diff --git a/apps/bot/src/ipc/pair-handler.ts b/apps/bot/src/ipc/pair-handler.ts
index 48240e7..885ed5f 100644
--- a/apps/bot/src/ipc/pair-handler.ts
+++ b/apps/bot/src/ipc/pair-handler.ts
@@ -169,6 +169,15 @@ export async function handleStartPairing(accountId: string): Promise<void> {
           // session-manager will reopen it with the new credentials —
           // the next `open` event finishes the pairing. Keep the
           // listener attached and don't surface a timeout to the UI.
+          //
+          // Re-arm the warming-up flag: the session-manager schedules a
+          // cleanup `stop().then(start())` to kick off the reconnect.
+          // That stop emits another close event that lands on this
+          // listener BEFORE the new open arrives — without warming-up,
+          // we'd treat it as a timeout and detach right when the user
+          // actually paired successfully. Cleared again on the next
+          // qr / open from the freshly-reopened session.
+          pairingWarmingUp.add(id);
           logger.info(
             { accountId: id },
             "pair: restart-required close (post-pair reconnect) — keeping listener alive",