diff --git a/src/routes/join/[code]/+page.svelte b/src/routes/join/[code]/+page.svelte
index 22c8320..715f3ac 100644
--- a/src/routes/join/[code]/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/join/[code]/+page.svelte
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 	import Board from '$lib/components/Board.svelte';
 	import ReportSlip from '$lib/components/ReportSlip.svelte';
 	import TableTalk from '$lib/components/TableTalk.svelte';
-	import { rememberSeat, seatFor, seatInLink, trustSeat, type HeldSeat } from '$lib/game/client';
+	import { rememberSeat, seatFor, seatInLink, ServerError, trustSeat, type HeldSeat } from '$lib/game/client';
 	import { COMPACT_QUERY, Duel, NAME_MAX, playerName } from '$lib/game/duel.svelte';
 
 	const roomId = $derived((page.params.code ?? '').toUpperCase());
@@ -88,8 +88,10 @@
 				trustSeat(id);
 				return remote;
 			});
+		// 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
-			? Duel.resumeRoom(id, held).catch((e: Error) => (sent ? take(sent) : Promise.reject(e)))
+			? Duel.resumeRoom(id, held).catch((e: Error) => (sent && refused(e) ? take(sent) : Promise.reject(e)))
 			: sent
 				? take(sent).catch(() => Duel.watchRoom(id))
 				: Duel.watchRoom(id);