diff --git a/python/sglang/srt/disaggregation/mooncake/conn.py b/python/sglang/srt/disaggregation/mooncake/conn.py
index 7c91a3ee0c92..cdbe95e8089d 100644
--- a/python/sglang/srt/disaggregation/mooncake/conn.py
+++ b/python/sglang/srt/disaggregation/mooncake/conn.py
@@ -2485,10 +2485,10 @@ def bootstrap_thread():
                                 f"Received abort notification for room {room_to_be_aborted}, "
                                 f"marked as Failed; ACK deferred until transfer drains"
                             )
-                        elif self._staging_outstanding.get(room_to_be_aborted, 0) == 0:
-                            # Concluded/unknown AND quiescent: ack now. A cleared
-                            # room is not automatically quiescent -- clear() can
-                            # drop a room whose chunk is still transferring.
+                        else:
+                            # Concluded/unknown AND quiescent (the branch above
+                            # already took every case with writes outstanding):
+                            # ack now so decode releases without the timeout.
                             self._send_abort_ack(
                                 decode_ip, decode_port, room_to_be_aborted
                             )