diff --git a/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/src/client/ObservationOverlay.module.css b/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/src/client/ObservationOverlay.module.css
index 2fe2215..697749c 100644
--- a/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/src/client/ObservationOverlay.module.css
+++ b/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/src/client/ObservationOverlay.module.css
@@ -256,3 +256,101 @@
     animation: none;
   }
 }
+
+.strip {
+  display: flex;
+  gap: 6px;
+  padding: 4px 8px;
+  overflow-x: auto;
+  border-top: 1px solid var(--dsw-alias-border-secondary);
+}
+
+.strip-item {
+  position: relative;
+  flex: none;
+  border-radius: 6px;
+  border: 1px solid var(--dsw-alias-border-secondary);
+}
+
+.strip-item[data-focused] {
+  border-color: var(--dsw-alias-border-focus);
+}
+
+.strip-item[data-state="error"] {
+  border-color: var(--dsw-alias-label-error);
+}
+
+.strip-item[data-state="dead"] {
+  opacity: 0.45;
+}
+
+.strip-main {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 4px;
+  padding: 3px 6px;
+  border: none;
+  background: none;
+  font: inherit;
+  font-size: 11px;
+  color: var(--dsw-alias-label-secondary);
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+.strip-thumb {
+  width: 28px;
+  height: 20px;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  border-radius: 3px;
+  background: var(--dsw-alias-bg-base);
+  display: inline-flex;
+}
+
+.strip-thumb img {
+  width: 100%;
+  height: 100%;
+  object-fit: cover;
+}
+
+.strip-thumb-empty {
+  width: 100%;
+  height: 100%;
+}
+
+.strip-id {
+  max-width: 64px;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  text-overflow: ellipsis;
+}
+
+.pin-badge {
+  font-size: 9px;
+  line-height: 1;
+}
+
+.strip-interrupt {
+  position: absolute;
+  top: -7px;
+  right: -7px;
+  width: 16px;
+  height: 16px;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  border: 1px solid var(--dsw-alias-label-error);
+  background: var(--dsw-alias-bg-elevated, var(--dsw-alias-bg-base));
+  color: var(--dsw-alias-label-error);
+  font-size: 8px;
+  line-height: 1;
+  padding: 0;
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+.strip-interrupt:disabled {
+  opacity: 0.4;
+  cursor: default;
+}
+
+.strip-main:focus-visible,
+.strip-interrupt:focus-visible {
+  outline: 2px solid var(--dsw-alias-border-focus);
+  outline-offset: 1px;
+}
diff --git a/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/src/client/ObservationOverlay.tsx b/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/src/client/ObservationOverlay.tsx
index 3f54b40..243b177 100644
--- a/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/src/client/ObservationOverlay.tsx
+++ b/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/src/client/ObservationOverlay.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 // Observation overlay: the default in-app carrier for live session watching.
 // Expanded = draggable/resizable floating card (bottom-right); collapsed = a
 // status capsule; "pop out" upgrades the same content to a native Document
-// PiP window (user gesture required by the browser). Pure client state —
-// position/size/collapse live for the page lifetime only.
+// PiP window (user gesture required by the browser). Multi-session renders a
+// meeting-style strip under the focus view. Pure client state — position,
+// size, collapse, and the pin live for the page lifetime only.
 
 import {
   type PointerEvent as ReactPointerEvent,
@@ -64,10 +65,16 @@ function formatElapsed(sinceMs: number, nowMs: number): string {
   return `${mm}:${ss}`;
 }
 
-/** Focus = most recently active session (action or latest state change). */
+/**
+ * Auto-follow focus: the most recently touched session, but never yank focus
+ * to a session whose latest action failed (errors flag the strip item, they
+ * do not steal the stage) or one already reported dead.
+ */
 export function focusOf(sessions: readonly SessionObservation[]): SessionObservation | undefined {
   if (sessions.length === 0) return undefined;
-  return sessions.reduce((a, b) => (a.since >= b.since ? a : b));
+  const byRecency = [...sessions].sort((a, b) => b.since - a.since);
+  const healthy = byRecency.find((s) => s.lastError === undefined && s.dead !== true);
+  return healthy ?? byRecency[0];
 }
 
 export function statusOf(obs: SessionObservation): "active" | "idle" | "error" {
@@ -75,17 +82,98 @@ export function statusOf(obs: SessionObservation): "active" | "idle" | "error" {
   return obs.action === "idle" ? "idle" : "active";
 }
 
