diff --git a/static/sessions.js b/static/sessions.js
index 340e25b57..7031b3452 100644
--- a/static/sessions.js
+++ b/static/sessions.js
@@ -603,6 +603,47 @@ function _hasUnreadForSession(s) {
   return s.message_count > Number(counts[s.session_id] || 0);
 }
 
+// Keep the sidebar polling snapshot current for a just-visited session so a
+// deferred /api/sessions list refresh landing across the async message-load gap
+// cannot treat the unchanged, already-open session as a fresh background
+// completion and re-flag a stale unread dot (#4946).
+function _syncSessionListSnapshotOnVisit(sid, messageCount, lastMessageAt) {
+  if (!sid) return;
+  const count = Number(messageCount || 0);
+  const last = Number(lastMessageAt || 0);
+  _sessionListSnapshotById.set(sid, {message_count: count, last_message_at: last});
+  const isStreaming = Boolean(
+    S.session && S.session.session_id === sid
+    && (S.busy || S.activeStreamId || (S.session.active_stream_id && S.session.pending_user_message))
+  );
+  _sessionStreamingById.set(sid, isStreaming);
+  if (!isStreaming) _forgetObservedStreamingSession(sid);
+}
+
+// Acknowledge that the user actually visited/opened `sid`: clear its viewed
+// count (which also clears any stale completion-unread marker, #3020), sync the
+// polling snapshot so a deferred list poll cannot re-flag it, then repaint from
+// cache. Repainting via renderSessionListFromCache() recomputes each row's
+// aggregated unread state (own + children) authoritatively, so a lineage
+// PARENT keeps its own / other children's unread dot instead of being stripped
+// by ad-hoc DOM surgery (Greptile concern (b) on #4946).
+function _acknowledgeSessionVisit(sid, messageCount = 0, lastMessageAt = 0) {
+  if (!sid) return;
+  _setSessionViewedCount(sid, messageCount);
+  _syncSessionListSnapshotOnVisit(sid, messageCount, lastMessageAt);
+  if (typeof renderSessionListFromCache === 'function') renderSessionListFromCache();
+}
+
+// Does the session currently carry any unread state that a visit should clear?
+// Used by the same-session no-op guard so re-selecting the already-open session
+// still clears a stale dot before short-circuiting.
+function _sessionVisitHasUnreadState(sid) {
+  if (!sid) return false;
+  if (_hasSessionCompletionUnread(sid)) return true;
+  if (!S.session || S.session.session_id !== sid) return false;
+  return _hasUnreadForSession(S.session);
+}
+
 function _isSessionActivelyViewedForList(sid) {
   if (!sid || !S.session || S.session.session_id !== sid) return false;
   if (typeof _loadingSessionId !== 'undefined' && _loadingSessionId && _loadingSessionId !== sid) return false;
@@ -1425,7 +1466,19 @@ async function loadSession(sid){
   // #2971: idempotent re-arm before the no-op guard revives a stream a prior
   // failed loadSession killed; no-ops on real switches.
   _rearmActiveSessionStream();
-  if(currentSid===sid && !forceReload && (!_loadingSessionId || _loadingSessionId===sid)) return;
+  if(currentSid===sid && !forceReload && (!_loadingSessionId || _loadingSessionId===sid)){
+    // Re-selecting the already-open session is a no-op for transcript/scroll, but
+    // it is still a *visit*: clear a stale sidebar unread dot (e.g. one a
+    // background completion left on the open, unfocused pane) before returning.
