17 files changed, 440 insertions, 82 deletions
diff --git a/src/adapters/idb/index.test.ts b/src/adapters/idb/index.test.ts
index 04e2177..aa56f15 100644
--- a/src/adapters/idb/index.test.ts
+++ b/src/adapters/idb/index.test.ts
@@ -128,3 +128,18 @@ describe("createIdbChunkStore", () => {
     expect(loaded2[0]?.chunk).toEqual(textChunk("b1"));
   });
 });
+
+it("persists epoch across adapter recreation and append, including empty histories", async () => {
+  const indexedDB = new IDBFactory();
+  const store = createIdbChunkStore({ indexedDB });
+  await store.append("c", [makeChunk(1, "legacy")]);
+  expect(await store.historyEpoch("c")).toBeUndefined();
+  await store.reset("c", 2);
+  const reopened = createIdbChunkStore({ indexedDB });
+  expect(await reopened.load("c")).toEqual([]);
+  expect(await reopened.historyEpoch("c")).toBe(2);
+  await reopened.append("c", [makeChunk(101, "new")]);
+  expect(await reopened.historyEpoch("c")).toBe(2);
+  await reopened.delete("c");
+  expect(await reopened.historyEpoch("c")).toBeUndefined();
+});
diff --git a/src/adapters/idb/index.ts b/src/adapters/idb/index.ts
index 3dffef9..8b1848a 100644
--- a/src/adapters/idb/index.ts
+++ b/src/adapters/idb/index.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ interface ChunkRecord {
 interface MetaRecord {
   conversationId: string;
   lastAccess: number;
+  historyEpoch?: number;
 }
 
 export interface CreateIdbChunkStoreOptions {
@@ -92,6 +93,26 @@ export function createIdbChunkStore(opts?: CreateIdbChunkStoreOptions): Conversa
   }
 
   return {
+    async historyEpoch(conversationId) {
+      const db = await getDb();
+      const tx = db.transaction(META_STORE, "readonly");
+      const meta = await requestToPromise<MetaRecord | undefined>(
+        tx.objectStore(META_STORE).get(conversationId),
+      );
+      await txComplete(tx);
+      return meta?.historyEpoch;
+    },
+    async reset(conversationId, historyEpoch) {
+      const db = await getDb();
+      const tx = db.transaction([CHUNKS_STORE, META_STORE], "readwrite");
+      tx.objectStore(CHUNKS_STORE).delete(keyRangeFor(conversationId));
+      tx.objectStore(META_STORE).put({
+        conversationId,
+        historyEpoch,
+        lastAccess: Date.now(),
+      } satisfies MetaRecord);
+      await txComplete(tx);
+    },
     async load(conversationId: string): Promise<readonly StoredChunk[]> {
       const db = await getDb();
       const tx = db.transaction(CHUNKS_STORE, "readonly");
@@ -122,7 +143,9 @@ export function createIdbChunkStore(opts?: CreateIdbChunkStoreOptions): Conversa
         } satisfies ChunkRecord);
       }
 
+      const meta = await requestToPromise<MetaRecord | undefined>(metaStore.get(conversationId));
       metaStore.put({
+        ...meta,
         conversationId,
         lastAccess: Date.now(),
       } satisfies MetaRecord);
diff --git a/src/adapters/ws/logic.test.ts b/src/adapters/ws/logic.test.ts
index 2179ad0..4be2cd6 100644
--- a/src/adapters/ws/logic.test.ts
+++ b/src/adapters/ws/logic.test.ts
@@ -562,3 +562,18 @@ describe("parseServerMessage — subagent tab groups", () => {
     ).toBeNull();
   });
 });
+
+it("preserves a compaction epoch and rejects absent or invalid epochs", () => {
+  const msg = {
+    type: "conversation.compacted",
+    conversationId: "c",
+    newConversationId: "archive",
+    messagesSummarized: 2,
+    messagesKept: 1,
+    historyEpoch: 7,
+  };
+  expect(parseServerMessage(JSON.stringify(msg))).toEqual(msg);
+  for (const historyEpoch of [undefined, -1, 1.5, "7"]) {
+    expect(parseServerMessage(JSON.stringify({ ...msg, historyEpoch }))).toBeNull();
+  }
+});
diff --git a/src/adapters/ws/logic.ts b/src/adapters/ws/logic.ts
index cecc66c..858deaa 100644
--- a/src/adapters/ws/logic.ts
+++ b/src/adapters/ws/logic.ts
@@ -180,7 +180,10 @@ export function parseServerMessage(data: string): WsServerMessage | null {
       if (typeof parsed.newConversationId !== "string") return null;
       if (typeof parsed.messagesSummarized !== "number") return null;
       if (typeof parsed.messagesKept !== "number") return null;
+      if (!Number.isSafeInteger(parsed.historyEpoch) || (parsed.historyEpoch as number) < 0)
+        return null;
       const msg: ConversationCompactedMessage = {
+        historyEpoch: parsed.historyEpoch as number,
         type: "conversation.compacted",
         conversationId: parsed.conversationId,
         newConversationId: parsed.newConversationId,
diff --git a/src/app/App.test.ts b/src/app/App.test.ts
index 26f5cdb..183b8b4 100644
--- a/src/app/App.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/App.test.ts
@@ -104,7 +104,9 @@ function fakeFetchImpl(): typeof fetch {
         { status: 200 },
       );
     }
-    return new Response(JSON.stringify({ chunks: [], latestSeq: 0 }), { status: 200 });
+    return new Response(JSON.stringify({ chunks: [], historyEpoch: 0, latestSeq: 0 }), {
+      status: 200,
+    });
   };
 }
 
