diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a22e096b..44fb73fb 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 # Changelog
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Added
+
+- Ingester queue schema v2 adds a `last_heartbeat_at` lease column on `jobs`; existing queue databases migrate in place on open.
+
 ### Fixed
 
 - A failed FTS index build is logged at `WARNING` instead of `DEBUG`, so silent full-text search degradation is visible.
diff --git a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/ingester/queue/db.py b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/ingester/queue/db.py
index a0ebb872..4b6ca167 100644
--- a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/ingester/queue/db.py
+++ b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/ingester/queue/db.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import sqlalchemy as sa
 from sqlalchemy import event
 from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncEngine
 
-SCHEMA_VERSION = 1
+SCHEMA_VERSION = 2
 
 metadata = sa.MetaData()
 
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ jobs = sa.Table(
     sa.Column("scheduled_at", sa.Text, nullable=False),
     sa.Column("claimed_at", sa.Text),
     sa.Column("claimed_by", sa.Text),
+    sa.Column("last_heartbeat_at", sa.Text),
     sa.Column("completed_at", sa.Text),
 )
 
diff --git a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/ingester/queue/migrations.py b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/ingester/queue/migrations.py
index 35d03e5c..ac316c1e 100644
--- a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/ingester/queue/migrations.py
+++ b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/ingester/queue/migrations.py
@@ -51,9 +51,19 @@ async def apply_migrations(engine: AsyncEngine) -> int:
         ).scalar_one_or_none()
         if current is None:
             await conn.execute(sa.insert(schema_version).values(version=SCHEMA_VERSION))
-        elif current < SCHEMA_VERSION:  # pragma: no cover - no migrations yet
-            # No diff migrations exist yet — future versions add ALTER/UPDATE
-            # statements between create_all and the version bump.
+        elif current < SCHEMA_VERSION:
+            # create_all only creates missing tables/indexes, never adds columns
+            # to an existing table, so column additions need explicit ALTERs.
+            if current < 2:
+                await conn.execute(
+                    sa.text("ALTER TABLE jobs ADD COLUMN last_heartbeat_at TEXT")
+                )
+                await conn.execute(
+                    sa.text(
+                        "UPDATE jobs SET last_heartbeat_at = claimed_at "
+                        "WHERE status = 'claimed'"
+                    )
+                )
             await conn.execute(sa.update(schema_version).values(version=SCHEMA_VERSION))
     return SCHEMA_VERSION
 
diff --git a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/ingester/queue/models.py b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/ingester/queue/models.py
index ae5df4d3..2d8aa982 100644
--- a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/ingester/queue/models.py
+++ b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/ingester/queue/models.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ class Job(BaseModel):
     scheduled_at: datetime
     claimed_at: datetime | None = None
     claimed_by: str | None = None
+    last_heartbeat_at: datetime | None = None
     completed_at: datetime | None = None
 
 
diff --git a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/ingester/queue/repository.py b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/ingester/queue/repository.py
index 680a63c8..85f68e41 100644
--- a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/ingester/queue/repository.py
+++ b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/ingester/queue/repository.py
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ def _row_to_job(row: Mapping) -> Job:
         scheduled_at=datetime.fromisoformat(row["scheduled_at"]),
         claimed_at=_parse_dt(row["claimed_at"]),
         claimed_by=row["claimed_by"],
+        last_heartbeat_at=_parse_dt(row["last_heartbeat_at"]),
         completed_at=_parse_dt(row["completed_at"]),
     )
 
