diff --git a/src/main/managed-server/lifecycle/orcad-managed-tunnel-bridge-port.test.ts b/src/main/managed-server/lifecycle/orcad-managed-tunnel-bridge-port.test.ts
index e37d33fcf5d..def726898af 100644
--- a/src/main/managed-server/lifecycle/orcad-managed-tunnel-bridge-port.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/managed-server/lifecycle/orcad-managed-tunnel-bridge-port.test.ts
@@ -1,17 +1,30 @@
 import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 import type { SshConnection } from '../../ssh/connection/ssh-connection'
 import type { PortForwardStartOptions } from '../../ssh/port-forwarding/ssh-port-forward-provider'
-import type * as ForwardProcess from '../../ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-process'
+import type * as PortReservation from '../../ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-port-reservation'
 
-const { reserveLocalForwardPort } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
-  reserveLocalForwardPort: vi.fn(async (port: number, _orphanArgs?: readonly string[]) => port)
+const { reserveLocalForwardPort, cancelMuxedLocalForward } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  reserveLocalForwardPort: vi.fn(
+    async (
+      port: number,
+      _orphanArgs?: readonly string[],
+      _cancelMuxedForward?: () => Promise<boolean>
+    ) => port
+  ),
+  cancelMuxedLocalForward: vi.fn(async () => true)
 }))
-vi.mock('../../ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-process', async (importOriginal) => ({
-  ...(await importOriginal<typeof ForwardProcess>()),
-  reserveLocalForwardPort
+vi.mock(
+  '../../ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-port-reservation',
+  async (importOriginal) => ({
+    ...(await importOriginal<typeof PortReservation>()),
+    reserveLocalForwardPort
+  })
+)
+vi.mock('../../ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-muxed-forward-cancel', () => ({
+  cancelMuxedLocalForward
 }))
 
-import { reserveBridgeLocalPort } from './orcad-managed-tunnel-transport'
+import { reserveManagedTunnelLocalPort } from './orcad-managed-tunnel-transport'
 
 const options: PortForwardStartOptions = {
   id: 'pf-1',
@@ -22,6 +35,7 @@ const options: PortForwardStartOptions = {
   remotePort: 6768
 }
 
+/** A connection stubbed down to what the reservation reads: its transport and its ssh target. */
 function connection(systemSsh: boolean): SshConnection {
   // oxlint-disable-next-line typescript/consistent-type-assertions -- SAFETY: the reservation reads only these three.
   return {
@@ -31,18 +45,35 @@ function connection(systemSsh: boolean): SshConnection {
   } as unknown as SshConnection
 }
 
-beforeEach(() => reserveLocalForwardPort.mockClear())
+beforeEach(() => {
+  reserveLocalForwardPort.mockClear()
+  cancelMuxedLocalForward.mockClear()
+})
 
-describe('the stdio bridge’s port reservation', () => {
+describe('the managed tunnel’s port reservation', () => {
   it('lets a system-SSH host clear an `ssh -L` an earlier Orca left on the port', async () => {
-    await reserveBridgeLocalPort(connection(true), options)
+    await reserveManagedTunnelLocalPort(connection(true), options)
     const orphanArgs = reserveLocalForwardPort.mock.calls[0]?.[1]
     expect(orphanArgs).toEqual(expect.arrayContaining(['-L', '127.0.0.1:47123:127.0.0.1:6768']))
     expect(orphanArgs).toContain('LogLevel=INFO')
   })
 
+  // Why: a forward made through a ControlMaster is left on the master, with no process to stop.
+  it('lets a system-SSH host have that same forward cancelled on its ControlMaster', async () => {
+    await reserveManagedTunnelLocalPort(connection(true), options)
+
+    await reserveLocalForwardPort.mock.calls[0]?.[2]?.()
+    expect(cancelMuxedLocalForward).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({ host: 'devbox' }),
+      47123,
+      '127.0.0.1',
+      6768,
+      expect.anything()
+    )
+  })
+
   it('never offers a kill on an ssh2 host, which never spawned one', async () => {
-    await reserveBridgeLocalPort(connection(false), options)
+    await reserveManagedTunnelLocalPort(connection(false), options)
     expect(reserveLocalForwardPort).toHaveBeenCalledWith(47123)
   })
 })
diff --git a/src/main/managed-server/lifecycle/orcad-managed-tunnel-transport-real-openssh.test.ts b/src/main/managed-server/lifecycle/orcad-managed-tunnel-transport-real-openssh.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2e72d70a767
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/managed-server/lifecycle/orcad-managed-tunnel-transport-real-openssh.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,190 @@
+/**
+ * Real OpenSSH: the managed tunnel reaches orcad wherever the connection's exec works, through a
+ * user ControlMaster whose login a standalone forward cannot repeat, and on a persisted port an
+ * older Orca's muxed forward still holds. Opt-in (needs sshd and ssh on PATH):
+ * ORCA_REAL_OPENSSH_TEST=1 pnpm test src/main/managed-server/lifecycle/orcad-managed-tunnel-transport-real-openssh.test.ts
+ */
+import { execFileSync } from 'node:child_process'
+import { mkdirSync, symlinkSync } from 'node:fs'
+import { connect, createServer, type Server, type Socket } from 'node:net'
+import { join } from 'node:path'
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import type { SshConnection } from '../../ssh/connection/ssh-connection'
+import type { SshExecOptions } from '../../ssh/connection/ssh-exec-options'
+import { knownOrcadTunnelTransport } from '../../ssh/orcad-tunnel-transport-memo'
+import type { PortForwardStartOptions } from '../../ssh/port-forwarding/ssh-port-forward-provider'
+import { spawnSystemSshCommand } from '../../ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-command'
+import {
+  REAL_OPENSSH_TEST_ENABLED,
+  dial,
+  freePort,
+  startRealOpenSshFixture,
+  type RealOpenSshFixture
+} from '../../ssh/system-transport/real-openssh-sshd-fixture'
+import { OrcadManagedTunnelTransportProvider } from './orcad-managed-tunnel-transport'
+
+const GREETING = 'orcad-fixture'
+
+/** First line orcad's stand-in sends, read through the tunnel's local listener. */
+function readGreeting(port: number): Promise<string> {
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    const socket = connect({ host: '127.0.0.1', port })
+    const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+      socket.destroy()
+      reject(new Error('no greeting through the tunnel'))
+    }, 15_000)
+    let received = ''
+    socket.on('data', (chunk: Buffer) => {
+      received += chunk.toString('utf8')
+      if (received.includes('\n')) {
+        clearTimeout(timer)
+        socket.destroy()
+        resolve(received.split('\n')[0] ?? '')
+      }
+    })
+    socket.on('error', (error) => {
+      clearTimeout(timer)
+      reject(error)
+    })
+  })
+}
+
+describe.skipIf(!REAL_OPENSSH_TEST_ENABLED)(
+  'the managed tunnel through a user ControlMaster (real OpenSSH)',
+  () => {
+    let fixture: RealOpenSshFixture
+    let orcad: Server
+    const orcadSockets = new Set<Socket>()
+    let orcadPort = 0
+    // The user's own LocalForward in their ssh_config, which the master opened and must keep.
+    let configuredForwardPort = 0
+    let conn: SshConnection
+
+    const options = (localPort: number): PortForwardStartOptions => ({
+      id: 'pf-real',
+      connectionId: 'real-openssh-tunnel',
+      localHost: '127.0.0.1',
+      localPort,
+      remoteHost: '127.0.0.1',
+      remotePort: orcadPort
+    })
+    const mux = (request: 'forward' | 'cancel', localPort: number, remotePort: number) =>
+      fixture.ssh(['-O', request, '-L', `127.0.0.1:${localPort}:127.0.0.1:${remotePort}`])
+
+    beforeEach(async () => {
+      orcad = createServer((socket) => {
+        orcadSockets.add(socket)
+        socket.on('close', () => orcadSockets.delete(socket))
+        socket.on('error', () => {})
+        socket.write(`${GREETING}\n`)
+      })
+      await new Promise<void>((resolve) => orcad.listen(0, '127.0.0.1', resolve))
+      const address = orcad.address()
+      orcadPort = typeof address === 'object' && address ? address.port : 0
+      configuredForwardPort = await freePort()
+      fixture = await startRealOpenSshFixture({
+        client: [`LocalForward 127.0.0.1:${configuredForwardPort} 127.0.0.1:${orcadPort}`]
+      })
+      // The host's pinned Node, where the stdio bridge looks for it under the session's HOME.
+      const nodeBin = join(fixture.remoteHome, '.orca-remote', 'runtimes', 'node-fixture', 'bin')
+      mkdirSync(nodeBin, { recursive: true })
+      symlinkSync(
+        execFileSync('node', ['-p', 'process.execPath'], { encoding: 'utf8' }).trim(),
+        join(nodeBin, 'node')
+      )
+      const stub = {
+        getTarget: () => fixture.target,
+        getSystemSshBuildArgsOptions: fixture.buildOptions,
+        usesSystemSshTransport: () => true,
+        getClient: () => null,
+        getConnectGeneration: () => 1,
+        // The connection's own exec: through the user's master, as every remote command goes.
+        exec: async (command: string, execOptions?: SshExecOptions) =>
+          spawnSystemSshCommand(fixture.target, command, {
+            ...fixture.buildOptions(),
+            ...execOptions
+          })
+      }
+      // oxlint-disable-next-line typescript/consistent-type-assertions -- SAFETY: the transport, the system SSH forward and the stdio bridge read only these members.
+      conn = stub as unknown as SshConnection
+    }, 30_000)
+
+    afterEach(async () => {
+      // Why: sshd may hold its end of a forwarded socket past the forward's own exit.
+      for (const socket of orcadSockets) {
+        socket.destroy()
+      }
+      await new Promise((resolve) => orcad.close(resolve))
+      await fixture.close()
+    })
+
+    it('forwards when a fresh login works', async () => {
+      const tunnel = await new OrcadManagedTunnelTransportProvider().start(conn, options(0))
+      try {
+        expect(knownOrcadTunnelTransport('real-openssh-tunnel')).toBe('tcp_forward')
+        expect(await readGreeting(tunnel.entry.localPort)).toBe(GREETING)
+      } finally {
+        await tunnel.close()
+      }
+    }, 30_000)
+
+    // Why: an MFA or hardware-key login lives on in the master, but a standalone forward must log in again.
+    it('reaches orcad through the bridge when only the master can log in', async () => {
+      fixture.refuseNewLogins()
+      const tunnel = await new OrcadManagedTunnelTransportProvider().start(conn, options(0))
+      try {
+        expect(knownOrcadTunnelTransport('real-openssh-tunnel')).toBe('stdio_bridge')
+        expect(await readGreeting(tunnel.entry.localPort)).toBe(GREETING)
+      } finally {
+        await tunnel.close()
+      }
+    }, 30_000)
+
+    it('takes back a persisted port an older Orca’s forward left on the master', async () => {
+      const persisted = await freePort()
+      mux('forward', persisted, orcadPort)
+      expect(await dial(persisted)).toBe(true)
+
+      const tunnel = await new OrcadManagedTunnelTransportProvider().start(conn, options(persisted))
+      try {
+        expect(tunnel.entry.localPort).toBe(persisted)
+        expect(knownOrcadTunnelTransport('real-openssh-tunnel')).toBe('tcp_forward')
+        expect(await readGreeting(persisted)).toBe(GREETING)
+      } finally {
+        await tunnel.close()
+      }
+      // The master and the user's own forward on it stay up; only Orca's stale forward went.
+      expect(() => fixture.ssh(['-O', 'check'])).not.toThrow()
+      expect(await readGreeting(configuredForwardPort)).toBe(GREETING)
+      expect(await dial(persisted)).toBe(false)
+    }, 30_000)
+
+    it('takes back that port and bridges when only the master can log in', async () => {
+      const persisted = await freePort()
+      mux('forward', persisted, orcadPort)
+      fixture.refuseNewLogins()
+
+      const tunnel = await new OrcadManagedTunnelTransportProvider().start(conn, options(persisted))
+      try {
+        expect(tunnel.entry.localPort).toBe(persisted)
+        expect(knownOrcadTunnelTransport('real-openssh-tunnel')).toBe('stdio_bridge')
+        expect(await readGreeting(persisted)).toBe(GREETING)
+      } finally {
+        await tunnel.close()
+      }
+      expect(await readGreeting(configuredForwardPort)).toBe(GREETING)
+    }, 30_000)
+
+    it('leaves a master’s forward to anywhere else alone', async () => {
+      const persisted = await freePort()
+      const elsewhere = await freePort()
+      mux('forward', persisted, elsewhere)
+
+      await expect(
+        new OrcadManagedTunnelTransportProvider().start(conn, options(persisted))
+      ).rejects.toThrow(/is not available/)
+      expect(await dial(persisted)).toBe(true)
+      mux('cancel', persisted, elsewhere)
+    }, 30_000)
+  }
+)
diff --git a/src/main/managed-server/lifecycle/orcad-managed-tunnel-transport.test.ts b/src/main/managed-server/lifecycle/orcad-managed-tunnel-transport.test.ts
index fec3ecb28e1..24ef1ef349b 100644
--- a/src/main/managed-server/lifecycle/orcad-managed-tunnel-transport.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/managed-server/lifecycle/orcad-managed-tunnel-transport.test.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,10 @@ import type {
   SshPortForwardProvider,
   StartedPortForward
 } from '../../ssh/port-forwarding/ssh-port-forward-provider'
-import type { TcpForwardingVerdict } from '../../ssh/ssh-tcp-forwarding-probe'
+import type {
+  ForwardChannelVerdict,
+  TcpForwardingVerdict
+} from '../../ssh/ssh-tcp-forwarding-probe'
 
