diff --git a/gateway/platforms/api_server.py b/gateway/platforms/api_server.py
index 76fe1e8cb2..f42381067b 100644
--- a/gateway/platforms/api_server.py
+++ b/gateway/platforms/api_server.py
@@ -156,9 +156,9 @@ from gateway.browser_control_broker import (
     browser_control_protocol_supported, filter_browser_control_capabilities, get_browser_control_broker)
 
 from gateway.platforms._shared import coerce_port as _coerce_port
-from hermes_state_errors import SessionActiveWriteGuardError
 from gateway.platforms._shared import get_scoped_secret as _get_scoped_secret
 from gateway.platforms.tcp_site import start_tcp_site
+from hermes_state_errors import SessionActiveWriteGuardError
 
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
diff --git a/hermes_cli/sessions_cmd_browse.py b/hermes_cli/sessions_cmd_browse.py
index 1508abdac4..2e095a0a63 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/sessions_cmd_browse.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/sessions_cmd_browse.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ delete-with-confirmation; numbered-list fallback when curses is unavailable (Win
 from typing import Optional
 
 from hermes_cli.timefmt import relative_time as _relative_time
+from hermes_state_errors import SessionActiveWriteGuardError
 
 
 def _session_status_tag(status: Optional[str]) -> str:
@@ -152,7 +153,12 @@ class _CursesBrowser:
             target, self.confirm_delete = self.confirm_delete, None
             if key not in {ord("y"), ord("Y")}:
                 return False
-            if not self.delete_fn(target["id"]):
+            try:
+                ok = self.delete_fn(target["id"])
+            except SessionActiveWriteGuardError:
+                self.flash = "Session is active (a live turn owns it); try again when it finishes."
+                return False
+            if not ok:
                 self.flash = "Delete failed."
                 return False
             self.sessions[:] = [s for s in self.sessions if s["id"] != target["id"]]
@@ -255,6 +261,8 @@ def _session_browse_picker(sessions: list, session_db=None) -> Optional[str]:
             sessions_dir = None
         try:
             return bool(session_db.delete_session(session_id, sessions_dir=sessions_dir, exclude_active_write_guards=True))
+        except SessionActiveWriteGuardError:
+            raise  # the browser tells the user the session is busy instead of a generic failure
         except Exception:
             return False
     try:  # curses first; any failure (no curses module, odd terminal) falls back
diff --git a/web/src/i18n/en.ts b/web/src/i18n/en.ts
index 6e70c305b0..31517e8627 100644
--- a/web/src/i18n/en.ts
+++ b/web/src/i18n/en.ts
@@ -193,6 +193,8 @@ export const en: Translations = {
     deleteSelectedConfirmMessage:
       "This permanently removes {count} selected sessions and all their messages. This cannot be undone.",
     selectedSessionsDeleted: "{count} sessions deleted",
+    selectedSessionsSkippedActive:
+      "{count} sessions kept: a live turn is still running in them",
     failedToDeleteSelected: "Failed to delete selected sessions",
     resumeInChat: "Resume in Chat",
     newChat: "New chat",
diff --git a/web/src/i18n/types.ts b/web/src/i18n/types.ts
index bddad31aca..f7fd2bd983 100644
--- a/web/src/i18n/types.ts
+++ b/web/src/i18n/types.ts
@@ -207,6 +207,7 @@ export interface Translations {
     deleteSelectedConfirmTitle: string;
     deleteSelectedConfirmMessage: string;
     selectedSessionsDeleted: string;
+    selectedSessionsSkippedActive: string;
     failedToDeleteSelected: string;
     resumeInChat: string;
     newChat: string;
diff --git a/web/src/pages/SessionsPage.tsx b/web/src/pages/SessionsPage.tsx
index 3bdec148fd..93834ca7d1 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/SessionsPage.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/SessionsPage.tsx
@@ -1403,6 +1403,16 @@ export default function SessionsPage() {
         ),
         "success",
       );
+      if (resp.skipped_active?.length) {
+        // Rows a live turn owns were refused server-side; say so instead of implying all went.
+        showToast(
+          t.sessions.selectedSessionsSkippedActive.replace(
+            "{count}",
+            String(resp.skipped_active.length),
+          ),
+          "error",
+        );
+      }
       setDeleteSelectedOpen(false);
       // Drop deleted rows out of the visible list immediately rather
       // than waiting for the reload. The reload still runs so total /