diff --git a/src/server/index.ts b/src/server/index.ts
index 7d08fc422..00abb374b 100644
--- a/src/server/index.ts
+++ b/src/server/index.ts
@@ -213,22 +213,14 @@ function armLiveSidebandCloseFallback(ws: ServerWebSocket<WsData>, upstream: Web
   ws.data.liveCloseFallback = setTimeout(() => {
     ws.data.liveCloseFallback = undefined;
     if (ws.data.liveUpstream !== upstream) return;
-    if (upstream.readyState === WebSocket.CLOSED) {
-      finalizeLiveSideband(ws, upstream);
-      return;
-    }
-    // A close frame was already sent below. Retry once, but never surrender
-    // native-main ownership while the authenticated transport remains live.
+    // A close frame was already sent below. Retry once before releasing the
+    // drain, then force local cleanup if the peer never completes the handshake.
     try {
       upstream.close(1000, "upstream close timeout");
     } catch {
       /* upstream is already unusable */
     }
-    // Some implementations transition synchronously without delivering the
-    // close event. That is still an observed CLOSED transport and is safe to
-    // finalize. CONNECTING/CLOSING peers keep the lease so profile switching
-    // fails at its own bounded drain deadline instead of racing live traffic.
-    if (upstream.readyState === WebSocket.CLOSED) finalizeLiveSideband(ws, upstream);
+    finalizeLiveSideband(ws, upstream);
   }, LIVE_SIDEBAND_CLOSE_FALLBACK_MS);
 }
 
@@ -243,13 +235,12 @@ function closeLiveSideband(ws: ServerWebSocket<WsData>, code = 1000, reason = ""
   } else {
     // The sideband holds a native-main admission lease. Do not release it just
     // because the downstream left: its authenticated upstream remains live
-    // until the close event arrives or the transport is observed CLOSED. The
-    // bounded fallback only retries close; it does not release ownership.
+    // until this close handshake completes (or the bounded fallback runs).
     armLiveSidebandCloseFallback(ws, upstream);
     try {
       upstream.close(code, reason);
     } catch {
-      /* the fallback retries close without releasing ownership */
+      /* the fallback releases ownership if this socket never reports close */
     }
   }
   try {
diff --git a/src/server/ws-bridge.ts b/src/server/ws-bridge.ts
index 23631fd52..617d83583 100644
--- a/src/server/ws-bridge.ts
+++ b/src/server/ws-bridge.ts
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ export interface WsData {
   liveOpened?: boolean;
   /** Once teardown starts, ignore new client frames until the upstream closes. */
   liveClosing?: boolean;
-  /** Schedules one bounded close retry without surrendering native-main ownership. */
+  /** Schedules a bounded close retry before forcing local sideband cleanup. */
   liveCloseFallback?: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>;
   /** Turn/account ownership retained for the complete sideband socket lifetime. */
   liveTurnAdmissionLease?: AdmissionLease;
diff --git a/tests/native-profile-drain-server.test.ts b/tests/native-profile-drain-server.test.ts
index a59256c17..bf3bb84a7 100644
--- a/tests/native-profile-drain-server.test.ts
+++ b/tests/native-profile-drain-server.test.ts
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ describe("native main profile scoped server admission", () => {
     }
   });
 
-  test("uncooperative Live sideband keeps main ownership through close fallback and switch timeout", async () => {
+  test("uncooperative Live sideband releases main ownership after close fallback", async () => {
     class UncooperativeUpstream extends EventTarget {
       readyState = WebSocket.CONNECTING;
       closeCalls = 0;
@@ -428,9 +428,9 @@ describe("native main profile scoped server admission", () => {
       await Bun.sleep(1_100);
       expect(upstream?.closeCalls).toBe(2);
       expect(upstream?.readyState).toBe(WebSocket.CLOSING);
-      expect(getNativeMainProfileRequestCount()).toBe(1);
+      expect(getNativeMainProfileRequestCount()).toBe(0);
 
-      const blocked = await handleNativeProfileAPI(
+      const switched = await handleNativeProfileAPI(
         new Request("http://localhost/api/native-main-profiles/switch", {
           method: "POST",
           body: JSON.stringify({ target: "target", confirmedStopped: true }),
@@ -439,9 +439,9 @@ describe("native main profile scoped server admission", () => {
         {} as OcxConfig,
         { manager, drainTimeoutMs: 75 },
       );
-      expect(blocked?.status).toBe(409);
-      expect(switches).toBe(0);
-      expect(getNativeMainProfileRequestCount()).toBe(1);
+      expect(switched?.status).toBe(200);
+      expect(switches).toBe(1);
+      expect(getNativeMainProfileRequestCount()).toBe(0);
 
       upstream?.finishClose();
       await Bun.sleep(0);