diff --git a/src/main/ipc/pty-daemon-controller-teardown.test.ts b/src/main/ipc/pty-daemon-controller-teardown.test.ts
index 7f14ea730ae..73ae897b8b3 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/pty-daemon-controller-teardown.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/pty-daemon-controller-teardown.test.ts
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ describe('registerPtyHandlers', () => {
         })
         expect(runtime.onPtyExit).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
       })
-      it('does not accept an incarnation-less exit as proof that the current PTY stopped', async () => {
+      it('uses inventory, not an incarnation-less exit, to confirm the current PTY stopped', async () => {
         const exitListeners = new Set<
           (payload: { id: string; code: number; incarnationId?: string }) => void
         >()
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ describe('registerPtyHandlers', () => {
         await controller.spawn({ cols: 80, rows: 24 })
         await expect(controller.stopAndWait('local-incarnated')).resolves.toBe(true)
 
-        expect(runtime.onPtyExit).toHaveBeenCalledWith('local-incarnated', -1, 'incarnation-live')
+        expect(runtime.onPtyExit).toHaveBeenCalledWith('local-incarnated', 0, 'incarnation-live')
       })
       it('runtime controller kill routes app-scoped SSH ids through the parsed provider when ownership is absent', async () => {
         const localShutdown = vi.fn()
@@ -358,14 +358,15 @@ describe('registerPtyHandlers', () => {
         )
         expect(runtime.onPtyExit).toHaveBeenCalledWith('remote-pty', -1, undefined)
       })
-      it('retires a rejected SSH PTY after generic kill shutdown fails transiently', async () => {
+      it('keeps a rejected SSH PTY unverifiable after kill shutdown fails transiently', async () => {
         const warnSpy = vi.spyOn(console, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => {})
         const store = {
           markSshRemotePtyLease: vi.fn()
         }
         const runtime = {
           setPtyController: vi.fn(),
-          onPtyExit: vi.fn()
+          onPtyExit: vi.fn(),
+          markPtyLivenessUnverifiable: vi.fn()
         }
         registerSshPtyProvider('ssh-1', {
           spawn: vi.fn(),
@@ -401,7 +402,7 @@ describe('registerPtyHandlers', () => {
         )
         const controller = runtime.setPtyController.mock.calls[0]?.[0] as {
           kill: (ptyId: string) => boolean
-          retireRejectedPty: (ptyId: string) => void
+          retireRejectedPty: (ptyId: string, stopConfirmed: boolean) => void
         }
 
         try {
@@ -412,19 +413,23 @@ describe('registerPtyHandlers', () => {
             'remote-pty',
             'terminated'
           )
-          controller.retireRejectedPty('remote-pty')
+          controller.retireRejectedPty('remote-pty', false)
         } finally {
           warnSpy.mockRestore()
           deletePtyOwnership('remote-pty')
         }
 
-        expect(store.markSshRemotePtyLease).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect(store.markSshRemotePtyLease).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
           'ssh-1',
           'remote-pty',
           'terminated'
         )
+        expect(runtime.markPtyLivenessUnverifiable).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+          'remote-pty',
+          'a follow-up stop was issued but its outcome could not be verified'
+        )
         expect(runtime.onPtyExit).toHaveBeenCalledWith('remote-pty', -1, undefined)
-        expect(runtime.onPtyExit).toHaveBeenCalledWith('remote-pty', 0, undefined)
+        expect(runtime.onPtyExit).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith('remote-pty', 0, undefined)
       })
       it('strips ORCA_PANE_KEY/TAB_ID/WORKTREE_ID from SSH spawn env when remote agent hooks are disabled', async () => {
         const sshSpawn = vi.fn(async (_opts: { env: Record<string, string> }) => ({
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/pty-ssh-stop-verdict.test.ts b/src/main/ipc/pty-ssh-stop-verdict.test.ts
index caed84c506e..8001028ea1d 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/pty-ssh-stop-verdict.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/pty-ssh-stop-verdict.test.ts
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ describe('stopping a PTY whose SSH provider is unregistered', () => {
   function installController(): {
     controller: {
       kill: (ptyId: string) => boolean
+      listProcesses: (connectionId?: string | null) => Promise<{ id: string }[]>
+      retireRejectedPty: (ptyId: string, stopConfirmed: boolean) => void
       stopAndWait: (ptyId: string, opts?: { deadlineMs?: number }) => Promise<boolean>
     }
     runtime: {
@@ -129,6 +131,24 @@ describe('stopping a PTY whose SSH provider is unregistered', () => {
     }
   })
 
