diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/browser/agent-timeline-resume.spec.ts b/packages/app/e2e/browser/agent-timeline-resume.spec.ts
index 06c373bc00..c3054b2ebc 100644
--- a/packages/app/e2e/browser/agent-timeline-resume.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/browser/agent-timeline-resume.spec.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import {
   restoreUnchangedViewedTimeline,
   restoreViewedTimelineHoldingCatchUp,
   restoreViewedTimelineWithHeldResponse,
-  returnWithFreshnessCheckUnanswered,
+  reopenWithFreshnessCheckUnanswered,
   waitForResumeAnswer,
   reopenAppWatchingForUpdatingToast,
   watchForUpdatingToast,
@@ -103,7 +103,9 @@ test.describe("Agent timeline resume", () => {
     }
   });
 
-  test("a check the daemon has not answered reports the update until it does", async ({ page }) => {
+  test("opening cached history reports an unanswered check until the daemon answers", async ({
+    page,
+  }) => {
     test.setTimeout(120_000);
     const gate = await installDaemonWebSocketGate(page);
     const agent = await seedLongMockAgentTimeline({ turns: 3 });
@@ -112,7 +114,7 @@ test.describe("Agent timeline resume", () => {
       await expectTimelinePromptVisible(page, agent.newestPrompt);
       const requests = rememberTimelineRequestCounts(gate);
 
-      await returnWithFreshnessCheckUnanswered(page, gate);
+      await reopenWithFreshnessCheckUnanswered(page, gate, agent);
       await answerFreshnessCheck(page, gate);
 
       expectResumeAnsweredWithoutFetch(gate, requests);
diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/support/helpers/timeline-resume.ts b/packages/app/e2e/support/helpers/timeline-resume.ts
index 841f9206ef..028ab90f03 100644
--- a/packages/app/e2e/support/helpers/timeline-resume.ts
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/support/helpers/timeline-resume.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { expect, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
 import type { installDaemonWebSocketGate } from "./daemon-websocket-gate";
+import { readReplicaCache } from "./replica-cache-storage";
 import type { LongTimelineAgent } from "./timeline-pagination";
 import {
   expectReconnectingToastGone,
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ const SUBSCRIPTION_RESPONSE = "agent.timeline.set_subscription.response";
 const TIMELINE_REQUEST = "fetch_agent_timeline_request";
 const TIMELINE_RESPONSE = "fetch_agent_timeline_response";
 /**
- * `FRESHNESS_CHECK_QUIET_MS` is 500: a check unanswered that long reports Updating messages by
+ * `FRESHNESS_CHECK_QUIET_MS` is 500: an opening check unanswered that long reports Updating messages by
  * design, however long the daemon takes. The app starts that wait just before it sends the question
  * this helper times, so the bound stops short of 500.
  */
@@ -151,13 +152,24 @@ export async function reopenAppWatchingForUpdatingToast(page: Page): Promise<()
   return () => expectToastWaitedForTheDaemon(page);
 }
 
-/** Returns to the chat with the daemon's answer held, past the point the toast reports it. */
-export async function returnWithFreshnessCheckUnanswered(
+/** Opens persisted history with the daemon's freshness answer held. */
+export async function reopenWithFreshnessCheckUnanswered(
   page: Page,
   gate: DaemonWebSocketGate,
+  agent: LongTimelineAgent,
 ): Promise<void> {
+  // A cold open needs a persisted authoritative cursor to ask a freshness question.
+  await expect
+    .poll(async () => {
+      const cache = await readReplicaCache(page);
+      return cache?.hosts
+        ?.flatMap((host) => host.timelines)
+        .find((timeline) => timeline.agentId === agent.agentId)?.range?.endSeq;
+    })
+    .toBeGreaterThan(0);
   gate.holdNextClientRequest(SUBSCRIPTION_REQUEST);
-  await hideTabAndReturn(page);
+  await page.reload();
+  await expect(page.getByText(agent.newestPrompt, { exact: true })).toBeVisible();
   await gate.waitForHeldClientRequest();
   await expect(page.getByRole("alert").filter({ hasText: "Updating messages" })).toBeVisible();
 }