 let generation = 1
 // oxlint-disable-next-line typescript/consistent-type-assertions -- SAFETY: the selector reads only the transport generation.
@@ -36,7 +39,7 @@ function provider(name: string, canHandle = true) {
 
 function select(
   verdict: TcpForwardingVerdict,
-  channel: TcpForwardingVerdict = 'unverifiable',
+  channel: ForwardChannelVerdict = 'unverifiable',
   stdioCanHandle = true
 ) {
   const forward = provider('forward')
@@ -91,10 +94,10 @@ describe('the managed tunnel’s transport', () => {
     )
     expect(chosen.stdio.start).toHaveBeenCalledWith(conn, options)
     // The closed forward's ssh must have released the persisted port before the bridge binds it.
-    expect(chosen.reserveLocalPort.mock.invocationCallOrder[0]).toBeGreaterThan(
+    expect(chosen.reserveLocalPort.mock.invocationCallOrder.at(-1)).toBeGreaterThan(
       chosen.forward.close.mock.invocationCallOrder[0]
     )
-    expect(chosen.reserveLocalPort.mock.invocationCallOrder[0]).toBeLessThan(
+    expect(chosen.reserveLocalPort.mock.invocationCallOrder.at(-1)).toBeLessThan(
       chosen.stdio.start.mock.invocationCallOrder[0]
     )
     expect(knownOrcadTunnelTransport('ssh-1')).toBe('stdio_bridge')
@@ -102,7 +105,9 @@ describe('the managed tunnel’s transport', () => {
 
   it('fails loudly, never with the dead forward, when a refused host has no bridge route', async () => {
     const chosen = select('unverifiable', 'refused', false)
-    await expect(chosen.transport.start(conn, options)).rejects.toThrow(/refuses TCP forwarding/)
+    await expect(chosen.transport.start(conn, options)).rejects.toThrow(
+      /has no route: sshd refused/
+    )
     expect(chosen.forward.close).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
   })
 
@@ -131,17 +136,85 @@ describe('the managed tunnel’s transport', () => {
     expect(chosen.forward.start).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
   })
 
-  it('fails, rather than hand back a dead forward, when the forward exits during its check', async () => {
+  it('takes the bridge, never the dead forward, when the forward exits during its check', async () => {
     const chosen = select('unverifiable')
+    const onUnexpectedClose = vi.fn()
     chosen.checkForward.mockImplementation(async () => {
-      const entry = { ...options, localPort: options.localPort }
-      chosen.forward.start.mock.calls[0]?.[1].onUnexpectedClose?.(entry, {
+      chosen.forward.start.mock.calls[0]?.[1].onUnexpectedClose?.(options, {
         kind: 'unexpected-exit',
-        detail: 'System SSH port forward failed (exit 255)'
+        detail: 'System SSH port forward failed (exit 255): Permission denied (publickey).'
       })
       return 'unverifiable'
     })
-    await expect(chosen.transport.start(conn, options)).rejects.toThrow(/exit 255/)
+    await expect(
+      chosen.transport.start(conn, { ...options, onUnexpectedClose })
+    ).resolves.toMatchObject({ entry: { id: 'stdio' } })
+    expect(chosen.forward.close).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    expect(knownOrcadTunnelTransport('ssh-1')).toBe('stdio_bridge')
+    // A late exit of the abandoned forward must not read as the bridge closing.
+    chosen.forward.start.mock.calls[0]?.[1].onUnexpectedClose?.(options, {
+      kind: 'unexpected-exit'
+    })
+    expect(onUnexpectedClose).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+  })
+
+  it('reports ssh’s own exit reason over a listener that never came up', async () => {
+    const chosen = select('unverifiable', 'not-listening', false)
+    chosen.checkForward.mockImplementation(async () => {
+      chosen.forward.start.mock.calls[0]?.[1].onUnexpectedClose?.(options, {
+        kind: 'unexpected-exit',
+        detail: 'Permission denied (publickey).'
+      })
+      return 'not-listening'
+    })
+    await expect(chosen.transport.start(conn, options)).rejects.toThrow(/Permission denied/)
+  })
+
+  // Why: a ControlMaster can hold a login (MFA, a hardware key) the forward cannot repeat alone.
+  it('takes the bridge when the forward fails to start at all', async () => {
+    const chosen = select('unverifiable')
+    chosen.forward.start.mockRejectedValueOnce(
+      new Error('System SSH port forward failed (exit 255): Permission denied (publickey).')
+    )
+    await expect(chosen.transport.start(conn, options)).resolves.toMatchObject({
+      entry: { id: 'stdio' }
+    })
+    expect(chosen.stdio.start).toHaveBeenCalledWith(conn, options)
+    expect(chosen.checkForward).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(knownOrcadTunnelTransport('ssh-1')).toBe('stdio_bridge')
+    await chosen.transport.start(conn, options)
+    expect(chosen.forward.start).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+  })
+
+  // Why: a forward still waiting on a key touch or a prompt never binds, yet has not exited.
+  it('takes the bridge when the forward never listened', async () => {
+    const chosen = select('unverifiable', 'not-listening')
+    await expect(chosen.transport.start(conn, options)).resolves.toMatchObject({
+      entry: { id: 'stdio' }
+    })
+    expect(chosen.forward.close).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+  })
+
+  it('frees the persisted port before the forward binds it, not only before the bridge', async () => {
+    const chosen = select('unverifiable', 'allowed')
+    await chosen.transport.start(conn, options)
+    expect(chosen.reserveLocalPort).toHaveBeenCalledWith(conn, options)
+    expect(chosen.reserveLocalPort.mock.invocationCallOrder[0]).toBeLessThan(
+      chosen.forward.start.mock.invocationCallOrder[0]
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('reserves nothing for a port OpenSSH picks itself', async () => {
+    const chosen = select('unverifiable', 'refused')
+    await chosen.transport.start(conn, { ...options, localPort: 0 })
+    expect(chosen.reserveLocalPort).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('surfaces the bridge’s own failure when neither route starts', async () => {
+    const chosen = select('unverifiable')
+    chosen.forward.start.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('forward login refused'))
+    chosen.stdio.start.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('bridge unavailable'))
+    await expect(chosen.transport.start(conn, options)).rejects.toThrow('bridge unavailable')
   })
 