@@ -157,6 +158,7 @@ class JobRepo:
                 status="claimed",
                 claimed_at=now,
                 claimed_by=worker_id,
+                last_heartbeat_at=now,
                 attempts=jobs.c.attempts + 1,
             )
             .returning(*jobs.c)
@@ -230,6 +232,7 @@ class JobRepo:
                 scheduled_at=scheduled,
                 claimed_at=None,
                 claimed_by=None,
+                last_heartbeat_at=None,
                 last_error=error,
             )
             .returning(jobs.c.id)
@@ -259,6 +262,7 @@ class JobRepo:
                 last_error=None,
                 claimed_at=None,
                 claimed_by=None,
+                last_heartbeat_at=None,
                 completed_at=None,
                 scheduled_at=now,
             )
@@ -449,6 +453,7 @@ class JobRepo:
                 status="queued",
                 claimed_at=None,
                 claimed_by=None,
+                last_heartbeat_at=None,
                 scheduled_at=_utcnow_iso(),
                 attempts=_attempts_minus_one(),
             )
@@ -485,20 +490,26 @@ class JobRepo:
             result = await conn.execute(stmt)
         return result.rowcount or 0
 
-    async def reap_stale(self, claim_timeout_seconds: int) -> int:
-        """Reset claimed jobs whose claimed_at is older than the timeout
-        back to `queued`. Decrements `attempts` to undo the increment from
-        `claim_next` — a crashed worker isn't a consumed attempt."""
+    async def reap_stale(self, lease_ttl_seconds: int) -> int:
+        """Reset claimed jobs whose lease has gone stale back to `queued`. A
+        live worker renews its lease via `renew_claims`, so a claim is stale
+        only when its owner stopped renewing (crash, wedged loop, lost DB).
+        Staleness is measured against the last heartbeat, falling back to
+        claimed_at for a claim made by a process that doesn't write the lease
+        (an older version sharing the queue). Decrements `attempts` to undo the
+        increment from `claim_next` — a reaped worker isn't a consumed attempt."""
         threshold = (
-            datetime.now(UTC) - timedelta(seconds=claim_timeout_seconds)
+            datetime.now(UTC) - timedelta(seconds=lease_ttl_seconds)
         ).isoformat()
+        lease = sa.func.coalesce(jobs.c.last_heartbeat_at, jobs.c.claimed_at)
         stmt = (
             sa.update(jobs)
-            .where(jobs.c.status == "claimed", jobs.c.claimed_at < threshold)
+            .where(jobs.c.status == "claimed", lease < threshold)
             .values(
                 status="queued",
                 claimed_at=None,
                 claimed_by=None,
+                last_heartbeat_at=None,
                 attempts=_attempts_minus_one(),
             )
         )
@@ -506,6 +517,30 @@ class JobRepo:
             result = await conn.execute(stmt)
         return result.rowcount or 0
 
+    async def renew_claims(self, claims: Mapping[str, str]) -> int:
+        """Refresh `last_heartbeat_at` for the given `job_id -> claimed_by`
+        pairs, extending their lease so the reaper leaves them alone. Guarded
+        on `status='claimed' AND claimed_by=?` per pair, so a job already
+        reaped and re-claimed elsewhere is left untouched — renewal never
+        resurrects a lost claim. Returns the number of rows renewed."""
+        if not claims:
+            return 0
+        now = _utcnow_iso()
+        pair_match = sa.or_(
+            *(
+                sa.and_(jobs.c.id == job_id, jobs.c.claimed_by == worker_id)
+                for job_id, worker_id in claims.items()
+            )
+        )
+        stmt = (
+            sa.update(jobs)
+            .where(jobs.c.status == "claimed", pair_match)
+            .values(last_heartbeat_at=now)
+        )
+        async with self._engine.begin() as conn:
+            result = await conn.execute(stmt)
+        return result.rowcount or 0
+
 
