diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-fresh-session-routing.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-fresh-session-routing.ts
index 057a9469145..f7888411378 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-fresh-session-routing.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-fresh-session-routing.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import {
   DaemonSessionOwnerUnknownError,
   type DaemonSessionRoute,
   DaemonSessionUnavailableError,
+  isCurrentOwnedDaemonSessionRoute,
   sameDaemonIncarnation
 } from './daemon-session-route'
 
@@ -44,3 +45,34 @@ export function assertFreshDaemonSessionAvailable(
   }
   throw new DaemonSessionOwnerUnknownError(sessionId)
 }
+
+export function recordFreshOwnedDaemonSession(
+  route: DaemonSessionRoute | undefined,
+  owner: DaemonPtyAdapter,
+  transfer: () => void,
+  setRoute: (route: DaemonSessionRoute) => void,
+  recordOwned: () => void
+): void {
+  if (
+    !route ||
+    route.state === 'unavailable' ||
+    (route.state === 'owned' && route.owner === owner && !isCurrentOwnedDaemonSessionRoute(route))
+  ) {
+    transfer()
+    return
+  }
+  if (
+    route.state === 'ambiguous' &&
+    route.candidates.has(owner) &&
+    route.candidates.get(owner) === null
+  ) {
+    const incarnation = owner.getLastAuthenticatedDaemonIdentity()
+    if (incarnation) {
+      const candidates = new Map(route.candidates)
+      candidates.set(owner, incarnation)
+      setRoute({ state: 'ambiguous', candidates })
+      return
+    }
+  }
+  recordOwned()
+}
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-health.test.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-health.test.ts
index 6eb8d1c8cb8..c4302427b64 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-health.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-health.test.ts
@@ -443,6 +443,150 @@ describe('killStaleDaemon pid identity guards', () => {
     }
   })
 
+  it('preserves the owned pidfile when SIGTERM is rejected', async () => {
+    if (process.platform === 'win32') {
+      return
+    }
+
+    const child = spawn(
+      process.execPath,
+      ['-e', 'setInterval(()=>{},1000)', 'daemon-entry', socketPath, tokenPath],
+      { stdio: 'ignore' }
+    )
+    const pidPath = getDaemonPidPath(dir)
+    const pidfile = serializeDaemonPidFile({
+      pid: child.pid!,
+      startedAtMs: null,
+      launchNonce: 'signal-rejected'
+    })
+    writeFileSync(pidPath, pidfile, { mode: 0o600 })
+    const realKill = process.kill.bind(process)
+    const killSpy = vi.spyOn(process, 'kill').mockImplementation((pid, signal) => {
+      if (pid === child.pid && signal === 'SIGTERM') {
+        throw Object.assign(new Error('operation not permitted'), { code: 'EPERM' })
+      }
+      return realKill(pid, signal)
+    })
+
+    try {
+      await expect(killStaleDaemon(dir, socketPath, tokenPath)).resolves.toBe(false)
+      expect(readFileSync(pidPath, 'utf8')).toBe(pidfile)
+      expect(child.exitCode).toBeNull()
+    } finally {
+      killSpy.mockRestore()
+      const exited =
+        child.exitCode === null
+          ? new Promise<void>((resolve) => child.once('exit', () => resolve()))
+          : Promise.resolve()
+      if (child.exitCode === null) {
+        child.kill('SIGKILL')
+      }
+      await exited
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('preserves the owned pidfile when SIGKILL is rejected', async () => {
+    if (process.platform === 'win32') {
+      return
+    }
+
+    const child = spawn(
+      process.execPath,
+      ['-e', 'setInterval(()=>{},1000)', 'daemon-entry', socketPath, tokenPath],
+      { stdio: 'ignore' }
+    )
+    const pidPath = getDaemonPidPath(dir)
+    const pidfile = serializeDaemonPidFile({
+      pid: child.pid!,
+      startedAtMs: null,
+      launchNonce: 'kill-rejected'
+    })
+    writeFileSync(pidPath, pidfile, { mode: 0o600 })
+    const realKill = process.kill.bind(process)
+    let observeSigterm!: () => void
+    const sigtermObserved = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+      observeSigterm = resolve
+    })
+    const killSpy = vi.spyOn(process, 'kill').mockImplementation((pid, signal) => {
+      if (pid === child.pid && signal === 'SIGTERM') {
+        observeSigterm()
+        return true
+      }
+      if (pid === child.pid && signal === 'SIGKILL') {
+        throw Object.assign(new Error('operation not permitted'), { code: 'EPERM' })
+      }
+      return realKill(pid, signal)
+    })
+
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    try {
+      const killing = killStaleDaemon(dir, socketPath, tokenPath)
+      await sigtermObserved
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(3_100)
+      await expect(killing).resolves.toBe(false)
+      expect(readFileSync(pidPath, 'utf8')).toBe(pidfile)
+      expect(child.exitCode).toBeNull()
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers()
+      killSpy.mockRestore()
+      const exited =
+        child.exitCode === null
+          ? new Promise<void>((resolve) => child.once('exit', () => resolve()))
+          : Promise.resolve()
+      if (child.exitCode === null) {
+        child.kill('SIGKILL')
+      }
+      await exited
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('preserves the owned pidfile when the post-SIGTERM liveness probe is rejected', async () => {
+    if (process.platform === 'win32') {
+      return
+    }
+
+    const child = spawn(
+      process.execPath,
+      ['-e', 'setInterval(()=>{},1000)', 'daemon-entry', socketPath, tokenPath],
+      { stdio: 'ignore' }
+    )
+    const pidPath = getDaemonPidPath(dir)
+    const pidfile = serializeDaemonPidFile({
+      pid: child.pid!,
+      startedAtMs: null,
+      launchNonce: 'probe-rejected'
+    })
+    writeFileSync(pidPath, pidfile, { mode: 0o600 })
+    const realKill = process.kill.bind(process)
+    let termAccepted = false
+    const killSpy = vi.spyOn(process, 'kill').mockImplementation((pid, signal) => {
+      if (pid === child.pid && signal === 'SIGTERM') {
+        termAccepted = true
+        return true
+      }
+      if (pid === child.pid && signal === 0 && termAccepted) {
+        throw Object.assign(new Error('operation not permitted'), { code: 'EPERM' })
+      }
+      return realKill(pid, signal)
+    })
+
+    try {
+      await expect(killStaleDaemon(dir, socketPath, tokenPath)).resolves.toBe(false)
+      expect(readFileSync(pidPath, 'utf8')).toBe(pidfile)
+      expect(child.exitCode).toBeNull()
+    } finally {
+      killSpy.mockRestore()
+      const exited =
+        child.exitCode === null
+          ? new Promise<void>((resolve) => child.once('exit', () => resolve()))
+          : Promise.resolve()
+      if (child.exitCode === null) {
+        child.kill('SIGKILL')
+      }
+      await exited
+    }
+  })
+
   it('preserves replacement identity files when the pid changes ownership during escalation', async () => {
     if (process.platform === 'win32') {
       return
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-health.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-health.ts
index 5b7336f4007..4656ea827a5 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-health.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-health.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ export const E2E_FORCE_DAEMON_HEALTH_UNREACHABLE_ENV = 'ORCA_E2E_FORCE_DAEMON_HE
 // tolerance keeps the guard effective without false mismatches.
 const WIN32_START_TIME_TOLERANCE_MS = 10_000
 
