diff --git a/src/routes/join/[code]/+page.svelte b/src/routes/join/[code]/+page.svelte
index 080c27a..fe0143f 100644
--- a/src/routes/join/[code]/+page.svelte
+++ b/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 '$lib/components/Preferences.svelte';
-	import { rememberSeat, seatFor, seatInLink, trustSeat, type HeldSeat } from '$lib/net/client';
+	import { rememberSeat, seatFor, seatInLink, ServerError, 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());
@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@
 				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);
+		// Only the server's refusal of the held token lets a link in: a dropped connection is not a lost seat.
+		const refused = (e: unknown) => e instanceof ServerError && e.status === 403;
+		const arrive = held ? Room.resume(id, held).catch((e: Error) => (sent && refused(e) ? take(sent) : Promise.reject(e))) : sent ? take(sent).catch(() => Room.watch(id)) : Room.watch(id);
 		joining = !held && !sent;
 		if (!held) name = playerName();
 		arrive