diff --git a/packages/web/src/__tests__/api-routes.test.ts b/packages/web/src/__tests__/api-routes.test.ts
index 60ff21c15..84f769e97 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/__tests__/api-routes.test.ts
+++ b/packages/web/src/__tests__/api-routes.test.ts
@@ -315,6 +315,37 @@ describe("API Routes", () => {
       vi.useRealTimers();
     });
 
+    it("activeOnly keeps working sessions with stale terminatedAt annotations", async () => {
+      const staleLifecycle = createInitialCanonicalLifecycle(
+        "worker",
+        new Date("2026-05-13T19:13:20.146Z"),
+      );
+      staleLifecycle.session.state = "working";
+      staleLifecycle.session.reason = "task_in_progress";
+      staleLifecycle.session.terminatedAt = "2026-05-13T19:13:20.146Z";
+      staleLifecycle.runtime.state = "alive";
+      staleLifecycle.runtime.reason = "process_running";
+
+      (mockSessionManager.listCached as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValueOnce([
+        makeSession({
+          id: "worker-restored-stale-terminal-marker",
+          status: "terminated",
+          activity: "exited",
+          lifecycle: staleLifecycle,
+        }),
+      ]);
+
+      const res = await sessionsGET(makeRequest("http://localhost:3000/api/sessions?active=true"));
+      expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+      const data = await res.json();
+
+      expect(data.sessions.map((session: { id: string }) => session.id)).toEqual([
+        "worker-restored-stale-terminal-marker",
+      ]);
+      expect(data.sessions[0].lifecycle.sessionState).toBe("working");
+      expect(data.sessions[0].lifecycle.session.terminatedAt).toBe("2026-05-13T19:13:20.146Z");
+    });
+
     it("returns per-project orchestrators and excludes them from worker sessions", async () => {
       (mockSessionManager.listCached as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValueOnce(
         multiProjectSessions,
diff --git a/packages/web/src/app/api/sessions/route.ts b/packages/web/src/app/api/sessions/route.ts
index 77a3f1ec2..539740f16 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/app/api/sessions/route.ts
+++ b/packages/web/src/app/api/sessions/route.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { ACTIVITY_STATE, isOrchestratorSession, isTerminalSession } from "@aoagents/ao-core";
+import { isOrchestratorSession, isTerminalSession } from "@aoagents/ao-core";
 import { getServices } from "@/lib/services";
 import {
   sessionToDashboard,
@@ -10,11 +10,14 @@ import {
 import { getCorrelationId, jsonWithCorrelation, recordApiObservation } from "@/lib/observability";
 import { filterProjectSessions } from "@/lib/project-utils";
 import { settlesWithin } from "@/lib/async-utils";
-import type { DashboardOrchestratorLink } from "@/lib/types";
+import { isDashboardSessionTerminal, type DashboardOrchestratorLink } from "@/lib/types";
 
 const METADATA_ENRICH_TIMEOUT_MS = 3_000;
 
-function compareOrchestratorRecency(a: { lastActivityAt?: Date | null; createdAt?: Date | null; id: string }, b: { lastActivityAt?: Date | null; createdAt?: Date | null; id: string }): number {
+function compareOrchestratorRecency(
+  a: { lastActivityAt?: Date | null; createdAt?: Date | null; id: string },
+  b: { lastActivityAt?: Date | null; createdAt?: Date | null; id: string },
+): number {
   return (
     (b.lastActivityAt?.getTime() ?? 0) - (a.lastActivityAt?.getTime() ?? 0) ||
     (b.createdAt?.getTime() ?? 0) - (a.createdAt?.getTime() ?? 0) ||
@@ -54,7 +57,7 @@ function selectPreferredOrchestratorId(
 function listPreferredProjectOrchestrators(
   sessions: Parameters<typeof listDashboardOrchestrators>[0],
   projects: Parameters<typeof listDashboardOrchestrators>[1],
-) : DashboardOrchestratorLink[] {
+): DashboardOrchestratorLink[] {
   const preferredOrchestrators = listProjectOrchestratorSessions(sessions, projects);
 
