diff --git a/apps/web/src/domains/messaging/turn-store.test.ts b/apps/web/src/domains/messaging/turn-store.test.ts
index 56d9d64bc12..a4dcd85f2ba 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/domains/messaging/turn-store.test.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/domains/messaging/turn-store.test.ts
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ describe("USER_SEND_REQUESTED", () => {
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 describe("USER_SEND_ACCEPTED", () => {
-  test("sets turnId without changing phase", () => {
+  test("sets turnId without changing phase when already thinking", () => {
     const thinking = turnReducer(INITIAL_TURN_STATE, {
       type: "USER_SEND_REQUESTED",
       turnId: "temp",
@@ -120,6 +120,65 @@ describe("USER_SEND_ACCEPTED", () => {
     expect(state.phase).toBe("thinking");
     expect(state.activeTurnId).toBe("real-turn-id");
   });
+
+  test("restores thinking phase when a stale terminal landed between request and accept", () => {
+    // Wild repro:
+    //   USER_SEND_REQUESTED(turn-NEW)
+    //     → phase=thinking, activeTurnId=turn-NEW, lastTerminalReason=null
+    //   ← stale MESSAGE_COMPLETE from a previous turn arrives during
+    //     the POST await
+    //     → phase=idle, activeTurnId=null, lastTerminalReason=complete
+    //   USER_SEND_ACCEPTED(turn-NEW)
+    //     → must restore the in-flight shape (phase=thinking,
+    //       lastTerminalReason=null) so the thinking indicator stays
+    //       visible until the first assistant delta arrives.
+    const clobbered: TurnState = {
+      ...INITIAL_TURN_STATE,
+      phase: "idle",
+      activeTurnId: null,
+      lastTerminalReason: "complete",
+    };
+    const state = turnReducer(clobbered, {
+      type: "USER_SEND_ACCEPTED",
+      turnId: "turn-NEW",
+    });
+    expect(state.phase).toBe("thinking");
+    expect(state.activeTurnId).toBe("turn-NEW");
+    expect(state.lastTerminalReason).toBeNull();
+    expect(isSending(state)).toBe(true);
+    expect(isThinking(state)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  test("restores thinking phase from errored as well", () => {
+    const erroredState: TurnState = {
+      ...INITIAL_TURN_STATE,
+      phase: "errored",
+      activeTurnId: null,
+      lastTerminalReason: "error",
+    };
+    const state = turnReducer(erroredState, {
+      type: "USER_SEND_ACCEPTED",
+      turnId: "turn-NEW",
+    });
+    expect(state.phase).toBe("thinking");
+    expect(state.lastTerminalReason).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  test("leaves non-terminal phases alone (e.g. awaiting_user_input from a surface)", () => {
+    // If the user already replied to a prompt that put us in awaiting_user_input
+    // and the next send is being accepted, do not regress the phase to "thinking".
+    const awaiting: TurnState = {
+      ...INITIAL_TURN_STATE,
+      phase: "awaiting_user_input",
+      activeTurnId: "turn-OLD",
+    };
+    const state = turnReducer(awaiting, {
+      type: "USER_SEND_ACCEPTED",
+      turnId: "turn-NEW",
+    });
+    expect(state.phase).toBe("awaiting_user_input");
+    expect(state.activeTurnId).toBe("turn-NEW");
+  });
 });
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/apps/web/src/domains/messaging/turn-store.ts b/apps/web/src/domains/messaging/turn-store.ts
index e26b36b58d2..eb9821f6e80 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/domains/messaging/turn-store.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/domains/messaging/turn-store.ts
@@ -314,7 +314,23 @@ const useTurnStoreBase = create<TurnStore>()((set, get) => ({
       statusText: null,
     })),
 
-  acceptSend: (turnId) => set({ activeTurnId: turnId }),
+  acceptSend: (turnId) =>
+    set((s) => {
+      // The send POST has resolved — we are now waiting for the first
+      // assistant text delta. Phase must be "thinking" for that window
+      // (see `isThinking` doc comment). If a stale terminal event from
+      // a previous turn slipped in between `requestSend` and here during
+      // the POST await, phase was clobbered to "idle"/"errored" with
+      // `lastTerminalReason` populated. Restore the in-flight shape so
+      // the thinking indicator stays visible until the first delta.
+      const phaseIsTerminal = s.phase === "idle" || s.phase === "errored";
+      return {
+        activeTurnId: turnId,
+        ...(phaseIsTerminal
+          ? { phase: "thinking" as const, lastTerminalReason: null }
+          : null),
+      };
+    }),
 
   // ----- Streaming -----
 
@@ -603,8 +619,18 @@ export function turnReducer(state: TurnState, event: DomainEvent): TurnState {
         statusText: null,
       };
 
-    case "USER_SEND_ACCEPTED":
-      return { ...state, activeTurnId: event.turnId };
+    case "USER_SEND_ACCEPTED": {
+      // See `acceptSend` action for rationale.
+      const phaseIsTerminal =
+        state.phase === "idle" || state.phase === "errored";
+      return {
+        ...state,
+        activeTurnId: event.turnId,
+        ...(phaseIsTerminal
+          ? { phase: "thinking" as const, lastTerminalReason: null }
+          : null),
+      };
+    }
 
     case "ASSISTANT_TEXT_DELTA":
       if (state.phase === "idle" || state.phase === "errored") {