMPLES} interleaved samples`,
+  'case | targets | JSON bytes | legacy median us/op | prepared median us/op | reduction | speedup',
+  ...results.map(
+    (result) =>
+      `${result.name} | ${result.targets} | ${result.payloadBytes} | ` +
+      `${result.legacyMicros.toFixed(2)} | ${result.preparedMicros.toFixed(2)} | ` +
+      `${result.reductionPercent.toFixed(1)}% | ${result.speedup.toFixed(2)}x`
+  ),
+  `checksum=${checksum}`,
+  'Limitations: in-process framing only; excludes dispatcher scheduling, sink/network I/O, and tail-GC.',
+  'Legacy is the exact pre-change framing composition retained in this script, not a separate checkout.',
+  'The two-target rows model dispatcher fan-out; watcher batches and file streams are commonly single-target.'
+]
+process.stdout.write(`${lines.join('\n')}\n`)
diff --git a/src/main/ssh/relay-protocol.ts b/src/main/ssh/relay-protocol.ts
index 8c9f35b96d1..f675ac6ed9d 100644
--- a/src/main/ssh/relay-protocol.ts
+++ b/src/main/ssh/relay-protocol.ts
@@ -115,6 +115,13 @@ export type JsonRpcNotification = {
 
 export type JsonRpcMessage = JsonRpcRequest | JsonRpcResponse | JsonRpcNotification
 
+const JSON_RPC_PAYLOAD_BYTES = Symbol('jsonRpcPayloadBytes')
+
+export type PreparedJsonRpcPayload = Readonly<{
+  byteLength: number
+  [JSON_RPC_PAYLOAD_BYTES]: Buffer
+}>
+
 // ── Framing: encode / decode ────────────────────────────────────────
 
 /**
@@ -141,11 +148,23 @@ export function encodeFrame(
 }
 
 export function encodeJsonRpcFrame(msg: JsonRpcMessage, id: number, ack: number): Buffer {
+  return encodePreparedJsonRpcFrame(prepareJsonRpcPayload(msg), id, ack)
+}
+
+export function prepareJsonRpcPayload(msg: JsonRpcMessage): PreparedJsonRpcPayload {
   const payload = Buffer.from(JSON.stringify(msg), 'utf-8')
   if (payload.length > MAX_MESSAGE_SIZE) {
     throw new Error(`Message too large: ${payload.length} bytes (max ${MAX_MESSAGE_SIZE})`)
   }
-  return encodeFrame(MessageType.Regular, id, ack, payload)
+  return Object.freeze({ byteLength: payload.length, [JSON_RPC_PAYLOAD_BYTES]: payload })
+}
+
+export function encodePreparedJsonRpcFrame(
+  payload: PreparedJsonRpcPayload,
+  id: number,
+  ack: number
+): Buffer {
+  return encodeFrame(MessageType.Regular, id, ack, payload[JSON_RPC_PAYLOAD_BYTES])
 }
 
 export function encodeKeepAliveFrame(id: number, ack: number): Buffer {
diff --git a/src/relay/dispatcher-capacity-degradation.test.ts b/src/relay/dispatcher-capacity-degradation.test.ts
index a546989d5df..7bcf81674dc 100644
--- a/src/relay/dispatcher-capacity-degradation.test.ts
+++ b/src/relay/dispatcher-capacity-degradation.test.ts
@@ -9,16 +9,15 @@ import { LEGACY_CLIENT_RETAINED_BYTES_LOW } from './legacy-relay-publication-led
 import type * as ProtocolModule from './protocol'
 import { encodeJsonRpcFrame, RelayErrorCode } from './protocol'
 
-// Counts every frame encode (including the estimate-only ones) so a redundant re-encode is observable.
-const encodeCalls = vi.hoisted(() => ({ count: 0 }))
+const preparationCalls = vi.hoisted(() => ({ count: 0 }))
 
 vi.mock('./protocol', async (importOriginal) => {
   const actual = await importOriginal<typeof ProtocolModule>()
   return {
     ...actual,
-    encodeJsonRpcFrame: (...args: Parameters<typeof actual.encodeJsonRpcFrame>) => {
-      encodeCalls.count++
-      return actual.encodeJsonRpcFrame(...args)
+    prepareJsonRpcPayload: (...args: Parameters<typeof actual.prepareJsonRpcPayload>) => {
+      preparationCalls.count++
+      return actual.prepareJsonRpcPayload(...args)
     }
   }
 })
@@ -344,7 +343,7 @@ describe('RelayDispatcher bounded-capacity degradation', () => {
     }
   })
 
-  it('does not re-encode a dropped frame when its log line is suppressed', () => {
+  it('prepares a dropped frame once when its log line is suppressed', () => {
     const primary = makeBoundedClient(16384)
     const stderr = vi.spyOn(process.stderr, 'write').mockReturnValue(true)
     const bounded = new RelayDispatcher(primary.write, primary.options)
@@ -353,11 +352,10 @@ describe('RelayDispatcher bounded-capacity degradation', () => {
       bounded.notify('fs.changed', flood)
       expect(stderr).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
 
