diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/host-session-registry.test.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/host-session-registry.test.ts
index 69697cce60e..fcf73695b40 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/host-session-registry.test.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/host-session-registry.test.ts
@@ -535,6 +535,8 @@ describe('host session cleanup races', () => {
     const socket = new FakeSocket()
 
     const activation = activate(socket as unknown as WebSocket, identity, null, 1, false, 1)
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0)
+    expect(activateControl).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
     socket.close()
     blocked.resolve('control:production-gce-c3:1')
     await activation
@@ -560,6 +562,8 @@ describe('host session cleanup races', () => {
 
     const rebindSocket = new FakeSocket()
     const rebinding = activate(rebindSocket as unknown as WebSocket, identity, original, 1, true, 1)
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0)
+    expect(activateControl).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
     rebindSocket.close()
     blocked.resolve('control:production-gce-c3:1')
     await rebinding
@@ -574,6 +578,49 @@ describe('host session cleanup races', () => {
     )
   })
 
+  it('skips a closed queued control so its live retry avoids abandoned database work', async () => {
+    const stalled = deferred<string>()
+    const activateControl = vi
+      .fn<RelayAssignmentStore['activateControl']>()
+      .mockReturnValueOnce(stalled.promise)
+      .mockImplementation(async () => {
+        await new Promise<void>((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 4_000))
+        return 'control:production-gce-c3:1'
+      })
+    const { registry, activate, releaseActivity } = createRegistry(activateControl)
+    const firstSocket = new FakeSocket()
+    // oxlint-disable-next-line typescript/consistent-type-assertions -- SAFETY: FakeSocket implements the registry's WebSocket event and lifecycle surface.
+    const first = activate(firstSocket as unknown as WebSocket, identity, null, 1, false, 1)
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0)
+    expect(activateControl).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    const abandonedSocket = new FakeSocket()
+    // oxlint-disable-next-line typescript/consistent-type-assertions -- SAFETY: FakeSocket implements the registry's WebSocket event and lifecycle surface.
+    const abandoned = activate(abandonedSocket as unknown as WebSocket, identity, null, 1, false, 1)
+    const liveSocket = new FakeSocket()
+    const startedAt = Date.now()
+    let liveCompletedAt: number | undefined
+    // oxlint-disable-next-line typescript/consistent-type-assertions -- SAFETY: FakeSocket implements the registry's WebSocket event and lifecycle surface.
+    const live = activate(liveSocket as unknown as WebSocket, identity, null, 1, false, 1)
+      .then(() => { liveCompletedAt = Date.now() })
+    firstSocket.close()
+    abandonedSocket.close()
+    stalled.resolve('control:production-gce-c3:1')
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(8_000)
+    await Promise.all([first, abandoned, live])
+
+    console.log(JSON.stringify({
+      scenario: 'closed queued control before a live retry',
+      activationCalls: activateControl.mock.calls.length,
+      activityReleases: releaseActivity.mock.calls.length,
+      liveReadyMs: liveCompletedAt === undefined ? null : liveCompletedAt - startedAt
+    }))
+    expect(activateControl).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+    expect(releaseActivity).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    expect(liveCompletedAt! - startedAt).toBe(4_000)
+    expect(registry.get({ userId: identity.sub, relayHostId: identity.relayHostId })?.socket)
+      .toBe(liveSocket)
+  })
+
   it('rejects client lookup when the indexed control socket is not open', async () => {
     const reservation = {
       userId: identity.sub,
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/host-session-registry.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/host-session-registry.ts
index 380ccfbc9c6..4e3372ce692 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/host-session-registry.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/host-session-registry.ts
@@ -1103,7 +1103,7 @@ export class HostSessionRegistry {
       .catch(() => undefined)
       .then(async () => {
         clearTimeout(queueWaitTimer)
-        if (queueWaitExpired) return
+        if (queueWaitExpired || socket.readyState !== socket.OPEN) return
         if ((this.sessions.get(key) ?? null) !== existing) {
           socket.close(RELAY_CLOSE_CODE.PEER_DROPPED, 'control activation superseded')
           return
diff --git a/config/reliability-gates.jsonc b/config/reliability-gates.jsonc
index a236145dd94..e2223171ed1 100644
--- a/config/reliability-gates.jsonc
+++ b/config/reliability-gates.jsonc
@@ -20275,6 +20275,80 @@
         "Default config paths are shared with GNOME on a disposable hosted CI runner; nested mode refuses non-GitHub-Actions execution."