+function isNoSuchProcessError(error: unknown): boolean {
+  return typeof error === 'object' && error !== null && 'code' in error && error.code === 'ESRCH'
+}
+
 // 'rejected' means the daemon answered and refused the handshake (bad token,
 // foreign protocol) — it can never be adopted, unlike 'unreachable', which
 // also covers a live-but-wedged daemon that simply missed the RPC budget.
@@ -678,13 +682,23 @@ export async function killStaleDaemon(
       identifiedPid = parsedPid.pid
       identifiedLaunchNonce = parsedPid.launchNonce
       const { pid, startedAtMs } = parsedPid
-      process.kill(pid, 'SIGTERM')
-      const deadline = Date.now() + KILL_WAIT_MS
       let exited = false
-      while (Date.now() < deadline) {
+      try {
+        process.kill(pid, 'SIGTERM')
+      } catch (error) {
+        if (!isNoSuchProcessError(error)) {
+          throw error
+        }
+        exited = true
+      }
+      const deadline = Date.now() + KILL_WAIT_MS
+      while (!exited && Date.now() < deadline) {
         try {
           process.kill(pid, 0)
-        } catch {
+        } catch (error) {
+          if (!isNoSuchProcessError(error)) {
+            throw error
+          }
           exited = true
           break
         }
@@ -704,8 +718,8 @@ export async function killStaleDaemon(
           try {
             process.kill(pid, 'SIGKILL')
             exited = true
-          } catch {
-            // Already dead
+          } catch (error) {
+            exited = isNoSuchProcessError(error)
           }
         }
       }
@@ -715,7 +729,12 @@ export async function killStaleDaemon(
     // PID file missing or process already dead
   }
 
-  if (identifiedDaemon && identifiedPid !== null && identifiedLaunchNonce !== null) {
+  if (
+    killedDaemon &&
+    identifiedDaemon &&
+    identifiedPid !== null &&
+    identifiedLaunchNonce !== null
+  ) {
     unlinkOwnedDaemonPidFile(pidPath, identifiedPid, identifiedLaunchNonce)
   }
 
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-history-handoff-routing.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-history-handoff-routing.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e943fa391ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-history-handoff-routing.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+import type { DaemonPtyAdapter } from './daemon-pty-adapter'
+import type { DaemonSessionRoute } from './daemon-session-route'
+
+export function createDaemonHistoryHandoffRoute(
+  owner: DaemonPtyAdapter,
+  target: DaemonPtyAdapter
+): DaemonSessionRoute {
+  return {
+    state: 'unavailable',
+    owner,
+    incarnation: owner.getLastAuthenticatedDaemonIdentity(),
+    historyHandoffTarget: target
+  }
+}
+
+export function daemonHistoryHandoffTarget(
+  route: DaemonSessionRoute | undefined
+): DaemonPtyAdapter | undefined {
+  return route?.state === 'unavailable' ? route.historyHandoffTarget : undefined
+}
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router-history-handoff.test.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router-history-handoff.test.ts
index a53a4b29b63..92ba3c03480 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router-history-handoff.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router-history-handoff.test.ts
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ describe('DaemonPtyRouter history handoff', () => {
     const request = vi.spyOn(client, 'request')
 
     await router.shutdown(sessionId, { immediate: true, keepHistory: true })
+    expect(router.getSessionRouteState(sessionId)).toBe('unavailable')
     const restored = await router.spawn({ sessionId, cols: 400, rows: 24 })
 
     expect(restored.coldRestore?.scrollback).toContain(marker)
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router-routing-safety-fixture.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router-routing-safety-fixture.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..382f88b7026
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router-routing-safety-fixture.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+import { vi } from 'vitest'
+import type { PtyProcessInfo, PtySpawnOptions } from '../providers/types'
+import type { DaemonEndpointIdentity } from './daemon-hello-protocol'
+import type { DaemonPtyAdapter } from './daemon-pty-adapter'
+
+export type AdapterHarness = {
+  adapter: DaemonPtyAdapter
+  emitData: (sessionId: string, data: string) => void
+  emitIdentityChange: (previous: DaemonEndpointIdentity, current: DaemonEndpointIdentity) => void
+  emitExit: (sessionId: string, code: number) => void
+  setIdentity: (identity: DaemonEndpointIdentity) => void
+}
+
+export function identity(label: string, pid: number): DaemonEndpointIdentity {
+  return {
+    pid,
+    startedAtMs: pid * 1_000,
+    launchNonce: `${label}-${pid}`
+  }
+}
+
+export function createAdapter(
+  label: string,
+  sessions: string[] = [],
+  reconcileResult: { alive: string[]; killed: string[] } = { alive: [], killed: [] }
+): AdapterHarness {
+  let daemonIdentity = identity(label, label === 'current' ? 20 : 10)
+  const identityListeners: ((event: {
+    previous: DaemonEndpointIdentity
+    current: DaemonEndpointIdentity
+  }) => void)[] = []
+  const dataListeners: ((payload: { id: string; data: string }) => void)[] = []
+  const exitListeners: ((payload: { id: string; code: number }) => void)[] = []
+  const adapter = {
+    protocolVersion: label === 'current' ? 30 : 29,
+    getLastAuthenticatedDaemonIdentity: vi.fn(() => ({ ...daemonIdentity })),
+    matchesLastAuthenticatedDaemonIdentity: vi.fn(
+      (candidate: DaemonEndpointIdentity | null) =>
+        candidate !== null &&
+        candidate.pid === daemonIdentity.pid &&
+        candidate.startedAtMs === daemonIdentity.startedAtMs &&
+        candidate.launchNonce === daemonIdentity.launchNonce
+    ),
+    onDaemonIdentityChanged: vi.fn(
+      (
+        listener: (event: {
+          previous: DaemonEndpointIdentity
+          current: DaemonEndpointIdentity
+        }) => void
+      ) => {
+        identityListeners.push(listener)
+        return () => {}
+      }
+    ),
+    listProcesses: vi.fn(
+      async (): Promise<PtyProcessInfo[]> => sessions.map((id) => ({ id, cwd: '', title: label }))
+    ),
+    spawn: vi.fn(async (opts: PtySpawnOptions) => ({
+      id: opts.sessionId ?? `${label}-fresh`
+    })),
+    probePtyLiveness: vi.fn(async (id: string) => sessions.includes(id)),
+    hasPty: vi.fn((id: string) => sessions.includes(id)),
+    shutdown: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+    sendSignal: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+    getBufferSnapshot: vi.fn(async () => null),
+    ackColdRestore: vi.fn(),
+    reconcileOnStartup: vi.fn(async () => reconcileResult),
+    onData: vi.fn((listener: (payload: { id: string; data: string }) => void) => {
+      dataListeners.push(listener)
+      return () => {}
+    }),
+    onExit: vi.fn((listener: (payload: { id: string; code: number }) => void) => {
+      exitListeners.push(listener)
+      return () => {}
+    }),
+    onBackgroundStreamEvent: vi.fn(() => () => {}),
+    onWriteUnavailable: vi.fn(() => () => {}),
+    dispose: vi.fn(),
+    disconnectOnly: vi.fn(async () => {})
+  } as unknown as DaemonPtyAdapter
+
+  return {
+    adapter,
+    emitData: (sessionId, data) => {
+      for (const listener of dataListeners) {
+        listener({ id: sessionId, data })
+      }
+    },
+    setIdentity: (next) => {
+      daemonIdentity = next
+    },
+    emitIdentityChange: (previous, current) => {
+      for (const listener of identityListeners) {
+        listener({ previous, current })
+      }
+    },
+    emitExit: (sessionId, code) => {
+      for (const listener of exitListeners) {
+        listener({ id: sessionId, code })
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router-routing-safety.test.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router-routing-safety.test.ts
index f79792e8801..5b67aa5442c 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router-routing-safety.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router-routing-safety.test.ts
@@ -1,107 +1,6 @@
 import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
-import type { DaemonEndpointIdentity } from './daemon-hello-protocol'
-import type { DaemonPtyAdapter } from './daemon-pty-adapter'
 import { DaemonPtyRouter } from './daemon-pty-router'
-import type { PtyProcessInfo, PtySpawnOptions } from '../providers/types'
-
-type AdapterHarness = {
-  adapter: DaemonPtyAdapter
-  emitData: (sessionId: string, data: string) => void
-  emitIdentityChange: (previous: DaemonEndpointIdentity, current: DaemonEndpointIdentity) => void
-  emitExit: (sessionId: string, code: number) => void
-  setIdentity: (identity: DaemonEndpointIdentity) => void
-}
-
-function identity(label: string, pid: number): DaemonEndpointIdentity {
-  return {
-    pid,
-    startedAtMs: pid * 1_000,
-    launchNonce: `${label}-${pid}`
-  }
-}
-
-function createAdapter(
-  label: string,
-  sessions: string[] = [],
-  reconcileResult: { alive: string[]; killed: string[] } = { alive: [], killed: [] }
-): AdapterHarness {
-  let daemonIdentity = identity(label, label === 'current' ? 20 : 10)
-  const identityListeners: ((event: {
-    previous: DaemonEndpointIdentity
-    current: DaemonEndpointIdentity
-  }) => void)[] = []
-  const dataListeners: ((payload: { id: string; data: string }) => void)[] = []
-  const exitListeners: ((payload: { id: string; code: number }) => void)[] = []
-  const adapter = {
-    protocolVersion: label === 'current' ? 30 : 29,
-    getLastAuthenticatedDaemonIdentity: vi.fn(() => ({ ...daemonIdentity })),
-    matchesLastAuthenticatedDaemonIdentity: vi.fn(
-      (candidate: DaemonEndpointIdentity | null) =>
-        candidate !== null &&
-        candidate.pid === daemonIdentity.pid &&
-        candidate.startedAtMs === daemonIdentity.startedAtMs &&
-        candidate.launchNonce === daemonIdentity.launchNonce
-    ),
-    onDaemonIdentityChanged: vi.fn(
-      (
-        listener: (event: {
-          previous: DaemonEndpointIdentity
-          current: DaemonEndpointIdentity
-        }) => void
-      ) => {
-        identityListeners.push(listener)
-        return () => {}
-      }
-    ),
-    listProcesses: vi.fn(
-      async (): Promise<PtyProcessInfo[]> => sessions.map((id) => ({ id, cwd: '', title: label }))
-    ),
-    spawn: vi.fn(async (opts: PtySpawnOptions) => ({
-      id: opts.sessionId ?? `${label}-fresh`
-    })),
-    probePtyLiveness: vi.fn(async (id: string) => sessions.includes(id)),
-    hasPty: vi.fn((id: string) => sessions.includes(id)),
-    shutdown: vi.fn(async () => {}),
-    sendSignal: vi.fn(async () => {}),
-    getBufferSnapshot: vi.fn(async () => null),
-    ackColdRestore: vi.fn(),
-    reconcileOnStartup: vi.fn(async () => reconcileResult),
-    onData: vi.fn((listener: (payload: { id: string; data: string }) => void) => {
-      dataListeners.push(listener)
-      return () => {}
-    }),
-    onExit: vi.fn((listener: (payload: { id: string; code: number }) => void) => {
-      exitListeners.push(listener)
-      return () => {}
-    }),
-    onBackgroundStreamEvent: vi.fn(() => () => {}),
-    onWriteUnavailable: vi.fn(() => () => {}),
-    dispose: vi.fn(),
-    disconnectOnly: vi.fn(async () => {})
-  } as unknown as DaemonPtyAdapter
-
-  return {
-    adapter,
-    emitData: (sessionId, data) => {
-      for (const listener of dataListeners) {
-        listener({ id: sessionId, data })
-      }
-    },
-    setIdentity: (next) => {
-      daemonIdentity = next
-    },
-    emitIdentityChange: (previous, current) => {
-      for (const listener of identityListeners) {
-        listener({ previous, current })
-      }
-    },
-    emitExit: (sessionId, code) => {
-      for (const listener of exitListeners) {
-        listener({ id: sessionId, code })
-      }
-    }
-  }
-}
+import { createAdapter, identity } from './daemon-pty-router-routing-safety-fixture'
 