 class SyncStateRepo:
     def __init__(self, engine: AsyncEngine):
diff --git a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/ingester/workers/pool.py b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/ingester/workers/pool.py
index 2be52df4..85876c9f 100644
--- a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/ingester/workers/pool.py
+++ b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/ingester/workers/pool.py
@@ -108,11 +108,11 @@ class WorkerPool:
         if self._workers:
             raise RuntimeError("WorkerPool already started")
         self._stop.clear()
-        # Any rows in `claimed` at start time are owned by workers from a
-        # previous process that didn't get to release them (SIGKILL, OOM,
-        # host reboot). Reset them so fresh workers can claim immediately
-        # instead of waiting on the reaper's claim_timeout_s.
-        reset = await self._jobs.reap_stale(claim_timeout_seconds=0)
+        # Sweep claims left behind by a previous process (SIGKILL, OOM, host
+        # reboot) so fresh workers can take them over. Scoped by the lease TTL,
+        # not 0: a peer process sharing the queue may hold live claims, and
+        # those must not be wiped out from under it on our startup.
+        reset = await self._jobs.reap_stale(lease_ttl_seconds=self._claim_timeout_s)
         if reset:
             logger.info("Boot-reaped %d stale claim(s) from previous process", reset)
         for i in range(self._worker_count):
diff --git a/tests/ingester/test_queue.py b/tests/ingester/test_queue.py
index bf020c51..14b16f06 100644
--- a/tests/ingester/test_queue.py
+++ b/tests/ingester/test_queue.py
@@ -3,8 +3,11 @@ from datetime import UTC, datetime, timedelta
 
 import pytest
 import sqlalchemy as sa
+from sqlalchemy.engine import URL
+from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import create_async_engine
 
 from haiku.rag.config import QueueConfig
+from haiku.rag.ingester.queue.db import SCHEMA_VERSION
 from haiku.rag.ingester.queue.db import jobs as jobs_table
 from haiku.rag.ingester.queue.migrations import (
     apply_migrations,
@@ -34,6 +37,81 @@ async def test_apply_migrations_is_idempotent(engine, conn):
     assert row["n"] == 1
 