+    if(_sessionVisitHasUnreadState(sid)){
+      _acknowledgeSessionVisit(
+        sid,
+        Number(S.session.message_count || 0),
+        Number(S.session.last_message_at || S.session.updated_at || 0)
+      );
+    }
+    return;
+  }
   // Mark this session as the in-flight load. Subsequent loadSession() calls
   // will overwrite this; stale awaits use the mismatch to bail out (#1060).
   const _loadGeneration = ++_loadSessionGeneration;
@@ -1711,8 +1764,15 @@ async function loadSession(sid){
   // Sync workspace display immediately so the chip label reflects the new session's workspace
   // before any async message-loading begins (mirrors how model is handled).
   if(typeof syncTopbar==='function') syncTopbar();
-  _setSessionViewedCount(S.session.session_id, Number(data.session.message_count || 0));
-  _clearSessionCompletionUnread(S.session.session_id);
+  // Acknowledge the visit as soon as the session metadata is accepted for the
+  // in-flight load: clears the viewed count + any stale completion-unread marker
+  // and syncs the polling snapshot so a deferred /api/sessions poll landing
+  // during the async message-load gap below cannot re-flag a stale unread dot.
+  _acknowledgeSessionVisit(
+    S.session.session_id,
+    Number(data.session.message_count || 0),
+    Number(data.session.last_message_at || data.session.updated_at || 0)
+  );
   try{localStorage.setItem('hermes-webui-session',S.session.session_id);}catch(_){}
   _setActiveSessionUrl(S.session.session_id);
   if(typeof startSessionStream==='function') startSessionStream(S.session.session_id);
@@ -2053,6 +2113,18 @@ async function loadSession(sid){
   // Clear the in-flight session marker now that this load has completed (#1060).
   if (_isCurrentLoad()) _loadingSessionId = null;
 
+  // Re-acknowledge the visit after the async message-load gap. A deferred
+  // sidebar /api/sessions poll can land while _ensureMessagesLoaded is in
+  // flight and re-mark the open session unread; re-syncing here clears that
+  // sticky dot once the transcript is settled (#4946).
+  if (S.session && S.session.session_id === sid) {
+    _acknowledgeSessionVisit(
+      sid,
+      Number(S.session.message_count || 0),
+      Number(S.session.last_message_at || S.session.updated_at || 0)
+    );
+  }
+
   if(typeof renderSessionArtifacts==='function') renderSessionArtifacts();
 
   // ── Cross-channel handoff hint ──
diff --git a/tests/test_inflight_stream_reuse.py b/tests/test_inflight_stream_reuse.py
index 3cbe94a46..02eac8262 100644
--- a/tests/test_inflight_stream_reuse.py
+++ b/tests/test_inflight_stream_reuse.py
@@ -166,13 +166,23 @@ def test_load_session_same_sid_noop_does_not_mask_pending_switch_back():
     """
     body = _function_body(SESSIONS_JS, "loadSession")
     compact = re.sub(r"\s+", "", body)
-    guard = "if(currentSid===sid&&!forceReload&&(!_loadingSessionId||_loadingSessionId===sid))return;"
+    # The same-session no-op now opens a block so re-selecting the already-open
+    # session can clear a stale unread dot before returning (#4946). The
+    # protected ownership invariant is unchanged: the guard still requires
+    # (!_loadingSessionId || _loadingSessionId===sid) and still early-returns
+    # before _loadingSessionId=sid.
+    guard = "if(currentSid===sid&&!forceReload&&(!_loadingSessionId||_loadingSessionId===sid)){"
     assert guard in compact, (
         "same-session no-op must be owned by the current load target: "
         "another in-flight sid must not suppress a pending switch-back"
     )
     assert "_loadingSessionId===sid" in guard
-    assert compact.find(guard) < compact.find("_loadingSessionId=sid;")
+    guard_pos = compact.find(guard)
+    assert guard_pos < compact.find("_loadingSessionId=sid;")
+    # The guarded block must still early-return for the same-session no-op,
+    # while now also acknowledging the visit to clear a stale unread dot.