 describe('DaemonPtyRouter routing safety', () => {
   afterEach(() => {
@@ -171,6 +70,67 @@ describe('DaemonPtyRouter routing safety', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  it('keeps a history handoff fenced until the current owner produces output', async () => {
+    const sessionId = 'history-handoff'
+    const current = createAdapter('current')
+    const legacy = createAdapter('legacy', [sessionId])
+    let resolveSpawn: ((result: { id: string }) => void) | undefined
+    vi.mocked(current.adapter.spawn).mockReturnValue(
+      new Promise((resolve) => {
+        resolveSpawn = resolve
+      })
+    )
+    const router = new DaemonPtyRouter({
+      current: current.adapter,
+      legacy: [legacy.adapter]
+    })
+    const data = vi.fn()
+    router.onData(data)
+
+    await router.discoverLegacySessions()
+    await router.shutdown(sessionId, { immediate: true, keepHistory: true })
+    expect(router.getSessionRouteState(sessionId)).toBe('unavailable')
+
+    const spawning = router.spawn({ sessionId, cols: 80, rows: 24 })
+    current.emitData(sessionId, 'restored frame')
+    expect(data).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith({ id: sessionId, data: 'restored frame' })
+
+    resolveSpawn?.({ id: sessionId })
+    await spawning
+    expect(router.getSessionRouteState(sessionId)).toBe('owned')
+  })
+
+  it('preserves collision evidence during a history handoff', async () => {
+    const sessionId = 'colliding-history-handoff'
+    const currentSessions: string[] = []
+    const current = createAdapter('current', currentSessions)
+    const legacy = createAdapter('legacy', [sessionId])
+    let resolveSpawn: ((result: { id: string }) => void) | undefined
+    vi.mocked(current.adapter.spawn).mockReturnValue(
+      new Promise((resolve) => {
+        resolveSpawn = resolve
+      })
+    )
+    const router = new DaemonPtyRouter({
+      current: current.adapter,
+      legacy: [legacy.adapter]
+    })
+
+    await router.discoverLegacySessions()
+    await router.shutdown(sessionId, { immediate: true, keepHistory: true })
+    const spawning = router.spawn({ sessionId, cols: 80, rows: 24 })
+    legacy.emitData(sessionId, 'foreign frame')
+    current.emitData(sessionId, 'restored frame')
+    currentSessions.push(sessionId)
+    resolveSpawn?.({ id: sessionId })
+    await spawning
+
+    expect(router.getSessionRouteState(sessionId)).toBe('ambiguous')
+    await expect(router.sendSignal(sessionId, 'SIGTERM')).rejects.toThrow(
+      'daemon_session_routing_unavailable'
+    )
+  })
+
   it('probes adapters outside an ambiguous route while discovery is incomplete', async () => {
     const sessionId = 'hidden-collision'
     const firstSessions = [sessionId]
@@ -469,6 +429,31 @@ describe('DaemonPtyRouter routing safety', () => {
     expect(legacy.adapter.sendSignal).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
+  it('rejects a liveness result when ownership changes in flight', async () => {
+    const sessionId = 'stale-owned-liveness'
+    const current = createAdapter('current')
+    const legacy = createAdapter('legacy', [sessionId])
+    let finishProbe: ((result: boolean) => void) | undefined
+    vi.mocked(legacy.adapter.probePtyLiveness).mockReturnValue(
+      new Promise((resolve) => {
+        finishProbe = resolve
+      })
+    )
+    const router = new DaemonPtyRouter({
+      current: current.adapter,
+      legacy: [legacy.adapter]
+    })
+
+    await router.discoverLegacySessions()
+    const probing = router.probePtyLiveness(sessionId)
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(finishProbe).toBeDefined())
+    current.emitData(sessionId, 'colliding frame')
+    finishProbe?.(false)
+
+    await expect(probing).resolves.toBeNull()
+    expect(router.getSessionRouteState(sessionId)).toBe('ambiguous')
+  })
+
   it('does not apply reconciliation after an earlier adapter is replaced', async () => {
     const sessionId = 'stale-reconciliation'
     const current = createAdapter('current', [], {
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router-session-routing.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router-session-routing.ts
index c585dcf71fc..93acee652b0 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router-session-routing.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router-session-routing.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { DaemonSnapshotAcknowledgementRoutes } from './daemon-snapshot-acknowled
 export class DaemonPtyRouterSessionRouting {
   private readonly routes: DaemonSessionRouteTable
   private readonly snapshotAcks = new DaemonSnapshotAcknowledgementRoutes()
-  private readonly freshSpawnsInFlight = new Map<
+  private readonly authoritativeSpawnsInFlight = new Map<
     string,
     { owner: DaemonPtyAdapter; count: number }
   >()
@@ -48,41 +48,54 @@ export class DaemonPtyRouterSessionRouting {
     if (!opts.sessionId || opts.isNewSession) {
       return this.routes.ownerForFreshSpawn(opts.sessionId, this.current)
     }
+    const historyHandoffTarget = this.routes.historyHandoffTarget(opts.sessionId)
+    if (historyHandoffTarget) {
+      return historyHandoffTarget
+    }
     return this.routes.resolveOwner(opts.sessionId)
   }
 