@@ -564,7 +566,9 @@ describe("App component interaction tests", () => {
           status: 200,
         });
       }
-      return new Response(JSON.stringify({ chunks: [], latestSeq: 0 }), { status: 200 });
+      return new Response(JSON.stringify({ chunks: [], historyEpoch: 0, latestSeq: 0 }), {
+        status: 200,
+      });
     };
 
     const ws = fakeSocket();
diff --git a/src/app/store.svelte.ts b/src/app/store.svelte.ts
index c354e11..2eb13ef 100644
--- a/src/app/store.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/app/store.svelte.ts
@@ -704,7 +704,16 @@ function createHistorySync(httpBase: string, fetchImpl: typeof fetch): HistorySy
     if (!res.ok) {
       throw new Error(`History sync failed: ${res.status}`);
     }
-    return (await res.json()) as ConversationHistoryResponse;
+    const data = (await res.json()) as ConversationHistoryResponse;
+    if (
+      !data ||
+      !Array.isArray(data.chunks) ||
+      !Number.isSafeInteger(data.historyEpoch) ||
+      data.historyEpoch < 0
+    ) {
+      throw new Error("Invalid history response");
+    }
+    return data;
   };
 }
 
@@ -1483,6 +1492,13 @@ export function createAppStore(opts?: CreateAppStoreOptions): AppStore {
       if (!res.ok) return;
       const data = (await res.json()) as ConversationListResponse;
 
+      if (!data || !Array.isArray(data.conversations)) {
+        reportError(
+          "Failed to load open conversations",
+          new Error("Invalid conversations response"),
+        );
+        return;
+      }
       // Update the status map from the authoritative backend list.
       const newStatuses = new Map<string, ConversationStatus>();
       for (const conv of data.conversations) {
@@ -1628,27 +1644,17 @@ export function createAppStore(opts?: CreateAppStoreOptions): AppStore {
       }
     },
     onConversationCompacted(msg: ConversationCompactedMessage): void {
-      // Compaction keeps the conversation ID — the old full history is forked
-      // to an archive (newConversationId). Just reload the same conversation's
-      // history (dispose stale store + cache + re-fetch).
       const cid = msg.conversationId;
-      const wasActive = tabsStore.activeConversationId === cid;
-      void cache.delete(cid);
-      if (!chatStores.has(cid) || !loadedConversationIds.delete(cid)) return;
-      const store = chatStores.get(cid);
-      if (store !== undefined) {
-        store.dispose();
-      }
-      const tab = tabsStore.tabs.find((t) => t.conversationId === cid);
-      const fresh = createChatFor(
-        cid,
-        tab?.model ?? activeModel,
-        tab?.workspaceId ?? activeWorkspaceId,
-      );
-      chatStores.set(cid, fresh);
-      ensureLoaded(cid);
-      if (wasActive) {
-        refreshActiveChat();
+      const store = chatStores.get(cid) ?? watchStores.get(cid);
+      if (store && loadedConversationIds.has(cid)) {
+        store.resync(msg.historyEpoch);
+      } else {
+        store?.invalidateHistory(msg.historyEpoch);
+        // Unseen conversations stay lazy. Invalidation is queued before their
+        // next load; epoch-guarded commits reject any older in-flight response.
+        void cache
+          .reset(cid, msg.historyEpoch)
+          .catch((err) => reportError("Failed to reset conversation cache", err));
       }
     },
     onReopen() {
diff --git a/src/app/store.test.ts b/src/app/store.test.ts
index f5d4723..f257f3a 100644
--- a/src/app/store.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/store.test.ts
@@ -195,7 +195,8 @@ function fakeFetchImpl(opts?: FakeFetchOptions): typeof fetch {
       }
       if (/^\/conversations\/[^/]+$/.test(pathname) && searchParams.has("sinceSeq")) {
         return Response.json(
-          history[url] ?? ({ chunks: [], latestSeq: 0 } satisfies ConversationHistoryResponse),
+          history[url] ??
+            ({ chunks: [], historyEpoch: 0, latestSeq: 0 } satisfies ConversationHistoryResponse),
         );
       }
     }
@@ -682,6 +683,7 @@ describe("createAppStore", () => {
         { seq: 1, role: "user", chunk: { type: "text", text: "hi" } },
         { seq: 2, role: "assistant", chunk: { type: "text", text: "hello!" } },
       ],
+      historyEpoch: 0,
       latestSeq: 2,
     };
     const base = fakeFetchImpl();
@@ -2743,6 +2745,7 @@ describe("conversation load-on-demand", () => {
             { seq: 1, role: "user", turnId: "t1", chunk: { type: "text", text: "hi" } },
             { seq: 2, role: "assistant", turnId: "t1", chunk: { type: "text", text: "hello" } },
           ],
+          historyEpoch: 0,
           latestSeq: 2,
         });
       }
@@ -2907,12 +2910,21 @@ describe("conversation load-on-demand", () => {
     const { store, requests } = await setup(ws);
     try {
       ws.resolveOpen();
+      ws.feedServerMessage({
+        type: "chat.delta",
+        event: { type: "turn-start", conversationId: "lazy-1", turnId: "old" },
+      });
+      ws.feedServerMessage({
+        type: "chat.delta",
+        event: { type: "text-delta", conversationId: "lazy-1", turnId: "old", delta: "stale" },
+      });
       for (const id of ["lazy-1", "unknown", "lazy-0"]) {
         ws.feedServerMessage({
           type: "conversation.compacted",
           conversationId: id,
           newConversationId: `${id}-archive`,
           messagesSummarized: 10,
+          historyEpoch: 0,
           messagesKept: 2,
         });
       }
@@ -2957,3 +2969,25 @@ describe("conversation load-on-demand", () => {
     }
   });
 });
+
+it.each([
+  null,
+  {},
+  { conversations: {} },
+])("reports malformed conversation lists: %j", async (body) => {
+  const ws = fakeSocket();
+  const base = fakeFetchImpl();
+  const store = createAppStore({
+    socketFactory: () => ws,
+    indexedDB: new IDBFactory(),
+    localStorage: createFakeStorage(),
+    fetchImpl: async (input, init) =>
+      String(input).includes("/conversations?status=") ? Response.json(body) : base(input, init),
+  });
+  try {
+    ws.resolveOpen();
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(store.fatalError).toContain("Invalid conversations response"));
+  } finally {
+    store.dispose();
+  }
+});
diff --git a/src/core/chunks/trim.test.ts b/src/core/chunks/trim.test.ts
index 7c4bbef..24c75fd 100644
--- a/src/core/chunks/trim.test.ts
+++ b/src/core/chunks/trim.test.ts
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ describe("windowTranscript", () => {
   it("is the identity within the window", () => {
     const state = stateWith(chunks(1, 50));
     expect(windowTranscript(state, 75)).toBe(state);
-    expect(selectHasEarlier(state)).toBe(false);
+    expect(selectHasEarlier(state, 1)).toBe(false);
   });
 });
 
