diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-data-sidecar-subscriptions.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-data-sidecar-subscriptions.ts
index 3625a8e6007..a25a78c8350 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-data-sidecar-subscriptions.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-data-sidecar-subscriptions.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { acquirePtyDeliveryInterest } from './pty-delivery-interest'
 import { ensurePtyDispatcher, ptyDataSidecars } from './pty-dispatcher'
+import { syncTerminalDeliveryWatchdogTimer } from './terminal-delivery-watchdog'
 
 /** Register a side-channel data watcher for a PTY without taking ownership
  *  of the primary handler. Returns an unsubscribe fn. */
@@ -15,6 +16,8 @@ export function subscribeToPtyData(ptyId: string, watcher: (data: string) => voi
     ptyDataSidecars.set(ptyId, set)
   }
   set.add(watcher)
+  // Why: a sidecar receives pushed bytes with no primary handler, so it must arm the delivery watchdog.
+  syncTerminalDeliveryWatchdogTimer()
   return () => {
     releaseDeliveryInterest()
     const current = ptyDataSidecars.get(ptyId)
@@ -25,5 +28,6 @@ export function subscribeToPtyData(ptyId: string, watcher: (data: string) => voi
     if (current.size === 0) {
       ptyDataSidecars.delete(ptyId)
     }
+    syncTerminalDeliveryWatchdogTimer()
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-dispatcher-delivery-interest.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-dispatcher-delivery-interest.test.ts
index c8f84865fed..19104ecdf63 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-dispatcher-delivery-interest.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-dispatcher-delivery-interest.test.ts
@@ -89,6 +89,31 @@ describe('pty dispatcher delivery interest', () => {
     expect(setPtyDeliveryInterest).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
+  it('arms the delivery watchdog for a sidecar-only PTY and disarms on the last unsubscribe', async () => {
+    // Why: a parked terminal (and draft-readiness / automation observers) receives pushed bytes
+    // through a sidecar with no primary handler — the watchdog must still cover that dead-channel case.
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    const reportMock = vi.fn(() =>
+      Promise.resolve({ inFlightTotalChars: 0, inFlightPtyCount: 0, msSinceLastAck: null })
+    )
+    ;(window.api.pty as { reportRendererDeliveryState?: unknown }).reportRendererDeliveryState =
+      reportMock
+    try {
+      const { subscribeToPtyData } = await import('./pty-data-sidecar-subscriptions')
+
+      const unsubscribe = subscribeToPtyData('pty-1', vi.fn())
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(15_000)
+      expect(reportMock).toHaveBeenCalled()
+
+      reportMock.mockClear()
+      unsubscribe()
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(15_000 * 2)
+      expect(reportMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers()
+    }
+  })
+
   it('lets a sidecar exclusively own interest while an eager buffer overlaps', async () => {
     const { registerEagerPtyBuffer } = await import('./pty-dispatcher')
     const { subscribeToPtyData } = await import('./pty-data-sidecar-subscriptions')
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-dispatcher-push-reattach.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-dispatcher-push-reattach.test.ts
index 7430231bf04..499be934476 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-dispatcher-push-reattach.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-dispatcher-push-reattach.test.ts
@@ -64,6 +64,30 @@ describe('pty dispatcher push-listener reattach and delivery blackhole', () => {
     }
   })
 
+  it('arms for eager PTYs and disarms only after the last eager PTY is disposed', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    try {
+      const { ensurePtyDispatcher, registerEagerPtyBuffer } = await import('./pty-dispatcher')
+      ensurePtyDispatcher()
+      expect(vi.getTimerCount()).toBe(0)
+
+      const first = registerEagerPtyBuffer('pty-eager-1', vi.fn())
+      expect(vi.getTimerCount()).toBe(1)
+      const second = registerEagerPtyBuffer('pty-eager-2', vi.fn())
+      expect(vi.getTimerCount()).toBe(1)
+
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(30_000)
+      expect(reportMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+
+      first.dispose()
+      expect(vi.getTimerCount()).toBe(1)
+      second.dispose()
+      expect(vi.getTimerCount()).toBe(0)
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers()
+    }
+  })
+
   it('blackholed delivery reproduces the wedge: no handler dispatch, no ACK ever', async () => {
     const { ensurePtyDispatcher, ptyDataHandlers } = await import('./pty-dispatcher')
     ensurePtyDispatcher()
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-dispatcher.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-dispatcher.ts
index 7386797b4bb..56f9df54930 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-dispatcher.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-dispatcher.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ import {
   clearReceivedPtyCharTotal,
   isPtyPushDeliveryBlackholed,
   recordPtyDataReceived,
-  startTerminalDeliveryWatchdog
+  startTerminalDeliveryWatchdog,
+  syncTerminalDeliveryWatchdogTimer
 } from './terminal-delivery-watchdog'
 import { recordTerminalFreezeBreadcrumb } from './terminal-freeze-breadcrumbs'
 import { installTerminalFreezeReport } from './terminal-freeze-report'
@@ -76,6 +77,7 @@ export function unregisterPtyDataHandlers(ptyIds: string[]): PtyDataHandlerShutd
     ptyTeardownHandlers.delete(id)
     clearPreHandlerPtyState(id)
   }
+  syncTerminalDeliveryWatchdogTimer()
   return snapshots
 }
 