-  recordSpawn(result: PtySpawnResult, target: DaemonPtyAdapter, opts: PtySpawnOptions): void {
+  recordSpawn(
+    result: PtySpawnResult,
+    target: DaemonPtyAdapter,
+    opts: PtySpawnOptions,
+    authoritativeIntent: boolean
+  ): void {
     if (result.exitedBeforeSpawnReply) {
       return
     }
-    if (opts.isNewSession && opts.sessionId === result.id) {
+    if (authoritativeIntent && opts.sessionId === result.id) {
       this.routes.recordFreshOwned(result.id, target)
       return
     }
     this.routes.recordOwned(result.id, target)
   }
 
-  beginSpawn(opts: PtySpawnOptions, target: DaemonPtyAdapter): void {
-    if (!opts.isNewSession || !opts.sessionId) {
-      return
+  beginSpawn(opts: PtySpawnOptions, target: DaemonPtyAdapter): boolean {
+    if (
+      !opts.sessionId ||
+      (!opts.isNewSession && this.routes.historyHandoffTarget(opts.sessionId) !== target)
+    ) {
+      return false
     }
-    const inFlight = this.freshSpawnsInFlight.get(opts.sessionId)
-    this.freshSpawnsInFlight.set(opts.sessionId, {
+    const inFlight = this.authoritativeSpawnsInFlight.get(opts.sessionId)
+    this.authoritativeSpawnsInFlight.set(opts.sessionId, {
       owner: target,
       count: (inFlight?.count ?? 0) + 1
     })
+    return true
   }
 
-  endSpawn(opts: PtySpawnOptions): void {
-    if (!opts.isNewSession || !opts.sessionId) {
+  endSpawn(opts: PtySpawnOptions, authoritativeIntent: boolean): void {
+    if (!authoritativeIntent || !opts.sessionId) {
       return
     }
-    const inFlight = this.freshSpawnsInFlight.get(opts.sessionId)
+    const inFlight = this.authoritativeSpawnsInFlight.get(opts.sessionId)
     if (!inFlight || inFlight.count <= 1) {
-      this.freshSpawnsInFlight.delete(opts.sessionId)
+      this.authoritativeSpawnsInFlight.delete(opts.sessionId)
       return
     }
-    this.freshSpawnsInFlight.set(opts.sessionId, {
+    this.authoritativeSpawnsInFlight.set(opts.sessionId, {
       owner: inFlight.owner,
       count: inFlight.count - 1
     })
@@ -143,7 +156,7 @@ export class DaemonPtyRouterSessionRouting {
     migrateHistory: boolean
   ): void {
     if (migrateHistory) {
-      this.routes.transfer(sessionId, this.current)
+      this.routes.recordHistoryHandoff(sessionId, owner, this.current)
       return
     }
     if (!keepHistory) {
@@ -186,9 +199,13 @@ export class DaemonPtyRouterSessionRouting {
   }
 
   shouldForwardStreamEvent(sessionId: string, owner: DaemonPtyAdapter): boolean {
-    const freshSpawn = this.freshSpawnsInFlight.get(sessionId)
-    if (freshSpawn && freshSpawn.owner !== owner) {
-      this.routes.recordFreshOwned(sessionId, freshSpawn.owner)
+    const authoritativeSpawn = this.authoritativeSpawnsInFlight.get(sessionId)
+    if (authoritativeSpawn?.owner === owner) {
+      this.routes.recordFreshOwned(sessionId, owner)
+      return this.routes.shouldForwardEvent(sessionId, owner)
+    }
+    if (authoritativeSpawn) {
+      this.routes.recordFreshOwned(sessionId, authoritativeSpawn.owner)
       this.routes.recordOwned(sessionId, owner)
       return false
     }
@@ -196,8 +213,8 @@ export class DaemonPtyRouterSessionRouting {
   }
 
   recordExit(sessionId: string, owner: DaemonPtyAdapter): boolean {
-    const freshSpawn = this.freshSpawnsInFlight.get(sessionId)
-    if (freshSpawn && freshSpawn.owner !== owner) {
+    const authoritativeSpawn = this.authoritativeSpawnsInFlight.get(sessionId)
+    if (authoritativeSpawn && authoritativeSpawn.owner !== owner) {
       if (this.routes.get(sessionId)) {
         this.routes.markUnavailable(sessionId, owner)
       }
@@ -231,7 +248,7 @@ export class DaemonPtyRouterSessionRouting {
     for (const unsubscribe of this.identityUnsubscribes.splice(0)) {
       unsubscribe()
     }
-    this.freshSpawnsInFlight.clear()
+    this.authoritativeSpawnsInFlight.clear()
     this.snapshotAcks.clear()
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router.ts
index 8e616e5e8ae..e8cc451c151 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router.ts
@@ -63,13 +63,13 @@ export class DaemonPtyRouter implements IPtyProvider {
   async spawn(opts: PtySpawnOptions): Promise<PtySpawnResult> {
     const targetResult = this.routing.spawnTarget(opts)
     const target = targetResult instanceof Promise ? await targetResult : targetResult
-    this.routing.beginSpawn(opts, target)
+    const authoritativeIntent = this.routing.beginSpawn(opts, target)
     try {
       const result = await target.spawn(opts)
-      this.routing.recordSpawn(result, target, opts)
+      this.routing.recordSpawn(result, target, opts, authoritativeIntent)
       return result
     } finally {
-      this.routing.endSpawn(opts)
+      this.routing.endSpawn(opts, authoritativeIntent)
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-session-route-table.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-session-route-table.ts
index 935426fb1fb..6e5e2ed8ed3 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-session-route-table.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-session-route-table.ts
@@ -9,10 +9,7 @@ import {
 } from './daemon-session-route'
 import { probeDaemonSessionOwner } from './daemon-session-owner-probes'
 import { DaemonSessionRouteStore } from './daemon-session-route-store'
-import {
-  assertFreshDaemonSessionAvailable,
-  ownerForFreshDaemonSession
-} from './daemon-fresh-session-routing'
+import * as freshSessionRouting from './daemon-fresh-session-routing'
 import { resolveDaemonSessionOwnerSync } from './daemon-session-owner-sync-resolution'
 import { resolveDaemonSessionOwner } from './daemon-session-owner-resolution'
 import {
@@ -20,6 +17,7 @@ import {
   markDaemonSessionUnavailable
 } from './daemon-session-route-availability'
 import { DaemonSessionOwnerResolutionCache } from './daemon-session-owner-resolution-cache'
+import * as historyHandoffRouting from './daemon-history-handoff-routing'
 