+/** One strip item: mini frame, id, status dot, hover interrupt, pin toggle. */
+function StripItem(props: {
+  store: ObservationClientStore;
+  obs: SessionObservation;
+  pinned: boolean;
+  focused: boolean;
+  onTogglePin: (sessionId: string) => void;
+}) {
+  const { store, obs, pinned, focused, onTogglePin } = props;
+  const [hover, setHover] = useState(false);
+  const thumbId = obs.thumbnailAttachmentId;
+  useEffect(() => {
+    store.ensureThumbnail(thumbId);
+  }, [store, thumbId]);
+  const thumb = thumbId !== undefined ? store.getSnapshot().thumbnails[thumbId] : undefined;
+  const state = obs.dead === true ? "dead" : statusOf(obs);
+  return (
+    <div
+      className={css["strip-item"]}
+      data-state={state}
+      data-focused={focused || undefined}
+      data-pinned={pinned || undefined}
+      onPointerEnter={() => setHover(true)}
+      onPointerLeave={() => setHover(false)}
+    >
+      <button
+        type="button"
+        className={css["strip-main"]}
+        aria-label={`${pinned ? "Unpin" : "Pin"} session ${obs.sessionId}`}
+        aria-pressed={pinned}
+        onClick={() => onTogglePin(obs.sessionId)}
+      >
+        <span className={css["strip-thumb"]}>
+          {thumb?.status === "ready" && thumb.url !== undefined ? (
+            <img src={thumb.url} alt="" />
+          ) : (
+            <span className={css["strip-thumb-empty"]} />
+          )}
+        </span>
+        <span className={css["strip-id"]}>{obs.sessionId}</span>
+        <span className={css.dot} data-state={state === "dead" ? "idle" : state} aria-hidden />
+        {pinned ? (
+          <span className={css["pin-badge"]} aria-label="pinned">
+            📌
+          </span>
+        ) : null}
+      </button>
+      {hover && !pinned && obs.dead !== true ? (
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          className={css["strip-interrupt"]}
+          aria-label={`Interrupt session ${obs.sessionId}`}
+          disabled={obs.action === "idle"}
+          onClick={(event) => {
+            event.stopPropagation();
+            void store.interrupt(obs.sessionId);
+          }}
+        >
+          ■
+        </button>
+      ) : null}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
 /** The floating card / PiP shared content. */
 function OverlayBody(props: {
   store: ObservationClientStore;
   focus: SessionObservation | undefined;
+  sessions: readonly SessionObservation[];
+  available: boolean;
+  pinnedId: string | null;
+  onTogglePin: (sessionId: string) => void;
   now: number;
   onPopOut?: (() => void) | undefined;
   onCollapse?: (() => void) | undefined;
   inPip: boolean;
   onHeaderPointerDown?: (event: ReactPointerEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => void;
 }) {
-  const { store, focus, now, onPopOut, onCollapse, inPip, onHeaderPointerDown } = props;
+  const {
+    store,
+    focus,
+    sessions,
+    available,
+    pinnedId,
+    onTogglePin,
+    now,
+    onPopOut,
+    onCollapse,
+    inPip,
+    onHeaderPointerDown,
+  } = props;
   const [interrupting, setInterrupting] = useState(false);
   const [hintOpen, setHintOpen] = useState(false);
   const [hintSeen, setHintSeen] = useState(false);
@@ -96,7 +184,12 @@ function OverlayBody(props: {
   }, [store, thumbId]);
   const thumb = thumbId !== undefined ? store.getSnapshot().thumbnails[thumbId] : undefined;
 
