diff --git a/hermes_state_schema.py b/hermes_state_schema.py
index f0f8a9197c..01801a4870 100644
--- a/hermes_state_schema.py
+++ b/hermes_state_schema.py
@@ -554,12 +554,13 @@ class SessionSchemaMixin:
         now = time.monotonic()
         if now < getattr(self, "_fts_stale_retry_after", 0.0):
             return False
-        interval = float(
-            getattr(self, "_fts_stale_retry_interval", 0.0)
-        ) or _FTS_STALE_RETRY_SECONDS
+        interval = float(getattr(self, "_fts_stale_retry_interval", 0.0))
+        if interval <= 0.0:
+            interval = _FTS_STALE_RETRY_SECONDS
         self._fts_stale_retry_after = now + interval
         self._fts_stale_retry_interval = min(
-            interval * 2.0, _FTS_STALE_RETRY_MAX_SECONDS
+            max(interval, _FTS_STALE_RETRY_SECONDS, 1.0) * 2.0,
+            _FTS_STALE_RETRY_MAX_SECONDS,
         )
         try:
             with self._lock:
diff --git a/tests/state/test_fts_rebuild_admission.py b/tests/state/test_fts_rebuild_admission.py
index 3195498aed..ac923c6a6c 100644
--- a/tests/state/test_fts_rebuild_admission.py
+++ b/tests/state/test_fts_rebuild_admission.py
@@ -430,3 +430,195 @@ class TestNonContentionErrnoFailsFast:
             d2.close()
         assert _meta_value(db_path, FTS_STALE_KEY) is None
         assert _base_fts_triggers(db_path) == set(_FTS_TRIGGERS)
+
+    def test_non_contention_errno_skips_holder_warning(
+        self, tmp_path, monkeypatch, caplog
+    ):
+        """The fast-fail must not ALSO log the misleading 'held by another
+        process for more than Ns' line — there is no holder."""
+        import fcntl
+        import logging
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            hermes_state_common, "_FTS_REBUILD_LOCK_TIMEOUT_SECONDS", 30.0
+        )
+
+        def _flock(*_args, **_kwargs):
+            raise OSError(errno.ENOTSUP, "no locks on this fs")
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(fcntl, "flock", _flock)
+        with caplog.at_level(logging.INFO, logger="hermes_state"):
+            with hermes_state_common.fts_rebuild_admission(
+                tmp_path / "state.db"
+            ) as admitted:
+                assert admitted is False
+        messages = [r.getMessage() for r in caplog.records]
+        assert any("non-contention error" in m for m in messages)
+        assert not any("held by another process" in m for m in messages)
+
+    def test_repair_lock_non_contention_errno_fails_fast(
+        self, tmp_path, monkeypatch
+    ):
+        """Sibling site: the state.db repair lock shares the errno filter."""
+        import fcntl
+
+        import hermes_state
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(hermes_state, "_REPAIR_LOCK_TIMEOUT_SECONDS", 30.0)
+
+        def _flock(*_args, **_kwargs):
+            raise OSError(errno.EIO, "i/o error")
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(fcntl, "flock", _flock)
+        t0 = time.monotonic()
+        with hermes_state._cross_process_repair_lock(tmp_path / "state.db") as ok:
+            assert ok is False
+        assert time.monotonic() - t0 < 2.0
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        "exc, expected",
+        [
+            (BlockingIOError(errno.EAGAIN, "x"), True),
+            (OSError(errno.EWOULDBLOCK, "x"), True),
+            (OSError(errno.EACCES, "x"), True),
+            (OSError(errno.ESTALE, "x"), False),
+            (OSError(errno.ENOTSUP, "x"), False),
+            (OSError(errno.ENOLCK, "x"), False),
+            (OSError(errno.EIO, "x"), False),
+            (ValueError("not an oserror"), False),
+        ],
+    )
+    def test_is_advisory_lock_contention_table(self, exc, expected):
+        assert hermes_state_common.is_advisory_lock_contention(exc) is expected
+
+
+class TestDeferredFtsRetryInProcess:
+    """Gateway shape (#100108): one SessionDB stays open for days. A deferral
+    at open must be recoverable from an in-process periodic tick, with the
+    REAL rebuild lock held by a REAL child process at open time."""