-      // The suppressed drop must size the frame once, not once to publish and again to log.
-      encodeCalls.count = 0
+      preparationCalls.count = 0
       bounded.notify('fs.changed', flood)
       expect(stderr).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
-      expect(encodeCalls.count).toBe(1)
+      expect(preparationCalls.count).toBe(1)
     } finally {
       stderr.mockRestore()
       bounded.dispose()
diff --git a/src/relay/dispatcher-json-payload.test.ts b/src/relay/dispatcher-json-payload.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4965fe6898a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/relay/dispatcher-json-payload.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,328 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import type * as ProtocolModule from './protocol'
+import {
+  RelayDispatcher,
+  type RelayClientSinkOptions,
+  type SinkWriteSettlement
+} from './dispatcher'
+import { encodeKeepAliveFrame, type JsonRpcNotification } from './protocol'
+
+const protocolCalls = vi.hoisted(() => ({ preparations: 0, encodes: 0 }))
+
+vi.mock('./protocol', async (importOriginal) => {
+  const actual = await importOriginal<typeof ProtocolModule>()
+  return {
+    ...actual,
+    prepareJsonRpcPayload: (...args: Parameters<typeof actual.prepareJsonRpcPayload>) => {
+      protocolCalls.preparations++
+      return actual.prepareJsonRpcPayload(...args)
+    },
+    encodePreparedJsonRpcFrame: (...args: Parameters<typeof actual.encodePreparedJsonRpcFrame>) => {
+      protocolCalls.encodes++
+      return actual.encodePreparedJsonRpcFrame(...args)
+    }
+  }
+})
+
+type DecodedFrame = {
+  id: number
+  ack: number
+  message: JsonRpcNotification
+  payload: Buffer
+}
+
+function decodeFrame(frame: Buffer): DecodedFrame {
+  const length = frame.readUInt32BE(9)
+  const payload = frame.subarray(13, 13 + length)
+  return {
+    id: frame.readUInt32BE(1),
+    ack: frame.readUInt32BE(5),
+    message: JSON.parse(payload.toString('utf8')),
+    payload
+  }
+}
+
+class DrainSink {
+  readonly frames: Buffer[] = []
+  private readonly drainWaiters = new Set<() => void>()
+  private writableBytes = 0
+  private blocked = true
+
+  constructor(
+    highWaterMark = 4 * 1024 * 1024,
+    private readonly mutateFrames = false
+  ) {
+    this.options = {
+      writableLength: () => this.writableBytes,
+      writableHighWaterMark: () => highWaterMark,
+      waitWriteDrain: (callback) => {
+        this.drainWaiters.add(callback)
+        return () => this.drainWaiters.delete(callback)
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  readonly options: RelayClientSinkOptions
+
+  write = (data: Buffer): boolean => {
+    this.frames.push(Buffer.from(data))
+    if (this.mutateFrames) {
+      data.fill(0x78, 13)
+    }
+    if (!this.blocked) {
+      return true
+    }
+    this.writableBytes = data.length
+    return false
+  }
+
+  drain(): void {
+    this.blocked = false
+    this.writableBytes = 0
+    for (const callback of Array.from(this.drainWaiters)) {
+      callback()
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+describe('RelayDispatcher prepared JSON payloads', () => {
+  afterEach(() => {
+    protocolCalls.preparations = 0
+    protocolCalls.encodes = 0
+  })
+
+  it('shares one payload while allocating independent drain-time sequence and ACK headers', () => {
+    const primary = new DrainSink(undefined, true)
+    const secondary = new DrainSink()
+    const dispatcher = new RelayDispatcher(primary.write, primary.options)
+    const secondaryId = dispatcher.attachClient(secondary.write, secondary.options)
+    try {
+      dispatcher.notify('test.blocker')
+      dispatcher.notifyClient(1, 'test.primary-only')
+      protocolCalls.preparations = 0
+      protocolCalls.encodes = 0
+
+      dispatcher.notify('workspace.changed', { revision: 7 })
+      expect(protocolCalls).toEqual({ preparations: 1, encodes: 0 })
+      dispatcher.feed(encodeKeepAliveFrame(41, 0))
+      dispatcher.feedClient(secondaryId, encodeKeepAliveFrame(73, 0))
+
+      primary.drain()
+      secondary.drain()
+
+      const primaryShared = primary.frames
+        .map(decodeFrame)
+        .find((frame) => frame.message.method === 'workspace.changed')
+      const secondaryShared = secondary.frames
+        .map(decodeFrame)
+        .find((frame) => frame.message.method === 'workspace.changed')
+      expect(primaryShared).toMatchObject({ id: 3, ack: 41 })
+      expect(secondaryShared).toMatchObject({ id: 2, ack: 73 })
+      expect(primaryShared?.payload.equals(secondaryShared!.payload)).toBe(true)
+      expect(protocolCalls).toEqual({ preparations: 1, encodes: 3 })
+    } finally {
+      dispatcher.dispose()
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('prepares a rejected producer frame once without allocating a header', () => {
+    const frames: Buffer[] = []
+    const dispatcher = new RelayDispatcher(
+      (frame) => {
+        frames.push(Buffer.from(frame))
+        return true
+      },
+      { writableLength: () => 0, writableHighWaterMark: () => 1024 }
+    )
+    try {
+      expect(
+        dispatcher.publishProducerNotification(
+          1,
+          'fs.changed',
+          { events: [{ path: '/repo/a' }] },
+          {
+            logDrop: false
+          }
+        )
+      ).toBe(false)
+      expect(frames).toEqual([])
+      expect(protocolCalls).toEqual({ preparations: 1, encodes: 0 })
+    } finally {
+      dispatcher.dispose()
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('snapshots wire data and retains only PTY admission identity while queued', () => {
+    const sink = new DrainSink()
+    const dispatcher = new RelayDispatcher(sink.write, sink.options)
+    const params: Record<string, unknown> = {
+      id: 'pty-1',
+      data: 'before'.repeat(4096),
+      deliveryToken: 'token-before',
+      clientGeneration: 3,
+      ownerGeneration: 5,
+      ptyIncarnation: 'incarnation-before'
+    }
+    const internals = dispatcher as unknown as {
+      prepareFrame: (message: JsonRpcNotification) => {
+        ptyDataAdmissionParams: Readonly<Record<string, unknown>> | null
+      }
+    }
+    const prepared = internals.prepareFrame({ jsonrpc: '2.0', method: 'pty.data', params })
+    expect(prepared.ptyDataAdmissionParams).toEqual({
+      id: 'pty-1',
+      deliveryToken: 'token-before',
+      clientGeneration: 3,
+      ownerGeneration: 5,
+      ptyIncarnation: 'incarnation-before'
+    })
+    expect(prepared.ptyDataAdmissionParams).not.toHaveProperty('data')
+
+    const admissions: Readonly<Record<string, unknown>>[] = []
+    dispatcher.registerPtyDataPublicationAdmission((_clientId, admissionParams) => {
+      admissions.push(admissionParams)