@@ -178,21 +178,21 @@ describe("restoreEarlier", () => {
     expect(selectHasEarlier(restored)).toBe(true);
   });
 
-  it("restoring down to seq 1 reaches the contractual origin (hasEarlier clears)", () => {
+  it("restoring down to a known boundary clears hasEarlier", () => {
     const windowed = windowTranscript(stateWith(chunks(1, 100)), 75); // hidden: 1..25
     const restored = restoreEarlier(windowed, chunks(1, 100), 64);
     expect(restored.committed).toHaveLength(100);
     expect(restored.committed[0]?.seq).toBe(1);
     expect(restored.hiddenBeforeSeq).toBe(1); // floor at the origin — inert
     expect(restored.hiddenThinkingCount).toBe(0);
-    expect(selectHasEarlier(restored)).toBe(false);
+    expect(selectHasEarlier(restored, 1)).toBe(false);
   });
 
   it("is the identity when nothing older is known locally (server may still hold more)", () => {
     const windowed = windowTranscript(stateWith(chunks(50, 200)), 75);
     const restored = restoreEarlier(windowed, [], 64);
     expect(restored).toBe(windowed);
-    // seqs are 1-based gap-free: window starts at 126 ⇒ older chunks DO exist.
+    // The server boundary is unknown, so another page may exist.
     expect(selectHasEarlier(restored)).toBe(true);
   });
 
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ describe("restoreEarlier", () => {
 
   it("works on a server-windowed transcript (no local watermark)", () => {
     // A cold-cache fresh load with `?limit=` commits a suffix (seq 809..1000)
-    // with hiddenBeforeSeq still 0 — hasEarlier derives from seq > 1, and a
+    // with hiddenBeforeSeq still 0 — the server boundary is unknown, and a
     // backfilled run merges below it.
     const state = stateWith(chunks(809, 1000));
     expect(state.hiddenBeforeSeq).toBe(0);
@@ -230,6 +230,15 @@ describe("restoreEarlier", () => {
     const restored = restoreEarlier(trimmed, original, 1000);
     expect(restored.committed).toEqual(original);
     expect(restored.hiddenBeforeSeq).toBe(1);
-    expect(selectHasEarlier(restored)).toBe(false);
+    expect(selectHasEarlier(restored, 1)).toBe(false);
   });
 });
+
+it("uses a non-1 history boundary rather than the seq origin", () => {
+  const state = stateWith(chunks(101, 110));
+  expect(selectHasEarlier(state, 101)).toBe(false);
+  expect(selectHasEarlier(state, null)).toBe(true);
+  const windowed = windowTranscript(state, 5);
+  expect(selectHasEarlier(windowed, 101)).toBe(true);
+  expect(selectHasEarlier(restoreEarlier(windowed, state.committed, 5), 101)).toBe(false);
+});
diff --git a/src/core/chunks/trim.ts b/src/core/chunks/trim.ts
index 9846357..259c101 100644
--- a/src/core/chunks/trim.ts
+++ b/src/core/chunks/trim.ts
@@ -150,8 +150,7 @@ function oldestLoadedSeq(state: TranscriptState): number {
  * `?beforeSeq=` backfill; chunks at/inside the window are ignored). The newest
  * `count` of them are merged back in front of `committed`, and the watermark
  * follows the new window start so history merges still can't resurrect what
- * remains unloaded. Identity when the window already starts at seq 1 (the
- * contractual origin) or nothing older is known locally.
+ * remains unloaded. Identity when nothing older is known locally.
  */
 export function restoreEarlier(
   state: TranscriptState,
@@ -159,7 +158,7 @@ export function restoreEarlier(
   count: number,
 ): TranscriptState {
   const oldest = oldestLoadedSeq(state);
-  if (oldest <= 1) return state;
+  if (oldest === 0) return state;
   const below = earlier.filter((c) => c.seq < oldest).sort((a, b) => a.seq - b.seq);
   if (below.length === 0) return state;
   const keep = below.slice(-Math.max(1, count));
@@ -172,14 +171,11 @@ export function restoreEarlier(
   };
 }
 