+    assert "_sessionVisitHasUnreadState(sid)" in compact[guard_pos:guard_pos + 600]
+    assert "return;}" in compact[guard_pos:guard_pos + 900]
 
 
 def test_load_session_preserves_existing_worklog_content_without_destructive_fallback():
diff --git a/tests/test_issue856_background_completion_unread.py b/tests/test_issue856_background_completion_unread.py
index b04468095..f8e10ecc8 100644
--- a/tests/test_issue856_background_completion_unread.py
+++ b/tests/test_issue856_background_completion_unread.py
@@ -519,17 +519,32 @@ def test_completion_unread_clears_only_when_session_is_opened():
     assert load_idx != -1, "loadSession not found"
     load_block = SESSIONS_JS[load_idx:SESSIONS_JS.find("function _resolveSessionModelForDisplaySoon", load_idx)]
 
-    stale_guard_idx = load_block.find("if (!_isCurrentLoad()) return;")
-    clear_idx = load_block.find("_clearSessionCompletionUnread(S.session.session_id);")
-    set_viewed_idx = load_block.find("_setSessionViewedCount(S.session.session_id")
+    # The metadata-arrival "mark viewed + clear stale completion unread" pair now
+    # flows through _acknowledgeSessionVisit(S.session.session_id, ...), which
+    # calls _setSessionViewedCount() internally (and _setSessionViewedCount clears
+    # any stale completion-unread marker, #3020) (#4946).
+    assign_idx = load_block.find("S.session=data.session;")
+    acknowledge_idx = load_block.find("_acknowledgeSessionVisit(\n    S.session.session_id,", assign_idx)
+    # The last stale-response ownership guard before the visit is acknowledged:
+    # stale loadSession responses must not clear unread markers for sessions the
+    # user did not actually open.
+    stale_guard_idx = load_block.rfind("if (!_isCurrentLoad())", 0, acknowledge_idx)
 
-    assert clear_idx != -1, "loadSession must clear explicit completion unread when the user opens the session"
-    assert stale_guard_idx != -1 and stale_guard_idx < clear_idx, (
-        "stale loadSession responses must not clear unread markers for sessions the user did not actually open"
+    assert assign_idx != -1, "loadSession must assign S.session before acknowledging the visit"
+    assert acknowledge_idx != -1 and assign_idx < acknowledge_idx, (
+        "loadSession must acknowledge the visit only after the session metadata "
+        "response is accepted for the in-flight load"
     )
-    assert set_viewed_idx != -1 and set_viewed_idx < clear_idx, (
-        "completion unread should clear at the same point the session is marked viewed"
+    assert stale_guard_idx != -1 and stale_guard_idx < acknowledge_idx, (
+        "stale loadSession responses must be guarded out before the visit-ack "
+        "clears unread markers for sessions the user did not actually open"
     )
+    # The acknowledge helper is what clears completion unread on visit, via
+    # _setSessionViewedCount (#3020 stale-marker clear).
+    assert "function _acknowledgeSessionVisit(sid, messageCount = 0, lastMessageAt = 0)" in SESSIONS_JS
+    ack_body_start = SESSIONS_JS.find("function _acknowledgeSessionVisit(")
+    ack_body = SESSIONS_JS[ack_body_start:SESSIONS_JS.find("function _sessionVisitHasUnreadState", ack_body_start)]
+    assert "_setSessionViewedCount(sid, messageCount);" in ack_body
 
 
 def test_historical_sessions_are_not_marked_unread_on_list_render():
diff --git a/tests/test_regressions.py b/tests/test_regressions.py
index 472ec5e83..2ca8bc9b3 100644
--- a/tests/test_regressions.py
+++ b/tests/test_regressions.py
@@ -589,9 +589,12 @@ def test_queue_card_cross_session_helper_used_only_for_session_change(cleanup_te
         "queue-card clear helper must be inside the cross-session branch"
     )
     same_session_idx = load_body.find(
-        "if(currentSid===sid && !forceReload && (!_loadingSessionId || _loadingSessionId===sid)) return;"
+        "if(currentSid===sid && !forceReload && (!_loadingSessionId || _loadingSessionId===sid)){"
+    )
+    assert same_session_idx >= 0, (
+        "same-session no-op guard must still exist (now a block that first clears "
+        "a stale unread dot before returning) and must precede the cross-session branch"
     )
-    assert same_session_idx >= 0
     assert same_session_idx < cross_start
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_session_channel_option_x.py b/tests/test_session_channel_option_x.py
index ccf8e273d..19c2f6a20 100644
--- a/tests/test_session_channel_option_x.py
+++ b/tests/test_session_channel_option_x.py
@@ -935,9 +935,11 @@ def test_load_session_rearms_stream_on_every_early_return():
         "helper must (re)arm startSessionStream for the currently-shown S.session"
     )
 
-    # Isolate the loadSession body.