+  it('retires a rejected split without asserting an unconfirmed exit', () => {
+    const ptyId = 'ssh-rejected-split'
+    setPtyOwnership(ptyId, 'ssh-dropped')
+    const { controller, runtime } = installController()
+    try {
+      controller.retireRejectedPty(ptyId, false)
+
+      expect(runtime.markPtyLivenessUnverifiable).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        ptyId,
+        'a follow-up stop was issued but its outcome could not be verified'
+      )
+      expect(runtime.onPtyExit).toHaveBeenCalledWith(ptyId, -1, undefined)
+      expect(runtime.onPtyExit).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(ptyId, 0, expect.anything())
+    } finally {
+      deletePtyOwnership(ptyId)
+    }
+  })
+
   it('still confirms a stop the owning provider actually performed', async () => {
     const daemon = installObservableDaemonTestProvider()
     vi.spyOn(getLocalPtyProvider(), 'listProcesses').mockResolvedValue([])
@@ -142,6 +162,28 @@ describe('stopping a PTY whose SSH provider is unregistered', () => {
     expect(runtime.markPtyLivenessUnverifiable).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
+  it('records provider-confirmed absence when the exit event was missed', async () => {
+    const connectionId = 'ssh-confirmed-absent'
+    const ptyId = 'ssh-confirmed-absent-pty'
+    const provider = {
+      onExit: vi.fn(() => () => {}),
+      shutdown: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+      listProcesses: vi.fn(async () => [])
+    }
+    registerSshPtyProvider(connectionId, provider as never)
+    setPtyOwnership(ptyId, connectionId)
+    try {
+      const { controller, runtime } = installController()
+
+      await expect(controller.stopAndWait(ptyId)).resolves.toBe(true)
+      expect(runtime.onPtyExit).toHaveBeenCalledWith(ptyId, 0, undefined)
+      expect(runtime.markPtyLivenessUnverifiable).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    } finally {
+      deletePtyOwnership(ptyId)
+      unregisterSshPtyProvider(connectionId)
+    }
+  })
+
   it('reports lost contact when a registered provider drops during the stop', async () => {
     const connectionId = 'ssh-mid-stop-drop'
     const ptyId = 'ssh-mid-stop-pty'
@@ -195,6 +237,43 @@ describe('stopping a PTY whose SSH provider is unregistered', () => {
     }
   })
 
+  it('isolates a failed SSH inventory from healthy providers', async () => {
+    const failedConnectionId = 'ssh-inventory-failed'
+    const healthyConnectionId = 'ssh-inventory-healthy'
+    const failedPtyId = 'ssh-inventory-failed-pty'
+    const healthyPtyId = 'ssh-inventory-healthy-pty'
+    registerSshPtyProvider(failedConnectionId, {
+      listProcesses: vi.fn(async () => {
+        throw new Error('inventory transport failed')
+      })
+    } as never)
+    registerSshPtyProvider(healthyConnectionId, {
+      listProcesses: vi.fn(async () => [{ id: healthyPtyId }])
+    } as never)
+    setPtyOwnership(failedPtyId, failedConnectionId)
+    setPtyOwnership(healthyPtyId, healthyConnectionId)
+    try {
+      const { controller, runtime } = installController()
+
+      await expect(controller.listProcesses()).resolves.toEqual(
+        expect.arrayContaining([{ id: healthyPtyId }])
+      )
+      expect(runtime.markPtyLivenessUnverifiable).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        failedPtyId,
+        'inventory transport failed'
+      )
+      expect(runtime.markPtyLivenessUnverifiable).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        healthyPtyId,
+        expect.anything()
+      )
+    } finally {
+      deletePtyOwnership(failedPtyId)
+      deletePtyOwnership(healthyPtyId)
+      unregisterSshPtyProvider(failedConnectionId)
+      unregisterSshPtyProvider(healthyConnectionId)
+    }
+  })
+
   it('reports a provider-observed survivor as live', async () => {
     const connectionId = 'ssh-still-live'
     const ptyId = 'ssh-still-live-pty'
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/pty.ts b/src/main/ipc/pty.ts
index fe99b841756..ffd4144366b 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/pty.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/pty.ts
@@ -4445,6 +4445,15 @@ export function registerPtyHandlers(
     }
   }
 