   it('never records a refusal answered before a reconnect against the new transport', async () => {
diff --git a/src/main/managed-server/lifecycle/orcad-managed-tunnel-transport.ts b/src/main/managed-server/lifecycle/orcad-managed-tunnel-transport.ts
index 7ec2a26649c..3ee7a20fbd9 100644
--- a/src/main/managed-server/lifecycle/orcad-managed-tunnel-transport.ts
+++ b/src/main/managed-server/lifecycle/orcad-managed-tunnel-transport.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 /**
  * The managed tunnel's transport choice, made each time a tunnel starts: the SSH local forward
- * wherever the host allows it, and the stdio bridge where its sshd refuses forwarding.
+ * wherever it starts, and the stdio bridge wherever it does not — sshd refuses forwarding, or the
+ * forward's own login fails where the connection's exec still works (a ControlMaster holding an
+ * MFA or hardware-key login it cannot repeat).
  */
 import { OrcadStdioBridgePortForwardProvider } from './orcad-stdio-bridge-provider'
 import { rememberOrcadTunnelTransport } from '../../ssh/orcad-tunnel-transport-memo'
@@ -13,6 +15,7 @@ import type {
 import {
   checkForwardChannel,
   probeTcpForwarding,
+  type ForwardChannelVerdict,
   type TcpForwardingVerdict
 } from '../../ssh/ssh-tcp-forwarding-probe'
 import { Ssh2PortForwardProvider } from '../../ssh/port-forwarding/ssh2-port-forward-provider'
@@ -20,23 +23,22 @@ import {
   SystemSshPortForwardProvider,
   systemSshForwardBuildArgsOptions
 } from '../../ssh/port-forwarding/system-ssh-port-forward-provider'
-import {
-  buildSystemSshPortForwardArgs,
-  reserveLocalForwardPort
-} from '../../ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-process'
+import { buildSystemSshPortForwardArgs } from '../../ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-process'
+import { reserveLocalForwardPort } from '../../ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-port-reservation'
+import { cancelMuxedLocalForward } from '../../ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-muxed-forward-cancel'
 
 type OrcadManagedTunnelTransportDependencies = {
   forwards: SshPortForwardProvider[]
   stdio: SshPortForwardProvider
   probe: (conn: SshConnection, port: number) => Promise<TcpForwardingVerdict>
-  checkForward: (forward: StartedPortForward) => Promise<TcpForwardingVerdict>
-  /** Frees the persisted local port (an orphaned `ssh -L` may hold it) before the bridge binds. */
+  checkForward: (forward: StartedPortForward) => Promise<ForwardChannelVerdict>
+  /** Frees the persisted local port from a forward an earlier Orca left on it, before either binds. */
   reserveLocalPort: (conn: SshConnection, options: PortForwardStartOptions) => Promise<unknown>
 }
 
 export class OrcadManagedTunnelTransportProvider implements SshPortForwardProvider {
-  // Why per transport generation: a reconnect may route through a different sshd.
-  private readonly refusedGenerations = new WeakMap<SshConnection, number>()
+  // Why per transport generation: a reconnect may route through a different sshd, or log in anew.
+  private readonly bridgedGenerations = new WeakMap<SshConnection, number>()
 
   constructor(
     private readonly dependencies: OrcadManagedTunnelTransportDependencies = {
@@ -44,7 +46,7 @@ export class OrcadManagedTunnelTransportProvider implements SshPortForwardProvid
       stdio: new OrcadStdioBridgePortForwardProvider(),
       probe: probeTcpForwarding,
       checkForward: checkForwardChannel,
-      reserveLocalPort: reserveBridgeLocalPort
+      reserveLocalPort: reserveManagedTunnelLocalPort
     }
   ) {}
 
@@ -53,10 +55,10 @@ export class OrcadManagedTunnelTransportProvider implements SshPortForwardProvid
   }
 
   async start(conn: SshConnection, options: PortForwardStartOptions): Promise<StartedPortForward> {
-    const { forwards, probe, checkForward } = this.dependencies
+    const { forwards, probe } = this.dependencies
     // Why captured: a refusal answered by a transport that reconnected meanwhile is not the new one's.
     const generation = conn.getConnectGeneration()
-    if (this.refusedGenerations.get(conn) === generation) {
+    if (this.bridgedGenerations.get(conn) === generation) {
       return this.startBridge(conn, options, generation)
     }
     // Why only on refusal: an unverifiable answer keeps the forward, as before this transport.
@@ -67,63 +69,117 @@ export class OrcadManagedTunnelTransportProvider implements SshPortForwardProvid
     if (!forward) {
       throw new Error('SSH connection is not established')
     }
-    // Why: the manager only hears an exit once it holds the forward, which it does not mid-check.
+    await this.reserveFixedLocalPort(conn, options)
+    const outcome = await this.startForward(forward, conn, options)
+    if (!('failure' in outcome)) {
+      rememberOrcadTunnelTransport(options.connectionId, 'tcp_forward')
+      return outcome
+    }
+    console.warn(`[ssh] Managed Orca server tunnel takes the stdio bridge: ${outcome.failure}`)
+    return this.startBridge(conn, options, generation, outcome.failure)
+  }
+
+  /** The one place a forward is judged started; every way it is not leads to the same bridge. */
+  private async startForward(
+    forward: SshPortForwardProvider,
+    conn: SshConnection,
+    options: PortForwardStartOptions
+  ): Promise<StartedPortForward | { failure: string }> {
+    // Why: the manager only hears an exit once it holds the forward, which it does not mid-check,
+    // and an abandoned forward's late exit must not read as the bridge's.
     const exits: string[] = []
-    const started = await forward.start(conn, {
-      ...options,
-      onUnexpectedClose: (entry, reason) => {
-        exits.push(reason.kind === 'unexpected-exit' ? (reason.detail ?? 'exited') : 'closed')
-        options.onUnexpectedClose?.(entry, reason)
-      }
-    })
+    let abandoned = false
+    let started: StartedPortForward
+    try {
+      started = await forward.start(conn, {
+        ...options,
+        onUnexpectedClose: (entry, reason) => {
+          if (abandoned) {
+            return
+          }
+          exits.push(reason.kind === 'unexpected-exit' ? (reason.detail ?? 'exited') : 'closed')
+          options.onUnexpectedClose?.(entry, reason)
+        }
+      })
+    } catch (error) {
+      abandoned = true
+      return { failure: error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error) }
+    }
     // Why: system SSH's listener is up before sshd is asked for a channel, so it proves nothing.
-    const verdict = await checkForward(started)
-    if (verdict === 'refused') {
-      await started.close()
-      return this.startBridge(conn, options, generation)
+    const verdict = await this.dependencies.checkForward(started)
+    // Why an exit counts, and first: a forward that dies before it is handed over cannot be the
+    // route, and its exit carries ssh's own reason (a refused login) where not-listening has none.
+    const failure =
+      verdict === 'refused'
+        ? 'sshd refused the forward channel'
+        : (exits[0] ??
+          (verdict === 'not-listening'
+            ? 'the forward never listened (its own login did not finish)'
+            : null))
+    if (failure === null) {
+      return started
     }
-    if (exits.length > 0) {
-      throw new Error(`The managed Orca server tunnel closed while it was checked: ${exits[0]}`)
-    }
-    rememberOrcadTunnelTransport(options.connectionId, 'tcp_forward')
-    return started
+    abandoned = true
+    await started.close()
+    return { failure }
   }
 