+    # Isolate the loadSession body. Widened window: the #4946 visit-ack helpers
+    # added inside loadSession pushed the fetch-error catch's stream restart past
+    # the old 14000-char cutoff.
     fn_ix = js.index("async function loadSession(")
-    body = js[fn_ix:fn_ix + 14000]
+    body = js[fn_ix:fn_ix + 16000]
 
     # The unconditional teardown must still be there (this is what creates the
     # dead-stream window the re-arm closes).
diff --git a/tests/test_session_metadata_fast_path.py b/tests/test_session_metadata_fast_path.py
index b1ed70fd2..730e7d6bd 100644
--- a/tests/test_session_metadata_fast_path.py
+++ b/tests/test_session_metadata_fast_path.py
@@ -19,8 +19,16 @@ def test_messages_zero_skips_effective_model_resolution():
 
 def test_full_message_load_updates_viewed_count_after_metadata_fast_path():
     src = (ROOT / "static" / "sessions.js").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    compact = re.sub(r"\s+", "", src)
 
-    assert "_setSessionViewedCount(S.session.session_id, Number(data.session.message_count || 0));" in src
+    # The metadata-arrival viewed-count update now flows through
+    # _acknowledgeSessionVisit(), which calls _setSessionViewedCount() internally
+    # (and additionally syncs the polling snapshot + repaints so visiting a
+    # session reliably clears a stale sidebar unread dot) (#4946).
+    assert (
+        "_acknowledgeSessionVisit(S.session.session_id,Number(data.session.message_count||0),"
+        in compact
+    )
     assert "_setSessionViewedCount(sid, Number(S.session.message_count || msgs.length));" in src
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_session_unread_dot_on_visit.py b/tests/test_session_unread_dot_on_visit.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..09af3cbd8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_session_unread_dot_on_visit.py
@@ -0,0 +1,284 @@
+"""Regression: a stale sidebar unread dot must clear when a session is *visited*.
+
+Salvage of #4946 (originally by @neaucode-bot), rebuilt fresh on master.
+
+The yellow unread dot in the sidebar historically cleared only reliably when the
+sidebar **row** was clicked. Opening/visiting a session through other paths — or
+re-selecting the already-open session — could leave a stale dot, and a deferred
+/api/sessions list poll landing across the async message-load gap could re-flag
+the open session as unread.
+
+The fix introduces `_acknowledgeSessionVisit()` (sync viewed count + polling
+snapshot + repaint) and wires it into loadSession at three points:
+
+  1. the same-session no-op guard (so re-selecting the open session clears a
+     stale dot before returning),
+  2. when the session metadata arrives, and
+  3. again after the async message-load gap (so a deferred poll cannot leave a
+     sticky dot).
+
+Two invariants flagged in review are protected here and MUST NOT regress:
+
+  (a) hidden/background completions must still be marked unread — the visit-ack
+      does NOT loosen the focus gate on the completion paths, so a completion in
+      a non-visible/non-focused tab is still flagged (concern a).
+  (b) cleaning up a visited child's unread state must not strip a lineage
+      PARENT's own unread dot — the visit repaints via
+      renderSessionListFromCache(), which recomputes each row's aggregated
+      unread authoritatively rather than doing ad-hoc DOM surgery (concern b).