 export class DaemonSessionRouteTable {
   private readonly routes = new DaemonSessionRouteStore()
@@ -126,16 +124,21 @@ export class DaemonSessionRouteTable {
   }
 
   recordFreshOwned(sessionId: string, owner: DaemonPtyAdapter): void {
-    const route = this.routes.get(sessionId)
-    if (
-      !route ||
-      route.state === 'unavailable' ||
-      (route.state === 'owned' && route.owner === owner && !isCurrentOwnedDaemonSessionRoute(route))
-    ) {
-      this.transfer(sessionId, owner)
-      return
-    }
-    this.recordOwned(sessionId, owner)
+    freshSessionRouting.recordFreshOwnedDaemonSession(
+      this.routes.get(sessionId),
+      owner,
+      () => this.transfer(sessionId, owner),
+      (route) => this.routes.set(sessionId, route),
+      () => this.recordOwned(sessionId, owner)
+    )
+  }
+
+  recordHistoryHandoff(sessionId: string, owner: DaemonPtyAdapter, target: DaemonPtyAdapter): void {
+    this.routes.set(sessionId, historyHandoffRouting.createDaemonHistoryHandoffRoute(owner, target))
+  }
+
+  historyHandoffTarget(sessionId: string): DaemonPtyAdapter | undefined {
+    return historyHandoffRouting.daemonHistoryHandoffTarget(this.routes.get(sessionId))
   }
 
   recordDiscoveryFailure(owner: DaemonPtyAdapter): void {
@@ -169,7 +172,7 @@ export class DaemonSessionRouteTable {
   }
 
   ownerForFreshSpawn(sessionId: string | undefined, current: DaemonPtyAdapter): DaemonPtyAdapter {
-    return ownerForFreshDaemonSession(
+    return freshSessionRouting.ownerForFreshDaemonSession(
       sessionId,
       sessionId ? this.routes.get(sessionId) : undefined,
       current,
@@ -178,7 +181,7 @@ export class DaemonSessionRouteTable {
   }
 
   assertFreshSpawnAvailable(sessionId: string | undefined): void {
-    assertFreshDaemonSessionAvailable(
+    freshSessionRouting.assertFreshDaemonSessionAvailable(
       sessionId,
       sessionId ? this.routes.get(sessionId) : undefined,
       () => sessionId && this.routes.delete(sessionId)
@@ -281,7 +284,8 @@ export class DaemonSessionRouteTable {
         return null
       }
       const result = await probeDaemonSessionOwner(route.owner, sessionId)
-      return sameDaemonIncarnation(route.incarnation, result.incarnation) &&
+      return this.routes.get(sessionId) === route &&
+        sameDaemonIncarnation(route.incarnation, result.incarnation) &&
         sameDaemonIncarnation(result.incarnation, result.owner.getLastAuthenticatedDaemonIdentity())
         ? result.result
         : null
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-session-route.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-session-route.ts
index 249e07f684e..06061f3cbe7 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-session-route.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-session-route.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ export type DaemonSessionRoute =
       state: 'unavailable'
       owner: DaemonPtyAdapter
       incarnation: DaemonEndpointIdentity | null
+      historyHandoffTarget?: DaemonPtyAdapter
     }
   | {
       state: 'ambiguous'
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/degraded-daemon-pty-provider.test.ts b/src/main/daemon/degraded-daemon-pty-provider.test.ts
index e393eb104c0..17d41ceadd9 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/degraded-daemon-pty-provider.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/degraded-daemon-pty-provider.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 import { DegradedDaemonPtyProvider } from './degraded-daemon-pty-provider'
-import type { DaemonPtyAdapter } from './daemon-pty-adapter'
+import type { DaemonIdentityChangeEvent, DaemonPtyAdapter } from './daemon-pty-adapter'
 import type { IPtyProvider, PtySpawnOptions, PtySpawnResult } from '../providers/types'
 import type { PtyProcessInspection } from '../providers/pty-process-inspection'
 
@@ -346,6 +346,45 @@ describe('DegradedDaemonPtyProvider', () => {
     await expect(provider.probePtyLiveness('unknown-session')).resolves.toBe(true)
   })
 
+  it('keeps fallback liveness unknown when daemon ownership appears during the probe', async () => {
+    const sessionId = 'fallback-probe-collision'
+    const current = createDaemonAdapter('current')
+    const fallback = createProvider('fallback')
+    let settleProbe!: (result: boolean | null) => void
+    fallback.probePtyLiveness = vi.fn(
+      () => new Promise<boolean | null>((resolve) => (settleProbe = resolve))
+    )
+    const provider = new DegradedDaemonPtyProvider({ current, legacy: [], fallback })
+    await provider.spawn({ sessionId, isNewSession: true, cols: 80, rows: 24 })
+
+    const liveness = provider.probePtyLiveness(sessionId)
+    current.emitData(sessionId, 'colliding daemon output')
+    settleProbe(false)
+
+    await expect(liveness).resolves.toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('discards fallback liveness after same-provider reuse of the session id', async () => {
+    const sessionId = 'reused-fallback-probe'
+    const current = createDaemonAdapter('current')
+    const fallback = createProvider('fallback')
+    let settleProbe!: (result: boolean | null) => void
+    fallback.probePtyLiveness = vi.fn(
+      () => new Promise<boolean | null>((resolve) => (settleProbe = resolve))
+    )
+    const provider = new DegradedDaemonPtyProvider({ current, legacy: [], fallback })
+    await provider.spawn({ sessionId, isNewSession: true, cols: 80, rows: 24 })
+
+    const staleLiveness = provider.probePtyLiveness(sessionId)
+    fallback.emitExit(sessionId, 0)
+    await provider.spawn({ sessionId, isNewSession: true, cols: 80, rows: 24 })
+    settleProbe(false)
+
+    await expect(staleLiveness).resolves.toBeNull()
+    provider.write(sessionId, 'replacement survives')
+    expect(fallback.write).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith(sessionId, 'replacement survives')
+  })
+
   it('routes authoritative recovery snapshots to the owning daemon', async () => {
     const current = createDaemonAdapter('daemon', ['daemon-session'])
     const fallback = createProvider('fallback')
@@ -487,6 +526,40 @@ describe('DegradedDaemonPtyProvider', () => {
     expect(exit).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith({ id: sessionId, code: 0 })
   })
 