-/**
- * Whether earlier history exists below the loaded window — drives the
- * "Show earlier messages" affordance. Derived from the [email protected] CONTRACT
- * that per-conversation seqs are 1-based and gap-free: a loaded window that
- * starts above seq 1 means older chunks exist (locally cached or server-side),
- * whether the window came from a local trim or a server-windowed (`?limit=`)
- * fresh load.
- */
-export function selectHasEarlier(state: TranscriptState): boolean {
-  return oldestLoadedSeq(state) > 1;
+/** Earlier availability uses the known server boundary, never a seq origin. */
+export function selectHasEarlier(
+  state: TranscriptState,
+  earliestSeq: number | null = null,
+): boolean {
+  const oldest = oldestLoadedSeq(state);
+  return oldest > 0 && (earliestSeq === null || oldest > earliestSeq);
 }
diff --git a/src/core/wire/conformance.test.ts b/src/core/wire/conformance.test.ts
index 2b98ca6..e74a663 100644
--- a/src/core/wire/conformance.test.ts
+++ b/src/core/wire/conformance.test.ts
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ describe("classifies every WsServerMessage type", () => {
         conversationId: "c1",
         newConversationId: "c2",
         messagesSummarized: 10,
+        historyEpoch: 0,
         messagesKept: 5,
       },
     ];
@@ -268,6 +269,7 @@ describe("ConversationHistoryResponse shape is constructible", () => {
   it("constructs a response with chunks", () => {
     const resp: ConversationHistoryResponse = {
       chunks: [{ seq: 1, role: "user", chunk: { type: "text", text: "hi" } }],
+      historyEpoch: 0,
       latestSeq: 1,
     };
     expect(resp.chunks).toHaveLength(1);
@@ -275,7 +277,7 @@ describe("ConversationHistoryResponse shape is constructible", () => {
   });
 
   it("constructs an empty (caught-up) response", () => {
-    const resp: ConversationHistoryResponse = { chunks: [], latestSeq: 5 };
+    const resp: ConversationHistoryResponse = { chunks: [], historyEpoch: 0, latestSeq: 5 };
     expect(resp.chunks).toHaveLength(0);
     expect(resp.latestSeq).toBe(5);
   });
diff --git a/src/features/chat/store.svelte.ts b/src/features/chat/store.svelte.ts
index 01ad9f9..dab1ba2 100644
--- a/src/features/chat/store.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/features/chat/store.svelte.ts
@@ -209,7 +209,9 @@ export interface ChatStore {
    * running, the server's post-subscribe replay re-asserts `generating`. The
    * app store pairs this with a `chat.subscribe` for the conversation.
    */
-  resync(): void;
+  resync(historyEpoch?: number): void;
+  /** Discard pre-replacement transcript state without loading an unseen conversation. */
+  invalidateHistory(historyEpoch: number): void;
   dispose(): void;
 }
 
@@ -223,6 +225,23 @@ export function createChatStore(deps: ChatStoreDependencies): ChatStore {
   let cacheTimer = $state<CacheTimerState>(initialCacheTimerState());
   const now = deps.now ?? Date.now;
   let disposed = false;
+  let rerunRequested = false;
+  let historyEpoch: number | undefined;
+  let revision = 0;
+  let reloadWindow = false;
+  let earliestSeq = $state<number | null>(null);
+
+  function resetTranscript(epoch: number): void {
+    historyEpoch = epoch;
+    revision++;
+    reloadWindow = true;
+    transcript = initialState();
+    earliestSeq = null;
+    pendingEvents = [];
+  }
+  function hasEarlier(): boolean {
+    return selectHasEarlier(transcript, earliestSeq);
+  }
 
   /** The most recent turn's id (resolves a seeded turn gap when it is stamped). */
   function lastTurnIdOf(m: MetricsState): string | undefined {
@@ -313,21 +332,58 @@ export function createChatStore(deps: ChatStoreDependencies): ChatStore {
    * between the cache and the fetched window.
    */
   async function syncTail(coldLimit?: number): Promise<void> {
-    if (disposed || _pendingSync) return;
-    _pendingSync = true;
-    try {
-      const since = await deps.cache.sinceSeq(deps.conversationId);
-      const window = since === 0 && coldLimit !== undefined ? { limit: coldLimit } : undefined;
-      const res = await deps.historySync(deps.conversationId, since, window);
-      const merged = await deps.cache.commit(deps.conversationId, res.chunks);
-      transcript = applyHistory(transcript, merged);
-      maybeTrim();
-      _error = null;
-    } catch (err) {
-      _error = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
-    } finally {
-      _pendingSync = false;
+    if (disposed) return;
+    if (_pendingSync) {
+      rerunRequested = true;
+      return;
     }
+    _pendingSync = true;
+    do {
+      rerunRequested = false;
+      try {
+        const currentRevision = revision;
+        const cachedEpoch = await deps.cache.historyEpoch(deps.conversationId);
+        if (historyEpoch !== undefined && cachedEpoch !== historyEpoch)
+          await deps.cache.reset(deps.conversationId, historyEpoch);
+        const since =
+          cachedEpoch === undefined ? 0 : await deps.cache.sinceSeq(deps.conversationId);
+        const limit =
+          since === 0 ? (reloadWindow ? initialWindowSize(chatLimit) : coldLimit) : undefined;
+        const res = await deps.historySync(
+          deps.conversationId,
+          since,
+          limit === undefined ? undefined : { limit },
+        );
+        if (disposed) break;
+        if (revision !== currentRevision) {
+          rerunRequested = true;
+          continue;
+        }
+        if (
+          (cachedEpoch !== undefined && cachedEpoch !== res.historyEpoch) ||
+          (historyEpoch !== undefined && historyEpoch !== res.historyEpoch)
+        ) {
+          resetTranscript(res.historyEpoch);
+          await deps.cache.reset(deps.conversationId, res.historyEpoch);
+          if (since !== 0) {
+            rerunRequested = true;
+            continue;
+          }
+        }
+        reloadWindow = false;
+        historyEpoch = res.historyEpoch;
+        const merged = await deps.cache.commit(deps.conversationId, res.chunks, res.historyEpoch);
+        if (disposed || historyEpoch !== res.historyEpoch) continue;
+        if (since === 0 && (limit === undefined || res.chunks.length < limit))
+          earliestSeq = merged[0]?.seq ?? 0;
+        transcript = applyHistory(transcript, merged);
+        maybeTrim();
+        _error = null;
+      } catch (err) {
+        _error = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+      }
+    } while (rerunRequested && !disposed);
+    _pendingSync = false;
   }
 