-  const canInterrupt = !interrupting && focus !== undefined && focus.action !== "idle";
+  const canInterrupt =
+    available &&
+    !interrupting &&
+    focus !== undefined &&
+    focus.action !== "idle" &&
+    focus.dead !== true;
   const onInterrupt = (): void => {
     if (!canInterrupt || focus === undefined) return;
     setHintSeen(true);
@@ -105,10 +198,12 @@ function OverlayBody(props: {
     void store.interrupt(focus.sessionId).finally(() => setInterrupting(false));
   };
 
-  const actionText =
-    focus === undefined ? "no session" : focus.action === "idle" ? "idle" : focus.action;
-  const elapsed = focus !== undefined ? formatElapsed(focus.since, now) : "00:00";
-  const state = focus !== undefined ? statusOf(focus) : "idle";
+  const statusText = !available
+    ? "browser unavailable"
+    : focus === undefined
+      ? "no session"
+      : `${focus.sessionId} · ${focus.action === "idle" ? "idle" : focus.action} · ${formatElapsed(focus.since, now)}`;
+  const state = !available ? "error" : focus !== undefined ? statusOf(focus) : "idle";
 
   return (
     <div className={css.body} data-state={state} data-in-pip={inPip || undefined}>
@@ -119,11 +214,7 @@ function OverlayBody(props: {
         role="presentation"
       >
         <span className={css.dot} data-state={state} aria-hidden />
-        <span className={css["status-text"]}>
-          {focus === undefined
-            ? "browser sessions"
-            : `${focus.sessionId} · ${actionText} · ${elapsed}`}
-        </span>
+        <span className={css["status-text"]}>{statusText}</span>
         {onCollapse !== undefined ? (
           <button
             type="button"
@@ -145,7 +236,11 @@ function OverlayBody(props: {
           />
         ) : (
           <div className={css.placeholder}>
-            {thumb?.status === "error" ? "frame unavailable" : "waiting for page"}
+            {!available
+              ? "last frame kept"
+              : thumb?.status === "error"
+                ? "frame unavailable"
+                : "waiting for page"}
           </div>
         )}
         {thumb?.status === "error" ? (
@@ -154,6 +249,20 @@ function OverlayBody(props: {
           </span>
         ) : null}
       </div>
+      {sessions.length >= 2 ? (
+        <div className={css.strip} data-testid="obs-strip" role="list">
+          {sessions.map((obs) => (
+            <StripItem
+              key={obs.sessionId}
+              store={store}
+              obs={obs}
+              pinned={pinnedId === obs.sessionId}
+              focused={focus?.sessionId === obs.sessionId}
+              onTogglePin={onTogglePin}
+            />
+          ))}
+        </div>
+      ) : null}
       <div className={css.actions}>
         <span className={css["interrupt-wrap"]}>
           <button
@@ -209,6 +318,7 @@ export function ObservationOverlay({ store }: { store: ObservationClientStore })
   const [pos, setPos] = useState<Point | null>(null);
   const [size, setSize] = useState<Size>(DEFAULT_SIZE);
   const [pipWindow, setPipWindow] = useState<Window | null>(null);
+  const [pinnedId, setPinnedId] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const dragRef = useRef<{
     kind: "move" | "resize";
     startX: number;
@@ -217,7 +327,6 @@ export function ObservationOverlay({ store }: { store: ObservationClientStore })
   } | null>(null);
 
   // Elapsed-time ticker: 1s while anything is active.
-  const focus = focusOf(snapshot.sessions);
   const anyActive = snapshot.sessions.some((s) => s.action !== "idle");
   const [now, setNow] = useState(() => Date.now());
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -226,6 +335,14 @@ export function ObservationOverlay({ store }: { store: ObservationClientStore })
     return () => clearInterval(timer);
   }, [anyActive]);
 