   private async startBridge(
     conn: SshConnection,
     options: PortForwardStartOptions,
-    generation: number
+    generation: number,
+    forwardFailure = 'this SSH host refuses TCP forwarding'
   ): Promise<StartedPortForward> {
-    this.refusedGenerations.set(conn, generation)
+    // Why for the whole generation: a login the forward could not repeat stays unrepeatable.
+    this.bridgedGenerations.set(conn, generation)
     if (!this.dependencies.stdio.canHandle(conn)) {
       throw new Error(
-        'This SSH host refuses TCP forwarding, and the managed Orca server tunnel has no other route.'
+        `The managed Orca server tunnel has no route: ${forwardFailure}, and there is no stdio bridge.`
       )
     }
     // Why: a closed `ssh -L` (ours, or one an earlier Orca orphaned) may still hold the port.
-    if (options.localPort !== 0) {
-      await this.dependencies.reserveLocalPort(conn, options)
-    }
+    await this.reserveFixedLocalPort(conn, options)
     const started = await this.dependencies.stdio.start(conn, options)
     rememberOrcadTunnelTransport(options.connectionId, 'stdio_bridge')
     return started
   }
+
+  private async reserveFixedLocalPort(
+    conn: SshConnection,
+    options: PortForwardStartOptions
+  ): Promise<void> {
+    if (options.localPort !== 0) {
+      await this.dependencies.reserveLocalPort(conn, options)
+    }
+  }
 }
 
-/** Only system SSH ever spawned an `ssh -L`, so only there can one be left holding the port. */
-export function reserveBridgeLocalPort(
+/**
+ * Only system SSH ever forwarded this port: an orphaned `ssh -L`, or the ControlMaster an older
+ * Orca's forward went through. That master cancels only this spec, the port Orca persisted to orcad.
+ */
+export function reserveManagedTunnelLocalPort(
   conn: SshConnection,
   options: PortForwardStartOptions
 ): Promise<number> {
   if (!conn.usesSystemSshTransport()) {
     return reserveLocalForwardPort(options.localPort)
   }
+  const buildArgsOptions = systemSshForwardBuildArgsOptions(conn)
   const orphanArgs = buildSystemSshPortForwardArgs(
     conn.getTarget(),
     options.localPort,
     options.remoteHost,
     options.remotePort,
-    systemSshForwardBuildArgsOptions(conn)
+    buildArgsOptions
+  )
+  return reserveLocalForwardPort(options.localPort, orphanArgs, () =>
+    cancelMuxedLocalForward(
+      conn.getTarget(),
+      options.localPort,
+      options.remoteHost,
+      options.remotePort,
+      buildArgsOptions
+    )
   )
-  return reserveLocalForwardPort(options.localPort, orphanArgs)
 }
diff --git a/src/main/managed-server/lifecycle/orcad-stdio-bridge-provider.ts b/src/main/managed-server/lifecycle/orcad-stdio-bridge-provider.ts
index f0c78c7ce92..7e54cade954 100644
--- a/src/main/managed-server/lifecycle/orcad-stdio-bridge-provider.ts
+++ b/src/main/managed-server/lifecycle/orcad-stdio-bridge-provider.ts
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ export class OrcadStdioBridgePortForwardProvider implements SshPortForwardProvid
   ) {}
 
   // System SSH runs each bridge socket as an exec over its ControlMaster, or as its own login
-  // when multiplexing is off; the transport only picks it once forwarding was refused.
+  // when multiplexing is off; the transport only picks it once a forward did not start.
   canHandle(conn: SshConnection): boolean {
     return conn.getClient() !== null || conn.usesSystemSshTransport()
   }
diff --git a/src/main/ssh/ssh-tcp-forwarding-probe.test.ts b/src/main/ssh/ssh-tcp-forwarding-probe.test.ts
index 09ccd375218..815da4b817e 100644
--- a/src/main/ssh/ssh-tcp-forwarding-probe.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/ssh/ssh-tcp-forwarding-probe.test.ts
@@ -117,6 +117,13 @@ describe('forward channel check (system SSH)', () => {
     await expect(checkForwardChannel({ entry: dropped.entry })).resolves.toBe('unverifiable')
   })
 
+  // Why: a forward still waiting on its own login (a key touch, a prompt) never binds its listener.
+  it('reports a listener that never came up as not listening', async () => {
+    const closed = await forwardAnswering(() => {})
+    await new Promise((resolve) => servers.pop()?.close(resolve))
+    await expect(checkForwardChannel(closed, 300)).resolves.toBe('not-listening')
+  })
+
   it('reads the last channel failure OpenSSH logged', () => {
     expect(lastChannelOpenFailure('Warning: Permanently added host\n')).toBeNull()
     expect(
diff --git a/src/main/ssh/ssh-tcp-forwarding-probe.ts b/src/main/ssh/ssh-tcp-forwarding-probe.ts
index ab3da8b68b2..4f8508aeedc 100644
--- a/src/main/ssh/ssh-tcp-forwarding-probe.ts
+++ b/src/main/ssh/ssh-tcp-forwarding-probe.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import type { SshConnection } from './connection/ssh-connection'
 import type { StartedPortForward } from './port-forwarding/ssh-port-forward-provider'
 
 export type TcpForwardingVerdict = 'allowed' | 'refused' | 'unverifiable'
+/** `not-listening`: no dial ever connected, so the forward never got as far as its listener. */
+export type ForwardChannelVerdict = TcpForwardingVerdict | 'not-listening'
 