+  const markSshInventoryUnverifiable = (connectionId: string, error: unknown): void => {
+    const reason = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)
+    for (const [ptyId, ownerConnectionId] of ptyOwnership) {
+      if (ownerConnectionId === connectionId) {
+        runtime?.markPtyLivenessUnverifiable?.(ptyId, reason)
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   // Why: route through getProviderForPty() so CLI commands work for remote PTYs too; localProvider would silently fail for them.
   runtime?.setPtyController({
     claimStablePaneCreate: (args) => {
@@ -5591,11 +5600,23 @@ export function registerPtyHandlers(
       }
       return killWithCurrentProvider()
     },
-    retireRejectedPty: (ptyId) => {
+    retireRejectedPty: (ptyId, stopConfirmed) => {
       rememberRetiredRejectedPty(ptyId)
+      if (!stopConfirmed) {
+        runtime?.markPtyLivenessUnverifiable?.(
+          ptyId,
+          'a follow-up stop was issued but its outcome could not be verified'
+        )
+        if (!ptyOwnership.has(ptyId)) {
+          return
+        }
+        runtime?.onPtyExit(ptyId, -1, ptyIncarnationById.get(ptyId))
+        rememberSyntheticKillExit(ptyId)
+        sendPtyExitToRenderer({ id: ptyId, code: -1 })
+        return
+      }
       // Why: a completed stop already cleared provider state, tombstoned the lease and told the
-      // renderer; repeating that double-fires the exit IPC. The runtime still needs code 0 so an
-      // SSH pane retires for good instead of staying preserved by the stop's negative exit.
+      // renderer; repeating that double-fires the exit IPC.
       if (!ptyOwnership.has(ptyId)) {
         runtime?.onPtyExit(ptyId, 0, ptyIncarnationById.get(ptyId))
         return
@@ -5717,9 +5738,11 @@ export function registerPtyHandlers(
       }
       const incarnationId = finishPtyShutdown(ptyId, connectionId, store)
       if (!providerExitObserved) {
-        runtime?.onPtyExit(ptyId, -1, incarnationId)
+        // The owning provider's fresh inventory observed absence, so this is a
+        // death certificate even when its exit event was missed.
+        runtime?.onPtyExit(ptyId, 0, incarnationId)
         rememberSyntheticKillExit(ptyId)
-        sendPtyExitToRenderer({ id: ptyId, code: -1 })
+        sendPtyExitToRenderer({ id: ptyId, code: 0 })
       }
       return true
     },
@@ -5776,11 +5799,23 @@ export function registerPtyHandlers(
         return localProvider.listProcesses()
       }
       if (connectionId !== undefined) {
-        return getProvider(connectionId).listProcesses()
+        try {
+          return await getProvider(connectionId).listProcesses()
+        } catch (error) {
+          markSshInventoryUnverifiable(connectionId, error)
+          throw error
+        }
       }
       const providerSessions = await Promise.all([
         localProvider.listProcesses(),
-        ...Array.from(sshProviders.values(), (provider) => provider.listProcesses())
+        ...Array.from(sshProviders, async ([sshConnectionId, provider]) => {
+          try {
+            return await provider.listProcesses()
+          } catch (error) {
+            markSshInventoryUnverifiable(sshConnectionId, error)
+            return []
+          }
+        })
       ])
       return providerSessions.flat()
     },
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-process-incarnation-liveness.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-process-incarnation-liveness.test.ts
index 06a5f1cfcd0..3066367d7e8 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-process-incarnation-liveness.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-process-incarnation-liveness.test.ts
@@ -35,12 +35,12 @@ describe('terminal process incarnation liveness', () => {
     ).resolves.toBe('live')
     await expect(
       runtime.inspectTerminalProcessIncarnationLiveness('remote:ssh-1:pty-1:inc-old', SSH_SCOPE)
-    ).resolves.toBe('dead')
+    ).resolves.toBe('exited')
     expect(listProcesses).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(1, 'ssh-1')
     expect(listProcesses).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, 'ssh-1')
   })
 