+  // Focus: the pinned session wins while it still exists; otherwise auto-follow.
+  const pinned =
+    pinnedId !== null ? snapshot.sessions.find((s) => s.sessionId === pinnedId) : undefined;
+  const focus = pinned ?? focusOf(snapshot.sessions);
+  const onTogglePin = useCallback((sessionId: string) => {
+    setPinnedId((current) => (current === sessionId ? null : sessionId));
+  }, []);
+
   const viewport = (): Size => ({ w: window.innerWidth, h: window.innerHeight });
 
   const onPointerMove = useCallback((event: PointerEvent) => {
@@ -284,6 +401,10 @@ export function ObservationOverlay({ store }: { store: ObservationClientStore })
     <OverlayBody
       store={store}
       focus={focus}
+      sessions={snapshot.sessions}
+      available={snapshot.available}
+      pinnedId={pinned !== undefined ? pinnedId : null}
+      onTogglePin={onTogglePin}
       now={now}
       inPip={pipWindow !== null}
       onPopOut={pipWindow === null && pipApi() !== undefined ? () => void popOut() : undefined}
diff --git a/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/src/client/observation-store.ts b/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/src/client/observation-store.ts
index 9dee813..cd40e4c 100644
--- a/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/src/client/observation-store.ts
+++ b/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/src/client/observation-store.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ export interface OverlaySnapshot {
   readonly sessions: readonly SessionObservation[];
   readonly connected: boolean;
   readonly thumbnails: Readonly<Record<string, ThumbnailState>>;
+  /** False when the host reports the browser/daemon as unreachable. */
+  readonly available: boolean;
 }
 
 const STATE_URL = "/bsk-observation/state";
@@ -45,7 +47,13 @@ export class ObservationClientStore {
   private thumbs = new Map<string, ThumbnailState>();
   private listeners = new Set<() => void>();
   private events: EventSourceLike | undefined;
-  private snapshot: OverlaySnapshot = { sessions: [], connected: false, thumbnails: {} };
+  private snapshot: OverlaySnapshot = {
+    sessions: [],
+    connected: false,
+    thumbnails: {},
+    available: true,
+  };
+  private available = true;
   private started = false;
 
   constructor(private readonly deps: ObservationClientDeps) {}
@@ -62,6 +70,7 @@ export class ObservationClientStore {
       sessions: [...this.sessions.values()],
       connected: this.events !== undefined,
       thumbnails: Object.fromEntries(this.thumbs),
+      available: this.available,
     };
     for (const listener of [...this.listeners]) listener();
   }
@@ -74,8 +83,12 @@ export class ObservationClientStore {
       .fetchFn(STATE_URL)
       .then(async (res) => {
         if (!res.ok) return;
-        const body = (await res.json()) as { sessions?: SessionObservation[] };
+        const body = (await res.json()) as {
+          sessions?: SessionObservation[];
+          available?: boolean;
+        };
         this.sessions = new Map((body.sessions ?? []).map((s) => [s.sessionId, s]));
+        if (typeof body.available === "boolean") this.available = body.available;
         this.publish();
       })
       .catch(() => {});
@@ -114,6 +127,8 @@ export class ObservationClientStore {
       this.sessions.delete(event.session.sessionId);
     } else if (event.type === "upsert" && event.session !== undefined) {
       this.sessions.set(event.session.sessionId, event.session);
+    } else if (event.type === "availability") {
+      this.available = event.available;
     }
     this.publish();
   }
diff --git a/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/src/observation-http.ts b/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/src/observation-http.ts
index 343c96e..8d178ee 100644
--- a/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/src/observation-http.ts
+++ b/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/src/observation-http.ts
@@ -56,7 +56,10 @@ export function registerObservationRoutes(
           sendJson(res, 405, { error: "method not allowed" });
           return;
         }
-        sendJson(res, 200, { sessions: observation.getState() });
+        sendJson(res, 200, {
+          sessions: observation.getState(),
+          available: observation.isAvailable(),
+        });
       },
     }),
     webServer.register({
diff --git a/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/src/observation.ts b/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/src/observation.ts
index 1bcf338..1176b1f 100644
--- a/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/src/observation.ts
+++ b/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/src/observation.ts
@@ -31,13 +31,17 @@ export interface SessionObservation {
   thumbnailAttachmentId?: string;
   /** Summary of the most recent failed action (drives the red status dot). */
   lastError?: string;
+  /**
+   * The daemon reports this session as gone (e.g. daemon restart): the strip
+   * greys it out until it is stopped/removed. No more frames are requested.
+   */
+  dead?: boolean;
 }
 