 /** RFC 4254 open-failure codes: sshd policy, versus a port with nothing listening. */
 const ADMINISTRATIVELY_PROHIBITED = 1
@@ -81,7 +83,7 @@ export function probeTcpForwarding(
 export function checkForwardChannel(
   forward: Pick<StartedPortForward, 'entry' | 'lastChannelOpenFailure'>,
   timeoutMs = FORWARD_CHANNEL_CHECK_TIMEOUT_MS
-): Promise<TcpForwardingVerdict> {
+): Promise<ForwardChannelVerdict> {
   const readFailure = forward.lastChannelOpenFailure
   if (!readFailure) {
     return Promise.resolve('unverifiable')
@@ -99,7 +101,8 @@ export function checkForwardChannel(
     let poll: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | undefined
     let redial: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | undefined
     let socket: Socket | undefined
-    const settle = (verdict: TcpForwardingVerdict): void => {
+    let everConnected = false
+    const settle = (verdict: ForwardChannelVerdict): void => {
       if (settled) {
         return
       }
@@ -110,7 +113,10 @@ export function checkForwardChannel(
       socket?.destroy()
       resolve(verdict)
     }
-    const timer = setTimeout(() => settle(verdictOf() ?? 'unverifiable'), timeoutMs)
+    const timer = setTimeout(
+      () => settle(verdictOf() ?? (everConnected ? 'unverifiable' : 'not-listening')),
+      timeoutMs
+    )
     const awaitFailureLog = (): void => {
       if (settled || poll) {
         return
@@ -131,6 +137,7 @@ export function checkForwardChannel(
       socket = current
       current.once('connect', () => {
         connected = true
+        everConnected = true
         current.write(FORWARD_CHANNEL_CHECK_BYTES)
       })
       current.once('data', () => settle('allowed'))
diff --git a/src/main/ssh/system-transport/real-openssh-sshd-fixture.ts b/src/main/ssh/system-transport/real-openssh-sshd-fixture.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9a35a75bac3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/ssh/system-transport/real-openssh-sshd-fixture.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+/**
+ * An isolated real sshd for opt-in OpenSSH tests (ORCA_REAL_OPENSSH_TEST=1): its own host and
+ * client keys, ssh_config and ControlPath under one temp dir, so nothing reads or writes `~/.ssh`.
+ * The client config multiplexes through a ControlMaster, as a user's own ssh_config would.
+ */
+import { execFileSync, spawn, type ChildProcess } from 'node:child_process'
+import {
+  chmodSync,
+  copyFileSync,
+  existsSync,
+  mkdirSync,
+  mkdtempSync,
+  rmSync,
+  writeFileSync
+} from 'node:fs'
+import { connect, createServer } from 'node:net'
+import { tmpdir, userInfo } from 'node:os'
+import { join } from 'node:path'
+import type { SshTarget } from '../../../shared/ssh-types'
+import type { SystemSshBuildArgsOptions } from './system-ssh-args'
+
+const SSHD = '/usr/sbin/sshd'
+export const REAL_OPENSSH_TEST_ENABLED =
+  process.env.ORCA_REAL_OPENSSH_TEST === '1' && process.platform !== 'win32' && existsSync(SSHD)
+
+export function freePort(): Promise<number> {
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    const server = createServer()
+    server.once('error', reject)
+    server.listen(0, '127.0.0.1', () => {
+      const address = server.address()
+      const port = typeof address === 'object' && address ? address.port : 0
+      server.close(() => resolve(port))
+    })
+  })
+}
+
+export function dial(port: number): Promise<boolean> {
+  return new Promise((resolve) => {
+    const socket = connect({ host: '127.0.0.1', port })
+    socket.once('connect', () => {
+      socket.destroy()
+      resolve(true)
+    })
+    socket.once('error', () => resolve(false))
+  })
+}
+
+export async function waitFor(check: () => Promise<boolean>, ms = 5_000): Promise<void> {
+  for (const deadline = Date.now() + ms; Date.now() < deadline;) {
+    if (await check()) {
+      return
+    }
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 50))
+  }
+  throw new Error('timed out')
+}
+
+export type RealOpenSshFixture = {
+  dir: string
+  /** The HOME every session on this sshd sees, never the user's real one. */
+  remoteHome: string
+  configFile: string
+  target: SshTarget
+  buildOptions: () => SystemSshBuildArgsOptions
+  /** Runs the client `ssh` against the fixture's config (`-O forward`, `-O cancel`, `-O check`). */
+  ssh: (args: readonly string[]) => string
+  /** New logins fail from here on; the open master keeps working, like a login it cannot repeat. */
+  refuseNewLogins: () => void
+  close: () => Promise<void>
+}
+
+export async function startRealOpenSshFixture(
+  extra: { sshd?: readonly string[]; client?: readonly string[] } = {}
+): Promise<RealOpenSshFixture> {
+  // Why /tmp: a ControlPath under macOS's long TMPDIR overflows the unix socket path limit.
+  const dir = mkdtempSync(join(process.platform === 'darwin' ? '/tmp' : tmpdir(), 'orca-ros-'))
+  execFileSync('ssh-keygen', ['-q', '-t', 'ed25519', '-N', '', '-f', join(dir, 'hostkey')])
+  execFileSync('ssh-keygen', ['-q', '-t', 'ed25519', '-N', '', '-f', join(dir, 'clientkey')])
+  const authorizedKeys = join(dir, 'authorized_keys')
+  copyFileSync(join(dir, 'clientkey.pub'), authorizedKeys)
+  chmodSync(authorizedKeys, 0o600)
+  const sshdPort = await freePort()
+  const remoteHome = join(dir, 'home')
+  mkdirSync(remoteHome)
+  writeFileSync(
+    join(dir, 'sshd_config'),
+    [
+      `Port ${sshdPort}`,
+      'ListenAddress 127.0.0.1',
+      `HostKey ${join(dir, 'hostkey')}`,
+      `AuthorizedKeysFile ${authorizedKeys}`,
+      'PasswordAuthentication no',
+      'KbdInteractiveAuthentication no',
+      'UsePAM no',
+      'StrictModes no',
+      `PidFile ${join(dir, 'sshd.pid')}`,
+      `SetEnv HOME=${remoteHome}`,
+      ...(extra.sshd ?? [])
+    ].join('\n')
+  )
+  // Why a space: a quoted ControlPath with one is valid, and recovery must keep it whole.
+  mkdirSync(join(dir, 'control sockets'))
+  const controlPath = join(dir, 'control sockets', 'cm-%C')
+  const configFile = join(dir, 'ssh_config')
+  const target: SshTarget = {
+    id: 'real-openssh',
+    label: 'real-openssh',
+    configHost: 'orca-real-openssh',
+    host: 'orca-real-openssh',
+    port: 22,
+    username: '',
+    source: 'ssh-config'
+  }
+  const alias = 'orca-real-openssh'
+  writeFileSync(
+    configFile,
+    [
+      `Host ${alias}`,
+      '  HostName 127.0.0.1',
+      `  Port ${sshdPort}`,
+      `  User ${userInfo().username}`,
+      `  IdentityFile ${join(dir, 'clientkey')}`,
+      '  IdentitiesOnly yes',
+      '  UserKnownHostsFile /dev/null',
+      '  StrictHostKeyChecking no',
+      '  ControlMaster auto',
+      `  ControlPath "${controlPath}"`,
+      '  ControlPersist 600',
+      ...(extra.client ?? []).map((line) => `  ${line}`)
+    ].join('\n')
+  )
+  const sshd: ChildProcess = spawn(SSHD, ['-D', '-e', '-f', join(dir, 'sshd_config')], {
+    stdio: 'ignore'
+  })
+  const ssh = (args: readonly string[]): string =>
+    execFileSync('ssh', ['-F', configFile, ...args, alias], {
+      encoding: 'utf8',
+      stdio: ['ignore', 'pipe', 'pipe']
+    })
+  await waitFor(() => dial(sshdPort))
+  // The user's own master, as `ssh <host>` with ControlMaster auto would leave behind.
+  ssh(['-o', 'BatchMode=yes', '-fN'])
+  return {
+    dir,
+    remoteHome,
+    configFile,
+    target,
+    buildOptions: () => ({
+      configFile,
+      resolvedConfig: {
+        hostname: '127.0.0.1',
+        port: sshdPort,
+        identityFile: [],
+        forwardAgent: false,
+        identitiesOnly: true,
+        proxyUseFdpass: false,
+        controlMaster: 'auto',
+        controlPath,
+        controlPersist: '600'
+      }
+    }),
+    ssh,
+    refuseNewLogins: () => writeFileSync(authorizedKeys, ''),
+    close: async () => {
+      try {
+        ssh(['-O', 'exit'])
+      } catch {
+        /* no master */
+      }
+      const exited = new Promise((resolve) => sshd.once('exit', resolve))
+      sshd.kill('SIGTERM')
+      await Promise.race([exited, new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 2_000))])
+      // Why the wait: the master and sshd's session children finish exiting after these return.
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 500))
+      rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true, maxRetries: 3 })
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-args.ts b/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-args.ts
index f2e683ba2e0..3c72d3919a0 100644
--- a/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-args.ts
+++ b/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-args.ts
@@ -118,7 +118,8 @@ export function buildSshArgs(target: SshTarget, options?: SystemSshBuildArgsOpti
  * user's ssh_config) the master owns the listener and its refusals, so killing the child would
  * neither close the forward nor report why sshd refused it. So a forward logs in on its own, even
  * where a live master holds a login it cannot repeat: through that master its `-N` mux client
- * exits at once and the port stays on the master, out of Orca's reach.
+ * exits at once and the port stays on the master, out of Orca's reach. A managed tunnel whose
+ * forward cannot log in takes the stdio bridge over the master's exec instead.
  */
 export function buildForwardProcessSshArgs(
   target: SshTarget,
diff --git a/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-port-reservation.test.ts b/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-port-reservation.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d4432d00dc7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-port-reservation.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+import { createServer, type Server } from 'node:net'
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+
+const { stopOrphanMock } = vi.hoisted(() => ({ stopOrphanMock: vi.fn() }))
+vi.mock('./system-ssh-orphaned-forward', () => ({ stopOrphanedOrcaSshForward: stopOrphanMock }))
+
+import { reserveLocalForwardPort } from './system-ssh-forward-port-reservation'
+
+let holder: Server | null = null
+
+async function holdPort(): Promise<number> {
+  const server = createServer()
+  holder = server
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => server.listen(0, '127.0.0.1', resolve))
+  const address = server.address()
+  return typeof address === 'object' && address ? address.port : 0
+}
+
+function release(): Promise<boolean> {
+  return new Promise((resolve) => {
+    const server = holder
+    holder = null
+    if (!server) {
+      resolve(false)
+      return
+    }
+    server.close(() => resolve(true))
+  })
+}
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  stopOrphanMock.mockReset().mockResolvedValue(false)
+})
+
+afterEach(async () => {
+  await release()
+})
+
+describe('local forward port reservation', () => {
+  it('asks the master only after the orphan sweep found nothing, then rebinds', async () => {
+    const port = await holdPort()
+    const cancel = vi.fn(release)
+    await expect(reserveLocalForwardPort(port, ['ssh'], cancel)).resolves.toBe(port)
+    expect(stopOrphanMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(port, ['ssh'])
+    expect(stopOrphanMock.mock.invocationCallOrder[0]).toBeLessThan(
+      cancel.mock.invocationCallOrder[0]
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('asks no master once the orphan sweep freed the port', async () => {
+    const port = await holdPort()
+    stopOrphanMock.mockImplementation(release)
+    const cancel = vi.fn(async () => true)
+    await expect(reserveLocalForwardPort(port, ['ssh'], cancel)).resolves.toBe(port)
+    expect(cancel).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('keeps the bind error when neither recovery released the port', async () => {
+    const port = await holdPort()
+    await expect(reserveLocalForwardPort(port, ['ssh'], async () => false)).rejects.toThrow(
+      `Local port 127.0.0.1:${port} is not available`
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('tries no recovery for a port it cannot bind for any reason but use', async () => {
+    const cancel = vi.fn(async () => true)
+    await expect(reserveLocalForwardPort(-1, ['ssh'], cancel)).rejects.toThrow()
+    expect(stopOrphanMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(cancel).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-port-reservation.ts b/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-port-reservation.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..07f53ce467e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-port-reservation.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+/**
+ * The port a system SSH forward will listen on. OpenSSH binds `-L 0` to a port it never reports,
+ * so port 0 is resolved to a free one here first, and a fixed port an earlier Orca left bound is
+ * recovered here before the caller gives up on it.
+ */
+import { createServer } from 'node:net'
+import { stopOrphanedOrcaSshForward } from './system-ssh-orphaned-forward'
+
+/**
+ * The port the forward should be spawned on: `localPort`, or a free one when it is 0. Recovery is
+ * only ever attempted on a port already in use, and only from what the caller supplies — a forward
+ * process to stop, a master to ask — so a port held by anything else keeps reporting the bind error.
+ */
+export async function reserveLocalForwardPort(
+  localPort: number,
+  orphanArgs?: readonly string[],
+  cancelMuxedForward?: () => Promise<boolean>
+): Promise<number> {
+  try {
+    return await bindLocalForwardPort(localPort)
+  } catch (error) {
+    const inUse = error instanceof Error && error.cause === 'EADDRINUSE'
+    if (!inUse || !(await releaseLocalForwardPort(localPort, orphanArgs, cancelMuxedForward))) {
+      throw error
+    }
+    return bindLocalForwardPort(localPort)
+  }
+}
+
+/** True when a forward an earlier Orca left on `localPort` was released, by process or by master. */
+async function releaseLocalForwardPort(
+  localPort: number,
+  orphanArgs?: readonly string[],
+  cancelMuxedForward?: () => Promise<boolean>
+): Promise<boolean> {
+  // Why: a fixed port (a managed tunnel's) may be held by the same forward an earlier Orca
+  // orphaned; `orphanArgs` is that forward's argv, the only process recovery may stop.
+  if (orphanArgs && (await stopOrphanedOrcaSshForward(localPort, orphanArgs))) {
+    return true
+  }
+  // Why second: a muxed forward outlives its process, so no argv on the table can match it.
+  return cancelMuxedForward ? cancelMuxedForward() : false
+}
+
+/**
+ * The port a listener could be opened on, closed again before it is returned. Rejects with
+ * `EADDRINUSE` as the error's `cause`, which is what tells a busy port from an unusable one.
+ */
+function bindLocalForwardPort(localPort: number): Promise<number> {
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    const server = createServer()
+    server.once('error', (err: NodeJS.ErrnoException) => {
+      reject(
+        new Error(`Local port 127.0.0.1:${localPort} is not available: ${err.message}`, {
+          cause: err.code
+        })
+      )
+    })
+    server.once('listening', () => {
+      const address = server.address()
+      const port = typeof address === 'object' && address ? address.port : localPort
+      server.close(() => resolve(port))
+    })
+    server.listen(localPort, '127.0.0.1')
+  })
+}
diff --git a/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-process-real-openssh.test.ts b/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-process-real-openssh.test.ts
index ae1bbc00c51..d415ec2f216 100644
--- a/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-process-real-openssh.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-process-real-openssh.test.ts
@@ -3,157 +3,39 @@
  * user's ssh_config multiplexes through a ControlMaster. Opt-in (needs sshd and ssh on PATH):
  * ORCA_REAL_OPENSSH_TEST=1 pnpm test src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-process-real-openssh.test.ts
  */
-import { execFileSync, spawn, type ChildProcess } from 'node:child_process'
-import { existsSync, mkdtempSync, rmSync, writeFileSync, chmodSync, copyFileSync } from 'node:fs'
-import { connect, createServer } from 'node:net'
-import { tmpdir, userInfo } from 'node:os'
-import { join } from 'node:path'
 import { afterAll, beforeAll, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
-import type { SshTarget } from '../../../shared/ssh-types'
 import type { SshConnection } from '../connection/ssh-connection'
 import { SystemSshPortForwardProvider } from '../port-forwarding/system-ssh-port-forward-provider'
 import { checkForwardChannel } from '../ssh-tcp-forwarding-probe'
+import {
+  REAL_OPENSSH_TEST_ENABLED,
+  dial,
+  freePort,
+  startRealOpenSshFixture,
+  type RealOpenSshFixture
+} from './real-openssh-sshd-fixture'
 import { startSystemSshPortForwardProcess } from './system-ssh-forward-process'
 