 
+_V1_JOBS_DDL = """
+CREATE TABLE jobs (
+    id TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+    source_id TEXT NOT NULL,
+    uri TEXT NOT NULL,
+    op TEXT NOT NULL,
+    content_hash TEXT,
+    revision TEXT,
+    status TEXT NOT NULL,
+    attempts INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+    max_attempts INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 5,
+    last_error TEXT,
+    extra TEXT,
+    enqueued_at TEXT NOT NULL,
+    scheduled_at TEXT NOT NULL,
+    claimed_at TEXT,
+    claimed_by TEXT,
+    completed_at TEXT
+)
+"""
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_migration_v1_to_v2_adds_and_backfills_heartbeat(tmp_path):
+    """A real v1 DB (no last_heartbeat_at, schema_version=1) gains the column
+    and has it backfilled from claimed_at for in-flight rows only."""
+    db = tmp_path / "v1.db"
+    engine = create_async_engine(URL.create("sqlite+aiosqlite", database=str(db)))
+    try:
+        when = "2026-01-01T00:00:00+00:00"
+        claimed_when = "2026-01-01T00:05:00+00:00"
+        async with engine.begin() as conn:
+            await conn.execute(sa.text(_V1_JOBS_DDL))
+            await conn.execute(
+                sa.text("CREATE TABLE schema_version (version INTEGER PRIMARY KEY)")
+            )
+            await conn.execute(sa.text("INSERT INTO schema_version VALUES (1)"))
+            await conn.execute(
+                sa.text(
+                    "INSERT INTO jobs (id, source_id, uri, op, status, attempts, "
+                    "max_attempts, enqueued_at, scheduled_at, claimed_at, claimed_by) "
+                    "VALUES ('claimed-1', 's', 'u1', 'upsert', 'claimed', 1, 5, "
+                    f"'{when}', '{when}', '{claimed_when}', 'w')"
+                )
+            )
+            await conn.execute(
+                sa.text(
+                    "INSERT INTO jobs (id, source_id, uri, op, status, attempts, "
+                    "max_attempts, enqueued_at, scheduled_at) "
+                    "VALUES ('queued-1', 's', 'u2', 'upsert', 'queued', 0, 5, "
+                    f"'{when}', '{when}')"
+                )
+            )
+
+        version = await apply_migrations(engine)
+        assert version == SCHEMA_VERSION
+
+        async with engine.connect() as conn:
+            cols = (await conn.execute(sa.text("PRAGMA table_info(jobs)"))).fetchall()
+            assert "last_heartbeat_at" in {c[1] for c in cols}
+            rows = {
+                row[0]: row[1]
+                for row in (
+                    await conn.execute(
+                        sa.text("SELECT id, last_heartbeat_at FROM jobs")
+                    )
+                ).fetchall()
+            }
+        # Backfilled from claimed_at for the in-flight row, left NULL otherwise.
+        assert rows["claimed-1"] == claimed_when
+        assert rows["queued-1"] is None
+    finally:
+        await engine.dispose()
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_open_queue_creates_file_and_schema(tmp_path):
     path = tmp_path / "subdir" / "queue.db"
@@ -389,7 +467,7 @@ async def test_mark_succeeded_with_claimed_by_guard_skips_when_resurrected(jobs)
     a = await jobs.claim_next("worker-A")
     assert a is not None
     # Reaper resets A's stale claim.
-    await jobs.reap_stale(claim_timeout_seconds=0)
+    await jobs.reap_stale(lease_ttl_seconds=0)
     # B picks the job up.
     b = await jobs.claim_next("worker-B")
     assert b is not None and b.id == job.id and b.claimed_by == "worker-B"
@@ -409,7 +487,7 @@ async def test_mark_dead_with_claimed_by_guard_skips_when_resurrected(jobs):
     job = await jobs.enqueue("s", "u", JobOp.UPSERT)
     a = await jobs.claim_next("worker-A")
     assert a is not None
-    await jobs.reap_stale(claim_timeout_seconds=0)
+    await jobs.reap_stale(lease_ttl_seconds=0)
     b = await jobs.claim_next("worker-B")
     assert b is not None and b.claimed_by == "worker-B"
     assert await jobs.mark_dead(job.id, "boom", "worker-A") is False
@@ -427,7 +505,7 @@ async def test_reschedule_with_claimed_by_guard_skips_when_resurrected(jobs):
     job = await jobs.enqueue("s", "u", JobOp.UPSERT)
     a = await jobs.claim_next("worker-A")
     assert a is not None
-    await jobs.reap_stale(claim_timeout_seconds=0)
+    await jobs.reap_stale(lease_ttl_seconds=0)
     b = await jobs.claim_next("worker-B")
     assert b is not None and b.claimed_by == "worker-B"
     assert await jobs.reschedule(job.id, 30.0, "transient", "worker-A") is False
@@ -445,7 +523,7 @@ async def test_release_if_claimed_with_claimed_by_guard_skips_when_resurrected(j
     job = await jobs.enqueue("s", "u", JobOp.UPSERT)
     a = await jobs.claim_next("worker-A")
     assert a is not None
-    await jobs.reap_stale(claim_timeout_seconds=0)
+    await jobs.reap_stale(lease_ttl_seconds=0)
     b = await jobs.claim_next("worker-B")
     assert b is not None and b.claimed_by == "worker-B"
     assert await jobs.release_if_claimed(job.id, "worker-A") is False
@@ -601,38 +679,137 @@ async def test_reap_stale_resets_old_claims(conn, jobs):
     assert claimed is not None
     assert claimed.attempts == 1
 
-    # Backdate claimed_at to simulate a crashed worker.
+    # Backdate the lease to simulate a worker that stopped renewing (crash).
     long_ago = (datetime.now(UTC) - timedelta(hours=1)).isoformat()
     await conn.execute(
-        "UPDATE jobs SET claimed_at = ? WHERE id = ?", (long_ago, job.id)
+        "UPDATE jobs SET claimed_at = ?, last_heartbeat_at = ? WHERE id = ?",
+        (long_ago, long_ago, job.id),
     )
     await conn.commit()
 