+  it('releases a fallback survivor when the colliding daemon changes incarnation', async () => {
+    const sessionId = 'daemon-incarnation-collision'
+    const previous = { pid: 1, startedAtMs: 1, launchNonce: 'previous' }
+    const currentIdentity = { pid: 2, startedAtMs: 2, launchNonce: 'current' }
+    const current = createDaemonAdapter('daemon')
+    const fallback = createProvider('fallback')
+    let identity = previous
+    let notifyIdentityChange!: (event: DaemonIdentityChangeEvent) => void
+    vi.mocked(current.getLastAuthenticatedDaemonIdentity).mockImplementation(() => identity)
+    vi.mocked(current.onDaemonIdentityChanged).mockImplementation((listener) => {
+      notifyIdentityChange = listener
+      return () => {}
+    })
+    const provider = new DegradedDaemonPtyProvider({ current, legacy: [], fallback })
+    const data = vi.fn()
+    provider.onData(data)
+    await provider.spawn({ sessionId, isNewSession: true, cols: 80, rows: 24 })
+
+    current.emitData(sessionId, 'withheld collision')
+    expect(() => provider.write(sessionId, 'withheld write')).toThrow(
+      'daemon_session_routing_unavailable'
+    )
+    identity = currentIdentity
+    notifyIdentityChange({ previous, current: currentIdentity })
+    fallback.emitData(sessionId, 'fallback survivor')
+    provider.write(sessionId, 'surviving write')
+
+    expect(data).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith({
+      id: sessionId,
+      data: 'fallback survivor'
+    })
+    expect(fallback.write).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith(sessionId, 'surviving write')
+  })
+
   it('keeps a fallback collision fenced while another daemon owner survives', async () => {
     const sessionId = 'two-daemon-fallback-collision'
     const current = createDaemonAdapter('current')
@@ -516,26 +589,37 @@ describe('DegradedDaemonPtyProvider', () => {
     expect(fallback.write).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith(sessionId, 'allowed')
   })
 
-  it('records fallback ownership from output emitted before spawn resolves', async () => {
+  it('fences foreign events before a fresh fallback reply and keeps the fallback routable', async () => {
     const sessionId = 'in-flight-fallback-spawn'
     const current = createDaemonAdapter('daemon')
     const fallback = createProvider('fallback')
     const provider = new DegradedDaemonPtyProvider({ current, legacy: [], fallback })
     const data = vi.fn()
+    const exit = vi.fn()
     provider.onData(data)
-    vi.mocked(fallback.spawn).mockImplementationOnce(async () => {
-      fallback.emitData(sessionId, 'fallback first')
-      return { id: sessionId }
-    })
+    provider.onExit(exit)
+    let resolveSpawn!: (result: PtySpawnResult) => void
+    vi.mocked(fallback.spawn).mockReturnValueOnce(
+      new Promise((resolve) => {
+        resolveSpawn = resolve
+      })
+    )
 
-    await provider.spawn({ sessionId, isNewSession: true, cols: 80, rows: 24 })
-    current.emitData(sessionId, 'daemon collision')
-    fallback.emitData(sessionId, 'withheld fallback collision')
+    const spawning = provider.spawn({ sessionId, isNewSession: true, cols: 80, rows: 24 })
+    current.emitData(sessionId, 'foreign daemon output')
+    current.emitExit(sessionId, 0)
+    fallback.emitData(sessionId, 'fallback first')
+    resolveSpawn({ id: sessionId })
+    await spawning
+    provider.write(sessionId, 'fallback input')
 
     expect(data).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith({
       id: sessionId,
       data: 'fallback first'
     })
+    expect(exit).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(fallback.write).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith(sessionId, 'fallback input')
+    expect(current.write).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
   it('rejects unknown fallback output after unavailable tombstones are evicted', async () => {
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/degraded-daemon-session-routing.ts b/src/main/daemon/degraded-daemon-session-routing.ts
index 09c718eafdc..c28a6d5404c 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/degraded-daemon-session-routing.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/degraded-daemon-session-routing.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { shutdownDegradedFallbackSessions } from './degraded-daemon-fallback-shu
 import { DaemonSessionRouteTable } from './daemon-session-route-table'
 import { DaemonSessionOwnerUnknownError, sameDaemonIncarnation } from './daemon-session-route'
 import type { DaemonSnapshotAcknowledgementRoutes } from './daemon-snapshot-acknowledgement-routes'
+import { DegradedFallbackSessionRoutes } from './degraded-fallback-session-routes'
 import { DegradedFallbackSpawnRoutes } from './degraded-fallback-spawn-routes'
 
 export class DegradedDaemonSessionRouting {
@@ -11,7 +12,7 @@ export class DegradedDaemonSessionRouting {
   private readonly adapterSet: ReadonlySet<DaemonPtyAdapter>
   private readonly routes: DaemonSessionRouteTable
   private readonly fallbackSessions = new Map<string, IPtyProvider>()
-  private readonly fallbackCollisions = new Set<string>()
+  private readonly fallbackRoutes: DegradedFallbackSessionRoutes
   private readonly fallbackSpawns = new DegradedFallbackSpawnRoutes()
   private readonly identityUnsubscribes: (() => void)[] = []
 
@@ -24,11 +25,12 @@ export class DegradedDaemonSessionRouting {
     this.adapters = [current, ...legacy]
     this.adapterSet = new Set(this.adapters)
     this.routes = new DaemonSessionRouteTable(this.adapters)
+    this.fallbackRoutes = new DegradedFallbackSessionRoutes(this.fallbackSessions, this.routes)
     for (const adapter of this.adapters) {
       this.identityUnsubscribes.push(
         adapter.onDaemonIdentityChanged(({ previous }) => {
           this.snapshotAcks.dropAdapterIncarnation(adapter, previous)
-          this.routes.markOwnerUnavailable(adapter, previous)
+          this.fallbackRoutes.markDaemonOwnerUnavailable(adapter, previous)
         })
       )
     }
@@ -50,7 +52,7 @@ export class DegradedDaemonSessionRouting {
         )
         for (const session of sessions) {
           if (this.fallbackSessions.has(session.id)) {
-            this.fallbackCollisions.add(session.id)
+            this.fallbackRoutes.recordCollision(session.id)
           }
         }
       } catch (error) {
@@ -61,7 +63,8 @@ export class DegradedDaemonSessionRouting {
   }
 
   async spawn(opts: PtySpawnOptions): Promise<PtySpawnResult> {
-    const target = await this.spawnTarget(opts)
+    const targetOrPromise = this.spawnTarget(opts)
+    const target = targetOrPromise instanceof Promise ? await targetOrPromise : targetOrPromise
     const inFlightFallbackId = target === this.fallback ? opts.sessionId : undefined
     if (inFlightFallbackId) {
       this.fallbackSpawns.begin(inFlightFallbackId)
@@ -69,11 +72,13 @@ export class DegradedDaemonSessionRouting {
     try {
       const result = await target.spawn(opts)
       if (target === this.fallback) {
-        if (!this.fallbackSpawns.hasExited(result.id)) {
-          this.fallbackSessions.set(result.id, target)
+        const fallbackSurvived = !this.fallbackSpawns.hasExited(result.id)
+        if (fallbackSurvived) {
+          this.fallbackRoutes.recordSession(result.id, target)
         }
-        if (this.routes.get(result.id)) {
-          this.fallbackCollisions.add(result.id)
+        const daemonRoute = this.routes.get(result.id)
+        if (fallbackSurvived && daemonRoute && daemonRoute.state !== 'unavailable') {
+          this.fallbackRoutes.recordCollision(result.id)
         }
       } else {
         this.routes.recordOwned(result.id, target as DaemonPtyAdapter)
@@ -87,7 +92,7 @@ export class DegradedDaemonSessionRouting {
   }
 
   providerFor(sessionId: string): IPtyProvider {
-    if (this.fallbackCollisions.has(sessionId)) {
+    if (this.fallbackRoutes.hasCollision(sessionId)) {
       throw new DaemonSessionOwnerUnknownError(sessionId)
     }
     return this.fallbackSessions.get(sessionId) ?? this.routes.resolveOwnerSync(sessionId)
@@ -102,7 +107,7 @@ export class DegradedDaemonSessionRouting {
   }
 
   hasPty(sessionId: string): boolean {
-    if (this.fallbackCollisions.has(sessionId)) {
+    if (this.fallbackRoutes.hasCollision(sessionId)) {
       return true
     }
     const fallback = this.fallbackSessions.get(sessionId)
@@ -110,24 +115,25 @@ export class DegradedDaemonSessionRouting {
   }
 