 /** Incremental event carried to subscribers (SSE on the wire). */
-export interface ObservationEvent {
-  type: "upsert" | "remove" | "reset";
-  session?: SessionObservation;
-}
+export type ObservationEvent =
+  | { type: "upsert" | "remove" | "reset"; session?: SessionObservation }
+  | { type: "availability"; available: boolean };
 
 export interface ObservationOptions {
   enabled: boolean;
@@ -84,6 +88,9 @@ export class ObservationService {
   private readonly captureInFlight = new Set<string>();
   private readonly captureFailures = new Map<string, number>();
   private readonly lastActivity = new Map<string, number>();
+  /** Consecutive capture failures across ALL sessions (daemon-level signal). */
+  private globalFailures = 0;
+  private available = true;
   private disposed = false;
 
   constructor(
@@ -105,6 +112,17 @@ export class ObservationService {
     return [...this.observations.values()].map((entry) => ({ ...entry }));
   }
 
+  /** Whether the browser side looks reachable (drives the "browser unavailable" state). */
+  isAvailable(): boolean {
+    return this.available;
+  }
+
+  private setAvailable(available: boolean): void {
+    if (this.available === available) return;
+    this.available = available;
+    this.emit({ type: "availability", available });
+  }
+
   /** Subscribe to incremental changes; returns an unsubscribe function. */
   subscribe(listener: (event: ObservationEvent) => void): () => void {
     this.listeners.add(listener);
@@ -156,10 +174,13 @@ export class ObservationService {
   beginAction(sessionId: string, action: string): void {
     if (!this.deps.options.enabled || this.disposed) return;
     const entry = this.observations.get(sessionId);
-    if (entry === undefined) return;
+    if (entry === undefined || entry.dead === true) return;
     const now = this.scheduler.now();
     this.lastActivity.set(sessionId, now);
-    this.put({ ...entry, action, since: now });
+    // A fresh action clears the previous error marker (red dot means "last action failed").
+    const next: SessionObservation = { ...entry, action, since: now };
+    delete next.lastError;
+    this.put(next);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -169,15 +190,13 @@ export class ObservationService {
   endAction(sessionId: string, error?: string): void {
     if (!this.deps.options.enabled || this.disposed) return;
     const entry = this.observations.get(sessionId);
-    if (entry === undefined) return;
+    if (entry === undefined || entry.dead === true) return;
     const now = this.scheduler.now();
     this.lastActivity.set(sessionId, now);
-    this.put({
-      ...entry,
-      action: "idle",
-      since: now,
-      ...(error !== undefined ? { lastError: error } : {}),
-    });
+    const next: SessionObservation = { ...entry, action: "idle", since: now };
+    if (error !== undefined) next.lastError = error;
+    else delete next.lastError;
+    this.put(next);
     this.scheduleCapture(sessionId, 0);
   }
 
