diff --git a/src/daemon/__tests__/device-claim-admission.test.ts b/src/daemon/__tests__/device-claim-admission.test.ts
index 8540a0740..fdf7f6c25 100644
--- a/src/daemon/__tests__/device-claim-admission.test.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/__tests__/device-claim-admission.test.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import {
   retainOrphanedDeviceClaims,
 } from '../../__tests__/test-utils/device-claim-store.ts';
 import { createDeviceClaimAdmission } from '../device-claim-admission.ts';
-import { acquireDeviceClaim } from '../device-claims.ts';
+import { abandonDeviceClaim, acquireDeviceClaim } from '../device-claims.ts';
 import { inspectDeviceClaims } from '../device-claim-inspection.ts';
 import { createRequestExecutionScope } from '../request-execution-scope.ts';
 import { LeaseRegistry } from '../lease-registry.ts';
@@ -109,6 +109,28 @@ test('a claim already held by this daemon covers the command instead of collidin
   expect(claimedSessions()).toEqual(['open-session']);
 });
 
+test("an abandoned claim becomes this command's own transient claim and is released", async () => {
+  const { stateDir } = setup();
+  const aborted = await acquireDeviceClaim({
+    device: ANDROID_EMULATOR,
+    session: 'aborted-open',
+    workspace: '/worktrees/current',
+    stateDir,
+    reconcileOrphanedDeviceClaim: retainOrphanedDeviceClaims,
+  });
+  expect(aborted.status).toBe('acquired');
+  if (aborted.status !== 'acquired') return;
+  expect(await abandonDeviceClaim(aborted.ownership)).toBe('abandoned');
+
+  const admission = makeAdmission('transient-exclusive', stateDir, 'install');
+  await admission.admit(ANDROID_EMULATOR, localAndroid);
+
+  // Coverage would have left the abandoned record owning the device with nothing to release it.
+  expect(claimedSessions()).toEqual(['transient:install']);
+  await admission[Symbol.asyncDispose]();
+  expect(inspectDeviceClaims({})).toEqual([]);
+});
+
 test('a provider-owned device takes no host-local claim', async () => {
   const { stateDir, claimsDir } = setup();
   const admission = makeAdmission('transient-exclusive', stateDir);
diff --git a/src/daemon/__tests__/device-claims.test.ts b/src/daemon/__tests__/device-claims.test.ts
index 995964636..b4800b282 100644
--- a/src/daemon/__tests__/device-claims.test.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/__tests__/device-claims.test.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import fs from 'node:fs';
 import path from 'node:path';
 import { afterEach, test, vi } from 'vitest';
 import {
+  abandonDeviceClaim,
   acquireDeviceClaim as acquireProductionDeviceClaim,
   clearDeviceClaim,
 } from '../device-claims.ts';
@@ -528,3 +529,108 @@ test('never treats a claim owned by the inspecting process as superseded', async
   assert.equal(second.conflict.classification, 'live');
   assert.equal(reconcile.mock.calls.length, 0);
 });
+
+test('an abandoned claim yields to the next acquire of the daemon that abandoned it', async () => {
+  const root = useClaimsRoot();
+  const aborted = await acquireDeviceClaim({
+    device,
+    session: 'attempt-1',
+    workspace: '/worktrees/suite',
+    stateDir: root,
+  });
+  assert.equal(aborted.status, 'acquired');
+  if (aborted.status !== 'acquired') return;
+  assert.equal(await abandonDeviceClaim(aborted.ownership), 'abandoned');
+  assert.equal(
+    typeof inspectDeviceClaims({ serial: device.id })[0]?.claim?.abandonedAtMs,
+    'number',
+  );
+  const reconcile = vi.fn(async () => ({ status: 'reconciled' as const }));
+
+  const retry = await acquireDeviceClaim({
+    device,
+    session: 'attempt-2',
+    workspace: '/worktrees/suite',
+    stateDir: root,
+    reconcileOrphanedDeviceClaim: reconcile,
+  });
+
+  assert.equal(retry.status, 'acquired');
+  const claim = inspectDeviceClaims({ serial: device.id })[0]?.claim;
+  assert.equal(claim?.session, 'attempt-2');
+  assert.equal(claim?.abandonedAtMs, undefined);
