diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a990d204..66f29e9f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Fixed
+
+- Visible but unfocused chat windows now still attempt the immediate SSE reconnect for the current session; only a real session switch skips the reconnect path. (Refs #3040)
+
 ## [v0.51.152] — 2026-05-28 — Release DX (stage-batch34 — single-PR optional gateway-backed browser chat)
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/static/messages.js b/static/messages.js
index c2195150..5884dfad 100644
--- a/static/messages.js
+++ b/static/messages.js
@@ -2155,7 +2155,7 @@ function attachLiveStream(activeSid, streamId, uploaded=[], options={}){
       // If the user has switched to a different session, don't attempt to
       // reconnect — the old stream's EventSource was closed intentionally
       // during session switch and reconnecting would leak a background stream.
-      if(!_isSessionActivelyViewed(activeSid)) return;
+      if(!_isSessionCurrentPane(activeSid)) return;
       if(_terminalStateReached || _streamFinalized){
         return;
       }
diff --git a/tests/test_issue3040_reattach_focus_gate.py b/tests/test_issue3040_reattach_focus_gate.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f860d28b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_issue3040_reattach_focus_gate.py
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+"""Regression coverage for #3040 item 4: visible-but-unfocused stream reattach."""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+REPO_ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+MESSAGES_JS = (REPO_ROOT / "static" / "messages.js").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+
+def _chat_error_handler() -> str:
+    return MESSAGES_JS.split("source.addEventListener('error',async e=>{", 1)[1].split(
+        "source.addEventListener('cancel'", 1
+    )[0]
+
+
+def test_visible_unfocused_current_session_still_attempts_sse_reconnect():
+    """The immediate chat SSE error path should only require current-pane ownership.
+
+    `_isSessionActivelyViewed()` also gates on document focus/visibility. Hidden tabs
+    are already deferred by `_deferStreamErrorIfPageHidden(source)`, so the direct
+    reconnect branch must not skip a visible-but-unfocused current session.
+    """
+    handler = _chat_error_handler()
+    assert "if(!_isSessionCurrentPane(activeSid)) return;" in handler
+    assert "if(!_isSessionActivelyViewed(activeSid)) return;" not in handler
+    assert handler.index("if(!_isSessionCurrentPane(activeSid)) return;") < handler.index(
+        "if(!_reconnectAttempted && streamId)"
+    )
+
+
+def test_reconnect_gate_comment_matches_current_pane_contract():
+    handler = _chat_error_handler()
+    guard_idx = handler.index("if(!_isSessionCurrentPane(activeSid)) return;")
+    comment_window = handler[max(0, guard_idx - 260):guard_idx]
+    assert "different session" in comment_window
+    assert "visible" not in comment_window.lower()
+    assert "focused" not in comment_window.lower()