+"""
+import json
+import re
+import subprocess
+from pathlib import Path
+
+ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+SESSIONS_JS = (ROOT / "static" / "sessions.js").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+
+def _load_session_block() -> str:
+    start = SESSIONS_JS.index("async function loadSession(sid")
+    end = SESSIONS_JS.index("function _resolveSessionModelForDisplaySoon", start)
+    return SESSIONS_JS[start:end]
+
+
+def _function_block(name: str, next_marker: str) -> str:
+    start = SESSIONS_JS.index(f"function {name}")
+    end = SESSIONS_JS.index(next_marker, start + 1)
+    return SESSIONS_JS[start:end]
+
+
+# ── Structural anchors ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def test_visit_ack_helpers_exist():
+    assert "function _acknowledgeSessionVisit(sid, messageCount = 0, lastMessageAt = 0)" in SESSIONS_JS
+    assert "function _syncSessionListSnapshotOnVisit(sid, messageCount, lastMessageAt)" in SESSIONS_JS
+    assert "function _sessionVisitHasUnreadState(sid)" in SESSIONS_JS
+
+
+def test_acknowledge_visit_syncs_viewed_snapshot_and_repaints():
+    body = _function_block("_acknowledgeSessionVisit", "function _sessionVisitHasUnreadState")
+    # Clears viewed count (which clears the stale completion-unread marker, #3020),
+    # syncs the polling snapshot, and repaints the sidebar from cache.
+    assert "_setSessionViewedCount(sid, messageCount);" in body
+    assert "_syncSessionListSnapshotOnVisit(sid, messageCount, lastMessageAt);" in body
+    assert "renderSessionListFromCache" in body
+
+
+def test_load_session_acknowledges_visit_before_and_after_message_load():
+    block = _load_session_block()
+    # Metadata-arrival acknowledgment.
+    first_ack = block.find("_acknowledgeSessionVisit(\n    S.session.session_id,")
+    loading_clear = block.find("if (_isCurrentLoad()) _loadingSessionId = null;\n\n  // Re-acknowledge")
+    second_ack = block.find("_acknowledgeSessionVisit(", loading_clear)
+
+    assert first_ack != -1, "loadSession must acknowledge the visit when metadata arrives"
+    assert loading_clear != -1, "loadSession must clear the in-flight marker before the final acknowledge"
+    assert second_ack != -1 and first_ack < loading_clear < second_ack, (
+        "loadSession must re-acknowledge after the async message-load gap so a "
+        "deferred sidebar poll cannot leave a sticky unread dot"
+    )
+
+
+def test_same_session_reselect_clears_stale_unread():
+    block = _load_session_block()
+    guard = block.find("if(currentSid===sid && !forceReload && (!_loadingSessionId || _loadingSessionId===sid)){")
+    unread_check = block.find("_sessionVisitHasUnreadState(sid)", guard)
+    acknowledge = block.find("_acknowledgeSessionVisit(", unread_check)
+    ret = block.find("return;", acknowledge)
+
+    assert guard != -1, "same-session no-op guard must still exist"
+    assert unread_check != -1 and guard < unread_check, (
+        "re-selecting the already-open session must check for stale unread state"
+    )
+    assert acknowledge != -1 and unread_check < acknowledge < ret, (
+        "re-selecting the already-open session must acknowledge the visit (clearing "
+        "the stale dot) before returning"
+    )
+
+
+def test_completion_paths_keep_focus_gate_for_hidden_tab_completions():
+    """Concern (a): the visit-ack must NOT loosen the completion paths' focus gate.
+
+    A background completion in a hidden/unfocused tab must still be flagged
+    unread, so the background + polling completion paths must keep using the
+    focus-gated _isSessionActivelyViewedForList, not a focus-independent variant.
+    """
+    background = _function_block("_markSessionCompletionUnreadIfBackground", "function _clearSessionCompletionUnread")
+    assert "_isSessionActivelyViewedForList(sid)" in background, (
+        "background completion must keep the focus-gated read check so a hidden-tab "
+        "completion is not prematurely marked read"
+    )
+
+    polling_start = SESSIONS_JS.index("function _markPollingCompletionUnreadTransitions(sessions)")
+    polling_end = SESSIONS_JS.index("const staleRuntimeStateSids", polling_start)
+    polling = SESSIONS_JS[polling_start:polling_end]
+    assert "!_isSessionActivelyViewedForList(sid)" in polling, (
+        "polling completion must keep the focus-gated read check so a hidden-tab "
+        "completion is not prematurely marked read"
+    )
+
+
+# ── Functional behavior via node ────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _extract(name: str) -> str:
+    """Extract a top-level `function name(...) { ... }` definition by brace match."""