   async function syncMetrics(): Promise<void> {
@@ -351,14 +407,25 @@ export function createChatStore(deps: ChatStoreDependencies): ChatStore {
    * newest `count` of them). Shared by `showEarlier` and the raise-refill.
    */
   async function backfillOlder(oldest: number, want: number): Promise<readonly StoredChunk[]> {
+    const currentRevision = revision;
     let earlier = (await deps.cache.load(deps.conversationId)).filter((c) => c.seq < oldest);
+    if (disposed || revision !== currentRevision) return [];
     const oldestKnown = earlier[0]?.seq ?? oldest;
-    if (earlier.length < want && oldestKnown > 1) {
+    if (earlier.length < want && (earliestSeq === null || oldestKnown > earliestSeq)) {
       const res = await deps.historySync(deps.conversationId, 0, {
         beforeSeq: oldestKnown,
         limit: want - earlier.length,
       });
-      const merged = await deps.cache.commit(deps.conversationId, res.chunks);
+      if (disposed || revision !== currentRevision) return [];
+      if (res.historyEpoch !== historyEpoch) {
+        resetTranscript(res.historyEpoch);
+        await deps.cache.reset(deps.conversationId, res.historyEpoch);
+        await syncTail(initialWindowSize(chatLimit));
+        return [];
+      }
+      const merged = await deps.cache.commit(deps.conversationId, res.chunks, res.historyEpoch);
+      if (disposed || revision !== currentRevision) return [];
+      if (res.chunks.length < want - earlier.length) earliestSeq = merged[0]?.seq ?? 0;
       earlier = merged.filter((c) => c.seq < oldest);
     }
     return earlier;
@@ -368,15 +435,15 @@ export function createChatStore(deps: ChatStoreDependencies): ChatStore {
    * Refill toward the fresh-load window after a limit RAISE: pull older
    * history (cache first, then server) so the loaded set grows to match what a
    * fresh `load()` would show at the new limit. No-op when already at the
-   * origin (seq 1) or already within the window. `restoreEarlier` re-derives
+   * known history boundary or already within the window. `restoreEarlier` re-derives
    * the window start at apply time, so a delta landing during the await can't
    * corrupt the merge. NOT gated (refilling prepends above the viewport; the
    * caller preserves scroll position).
    */
   async function refill(): Promise<void> {
     if (disposed) return;
+    if (!hasEarlier()) return;
     const oldest = transcript.committed[0]?.seq ?? transcript.hiddenBeforeSeq;
-    if (oldest <= 1) return;
     const want = initialWindowSize(chatLimit) - transcript.committed.length;
     if (want <= 0) return;
     try {
@@ -418,7 +485,7 @@ export function createChatStore(deps: ChatStoreDependencies): ChatStore {
       return _model;
     },
     get hasEarlier(): boolean {
-      return selectHasEarlier(transcript);
+      return hasEarlier();
     },
     get thinkingKeyBase(): number {
       return transcript.hiddenThinkingCount;
@@ -524,8 +591,11 @@ export function createChatStore(deps: ChatStoreDependencies): ChatStore {
       // server instead (CR-5 `?limit=`), so a huge conversation never ships
       // whole. The post-sync window re-asserts the cap either way.
       const windowSize = initialWindowSize(chatLimit);
+      const currentRevision = revision;
+      const cachedEpoch = await deps.cache.historyEpoch(deps.conversationId);
       const cached = await deps.cache.load(deps.conversationId);
-      if (cached.length > 0) {
+      if (!disposed && revision === currentRevision && cachedEpoch !== undefined) {
+        historyEpoch = cachedEpoch;
         transcript = windowTranscript(applyHistory(transcript, cached), windowSize);
       }
       await syncTail(windowSize);
@@ -536,7 +606,7 @@ export function createChatStore(deps: ChatStoreDependencies): ChatStore {
     async showEarlier(): Promise<void> {
       if (disposed) return;
       const oldest = transcript.committed[0]?.seq ?? transcript.hiddenBeforeSeq;
-      if (oldest <= 1) return;
+      if (!hasEarlier()) return;
       const want = unloadCount(chatLimit);
       try {
         const earlier = await backfillOlder(oldest, want);
@@ -547,8 +617,14 @@ export function createChatStore(deps: ChatStoreDependencies): ChatStore {
       }
     },
 
