diff --git a/src/features/relay/store.ts b/src/features/relay/store.ts
index b519959e..e1e993c0 100644
--- a/src/features/relay/store.ts
+++ b/src/features/relay/store.ts
@@ -870,6 +870,7 @@ export function createChannelStore(
     epoch++;
     hydration = undefined;
     warmCandidates.clear();
+    warmEligible.clear();
     warmPreferred = [];
     media.dispose();
     media = createMediaPreparation();
@@ -883,6 +884,9 @@ export function createChannelStore(
    * for foreground slots and is dropped wholesale when the session resets. */
   let warmPreferred: readonly string[] = [];
   const warmCandidates = new Set<string>();
+  // Eligibility outlives head-cache retention. Consuming a candidate (including
+  // failure or yielding to demand) must not requeue it on the next preview update.
+  let warmEligible = new Set<string>();
   function nextWarmId(): string | undefined {
     for (const channelId of warmPreferred)
       if (warmCandidates.has(channelId)) return channelId;
@@ -948,9 +952,16 @@ export function createChannelStore(
       if (disposed || !transport || list.status !== "ready") return;
       const starred = new Set(preferred);
       warmPreferred = preferred;
-      for (const channel of list.channels)
-        if (!channel.archived || starred.has(channel.id))
-          warmCandidates.add(channel.id);
+      const eligible = new Set(
+        list.channels
+          .filter((channel) => !channel.archived || starred.has(channel.id))
+          .map((channel) => channel.id),
+      );
+      for (const id of warmCandidates)
+        if (!eligible.has(id)) warmCandidates.delete(id);
+      for (const id of eligible)
+        if (!warmEligible.has(id)) warmCandidates.add(id);
+      warmEligible = eligible;
       void drainWarm();
     },
     ensure(channelId: string) {
@@ -1231,6 +1242,11 @@ export function createChannelStore(
     const hadHydration = hydration !== undefined;
     epoch++;
     hydration = undefined;
+    for (const id of warmEligible)
+      if (!authorized(id)) {
+        warmEligible.delete(id);
+        warmCandidates.delete(id);
+      }
     media.dispose();
     media = createMediaPreparation();
     for (const controller of controllers) controller.abort();
diff --git a/src/features/relay/warm-lifecycle.test.ts b/src/features/relay/warm-lifecycle.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c9acfa36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/features/relay/warm-lifecycle.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,293 @@
+import { afterEach, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { createRelaySession } from "./session";
+import type { LiveCallbacks } from "./live";
+import { ReadError } from "./errors";
+import {
+  bounds,
+  flush,
+  keypair,
+  message,
+  metadata,
+  profile,
+  roster,
+  scriptedTransport,
+  signed,
+} from "./testing";
+
+const relay = keypair(),
+  viewer = keypair();
+const owners: ReturnType<typeof createRelaySession>[] = [];
+afterEach(() => {
+  for (const owner of owners.splice(0)) owner.dispose();
+});
+const head = (id: string, content = `Preview ${id}`) => [
+  message(viewer, id, content, 1_700_000_000),
+  bounds(relay, id, "head", { has_more: false, next_cursor: null }),
+];
+const discovery = (ids: readonly string[]) =>
+  ids.flatMap((id) => [
+    roster(relay, id, [viewer.pubkey]),
+    metadata(relay, id, id),
+  ]);
+async function setup(
+  ids: string[],
+  options: Parameters<typeof createRelaySession>[1] = {},
+) {
+  const h = scriptedTransport(viewer.pubkey, relay.pubkey);
+  let live!: LiveCallbacks;
+  let starred: readonly string[] = [];
+  const transport = {
+    ...h.transport,