+  // Abandonment is an owner's own record, not a proof about a dead owner: it never
+  // routes through orphan reconciliation.
+  assert.equal(reconcile.mock.calls.length, 0);
+  assert.equal(await clearDeviceClaim(aborted.ownership), 'ownership-changed');
+});
+
+test('an abandoned claim keeps fencing a daemon that does not own it', async () => {
+  const root = useClaimsRoot();
+  const stateDir = path.join(root, 'foreign-state');
+  await seedForeignLiveClaim(root, stateDir);
+  const stored = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(claimPath(root), 'utf8')) as Record<string, unknown>;
+  fs.writeFileSync(claimPath(root), JSON.stringify({ ...stored, abandonedAtMs: 1 }));
+  const reconcile = vi.fn(async () => ({ status: 'reconciled' as const }));
+
+  const second = await acquireDeviceClaim({
+    device,
+    session: 'other',
+    workspace: '/w',
+    stateDir,
+    reconcileOrphanedDeviceClaim: reconcile,
+  });
+
+  assert.equal(second.status, 'conflict');
+  if (second.status !== 'conflict') return;
+  assert.equal(second.conflict.classification, 'live');
+  assert.equal(second.conflict.claim?.session, 'cwd:/w:default');
+  assert.equal(reconcile.mock.calls.length, 0);
+});
+
+test("an abandoned claim keeps fencing this process on another daemon's state dir", async () => {
+  const root = useClaimsRoot();
+  const acquired = await acquireDeviceClaim({
+    device,
+    session: 'attempt-1',
+    workspace: '/worktrees/suite',
+    stateDir: path.join(root, 'owner-state'),
+  });
+  assert.equal(acquired.status, 'acquired');
+  if (acquired.status !== 'acquired') return;
+  assert.equal(await abandonDeviceClaim(acquired.ownership), 'abandoned');
+
+  const second = await acquireDeviceClaim({
+    device,
+    session: 'attempt-2',
+    workspace: '/worktrees/suite',
+    stateDir: path.join(root, 'other-state'),
+  });
+
+  assert.equal(second.status, 'conflict');
+  if (second.status !== 'conflict') return;
+  assert.equal(second.conflict.claim?.session, 'attempt-1');
+});
+
+test('reports the exact outcome of abandoning an owned, missing, and unowned claim', async () => {
+  const root = useClaimsRoot();
+  const acquired = await acquireDeviceClaim({
+    device,
+    session: 'owner',
+    workspace: '/worktrees/owner',
+    stateDir: root,
+  });
+  assert.equal(acquired.status, 'acquired');
+  if (acquired.status !== 'acquired') return;
+
+  assert.equal(await abandonDeviceClaim(acquired.ownership), 'abandoned');
+  const stored = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(claimPath(root), 'utf8')) as Record<string, unknown>;
+  fs.writeFileSync(
+    claimPath(root),
+    JSON.stringify({ ...stored, ownerToken: 'successor-token', session: 'successor' }),
+  );
+  assert.equal(await abandonDeviceClaim(acquired.ownership), 'ownership-changed');
+  fs.rmSync(claimPath(root));
+  assert.equal(await abandonDeviceClaim(acquired.ownership), 'absent');
+  assert.equal(await abandonDeviceClaim(undefined), 'absent');
+});
diff --git a/src/daemon/device-claim-inspection.ts b/src/daemon/device-claim-inspection.ts
index 0b5d94107..375270e95 100644
--- a/src/daemon/device-claim-inspection.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/device-claim-inspection.ts
@@ -278,10 +278,15 @@ function decodeClaimOwner(
 
 function decodeClaimTimestamps(
   raw: Record<string, unknown>,
-): Pick<DeviceClaim, 'createdAtMs' | 'updatedAtMs'> | null {
-  const { createdAtMs, updatedAtMs } = raw;
+): Pick<DeviceClaim, 'createdAtMs' | 'updatedAtMs' | 'abandonedAtMs'> | null {
+  const { createdAtMs, updatedAtMs, abandonedAtMs } = raw;
   if (!isFiniteNumber(createdAtMs) || !isFiniteNumber(updatedAtMs)) return null;
-  return { createdAtMs, updatedAtMs };
+  if (abandonedAtMs !== undefined && !isFiniteNumber(abandonedAtMs)) return null;
+  return {
+    createdAtMs,
+    updatedAtMs,
+    ...(isFiniteNumber(abandonedAtMs) ? { abandonedAtMs } : {}),
+  };
 }
 