+      return admissionParams.deliveryToken === 'token-before'
+    })
+    dispatcher.notify('test.blocker')
+    const settled = vi.fn<(result: SinkWriteSettlement) => void>()
+    expect(dispatcher.tryNotifyPtyDataToClient(1, params, settled)).toBe(true)
+    admissions.length = 0
+    params.data = 'after'
+    params.deliveryToken = 'token-after'
+    params.clientGeneration = 99
+    params.ownerGeneration = 100
+    params.ptyIncarnation = 'incarnation-after'
+
+    sink.drain()
+
+    const publication = sink.frames
+      .map(decodeFrame)
+      .find((frame) => frame.message.method === 'pty.data')
+    expect(publication?.message.params).toMatchObject({
+      data: 'before'.repeat(4096),
+      deliveryToken: 'token-before',
+      clientGeneration: 3,
+      ownerGeneration: 5,
+      ptyIncarnation: 'incarnation-before'
+    })
+    expect(admissions).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(admissions[0]).not.toHaveProperty('data')
+    expect(admissions[0]).toMatchObject({ deliveryToken: 'token-before', clientGeneration: 3 })
+    expect(settled).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith({ ok: true })
+    dispatcher.dispose()
+  })
+
+  it('retires queued PTY data without consuming sequence or losing settlement', () => {
+    const sink = new DrainSink()
+    const dispatcher = new RelayDispatcher(sink.write, sink.options)
+    let admitted = true
+    dispatcher.registerPtyDataPublicationAdmission(() => admitted)
+    try {
+      dispatcher.notify('test.blocker')
+      const retired = vi.fn<(result: SinkWriteSettlement) => void>()
+      expect(dispatcher.tryNotifyPtyDataToClient(1, { id: 'pty-1', data: 'retire' }, retired)).toBe(
+        true
+      )
+      admitted = false
+      sink.drain()
+      expect(retired).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith({
+        ok: false,
+        error: expect.objectContaining({ message: 'PTY publication retired' })
+      })
+      admitted = true
+      expect(dispatcher.tryNotifyPtyDataToClient(1, { id: 'pty-1', data: 'next' }, vi.fn())).toBe(
+        true
+      )
+      const published = sink.frames
+        .map(decodeFrame)
+        .find((frame) => frame.message.method === 'pty.data')
+      expect(published).toMatchObject({ id: 2 })
+      expect(published?.message.params?.data).toBe('next')
+    } finally {
+      dispatcher.dispose()
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('reuses one snapshot when a 256 KiB file frame retries after producer drain', async () => {
+    const sink = new DrainSink()
+    const dispatcher = new RelayDispatcher(sink.write, sink.options)
+    try {
+      dispatcher.notify('test.blocker', { data: 'x'.repeat(16 * 1024) })
+      protocolCalls.preparations = 0
+      protocolCalls.encodes = 0
+      const originalData = Buffer.alloc(256 * 1024, 0x61).toString('base64')
+      const params = { streamId: 7, seq: 2, data: originalData }
+      const pending = dispatcher.notifyBulk('fs.streamChunk', params)
+      params.data = 'mutated'
+      await Promise.resolve()
+
+      expect(protocolCalls).toEqual({ preparations: 1, encodes: 0 })
+      sink.drain()
+      await pending
+
+      const chunk = sink.frames
+        .map(decodeFrame)
+        .find((frame) => frame.message.method === 'fs.streamChunk')
+      expect(chunk?.message.params).toEqual({ streamId: 7, seq: 2, data: originalData })
+      expect(protocolCalls).toEqual({ preparations: 1, encodes: 1 })
+    } finally {
+      dispatcher.dispose()
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('prepares queued 256 KiB bulk payloads only when their chain step becomes active', async () => {
+    const sink = new DrainSink()
+    const dispatcher = new RelayDispatcher(sink.write, sink.options)
+    try {
+      dispatcher.notify('test.blocker', { data: 'x'.repeat(16 * 1024) })
+      protocolCalls.preparations = 0
+      protocolCalls.encodes = 0
+      const originalData = Buffer.alloc(256 * 1024, 0x61).toString('base64')
+      const pending = Array.from({ length: 16 }, (_, index) => {
+        const params = { streamId: index + 1, seq: 1, data: originalData }
+        const publication = dispatcher.notifyBulk('fs.streamChunk', params)
+        params.data = 'mutated'
+        return publication
+      })
+
+      expect(protocolCalls).toEqual({ preparations: 0, encodes: 0 })
+      await Promise.resolve()
+      expect(protocolCalls).toEqual({ preparations: 1, encodes: 0 })
+
+      sink.drain()
+      await Promise.all(pending)
+
+      const chunks = sink.frames
+        .map(decodeFrame)
+        .filter((frame) => frame.message.method === 'fs.streamChunk')
+      expect(chunks).toHaveLength(16)
+      expect(chunks.every((frame) => frame.message.params?.data === originalData)).toBe(true)
+      expect(protocolCalls).toEqual({ preparations: 16, encodes: 16 })
+    } finally {
+      dispatcher.dispose()
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('lazily shares one bulk payload across broadcast clients', async () => {
+    const primary = new DrainSink()
+    const secondary = new DrainSink()
+    primary.drain()
+    secondary.drain()
+    const dispatcher = new RelayDispatcher(primary.write, primary.options)
+    dispatcher.attachClient(secondary.write, secondary.options)
+    try {
+      const params = { streamId: 4, seq: 8, data: 'before' }
+      const pending = dispatcher.notifyBulk('git.responseChunk', params)
+      params.data = 'after'
+
+      expect(protocolCalls).toEqual({ preparations: 0, encodes: 0 })
+      await pending
+
+      expect(decodeFrame(primary.frames[0]).message.params?.data).toBe('before')
+      expect(decodeFrame(secondary.frames[0]).message.params?.data).toBe('before')
+      expect(protocolCalls).toEqual({ preparations: 1, encodes: 2 })
+    } finally {
+      dispatcher.dispose()
+    }
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/relay/dispatcher.test.ts b/src/relay/dispatcher.test.ts
index f38d3833dca..280f9351200 100644
--- a/src/relay/dispatcher.test.ts
+++ b/src/relay/dispatcher.test.ts
@@ -725,12 +725,18 @@ describe('RelayDispatcher', () => {
     type DispatcherInternals = {
       primaryClient: object
       estimateFrameBytes: (msg: JsonRpcNotification) => number
+      prepareFrame: (msg: JsonRpcNotification) => object
       enqueueFrame: (
         client: object,
         msg: JsonRpcNotification,
         lane: string,
-        onSettled?: (result: SinkWriteSettlement) => void,
-        estimatedBytes?: number
+        onSettled?: (result: SinkWriteSettlement) => void
+      ) => boolean
+      enqueuePreparedFrame: (
+        client: object,
+        frame: object,
+        lane: string,
+        onSettled?: (result: SinkWriteSettlement) => void
       ) => boolean
     }
 
