diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/store/connections.test.ts b/apps/desktop/src/store/connections.test.ts
index 0070fdcb93..cc0a6115a3 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/store/connections.test.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/store/connections.test.ts
@@ -631,33 +631,6 @@ describe('selectConnection', () => {
 
       expect(ensureGatewayAgent).toHaveBeenCalledWith('homelab', 'default', expect.anything())
       expect($connection.get()?.connectionId).toBe('homelab')
-
-      // REST readiness shares the dial budget, rather than adding a second
-      // full timeout. A late response has no activation rights after failure.
-      setConnectionsRegistry({
-        ...registry,
-        connections: registry.connections.map(connection =>
-          connection.id === 'work-vps' ? { ...connection, authMode: 'oauth' } : connection
-        )
-      })
-      const dial = deferred()
-      const rest = deferred<{ profiles: never[] }>()
-      openGatewayAgent.mockImplementationOnce(() => dial.promise)
-      api.mockImplementationOnce(() => rest.promise)
-      $activeSessionId.set('homelab-runtime')
-      const restOutcome = selectConnection('work-vps').catch((error: Error) => error.message)
-      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(10_000)
-      dial.resolve()
-      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0)
-      expect(api).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
-      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(10_000)
-      expect(await restOutcome).toMatch(/Timed out connecting to "Work VPS"/)
-      expect($activeSessionId.get()).toBe('homelab-runtime')
-      expect($pendingConnectionId.get()).toBeNull()
-      rest.resolve({ profiles: [] })
-      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0)
-      expect(beginGatewaySwitch).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
-      expect($activeConnectionId.get()).toBe('homelab')
     } finally {
       vi.useRealTimers()
     }
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/store/connections.ts b/apps/desktop/src/store/connections.ts
index bc7a2436cb..892ae85b4f 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/store/connections.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/store/connections.ts
@@ -335,7 +335,6 @@ export async function selectConnection(connectionId: string, options: SelectConn
   let token = null as GatewaySwitchToken | null
 
   try {
-    const preflightDeadline = Date.now() + SWITCH_DIAL_TIMEOUT_MS
     // Phase 1 — open the target's socket; the active route is untouched.
     // Always use the explicit registry route. `local` must mean This device,
     // and a registry primary can differ from a legacy per-profile override.
@@ -357,12 +356,11 @@ export async function selectConnection(connectionId: string, options: SelectConn
       (targetConnection.kind === 'remote' || targetConnection.kind === 'cloud')
     ) {
       // Retained sockets can outlive cookie/native OAuth REST auth. Prove a
-      // protected read on the destination before wiping; a socket alone is
-      // enough for the unchanged local/long-lived-token path. Keep the exact
+      // protected read on the destination before wiping. Keep the exact
       // failure for caller UX (network failures must not become sign-in errors).
       await withTimeout(
         getProfiles({ connectionId, profile: targetProfile }),
-        Math.max(0, preflightDeadline - Date.now()),
+        SWITCH_DIAL_TIMEOUT_MS,
         `Timed out connecting to "${targetConnection.label}".`
       )