 function isNonEmptyString(value: unknown): value is string {
diff --git a/src/daemon/device-claims.ts b/src/daemon/device-claims.ts
index c84d3fa0f..8951dad0f 100644
--- a/src/daemon/device-claims.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/device-claims.ts
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ export type DeviceClaim = {
   ownerToken: string;
   createdAtMs: number;
   updatedAtMs: number;
+  /** Set by {@link abandonDeviceClaim}; absent while the claim still holds the device for its owner. */
+  abandonedAtMs?: number;
 };
 
 export type DeviceClaimReconciliationResult =
@@ -102,10 +104,11 @@ export async function acquireDeviceClaim(params: {
 /**
  * #1320 `transient-exclusive`: exclusive ownership for the duration of one
  * sessionless device mutation. Identical to a session claim except that a claim
- * already held by this daemon process covers the command instead of colliding
- * with it — the claim file itself, not the in-memory session table, is the
- * authority for that, so a claim acquired earlier in the same request (`open`'s,
- * for instance) can never lock the daemon out of its own device.
+ * this daemon still holds covers the command instead of colliding with it — the
+ * claim file itself, not the in-memory session table, is the authority for that,
+ * so a claim acquired earlier in the same request (`open`'s, for instance) can
+ * never lock the daemon out of its own device. An abandoned claim holds nothing,
+ * so it is superseded into this command's own transient claim instead.
  */
 export async function acquireTransientDeviceClaim(params: {
   device: DeviceInfo;
@@ -120,6 +123,7 @@ export async function acquireTransientDeviceClaim(params: {
     const existing = inspectDeviceClaimFile(resolveDeviceClaimPath(deviceKey));
     if (
       existing?.claim &&
+      !isAbandonedDeviceClaim(existing.claim) &&
       isClaimOwnedByThisDaemon(existing.claim, params.stateDir, readCurrentOwnerIdentity())
     ) {
       return { status: 'covered-by-owned-claim' };
@@ -189,6 +193,18 @@ function isClaimOwnedByThisDaemon(
   );
 }
 
+function isAbandonedDeviceClaim(claim: DeviceClaim): boolean {
+  return claim.abandonedAtMs !== undefined;
+}
+
+function isAbandonedClaimOfThisDaemon(
+  claim: DeviceClaim,
+  stateDir: string,
+  owner: ReturnType<typeof readCurrentOwnerIdentity>,
+): boolean {
+  return isAbandonedDeviceClaim(claim) && isClaimOwnedByThisDaemon(claim, stateDir, owner);
+}
+
 function deviceClaimIdentity(device: DeviceInfo): DeviceIdentity {
   return deviceIdentity({
     ...device,
@@ -206,6 +222,13 @@ async function resolveExistingClaim(params: {
 }): Promise<DeviceClaimAcquireResult | { status: 'available' }> {
   const existing = inspectDeviceClaimFile(resolveDeviceClaimPath(params.deviceKey));
   if (!existing) return { status: 'available' };
+  if (
+    existing.claim &&
+    isAbandonedClaimOfThisDaemon(existing.claim, params.stateDir, params.owner)
+  ) {
+    emitClaimSupersede(params.deviceKey, existing.claim);
+    return { status: 'available' };
+  }
   if (existing.claim && isCurrentClaimOwner(existing.claim, params, params.owner)) {
     return { status: 'acquired', ownership: ownershipFromClaim(existing.claim) };
   }
@@ -258,16 +281,7 @@ export async function clearDeviceClaim(
     const inspected = inspectDeviceClaimFile(claimPath);
     if (!inspected) return 'absent';
     const claim = inspected.claim;
-    if (
-      !claim ||
-      claim.ownerToken !== ownership.ownerToken ||
-      !ownerIdentityMatches(
-        { pid: claim.ownerPid, startTime: claim.ownerStartTime },
-        { pid: ownership.ownerPid, startTime: ownership.ownerStartTime },
-      )
-    ) {
-      return 'ownership-changed';
-    }
+    if (!claim || !claimMatchesOwnership(claim, ownership)) return 'ownership-changed';
     try {
       fs.unlinkSync(claimPath);
     } catch (error) {
@@ -278,6 +292,47 @@ export async function clearDeviceClaim(
   });
 }
 