-const SSHD = '/usr/sbin/sshd'
-const enabled =
-  process.env.ORCA_REAL_OPENSSH_TEST === '1' && process.platform !== 'win32' && existsSync(SSHD)
-
-function freePort(): Promise<number> {
-  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-    const server = createServer()
-    server.once('error', reject)
-    server.listen(0, '127.0.0.1', () => {
-      const address = server.address()
-      const port = typeof address === 'object' && address ? address.port : 0
-      server.close(() => resolve(port))
-    })
-  })
-}
-
-function dial(port: number): Promise<boolean> {
-  return new Promise((resolve) => {
-    const socket = connect({ host: '127.0.0.1', port })
-    socket.once('connect', () => {
-      socket.destroy()
-      resolve(true)
-    })
-    socket.once('error', () => resolve(false))
-  })
-}
-
-async function waitFor(check: () => Promise<boolean>, ms = 5_000): Promise<void> {
-  for (const deadline = Date.now() + ms; Date.now() < deadline;) {
-    if (await check()) {
-      return
-    }
-    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 50))
-  }
-  throw new Error('timed out')
-}
-
-describe.skipIf(!enabled)(
+describe.skipIf(!REAL_OPENSSH_TEST_ENABLED)(
   'system SSH forward process under a user ControlMaster (real OpenSSH)',
   () => {
-    let dir = ''
-    let configFile = ''
-    let controlPath = ''
-    let sshd: ChildProcess | null = null
+    let fixture: RealOpenSshFixture
     // A port sshd's PermitOpen does not allow, so opening a channel to it is administratively refused.
     let prohibitedPort = 0
-
-    const target: SshTarget = {
-      id: 'real-openssh',
-      label: 'real-openssh',
-      configHost: 'orca-real-openssh',
-      host: 'orca-real-openssh',
-      port: 22,
-      username: '',
-      source: 'ssh-config'
-    }
-    const buildOptions = () => ({
-      configFile,
-      logChannelFailures: true,
-      resolvedConfig: {
-        hostname: '127.0.0.1',
-        port: 22,
-        identityFile: [],
-        forwardAgent: false,
-        identitiesOnly: true,
-        proxyUseFdpass: false,
-        controlMaster: 'auto',
-        controlPath,
-        controlPersist: '600'
-      }
-    })
+    const buildOptions = () => ({ ...fixture.buildOptions(), logChannelFailures: true })
 
     beforeAll(async () => {
-      // Why /tmp: a ControlPath under macOS's long TMPDIR overflows the unix socket path limit.
-      dir = mkdtempSync(join(process.platform === 'darwin' ? '/tmp' : tmpdir(), 'orca-ros-'))
-      execFileSync('ssh-keygen', ['-q', '-t', 'ed25519', '-N', '', '-f', join(dir, 'hostkey')])
-      execFileSync('ssh-keygen', ['-q', '-t', 'ed25519', '-N', '', '-f', join(dir, 'clientkey')])
-      copyFileSync(join(dir, 'clientkey.pub'), join(dir, 'authorized_keys'))
-      chmodSync(join(dir, 'authorized_keys'), 0o600)
-      const sshdPort = await freePort()
       prohibitedPort = await freePort()
-      writeFileSync(
-        join(dir, 'sshd_config'),
-        [
-          `Port ${sshdPort}`,
-          'ListenAddress 127.0.0.1',
-          `HostKey ${join(dir, 'hostkey')}`,
-          `AuthorizedKeysFile ${join(dir, 'authorized_keys')}`,
-          'PasswordAuthentication no',
-          'KbdInteractiveAuthentication no',
-          'UsePAM no',
-          'StrictModes no',
-          `PidFile ${join(dir, 'sshd.pid')}`,
-          'PermitOpen 127.0.0.1:1'
-        ].join('\n')
-      )
-      controlPath = join(dir, 'cm-%C')
-      configFile = join(dir, 'ssh_config')
-      writeFileSync(
-        configFile,
-        [
-          `Host ${target.configHost}`,
-          '  HostName 127.0.0.1',
-          `  Port ${sshdPort}`,
-          `  User ${userInfo().username}`,
-          `  IdentityFile ${join(dir, 'clientkey')}`,
-          '  IdentitiesOnly yes',
-          `  UserKnownHostsFile ${join(dir, 'known_hosts')}`,
-          '  StrictHostKeyChecking no',
-          '  ControlMaster auto',
-          `  ControlPath ${controlPath}`,
-          '  ControlPersist 600'
-        ].join('\n')
-      )
-      sshd = spawn(SSHD, ['-D', '-e', '-f', join(dir, 'sshd_config')], { stdio: 'ignore' })
-      await waitFor(() => dial(sshdPort))
-      // The user's own master, as `ssh <host>` with ControlMaster auto would leave behind.
-      execFileSync('ssh', ['-F', configFile, '-o', 'BatchMode=yes', '-fN', target.configHost!], {
-        stdio: 'ignore'
-      })
+      fixture = await startRealOpenSshFixture({ sshd: ['PermitOpen 127.0.0.1:1'] })
     }, 30_000)
 
