diff --git a/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-restore-required-reattach.test.ts b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-restore-required-reattach.test.ts
index db4c20deab8..abcd779e50b 100644
--- a/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-restore-required-reattach.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-restore-required-reattach.test.ts
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ describe('SSH PTY reattach when the relay requires source restoration', () => {
     expect(mux.request.mock.calls.filter((call) => call[0] === 'pty.attach')).toHaveLength(2)
   })
 
-  it('does not install a second activation when the first cancellation is unverifiable', async () => {
+  it('keeps the PTY live when the first activation cancellation is unproven', async () => {
     const mux = createMockMux()
     const activation = {
       status: 'pending',
@@ -339,10 +339,12 @@ describe('SSH PTY reattach when the relay requires source restoration', () => {
 
     const message = await spawnError(provider)
 
-    expect(message).toContain(SSH_PTY_LIVENESS_UNVERIFIABLE_ERROR)
+    // The attach answered with an incarnation, so the PTY is proven live; only the retry is blocked.
+    expect(message).toContain(SSH_PTY_RESTORE_REQUIRED_ERROR)
+    expect(message).not.toContain(SSH_PTY_LIVENESS_UNVERIFIABLE_ERROR)
     expect(message).not.toContain(SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED_ERROR)
-    expect(provider.hasPty('ssh:conn-1@@pty-old')).toBe(false)
-    await expect(provider.probePtyLiveness('ssh:conn-1@@pty-old')).resolves.toBeNull()
+    expect(provider.hasPty('ssh:conn-1@@pty-old')).toBe(true)
+    await expect(provider.probePtyLiveness('ssh:conn-1@@pty-old')).resolves.toBe(true)
     expect(mux.request.mock.calls.filter((call) => call[0] === 'pty.attach')).toHaveLength(1)
     expect(mux.request.mock.calls.filter((call) => call[0] === 'pty.spawn')).toHaveLength(0)
     expect(mux.request).toHaveBeenCalledWith('pty.cancelDelivery', {
diff --git a/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-session-reattach.ts b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-session-reattach.ts
index 2b2aa8d04c2..5fb8cc2460c 100644
--- a/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-session-reattach.ts
+++ b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-session-reattach.ts
@@ -246,8 +246,11 @@ export async function reattachSshPtySessionForSpawn(
       if (unresumable.sourceActivationLease) {
         const canceled = await unresumable.sourceActivationLease.rollback()
         if (!canceled) {
+          // Why: the attach answered with an incarnation, so the PTY is live; only its delivery
+          // is stuck, and an unproven cancellation just blocks the second attach.
+          args.acceptLivePty(unresumable.id)
           throw new Error(
-            `${SSH_PTY_LIVENESS_UNVERIFIABLE_ERROR}: ${toRelaySshPtyId(args.connectionId, unresumable.id)}`
+            `${SSH_PTY_RESTORE_REQUIRED_ERROR}: ${toRelaySshPtyId(args.connectionId, unresumable.id)}`
           )
         }
       }