+/**
+ * What abandoning a claim did, in the terms {@link DeviceClaimClearOutcome} uses:
+ *
+ *  - `abandoned`        — the claim we acquired now holds the device for nobody.
+ *  - `absent`           — no claim remains for the device; nothing to mark.
+ *  - `ownership-changed`— a claim remains, but it is not the one we acquired.
+ */
+export type DeviceClaimAbandonOutcome = 'abandoned' | 'absent' | 'ownership-changed';
+
+/**
+ * Keeps the device fenced against every other owner while recording that this claim holds it for
+ * nobody. Only the daemon that abandoned it may take it back.
+ */
+export async function abandonDeviceClaim(
+  ownership: DeviceClaimSessionOwnership | undefined,
+): Promise<DeviceClaimAbandonOutcome> {
+  if (!ownership) return 'absent';
+  return await withDeviceClaimLock(ownership.deviceKey, async () => {
+    const inspected = inspectDeviceClaimFile(resolveDeviceClaimPath(ownership.deviceKey));
+    if (!inspected) return 'absent';
+    const claim = inspected.claim;
+    if (!claim || !claimMatchesOwnership(claim, ownership)) return 'ownership-changed';
+    const now = Date.now();
+    writeClaim({ ...claim, abandonedAtMs: now, updatedAtMs: now });
+    return 'abandoned';
+  });
+}
+
+function claimMatchesOwnership(
+  claim: DeviceClaim,
+  ownership: DeviceClaimSessionOwnership,
+): boolean {
+  return (
+    claim.ownerToken === ownership.ownerToken &&
+    ownerIdentityMatches(
+      { pid: claim.ownerPid, startTime: claim.ownerStartTime },
+      { pid: ownership.ownerPid, startTime: ownership.ownerStartTime },
+    )
+  );
+}
+
 /**
  * Reconciles claims whose owner can no longer release them and clears only
  * claims whose attributable durable resources reached a safe terminal state.
@@ -387,6 +442,18 @@ function emitClaimConflict(
   });
 }
 
+function emitClaimSupersede(deviceKey: string, abandoned: DeviceClaim): void {
+  emitDiagnostic({
+    level: 'info',
+    phase: 'device_claim_abandoned_superseded',
+    data: {
+      deviceKey,
+      abandonedSession: abandoned.session,
+      abandonedAtMs: abandoned.abandonedAtMs,
+    },
+  });
+}
+
 async function settleVerifiedOrphanedClaim(
   claim: DeviceClaim,
   reconcile: DeviceClaimReconciler,
diff --git a/src/daemon/handlers/__tests__/session-device-claims.test.ts b/src/daemon/handlers/__tests__/session-device-claims.test.ts
index b6ddcea2d..221970df0 100644
--- a/src/daemon/handlers/__tests__/session-device-claims.test.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/handlers/__tests__/session-device-claims.test.ts
@@ -181,7 +181,9 @@ test('failed local open after dispatch retains its device claim for recovery', a
       }),
     (error: unknown) => error === rejectionError,
   );
-  assert.equal(inspectDeviceClaims({ serial: android.id })[0]?.classification, 'live');
+  const retained = inspectDeviceClaims({ serial: android.id })[0];
+  assert.equal(retained?.classification, 'live');
+  assert.equal(typeof retained?.claim?.abandonedAtMs, 'number');
 });
 
 test('failed local runtime-hint setup retains its device claim before open dispatch', async () => {
@@ -271,6 +273,55 @@ test('cancellation after local device setup retains the device claim for recover
   }
 });
 