-  it('keeps missing or malformed identity and unavailable inventory unknown', async () => {
+  it('keeps missing or malformed identity and unavailable inventory unverifiable', async () => {
     const listProcesses = vi
       .fn()
       .mockResolvedValueOnce([{ id: 'remote:ssh-1:pty-1', cwd: '', title: 'worker' }])
@@ -52,13 +52,13 @@ describe('terminal process incarnation liveness', () => {
 
     await expect(
       runtime.inspectTerminalProcessIncarnationLiveness(PROCESS_INCARNATION, SSH_SCOPE)
-    ).resolves.toBe('unknown')
+    ).resolves.toBe('unverifiable')
     await expect(
       runtime.inspectTerminalProcessIncarnationLiveness(PROCESS_INCARNATION, SSH_SCOPE)
-    ).resolves.toBe('unknown')
+    ).resolves.toBe('unverifiable')
     await expect(
       runtime.inspectTerminalProcessIncarnationLiveness(PROCESS_INCARNATION, SSH_SCOPE)
-    ).resolves.toBe('unknown')
+    ).resolves.toBe('unverifiable')
   })
 
   it('does not inspect an unproven host scope', async () => {
@@ -67,10 +67,10 @@ describe('terminal process incarnation liveness', () => {
 
     await expect(
       runtime.inspectTerminalProcessIncarnationLiveness(PROCESS_INCARNATION, null)
-    ).resolves.toBe('unknown')
+    ).resolves.toBe('unverifiable')
     await expect(
       runtime.inspectTerminalProcessIncarnationLiveness(PROCESS_INCARNATION, '{"kind":"ssh"}')
-    ).resolves.toBe('unknown')
+    ).resolves.toBe('unverifiable')
     expect(listProcesses).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ describe('terminal process incarnation liveness', () => {
 
     await expect(
       runtime.inspectTerminalProcessIncarnationLiveness('local-pty:inc-1', JSON.stringify(scope))
-    ).resolves.toBe('dead')
+    ).resolves.toBe('exited')
     expect(listProcesses).toHaveBeenCalledWith(connectionId)
   })
 })
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-terminal-split-authority.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-terminal-split-authority.test.ts
index ca79f9e55a8..a5adbedd269 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-terminal-split-authority.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-terminal-split-authority.test.ts
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ describe('remote runtime terminal split authority', () => {
       expect.objectContaining({ deadlineMs: expect.any(Number) })
     )
     expect(harness.kill).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
-    expect(harness.retireRejectedPty).toHaveBeenCalledWith(SPLIT_PTY_ID)
+    expect(harness.retireRejectedPty).toHaveBeenCalledWith(SPLIT_PTY_ID, true)
   })
 
   it('revalidates a projected paired-runtime source after renderer adoption', async () => {
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ describe('remote runtime terminal split authority', () => {
       expect.objectContaining({ deadlineMs: expect.any(Number) })
     )
     expect(harness.kill).toHaveBeenCalledWith(SPLIT_PTY_ID)
-    expect(harness.retireRejectedPty).toHaveBeenCalledWith(SPLIT_PTY_ID)
+    expect(harness.retireRejectedPty).toHaveBeenCalledWith(SPLIT_PTY_ID, false)
   })
 
   it('preserves the split error when kill and retirement throw', async () => {
@@ -398,6 +398,6 @@ describe('remote runtime terminal split authority', () => {
 