   return preferredOrchestrators
@@ -90,7 +93,9 @@ export async function GET(request: Request) {
       : listDashboardOrchestrators(visibleSessions, config.projects);
     const orchestratorId = requestedProjectId
       ? selectPreferredOrchestratorId(visibleSessions, config.projects)
-      : (orchestrators.length === 1 ? (orchestrators[0]?.id ?? null) : null);
+      : orchestrators.length === 1
+        ? (orchestrators[0]?.id ?? null)
+        : null;
 
     if (orchestratorOnly) {
       recordApiObservation({
@@ -132,7 +137,7 @@ export async function GET(request: Request) {
 
     if (activeOnly) {
       const activeIndices = dashboardSessions
-        .map((session, index) => (session.activity !== ACTIVITY_STATE.EXITED ? index : -1))
+        .map((session, index) => (!isDashboardSessionTerminal(session) ? index : -1))
         .filter((index) => index !== -1);
       workerSessions = activeIndices.map((index) => workerSessions[index]);
       dashboardSessions = activeIndices.map((index) => dashboardSessions[index]);
diff --git a/packages/web/src/components/BottomSheet.tsx b/packages/web/src/components/BottomSheet.tsx
index 5860efe49..5f09d33d0 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/components/BottomSheet.tsx
+++ b/packages/web/src/components/BottomSheet.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,14 @@
 "use client";
 
 import { useEffect, useRef } from "react";
-import { getAttentionLevel, isPRRateLimited, isPRUnenriched, type DashboardSession } from "@/lib/types";
+import {
+  getAttentionLevel,
+  isDashboardSessionTerminated,
+  isDashboardSessionTerminal,
+  isPRRateLimited,
+  isPRUnenriched,
+  type DashboardSession,
+} from "@/lib/types";
 import { getSessionTitle } from "@/lib/format";
 import { projectSessionPath } from "@/lib/routes";
 
@@ -24,12 +31,10 @@ function formatTagLabel(value: string): string {
 }
 
 function isTag(
-  value:
-    | {
-        label: string;
-        tone: "accent" | "neutral" | "mono";
-      }
-    | null,
+  value: {
+    label: string;
+    tone: "accent" | "neutral" | "mono";
+  } | null,
 ): value is { label: string; tone: "accent" | "neutral" | "mono" } {
   return value !== null;
 }
@@ -76,7 +81,7 @@ export function BottomSheet({
     if (!sheetRef.current) return;
 
     const focusable = sheetRef.current.querySelectorAll<HTMLElement>(
-      'button, [href], input, select, textarea, [tabindex]:not([tabindex="-1"])'
+      'button, [href], input, select, textarea, [tabindex]:not([tabindex="-1"])',
     );
     if (focusable.length === 0) return;
 
@@ -122,13 +127,12 @@ export function BottomSheet({
 
   const title = getSessionTitle(session);
   const attention = getAttentionLevel(session);
-  const summary =
-    session.summary && !session.summaryIsFallback ? session.summary : null;
+  const summary = session.summary && !session.summaryIsFallback ? session.summary : null;
   const hasLiveTerminateAction =
-    attention !== "done" && attention !== "merge" && session.status !== "terminated";
+    attention !== "done" && attention !== "merge" && !isDashboardSessionTerminated(session);
   const pr = session.pr;
   const showLivePrData = Boolean(pr && !isPRRateLimited(pr) && !isPRUnenriched(pr));
-  const showTerminalStatePills = attention === "done" || session.status === "terminated" || session.activity === "exited";
+  const showTerminalStatePills = attention === "done" || isDashboardSessionTerminal(session);
   const tags = [
     { label: formatTagLabel(attention), tone: "accent" as const },
     { label: formatTagLabel(session.status), tone: "neutral" as const },
@@ -141,11 +145,7 @@ export function BottomSheet({
   return (
     <>
       {/* Backdrop */}
-      <div
-        className="bottom-sheet-backdrop"
-        onClick={onCancel}
-        aria-hidden="true"
-      />
+      <div className="bottom-sheet-backdrop" onClick={onCancel} aria-hidden="true" />
 