-    reset = await jobs.reap_stale(claim_timeout_seconds=60)
+    reset = await jobs.reap_stale(lease_ttl_seconds=60)
     assert reset == 1
     refreshed = await jobs.get_job(job.id)
     assert refreshed is not None
     assert refreshed.status is JobStatus.QUEUED
     assert refreshed.claimed_at is None
     assert refreshed.claimed_by is None
-    # claim_next incremented to 1; reap undoes that since a crashed worker
+    assert refreshed.last_heartbeat_at is None
+    # claim_next incremented to 1; reap undoes that since a reaped worker
     # isn't a consumed attempt — matches release_if_claimed semantics.
     assert refreshed.attempts == 0
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_reap_stale_falls_back_to_claimed_at_when_no_heartbeat(conn, jobs):
+    """A claim made by a process that doesn't write the lease (an older version
+    sharing the queue) has last_heartbeat_at IS NULL. Reaping must fall back to
+    claimed_at instead of stranding it forever (NULL comparisons are falsy)."""
+    job = await jobs.enqueue("s", "u", JobOp.UPSERT)
+    claimed = await jobs.claim_next("w")
+    assert claimed is not None
+
+    long_ago = (datetime.now(UTC) - timedelta(hours=1)).isoformat()
+    await conn.execute(
+        "UPDATE jobs SET claimed_at = ?, last_heartbeat_at = NULL WHERE id = ?",
+        (long_ago, job.id),
+    )
+    await conn.commit()
+
+    reset = await jobs.reap_stale(lease_ttl_seconds=60)
+    assert reset == 1
+    refreshed = await jobs.get_job(job.id)
+    assert refreshed is not None
+    assert refreshed.status is JobStatus.QUEUED
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_reap_stale_leaves_fresh_claims_alone(jobs):
     job = await jobs.enqueue("s", "u", JobOp.UPSERT)
     claimed = await jobs.claim_next("w")
     assert claimed is not None
 
-    reset = await jobs.reap_stale(claim_timeout_seconds=3600)
+    reset = await jobs.reap_stale(lease_ttl_seconds=3600)
     assert reset == 0
     refreshed = await jobs.get_job(job.id)
     assert refreshed is not None
     assert refreshed.status is JobStatus.CLAIMED
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_claim_next_sets_both_timestamps(jobs):
+    await jobs.enqueue("s", "u", JobOp.UPSERT)
+    claimed = await jobs.claim_next("w")
+    assert claimed is not None
+    assert claimed.claimed_at is not None
+    assert claimed.last_heartbeat_at is not None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_renew_claims_keeps_a_stale_claim_alive(conn, jobs):
+    """A claim whose claimed_at is old but whose lease was just renewed must
+    not be reaped — this is the slow-but-alive worker the reaper used to kill."""
+    job = await jobs.enqueue("s", "u", JobOp.UPSERT)
+    claimed = await jobs.claim_next("w")
+    assert claimed is not None
+
+    # Job started long ago, but the worker is alive and renewing.
+    long_ago = (datetime.now(UTC) - timedelta(hours=1)).isoformat()
+    await conn.execute(
+        "UPDATE jobs SET claimed_at = ? WHERE id = ?", (long_ago, job.id)
+    )
+    await conn.commit()
+    renewed = await jobs.renew_claims({job.id: "w"})
+    assert renewed == 1
+
+    reset = await jobs.reap_stale(lease_ttl_seconds=60)
+    assert reset == 0
+    refreshed = await jobs.get_job(job.id)
+    assert refreshed is not None
+    assert refreshed.status is JobStatus.CLAIMED
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_renew_claims_invariant_only_touches_heartbeat(conn, jobs):
+    job = await jobs.enqueue("s", "u", JobOp.UPSERT)
+    claimed = await jobs.claim_next("w")
+    assert claimed is not None and claimed.claimed_at is not None
+
+    # Backdate the heartbeat so renewal demonstrably advances it.
+    old = (datetime.now(UTC) - timedelta(minutes=5)).isoformat()
+    await conn.execute(
+        "UPDATE jobs SET last_heartbeat_at = ? WHERE id = ?", (old, job.id)
+    )
+    await conn.commit()
+    before = await jobs.get_job(job.id)
+    assert before is not None and before.last_heartbeat_at is not None
+
+    assert await jobs.renew_claims({job.id: "w"}) == 1
+    after = await jobs.get_job(job.id)
+    assert after is not None and after.last_heartbeat_at is not None
+    assert after.claimed_at == before.claimed_at
+    assert after.last_heartbeat_at > before.last_heartbeat_at
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_renew_claims_skips_reclaimed_job(jobs):
+    """Renewal is guarded on claimed_by: a job reaped and re-claimed by another
+    worker must not be renewed by the original (lost) claimant."""
+    job = await jobs.enqueue("s", "u", JobOp.UPSERT)
+    a = await jobs.claim_next("worker-A")
+    assert a is not None
+    await jobs.reap_stale(lease_ttl_seconds=0)
+    b = await jobs.claim_next("worker-B")
+    assert b is not None and b.claimed_by == "worker-B"
+
+    assert await jobs.renew_claims({job.id: "worker-A"}) == 0
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_renew_claims_empty_is_noop(jobs):
+    assert await jobs.renew_claims({}) == 0
+
+
 # --- prune_dead ---
 
