diff --git a/src/roomieorder/cli.py b/src/roomieorder/cli.py
index f2d1ac7..2a1fb51 100644
--- a/src/roomieorder/cli.py
+++ b/src/roomieorder/cli.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
 from roomieorder.notify import build_notifier
 from roomieorder.retention import prune_shots
 from roomieorder.sheets import build_sheets
-from roomieorder.store import Store
+from roomieorder.store import Store, is_login_pause
 
 
 def _setup_logging(verbose: bool) -> None:
@@ -227,6 +227,7 @@ def wait_for_operator(page: object) -> None:
     # the persistent ("remember me") cookies were written.
     if purchaser.verify_session():  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
         click.echo("✓ signed in — session persisted (survives restarts and the worker)")
+        _clear_login_pause(config, provider)
     else:
         click.echo(
             "⚠️  the saved profile reloads signed OUT — the session didn’t persist. "
@@ -235,6 +236,27 @@ def wait_for_operator(page: object) -> None:
         )
 
 
+def _clear_login_pause(config: Config, provider: str) -> None:
+    """After a confirmed hand-login, resume the worker if it was paused by *this*
+    store's sign-in wall.
+
+    The sign-in-wall ``pause_reason`` literally instructs the operator to run
+    ``roomieorder login``, yet nothing else resets the flag — so without this the
+    operator logs in, is told the session persisted, taps the button, and gets the
+    same "logged out" message back: an inescapable loop. Only a matching
+    login/session pause is cleared (``store.is_login_pause``); a challenge,
+    needs-review, crash or manual pause stays operator-gated. Resolves the same
+    ``config.db_path`` the co-located service uses, so it clears the live flag."""
+    store = Store(config.db_path)
+    store.init_db()
+    try:
+        if store.is_paused() and is_login_pause(store.pause_reason(), provider):
+            store.set_paused(False)
+            click.echo(f"✓ worker was paused for {provider} login — resumed")
+    finally:
+        store.close()
+
+
 @main.command(name="dry-run")
 @click.argument("item_key")
 @_PROVIDER_OPT
@@ -528,6 +550,17 @@ def doctor(check_login: bool) -> None:
     def line(state: str, label: str, detail: str) -> None:
         click.echo(f"{state:4} {label:14} {detail}")
 
+    # ── which universe is this? ──
+    # ROOMIEORDER_DB / _PROFILE_DIR / _CATALOG default to CWD-relative paths, so a
+    # doctor run from the repo checkout can read a *different* DB and profile than
+    # the live systemd service (which cd's to its state dir first). Print the
+    # resolved absolutes + CWD so that mismatch is self-evident and a stale repo
+    # jar is never mistaken for the live one.
+    line("ok", "cwd", os.getcwd())
+    line("ok", "paths/db", str(config.db_path.resolve()))
+    line("ok", "paths/profile", str(config.profile_dir.resolve()))
+    line("ok", "paths/catalog", str(config.catalog_path.resolve()))
+
     # ── config / safety ──
     line("ok", "dry_run", str(config.dry_run))
     line("ok", "daily_cap", f"${config.daily_cap:.2f}")
@@ -603,7 +636,7 @@ def line(state: str, label: str, detail: str) -> None:
         if path.exists():
             stamp = datetime.fromtimestamp(path.stat().st_mtime, tz=timezone.utc).isoformat()
             present = "present" if check_login else "present (login unverified — run dump-dom)"
-            line("ok", f"profile/{label}", f"{present}, mtime {stamp}")
+            line("ok", f"profile/{label}", f"{present}, {path.resolve()}, mtime {stamp}")
         else:
             line("warn", f"profile/{label}", f"missing {path} — run `roomieorder login --provider {label}`")
             continue
diff --git a/src/roomieorder/main.py b/src/roomieorder/main.py
index 0211038..eef1fc4 100644
--- a/src/roomieorder/main.py
+++ b/src/roomieorder/main.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
 from roomieorder.purchase import PurchaseResult, build_purchaser
 from roomieorder.retention import prune_shots
 from roomieorder.sheets import SheetsClient, build_sheets
-from roomieorder.store import QueueRow, Store
+from roomieorder.store import QueueRow, Store, is_login_pause
 