       {/* Sheet */}
       <div
@@ -191,7 +191,9 @@ export function BottomSheet({
               <div className="bottom-sheet__preview-content">
                 <div className="bottom-sheet__preview-header">
                   <span className="bottom-sheet__preview-id">{session.id}</span>
-                  <span className="bottom-sheet__preview-time">{getRelativeTime(session.lastActivityAt)}</span>
+                  <span className="bottom-sheet__preview-time">
+                    {getRelativeTime(session.lastActivityAt)}
+                  </span>
                 </div>
                 <h2 id="bottom-sheet-title" className="bottom-sheet__title">
                   {title}
@@ -207,8 +209,7 @@ export function BottomSheet({
                   {pr ? <span className="bottom-sheet__preview-pr">#{pr.number}</span> : null}
                   {showLivePrData && pr ? (
                     <span className="bottom-sheet__preview-diff">
-                      <span className="bottom-sheet__preview-diff-add">+{pr.additions}</span>
-                      {" "}
+                      <span className="bottom-sheet__preview-diff-add">+{pr.additions}</span>{" "}
                       <span className="bottom-sheet__preview-diff-del">-{pr.deletions}</span>
                     </span>
                   ) : null}
@@ -228,7 +229,7 @@ export function BottomSheet({
                         ? "approved"
                         : pr.reviewDecision === "changes_requested"
                           ? "changes requested"
-                        : "needs review"}
+                          : "needs review"}
                     </span>
                     {showTerminalStatePills ? (
                       <span className="bottom-sheet__tag bottom-sheet__tag--accent">
diff --git a/packages/web/src/components/Dashboard.tsx b/packages/web/src/components/Dashboard.tsx
index cd55a3e72..3b790b182 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/components/Dashboard.tsx
+++ b/packages/web/src/components/Dashboard.tsx
@@ -5,13 +5,14 @@ import Link from "next/link";
 import { useRouter, useSearchParams } from "next/navigation";
 import { useMediaQuery, MOBILE_BREAKPOINT } from "@/hooks/useMediaQuery";
 import {
-  NON_RESTORABLE_STATUSES,
   type DashboardSession,
   type AttentionLevel,
   type DashboardOrchestratorLink,
   type DashboardAttentionZoneMode,
   getAttentionLevel,
   isPRRateLimited,
+  isDashboardSessionRestorable,
+  isDashboardSessionTerminated,
 } from "@/lib/types";
 import { AttentionZone } from "./AttentionZone";
 import { DynamicFavicon, countNeedingAttention } from "./DynamicFavicon";
@@ -89,8 +90,8 @@ function DoneCard({
     session.summary ||
     session.id;
   const isMerged = session.pr?.state === "merged" || session.status === "merged";
-  const isTerminated = session.status === "killed" || session.status === "terminated";
-  const canRestore = !NON_RESTORABLE_STATUSES.has(session.status);
+  const isTerminated = isDashboardSessionTerminated(session);
+  const canRestore = isDashboardSessionRestorable(session);
   const badgeLabel = isMerged ? "merged" : isTerminated ? "terminated" : "done";
   const badgeClass = `done-card__badge ${isTerminated ? "done-card__badge--terminated" : "done-card__badge--merged"}`;
 