     await expect(split).rejects.toThrow('terminal_split_source_not_found')
     expect(harness.kill).toHaveBeenCalledWith(SPLIT_PTY_ID)
-    expect(harness.retireRejectedPty).toHaveBeenCalledWith(SPLIT_PTY_ID)
+    expect(harness.retireRejectedPty).toHaveBeenCalledWith(SPLIT_PTY_ID, false)
   })
 })
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts
index b16bd4054c7..ca45b26d284 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts
@@ -659,6 +659,7 @@ import {
 import { retireTerminalSurfaceFromPersistence } from './mobile-session-terminal-persistence-retirement'
 import {
   NO_OBSERVING_PROVIDER_REASON,
+  SSH_EXIT_UNCONFIRMED_REASON,
   SSH_PROVIDER_UNREGISTERED_REASON,
   type PtyLivenessVerdict
 } from '../../shared/pty-liveness-verdict'
@@ -1863,7 +1864,7 @@ type RuntimePtyController = {
    *  False on doubt (absent session, SSH-scoped id, non-daemon provider). */
   attach?(ptyId: string): Promise<boolean>
   kill(ptyId: string): boolean
-  retireRejectedPty?(ptyId: string): void
+  retireRejectedPty?(ptyId: string, stopConfirmed: boolean): void
   stopAndWait?(
     ptyId: string,
     opts?: { keepHistory?: boolean; deadlineMs?: number }
@@ -14719,6 +14720,9 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
     const preservesAbnormalSshSurface =
       this.isSshOwnedPtyId(ptyId) && pty?.connectionId != null && exitCode < 0
     if (preservesAbnormalSshSurface) {
+      if (this.getPtyLivenessVerdict(ptyId)?.status !== 'unverifiable') {
+        this.markPtyLivenessUnverifiable(ptyId, SSH_EXIT_UNCONFIRMED_REASON)
+      }
       this.restoredOrchestrationAuthorityByPtyId.delete(ptyId)
     } else {
       this.retirePtyAgentLaunchAuthority(ptyId)
@@ -16686,17 +16690,17 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
   async inspectTerminalProcessIncarnationLiveness(
     processIncarnation: string,
     serializedHostScope: string | null
-  ): Promise<'live' | 'dead' | 'unknown'> {
+  ): Promise<'live' | 'exited' | 'unverifiable'> {
     const hostScope = parseWorkerTerminalHostScope(serializedHostScope)
     if (!hostScope || !this.ptyController?.listProcesses) {
-      return 'unknown'
+      return 'unverifiable'
     }
     const listed = await withTimeoutResult(
       this.ptyController.listProcesses(hostScope.kind === 'ssh' ? hostScope.targetId : null),
       PTY_CONTROLLER_LIST_TIMEOUT_MS
     )
     if (!listed.ok) {
-      return 'unknown'
+      return 'unverifiable'
     }
     return classifyWorkerTerminalProcessIncarnation(processIncarnation, listed.value)
   }
@@ -29058,7 +29062,7 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
         }
       }
       try {
-        this.ptyController.retireRejectedPty?.(result.id)
+        this.ptyController.retireRejectedPty?.(result.id, stopped)
       } catch {
         // Best-effort cleanup; preserve the original split authority error.
       }
@@ -31566,6 +31570,15 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
         continue
       }
       if (!allLivePtyIds.has(pty.ptyId) && !this.leafExistsForPty(pty.ptyId)) {
+        const currentVerdict = this.ptyLivenessVerdictByPtyId.get(pty.ptyId)
+        if (
+          currentVerdict?.observedAt > livenessObservationAtStart &&
+          currentVerdict.verdict.status === 'unverifiable'
+        ) {
+          pty.connected = false
+          pty.disconnectedAt ??= Date.now()
+          continue
+        }
         const observed = this.ptyController.hasPty?.(pty.ptyId)
         if (observed === true) {
           // Why: an SSH spawn can become addressable before an overlapping relay list includes it.
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/orchestration/worker-terminal-process-liveness.ts b/src/main/runtime/orchestration/worker-terminal-process-liveness.ts
index 5a6e92c7878..67277644bfc 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/orchestration/worker-terminal-process-liveness.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/orchestration/worker-terminal-process-liveness.ts
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ export function parseWorkerTerminalHostScope(value: string | null): WorkerTermin
 export function classifyWorkerTerminalProcessIncarnation(
   processIncarnation: string,
   sessions: readonly PtyProcessInfo[]
-): 'live' | 'dead' | 'unknown' {
+): 'live' | 'exited' | 'unverifiable' {
   const possibleMatches = sessions.filter((session) =>
     processIncarnation.startsWith(`${session.id}:`)
   )
@@ -57,6 +57,6 @@ export function classifyWorkerTerminalProcessIncarnation(
   return possibleMatches.some(
     (session) => !session.incarnationId || session.incarnationId !== session.incarnationId.trim()
   )
-    ? 'unknown'
-    : 'dead'
+    ? 'unverifiable'
+    : 'exited'
 }
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/pty-inventory-liveness-verdict.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/pty-inventory-liveness-verdict.test.ts
index 4034933b1d6..394d7b7ed8f 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/pty-inventory-liveness-verdict.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/pty-inventory-liveness-verdict.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 import { OrcaRuntimeService } from './orca-runtime'
 import { getDefaultWorkspaceSession } from '../../shared/constants'
+import { SSH_EXIT_UNCONFIRMED_REASON } from '../../shared/pty-liveness-verdict'
 