@@ -230,7 +249,8 @@ export class ObservationService {
   /** Schedule the next capture for a session; `delayMs` 0 means "as soon as the event loop allows". */
   private scheduleCapture(sessionId: string, delayMs?: number): void {
     if (!this.deps.options.enabled || this.disposed) return;
-    if (!this.observations.has(sessionId)) return;
+    const entry = this.observations.get(sessionId);
+    if (entry === undefined || entry.dead === true) return;
     this.cancelCapture(sessionId);
     const now = this.scheduler.now();
     const lastSeen = this.lastActivity.get(sessionId) ?? 0;
@@ -255,7 +275,9 @@ export class ObservationService {
    * Failures keep the previous frame and back off silently.
    */
   private async capture(sessionId: string): Promise<void> {
-    if (this.disposed || !this.observations.has(sessionId)) return;
+    if (this.disposed) return;
+    const current = this.observations.get(sessionId);
+    if (current === undefined || current.dead === true) return;
     if (this.captureInFlight.has(sessionId)) return;
     const attachments = this.deps.ctx.get("attachments") as AttachmentLike | undefined;
     if (attachments === undefined) {
@@ -269,7 +291,19 @@ export class ObservationService {
         ["screenshot", "--session", sessionId, "--out", outPath],
         { timeoutMs: 15_000, tag: `observation:${sessionId}` },
       );
-      if (result.code !== 0) throw new Error(`screenshot exited ${result.code}`);
+      if (result.code !== 0) {
+        let code: string | undefined;
+        try {
+          code = (JSON.parse(result.stdout) as { code?: string }).code;
+        } catch {
+          code = undefined;
+        }
+        if (code === "session_not_found") {
+          this.markDead(sessionId);
+          return;
+        }
+        throw new Error(`screenshot exited ${result.code}`);
+      }
       const reply = JSON.parse(result.stdout) as { path?: string };
       const data = await readFile(reply.path ?? outPath);
       const ref = await attachments.saveImage({
@@ -280,15 +314,26 @@ export class ObservationService {
       const entry = this.observations.get(sessionId);
       if (entry === undefined) return;
       this.captureFailures.delete(sessionId);
+      this.globalFailures = 0;
+      this.setAvailable(true);
       this.put({ ...entry, thumbnailAttachmentId: String(ref.attachmentId) });
     } catch {
       // Silent by design: keep the previous frame, count toward backoff.
       this.captureFailures.set(sessionId, (this.captureFailures.get(sessionId) ?? 0) + 1);
+      this.globalFailures += 1;
+      if (this.globalFailures >= FAILURE_BACKOFF_THRESHOLD) this.setAvailable(false);
     } finally {
       this.captureInFlight.delete(sessionId);
       if (!this.disposed && this.observations.has(sessionId)) this.scheduleCapture(sessionId);
     }
   }
+  /** Mark a session dead: grey it out, stop asking for frames, keep the entry for the strip. */
+  private markDead(sessionId: string): void {
+    const entry = this.observations.get(sessionId);
+    if (entry === undefined || entry.dead === true) return;
+    this.cancelCapture(sessionId);
+    this.put({ ...entry, dead: true, action: "idle" });
+  }
 }
 