-    resync(): void {
+    invalidateHistory(epoch): void {
+      if (!disposed && (historyEpoch === undefined || epoch > historyEpoch)) resetTranscript(epoch);
+    },
+
+    resync(epoch?: number): void {
       if (disposed) return;
+      if (epoch !== undefined && (historyEpoch === undefined || epoch > historyEpoch))
+        resetTranscript(epoch);
       // A turn may have sealed while we were disconnected (missed `turn-sealed`):
       // clear the now-stale spinner BEFORE re-subscribing, so a finished turn
       // doesn't spin forever. A still-running turn's replay re-asserts it.
diff --git a/src/features/chat/store.test.ts b/src/features/chat/store.test.ts
index 8604107..bb1e304 100644
--- a/src/features/chat/store.test.ts
+++ b/src/features/chat/store.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 import type { AgentEvent, ImageInput, StepId, StoredChunk } from "@dispatch/wire";
+import { IDBFactory, IDBKeyRange } from "fake-indexeddb";
 import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { createIdbChunkStore } from "../../adapters/idb";
+import { createConversationCache } from "../conversation-cache";
 import { createChatStore } from "./store.svelte";
 import {
   createFakeCache,
@@ -528,7 +531,7 @@ describe("createChatStore", () => {
     store.dispose();
   });
 
-  it("overlapping syncs are guarded", async () => {
+  it("overlapping syncs coalesce into a sequential rerun", async () => {
     const transport = createFakeTransport();
     const _historySync = createFakeHistorySync();
     const metricsSync = createFakeMetricsSync();
@@ -546,7 +549,7 @@ describe("createChatStore", () => {
       if (callCount === 1) {
         await firstSyncPromise;
       }
-      return { chunks: [], latestSeq: sinceSeq };
+      return { chunks: [], latestSeq: sinceSeq, historyEpoch: 0 };
     };
 
     const store = createChatStore({
@@ -573,7 +576,7 @@ describe("createChatStore", () => {
 
     // Release the first sync
     resolveFirstSync?.();
-    await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 10));
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(callCount).toBe(2));
 
     store.dispose();
   });
@@ -1645,6 +1648,7 @@ describe("createChatStore", () => {
     });
     await store.load(); // only 50 chunks → all loaded, window starts at seq 1
     expect(store.chunks).toHaveLength(50);
+    await store.showEarlier(); // Probe server exhaustion; seq 1 alone is not a boundary.
     expect(store.hasEarlier).toBe(false);
     const callsAfterLoad = historySync.calls.length;
 
@@ -1892,3 +1896,96 @@ describe("createChatStore — cacheTimer", () => {
     busy.dispose();
   });
 });
+
+describe("history epochs", () => {
+  it.each([
+    "tail",
+    "backfill",
+  ])("recovers missed compaction on %s and exhausts non-1 history", async (path) => {
+    const history = createFakeHistorySync();
+    const cache = createFakeCache();
+    history.returnChunks = Array.from({ length: 20 }, (_, i) => makeStoredChunk(i + 1));
+    const store = createChatStore({
+      conversationId: CONV_ID,
+      transport: createFakeTransport().impl,
+      historySync: history.impl,
+      metricsSync: createFakeMetricsSync().impl,
+      cache: cache.impl,
+      chatLimit: 10,
+    });
+    await store.load();
+    history.historyEpoch = 1;
+    history.returnChunks = [makeStoredChunk(101), makeStoredChunk(102)];
+    if (path === "tail") {
+      store.resync();
+      await vi.waitFor(() => expect(store.chunks[0]?.seq).toBe(101));
+    } else await store.showEarlier();
+    expect(store.chunks.map((c) => c.seq)).toEqual([101, 102]);
+    expect((await cache.impl.load(CONV_ID)).map((c) => c.seq)).toEqual([101, 102]);
+    expect(history.calls.at(-1)).toMatchObject({ sinceSeq: 0, window: { limit: 7 } });
+    expect(store.hasEarlier).toBe(false);
+    const calls = history.calls.length;
+    await store.showEarlier();
+    expect(history.calls).toHaveLength(calls);
+    store.dispose();
+  });
+});
+
+it("a compaction broadcast during an in-flight fetch discards the old response", async () => {
+  const history = createFakeHistorySync();
+  history.returnChunks = [makeStoredChunk(101)];
+  let resolve!: (res: import("@dispatch/transport-contract").ConversationHistoryResponse) => void;
+  const first = new Promise<import("@dispatch/transport-contract").ConversationHistoryResponse>(
+    (r) => {
+      resolve = r;
+    },
+  );
+  const sync = vi
+    .fn<import("./ports").HistorySync>()
+    .mockImplementationOnce(() => first)
+    .mockImplementation(history.impl);
+  const cache = createFakeCache();
+  const store = createChatStore({
+    conversationId: CONV_ID,
+    transport: createFakeTransport().impl,
+    historySync: sync,
+    metricsSync: createFakeMetricsSync().impl,
+    cache: cache.impl,
+  });
+  const loading = store.load();
+  await vi.waitFor(() => expect(sync).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1));
+  history.historyEpoch = 1;
+  store.resync(1);
+  resolve({ chunks: [makeStoredChunk(1)], latestSeq: 1, historyEpoch: 0 });
+  await loading;
+  expect(sync).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+  expect(store.chunks.map((c) => c.seq)).toEqual([101]);
+  expect((await cache.impl.load(CONV_ID)).map((c) => c.seq)).toEqual([101]);
+  store.dispose();
+});
+
+it("reloads unknown legacy cache epochs rather than merging pre-upgrade rows", async () => {
+  vi.stubGlobal("IDBKeyRange", IDBKeyRange);
+  const storage = createIdbChunkStore({ indexedDB: new IDBFactory() });
+  const cache = createConversationCache(storage);
+  await storage.append(CONV_ID, [makeStoredChunk(1)]);
+  const history = createFakeHistorySync();
+  history.returnChunks = [makeStoredChunk(101)];
+  const store = createChatStore({
+    conversationId: CONV_ID,
+    transport: createFakeTransport().impl,
+    historySync: history.impl,
+    metricsSync: createFakeMetricsSync().impl,
+    cache,
+  });
+  try {
+    await store.load();
+    expect(history.calls[0]).toMatchObject({ sinceSeq: 0 });
+    expect(store.chunks.map((c) => c.seq)).toEqual([101]);
+    expect(await cache.historyEpoch(CONV_ID)).toBe(0);
+    expect((await cache.load(CONV_ID)).map((c) => c.seq)).toEqual([101]);
+  } finally {
+    store.dispose();
+    vi.unstubAllGlobals();
+  }
+});
diff --git a/src/features/chat/test-helpers.ts b/src/features/chat/test-helpers.ts
index c99d1f4..c1b020b 100644
--- a/src/features/chat/test-helpers.ts
+++ b/src/features/chat/test-helpers.ts
@@ -43,14 +43,22 @@ export interface FakeHistorySync {
   readonly calls: Array<{ conversationId: string; sinceSeq: number; window?: HistoryWindow }>;
   /** Set the chunks to return on the next call. */
   returnChunks: readonly StoredChunk[];
+  historyEpoch: number;
   readonly impl: HistorySync;
 }
 