 _logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -270,6 +270,32 @@ def _session_check_tick(self, *, now: Optional[float] = None) -> None:
                     f"`roomieorder login --provider {provider}` before the next order"
                 )
                 _logger.warning("%s session probe: logged OUT", provider)
+                continue
+            # Log the healthy outcome too (the negative branch alone left a silent
+            # probe with no journal trail — a live session was indistinguishable
+            # from a probe that never ran). Then self-heal: a transient sign-in
+            # wall can latch a pause that outlives the condition, so once the
+            # profile reloads signed in, clear a matching login pause.
+            _logger.info("%s session probe: logged in", provider)
+            self._resume_if_login_pause(provider)
+
+    def _resume_if_login_pause(self, provider: str) -> None:
+        """Clear a login/session pause once ``provider`` is confirmed signed in.
+
+        Deliberately narrow: only a pause raised by *that* store's sign-in wall
+        (``store.is_login_pause``) is auto-cleared — a captcha ``challenge``, a
+        ``needs_review`` restart pause, a worker crash, a spend cap or a manual CLI
+        pause all stay latched for the operator. Auto-resume can re-arm real
+        ordering when ``DRY_RUN`` is off, so the gate is intentionally strict."""
+        if not self.store.is_paused():
+            return
+        if not is_login_pause(self.store.pause_reason(), provider):
+            return
+        self.store.set_paused(False)
+        self.notifier.send(
+            f"✅ {provider.capitalize()} session re-established — worker resumed"
+        )
+        _logger.info("worker resumed: %s session re-established", provider)
 
     # ─────────── per-row processing ───────────
 
diff --git a/src/roomieorder/purchase.py b/src/roomieorder/purchase.py
index 09a6dc7..4a55b54 100644
--- a/src/roomieorder/purchase.py
+++ b/src/roomieorder/purchase.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
 from roomieorder.config import Config
 from roomieorder.guards import GuardResult
 from roomieorder.logutil import correlated
-from roomieorder.store import Status
+from roomieorder.store import LOGIN_PAUSE_MARKER, Status
 
 # Each purchaser drives exactly one store's source shape; bind it so the buy
 # skeleton on the base can pass the concrete CostcoSource/AmazonSource through to
@@ -1556,11 +1556,15 @@ def _signin_required(self, page: "Page", item_key: str, where: str) -> PurchaseR
         it's logged out. Pause with a clear next step rather than mislabeling the
         login form as a review screenshot."""
         shot = self._screenshot(page, item_key, f"signin_{where}")
+        # Build the remediation hint from LOGIN_PAUSE_MARKER (renders as
+        # "roomieorder login --provider <store>") so the pause_reason string this
+        # becomes always carries the marker that lets `login` / the session probe
+        # auto-clear it — see store.is_login_pause. Don't inline the command text.
         return PurchaseResult(
             status="challenge",
             message=(
                 f"⚠️ {self.STORE_NAME} is logged out (hit the sign-in wall on the "
-                f"{where} page) — run `roomieorder login --provider {self.PROVIDER}`, then retry"
+                f"{where} page) — run `{LOGIN_PAUSE_MARKER} {self.PROVIDER}`, then retry"
             ),
             screenshot=shot,
         )
diff --git a/src/roomieorder/store.py b/src/roomieorder/store.py
index 98e23b6..303ab1c 100644
--- a/src/roomieorder/store.py
+++ b/src/roomieorder/store.py
@@ -52,6 +52,31 @@
 # hand it to the operator instead (see ``recover_stale`` and ``claim_next_pending``).
 MAX_ATTEMPTS = 1
 