   async probePtyLiveness(sessionId: string): Promise<boolean | null> {
-    if (this.fallbackCollisions.has(sessionId)) {
+    if (this.fallbackRoutes.hasCollision(sessionId)) {
       return null
     }
-    const fallback = this.fallbackSessions.get(sessionId)
-    if (!fallback) {
+    const probe = this.fallbackRoutes.captureLivenessProbe(sessionId)
+    if (!probe) {
       return await this.routes.probeLiveness(sessionId)
     }
-    return fallback.probePtyLiveness
-      ? await fallback.probePtyLiveness(sessionId)
-      : (fallback.hasPty?.(sessionId) ?? null)
+    const result = probe.provider.probePtyLiveness
+      ? await probe.provider.probePtyLiveness(sessionId)
+      : (probe.provider.hasPty?.(sessionId) ?? null)
+    return this.fallbackRoutes.acceptsLivenessResult(sessionId, probe) ? result : null
   }
 
   shouldForwardStreamEvent(provider: IPtyProvider, sessionId: string): boolean {
     const adapter = this.daemonAdapter(provider)
     if (adapter) {
       const shouldForward = this.routes.recordDataOwner(sessionId, adapter)
-      if (this.fallbackSessions.has(sessionId)) {
-        this.fallbackCollisions.add(sessionId)
+      if (this.fallbackSessions.has(sessionId) || this.fallbackSpawns.hasLiveCandidate(sessionId)) {
+        this.fallbackRoutes.recordCollision(sessionId)
         return false
       }
       return shouldForward
@@ -141,15 +147,16 @@ export class DegradedDaemonSessionRouting {
       )
     }
     if (
-      this.fallbackSessions.get(sessionId) === provider &&
+      (this.fallbackSessions.get(sessionId) === provider ||
+        this.fallbackSpawns.hasLiveCandidate(sessionId)) &&
       route.state === 'unavailable' &&
-      !this.fallbackCollisions.has(sessionId)
+      !this.fallbackRoutes.hasCollision(sessionId)
     ) {
-      this.fallbackCollisions.delete(sessionId)
+      this.fallbackRoutes.clearCollision(sessionId)
       return true
     }
     if (route) {
-      this.fallbackCollisions.add(sessionId)
+      this.fallbackRoutes.recordCollision(sessionId)
       return false
     }
     return true
@@ -160,21 +167,20 @@ export class DegradedDaemonSessionRouting {
     if (!adapter) {
       const isOwned =
         this.fallbackSessions.get(sessionId) === provider ||
-        this.fallbackSpawns.isInFlight(sessionId)
+        this.fallbackSpawns.hasLiveCandidate(sessionId)
       if (!isOwned) {
         return false
       }
       this.fallbackSpawns.recordExit(sessionId)
-      this.fallbackSessions.delete(sessionId)
-      this.fallbackCollisions.delete(sessionId)
+      this.fallbackRoutes.deleteSession(sessionId)
       const route = this.routes.get(sessionId)
       return !route || route.state === 'unavailable'
     }
     this.snapshotAcks.dropForProducer(sessionId, adapter)
-    if (this.fallbackSessions.has(sessionId)) {
+    if (this.fallbackSessions.has(sessionId) || this.fallbackSpawns.hasLiveCandidate(sessionId)) {
       this.routes.markUnavailable(sessionId, adapter)
       if (this.routes.get(sessionId)?.state === 'unavailable') {
-        this.fallbackCollisions.delete(sessionId)
+        this.fallbackRoutes.clearCollision(sessionId)
       }
       return false
     }
@@ -188,8 +194,7 @@ export class DegradedDaemonSessionRouting {
       return
     }
     if (provider === this.fallback) {
-      this.fallbackSessions.delete(sessionId)
-      this.fallbackCollisions.delete(sessionId)
+      this.fallbackRoutes.deleteSession(sessionId)
     } else {
       const adapter = provider as DaemonPtyAdapter
       this.routes.markUnavailable(sessionId, adapter)
@@ -232,7 +237,7 @@ export class DegradedDaemonSessionRouting {
       for (const id of sessionIds) {
         this.routes.recordOwnedIncarnation(id, adapter, incarnation)
         if (this.fallbackSessions.has(id)) {
-          this.fallbackCollisions.add(id)
+          this.fallbackRoutes.recordCollision(id)
         }
       }
     }
@@ -241,7 +246,7 @@ export class DegradedDaemonSessionRouting {
         this.routes.markUnavailable(id, adapter, incarnation)
         this.snapshotAcks.dropForProducer(id, adapter, incarnation)
         if (this.routes.get(id)?.state === 'unavailable') {
-          this.fallbackCollisions.delete(id)
+          this.fallbackRoutes.clearCollision(id)
         }
       }
     }
@@ -265,14 +270,16 @@ export class DegradedDaemonSessionRouting {
       this.routes.markUnavailable(id, this.current)
       this.snapshotAcks.dropForProducer(id, this.current)
       if (this.routes.get(id)?.state === 'unavailable') {
-        this.fallbackCollisions.delete(id)
+        this.fallbackRoutes.clearCollision(id)
       }
     }
     return forwarded
   }
 
   async shutdownFallbackSessions(): Promise<number> {
-    return await shutdownDegradedFallbackSessions(this.fallbackSessions, this.fallback)
+    const count = await shutdownDegradedFallbackSessions(this.fallbackSessions, this.fallback)
+    this.fallbackRoutes.pruneSessionEpochs()
+    return count
   }
 
   allProviders(): IPtyProvider[] {
@@ -287,23 +294,20 @@ export class DegradedDaemonSessionRouting {
     for (const unsubscribe of this.identityUnsubscribes.splice(0)) {
       unsubscribe()
     }
-    this.fallbackSessions.clear()
-    this.fallbackCollisions.clear()
+    this.fallbackRoutes.clear()
     this.fallbackSpawns.clear()
     this.snapshotAcks.clear()
   }
 
-  private async spawnTarget(opts: PtySpawnOptions): Promise<IPtyProvider> {
-    if (opts.sessionId && this.fallbackCollisions.has(opts.sessionId)) {
+  private spawnTarget(opts: PtySpawnOptions): IPtyProvider | Promise<IPtyProvider> {
+    if (opts.sessionId && this.fallbackRoutes.hasCollision(opts.sessionId)) {
       throw new DaemonSessionOwnerUnknownError(opts.sessionId)
     }
     if (!opts.sessionId || opts.isNewSession) {
       this.routes.assertFreshSpawnAvailable(opts.sessionId)
       return this.fallback
     }
-    return (
-      this.fallbackSessions.get(opts.sessionId) ?? (await this.routes.resolveOwner(opts.sessionId))
-    )
+    return this.fallbackSessions.get(opts.sessionId) ?? this.routes.resolveOwner(opts.sessionId)
   }
 