 export function createFakeHistorySync(): FakeHistorySync {
   const calls: Array<{ conversationId: string; sinceSeq: number; window?: HistoryWindow }> = [];
   let returnChunks: readonly StoredChunk[] = [];
+  let historyEpoch = 0;
   return {
     calls,
+    get historyEpoch() {
+      return historyEpoch;
+    },
+    set historyEpoch(v: number) {
+      historyEpoch = v;
+    },
     get returnChunks() {
       return returnChunks;
     },
@@ -72,7 +80,7 @@ export function createFakeHistorySync(): FakeHistorySync {
         chunks = chunks.slice(-window.limit);
       }
       const latestSeq = chunks.length > 0 ? Math.max(...chunks.map((c) => c.seq)) : sinceSeq;
-      return { chunks, latestSeq };
+      return { chunks, latestSeq, historyEpoch };
     },
   };
 }
@@ -122,13 +130,22 @@ export interface FakeCache {
 
 export function createFakeCache(): FakeCache {
   const store = new Map<string, StoredChunk[]>();
+  const epochs = new Map<string, number>();
   return {
     store,
     impl: {
+      async historyEpoch(id) {
+        return epochs.get(id) ?? 0;
+      },
+      async reset(id, epoch) {
+        store.delete(id);
+        epochs.set(id, epoch);
+      },
       async load(conversationId) {
         return store.get(conversationId) ?? [];
       },
-      async commit(conversationId, incoming) {
+      async commit(conversationId, incoming, epoch) {
+        if (epoch !== undefined) epochs.set(conversationId, epoch);
         const existing = store.get(conversationId) ?? [];
         const seen = new Set(existing.map((c) => c.seq));
         const toAppend = incoming.filter((c) => !seen.has(c.seq));
diff --git a/src/features/conversation-cache/cache.test.ts b/src/features/conversation-cache/cache.test.ts
index ce1c60c..4306d51 100644
--- a/src/features/conversation-cache/cache.test.ts
+++ b/src/features/conversation-cache/cache.test.ts
@@ -15,8 +15,16 @@ const chunk = (seq: number, role: "user" | "assistant" = "user"): StoredChunk =>
  */
 function createFakeStore(): ConversationChunkStore {
   const store = new Map<string, StoredChunk[]>();
+  const epochs = new Map<string, number>();
 
   return {
+    async historyEpoch(id) {
+      return epochs.get(id);
+    },
+    async reset(id, epoch) {
+      store.delete(id);
+      epochs.set(id, epoch);
+    },
     async load(conversationId) {
       return store.get(conversationId) ?? [];
     },
@@ -33,6 +41,7 @@ function createFakeStore(): ConversationChunkStore {
 
     async delete(conversationId) {
       store.delete(conversationId);
+      epochs.delete(conversationId);
     },
 