@@ -93,6 +95,7 @@ export function restorePtyDataHandlersAfterFailedShutdown(
       ptyTeardownHandlers.set(snapshot.ptyId, snapshot.teardownHandler)
     }
   }
+  syncTerminalDeliveryWatchdogTimer()
 }
 
 let pushListenerUnsubscribes: (() => void)[] = []
@@ -120,7 +123,10 @@ export function ensurePtyDispatcher(): void {
   attachPtyPushListeners()
   startTerminalDeliveryWatchdog({
     reattachPushListeners: reattachPtyDispatcherPushListeners,
-    hasAttachedPtys: () => ptyDataHandlers.size > 0 || eagerPtyHandles.size > 0
+    // Why: sidecar consumers (parked terminals, draft-readiness, automation observers) hold main-side
+    // delivery interest and receive pushed bytes with no primary handler, so they need the watchdog too.
+    hasAttachedPtys: () =>
+      ptyDataHandlers.size > 0 || eagerPtyHandles.size > 0 || ptyDataSidecars.size > 0
   })
 }
 
@@ -296,13 +302,7 @@ export function registerEagerPtyBuffer(
     }
   }
   const exitHandler = (code: number): void => {
-    // Shell died before attach; identity-guard so we never evict a handler a transport re-registered for this id (#7894 detach/attach race).
-    if (ptyDataHandlers.get(ptyId) === dataHandler) {
-      ptyDataHandlers.delete(ptyId)
-      ptyReplayHandlers.delete(ptyId)
-    }
-    ptyExitHandlers.delete(ptyId)
-    eagerPtyHandles.delete(ptyId)
+    handle.dispose()
     onExit(ptyId, code)
   }
 
@@ -330,10 +330,12 @@ export function registerEagerPtyBuffer(
         ptyExitHandlers.delete(ptyId)
       }
       eagerPtyHandles.delete(ptyId)
+      syncTerminalDeliveryWatchdogTimer()
     }
   }
 
   eagerPtyHandles.set(ptyId, handle)
+  syncTerminalDeliveryWatchdogTimer()
   drainPreHandlerPtyData(ptyId, dataHandler)
   // Why: defer the pre-handler exit one microtask so the caller receives the returned handle before onExit fires.
   queueMicrotask(() => {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-transport.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-transport.test.ts
index 34ec9ac7567..3e109a4216a 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-transport.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-transport.test.ts
@@ -79,6 +79,41 @@ describe('createIpcPtyTransport', () => {
     transport.disconnect()
   })
 
+  it('arms for mounted PTYs and disarms only after the last transport detaches', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    const reportRendererDeliveryState = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+      inFlightTotalChars: 0,
+      inFlightPtyCount: 0,
+      msSinceLastAck: null
+    })
+    window.api.pty.reportRendererDeliveryState = reportRendererDeliveryState
+    try {
+      const { createIpcPtyTransport, ensurePtyDispatcher } = await import('./pty-transport')
+      const spawn = window.api.pty.spawn as unknown as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>
+      spawn.mockResolvedValueOnce({ id: 'pty-1' }).mockResolvedValueOnce({ id: 'pty-2' })
+
+      ensurePtyDispatcher()
+      expect(vi.getTimerCount()).toBe(0)
+
+      const first = createIpcPtyTransport({})
+      await first.connect({ url: '', callbacks: {} })
+      expect(vi.getTimerCount()).toBe(1)
+
+      const second = createIpcPtyTransport({})
+      await second.connect({ url: '', callbacks: {} })
+      expect(vi.getTimerCount()).toBe(1)
+
+      first.detach?.()
+      expect(vi.getTimerCount()).toBe(1)
+      second.detach?.()
+      expect(vi.getTimerCount()).toBe(0)
+    } finally {
+      const { stopTerminalDeliveryWatchdog } = await import('./terminal-delivery-watchdog')
+      stopTerminalDeliveryWatchdog()
+      vi.useRealTimers()
+    }
+  })
+
   it('does not create a second kill authority when a mounted pane detaches', async () => {
     const { createIpcPtyTransport } = await import('./pty-transport')
     const kill = window.api.pty.kill as unknown as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-transport.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-transport.ts
index 8e1a0380a58..6fa6595b594 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-transport.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/pty-transport.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   iterateTerminalInputChunks
 } from '../../../../shared/terminal-input'
 import { isRuntimeOwnedSshTargetId } from '../../../../shared/execution-host'
+import { syncTerminalDeliveryWatchdogTimer } from './terminal-delivery-watchdog'
 import {
   ptyDataHandlers,
   ptyReplayHandlers,
@@ -542,6 +543,7 @@ export function createIpcPtyTransport(opts: IpcPtyTransportOptions = {}): PtyTra
       }
     }
     ownedDataAndReplayHandlers.delete(id)
+    syncTerminalDeliveryWatchdogTimer()
   }
 
