diff --git a/template/src/routes/join/[code]/+page.svelte b/template/src/routes/join/[code]/+page.svelte
index 4929f5d..dfc480c 100644
--- a/template/src/routes/join/[code]/+page.svelte
+++ b/template/src/routes/join/[code]/+page.svelte
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 	import Lobby from '$lib/components/Lobby.svelte';
 	import ReportSlip from '$lib/components/ReportSlip.svelte';
 	import Preferences from '$lib/components/Preferences.svelte';
-	import { rememberSeat, seatFor, seatInLink, trustSeat } from '$lib/net/client';
+	import { rememberSeat, seatFor, seatInLink, trustSeat, type HeldSeat } from '$lib/net/client';
 	import { NAME_MAX, playerName, rememberName, Room } from '$lib/net/room.svelte';
 
 	const roomId = $derived((page.params.code ?? '').toUpperCase());
@@ -25,23 +25,31 @@
 	const link = $derived(`${location.origin}/join/${roomId}`);
 	const watching = $derived(room?.spectating ?? false);
 
-	// Return to a held seat, or take a place in the gallery and offer one.
+	// Return to a held seat, or take a place in the gallery and offer one. A link from the keeper carries a seat:
+	// it leaves the address bar at once, is kept only once the server takes it, and never replaces a seat that
+	// still opens, so a link someone else sends cannot take a working seat away.
 	$effect(() => {
 		const id = roomId;
 		room = null;
 		error = '';
-		// A link from the keeper carries a seat; it is kept, and the token taken out of the address bar.
 		const sent = seatInLink(location.hash);
-		if (sent) {
-			rememberSeat(id, sent);
-			trustSeat(id);
-			replaceState(location.pathname + location.search, {});
-		}
+		if (sent) replaceState(location.pathname + location.search, {});
 		const held = seatFor(id);
-		const arrive = held ? Room.resume(id, held) : Room.watch(id);
-		joining = !held;
+		const take = (s: HeldSeat) =>
+			Room.resume(id, s).then((r) => {
+				rememberSeat(id, s);
+				trustSeat(id);
+				return r;
+			});
+		const arrive = held ? Room.resume(id, held).catch((e: Error) => (sent ? take(sent) : Promise.reject(e))) : sent ? take(sent).catch(() => Room.watch(id)) : Room.watch(id);
+		joining = !held && !sent;
 		if (!held) name = playerName();
-		arrive.then((r) => (room = r)).catch((e: Error) => (error = e.message));
+		arrive
+			.then((r) => {
+				room = r;
+				if (r.spectating) joining = true;
+			})
+			.catch((e: Error) => (error = e.message));
 	});
 
 	// Keep the view fresh for as long as the room is on screen.