diff --git a/api/models.py b/api/models.py
index a5a4be43..ffee1d76 100644
--- a/api/models.py
+++ b/api/models.py
@@ -5293,12 +5293,22 @@ def merge_session_messages_append_only(
         # post-edit content and must merge through (not be dropped as a replaced
         # tail). The conservative skip still applies for boundary is None and
         # boundary == watermark (not-advanced / legacy).
+        #
+        # CRITICAL: the boundary-advanced signal may only bypass the skip AFTER
+        # state replay has consumed the sidecar's visible checkpoint
+        # (state_replay_idx >= len(sidecar_visible_sequence)). A deleted suffix
+        # row with ts > watermark that appears in state.db BEFORE the edited
+        # checkpoint must still be skipped — otherwise the advanced signal would
+        # resurrect it. The sidecar-max-timestamp signal needs no such gate (a
+        # sidecar tail beyond the watermark is itself proof the checkpoint has
+        # advanced).
+        checkpoint_consumed = state_replay_idx >= len(sidecar_visible_sequence)
         sidecar_advanced_past_watermark = (
             watermark_timestamp is not None
             and (
                 (max_sidecar_timestamp is not None
                  and max_sidecar_timestamp > watermark_timestamp)
-                or watermark_advanced_by_boundary
+                or (watermark_advanced_by_boundary and checkpoint_consumed)
             )
         )
         if (
@@ -5408,9 +5418,15 @@ def merge_session_messages_append_only(
             # block would normally skip it ("sidecar already has this message"),
             # but the sidecar doesn't — it's a genuine state-only recovery row.
             # Let it through (CORE-B, #4767).
+            #
+            # Only AFTER the sidecar's visible checkpoint has been consumed
+            # (checkpoint_consumed) — a same-second row appearing in state.db
+            # BEFORE the edited user replay is a deleted/replaced row, not the
+            # post-edit reply, and must stay skipped.
             if (
                 watermark_timestamp is not None
                 and timestamp == watermark_timestamp
+                and checkpoint_consumed
                 and str(msg.get("role", "")).lower() != "user"
                 and _session_message_content_key(msg) not in seen_content_keys
             ):
diff --git a/tests/test_core_data_loss_cases.py b/tests/test_core_data_loss_cases.py
index d8803f63..4bc487d5 100644
--- a/tests/test_core_data_loss_cases.py
+++ b/tests/test_core_data_loss_cases.py
@@ -193,6 +193,44 @@ def test_advanced_sidecar_at_watermark_keeps_state_only_post_edit_reply():
     )
 
 
+def test_advanced_does_not_resurrect_stale_post_watermark_row_before_checkpoint():
+    """The boundary<watermark advanced signal must NOT resurrect a deleted
+    suffix row with ts > watermark that appears in state.db BEFORE the edited
+    checkpoint row.
+
+    Codex final-gate found that making `sidecar_advanced_past_watermark`
+    globally true (whenever boundary < watermark) let a stale ts>watermark row
+    bypass the skip before state replay reached the sidecar's edited checkpoint,
+    resurrecting deleted turns. The bypass is now gated on the checkpoint having
+    been consumed (state_replay_idx >= len(sidecar_visible_sequence))."""
+    # sidecar ends at the edited user @200 (== watermark); state.db lists a
+    # deleted future suffix (@300/@301) BEFORE the appended edited turn.
+    sidecar = [
+        _msg("user", "first", 50.0),
+        _msg("assistant", "first reply", 51.0),
+        _msg("user", "edited prompt", 200.0),
+    ]
+    state = [
+        _msg("user", "first", 50.0),
+        _msg("assistant", "first reply", 51.0),
+        _msg("user", "deleted future prompt", 300.0),
+        _msg("assistant", "deleted future answer", 301.0),
+        _msg("user", "edited prompt", 200.0),
+    ]
+
+    merged = models.merge_session_messages_append_only(
+        sidecar, state, truncation_watermark=200.0, truncation_boundary=51.0
+    )
+
+    contents = [m["content"] for m in merged]
+    assert "deleted future prompt" not in contents, (
+        f"Stale post-watermark row resurrected before checkpoint! {contents}"
+    )
+    assert "deleted future answer" not in contents, (
+        f"Stale post-watermark row resurrected before checkpoint! {contents}"
+    )
+
+
 # ─── Same-second assistant reply dropped ──────────────────────────────────────