@@ -840,14 +846,14 @@ describe('RelayDispatcher', () => {
       }
     })
 
-    it('publishes PTY data with a single frame estimate', () => {
+    it('publishes PTY data with a single frame preparation', () => {
       const frames: Buffer[] = []
       const publisher = new RelayDispatcher((data) => {
         frames.push(Buffer.from(data))
         return true
       })
       try {
-        const spy = vi.spyOn(publisher as unknown as DispatcherInternals, 'estimateFrameBytes')
+        const spy = vi.spyOn(publisher as unknown as DispatcherInternals, 'prepareFrame')
         expect(publisher.tryNotifyPtyData({ id: 'pty-1', data: 'hello' })).toBe(true)
         expect(frames).toHaveLength(1)
         expect(spy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
@@ -856,7 +862,7 @@ describe('RelayDispatcher', () => {
       }
     })
 
-    it('enqueueFrame with a caller-supplied estimate matches the computed default', () => {
+    it('a prepared enqueue matches the composition wrapper', () => {
       const frames: Buffer[] = []
       const publisher = new RelayDispatcher((data) => {
         frames.push(Buffer.from(data))
@@ -871,12 +877,10 @@ describe('RelayDispatcher', () => {
         }
         expect(internals.enqueueFrame(internals.primaryClient, msg, 'ordinary')).toBe(true)
         expect(
-          internals.enqueueFrame(
+          internals.enqueuePreparedFrame(
             internals.primaryClient,
-            msg,
-            'ordinary',
-            undefined,
-            internals.estimateFrameBytes(msg)
+            internals.prepareFrame(msg),
+            'ordinary'
           )
         ).toBe(true)
         expect(frames).toHaveLength(2)
@@ -888,7 +892,7 @@ describe('RelayDispatcher', () => {
       }
     })
 
-    it('enqueueFrame rejects identically with and without a caller-supplied estimate', () => {
+    it('a prepared enqueue rejects identically to the composition wrapper', () => {
       const { sized } = makeDispatcher([1030])
       try {
         const internals = sized as unknown as DispatcherInternals
@@ -899,12 +903,10 @@ describe('RelayDispatcher', () => {
         }
         expect(internals.enqueueFrame(internals.primaryClient, msg, 'ordinary')).toBe(false)
         expect(
-          internals.enqueueFrame(
+          internals.enqueuePreparedFrame(
             internals.primaryClient,
-            msg,
-            'ordinary',
-            undefined,
-            internals.estimateFrameBytes(msg)
+            internals.prepareFrame(msg),
+            'ordinary'
           )
         ).toBe(false)
       } finally {
diff --git a/src/relay/dispatcher.ts b/src/relay/dispatcher.ts
index 5620b44f0d7..29d1297d283 100644
--- a/src/relay/dispatcher.ts
+++ b/src/relay/dispatcher.ts
@@ -1,16 +1,19 @@
 /* eslint-disable max-lines -- dispatcher keeps client routing, cancellation, and framing state together */
 import {
   FrameDecoder,
+  HEADER_LENGTH,
   MessageType,
-  encodeJsonRpcFrame,
+  encodePreparedJsonRpcFrame,
   encodeKeepAliveFrame,
   parseJsonRpcMessage,
+  prepareJsonRpcPayload,
   KEEPALIVE_SEND_MS,
   RelayErrorCode,
   type DecodedFrame,
   type JsonRpcRequest,
   type JsonRpcNotification,
-  type JsonRpcResponse
+  type JsonRpcResponse,
+  type PreparedJsonRpcPayload
 } from './protocol'
 import { ClientRequestAborts } from './client-request-aborts'
 import { MAX_TIMER_DELAY_MS, isSafeTimerDelayMs } from '../shared/timer-delay'
@@ -80,6 +83,14 @@ type RelayClient = {
   sessionIdentity: RelayClientSessionIdentity
 }
 