   private daemonAdapter(provider: IPtyProvider): DaemonPtyAdapter | null {
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/degraded-fallback-session-routes.ts b/src/main/daemon/degraded-fallback-session-routes.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..aac2642bb69
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/daemon/degraded-fallback-session-routes.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+import type { IPtyProvider } from '../providers/types'
+import type { DaemonPtyAdapter } from './daemon-pty-adapter'
+import { sameDaemonIncarnation } from './daemon-session-route'
+import type { DaemonSessionRouteTable } from './daemon-session-route-table'
+
+type FallbackLivenessProbe = {
+  provider: IPtyProvider
+  epoch: symbol
+  daemonRoute: ReturnType<DaemonSessionRouteTable['get']>
+}
+
+export class DegradedFallbackSessionRoutes {
+  private readonly collisionIds = new Set<string>()
+  private readonly epochs = new Map<string, symbol>()
+
+  constructor(
+    private readonly sessions: Map<string, IPtyProvider>,
+    private readonly daemonRoutes: DaemonSessionRouteTable
+  ) {}
+
+  hasCollision(sessionId: string): boolean {
+    return this.collisionIds.has(sessionId)
+  }
+
+  recordCollision(sessionId: string): void {
+    this.collisionIds.add(sessionId)
+  }
+
+  clearCollision(sessionId: string): void {
+    this.collisionIds.delete(sessionId)
+  }
+
+  recordSession(sessionId: string, provider: IPtyProvider): void {
+    this.sessions.set(sessionId, provider)
+    this.epochs.set(sessionId, Symbol())
+  }
+
+  deleteSession(sessionId: string): void {
+    this.sessions.delete(sessionId)
+    this.epochs.delete(sessionId)
+    this.collisionIds.delete(sessionId)
+  }
+
+  captureLivenessProbe(sessionId: string): FallbackLivenessProbe | null {
+    const provider = this.sessions.get(sessionId)
+    const epoch = this.epochs.get(sessionId)
+    if (!provider || !epoch || this.collisionIds.has(sessionId)) {
+      return null
+    }
+    return { provider, epoch, daemonRoute: this.daemonRoutes.get(sessionId) }
+  }
+
+  acceptsLivenessResult(sessionId: string, probe: FallbackLivenessProbe): boolean {
+    return (
+      this.sessions.get(sessionId) === probe.provider &&
+      this.epochs.get(sessionId) === probe.epoch &&
+      this.daemonRoutes.get(sessionId) === probe.daemonRoute &&
+      !this.collisionIds.has(sessionId)
+    )
+  }
+
+  pruneSessionEpochs(): void {
+    for (const sessionId of this.epochs.keys()) {
+      if (!this.sessions.has(sessionId)) {
+        this.epochs.delete(sessionId)
+        this.collisionIds.delete(sessionId)
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  clear(): void {
+    this.sessions.clear()
+    this.epochs.clear()
+    this.collisionIds.clear()
+  }
+
+  markDaemonOwnerUnavailable(
+    owner: DaemonPtyAdapter,
+    incarnation: ReturnType<DaemonPtyAdapter['getLastAuthenticatedDaemonIdentity']>
+  ): void {
+    const invalidated = [...this.collisionIds].filter((sessionId) =>
+      this.isCollisionOwnedBy(sessionId, owner, incarnation)
+    )
+    this.daemonRoutes.markOwnerUnavailable(owner, incarnation)
+    for (const sessionId of invalidated) {
+      if (this.daemonRoutes.get(sessionId)?.state === 'unavailable') {
+        this.collisionIds.delete(sessionId)
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  private isCollisionOwnedBy(
+    sessionId: string,
+    owner: DaemonPtyAdapter,
+    incarnation: ReturnType<DaemonPtyAdapter['getLastAuthenticatedDaemonIdentity']>
+  ): boolean {
+    if (!this.sessions.has(sessionId)) {
+      return false
+    }
+    const route = this.daemonRoutes.get(sessionId)
+    if (route?.state === 'owned') {
+      return route.owner === owner && sameDaemonIncarnation(route.incarnation, incarnation)
+    }
+    return (
+      route?.state === 'ambiguous' &&
+      route.candidates.has(owner) &&
+      sameDaemonIncarnation(route.candidates.get(owner) ?? null, incarnation)
+    )
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/degraded-fallback-spawn-routes.ts b/src/main/daemon/degraded-fallback-spawn-routes.ts
index 6977a8f0dcb..289f7d36ee5 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/degraded-fallback-spawn-routes.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/degraded-fallback-spawn-routes.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,10 @@ export class DegradedFallbackSpawnRoutes {
     return this.exited.has(sessionId)
   }
 
+  hasLiveCandidate(sessionId: string): boolean {
+    return this.isInFlight(sessionId) && !this.hasExited(sessionId)
+  }
+
   recordExit(sessionId: string): void {
     if (this.isInFlight(sessionId)) {
       this.exited.add(sessionId)
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/pty-management.test.ts b/src/main/ipc/pty-management.test.ts
index 4a63a08b211..4fcd469f9a1 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/pty-management.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/pty-management.test.ts
@@ -328,24 +328,35 @@ describe('pty:management IPC handlers', () => {
       expect(current.shutdown).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
     })
 
-    it('keeps sessions remaining when their owner becomes unavailable while polling', async () => {
+    it('stops polling an unavailable owner while healthy owners converge', async () => {
       const current = makeAdapter(5, [makeSession('uncertain-session')])
+      const legacy = makeAdapter(3, [])
       vi.mocked(current.listSessions)
         .mockResolvedValueOnce([
           makeSession('uncertain-session') as Omit<DaemonSessionInfo, 'protocolVersion'>
         ])
         .mockRejectedValue(new Error('listing unavailable'))
+      vi.mocked(legacy.listSessions)
+        .mockResolvedValueOnce([
+          makeSession('eventual-session') as Omit<DaemonSessionInfo, 'protocolVersion'>
+        ])
+        .mockResolvedValueOnce([
+          makeSession('eventual-session') as Omit<DaemonSessionInfo, 'protocolVersion'>
+        ])
+        .mockResolvedValue([])
       const { registerDaemonManagementHandlers } = await importFresh()
-      getDaemonProviderMock.mockReturnValue(await makeRouter(current))
+      getDaemonProviderMock.mockReturnValue(await makeRouter(current, [legacy]))
       registerDaemonManagementHandlers()
 
       const result = await runKillAllWithPolls(buildHandlerMap()['pty:management:killAll'])
 
       expect(result).toEqual({
-        killedCount: 0,
+        killedCount: 1,
         remainingCount: 1,
-        killedSessionIds: []
+        killedSessionIds: ['eventual-session']
       })
+      expect(current.listSessions).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+      expect(legacy.listSessions).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(3)
     })
 
     it('does not count respawned sessions with fresh IDs against remainingCount', async () => {
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/pty-management.ts b/src/main/ipc/pty-management.ts
index 8f784fad459..0b9d4b35ba3 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/pty-management.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/pty-management.ts
@@ -149,18 +149,29 @@ export function registerDaemonManagementHandlers(): void {
 
       // Why: count only the initial-snapshot intersection so renderer respawns mid-kill aren't counted as remaining.
       let remainingOriginal = initial
+      let pollingAdapters = adapters
+      const unavailableOwners = new Set<DaemonPtyAdapter>()
       for (let attempt = 0; attempt < MAX_POLL_ATTEMPTS; attempt += 1) {
         await sleep(POLL_INTERVAL_MS)
-        const current = await collectSessions(adapters)
+        const current = await collectSessions(pollingAdapters)
+        for (const owner of current.unavailableOwners) {
+          unavailableOwners.add(owner)
+        }
         const currentIndex = indexSessionIncarnations(current.sessions)
         remainingOriginal = initial.filter(
           (original) =>
-            current.unavailableOwners.has(original.owner) ||
-            hasSessionIncarnation(currentIndex, original)
+            unavailableOwners.has(original.owner) || hasSessionIncarnation(currentIndex, original)
         )
         if (remainingOriginal.length === 0) {
           break
         }
+        const remainingOwners = new Set(remainingOriginal.map(({ owner }) => owner))
+        pollingAdapters = pollingAdapters.filter(
+          (adapter) => remainingOwners.has(adapter) && !unavailableOwners.has(adapter)
+        )
+        if (pollingAdapters.length === 0) {
+          break
+        }
       }
 
       const remainingSet = new Set(remainingOriginal)