diff --git a/src/main/ipc/pty.ts b/src/main/ipc/pty.ts
index fb240b1d4d6..df59706a1ae 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/pty.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/pty.ts
@@ -7754,6 +7754,9 @@ export function registerPtyHandlers(
       return null
     }
     try {
+      if (provider.probePtyLiveness) {
+        return await provider.probePtyLiveness(args.id)
+      }
       return provider.hasPty(args.id)
     } catch {
       // Why: liveness is only allowed to close panes on an authoritative false.
diff --git a/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-provider.ts b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-provider.ts
index b683ec2fa7d..ac0a70117b6 100644
--- a/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-provider.ts
+++ b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-provider.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ export class SshPtyProvider implements IPtyProvider {
   private mux: SshChannelMultiplexer
   private connectionId: string
   private livePtyIds = new Set<string>()
+  private unverifiablePtyIds = new Set<string>()
   readonly getAppliedSize: NonNullable<IPtyProvider['getAppliedSize']>
   private readonly agentSessionCapabilities: SshAgentSessionCapabilities
   private spawnExitRaces = new SshPtySpawnExitRaceTracker()
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@ export class SshPtyProvider implements IPtyProvider {
       toAppPtyId: (id) => this.toAppPtyId(id),
       livePtyIds: this.livePtyIds,
       recordExit: (relayPtyId, incarnationId) => {
+        this.unverifiablePtyIds.delete(this.toAppPtyId(relayPtyId))
         this.spawnExitRaces.recordExit(relayPtyId, incarnationId)
       }
     })
@@ -66,6 +68,7 @@ export class SshPtyProvider implements IPtyProvider {
   dispose(): void {
     this.outputState.dispose()
     this.livePtyIds.clear()
+    this.unverifiablePtyIds.clear()
   }
 
   getConnectionId = (): string => this.connectionId
@@ -100,7 +103,8 @@ export class SshPtyProvider implements IPtyProvider {
           this.outputState.installReceivingActivation(relayPtyId, activation),
         rememberPtyIncarnation: (relayPtyId, incarnationId) =>
           this.outputState.rememberPtyIncarnation(relayPtyId, incarnationId),
-        acceptLivePty: (relayPtyId) => this.livePtyIds.add(relayPtyId)
+        acceptLivePty: (relayPtyId) => this.acceptLivePty(relayPtyId),
+        acceptUnverifiablePty: (relayPtyId) => this.acceptUnverifiablePty(relayPtyId)
       })
     }
 
@@ -127,7 +131,7 @@ export class SshPtyProvider implements IPtyProvider {
         this.outputState.installReceivingActivation(id, activation),
       rememberPtyIncarnation: (id, incarnation) =>
         this.outputState.rememberPtyIncarnation(id, incarnation),
-      acceptLivePty: (id) => this.livePtyIds.add(id),
+      acceptLivePty: (id) => this.acceptLivePty(id),
       toAppPtyId: this.toAppPtyId
     })
   }
@@ -215,6 +219,7 @@ export class SshPtyProvider implements IPtyProvider {
       relayTimeoutOptions(opts.deadlineMs)
     )
     this.livePtyIds.delete(id)
+    this.unverifiablePtyIds.delete(id)
   }
 
   async sendSignal(id: string, signal: string): Promise<void> {
@@ -281,14 +286,28 @@ export class SshPtyProvider implements IPtyProvider {
     )
     const processes = mapSshPtyProcessList(result as PtyProcessInfo[], (id) => this.toAppPtyId(id))
     for (const process of processes) {
-      this.livePtyIds.add(process.id)
+      this.acceptLivePty(process.id)
       const relayPtyId = this.toRelayPtyId(process.id)
       this.outputState.rememberPtyIncarnation(relayPtyId, process.incarnationId)
     }
     return processes
   }
 
-  hasPty = (id: string): boolean => this.livePtyIds.has(id)
+  // `hasPty` retains routing ownership; liveness callers must use the tri-state probe.
+  hasPty = (id: string): boolean => this.livePtyIds.has(id) || this.unverifiablePtyIds.has(id)
+
+  probePtyLiveness = async (id: string): Promise<boolean | null> =>
+    this.unverifiablePtyIds.has(id) ? null : this.livePtyIds.has(id)
+
+  private acceptLivePty(id: string): void {
+    this.unverifiablePtyIds.delete(id)
+    this.livePtyIds.add(id)
+  }
+
+  private acceptUnverifiablePty(id: string): void {
+    this.livePtyIds.delete(id)
+    this.unverifiablePtyIds.add(id)
+  }
 
   async getDefaultShell(): Promise<string> {
     const result = await this.mux.request('pty.getDefaultShell')
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 b8a36cf1c65..d824be7957f 100644
--- a/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-restore-required-reattach.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-restore-required-reattach.test.ts
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ describe('SSH PTY reattach when the relay requires source restoration', () => {
     expect(message).not.toContain(SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED_ERROR)
     expect(message).toContain(SSH_PTY_RESTORE_REQUIRED_ERROR)
     expect(provider.hasPty('ssh:conn-1@@pty-old')).toBe(true)
+    await expect(provider.probePtyLiveness('ssh:conn-1@@pty-old')).resolves.toBe(true)
   })
 
   it('reports unverifiable when the fresh delivery attach loses contact', async () => {
@@ -84,7 +85,8 @@ describe('SSH PTY reattach when the relay requires source restoration', () => {
 
     expect(message).toContain(SSH_PTY_LIVENESS_UNVERIFIABLE_ERROR)
     expect(message).not.toContain(SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED_ERROR)
-    expect(provider.hasPty('ssh:conn-1@@pty-old')).toBe(false)
+    expect(provider.hasPty('ssh:conn-1@@pty-old')).toBe(true)
+    await expect(provider.probePtyLiveness('ssh:conn-1@@pty-old')).resolves.toBeNull()
     expect(mux.request.mock.calls.filter((call) => call[0] === 'pty.attach')).toHaveLength(2)
   })
 
@@ -99,6 +101,7 @@ describe('SSH PTY reattach when the relay requires source restoration', () => {
 
     expect(message).toContain(`${SSH_SESSION_EXPIRED_ERROR}: pty-old`)
     expect(provider.hasPty('ssh:conn-1@@pty-old')).toBe(false)
+    await expect(provider.probePtyLiveness('ssh:conn-1@@pty-old')).resolves.toBe(false)
     expect(mux.request.mock.calls.filter((call) => call[0] === 'pty.attach')).toHaveLength(2)
   })
 
diff --git a/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-session-reattach.ts b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-session-reattach.ts
index 9f93a2a8a08..dda07f09ef3 100644
--- a/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-session-reattach.ts
+++ b/src/main/providers/ssh-pty-session-reattach.ts
@@ -261,6 +261,7 @@ export async function reattachSshPtySessionWithExitFence(
 export async function reattachSshPtySessionForSpawn(
   args: Parameters<typeof reattachSshPtySessionWithExitFence>[0] & {
     acceptLivePty: (relayPtyId: string) => void
+    acceptUnverifiablePty: (relayPtyId: string) => void
   }
 ): Promise<PtySpawnResult> {
   let result: SshPtyReattachResult | undefined
@@ -284,6 +285,7 @@ export async function reattachSshPtySessionForSpawn(
           throw error
         }
         // Why: losing contact during verification is unverifiable, not live or exited.
+        args.acceptUnverifiablePty(unresumable.id)
         throw new Error(
           `${SSH_PTY_LIVENESS_UNVERIFIABLE_ERROR}: ${toRelaySshPtyId(args.connectionId, unresumable.id)}`,
           { cause: error }