+type OutgoingJsonRpcMessage = JsonRpcRequest | JsonRpcResponse | JsonRpcNotification
+
+type PreparedRelayFrame = Readonly<{
+  payload: PreparedJsonRpcPayload
+  frameBytes: number
+  ptyDataAdmissionParams: Readonly<Record<string, unknown>> | null
+}>
+
 // Why: the log key set is rebuilt per generation, but a producer minting synthetic method names would still
 // grow it inside one generation — cap it well above the fixed relay method vocabulary.
 const DROPPED_NOTIFICATION_LOG_KEY_LIMIT = 64
@@ -571,7 +582,8 @@ export class RelayDispatcher {
       method,
       ...(params !== undefined ? { params } : {})
     }
-    const frameBytes = this.estimateFrameBytes(msg)
+    const frame = this.prepareFrame(msg)
+    const frameBytes = frame.frameBytes
     this.runPublicationTransaction(() => {
       for (const client of this.clients.values()) {
         if (client.closed) {
@@ -583,12 +595,12 @@ export class RelayDispatcher {
         if (method === 'pty.replay') {
           // Why: replay is never re-sent, so it takes the control lane where overflow is fatal — the
           // writer closes the client and reconnect reloads history rather than stranding a short buffer.
-          this.enqueueFrame(client, msg, 'control', undefined, frameBytes)
+          this.enqueuePreparedFrame(client, frame, 'control')
           continue
         }
         // Why: closing can never make an oversized frame sendable — the producer regenerates it after
         // reattach and re-kills the link, turning a recoverable drop into an endless reconnect loop.
-        if (!this.publishToClient(client, msg, 'ordinary', undefined, frameBytes)) {
+        if (!this.publishPreparedToClient(client, frame, 'ordinary')) {
           this.logDroppedProducerNotification(client, method, frameBytes)
         }
       }
@@ -620,13 +632,13 @@ export class RelayDispatcher {
     if (method === 'pty.data' && !this.admitsPtyDataPublication(client.id, params ?? {})) {
       return false
     }
-    const frameBytes = this.estimateFrameBytes(msg)
-    if (this.publishToClient(client, msg, 'ordinary', undefined, frameBytes)) {
+    const frame = this.prepareFrame(msg)
+    if (this.publishPreparedToClient(client, frame, 'ordinary')) {
       return true
     }
     // Why: same diagnostics as notify() — a producer that drops here must not do so silently.
     if (options?.logDrop !== false) {
-      this.logDroppedProducerNotification(client, method, frameBytes)
+      this.logDroppedProducerNotification(client, method, frame.frameBytes)
     }
     return false
   }
@@ -664,7 +676,6 @@ export class RelayDispatcher {
     onSettled: (result: SinkWriteSettlement) => void = () => {},
     options: {
       controlOverflow?: 'close-client' | 'reject'
-      estimatedBytes?: number
     } = {}
   ): boolean {
     if (this.disposed) {
@@ -685,7 +696,6 @@ export class RelayDispatcher {
       },
       'control',
       onSettled,
-      options.estimatedBytes,
       options.controlOverflow
     )
   }
@@ -699,8 +709,13 @@ export class RelayDispatcher {
       method,
       ...(params !== undefined ? { params } : {})
     }
-    for (const client of this.activeClients()) {
-      if (!this.enqueueFrame(client, msg, 'control')) {
+    const clients = this.activeClients()
+    if (clients.length === 0) {
+      return
+    }
+    const frame = this.prepareFrame(msg)
+    for (const client of clients) {
+      if (!this.enqueuePreparedFrame(client, frame, 'control')) {
         this.closeClient(
           client,
           new Error('Relay control publication capacity exceeded'),
@@ -724,27 +739,48 @@ export class RelayDispatcher {
     if (this.disposed) {
       return Promise.resolve()
     }
-    const msg: JsonRpcNotification = {
-      jsonrpc: '2.0',
-      method,
-      ...(params !== undefined ? { params } : {})
-    }
     const targets =
       opts?.clientId !== undefined
         ? [this.clients.get(opts.clientId)].filter((c): c is RelayClient => c !== undefined)
         : Array.from(this.clients.values())
-    const waits: Promise<void>[] = []
-    for (const client of targets) {
-      if (client.closed) {
-        continue
+    const activeTargets = targets.filter((client) => !client.closed)
+    if (activeTargets.length === 0) {
+      return Promise.resolve()
+    }
+    const msg: JsonRpcNotification = {
+      jsonrpc: '2.0',
+      method,
+      ...(params !== undefined ? { params: { ...params } } : {})
+    }
+    let prepared:
+      | { ok: true; frame: PreparedRelayFrame }
+      | { ok: false; error: unknown }
+      | undefined
+    const prepareOnce = (): PreparedRelayFrame => {
+      if (!prepared) {
+        try {
+          prepared = { ok: true, frame: this.prepareFrame(msg) }
+        } catch (error) {
+          prepared = { ok: false, error }
+        }
       }
-      const step = client.bulkChain.then(() => this.publishBulkWhenAvailable(client, msg))
+      if (!prepared.ok) {
+        throw prepared.error
+      }
+      return prepared.frame
+    }
+    const lane = method === 'fs.streamChunk' ? 'fixed-bulk' : 'bulk'
+    const waits: Promise<void>[] = []
+    for (const client of activeTargets) {
+      const step = client.bulkChain.then(() => {
+        if (this.disposed || client.closed) {
+          return
+        }
+        return this.publishBulkWhenAvailable(client, prepareOnce(), lane)
+      })
       client.bulkChain = step.catch(() => {})
       waits.push(step)
     }
-    if (waits.length === 0) {
-      return Promise.resolve()
-    }
     return Promise.all(waits).then(() => {})
   }
 