     async index() {
@@ -195,3 +204,13 @@ describe("cache.delete", () => {
     expect(result).toEqual([]);
   });
 });
+
+it("serializes invalidation and rejects stale epoch commits", async () => {
+  const store = createFakeStore();
+  const cache = createConversationCache(store);
+  await store.append("c", [chunk(1)]); // Legacy rows have no trusted epoch.
+  expect(await cache.commit("c", [chunk(101)], 1)).toEqual([chunk(101)]);
+  await Promise.all([cache.commit("c", [chunk(102)], 1), cache.reset("c", 2)]);
+  expect(await cache.commit("c", [chunk(103)], 1)).toEqual([]);
+  expect(await store.historyEpoch("c")).toBe(2);
+});
diff --git a/src/features/conversation-cache/cache.ts b/src/features/conversation-cache/cache.ts
index 4953944..431a2a7 100644
--- a/src/features/conversation-cache/cache.ts
+++ b/src/features/conversation-cache/cache.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@ import { nextSinceSeq, reconcileCache, selectEvictions } from "./logic";
 import type { ConversationChunkStore } from "./types";
 
 export interface ConversationCache {
+  historyEpoch(conversationId: string): Promise<number | undefined>;
+  reset(conversationId: string, historyEpoch: number): Promise<void>;
+
   /** Load all cached chunks for a conversation. */
   load(conversationId: string): Promise<readonly StoredChunk[]>;
 
@@ -10,7 +13,11 @@ export interface ConversationCache {
    * Load + reconcile + append new chunks.
    * Returns the merged cache (the new authoritative cache for this conversation).
    */
-  commit(conversationId: string, incoming: readonly StoredChunk[]): Promise<readonly StoredChunk[]>;
+  commit(
+    conversationId: string,
+    incoming: readonly StoredChunk[],
+    historyEpoch?: number,
+  ): Promise<readonly StoredChunk[]>;
 
   /** Return the `?sinceSeq=` cursor for the next incremental sync. */
   sinceSeq(conversationId: string): Promise<number>;
@@ -43,21 +50,52 @@ export function createConversationCache(
 ): ConversationCache {
   const maxChunks = opts?.maxChunks ?? DEFAULT_MAX_CHUNKS;
 
+  // Serialize mutation per conversation, including invalidation, so an old fetch
+  // cannot resurrect rows after a compaction broadcast has invalidated them.
+  const pending = new Map<string, Promise<unknown>>();
+  function exclusive<T>(id: string, run: () => Promise<T>): Promise<T> {
+    const next = (pending.get(id) ?? Promise.resolve()).catch(() => {}).then(run);
+    pending.set(id, next);
+    void next
+      .finally(() => {
+        if (pending.get(id) === next) pending.delete(id);
+      })
+      .catch(() => {});
+    return next;
+  }
   return {
+    historyEpoch: async (id) => {
+      await pending.get(id);
+      return store.historyEpoch(id);
+    },
+    reset: (id, epoch) =>
+      exclusive(id, async () => {
+        const current = await store.historyEpoch(id);
+        if (current === undefined || current < epoch) await store.reset(id, epoch);
+      }),
     async load(conversationId) {
+      await pending.get(conversationId);
       return store.load(conversationId);
     },
 
-    async commit(conversationId, incoming) {
-      const cached = await store.load(conversationId);
-      const { merged, toAppend } = reconcileCache(cached, incoming);
-      if (toAppend.length > 0) {
-        await store.append(conversationId, toAppend);
-      }
-      return merged;
+    commit(conversationId, incoming, epoch) {
+      return exclusive(conversationId, async () => {
+        if (epoch !== undefined) {
+          const current = await store.historyEpoch(conversationId);
+          if (current !== undefined && current > epoch) return store.load(conversationId);
+          if (current !== epoch) await store.reset(conversationId, epoch);
+        }
+        const cached = await store.load(conversationId);
+        const { merged, toAppend } = reconcileCache(cached, incoming);
+        if (toAppend.length > 0) {
+          await store.append(conversationId, toAppend);
+        }
+        return merged;
+      });
     },
 
     async sinceSeq(conversationId) {
+      await pending.get(conversationId);
       const cached = await store.load(conversationId);
       return nextSinceSeq(cached);
     },
@@ -72,7 +110,7 @@ export function createConversationCache(
     },
 
     async delete(conversationId) {
-      await store.delete(conversationId);
+      await exclusive(conversationId, () => store.delete(conversationId));
     },
   };
 }
diff --git a/src/features/conversation-cache/types.ts b/src/features/conversation-cache/types.ts
index 345ab71..a273f34 100644
--- a/src/features/conversation-cache/types.ts
+++ b/src/features/conversation-cache/types.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ export interface ConversationCacheIndexEntry {
  * All methods MUST be idempotent on `seq`: re-appending an existing seq is a no-op.
  */
 export interface ConversationChunkStore {
+  historyEpoch(conversationId: string): Promise<number | undefined>;
+  /** Atomically replace cached rows with empty history at this epoch. */
+  reset(conversationId: string, historyEpoch: number): Promise<void>;
+
   /** Load all cached chunks for a conversation, seq-ordered. Returns [] if absent. */
   load(conversationId: string): Promise<readonly StoredChunk[]>;
 
diff --git a/src/features/layout/adapter/http.test.ts b/src/features/layout/adapter/http.test.ts
index cc7d7e9..30e194a 100644
--- a/src/features/layout/adapter/http.test.ts
+++ b/src/features/layout/adapter/http.test.ts
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ describe("createLayoutHttp — getTree", () => {
   it("a malformed 200 (SPA-fallback JSON without a tree) degrades to notFound", async () => {
     const http = createLayoutHttp(
       "http://backend.test",
-      fetchReturning(200, { chunks: [], latestSeq: 0 }),
+      fetchReturning(200, { chunks: [], historyEpoch: 0, latestSeq: 0 }),
     );
     const result = await http.getTree("ws-a");
     expect(result).toMatchObject({ ok: false, notFound: true });