diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index ba849675b5d..36dd71f651d 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -4054,6 +4054,7 @@ name = "toyos-session"
 version = "0.1.0"
 dependencies = [
  "toyos",
+ "toyos-abi",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
diff --git a/issues/a-desktop-reopened-as-its-session-ends-is-handed-the-ended-session.md b/issues/a-desktop-reopened-as-its-session-ends-is-handed-the-ended-session.md
deleted file mode 100644
index e56ecff6eb6..00000000000
--- a/issues/a-desktop-reopened-as-its-session-ends-is-handed-the-ended-session.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
----
-status: open
-kind: defect
-opened: 2026-11-05
----
-
-# A desktop reopened as its session ends is handed the ended session
-
-When the desktop's session ends, the compositor asks the supervisor for a new
-one at once (`system/compositor/src/signout.rs`). The supervisor answers the
-screen's row with its open desktop session, one whose owner it does not yet
-see as ended (`system/supervisor/src/sessions.rs`, `serve_login` through
-`desktop_session` and `exit_of`). An ask that lands between the owner's exit
-and the supervisor reading it is handed the ended session, whose control port
-then answers `Gone`; the compositor says `no desktop session: … Gone; the next
-launch asks again`, and opens none until something launches.
-
-Seen once, in guest rows run 42089538985 (`session_lifecycle`, QEMU x86-64,
-`tests/images/sessioncase.toml`), which stalled at "the desktop to open
-again": the session owner exited at 4.967 s, the supervisor said `session 8 is
-signed out` at 4.973 s, and the compositor's refusal is stamped 4.973 s. The
-row passed at that branch in runs 42018194698, 42040884795 and 42080820355.
-
-**Exit**: an ask the supervisor answers is never an ended session's, or the
-compositor asks again when the one it was handed is gone; a host test of the
-supervisor's decision with the owner's exit not yet read holds it.
diff --git a/lib/session/Cargo.toml b/lib/session/Cargo.toml
index 5e3263d8bb5..72ae1833e2c 100644
--- a/lib/session/Cargo.toml
+++ b/lib/session/Cargo.toml
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ doctest = false
 [dependencies]
 # A login authority's open of a session, through its namespace.
 toyos = { path = "../../sdk/toyos" }
+toyos-abi = { path = "../../sdk/abi" }
 
 [lints.rust]
 warnings = "deny"
diff --git a/lib/session/src/lib.rs b/lib/session/src/lib.rs
index 58433c80d46..6bb4684914d 100644
--- a/lib/session/src/lib.rs
+++ b/lib/session/src/lib.rs
@@ -270,25 +270,48 @@ impl Listed {
     }
 }
 
+/// How long [`open`] goes on asking for a session whose controls are gone.
+/// The supervisor reads an owner's hang-up in a round of its loop, so one it
+/// still hands out after this long is one it does not read as ended.
+const ENDED_UNREAD: std::time::Duration = std::time::Duration::from_secs(5);
+
 /// A session opened on [`LOGIN_PORT`] through `login`, the namespace a
 /// login authority is endowed under that name: its launcher, as a namespace
 /// holding `toyos::launch::LAUNCHER`, and its control connection.
+///
+/// **A session whose controls are gone is asked for again**, at once: its
+/// owner ended, and the supervisor answers from what it has read of that
+/// end, which an ask can outrun more than once. The asking ends with a
+/// session whose controls connect, with the supervisor's refusal, which a
+/// failing owner's budget comes to, or after [`ENDED_UNREAD`] as an error.
 pub fn open(
     login: &toyos::namespace::Namespace,
 ) -> Result<(toyos::namespace::Namespace, toyos::ipc::Connection), String> {
-    let conn = login.open(LOGIN_PORT).map_err(|e| format!("the supervisor's login port refused: {e:?}"))?;
-    conn.signal(MSG_OPEN).map_err(|e| format!("the open was not sent: {e:?}"))?;
     let mut rx = Box::new(toyos::ipc::FrameRx::<{ toyos::ipc::MAX_FRAME_LEN as usize }>::new());
-    let frame = rx.recv(&conn).map_err(|e| format!("the open was not answered: {e:?}"))?;
-    if frame.msg_type != MSG_OPENED {
-        let why = String::from_utf8_lossy(rx.payload(frame.payload_len));
-        return Err(format!("the supervisor refused a session: {why}"));
+    let began = std::time::Instant::now();
+    let mut asks = 0u32;
+    loop {
+        let conn = login.open(LOGIN_PORT).map_err(|e| format!("the supervisor's login port refused: {e:?}"))?;
+        conn.signal(MSG_OPEN).map_err(|e| format!("the open was not sent: {e:?}"))?;
+        let frame = rx.recv(&conn).map_err(|e| format!("the open was not answered: {e:?}"))?;
+        if frame.msg_type != MSG_OPENED {
+            let why = String::from_utf8_lossy(rx.payload(frame.payload_len));
+            return Err(format!("the supervisor refused a session: {why}"));
+        }
+        let [launcher, controls] = rx.take_handles::<2>().ok_or("the session came without its handles")?;
+        asks += 1;
+        match toyos::namespace::Namespace::received(controls).open(CONTROL) {
+            Ok(control) => return Ok((toyos::namespace::Namespace::received(launcher), control)),
+            Err(toyos_abi::syscall::SyscallError::Gone) if began.elapsed() < ENDED_UNREAD => {}
+            Err(toyos_abi::syscall::SyscallError::Gone) => {
+                return Err(format!(
+                    "the supervisor handed over a session whose controls are gone {asks} times in {} s",
+                    ENDED_UNREAD.as_secs()
+                ));
+            }
+            Err(e) => return Err(format!("the session's controls refused its control connection: {e:?}")),
+        }
     }
-    let [launcher, controls] = rx.take_handles::<2>().ok_or("the session came without its handles")?;
-    let control = toyos::namespace::Namespace::received(controls)
-        .open(CONTROL)
-        .map_err(|e| format!("the session's controls refused its control connection: {e:?}"))?;
-    Ok((toyos::namespace::Namespace::received(launcher), control))
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
diff --git a/system/supervisor/lifecycle/src/sessions.rs b/system/supervisor/lifecycle/src/sessions.rs
index 180e591c4d3..544519f661f 100644
--- a/system/supervisor/lifecycle/src/sessions.rs
+++ b/system/supervisor/lifecycle/src/sessions.rs
@@ -58,20 +58,24 @@ pub fn holds_machine_launcher(program: &Program) -> bool {
 }
 