@@ -801,7 +837,7 @@ export class RelayDispatcher {
         reject(new Error(`Request "${method}" timed out after ${timeoutMs}ms`))
       }, timeoutMs)
       this.pendingRelayRequests.set(id, { resolve, reject, timer })
-      if (!this.enqueueFrame(client, msg, 'control', () => {}, undefined, 'reject')) {
+      if (!this.enqueueFrame(client, msg, 'control', () => {}, 'reject')) {
         clearTimeout(timer)
         this.pendingRelayRequests.delete(id)
         reject(new Error(`Request "${method}" exceeded the relay control transport capacity`))
@@ -1048,24 +1084,25 @@ export class RelayDispatcher {
       id,
       ...(error ? { error } : { result: result ?? null })
     }
-    const estimatedBytes = this.estimateFrameBytes(msg)
-    const lane = estimatedBytes > DISPATCHER_CONTROL_QUEUE_MAX_BYTES ? 'legacy-response' : 'control'
-    const accepted = this.enqueueFrame(client, msg, lane, onSettled)
+    const frame = this.prepareFrame(msg)
+    const lane =
+      frame.frameBytes > DISPATCHER_CONTROL_QUEUE_MAX_BYTES ? 'legacy-response' : 'control'
+    const accepted = this.enqueuePreparedFrame(client, frame, lane, onSettled)
     if (accepted) {
       return true
     }
     // Why: an oversized response must fail its own request; closing would kill every pane on the host.
     // A rejected first enqueue either left onSettled untouched or closed the client, so exactly one settlement happens.
-    return this.enqueueFrame(
+    return this.enqueuePreparedFrame(
       client,
-      {
+      this.prepareFrame({
         jsonrpc: '2.0',
         id,
         error: {
           code: RelayErrorCode.ResponseOverCapacity,
           message: RESPONSE_OVER_CAPACITY_MESSAGE
         }
-      },
+      }),
       'control',
       // Why: writing the substitute is not delivering the result — a settlement fence must never read
       // the capacity error's successful write as "the peer received your result".
@@ -1080,29 +1117,45 @@ export class RelayDispatcher {
 
   private enqueueFrame(
     client: RelayClient,
-    msg: JsonRpcRequest | JsonRpcResponse | JsonRpcNotification,
+    msg: OutgoingJsonRpcMessage,
+    lane: DispatcherWriterLane,
+    onSettled: (result: SinkWriteSettlement) => void = () => {},
+    controlOverflow: 'close-client' | 'reject' = 'close-client'
+  ): boolean {
+    if (this.disposed || client.closed) {
+      return false
+    }
+    return this.enqueuePreparedFrame(
+      client,
+      this.prepareFrame(msg),
+      lane,
+      onSettled,
+      controlOverflow
+    )
+  }
+
+  private enqueuePreparedFrame(
+    client: RelayClient,
+    frame: PreparedRelayFrame,
     lane: DispatcherWriterLane,
     onSettled: (result: SinkWriteSettlement) => void = () => {},
-    // Why: publish paths already sized the frame; avoid a redundant encode.
-    estimatedBytes?: number,
     controlOverflow: 'close-client' | 'reject' = 'close-client'
   ): boolean {
     if (this.disposed || client.closed) {
       return false
     }
-    const frameBytes = estimatedBytes ?? this.estimateFrameBytes(msg)
     const encode = (): Buffer => {
       const seq = client.nextOutgoingSeq++
-      return encodeJsonRpcFrame(msg, seq, client.highestReceivedSeq)
+      return encodePreparedJsonRpcFrame(frame.payload, seq, client.highestReceivedSeq)
     }
-    const isStillAdmitted =
-      'method' in msg && msg.method === 'pty.data'
-        ? () => this.admitsPtyDataPublication(client.id, msg.params ?? {})
-        : undefined
+    const admissionParams = frame.ptyDataAdmissionParams
+    const isStillAdmitted = admissionParams
+      ? () => this.admitsPtyDataPublication(client.id, admissionParams)
+      : undefined
     return client.writer.enqueue(
       lane,
       encode,
-      frameBytes,
+      frame.frameBytes,
       onSettled,
       lane === 'control' && controlOverflow === 'reject',
       isStillAdmitted
@@ -1151,8 +1204,27 @@ export class RelayDispatcher {
     return `${client.id}:${client.generation}`
   }
 
-  private estimateFrameBytes(msg: JsonRpcRequest | JsonRpcResponse | JsonRpcNotification): number {
-    return encodeJsonRpcFrame(msg, 0, 0).length
+  private prepareFrame(msg: OutgoingJsonRpcMessage): PreparedRelayFrame {
+    const payload = prepareJsonRpcPayload(msg)
+    const params = 'method' in msg && msg.method === 'pty.data' ? (msg.params ?? {}) : null
+    return Object.freeze({
+      payload,
+      frameBytes: HEADER_LENGTH + payload.byteLength,
+      ptyDataAdmissionParams:
+        params === null
+          ? null
+          : Object.freeze({
+              id: params.id,
+              deliveryToken: params.deliveryToken,
+              clientGeneration: params.clientGeneration,
+              ownerGeneration: params.ownerGeneration,
+              ptyIncarnation: params.ptyIncarnation
+            })
+    })
+  }
+
+  private estimateFrameBytes(msg: OutgoingJsonRpcMessage): number {
+    return HEADER_LENGTH + prepareJsonRpcPayload(msg).byteLength
   }
 