diff --git a/packages/web/src/components/SessionDetail.tsx b/packages/web/src/components/SessionDetail.tsx
index b244efa3b..d904d559d 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/components/SessionDetail.tsx
+++ b/packages/web/src/components/SessionDetail.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,11 @@
 import { useState, useEffect, useMemo, useCallback } from "react";
 import { useRouter, useSearchParams } from "next/navigation";
 import { useMediaQuery, MOBILE_BREAKPOINT } from "@/hooks/useMediaQuery";
-import { type DashboardSession, TERMINAL_STATUSES, NON_RESTORABLE_STATUSES } from "@/lib/types";
+import {
+  type DashboardSession,
+  isDashboardSessionRestorable,
+  isDashboardSessionTerminal,
+} from "@/lib/types";
 import dynamic from "next/dynamic";
 import { getSessionTitle } from "@/lib/format";
 import type { ProjectInfo } from "@/lib/project-name";
@@ -63,8 +67,8 @@ export function SessionDetail({
   const [mobileSidebarOpen, setMobileSidebarOpen] = useState(false);
   const [showTerminal, setShowTerminal] = useState(false);
   const pr = session.pr;
-  const terminalEnded = TERMINAL_STATUSES.has(session.status);
-  const isRestorable = terminalEnded && !NON_RESTORABLE_STATUSES.has(session.status);
+  const terminalEnded = isDashboardSessionTerminal(session);
+  const isRestorable = isDashboardSessionRestorable(session);
   const activity = (session.activity && sessionActivityMeta[session.activity]) ?? {
     label: session.activity ?? "unknown",
     color: "var(--color-text-muted)",
diff --git a/packages/web/src/components/__tests__/SessionDetail.desktop.test.tsx b/packages/web/src/components/__tests__/SessionDetail.desktop.test.tsx
index 9bf827a35..d63ad18f8 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/components/__tests__/SessionDetail.desktop.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/web/src/components/__tests__/SessionDetail.desktop.test.tsx
@@ -225,6 +225,52 @@ describe("SessionDetail desktop layout", () => {
     expect(screen.queryByTestId("direct-terminal")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
+  it("keeps restored working sessions live when terminatedAt is stale", () => {
+    const base = makeSession({
+      id: "worker-restored-stale-terminal-marker",
+      projectId: "my-app",
+      status: "terminated",
+      activity: "active",
+      summary: "Restored worker is live",
+      pr: null,
+    });
+    const staleLifecycle = {
+      ...base.lifecycle!,
+      sessionState: "working" as const,
+      sessionReason: "task_in_progress" as const,
+      runtimeState: "alive" as const,
+      runtimeReason: "process_running" as const,
+      session: {
+        ...base.lifecycle!.session,
+        state: "working" as const,
+        reason: "task_in_progress" as const,
+        label: "working",
+        reasonLabel: "task in progress",
+        terminatedAt: "2026-05-13T19:13:20.146Z",
+      },
+      runtime: {
+        ...base.lifecycle!.runtime,
+        state: "alive" as const,
+        reason: "process_running" as const,
+        label: "alive",
+        reasonLabel: "process running",
+      },
+      legacyStatus: "terminated" as const,
+      summary: "Session working (task in progress)",
+    };
+
+    render(<SessionDetail session={{ ...base, lifecycle: staleLifecycle }} />);
+
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("region", { name: "Session ended summary" })).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByText("Terminal ended")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(
+      within(screen.getByRole("banner")).queryByRole("button", { name: "Restore" }),
+    ).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByTestId("direct-terminal")).toHaveTextContent(
+      "worker-restored-stale-terminal-marker",
+    );
+  });
+
   it("shows restore for restorable orchestrator sessions", () => {
     render(
       <SessionDetail
diff --git a/packages/web/src/lib/types.ts b/packages/web/src/lib/types.ts
index 27bd197f7..5174e0782 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/lib/types.ts
+++ b/packages/web/src/lib/types.ts
@@ -376,11 +376,18 @@ export function getActivitySignalReasonLabel(session: DashboardSession): string
   return parts.length > 0 ? parts.join(" • ") : null;
 }
 
+export function isDashboardSessionTerminated(session: DashboardSession): boolean {
+  if (session.lifecycle) {
+    return session.lifecycle.sessionState === "terminated";
+  }
+  return session.status === "terminated" || session.status === "killed";
+}
+
 export function isDashboardSessionDone(session: DashboardSession): boolean {
   if (session.lifecycle) {
     return (
       session.lifecycle.sessionState === "done" ||
-      session.lifecycle.sessionState === "terminated" ||
+      isDashboardSessionTerminated(session) ||
       session.lifecycle.prState === "merged"
     );
   }
@@ -426,7 +433,7 @@ export function isDashboardSessionRestorable(session: DashboardSession): boolean
   if (session.lifecycle) {
     const terminalByCoreTruth =
       session.lifecycle.sessionState === "done" ||
-      session.lifecycle.sessionState === "terminated" ||
+      isDashboardSessionTerminated(session) ||
       session.lifecycle.runtimeState === "missing" ||
       session.lifecycle.runtimeState === "exited";
     return (