 /// One open session, as [`desktop_session`] judges it: whether it is a
-/// desktop, the login authority that opened it, and whether its owner still
-/// runs, which it may not while its end waits to be read.
+/// desktop, the login authority that opened it, and the two signs that its
+/// owner has ended.
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug)]
 pub struct Open<'a> {
     pub desktop: bool,
     pub opener: &'a str,
-    pub running: bool,
+    /// The owner's link has hung up. The kernel closes an ending process's
+    /// handles before it publishes its exit, so this comes first.
+    pub hung_up: bool,
+    /// The owner's exit is published.
+    pub exited: bool,
 }
 
 /// The desktop session `opener` may be handed again, by its index: one it
-/// opened whose owner still runs. **Never one whose owner has ended** though
-/// its end is not read yet: its launcher's port is about to close.
+/// opened whose owner shows no sign of its end. **Never one whose owner has
+/// ended** though the session is still open: its controls are gone.
 pub fn desktop_session(open: &[Open<'_>], opener: &str) -> Option<usize> {
-    open.iter().position(|s| s.desktop && s.opener == opener && s.running)
+    open.iter().position(|s| s.desktop && s.opener == opener && !s.hung_up && !s.exited)
 }
 
 /// The session a launch an owner handed over runs in: its link's, never what
@@ -153,15 +157,19 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(holds_machine_launcher(&Program { starts: vec!["toybox".into()], ..Program::default() }));
     }
 
-    /// A desktop whose owner ended, its end not read yet, is not handed
-    /// again: the next running one is, or none and one is opened.
+    /// A desktop whose owner ended is not handed again, whether its link
+    /// hung up with its exit not published yet or its exit is published and
+    /// the session not closed yet: the next running one is, or none and one
+    /// is opened.
     #[test]
     fn a_desktop_whose_owner_ended_is_not_handed_again() {
-        let ended = Open { desktop: true, opener: "compositor", running: false };
-        let running = Open { desktop: true, opener: "compositor", running: true };
-        let remote = Open { desktop: false, opener: "sshserver", running: true };
-        assert_eq!(desktop_session(&[ended], "compositor"), None);
-        assert_eq!(desktop_session(&[remote, ended, running], "compositor"), Some(2));
+        let running = Open { desktop: true, opener: "compositor", hung_up: false, exited: false };
+        let hung_up = Open { hung_up: true, ..running };
+        let exited = Open { exited: true, ..running };
+        let remote = Open { desktop: false, opener: "sshserver", ..running };
+        assert_eq!(desktop_session(&[hung_up], "compositor"), None);
+        assert_eq!(desktop_session(&[exited], "compositor"), None);
+        assert_eq!(desktop_session(&[remote, hung_up, exited, running], "compositor"), Some(3));
         assert_eq!(desktop_session(&[running], "sshserver"), None);
     }
 
diff --git a/system/supervisor/src/main.rs b/system/supervisor/src/main.rs
index dad951ef955..f93bb322d61 100644
--- a/system/supervisor/src/main.rs
+++ b/system/supervisor/src/main.rs
@@ -1672,8 +1672,8 @@ impl<'a> Supervisor<'a> {
             poller.watch(&self.minted.login, READABLE, TOKEN_LOGIN_ACCEPTOR);
             poller.watch(&self.minted.admin, READABLE, TOKEN_ADMIN_ACCEPTOR);
             poller.watch(&self.watch.ended, READABLE, TOKEN_APPS);
-            for login in &self.logins.open {
-                poller.watch(&login.link.handle(), READABLE, TOKEN_LINKS);
+            for link in self.logins.open.iter().filter_map(|login| login.link.handle()) {
+                poller.watch(&link, READABLE, TOKEN_LINKS);
             }
             poller.watch(swap, READABLE, TOKEN_SWAP_ACCEPTOR);
             poller.watch(power, READABLE, TOKEN_POWER_ACCEPTOR);
diff --git a/system/supervisor/src/sessions.rs b/system/supervisor/src/sessions.rs
index 2c93014325d..060e9099ba2 100644
--- a/system/supervisor/src/sessions.rs
+++ b/system/supervisor/src/sessions.rs
@@ -76,20 +76,23 @@ pub(crate) struct Desktop {
     pub control: Namespace,
 }
 