-    afterAll(() => {
-      try {
-        execFileSync('ssh', ['-F', configFile, '-O', 'exit', target.configHost!], {
-          stdio: 'ignore'
-        })
-      } catch {
-        /* no master */
-      }
-      sshd?.kill('SIGTERM')
-      if (dir) {
-        rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true })
-      }
+    afterAll(async () => {
+      await fixture?.close()
     })
 
     it('closing the forward releases its listener', async () => {
       const forward = await startSystemSshPortForwardProcess(
-        target,
+        fixture.target,
         0,
         '127.0.0.1',
         prohibitedPort,
@@ -165,16 +47,38 @@ describe.skipIf(!enabled)(
       expect(await dial(forward.localPort)).toBe(false)
     }, 20_000)
 
+    // Why: any fixed-port forward starts here, and a master's forward may be the user's own; only
+    // the managed tunnel asks a master to give its persisted port back.
+    it("never takes a fixed port from a master's forward", async () => {
+      const heldPort = await freePort()
+      const spec = `127.0.0.1:${heldPort}:127.0.0.1:${prohibitedPort}`
+      fixture.ssh(['-O', 'forward', '-L', spec])
+      try {
+        await expect(
+          startSystemSshPortForwardProcess(
+            fixture.target,
+            heldPort,
+            '127.0.0.1',
+            prohibitedPort,
+            buildOptions()
+          )
+        ).rejects.toThrow(/is not available/)
+        expect(await dial(heldPort)).toBe(true)
+      } finally {
+        fixture.ssh(['-O', 'cancel', '-L', spec])
+      }
+    }, 20_000)
+
     it("sees sshd's administrative refusal on its own stderr", async () => {
       const conn = {
-        getTarget: () => target,
+        getTarget: () => fixture.target,
         getSystemSshBuildArgsOptions: buildOptions
       } satisfies Pick<SshConnection, 'getTarget' | 'getSystemSshBuildArgsOptions'>
       // oxlint-disable-next-line typescript/consistent-type-assertions -- SAFETY: the system SSH provider's start reads only getTarget and getSystemSshBuildArgsOptions.
       const connection = conn as unknown as SshConnection
       const started = await new SystemSshPortForwardProvider().start(connection, {
         id: 'pf-real',
-        connectionId: target.id,
+        connectionId: fixture.target.id,
         localHost: '127.0.0.1',
         localPort: 0,
         remoteHost: '127.0.0.1',
diff --git a/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-process.test.ts b/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-process.test.ts
index ff10786b191..8c45fb8ac60 100644
--- a/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-process.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-process.test.ts
@@ -1,20 +1,30 @@
 import { EventEmitter } from 'node:events'
 import { describe, expect, it, vi, beforeEach, afterEach } from 'vitest'
 
-const { existsSyncMock, spawnMock, connectMock, createServerMock, stopOrphanMock } = vi.hoisted(
-  () => ({
-    existsSyncMock: vi.fn(),
-    spawnMock: vi.fn(),
-    connectMock: vi.fn(),
-    createServerMock: vi.fn(),
-    stopOrphanMock: vi.fn()
-  })
-)
+const {
+  existsSyncMock,
+  spawnMock,
+  connectMock,
+  createServerMock,
+  stopOrphanMock,
+  cancelMuxedMock
+} = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  existsSyncMock: vi.fn(),
+  spawnMock: vi.fn(),
+  connectMock: vi.fn(),
+  createServerMock: vi.fn(),
+  stopOrphanMock: vi.fn(),
+  cancelMuxedMock: vi.fn()
+}))
 
 vi.mock('./system-ssh-orphaned-forward', () => ({
   stopOrphanedOrcaSshForward: stopOrphanMock
 }))
 
+vi.mock('./system-ssh-muxed-forward-cancel', () => ({
+  cancelMuxedLocalForward: cancelMuxedMock
+}))
+
 vi.mock('fs', async (importOriginal) => {
   const actual = (await importOriginal()) as Record<string, unknown>
   return {
@@ -122,6 +132,7 @@ describe('system SSH forward process', () => {
     connectMock.mockReset()
     createServerMock.mockReset().mockImplementation(createFakeServer)
     stopOrphanMock.mockReset().mockResolvedValue(false)
+    cancelMuxedMock.mockReset().mockResolvedValue(false)
     mockSystemSshExists()
   })
 
@@ -290,6 +301,8 @@ describe('system SSH forward process', () => {
       startSystemSshPortForwardProcess(createTarget(), 5173, '127.0.0.1', 3000)
     ).rejects.toThrow('Local port 127.0.0.1:5173 is not available')
     expect(stopOrphanMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(5173, expect.any(Array))
+    // Why: any fixed-port forward reaches here, and the master's forward may be the user's own.
+    expect(cancelMuxedMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
     expect(spawnMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
diff --git a/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-process.ts b/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-process.ts
index d7683bd649a..699f441e769 100644
--- a/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-process.ts
+++ b/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-forward-process.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 import { spawn, type ChildProcess } from 'node:child_process'
-import { connect, createServer } from 'node:net'
+import { connect } from 'node:net'
 import { buildForwardProcessSshArgs, type SystemSshBuildArgsOptions } from './system-ssh-args'
 import { findSystemSsh } from './system-ssh-binary'
-import { stopOrphanedOrcaSshForward } from './system-ssh-orphaned-forward'
+import { reserveLocalForwardPort } from './system-ssh-forward-port-reservation'
 import type { SshTarget } from '../../../shared/ssh-types'
 
 export const SYSTEM_SSH_FORWARD_STARTUP_GRACE_MS = 750
@@ -72,6 +72,10 @@ export function buildSystemSshPortForwardArgs(
   return args
 }
 
+/**
+ * An `ssh -N` forward, already listening on the port it reports. Never asks a ControlMaster to
+ * cancel a forward: any fixed port reaches here, so that is the managed tunnel's call alone.
+ */
 export function startSystemSshPortForwardProcess(
   target: SshTarget,
   localPort: number,
@@ -131,46 +135,6 @@ function stopOnOwnListenFailure(process: ChildProcess, localPort: number): void
   process.once('exit', stop)
 }
 