+    subscribe(callbacks: LiveCallbacks) {
+      live = callbacks;
+      return { update() {}, retry() {}, dispose() {} };
+    },
+    decodeSidebarPreferences: async () => ({
+      sections: [],
+      assignments: {},
+      starred,
+    }),
+    query: vi.fn((...args: Parameters<typeof h.transport.query>) =>
+      args[0].some((filter) => filter.kinds?.includes(0))
+        ? Promise.resolve([profile(viewer, { name: "Viewer" })])
+        : args[0].some((filter) => filter.kinds?.includes(30078))
+          ? Promise.resolve([])
+          : h.transport.query(...args),
+    ),
+  };
+  const store = createRelaySession(transport, {
+    prepared: true,
+    warm: true,
+    ...options,
+  });
+  owners.push(store);
+  const queries = store.session.channels;
+  queries.ensureList();
+  h.next().respond(discovery(ids));
+  await flush();
+  return {
+    ...h,
+    store,
+    queries,
+    transport,
+    live,
+    async setStars(ids: readonly string[]) {
+      starred = ids;
+      await store.session.sidebarPreferences.refresh();
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+it.each([
+  ["entry", { maxHeads: 2 }],
+  ["byte", { maxHeadBytes: 2500 }],
+] as const)(
+  "finishes populated warming beyond the %s budget without requeueing evicted heads",
+  async (_budget, options) => {
+    let clock = Date.now();
+    const h = await setup(["a", "b", "c"], { ...options, now: () => clock });
+    for (const id of ["a", "b", "c"]) {
+      expect(h.pending).toHaveLength(1);
+      const request = h.next();
+      expect(request.filters[0]).toMatchObject({
+        "#h": [id],
+        top_level: true,
+        limit: 20,
+      });
+      request.respond(head(id));
+      await flush();
+    }
+    expect(h.store.diagnostics().heads.entries).toBeLessThan(3);
+    // Every response and its preview notification has settled; no live events or
+    // reconnects are needed to provoke the old self-replenishing queue.
+    expect(h.pending).toHaveLength(0);
+    clock += 61_000; // Expiry is not a fresh optional obligation either.
+    h.queries.refresh?.("c");
+    h.next().respond(head("c", "Changed preview"));
+    await flush();
+    expect(
+      h.queries.list().channels.find((channel) => channel.id === "c")?.preview,
+    ).toBe("Changed preview");
+    expect(h.pending).toHaveLength(0);
+    // Eviction is not a new warm obligation, but opening that channel still reads.
+    h.queries.ensure("a");
+    expect(h.next().filters[0]?.["#h"]).toEqual(["a"]);
+  },
+);
+
+it("finishes a 65-channel populated roster with the production cache limits", async () => {
+  const ids = Array.from(
+    { length: 65 },
+    (_, index) => `channel-${String(index).padStart(2, "0")}`,
+  );
+  const h = await setup(ids);
+  for (const id of ids) {
+    expect(h.pending).toHaveLength(1);
+    const request = h.next();
+    expect(request.filters[0]?.["#h"]).toEqual([id]);
+    request.respond(head(id));
+    await flush();
+  }
+  expect(h.store.diagnostics().heads.entries).toBe(64);
+  expect(h.pending).toHaveLength(0);
+});
+
+it("warms newly eligible channels and updates queued starred-first ordering without restarting completed work", async () => {
+  const h = await setup(["a", "b", "c"], { maxHeads: 1 });
+  const first = h.next();
+  await h.setStars(["c"]);
+  first.respond(head("a"));
+  await flush();
+  expect(h.pending[0]?.filters[0]?.["#h"]).toEqual(["c"]);
+  h.next().respond(head("c"));
+  await flush();
+  expect(h.pending[0]?.filters[0]?.["#h"]).toEqual(["b"]);
+  h.next().respond(head("b"));
+  await flush();
+  expect(h.pending).toHaveLength(0);
+  h.queries.refreshList?.();