   private tryPublishToClients(
@@ -1164,7 +1236,8 @@ export class RelayDispatcher {
       if (clients.length === 0) {
         return true
       }
-      const bytes = this.estimateFrameBytes(msg)
+      const frame = this.prepareFrame(msg)
+      const bytes = frame.frameBytes
       if (clients.some((client) => !client.writer.canEnqueueProducer(bytes))) {
         return false
       }
@@ -1175,7 +1248,7 @@ export class RelayDispatcher {
         return false
       }
       for (let index = 0; index < clients.length; index++) {
-        if (!this.enqueueLeasedFrame(clients[index], msg, lane, leases[index], bytes)) {
+        if (!this.enqueueLeasedFrame(clients[index], frame, lane, leases[index])) {
           if (this.disposed || clients[index].closed) {
             continue
           }
@@ -1195,8 +1268,12 @@ export class RelayDispatcher {
     lane: 'interactive' | 'ordinary'
   ): boolean {
     return this.runPublicationTransaction(() => {
+      if (clients.length === 0) {
+        return true
+      }
+      const frame = this.prepareFrame(msg)
       for (const client of clients) {
-        if (client.closed || this.publishToClient(client, msg, lane)) {
+        if (client.closed || this.publishPreparedToClient(client, frame, lane)) {
           continue
         }
         this.closeClient(
@@ -1213,11 +1290,21 @@ export class RelayDispatcher {
     client: RelayClient,
     msg: JsonRpcNotification,
     lane: 'interactive' | 'ordinary' | 'fixed-bulk' | 'bulk',
-    onSettled: (result: SinkWriteSettlement) => void = () => {},
-    // Why: broadcast callers size the frame once for every client; avoid a redundant encode.
-    estimatedBytes?: number
+    onSettled: (result: SinkWriteSettlement) => void = () => {}
   ): boolean {
-    const bytes = estimatedBytes ?? this.estimateFrameBytes(msg)
+    if (this.disposed || client.closed) {
+      return false
+    }
+    return this.publishPreparedToClient(client, this.prepareFrame(msg), lane, onSettled)
+  }
+
+  private publishPreparedToClient(
+    client: RelayClient,
+    frame: PreparedRelayFrame,
+    lane: 'interactive' | 'ordinary' | 'fixed-bulk' | 'bulk',
+    onSettled: (result: SinkWriteSettlement) => void = () => {}
+  ): boolean {
+    const bytes = frame.frameBytes
     const fixedBlocked =
       lane === 'fixed-bulk' &&
       (client.writer.retainedProducerBytes > 0 || bytes > client.writer.fixedFrameCapacity)
@@ -1228,12 +1315,15 @@ export class RelayDispatcher {
     if (!leases) {
       return false
     }
-    return this.enqueueLeasedFrame(client, msg, lane, leases[0], bytes, onSettled)
+    return this.enqueueLeasedFrame(client, frame, lane, leases[0], onSettled)
   }
 
-  private publishBulkWhenAvailable(client: RelayClient, msg: JsonRpcNotification): Promise<void> {
-    const bytes = this.estimateFrameBytes(msg)
-    const lane = msg.method === 'fs.streamChunk' ? 'fixed-bulk' : 'bulk'
+  private publishBulkWhenAvailable(
+    client: RelayClient,
+    frame: PreparedRelayFrame,
+    lane: 'fixed-bulk' | 'bulk'
+  ): Promise<void> {
+    const bytes = frame.frameBytes
     if (bytes > DEFAULT_PRODUCER_QUEUE_MAX_BYTES) {
       return Promise.reject(new Error('Relay bulk frame exceeds sink producer capacity'))
     }
@@ -1253,7 +1343,7 @@ export class RelayDispatcher {
           return
         }
         if (
-          this.publishToClient(client, msg, lane, (result) => {
+          this.publishPreparedToClient(client, frame, lane, (result) => {
             finish()
             if (result.ok || this.disposed || client.closed) {
               resolve()
@@ -1274,23 +1364,16 @@ export class RelayDispatcher {
 