 
diff --git a/tests/ingester/test_queue_postgres.py b/tests/ingester/test_queue_postgres.py
index 859e375d..5205be78 100644
--- a/tests/ingester/test_queue_postgres.py
+++ b/tests/ingester/test_queue_postgres.py
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ async def test_reap_stale_clamps_attempts(postgres_dburi):
         assert job is not None
         claimed = await jobs.claim_next("w")
         assert claimed is not None and claimed.attempts == 1
-        reset = await jobs.reap_stale(claim_timeout_seconds=0)
+        reset = await jobs.reap_stale(lease_ttl_seconds=0)
         assert reset == 1
         refreshed = await jobs.get_job(job.id)
         assert refreshed is not None
@@ -114,6 +114,29 @@ async def test_reap_stale_clamps_attempts(postgres_dburi):
         assert refreshed.attempts == 0
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_renew_claims_survives_reap_on_postgres(postgres_dburi):
+    """The COALESCE lease threshold and the OR-of-(id, claimed_by) renewal
+    predicate render and run on Postgres: a renewed claim outlives a reap even
+    though its claimed_at is old."""
+    async with queue_engine(postgres_dburi) as engine:
+        jobs = JobRepo(engine)
+        job = await jobs.enqueue("s", "u", JobOp.UPSERT)
+        assert job is not None
+        claimed = await jobs.claim_next("w")
+        assert claimed is not None
+
+        async with engine.begin() as conn:
+            await conn.execute(
+                text("UPDATE jobs SET claimed_at = :ts WHERE id = :id"),
+                {"ts": "2000-01-01T00:00:00+00:00", "id": job.id},
+            )
+        assert await jobs.renew_claims({job.id: "w"}) == 1
+        assert await jobs.reap_stale(lease_ttl_seconds=60) == 0
+        refreshed = await jobs.get_job(job.id)
+        assert refreshed is not None and refreshed.status is JobStatus.CLAIMED
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_sync_state_upsert_coalesce_preserves_revision(postgres_dburi):
     """ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE with COALESCE leaves an existing revision in place
diff --git a/tests/ingester/test_workers.py b/tests/ingester/test_workers.py
index 207e1cb5..99837052 100644
--- a/tests/ingester/test_workers.py
+++ b/tests/ingester/test_workers.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ async def test_worker_ids_are_unique_across_pools(client, jobs, sync):
     claimed = await jobs.claim_next(worker_a)
     assert claimed is not None
     # Reaper resets the claim; pool B re-claims and finishes first.
-    await jobs.reap_stale(claim_timeout_seconds=0)
+    await jobs.reap_stale(lease_ttl_seconds=0)
     reclaimed = await jobs.claim_next(worker_b)
     assert reclaimed is not None and reclaimed.id == job.id
     assert await jobs.mark_succeeded(reclaimed.id, worker_b) is True
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ async def test_worker_loses_claim_to_reaper_does_not_write_sync_state(
     claimed_by_a = await jobs.claim_next("worker-A")
     assert claimed_by_a is not None
     # Reaper resets A's claim, worker-B re-claims.
-    await jobs.reap_stale(claim_timeout_seconds=0)
+    await jobs.reap_stale(lease_ttl_seconds=0)
     await jobs.claim_next("worker-B")
 