+  h.next().respond(discovery(["a", "b", "c", "d"]));
+  await flush();
+  expect(h.pending).toHaveLength(1);
+  expect(h.pending[0]?.filters[0]?.["#h"]).toEqual(["d"]);
+  h.next().respond(head("d"));
+  await flush();
+  expect(h.pending).toHaveLength(0);
+});
+
+it("does not automatically retry a failed optional head when another preview changes", async () => {
+  const h = await setup(["a", "b"]);
+  h.next().fail(new Error("Head unavailable"));
+  await vi.waitFor(() => expect(h.pending).toHaveLength(1));
+  expect(h.pending[0]?.filters[0]?.["#h"]).toEqual(["b"]);
+  h.next().respond(head("b"));
+  await flush();
+  expect(h.pending).toHaveLength(0);
+  h.queries.ensure("a");
+  expect(h.pending[0]?.filters[0]?.["#h"]).toEqual(["a"]);
+  h.next().respond(head("a"));
+  await flush();
+  expect(h.queries.window("a").status).toBe("ready");
+});
+
+it.each(["clear", "dispose"])(
+  "does not resurrect queued warming after in-flight %s",
+  async (boundary) => {
+    const h = await setup(["a", "b"]);
+    const first = h.next();
+    if (boundary === "clear") await h.store.clearCache();
+    else h.store.dispose();
+    expect(first.signal?.aborted).toBe(true);
+    first.respond(head("a"));
+    await flush();
+    expect(h.pending).toHaveLength(0);
+    expect(h.store.diagnostics().heads.entries).toBe(0);
+    if (boundary === "clear") {
+      await h.store.session.sidebarPreferences.ensure();
+      expect(h.pending[0]?.filters[0]?.["#h"]).toEqual(["a"]);
+      h.next().respond(head("a"));
+      await flush();
+      h.next().respond(head("b"));
+      await flush();
+      expect(h.pending).toHaveLength(0);
+    }
+  },
+);
+
+it.each(["a", "b"])(
+  "drops revoked in-flight/queued work and rewarms %s after regrant",
+  async (revoked) => {
+    const h = await setup(["a", "b", "c"]);
+    const first = h.next();
+    // Revocation cancels all reads; neither that response nor preview changes
+    // may restart the consumed candidate. Other queued eligible work can finish.
+    const removed = roster(relay, revoked, [], 1_700_000_001);
+    h.live.receive([removed]);
+    expect(first.signal?.aborted).toBe(true);
+    first.respond(head("a"));
+    await flush();
+    for (const id of revoked === "a" ? ["b", "c"] : ["c"]) {
+      expect(h.pending[0]?.filters[0]?.["#h"]).toEqual([id]);
+      h.next().respond(head(id));
+      await flush();
+    }
+    expect(h.pending).toHaveLength(0);
+    expect(
+      h.queries.list().channels.some((channel) => channel.id === revoked),
+    ).toBe(false);
+    const added = roster(relay, revoked, [viewer.pubkey], 1_700_000_002);
+    h.live.receive([added]);
+    expect(h.pending[0]?.filters[0]?.["#h"]).toEqual([revoked]);
+    h.next().respond(head(revoked));
+    await flush();
+    expect(h.pending).toHaveLength(0);
+  },
+);
+
+it("warms an archived channel only after it becomes starred", async () => {
+  const h = await setup([]);
+  h.queries.refreshList?.();
+  h.next().respond([
+    roster(relay, "a", [viewer.pubkey]),
+    signed(relay, {
+      kind: 39000,
+      content: JSON.stringify({ name: "a", archived: true }),
+      tags: [
+        ["d", "a"],
+        ["name", "a"],
+        ["archived", "true"],
+      ],
+    }),
+  ]);
+  await flush();
+  expect(h.pending).toHaveLength(0);
+  await h.setStars(["a"]);
+  expect(h.pending[0]?.filters[0]?.["#h"]).toEqual(["a"]);
+  h.next().respond(head("a"));
+  await flush();
+  expect(h.pending).toHaveLength(0);
+});
+
+it("forgets warming eligibility after authoritative roster denial, then permits regrant", async () => {
+  const h = await setup(["a", "b"]);
+  const first = h.next();
+  h.queries.refreshList?.();