   private enqueueLeasedFrame(
     client: RelayClient,
-    msg: JsonRpcNotification,
+    frame: PreparedRelayFrame,
     lane: 'interactive' | 'ordinary' | 'fixed-bulk' | 'bulk',
     lease: LegacyPublicationLease,
-    estimatedBytes: number,
     onSettled: (result: SinkWriteSettlement) => void = () => {}
   ): boolean {
-    const accepted = this.enqueueFrame(
-      client,
-      msg,
-      lane,
-      (result) => {
-        lease.release()
-        onSettled(result)
-        this.notifyLegacyCapacityIfLow()
-      },
-      estimatedBytes
-    )
+    const accepted = this.enqueuePreparedFrame(client, frame, lane, (result) => {
+      lease.release()
+      onSettled(result)
+      this.notifyLegacyCapacityIfLow()
+    })
     if (!accepted) {
       lease.release()
       this.notifyLegacyCapacityIfLow()
diff --git a/src/relay/protocol-json-payload.test.ts b/src/relay/protocol-json-payload.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3abdb47058e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/relay/protocol-json-payload.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import * as mainProtocol from '../main/ssh/relay-protocol'
+import {
+  HEADER_LENGTH,
+  MAX_MESSAGE_SIZE,
+  MessageType,
+  encodeFrame,
+  encodeJsonRpcFrame,
+  encodePreparedJsonRpcFrame,
+  prepareJsonRpcPayload,
+  type JsonRpcNotification
+} from './protocol'
+
+describe('prepared relay JSON payload framing', () => {
+  it('is byte-equivalent to direct composition for every header field', () => {
+    const message: JsonRpcNotification = {
+      jsonrpc: '2.0',
+      method: 'pty.data',
+      params: { id: 'pty-1', data: 'héllo "𝄞"\\\n\uD800', seq: 42 }
+    }
+    const payload = Buffer.from(JSON.stringify(message), 'utf8')
+    const relayPrepared = prepareJsonRpcPayload(message)
+    const mainPrepared = mainProtocol.prepareJsonRpcPayload(message)
+
+    for (const [id, ack] of [
+      [0, 0],
+      [19, 7],
+      [0xffffffff, 0xfffffffe]
+    ]) {
+      const reference = encodeFrame(MessageType.Regular, id, ack, payload)
+      expect(encodePreparedJsonRpcFrame(relayPrepared, id, ack).equals(reference)).toBe(true)
+      expect(encodeJsonRpcFrame(message, id, ack).equals(reference)).toBe(true)
+      expect(mainProtocol.encodePreparedJsonRpcFrame(mainPrepared, id, ack).equals(reference)).toBe(
+        true
+      )
+      expect(mainProtocol.encodeJsonRpcFrame(message, id, ack).equals(reference)).toBe(true)
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('accepts the exact payload maximum and rejects one byte more', () => {
+    const base: JsonRpcNotification = {
+      jsonrpc: '2.0',
+      method: 'x',
+      params: { data: '' }
+    }
+    const overhead = Buffer.byteLength(JSON.stringify(base))
+    const exact = { ...base, params: { data: 'a'.repeat(MAX_MESSAGE_SIZE - overhead) } }
+    const oversized = { ...base, params: { data: 'a'.repeat(MAX_MESSAGE_SIZE - overhead + 1) } }
+
+    const relayPrepared = prepareJsonRpcPayload(exact)
+    const mainPrepared = mainProtocol.prepareJsonRpcPayload(exact)
+    expect(relayPrepared.byteLength).toBe(MAX_MESSAGE_SIZE)
+    expect(mainPrepared.byteLength).toBe(MAX_MESSAGE_SIZE)
+    expect(encodePreparedJsonRpcFrame(relayPrepared, 1, 0)).toHaveLength(
+      HEADER_LENGTH + MAX_MESSAGE_SIZE
+    )
+    expect(() => prepareJsonRpcPayload(oversized)).toThrow('Message too large')
+    expect(() => mainProtocol.prepareJsonRpcPayload(oversized)).toThrow('Message too large')
+    expect(() => encodeJsonRpcFrame(oversized, 1, 0)).toThrow('Message too large')
+    expect(() => mainProtocol.encodeJsonRpcFrame(oversized, 1, 0)).toThrow('Message too large')
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/relay/protocol.ts b/src/relay/protocol.ts
index 8cb4ab57a75..25e158dc1e2 100644
--- a/src/relay/protocol.ts
+++ b/src/relay/protocol.ts
@@ -130,6 +130,13 @@ export type JsonRpcNotification = {
 
 export type JsonRpcMessage = JsonRpcRequest | JsonRpcResponse | JsonRpcNotification
 
+const JSON_RPC_PAYLOAD_BYTES = Symbol('jsonRpcPayloadBytes')
+
+export type PreparedJsonRpcPayload = Readonly<{
+  byteLength: number
+  [JSON_RPC_PAYLOAD_BYTES]: Buffer
+}>
+
 export function encodeFrame(
   type: number,
   id: number,
@@ -145,11 +152,23 @@ export function encodeFrame(
 }
 
 export function encodeJsonRpcFrame(msg: JsonRpcMessage, id: number, ack: number): Buffer {
+  return encodePreparedJsonRpcFrame(prepareJsonRpcPayload(msg), id, ack)
+}
+
+export function prepareJsonRpcPayload(msg: JsonRpcMessage): PreparedJsonRpcPayload {
   const payload = Buffer.from(JSON.stringify(msg), 'utf-8')
   if (payload.length > MAX_MESSAGE_SIZE) {
     throw new Error(`Message too large: ${payload.length} bytes`)
   }
-  return encodeFrame(MessageType.Regular, id, ack, payload)
+  return Object.freeze({ byteLength: payload.length, [JSON_RPC_PAYLOAD_BYTES]: payload })
+}
+
+export function encodePreparedJsonRpcFrame(
+  payload: PreparedJsonRpcPayload,
+  id: number,
+  ack: number
+): Buffer {
+  return encodeFrame(MessageType.Regular, id, ack, payload[JSON_RPC_PAYLOAD_BYTES])
 }
 
 export function encodeKeepAliveFrame(id: number, ack: number): Buffer {
diff --git a/src/relay/relay-watcher-event-emitter.ts b/src/relay/relay-watcher-event-emitter.ts
index 6bfef6a97f0..739ae89b2f8 100644
--- a/src/relay/relay-watcher-event-emitter.ts
+++ b/src/relay/relay-watcher-event-emitter.ts
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ function publishWatcherBatchToClient(
   const publish = (events: readonly MappedWatcherEvent[]): boolean =>
     dispatcher.publishProducerNotification(clientId, 'fs.changed', { events })
 
-  // Fast path: publish the whole batch first — two encodes, the same cost as an unchunked emit.
+  // Fast path: publish the whole batch before paying to group or size individual events.
   // logDrop:false because rejection here is a measurement, not an outcome: the batch is re-sent in
   // chunks below, so logging it would report a drop for events that all arrive.
   if (
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ function publishOverflowMarker(
       // it through onClientDetached, which fires after this settlement.
       retainOverflowMarker(dispatcher, state, clientId, rootPath, frameBytes)
     },
-    { controlOverflow: 'reject', estimatedBytes: frameBytes }
+    { controlOverflow: 'reject' }
   )
   if (accepted || settled) {
     return