     pool = _pool(client, jobs, sync, worker_count=1)
@@ -478,7 +478,7 @@ async def test_permanent_error_loses_claim_to_reaper_writes_no_marker(
     claimed_by_a = await jobs.claim_next("worker-A")
     assert claimed_by_a is not None
     # Reaper resets A's claim, worker-B re-claims.
-    await jobs.reap_stale(claim_timeout_seconds=0)
+    await jobs.reap_stale(lease_ttl_seconds=0)
     await jobs.claim_next("worker-B")
 
     pool = _pool(client, jobs, sync, worker_count=1)
@@ -826,16 +826,25 @@ async def test_permanent_failure_marker_write_failure_does_not_crash_worker(
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_boot_reap_resets_pre_existing_claims(client, jobs, sync):
-    """A SIGKILL'd previous process leaves rows in `claimed` state. The new
-    WorkerPool.start() must reset them immediately so fresh workers can
-    claim them, instead of waiting on the periodic reaper's claim_timeout_s
-    window (default 1800s)."""
+async def test_boot_reap_resets_stale_pre_existing_claims(client, jobs, sync, conn):
+    """A SIGKILL'd previous process leaves a stale claim (its lease stopped
+    being renewed). WorkerPool.start() sweeps it so fresh workers can take it
+    over."""
+    from datetime import UTC, datetime, timedelta
+
     await jobs.enqueue("src", "u", JobOp.UPSERT)
     pre_claimed = await jobs.claim_next("ghost-worker")
     assert pre_claimed is not None
     assert pre_claimed.status is JobStatus.CLAIMED
 
+    # The ghost stopped renewing an hour ago.
+    long_ago = (datetime.now(UTC) - timedelta(hours=1)).isoformat()
+    await conn.execute(
+        "UPDATE jobs SET claimed_at = ?, last_heartbeat_at = ? WHERE id = ?",
+        (long_ago, long_ago, pre_claimed.id),
+    )
+    await conn.commit()
+
     pool = _pool(client, jobs, sync, worker_count=0)
     await pool.start()
     try:
@@ -850,6 +859,25 @@ async def test_boot_reap_resets_pre_existing_claims(client, jobs, sync):
         await pool.stop()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_boot_reap_leaves_a_peer_process_fresh_claim_alone(client, jobs, sync):
+    """A peer process sharing the queue holds a freshly-claimed job. Our
+    startup boot-reap must not wipe its live claim."""
+    await jobs.enqueue("src", "u", JobOp.UPSERT)
+    peer_claim = await jobs.claim_next("peer-worker")
+    assert peer_claim is not None
+
+    pool = _pool(client, jobs, sync, worker_count=0)
+    await pool.start()
+    try:
+        refreshed = await jobs.get_job(peer_claim.id)
+        assert refreshed is not None
+        assert refreshed.status is JobStatus.CLAIMED
+        assert refreshed.claimed_by == "peer-worker"
+    finally:
+        await pool.stop()
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_reaper_resets_stale_claims(client, jobs, sync, conn):
     from datetime import UTC, datetime, timedelta
@@ -858,10 +886,11 @@ async def test_reaper_resets_stale_claims(client, jobs, sync, conn):
     claimed = await jobs.claim_next("worker-old")
     assert claimed is not None
 
-    # Push claimed_at back so reap_stale picks it up.
+    # Push the lease back so reap_stale picks it up.
     long_ago = (datetime.now(UTC) - timedelta(hours=1)).isoformat()
     await conn.execute(
-        "UPDATE jobs SET claimed_at = ? WHERE id = ?", (long_ago, job.id)
+        "UPDATE jobs SET claimed_at = ?, last_heartbeat_at = ? WHERE id = ?",
+        (long_ago, long_ago, job.id),
     )
     await conn.commit()