+    marker = f"function {name}("
+    start = SESSIONS_JS.index(marker)
+    brace = SESSIONS_JS.index("{", start)
+    depth = 0
+    for i in range(brace, len(SESSIONS_JS)):
+        ch = SESSIONS_JS[i]
+        if ch == "{":
+            depth += 1
+        elif ch == "}":
+            depth -= 1
+            if depth == 0:
+                return SESSIONS_JS[start:i + 1]
+    raise AssertionError(f"could not brace-match {name}")
+
+
+def _run_node(script: str) -> dict:
+    result = subprocess.run(["node", "-e", script], check=True, capture_output=True, text=True)
+    return json.loads(result.stdout)
+
+
+def test_acknowledge_visit_clears_completion_unread_marker():
+    """Visiting a session that carries an explicit completion-unread marker must
+    clear it (so the yellow dot disappears) and repaint the sidebar."""
+    ack = _extract("_acknowledgeSessionVisit")
+    sync = _extract("_syncSessionListSnapshotOnVisit")
+    set_viewed = _extract("_setSessionViewedCount")
+    clear_unread = _extract("_clearSessionCompletionUnread")
+    get_unread = _extract("_getSessionCompletionUnread")
+    save_unread = _extract("_saveSessionCompletionUnread")
+    get_counts = _extract("_getSessionViewedCounts")
+    save_counts = _extract("_saveSessionViewedCounts")
+
+    script = f"""
+// Minimal localStorage shim.
+const _store = {{}};
+const localStorage = {{
+  getItem: (k) => (k in _store ? _store[k] : null),
+  setItem: (k, v) => {{ _store[k] = String(v); }},
+}};
+const SESSION_VIEWED_COUNTS_KEY = 'v';
+const SESSION_COMPLETION_UNREAD_KEY = 'u';
+let _sessionViewedCounts = null;
+let _sessionCompletionUnread = null;
+const _sessionListSnapshotById = new Map();
+const _sessionStreamingById = new Map();
+let S = {{ session: {{ session_id: 'open', message_count: 5 }} }};
+let repaints = 0;
+function renderSessionListFromCache() {{ repaints += 1; }}
+function _forgetObservedStreamingSession() {{}}
+{get_counts}
+{save_counts}
+{get_unread}
+{save_unread}
+{clear_unread}
+{set_viewed}
+{sync}
+{ack}
+// Seed a stale completion-unread marker for the open session.
+_getSessionCompletionUnread()['open'] = {{message_count: 5, completed_at: 1}};
+_saveSessionCompletionUnread();
+const before = Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(_getSessionCompletionUnread(), 'open');
+_acknowledgeSessionVisit('open', 5, 10);
+const after = Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(_getSessionCompletionUnread(), 'open');
+const snap = _sessionListSnapshotById.get('open');
+console.log(JSON.stringify({{before, after, repaints, viewed: _getSessionViewedCounts()['open'], snap}}));
+"""
+    out = _run_node(script)
+    assert out["before"] is True, "precondition: marker seeded"
+    assert out["after"] is False, "visiting the session must clear the completion-unread marker"
+    assert out["repaints"] >= 1, "visiting must repaint the sidebar from cache"
+    assert out["viewed"] == 5, "viewed count must be synced to the current message count"
+    assert out["snap"] == {"message_count": 5, "last_message_at": 10}, (
+        "polling snapshot must be synced so a deferred list poll cannot re-flag the session"
+    )
+
+
+def test_visit_snapshot_prevents_deferred_poll_from_reflagging():
+    """A deferred /api/sessions poll running just after a visit must NOT re-mark
+    the open, unchanged session as a fresh background completion.