 /** Map a bsk command label onto its observation action verb. */
diff --git a/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/tests/client/observation-overlay.test.tsx b/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/tests/client/observation-overlay.test.tsx
index 887a7fb..f3a5c22 100644
--- a/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/tests/client/observation-overlay.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/tests/client/observation-overlay.test.tsx
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ interface Harness {
   store: ObservationClientStore;
   es: () => EventSourceLike;
   push: (sessions: SessionObservation[]) => void;
+  emitRaw: (event: unknown) => void;
   fetches: { url: string; init?: { body?: string } }[];
   loadImage: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
 }
@@ -52,6 +53,9 @@ function makeHarness(initial: SessionObservation[]): Harness {
       }
       if (sessions.length === 0) es?.onmessage?.({ data: JSON.stringify({ type: "reset" }) });
     },
+    emitRaw: (event) => {
+      es?.onmessage?.({ data: JSON.stringify(event) });
+    },
     fetches,
     loadImage,
   };
@@ -183,4 +187,106 @@ describe("ObservationOverlay", () => {
     for (const fn of listeners.get("pagehide") ?? []) fn();
     await screen.findByTestId("obs-card");
   });
+
+  it("renders the strip for two sessions and pins focus on click", async () => {
+    const older: SessionObservation = {
+      sessionId: "s1",
+      action: "idle",
+      since: Date.now() - 60000,
+    };
+    const newer: SessionObservation = { sessionId: "s2", action: "clicking", since: Date.now() };
+    const h = makeHarness([older, newer]);
+    render(<ObservationOverlay store={h.store} />);
+    // Auto-follows the most recently active session.
+    await screen.findByText(/s2 · clicking/);
+    const strip = screen.getByTestId("obs-strip");
+    expect(strip.textContent).toContain("s1");
+    expect(strip.textContent).toContain("s2");
+    // Pin s1: focus moves and stays even when s2 gets newer activity.
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Pin session s1" }));
+    await screen.findByText(/s1 · idle/);
+    h.push([{ ...newer, since: Date.now() + 5000, action: "filling" }]);
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.queryByText(/s2 · filling/)).toBeNull());
+    expect(screen.getByText(/s1 · idle/)).toBeTruthy();
+    // Unpin: auto-follow resumes.
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Unpin session s1" }));
+    await screen.findByText(/s2 · filling/);
+  });
+
+  it("flags an errored strip item without stealing focus", async () => {
+    const s1: SessionObservation = { sessionId: "s1", action: "idle", since: Date.now() - 30000 };
+    const s2: SessionObservation = { sessionId: "s2", action: "idle", since: Date.now() - 10000 };
+    const h = makeHarness([s1, s2]);
+    render(<ObservationOverlay store={h.store} />);
+    await screen.findByText(/s2 · idle/);
+    // s2's latest action failed: red edge on its strip item, focus stays on s2 already…
+    // now push an even-more-recent ERROR for s1 — focus must NOT jump to it.
+    h.push([
+      { ...s2, since: Date.now() - 5000 },
+      { ...s1, since: Date.now(), lastError: "click failed" },
+    ]);
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(
+        screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Pin session s1" }).closest("[data-state]"),
+      ).toHaveProperty("dataset", expect.objectContaining({ state: "error" })),
+    );
+    expect(screen.getByText(/s2 · idle/)).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+
+  it("shows browser-unavailable with a kept frame and a greyed interrupt", async () => {
+    const h = makeHarness([{ ...BUSY, thumbnailAttachmentId: "att-1" }]);
+    render(<ObservationOverlay store={h.store} />);
+    await waitFor(() => expect(h.loadImage).toHaveBeenCalledWith("att-1"));
+    await screen.findByRole("img", { name: "session s1 view" });
+    h.emitRaw({ type: "availability", available: false });
+    await screen.findByText("browser unavailable");
+    // Last frame stays on stage; interrupt is greyed.
+    expect(screen.getByRole("img", { name: "session s1 view" })).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Interrupt the current/ })).toHaveProperty(
+      "disabled",
+      true,
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("greys out a dead session in the strip and skips it for focus", async () => {
+    const s1: SessionObservation = { sessionId: "s1", action: "idle", since: Date.now() - 20000 };
+    const s2: SessionObservation = { sessionId: "s2", action: "idle", since: Date.now() - 10000 };
+    const h = makeHarness([s1, s2]);
+    render(<ObservationOverlay store={h.store} />);
+    await screen.findByText(/s2 · idle/);
+    h.push([{ ...s1, dead: true, since: Date.now() }, s2]);
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(
+        screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Pin session s1" }).closest("[data-state]"),
+      ).toHaveProperty("dataset", expect.objectContaining({ state: "dead" })),
+    );
+    // Dead sessions never take the stage.
+    expect(screen.getByText(/s2 · idle/)).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+
+  it("interrupts a strip session directly on hover without focusing it", async () => {
+    const s1: SessionObservation = {
+      sessionId: "s1",
+      action: "clicking",
+      since: Date.now() - 30000,
+    };
+    const s2: SessionObservation = { sessionId: "s2", action: "idle", since: Date.now() };
+    const h = makeHarness([s1, s2]);
+    render(<ObservationOverlay store={h.store} />);
+    await screen.findByText(/s2 · idle/);
+    const item = screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Pin session s1" }).closest("div");
+    if (item === null) throw new Error("no strip item");
+    fireEvent.pointerEnter(item);
+    const mini = await screen.findByRole("button", { name: "Interrupt session s1" });
+    fireEvent.click(mini);
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(
+        h.fetches.some(
+          (f) => f.url === "/bsk-observation/interrupt" && f.init?.body === '{"sessionId":"s1"}',
+        ),
+      ).toBe(true),
+    );
+    // Focus did not move to s1.
+    expect(screen.getByText(/s2 · idle/)).toBeTruthy();
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/tests/observation.test.ts b/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/tests/observation.test.ts
index b30749b..b2d52eb 100644
--- a/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/tests/observation.test.ts
+++ b/packages/dsh-plugin-browserskill/tests/observation.test.ts
@@ -56,7 +56,9 @@ interface FakeRunner extends BskRunner {
 }
 