+# Marker embedded in a worker-pause reason raised because a store profile got
+# bounced to the sign-in wall (``purchase.BasePurchaser._signin_required``). It is
+# the literal remediation command in that message, and the pause_reason string is
+# the *only* thing a pause carries in ``worker_state`` — so it is also how an
+# automated login/session recovery recognises a pause it is allowed to clear. A
+# captcha ``challenge``, a ``needs_review`` restart pause, a worker crash, a spend
+# cap and a manual CLI pause all lack this marker and stay operator-gated.
+# ``_signin_required`` builds its message around this constant; keep them in
+# lockstep so a re-worded message can't silently break auto-resume.
+LOGIN_PAUSE_MARKER = "roomieorder login --provider"
+
+
+def is_login_pause(reason: str, provider: Optional[str] = None) -> bool:
+    """True when ``reason`` is a logged-out sign-in-wall pause — the only pause an
+    automated login/session recovery may clear.
+
+    Pass ``provider`` to additionally require the pause be about *that* store, so a
+    successful Amazon probe never clears a pause raised for a still-walled Costco
+    (the reason renders ``... --provider <store> ...``). Everything else — a
+    captcha ``challenge``, a ``needs_review`` restart pause, a crash, a spend cap,
+    a manual pause — lacks the marker and returns False, staying operator-gated.
+    """
+    marker = LOGIN_PAUSE_MARKER if provider is None else f"{LOGIN_PAUSE_MARKER} {provider}"
+    return marker in reason
+
 
 def _utcnow() -> datetime:
     return datetime.now(timezone.utc)
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index 60950f8..921224b 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 
 import roomieorder.cli as cli
 from roomieorder.cli import _group_hits, _read_price_from_summary, main
-from roomieorder.store import Store
+from roomieorder.store import LOGIN_PAUSE_MARKER, Store
 
 _CATALOG = {
     "paper_towels": {
@@ -155,6 +155,58 @@ def test_retry_unknown_row(env: Path) -> None:
     assert "no queue row #999" in result.output
 
 
+# ─────────── login (pause-clear) ───────────
+
+
+class _FakeLoginPurchaser:
+    """Stand-in for a purchaser: no browser, reports a persisted session."""
+
+    domain = "www.costco.com"
+    profile_dir = "/tmp/profile"
+
+    def login(self, wait_for_operator: object) -> None:  # never calls the blocking cb
+        return None
+
+    def verify_session(self) -> bool:
+        return True
+
+
+def _pause(tmp_path: Path, reason: str) -> None:
+    store = Store(tmp_path / "state.sqlite")
+    store.init_db()
+    store.set_paused(True, reason)
+    store.close()
+
+
+def test_login_resumes_matching_signin_pause(env: Path, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+    """A confirmed hand-login clears the sign-in-wall pause that told the operator
+    to run it — closing the 'log in → still paused → logged out again' loop."""
+    _pause(env, f"⚠️ Costco is logged out … run `{LOGIN_PAUSE_MARKER} costco`, then retry")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cli, "_purchaser_for", lambda config, provider: _FakeLoginPurchaser())
+
+    result = CliRunner().invoke(main, ["login", "--provider", "costco"])
+    assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+    assert "resumed" in result.output
+
+    store = Store(env / "state.sqlite")
+    assert store.is_paused() is False
+    store.close()
+
+
+def test_login_leaves_challenge_pause_latched(env: Path, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+    """A captcha challenge is not a login pause — `login` must not resume it."""
+    _pause(env, "⚠️ Costco challenge on the product page — worker paused, clear it manually")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cli, "_purchaser_for", lambda config, provider: _FakeLoginPurchaser())
+
+    result = CliRunner().invoke(main, ["login", "--provider", "costco"])
+    assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+    assert "resumed" not in result.output
+
+    store = Store(env / "state.sqlite")
+    assert store.is_paused() is True  # still operator-gated
+    store.close()
+
+
 # ─────────── prune-shots ───────────
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_main.py b/tests/test_main.py
index 13b5438..ad27884 100644
--- a/tests/test_main.py
+++ b/tests/test_main.py
@@ -3,14 +3,18 @@
 import time
 from collections.abc import Iterator
 from pathlib import Path
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, cast
 
 import pytest
 from fastapi.testclient import TestClient
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from roomieorder.main import Engine
+
 from roomieorder.catalog import CatalogItem
 from roomieorder.config import Config
 from roomieorder.purchase import PurchaseResult
-from roomieorder.store import Status, Store
+from roomieorder.store import LOGIN_PAUSE_MARKER, Status, Store
 
 
 class FakeOrchestrator:
@@ -428,6 +432,91 @@ def verify_session(self) -> bool:
         engine.store.close()
 