       ],
       "demotionRule": "Keep experimental on unexplained failures; retain exact bytes and participation checks without retries, skips, or longer deadlines."
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "relay.control-activation-ownership",
+      "title": "Closed queued controls leave persistence for the live retry",
+      "maturity": "experimental",
+      "protection": "partial",
+      "owner": "relay",
+      "layer": "registry-unit-and-local-websocket",
+      "surfaces": ["relay host control activation"],
+      "platforms": ["macos", "linux", "windows"],
+      "providers": ["relay"],
+      "coveredPlatforms": ["macos"],
+      "coveredProviders": ["relay"],
+      "coverageNotes": "Actual registry queue with controlled store latency plus local WebSocket proof and connection-capacity suites on macOS. No PostgreSQL or live remote host run. PTY, daemon, SSH process state, WSL execution and folder/git workspace behavior are unaffected.",
+      "motivatingLinks": [
+        "https://github.com/stablyai/orca/blob/main/cloud/apps/relay/src/host-session-registry.ts"
+      ],
+      "invariant": "A closed queued transport starts no durable activation; an already-started activation retains cleanup, and a live successor becomes the indexed control without concurrent same-host activation.",
+      "oracle": "Queue a closed control before a live retry behind stalled persistence. With controlled 4s store calls, require two total activations, one release for the already-started closed control, and live readiness at 4s. Existing tests retain cleanup when closure happens during I/O.",
+      "commands": [
+        "ORCA_BACKGROUND_LAUNCH=1 pnpm --dir cloud/apps/relay exec vitest run ../../../cloud/apps/relay/src/host-session-registry.test.ts ../../../cloud/apps/relay/src/host-session-client-accept.test.ts ../../../cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-host-proof-failure.blackbox.test.ts ../../../cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-connection-hard-cap.blackbox.test.ts --silent=false"
+      ],
+      "testFiles": [
+        "cloud/apps/relay/src/host-session-registry.test.ts",
+        "cloud/apps/relay/src/host-session-client-accept.test.ts",
+        "cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-host-proof-failure.blackbox.test.ts",
+        "cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-connection-hard-cap.blackbox.test.ts"
+      ],
+      "assertionRefs": [
+        {
+          "file": "cloud/apps/relay/src/host-session-registry.test.ts",
+          "assertions": [
+            "skips a closed queued control so its live retry avoids abandoned database work",
+            "does not publish a control that closes during activation",
+            "does not rebind a control that closes during activation",
+            "fails a control waiting behind a stalled activation without breaking serialization"
+          ]
+        }
+      ],
+      "evidenceRuns": [
+        {
+          "date": "2026-09-25",
+          "runner": "local",
+          "platform": "macos",
+          "command": "ORCA_BACKGROUND_LAUNCH=1 pnpm --dir cloud/apps/relay exec vitest run ../../../cloud/apps/relay/src/host-session-registry.test.ts ../../../cloud/apps/relay/src/host-session-client-accept.test.ts ../../../cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-host-proof-failure.blackbox.test.ts ../../../cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-connection-hard-cap.blackbox.test.ts --silent=false",
+          "result": "passed",
+          "durationSeconds": 0.407,
+          "summary": "88 tests across four files passed; relay typecheck passed separately."
+        }
+      ],
+      "runtimeBudget": {
+        "p95Seconds": 30,
+        "scope": "Focused unit and local socket suites; p95 not established."
+      },
+      "flakeHistory": {
+        "status": "not-started",
+        "evidence": "Local validation only; no CI soak."
+      },
+      "redGreenEvidence": {
+        "status": "complete",
+        "evidence": "Baseline regression failed: three activation calls, two releases, live ready at 8s. Guarded registry passed with two calls, one release, live ready at 4s under controlled store latency."
+      },
+      "performanceBudget": {
+        "required": true,
+        "evidence": "Deletes abandoned persistence before it starts. No new timer, polling, queue, provider call or wire change; existing FIFO and post-I/O cleanup remain."
+      },
+      "knownGaps": [
+        "No real PostgreSQL contention benchmark or live remote host/physical mobile run.",
+        "Windows/Linux execution and CI soak are not recorded; queue cleanup after a never-settling predecessor remains unchanged."
+      ],
+      "promotionCriteria": [
+        "Retain red/green count and latency assertions; collect cross-platform and CI soak evidence."
+      ],
+      "demotionRule": "Keep experimental until soak evidence; investigate lifecycle failures without retries or weakening count, identity or cleanup assertions."
     }
   ]
 }