-/**
- * The port a system SSH forward will listen on. OpenSSH binds `-L 0` to a port it never
- * reports, so port 0 is resolved to a free one here first.
- */
-export async function reserveLocalForwardPort(
-  localPort: number,
-  orphanArgs?: readonly string[]
-): Promise<number> {
-  try {
-    return await bindLocalForwardPort(localPort)
-  } catch (error) {
-    // Why: a fixed port (a managed tunnel's) may be held by the same forward an earlier Orca
-    // orphaned; `orphanArgs` is that forward's argv, the only process recovery may stop.
-    const inUse = error instanceof Error && error.cause === 'EADDRINUSE'
-    if (!orphanArgs || !inUse || !(await stopOrphanedOrcaSshForward(localPort, orphanArgs))) {
-      throw error
-    }
-    return bindLocalForwardPort(localPort)
-  }
-}
-
-function bindLocalForwardPort(localPort: number): Promise<number> {
-  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-    const server = createServer()
-    server.once('error', (err: NodeJS.ErrnoException) => {
-      reject(
-        new Error(`Local port 127.0.0.1:${localPort} is not available: ${err.message}`, {
-          cause: err.code
-        })
-      )
-    })
-    server.once('listening', () => {
-      const address = server.address()
-      const port = typeof address === 'object' && address ? address.port : localPort
-      server.close(() => resolve(port))
-    })
-    server.listen(localPort, '127.0.0.1')
-  })
-}
-
 export function waitForSystemSshForwardStartup(
   process: ChildProcess,
   localPort: number
diff --git a/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-muxed-forward-cancel.test.ts b/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-muxed-forward-cancel.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..25e592711d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-muxed-forward-cancel.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,158 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, vi, beforeEach, afterEach } from 'vitest'
+
+const { findSystemSshMock, runProcessMock } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  findSystemSshMock: vi.fn(),
+  runProcessMock: vi.fn()
+}))
+
+vi.mock('@orca/process-host', () => ({ runProcess: runProcessMock }))
+
+vi.mock('./system-ssh-binary', () => ({ findSystemSsh: findSystemSshMock }))
+
+import {
+  buildControlPathQueryArgs,
+  buildMuxedLocalForwardCancelArgs,
+  cancelMuxedLocalForward,
+  parseControlPath
+} from './system-ssh-muxed-forward-cancel'
+import type { SshTarget } from '../../../shared/ssh-types'
+
+const platform = Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(process, 'platform')
+
+/** A manual target by default; `source: 'ssh-config'` makes it config-backed instead. */
+function createTarget(overrides?: Partial<SshTarget>): SshTarget {
+  return {
+    id: 'target-1',
+    label: 'Test Server',
+    host: 'example.com',
+    port: 22,
+    username: 'deploy',
+    ...overrides
+  }
+}
+
+const ok = (stdout = '', stderr = '') => ({ code: 0, signal: null, stdout, stderr })
+const controlPathAnswer = ok('user deploy\ncontrolpath /tmp/cm-abc123\nport 22\n')
+
+function cancelCall() {
+  return runProcessMock.mock.calls.find(([request]) => request.args.includes('cancel'))?.[0]
+}
+
+describe('system SSH muxed forward cancel', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', { value: 'darwin' })
+    findSystemSshMock.mockReset().mockReturnValue('/usr/bin/ssh')
+    runProcessMock
+      .mockReset()
+      .mockImplementation(async (request: { args: string[] }) =>
+        request.args[0] === '-G' ? controlPathAnswer : ok()
+      )
+  })
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    if (platform) {
+      Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', platform)
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('reads the control socket with the target’s own args, multiplexed', () => {
+    const args = buildControlPathQueryArgs(
+      createTarget({ configHost: 'workbox', source: 'ssh-config' })
+    )
+    expect(args[0]).toBe('-G')
+    expect(args.at(-1)).toBe('workbox')
+    expect(args.some((arg, index) => arg === '-S' && args[index + 1] === 'none')).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('takes the expanded ControlPath, and none where the target does not multiplex', () => {
+    expect(parseControlPath(controlPathAnswer.stdout)).toBe('/tmp/cm-abc123')
+    expect(parseControlPath('user deploy\ncontrolpath none\n')).toBeNull()
+    expect(parseControlPath('user deploy\n')).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  // Why: `-O cancel` also cancels every forward a loaded ssh_config declares for the host.
+  it('asks that socket to cancel only this exact forward, reading no ssh_config', () => {
+    const args = buildMuxedLocalForwardCancelArgs(
+      '/tmp/my sockets/cm-50%',
+      59418,
+      '127.0.0.1',
+      6768
+    )
+    expect(args.slice(0, 2)).toEqual(['-F', '/dev/null'])
+    expect(args[args.indexOf('-S') + 1]).toBe('/tmp/my sockets/cm-50%%')
+    expect(args.indexOf('-O')).toBeLessThan(args.indexOf('--'))
+    expect(args[args.indexOf('-O') + 1]).toBe('cancel')
+    expect(args.filter((arg) => arg === '-L')).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(args).toContain('127.0.0.1:59418:127.0.0.1:6768')
+  })
+
+  it('reports the port released when the master dropped the forward', async () => {
+    await expect(cancelMuxedLocalForward(createTarget(), 59418, '127.0.0.1', 6768)).resolves.toBe(
+      true
+    )
+    expect(cancelCall()?.args).toContain('/tmp/cm-abc123')
+  })
+
+  it('asks nothing when the target has no control socket', async () => {
+    runProcessMock.mockResolvedValue(ok('controlpath none\n'))
+    await expect(cancelMuxedLocalForward(createTarget(), 59418, '127.0.0.1', 6768)).resolves.toBe(
+      false
+    )
+    expect(cancelCall()).toBeUndefined()
+  })
+
+  // A master that never registered this spec, or no master at all: nothing was released.
+  it('reports nothing released when ssh refuses the request', async () => {
+    runProcessMock.mockImplementation(async (request: { args: string[] }) =>
+      request.args[0] === '-G'
+        ? controlPathAnswer
+        : {
+            code: 255,
+            signal: null,
+            stdout: '',
+            stderr: 'Control socket connect(/tmp/cm): No such file or directory'
+          }
+    )
+    await expect(cancelMuxedLocalForward(createTarget(), 59418, '127.0.0.1', 6768)).resolves.toBe(
+      false
+    )
+  })
+
+  // Why: a refused cancel exits 0, so only its stderr tells the port apart from a released one.
+  it('reports nothing released when the master refuses the spec but still exits 0', async () => {
+    runProcessMock.mockImplementation(async (request: { args: string[] }) =>
+      request.args[0] === '-G'
+        ? controlPathAnswer
+        : ok(
+            '',
+            'mux_client_forward: forwarding request failed: port not forwarded\nmuxclient: master cancel forward request failed\n'
+          )
+    )
+    await expect(cancelMuxedLocalForward(createTarget(), 59418, '127.0.0.1', 6768)).resolves.toBe(
+      false
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('reports nothing released when ssh cannot be spawned at all', async () => {
+    runProcessMock.mockRejectedValue(new Error('ENOENT'))
+    await expect(cancelMuxedLocalForward(createTarget(), 59418, '127.0.0.1', 6768)).resolves.toBe(
+      false
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('asks no master on Windows, whose OpenSSH cannot multiplex', async () => {
+    Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', { value: 'win32' })
+    await expect(cancelMuxedLocalForward(createTarget(), 59418, '127.0.0.1', 6768)).resolves.toBe(
+      false
+    )
+    expect(runProcessMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('reports nothing released without a system ssh binary', async () => {
+    findSystemSshMock.mockReturnValue(null)
+    await expect(cancelMuxedLocalForward(createTarget(), 59418, '127.0.0.1', 6768)).resolves.toBe(
+      false
+    )
+    expect(runProcessMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-muxed-forward-cancel.ts b/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-muxed-forward-cancel.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ef95911817c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/ssh/system-transport/system-ssh-muxed-forward-cancel.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+/**
+ * A forward made through a ControlMaster leaves its listener on that master after its `-N` client
+ * exits, so no process holds the port for the orphan sweep to stop; only the master can drop it.
+ */
+import { runProcess } from '@orca/process-host'
+import { buildSshArgs, type SystemSshBuildArgsOptions } from './system-ssh-args'
+import { findSystemSsh } from './system-ssh-binary'
+import type { SshTarget } from '../../../shared/ssh-types'
+
+export const SYSTEM_SSH_MUXED_FORWARD_CANCEL_TIMEOUT_MS = 5_000
+
+/** `ssh -G` with the target's own args: the control socket its commands multiplex through. */
+export function buildControlPathQueryArgs(
+  target: SshTarget,
+  options?: SystemSshBuildArgsOptions
+): string[] {
+  return ['-G', ...buildSshArgs(target, options)]
+}
+
+/** The expanded ControlPath `ssh -G` reports, or null where the target does not multiplex. */
+export function parseControlPath(stdout: string): string | null {
+  const path = /^controlpath (.+)$/im.exec(stdout)?.[1]?.trim()
+  return path && path.toLowerCase() !== 'none' ? path : null
+}
+
+/**
+ * No config file: `-O cancel` cancels every forward the loaded config declares as well as this
+ * `-L`, so reading the host's config would also drop its LocalForward/RemoteForward entries.
+ */
+export function buildMuxedLocalForwardCancelArgs(
+  controlPath: string,
+  localPort: number,
+  remoteHost: string,
+  remotePort: number
+): string[] {
+  return [
+    '-F',
+    '/dev/null',
+    // Why -S, not -o: an -o value is split on spaces. Doubled: ssh expands `%` tokens in it again.
+    '-S',
+    controlPath.replaceAll('%', '%%'),
+    '-O',
+    'cancel',
+    '-L',
+    `127.0.0.1:${localPort}:${remoteHost}:${remotePort}`,
+    '--',
+    'orca-muxed-forward-cancel'
+  ]
+}
+
+/** A refused `-O cancel` still exits 0, reporting `master cancel forward request failed`. */
+function refusedMuxedForwardCancel(stderr: string): boolean {
+  return stderr.includes('request failed')
+}
+
+async function runSsh(sshPath: string, args: string[]) {
+  return runProcess({
+    program: sshPath,
+    args,
+    timeoutMs: SYSTEM_SSH_MUXED_FORWARD_CANCEL_TIMEOUT_MS
+  }).catch(() => null)
+}
+
+/** True when the target's master released exactly this forward; OpenSSH refuses any other spec. */
+export async function cancelMuxedLocalForward(
+  target: SshTarget,
+  localPort: number,
+  remoteHost: string,
+  remotePort: number,
+  options?: SystemSshBuildArgsOptions
+): Promise<boolean> {
+  // Why: Win32-OpenSSH has no multiplexing, so no master there can hold the port.
+  const sshPath = process.platform === 'win32' ? null : findSystemSsh()
+  if (!sshPath) {
+    return false
+  }
+  const query = await runSsh(sshPath, buildControlPathQueryArgs(target, options))
+  const controlPath = query?.code === 0 ? parseControlPath(query.stdout) : null
+  if (!controlPath) {
+    return false
+  }
+  const result = await runSsh(
+    sshPath,
+    buildMuxedLocalForwardCancelArgs(controlPath, localPort, remoteHost, remotePort)
+  )
+  if (result?.code !== 0 || refusedMuxedForwardCancel(result.stderr)) {
+    return false
+  }
+  console.warn(
+    `[ssh] Cancelled a forward a previous Orca left on 127.0.0.1:${localPort}, held by its ControlMaster`
+  )
+  return true
+}