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _mark_stale(db_path: Path) -> None:
+        raw = sqlite3.connect(str(db_path))
+        raw.execute(
+            "INSERT OR REPLACE INTO state_meta(key, value) VALUES (?, '1')",
+            (FTS_STALE_KEY,),
+        )
+        for trig in _FTS_TRIGGERS:
+            raw.execute(f"DROP TRIGGER IF EXISTS {trig}")
+        raw.commit()
+        raw.close()
+
+    def test_retry_is_non_blocking_while_live_holder_and_backs_off(
+        self, tmp_path, fast_timeout, monkeypatch
+    ):
+        import hermes_state_schema
+
+        db_path = tmp_path / "state.db"
+        d = SessionDB(db_path=db_path)
+        if not d._fts_enabled:
+            d.close()
+            pytest.skip("FTS5 unavailable in this build")
+        d.create_session("s1", source="test")
+        d.append_message("s1", "user", "hello gateway retry")
+        d.close()
+        self._mark_stale(db_path)
+
+        with _rebuild_lock_held_by_other_process(db_path):
+            gw = SessionDB(db_path=db_path)  # long-lived "gateway" open
+            try:
+                assert gw._fts_stale is True
+                # Live holder: the retry must return quickly (timeout=0),
+                # not wait out any admission budget.
+                monkeypatch.setattr(
+                    hermes_state_common, "_FTS_REBUILD_LOCK_TIMEOUT_SECONDS", 30.0
+                )
+                t0 = time.monotonic()
+                assert gw.retry_deferred_fts_recovery() is False
+                assert time.monotonic() - t0 < 2.0
+                assert gw._fts_stale is True
+                # Rate limit engaged: an immediate second call is a no-op.
+                assert gw.retry_deferred_fts_recovery() is False
+                # Backoff doubled (60s -> 120s) but capped at the max.
+                assert gw._fts_stale_retry_interval == min(
+                    2 * hermes_state_schema._FTS_STALE_RETRY_SECONDS,
+                    hermes_state_schema._FTS_STALE_RETRY_MAX_SECONDS,
+                )
+                assert gw._fts_stale_retry_after > time.monotonic()
+            except BaseException:
+                gw.close()
+                raise
+        # Holder gone. Same instance recovers on the next eligible tick.
+        try:
+            gw._fts_stale_retry_after = 0.0
+            assert gw.retry_deferred_fts_recovery() is True
+            assert gw._fts_stale is False
+            assert gw._fts_enabled is True
+            # Search actually works again on this very instance.
+            gw.append_message("s1", "user", "needle-after-holder-gone")
+            assert gw.retry_deferred_fts_recovery() is False  # nothing stale
+        finally:
+            gw.close()
+        assert _meta_value(db_path, FTS_STALE_KEY) is None
+        assert _base_fts_triggers(db_path) == set(_FTS_TRIGGERS)
+
+    def test_gateway_housekeeping_tick_drives_the_retry(
+        self, tmp_path, fast_timeout, monkeypatch
+    ):
+        """The retry hangs off the EXISTING housekeeping loop (no new thread)
+        and reaches shared-registry instances."""
+        import threading
+
+        import hermes_state_registry
+        import hermes_state_schema
+        import gateway.run as grun
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(hermes_state_schema, "_FTS_STALE_RETRY_SECONDS", 0.0)
+        db_path = tmp_path / "state.db"
+        d = SessionDB(db_path=db_path)
+        if not d._fts_enabled:
+            d.close()
+            pytest.skip("FTS5 unavailable in this build")
+        d.create_session("s1", source="test")
+        d.append_message("s1", "user", "hello housekeeping")
+        d.close()
+        self._mark_stale(db_path)
+
+        with _rebuild_lock_held_by_other_process(db_path):
+            gw = hermes_state_registry.acquire(db_path)
+        try:
+            assert gw._fts_stale is True
+            assert gw in hermes_state_registry.live_shared_session_dbs()
+            stop = threading.Event()
+            th = threading.Thread(
+                target=grun._start_gateway_housekeeping,
+                args=(stop,),
+                kwargs={"interval": 0.05},
+                daemon=True,
+            )
+            th.start()
+            deadline = time.monotonic() + 10.0
+            while gw._fts_stale and time.monotonic() < deadline:
+                time.sleep(0.05)
+            stop.set()
+            th.join(timeout=5)
+            assert gw._fts_stale is False
+            assert gw._fts_enabled is True
+        finally:
+            hermes_state_registry.release_or_close(gw)
+        assert _meta_value(db_path, FTS_STALE_KEY) is None
+
+    def test_retry_noop_when_not_stale_or_read_only(self, tmp_path):
+        db_path = tmp_path / "state.db"
+        d = SessionDB(db_path=db_path)
+        try:
+            assert d._fts_stale is False
+            assert d.retry_deferred_fts_recovery() is False
+        finally:
+            d.close()
+        ro = SessionDB(db_path=db_path, read_only=True)
+        try:
+            ro._fts_stale = True
+            assert ro.retry_deferred_fts_recovery() is False
+        finally:
+            ro.close()