+test('a canceled attempt lets the next attempt of the same suite open the device', async () => {
+  const { store, stateDir } = setup();
+  const requestId = 'suite:1-gesture-pan-duration:attempt:1';
+  mockResolveTargetDevice.mockResolvedValue(android);
+  mockDispatch.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+  markRequestCanceled(requestId);
+  try {
+    const timedOut = await handleOpenCommand({
+      req: {
+        command: 'open',
+        token: 'test',
+        session: 'suite:1-gesture-pan-duration:attempt-1',
+        positionals: ['Demo'],
+        flags: { platform: 'android' },
+        meta: { requestId },
+      },
+      sessionName: 'suite:1-gesture-pan-duration:attempt-1',
+      logPath: path.join(stateDir, 'daemon.log'),
+      sessionStore: store,
+    });
+    assert.equal(timedOut.ok, false);
+  } finally {
+    clearRequestCanceled(requestId);
+  }
+  assert.equal(store.get('suite:1-gesture-pan-duration:attempt-1'), undefined);
+
+  const retry = await handleOpenCommand({
+    req: {
+      command: 'open',
+      token: 'test',
+      session: 'suite:1-gesture-pan-duration:attempt-2',
+      positionals: ['Demo'],
+      flags: { platform: 'android' },
+    },
+    sessionName: 'suite:1-gesture-pan-duration:attempt-2',
+    logPath: path.join(stateDir, 'daemon.log'),
+    sessionStore: store,
+  });
+
+  assert.equal(retry.ok, true);
+  const claim = inspectDeviceClaims({ serial: android.id })[0]?.claim;
+  assert.equal(claim?.session, 'suite:1-gesture-pan-duration:attempt-2');
+  assert.equal(claim?.abandonedAtMs, undefined);
+  assert.equal(
+    store.get('suite:1-gesture-pan-duration:attempt-2')?.deviceClaim?.ownerToken,
+    claim?.ownerToken,
+  );
+});
+
 test('provider-owned open creates no host-local device claim from its selected owner', async () => {
   const { store, stateDir } = setup();
   mockResolveTargetDevice.mockResolvedValue(android);
diff --git a/src/daemon/handlers/session-open-execution.ts b/src/daemon/handlers/session-open-execution.ts
index 0144926d8..64554fcad 100644
--- a/src/daemon/handlers/session-open-execution.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/handlers/session-open-execution.ts
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ import {
 import { resolveSessionLeaseForRequest } from '../lease-lifecycle.ts';
 import { applicationLifecycleExecutionFromRequest } from '../application-lifecycle-execution.ts';
 import {
+  abandonDeviceClaim,
   acquireDeviceClaim,
   clearDeviceClaim,
   isLocalDeviceClaimTarget,
@@ -438,6 +439,13 @@ export async function openNewSessionWithDeviceClaim(params: {
   }
   const deviceClaim = localClaim.status === 'acquired' ? localClaim.ownership : undefined;
   const effects: NewSessionOpenEffects = { mayHaveStarted: false };
+  const rollbackClaim = async () =>
+    await rollbackNewSessionClaim({
+      ownership: deviceClaim,
+      effects,
+      sessionName,
+      sessionStore,
+    });
   try {
     const details = await prepareOpenCommandDetails({
       req,
@@ -450,7 +458,7 @@ export async function openNewSessionWithDeviceClaim(params: {
       foreground: req.flags?.foreground === true && openTarget === undefined,
     });
     if (details.type === 'response') {
-      await rollbackNewSessionClaim(deviceClaim, effects);
+      await rollbackClaim();
       return details.response;
     }
     // Preparation can boot the device or warm caches, but it cannot establish session ownership.
@@ -484,26 +492,31 @@ export async function openNewSessionWithDeviceClaim(params: {
       deviceClaim,
       selection,
     });
-    if (!response.ok) await rollbackNewSessionClaim(deviceClaim, effects);
+    if (!response.ok) await rollbackClaim();
     return response;
   } catch (error) {
-    await rollbackNewSessionClaim(deviceClaim, effects);
+    await rollbackClaim();
     throw error;
   }
 }
 
-async function rollbackNewSessionClaim(
-  ownership: DeviceClaimSessionOwnership | undefined,
-  effects: NewSessionOpenEffects,
-): Promise<void> {
+async function rollbackNewSessionClaim(params: {
+  ownership: DeviceClaimSessionOwnership | undefined;
+  effects: NewSessionOpenEffects;
+  sessionName: string;
+  sessionStore: SessionStore;
+}): Promise<void> {
+  const { ownership, effects, sessionName, sessionStore } = params;
   if (!ownership) return;
-  if (effects.mayHaveStarted) {
-    emitDiagnostic({
-      level: 'warn',
-      phase: 'device_claim_open_effects_unconfirmed',
-      data: { deviceKey: ownership.deviceKey },
-    });
+  if (!effects.mayHaveStarted) {
+    await clearDeviceClaim(ownership);
     return;
   }
-  await clearDeviceClaim(ownership);
+  if (sessionStore.get(sessionName)?.deviceClaim?.ownerToken === ownership.ownerToken) return;
+  const outcome = await abandonDeviceClaim(ownership);
+  emitDiagnostic({
+    level: 'warn',
+    phase: 'device_claim_open_effects_unconfirmed',
+    data: { deviceKey: ownership.deviceKey, outcome },
+  });
 }