 /** Runner that answers screenshot with a real temp PNG and records kills. */
-function fakeRunner(opts: { screenshotFails?: boolean; killCount?: number } = {}): FakeRunner {
+function fakeRunner(
+  opts: { screenshotFails?: boolean; screenshotNotFound?: boolean; killCount?: number } = {},
+): FakeRunner {
   const calls: FakeRunner["calls"] = [];
   const killed: string[] = [];
   return {
@@ -65,6 +67,15 @@ function fakeRunner(opts: { screenshotFails?: boolean; killCount?: number } = {}
     async run(args: string[], options: BskRunOptions = {}): Promise<BskRunResult> {
       calls.push({ args, options });
       if (args[0] === "screenshot") {
+        if (opts.screenshotNotFound) {
+          return {
+            code: 4,
+            stdout: JSON.stringify({ code: "session_not_found", message: "no such session" }),
+            stderr: "",
+            timedOut: false,
+            aborted: false,
+          };
+        }
         if (opts.screenshotFails) {
           return { code: 1, stdout: "", stderr: "boom", timedOut: false, aborted: false };
         }
@@ -257,8 +268,10 @@ describe("observation traffic isolation", () => {
     // The capture upsert carries the thumbnail but the action stays idle…
     const captureEvents = events.filter((e) => e.type === "upsert");
     expect(captureEvents).toHaveLength(1);
-    expect(captureEvents[0].session?.action).toBe("idle");
-    expect(captureEvents[0].session?.thumbnailAttachmentId).toBe("att-1");
+    const captureEvent = captureEvents[0];
+    if (captureEvent.type !== "upsert") throw new Error("unreachable");
+    expect(captureEvent.session?.action).toBe("idle");
+    expect(captureEvent.session?.thumbnailAttachmentId).toBe("att-1");
     // …and the registry's current pointer never moved through observation.
     expect(registry.current()).toBe("s1");
     expect(registry.list()[0].startedAtMs).toBe(1);
@@ -398,6 +411,55 @@ describe("HTTP/SSE interface", () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe("availability and dead sessions", () => {
+  it("flips availability off after repeated global failures and back on success", async () => {
+    const scheduler = fakeScheduler();
+    const runner = fakeRunner({ screenshotFails: true });
+    const { service, events } = setup({ runner, scheduler });
+    service.addSession("s1");
+    for (let i = 1; i <= 3; i++) {
+      scheduler.runNext();
+      await waitFor(() => runner.calls.filter((c) => c.args[0] === "screenshot").length === i);
+    }
+    expect(service.isAvailable()).toBe(false);
+    expect(events.some((e) => e.type === "availability" && e.available === false)).toBe(true);
+    service.dispose();
+  });
+
+  it("marks a session dead on session_not_found and stops asking for frames", async () => {
+    const scheduler = fakeScheduler();
+    const runner = fakeRunner({ screenshotNotFound: true });
+    const { service, events } = setup({ runner, scheduler });
+    service.addSession("s1");
+    scheduler.runNext();
+    await waitFor(() => events.some((e) => e.type === "upsert" && e.session?.dead === true));
+    expect(service.getState()[0].dead).toBe(true);
+    expect(service.getState()[0].action).toBe("idle");
+    // No further captures are scheduled for a dead session.
+    expect(scheduler.pending()).toEqual([]);
+    // Instrumentation is dropped for dead sessions.
+    service.beginAction("s1", "clicking");
+    expect(service.getState()[0].action).toBe("idle");
+    // A dead session leaves cleanly.
+    service.removeSession("s1");
+    expect(service.getState()).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it("clears lastError on the next action and keeps it on failure", () => {
+    const { service } = setup({});
+    service.addSession("s1");
+    service.endAction("s1", "click failed");
+    expect(service.getState()[0].lastError).toBe("click failed");
+    service.beginAction("s1", "clicking");
+    expect(service.getState()[0].lastError).toBeUndefined();
+    service.endAction("s1");
+    expect(service.getState()[0].lastError).toBeUndefined();
+    service.endAction("s1", "fill failed");
+    expect(service.getState()[0].lastError).toBe("fill failed");
+    service.dispose();
+  });
+});
+
 describe("actionForLabel", () => {
   it("maps tool labels onto observation verbs", () => {
     expect(actionForLabel("navigate")).toBe("navigating");