diff --git a/static/messages.js b/static/messages.js
index e3d82dc2..f000730d 100644
--- a/static/messages.js
+++ b/static/messages.js
@@ -5953,7 +5953,10 @@ function attachLiveStream(activeSid, streamId, uploaded=[], options={}){
               _transient:true,
             });
           }
-          clearLiveToolCards();
+          // Keep the rendered live Worklog in place until the settled transcript swaps
+          // it for the settled anchor scene. Removing it first exposes an empty
+          // transcript frame on large sessions.
+          clearLiveToolCards({preserveDom:true});
           S.busy=false;
           // No-reply guard (#373): if agent returned nothing, show inline error
           if(!S.messages.some(m=>m.role==='assistant'&&String(m.content||'').trim())&&!assistantText){removeThinking();S.messages.push({role:'assistant',content:'**No response received.** Check your API key and model selection.'});}
diff --git a/static/ui.js b/static/ui.js
index d2c0a85f..eada54bb 100644
--- a/static/ui.js
+++ b/static/ui.js
@@ -18241,14 +18241,17 @@ function _findLiveAssistantAnchorForSegment(inner, segmentSeq){
 }
 
 function clearLiveToolCards(){
+  const preserveDom=!!(arguments[0]&&arguments[0].preserveDom);
   if(typeof _clearActivityElapsedTimer==='function') _clearActivityElapsedTimer();
-  const inner=_assistantTurnBlocks($('liveAssistantTurn'));
-  if(inner) inner.querySelectorAll('.live-worklog[data-live-worklog-shell],.tool-worklog-group[data-live-tool-call-group],.tool-call-group[data-live-tool-call-group],.tool-card-row[data-live-tid]:not(.transparent-event-row),[data-anchor-scene-owner="1"],[data-anchor-scene-row="1"]').forEach(el=>el.remove());
+  if(!preserveDom){
+    const inner=_assistantTurnBlocks($('liveAssistantTurn'));
+    if(inner) inner.querySelectorAll('.live-worklog[data-live-worklog-shell],.tool-worklog-group[data-live-tool-call-group],.tool-call-group[data-live-tool-call-group],.tool-card-row[data-live-tid]:not(.transparent-event-row),[data-anchor-scene-owner="1"],[data-anchor-scene-row="1"]').forEach(el=>el.remove());
+  }
   // Reset the per-turn user expand intent so the next turn starts at the
   // default collapsed state (#1298).
   if(typeof _clearLiveActivityUserIntent==='function') _clearLiveActivityUserIntent();
-  // Legacy #liveToolCards container cleanup — kept for safety in case any
-  // leftover cards were inserted there before this refactor took effect.
+  // Legacy #liveToolCards container cleanup (sibling to the settled-rendered
+  // subtree). Always clear/hide it to avoid leaking stale fallback content.
   const container=$('liveToolCards');
   if(container){container.innerHTML='';container.style.display='none';}
 }
diff --git a/tests/test_issue4970_stream_done_shrink_regression.py b/tests/test_issue4970_stream_done_shrink_regression.py
index e4de60ee..d1bae9c4 100644
--- a/tests/test_issue4970_stream_done_shrink_regression.py
+++ b/tests/test_issue4970_stream_done_shrink_regression.py
@@ -215,6 +215,55 @@ def test_stream_done_runs_scroll_preserving_collapse_pass_after_disarm():
     assert "_restoreMessageScrollSnapshotSameFrame" in wrapper
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(shutil.which("node") is None, reason="node required for behavioral test")
+def test_done_defers_live_dom_removal_but_other_terminal_paths_still_clear():
+    """The normal done handoff must not expose an empty live-worklog frame.
+
+    The settled transcript render owns replacement of the live DOM.  Calling the
+    shared cleanup helper in preserve-DOM mode may stop timers and reset intent,
+    but must leave the visible rows in place until that replacement occurs.
+    Default cleanup remains destructive for error/cancel paths.
+    """
+    clear_live = _extract("clearLiveToolCards")
+    done_start = MESSAGES_JS.index("source.addEventListener('done',e=>{")
+    done = MESSAGES_JS[done_start : done_start + 14000]
+    harness = textwrap.dedent(f"""
+        let removed = 0;
+        let timerClears = 0;
+        let intentClears = 0;
+        const rows = [{{remove() {{ removed++; }}}}, {{remove() {{ removed++; }}}}];
+        const inner = {{querySelectorAll() {{ return rows; }}}};
+        const legacy = {{innerHTML: 'legacy', style: {{display: ''}}}};
+        globalThis._clearActivityElapsedTimer = () => {{ timerClears++; }};
+        globalThis._clearLiveActivityUserIntent = () => {{ intentClears++; }};
+        globalThis._assistantTurnBlocks = () => inner;
+        globalThis.$ = (id) => id === 'liveAssistantTurn' ? {{}} : id === 'liveToolCards' ? legacy : null;
+        {clear_live}
+        clearLiveToolCards({{preserveDom: true}});
+        const preserved = {{removed, timerClears, intentClears, legacy: legacy.innerHTML, legacyDisplay: legacy.style.display}};
+        clearLiveToolCards();
+        const defaultCleared = {{removed, timerClears, intentClears, legacy: legacy.innerHTML, legacyDisplay: legacy.style.display}};
+        console.log(JSON.stringify({{preserved, defaultCleared}}));
+    """)
+    res = subprocess.run(["node", "-e", harness], capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=30)
+    assert res.returncode == 0, res.stderr
+    out = json.loads(res.stdout.strip())
+    assert out["preserved"] == {
+        "removed": 0,
+        "timerClears": 1,
+        "intentClears": 1,
+        "legacy": "",
+        "legacyDisplay": "none",
+    }, "preserveDom cleanup must leave the live worklog visible until the settled render replaces it"
+    assert out["defaultCleared"]["removed"] == 2, "error/cancel cleanup must still remove live rows"
+    assert out["defaultCleared"]["legacy"] == "", "default cleanup must still clear the legacy container"
+    assert out["defaultCleared"]["legacyDisplay"] == "none", "legacy cleanup must hide the container"
+    assert "clearLiveToolCards({preserveDom:true})" in done, (
+        "the normal done handler must preserve the visible live Worklog until its "
+        "settled transcript render replaces it"
+    )
+
+
 @pytest.mark.skipif(shutil.which("node") is None, reason="node required for behavioral test")
 def test_prescroll_snapshot_bypasses_capture_no_option_fallback_still_captures():
     """Sentinel _prescrollSnapshot reaches restore without re-capture.
@@ -296,4 +345,3 @@ def test_prescroll_snapshot_bypasses_capture_no_option_fallback_still_captures()
     assert out["test3_usedCapture"] is True, (
         "empty-options call's captured snapshot must reach _restoreMessageScrollSnapshotSameFrame"
     )
-