+  h.next().fail(new ReadError("denied", "Roster denied"));
+  await vi.waitFor(() => expect(h.queries.list().status).toBe("error"));
+  expect(first.signal?.aborted).toBe(true);
+  first.respond(head("a"));
+  await flush();
+  expect(h.pending).toHaveLength(0);
+  expect(h.store.diagnostics().heads.entries).toBe(0);
+  h.live.receive([roster(relay, "a", [viewer.pubkey], 1_700_000_002)]);
+  await vi.waitFor(() => expect(h.pending).toHaveLength(1));
+  expect(h.pending[0]?.filters[0]?.["#h"]).toEqual(["a"]);
+  h.next().respond(head("a"));
+  await flush();
+  expect(h.pending).toHaveLength(0);
+});
+
+it("drops an archived queued channel, then warms it after unarchiving", async () => {
+  const h = await setup(["a", "b"]);
+  const first = h.next();
+  h.live.receive([
+    signed(relay, {
+      kind: 39000,
+      content: JSON.stringify({ name: "b" }),
+      created_at: 1_700_000_001,
+      tags: [
+        ["d", "b"],
+        ["name", "b"],
+        ["archived", "true"],
+      ],
+    }),
+  ]);
+  first.respond(head("a"));
+  await flush();
+  expect(h.pending).toHaveLength(0);
+  h.live.receive([metadata(relay, "b", "b", 1_700_000_002)]);
+  expect(h.pending[0]?.filters[0]?.["#h"]).toEqual(["b"]);
+  h.next().respond(head("b"));
+  await flush();
+  expect(h.pending).toHaveLength(0);
+});
diff --git a/tests/browser/channel-opening.spec.mjs b/tests/browser/channel-opening.spec.mjs
index add4ed87..88e40b6a 100644
--- a/tests/browser/channel-opening.spec.mjs
+++ b/tests/browser/channel-opening.spec.mjs
@@ -35,6 +35,16 @@ test("cold opening bypasses held DM labels; warm switching paints within 100ms w
   app.relay.holdProfiles(app.participants);
   app.relay.holdEose("alpha");
   app.relay.holdEose("beta");
+  // Establish a cold target deterministically: let the actual label read own
+  // the background slot before preferences release the roster warmer. Hold the
+  // host decoder, not a reader slot; demand and all production owners stay real.
+  const preferences = Promise.withResolvers();
+  let preferencesPending = false;
+  await page.route("**/sidebar-preferences", async (route) => {
+    preferencesPending = true;
+    await preferences.promise;
+    await route.fallback();
+  });
   // A visible pre-establishment head is not a warm, verified cache. A signed
   // missed message proves the catch-up reached the UI, not merely the broker.
   const establish = async (channel) => {
@@ -56,6 +66,14 @@ test("cold opening bypasses held DM labels; warm switching paints within 100ms w
     await establish("alpha");
     await expect.poll(() => labelReads().length).toBe(1);
     expect(labelReads()[0].filter.authors).toHaveLength(500);
+    expect(app.report.profileHolds.some((held) => held.pending)).toBe(true);
+    await expect.poll(() => preferencesPending).toBe(true);
+    const decoded = page.waitForResponse(
+      (response) =>
+        response.url().endsWith("/sidebar-preferences") && response.ok(),
+    );
+    preferences.resolve();
+    await decoded;
     // The actual label hook has >1,000 missing participants. Keep its profile
     // response held through cold opening; do not bypass that production caller.
     expect(heads(app, "beta")).toHaveLength(0);
@@ -158,8 +176,10 @@ test("cold opening bypasses held DM labels; warm switching paints within 100ms w
     expect(app.report.profileHolds.some((held) => held.pending)).toBe(true);
     expect(app.report.profileHolds.some((held) => held.aborted)).toBe(false);
   } finally {
+    preferences.resolve();
     app.relay.releaseEose("alpha");
     app.relay.releaseEose("beta");
     app.relay.releaseProfiles();
+    await page.unrouteAll({ behavior: "wait" });
   }
 });