   function registerPtyDataHandler(id: string): void {
@@ -572,6 +574,7 @@ export function createIpcPtyTransport(opts: IpcPtyTransportOptions = {}): PtyTra
     }
     ptyDataHandlers.set(id, dataHandler)
     ownedDataAndReplayHandlers.set(id, { data: dataHandler, replay: replayHandler })
+    syncTerminalDeliveryWatchdogTimer()
     drainPreHandlerPtyData(id, dataHandler)
   }
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-delivery-watchdog.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-delivery-watchdog.test.ts
index 8db2051fa35..0c822cce710 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-delivery-watchdog.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-delivery-watchdog.test.ts
@@ -59,24 +59,26 @@ describe('terminal delivery watchdog', () => {
     }
   })
 
-  async function startWatchdog(): Promise<{
+  async function startWatchdog(hasAttachedPtys: () => boolean = () => true): Promise<{
     recordPtyDataReceived: (ptyId: string, chars: number) => void
     registerRestoreHandler: (
       ptyId: string,
       handler: (event: { id: string; reason: string; markerSeq?: number }) => void
     ) => void
+    syncTimer: () => void
   }> {
     const watchdog = await import('./terminal-delivery-watchdog')
     const restoreChannel = await import('./pty-model-restore-channel')
     watchdog.startTerminalDeliveryWatchdog({
       reattachPushListeners: reattachMock,
-      hasAttachedPtys: () => true
+      hasAttachedPtys
     })
     return {
       recordPtyDataReceived: watchdog.recordPtyDataReceived,
       registerRestoreHandler: (ptyId, handler) => {
         restoreChannel.registerPtyModelRestoreNeededHandler(ptyId, handler)
-      }
+      },
+      syncTimer: watchdog.syncTerminalDeliveryWatchdogTimer
     }
   }
 
@@ -182,6 +184,67 @@ describe('terminal delivery watchdog', () => {
     await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(INTERVAL_MS * 3)
 
     expect(reportMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(vi.getTimerCount()).toBe(0)
+  })
+
+  it('arms on the first attached PTY and disarms on the last detach', async () => {
+    reportMock.mockResolvedValue(HEALTHY)
+    let hasAttachedPty = false
+    const { syncTimer } = await startWatchdog(() => hasAttachedPty)
+
+    expect(vi.getTimerCount()).toBe(0)
+
+    hasAttachedPty = true
+    syncTimer()
+    expect(vi.getTimerCount()).toBe(1)
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(INTERVAL_MS * 2)
+    expect(reportMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+
+    hasAttachedPty = false
+    syncTimer()
+    expect(vi.getTimerCount()).toBe(0)
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(INTERVAL_MS * 2)
+    expect(reportMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+  })
+
+  it('discards a stalled tick whose invoke was awaited across a last-PTY detach', async () => {
+    let hasAttachedPty = true
+    const { syncTimer } = await startWatchdog(() => hasAttachedPty)
+
+    // One stalled tick brings the streak to one below the two-tick heal threshold.
+    reportMock.mockResolvedValue(STALLED)
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(INTERVAL_MS)
+    expect(reattachMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+
+    // The next tick's invoke is slow; while it is awaited, the last PTY detaches (disarm).
+    let resolveHealth: (health: PtyRendererDeliveryHealthReply) => void = () => {}
+    reportMock.mockReturnValueOnce(
+      new Promise<PtyRendererDeliveryHealthReply>((resolve) => {
+        resolveHealth = resolve
+      })
+    )
+    const tick = vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(INTERVAL_MS)
+    await Promise.resolve()
+    hasAttachedPty = false
+    syncTimer()
+
+    // Even though the (now stale) reply is stalled, the tick must be discarded — no second
+    // confirmation, so no heal. Without the generation guard this would resurrect the streak to the
+    // threshold and heal spuriously while parked.
+    resolveHealth(STALLED)
+    await tick
+
+    expect(reattachMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+
+    // The legitimate first-tick streak is preserved across the flicker (not reset), but the racing
+    // tick contributed nothing — so exactly ONE more real stalled confirmation after re-arm heals.
+    hasAttachedPty = true
+    syncTimer()
+    reportMock.mockResolvedValue(STALLED)
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(INTERVAL_MS)
+    expect(reattachMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
   })
 