-/// A session owner's link: the port the owner connects, until it has, and
-/// then the connection. The owner connects, so the link is counted to its
-/// job.
+/// A session owner's link: the port the owner connects, until it has, then
+/// the connection, until the owner hangs it up. The owner connects, so the
+/// link is counted to its job.
 pub(crate) enum Link {
     Waiting(Acceptor),
     Open(Connection),
+    /// The owner hung up, which only its end does.
+    HungUp,
 }
 
 impl Link {
     /// What the loop watches for the owner's word, or its connect.
-    pub fn handle(&self) -> BorrowedHandle<'_> {
+    pub fn handle(&self) -> Option<BorrowedHandle<'_>> {
         match self {
-            Self::Waiting(acceptor) => acceptor.as_handle(),
-            Self::Open(conn) => conn.as_handle(),
+            Self::Waiting(acceptor) => Some(acceptor.as_handle()),
+            Self::Open(conn) => Some(conn.as_handle()),
+            Self::HungUp => None,
         }
     }
 
@@ -108,11 +111,11 @@ impl Link {
         self.conn()
     }
 
-    /// The connection, once the owner has connected.
+    /// The connection, while the owner holds its end.
     fn conn(&self) -> Option<&Connection> {
         match self {
             Self::Open(conn) => Some(conn),
-            Self::Waiting(_) => None,
+            Self::Waiting(_) | Self::HungUp => None,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -168,7 +171,7 @@ impl Logins {
     pub fn tell_all(&self, msg_type: u32) {
         for login in &self.open {
             let Some(link) = login.link.conn() else {
-                say!("supervisor: session {}'s owner has not connected its link, and is not told {msg_type}", login.session.share());
+                say!("supervisor: session {}'s owner holds no link, and is not told {msg_type}", login.session.share());
                 continue;
             };
             if let Err(e) = link.try_signal(msg_type) {
@@ -354,7 +357,12 @@ impl Supervisor<'_> {
             .logins
             .open
             .iter()
-            .map(|l| decide::Open { desktop: l.desktop, opener: &l.opener.name, running: exit_of(&l.owner).is_none() })
+            .map(|l| decide::Open {
+                desktop: l.desktop,
+                opener: &l.opener.name,
+                hung_up: matches!(l.link, Link::HungUp),
+                exited: exit_of(&l.owner).is_some(),
+            })
             .collect();
         decide::desktop_session(&open, &opener.name)
     }
@@ -419,7 +427,11 @@ impl Supervisor<'_> {
                 let login = &mut self.logins.open[at];
                 let Some(link) = login.link.open() else { break };
                 let (msg_type, payload, batch) = match login.rx.pump(link) {
-                    RxStep::Idle | RxStep::Eof => break,
+                    RxStep::Idle => break,
+                    RxStep::Eof => {
+                        login.link = Link::HungUp;
+                        break;
+                    }
                     // The supervisor's own child broke its protocol: the session
                     // ends with it, as a failure.
                     RxStep::Malformed => {
@@ -485,7 +497,7 @@ impl Supervisor<'_> {
         let started = Started { instance, name: name.to_string() };
         let sent = match login.link.conn() {
             Some(link) => link.try_send_bytes_with(wire::MSG_STARTED, &started.encode(), [managed]).map_err(|e| format!("{e:?}")),
-            None => Err("its link is not connected".to_string()),
+            None => Err("it holds no link".to_string()),
         };
         if let Err(e) = sent {
             say!("supervisor: session {}'s owner was not told of {name} ({e:?})", session.share());
@@ -579,7 +591,7 @@ impl Supervisor<'_> {
                 login
                     .link
                     .conn()
-                    .ok_or_else(|| format!("session {}'s owner has not connected its link", asked.share))?
+                    .ok_or_else(|| format!("session {}'s owner holds no link", asked.share))?
                     .try_send_bytes(wire::MSG_SIGN_OUT, &asked.sign_out.encode())
                     .map_err(|e| format!("session {}'s owner was not asked ({e:?})", asked.share))?;
                 Ok(format!("session {} is asked to sign out{}", asked.share, if force { ", by force" } else { "" }))
diff --git a/tests/guest/rust-tests/Cargo.lock b/tests/guest/rust-tests/Cargo.lock
index abe32fa2605..cc7c0f9412a 100644
--- a/tests/guest/rust-tests/Cargo.lock
+++ b/tests/guest/rust-tests/Cargo.lock
@@ -1048,6 +1048,7 @@ name = "toyos-session"
 version = "0.1.0"
 dependencies = [
  "toyos",
+ "toyos-abi",
 ]
 
 [[package]]