diff --git a/agent/turn_explainers.py b/agent/turn_explainers.py
index c07b28a5ef..360fc1f68b 100644
--- a/agent/turn_explainers.py
+++ b/agent/turn_explainers.py
@@ -107,6 +107,12 @@ _PERSISTENCE_CAUSE_EXPLANATIONS: Dict[str, str] = {
         "for the other process to finish, then send your message "
         "again."
     ),
+    "session_row_missing": (
+        "this session was deleted from storage while the chat was still open, "
+        "and Hermes could not recreate it, so this message was not saved. "
+        "Send your message again; if it keeps failing, run "
+        "`hermes {profile_arg}doctor`."
+    ),
     "locked": (
         "the turn was stopped because session storage was busy "
         "(another Hermes process was writing to the state "
diff --git a/hermes_state_user_copy.py b/hermes_state_user_copy.py
index 2fecd87939..c2314bcc9c 100644
--- a/hermes_state_user_copy.py
+++ b/hermes_state_user_copy.py
@@ -45,6 +45,11 @@ _STORAGE_FAILURES: dict[str, tuple[str, str, str]] = {
         "the session database file is damaged",
         _DOCTOR + " Recovery: `hermes {profile_arg}sessions recover --source <state.db> --inspect-only`.",
     ),
+    "session_row_missing": (
+        "storage_session_missing",
+        "this session's database row was deleted while the chat was still open and could not be recreated",
+        "Try again; if it persists, run `hermes {profile_arg}doctor`.",
+    ),
     "fts_index": (
         "storage_index_corrupt",
         "the session search index is damaged (the messages themselves are intact)",