+
+    This is the sticky-dot race: without the snapshot sync, the poll sees a
+    session that "completed" relative to a stale/absent snapshot and re-flags it.
+    """
+    sync = _extract("_syncSessionListSnapshotOnVisit")
+    set_viewed = _extract("_setSessionViewedCount")
+    clear_unread = _extract("_clearSessionCompletionUnread")
+    get_unread = _extract("_getSessionCompletionUnread")
+    save_unread = _extract("_saveSessionCompletionUnread")
+    get_counts = _extract("_getSessionViewedCounts")
+    save_counts = _extract("_saveSessionViewedCounts")
+    ack = _extract("_acknowledgeSessionVisit")
+    transitions = _extract("_markPollingCompletionUnreadTransitions")
+    effective = _extract("_isSessionEffectivelyStreaming")
+    local = _extract("_isSessionLocallyStreaming")
+
+    script = f"""
+const _store = {{}};
+const localStorage = {{
+  getItem: (k) => (k in _store ? _store[k] : null),
+  setItem: (k, v) => {{ _store[k] = String(v); }},
+}};
+const SESSION_VIEWED_COUNTS_KEY = 'v';
+const SESSION_COMPLETION_UNREAD_KEY = 'u';
+let _sessionViewedCounts = null;
+let _sessionCompletionUnread = null;
+const _sessionListSnapshotById = new Map();
+const _sessionStreamingById = new Map();
+// open + focused/visible so the focus gate treats it as actively viewed too.
+let S = {{ session: {{ session_id: 'open', message_count: 5 }}, busy: false }};
+let repaints = 0;
+function renderSessionListFromCache() {{ repaints += 1; }}
+function _forgetObservedStreamingSession(sid) {{}}
+function _rememberObservedStreamingSession() {{}}
+function _getSessionObservedStreaming() {{ return {{}}; }}
+function _rememberSessionListSource() {{}}
+function _hasPendingUserMessageSignal(s) {{ return !!(s && (s.pending_user_message || s.has_pending_user_message)); }}
+function _markSessionCompletionUnread(sid, count) {{
+  _getSessionCompletionUnread()[sid] = {{message_count: count, completed_at: 1}};
+  _saveSessionCompletionUnread();
+}}
+const document = {{ visibilityState: 'visible', hasFocus: () => true }};
+let _loadingSessionId = null;
+const _allSessionsScope = null;
+const _sessionListSourceById = new Map();
+{get_counts}
+{save_counts}
+{get_unread}
+{save_unread}
+{clear_unread}
+{set_viewed}
+{local}
+{effective}
+{sync}
+{ack}
+function _isSessionActivelyViewedForList(sid) {{
+  if (!sid || !S.session || S.session.session_id !== sid) return false;
+  if (_loadingSessionId && _loadingSessionId !== sid) return false;
+  if (document.visibilityState && document.visibilityState !== 'visible') return false;
+  if (typeof document.hasFocus === 'function' && !document.hasFocus()) return false;
+  return true;
+}}
+{transitions}
+// Simulate: session was streaming, so a snapshot/streaming state exists.
+_sessionStreamingById.set('open', true);
+_sessionListSnapshotById.set('open', {{message_count: 4, last_message_at: 5}});
+// User visits — acknowledge marks it read AND syncs the snapshot to current.
+_acknowledgeSessionVisit('open', 5, 10);
+// Now a deferred /api/sessions poll lands for the SAME (now idle) session.
+_markPollingCompletionUnreadTransitions([
+  {{session_id: 'open', is_streaming: false, active_stream_id: null, message_count: 5, last_message_at: 10, updated_at: 10}}
+]);
+const flagged = Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(_getSessionCompletionUnread(), 'open');
+console.log(JSON.stringify({{flagged}}));
+"""
+    out = _run_node(script)
+    assert out["flagged"] is False, (
+        "a deferred list poll after a visit must not re-flag the open, unchanged "
+        "session as unread — the visit-ack synced snapshot + viewed count"
+    )