   it('never starts without the invoke heal lane (web client, partial mocks)', async () => {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-delivery-watchdog.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-delivery-watchdog.ts
index c9b0d8c29e5..4e6611d4607 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-delivery-watchdog.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-delivery-watchdog.ts
@@ -59,6 +59,10 @@ let stallStreakTicks = 0
 let lastHealAtMs: number | null = null
 let healCount = 0
 let tickInFlight = false
+// Why: bumped whenever a live timer is torn down (disarm / stop / reconfigure) so an in-flight tick
+// whose health invoke was awaited across a last-PTY detach can discard its now-stale result instead
+// of resurrecting the stall streak while parked.
+let watchdogGeneration = 0
 
 /** One Map upsert per received chunk — the watchdog's only hot-path cost.
  *  Counted at dispatcher enqueue, BEFORE parse-deferred ACK crediting, so
@@ -104,10 +108,17 @@ async function runWatchdogTick(): Promise<void> {
     stallStreakTicks = 0
     return
   }
+  const generationAtInvoke = watchdogGeneration
   const health = await report({
     receivedCharsByPty: Object.fromEntries(receivedPtyCharTotals),
     processedCharsByPty: getProcessedPtyCharTotals()
   })
+  // Why: a last-PTY detach (or reconfigure) during the await disarmed/re-armed the timer — this
+  // health reply is for the pre-detach state, so discard it WITHOUT touching the streak: mutating it
+  // now would either resurrect a stale streak while parked or reset progress a live reattach kept.
+  if (watchdogGeneration !== generationAtInvoke || !watchdogTimer) {
+    return
+  }
   if (!health || !isMainDeliveryStalled(health)) {
     stallStreakTicks = 0
     return
@@ -172,10 +183,16 @@ async function healDeadPushDelivery(
   })
 }
 
-function scheduleWatchdogTimer(): void {
+function clearWatchdogTimer(): void {
   if (watchdogTimer) {
     clearInterval(watchdogTimer)
+    watchdogTimer = null
+    watchdogGeneration += 1
   }
+}
+
+function scheduleWatchdogTimer(): void {
+  clearWatchdogTimer()
   watchdogTimer = setInterval(() => {
     // Why serialized: a heal awaits two invokes; overlapping ticks could
     // double-heal inside one cooldown window.
@@ -189,6 +206,22 @@ function scheduleWatchdogTimer(): void {
   }, watchdogConfig.intervalMs)
 }
 
+export function syncTerminalDeliveryWatchdogTimer(): void {
+  const deps = watchdogDeps
+  if (!deps || !deps.hasAttachedPtys()) {
+    // Why: only park the timer — do NOT reset stallStreakTicks. A wedge mid-confirmation must not
+    // lose its progress across a brief zero-attachment detach/reattach flicker (matching the old
+    // always-armed timer); a healthy tick after re-arm clears the streak. No ticks fire while parked,
+    // so a stale streak can only ever heal one confirmation early, never permanently mis-detect.
+    clearWatchdogTimer()
+    return
+  }
+  if (!watchdogTimer) {
+    eventCountAtLastTick = receivedPtyDataEventCount
+    scheduleWatchdogTimer()
+  }
+}
+
 export function startTerminalDeliveryWatchdog(deps: TerminalDeliveryWatchdogDeps): void {
   if (watchdogDeps) {
     return
@@ -200,17 +233,13 @@ export function startTerminalDeliveryWatchdog(deps: TerminalDeliveryWatchdogDeps
     return
   }
   watchdogDeps = deps
-  eventCountAtLastTick = receivedPtyDataEventCount
-  scheduleWatchdogTimer()
+  syncTerminalDeliveryWatchdogTimer()
   exposeE2eTerminalDeliveryWatchdog()
 }
 
 export function stopTerminalDeliveryWatchdog(): void {
   watchdogDeps = null
-  if (watchdogTimer) {
-    clearInterval(watchdogTimer)
-    watchdogTimer = null
-  }
+  clearWatchdogTimer()
 }
 
 /** Prod-reachable state for the one-paste freeze report (ids redacted). */
@@ -264,7 +293,7 @@ function exposeE2eTerminalDeliveryWatchdog(): void {
     },
     configure: (config) => {
       watchdogConfig = { ...watchdogConfig, ...config }
-      if (watchdogDeps) {
+      if (watchdogTimer) {
         scheduleWatchdogTimer()
       }
     },