 // The aggregate inventory only enumerates registered providers, so a dropped
 // relay clears `connected` for every one of its PTYs at once. Only the
@@ -59,6 +60,29 @@ function makeRuntimeMissingFromInventory(
 }
 
 describe('inventory sweep liveness verdicts', () => {
+  it('records an abnormal SSH exit as unverifiable at the runtime boundary', () => {
+    const runtime = makeRuntimeMissingFromInventory(() => null)
+
+    runtime.onPtyExit(REMOTE_PTY_ID, -1)
+
+    expect(runtime.getPtyLivenessVerdict(REMOTE_PTY_ID)).toEqual({
+      status: 'unverifiable',
+      reason: SSH_EXIT_UNCONFIRMED_REASON
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('preserves a more specific lost-contact reason across an abnormal SSH exit', () => {
+    const runtime = makeRuntimeMissingFromInventory(() => null)
+    runtime.markPtyLivenessUnverifiable(REMOTE_PTY_ID, 'inventory transport failed')
+
+    runtime.onPtyExit(REMOTE_PTY_ID, -1)
+
+    expect(runtime.getPtyLivenessVerdict(REMOTE_PTY_ID)).toEqual({
+      status: 'unverifiable',
+      reason: 'inventory transport failed'
+    })
+  })
+
   it('records lost contact when no provider can answer for the PTY', async () => {
     const runtime = makeRuntimeMissingFromInventory(() => null)
 
@@ -112,6 +136,23 @@ describe('inventory sweep liveness verdicts', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  it('does not let a partial inventory overwrite a concurrent provider failure', async () => {
+    const inventory = deferred<{ id: string; worktreeId: string }[]>()
+    const listProcesses = vi.fn(() => inventory.promise)
+    const runtime = makeRuntimeMissingFromInventory(() => false, listProcesses)
+
+    const listing = runtime.listTerminals(`id:${WORKTREE_ID}`)
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(listProcesses).toHaveBeenCalled())
+    runtime.markPtyLivenessUnverifiable(REMOTE_PTY_ID, 'inventory transport failed')
+    inventory.resolve([])
+    await listing
+
+    expect(runtime.getPtyLivenessVerdict(REMOTE_PTY_ID)).toEqual({
+      status: 'unverifiable',
+      reason: 'inventory transport failed'
+    })
+  })
+
   it('clears stale doubt when a new PTY lifecycle is positively registered', () => {
     const runtime = makeRuntimeMissingFromInventory(() => null)
     runtime.markPtyLivenessUnverifiable(REMOTE_PTY_ID, 'old incarnation lost contact')
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/orchestration-worker-release.ts b/src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/orchestration-worker-release.ts
index 446887f581a..dd5b5ed4aa3 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/orchestration-worker-release.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/orchestration-worker-release.ts
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ export const ORCHESTRATION_WORKER_RELEASE_METHODS: RpcMethod[] = [
           (await runtime.inspectTerminalProcessIncarnationLiveness(
             processIncarnation,
             resource.host_scope
-          )) === 'dead'
+          )) === 'exited'
         ) {
           const reconciled = db.settleDeadWorkerTerminalRelease({
             requestingDispatchId: params.dispatch,
diff --git a/src/shared/pty-liveness-verdict.ts b/src/shared/pty-liveness-verdict.ts
index 7a71e0cfd05..f16e756ca9a 100644
--- a/src/shared/pty-liveness-verdict.ts
+++ b/src/shared/pty-liveness-verdict.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export type PtyLivenessVerdict =
 
 export const SSH_PROVIDER_UNREGISTERED_REASON = 'its SSH provider is no longer registered'
 export const NO_OBSERVING_PROVIDER_REASON = 'no registered provider can observe its host'
+export const SSH_EXIT_UNCONFIRMED_REASON = 'the owning SSH host did not confirm the PTY exit'
 export const PTY_LIVE_NOTE = 'The PTY is live.'
 
 /** The one sentence every surface uses to admit a stop was not confirmed. */