 
+def _signin_reason(provider: str) -> str:
+    """The pause reason a sign-in wall latches, built from the shared marker."""
+    return (
+        f"⚠️ {provider.capitalize()} is logged out (hit the sign-in wall on the "
+        f"product page) — run `{LOGIN_PAUSE_MARKER} {provider}`, then retry"
+    )
+
+
+def _logged_in_engine(
+    config: Config, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, *, signed_in: set[str]
+) -> "Engine":
+    """An Engine whose session probe reports ``signed_in`` providers as logged in,
+    with the activity gate forced clear and both profiles present."""
+    from roomieorder.main import Engine
+
+    class _FakePurchaser:
+        def __init__(self, provider: str) -> None:
+            self._provider = provider
+
+        def verify_session(self) -> bool:
+            return self._provider in signed_in
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "roomieorder.main.build_purchaser",
+        lambda cfg, provider: _FakePurchaser(provider),
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr("roomieorder.main.activity.busy_gate", lambda cfg: None)
+    engine = Engine(config.model_copy(update={"session_check_hours": 24.0}))
+    engine.notifier = _RecordingNotifier()
+    return engine
+
+
+def test_session_check_resumes_login_pause_when_signed_in(
+    config: Config, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """A sign-in-wall pause that outlived its cause is auto-cleared once the probe
+    confirms the profile reloads signed in — the self-healing fix for a latched
+    'Costco is logged out' that no code path otherwise resets."""
+    config.costco_profile_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+    config.amazon_profile_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+    engine = _logged_in_engine(config, monkeypatch, signed_in={"costco", "amazon"})
+    try:
+        engine.store.set_paused(True, _signin_reason("costco"))
+        engine._session_check_tick(now=1_000_000.0)
+        assert engine.store.is_paused() is False
+        sent = cast(_RecordingNotifier, engine.notifier).sent
+        assert any("worker resumed" in s for s in sent)
+    finally:
+        engine.store.close()
+
+
+def test_session_check_keeps_challenge_pause_latched(
+    config: Config, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """A captcha challenge needs a human — a logged-in probe must NOT auto-resume
+    it, even though the profile reads signed in."""
+    config.costco_profile_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+    config.amazon_profile_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+    engine = _logged_in_engine(config, monkeypatch, signed_in={"costco", "amazon"})
+    try:
+        engine.store.set_paused(
+            True, "⚠️ Costco challenge on the product page — worker paused, clear it manually"
+        )
+        engine._session_check_tick(now=1_000_000.0)
+        assert engine.store.is_paused() is True
+    finally:
+        engine.store.close()
+
+
+def test_session_check_wont_resume_other_store_pause(
+    config: Config, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """A signed-in Amazon probe must not clear a pause raised for a still-walled
+    Costco — the resume is provider-scoped."""
+    # Only amazon present, so only its probe runs; costco stays walled.
+    config.amazon_profile_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+    engine = _logged_in_engine(config, monkeypatch, signed_in={"amazon"})
+    try:
+        engine.store.set_paused(True, _signin_reason("costco"))
+        engine._session_check_tick(now=1_000_000.0)
+        assert engine.store.is_paused() is True
+    finally:
+        engine.store.close()
+
+
 def test_session_check_disabled_by_default(config: Config, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
     from roomieorder.main import Engine
 
diff --git a/tests/test_store.py b/tests/test_store.py
index 73a32ac..244a531 100644
--- a/tests/test_store.py
+++ b/tests/test_store.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 from datetime import timedelta
 
-from roomieorder.store import Store, _iso, _utcnow
+from roomieorder.store import LOGIN_PAUSE_MARKER, Store, _iso, _utcnow, is_login_pause
 
 
 def test_enqueue_claim_mark(store: Store) -> None:
@@ -110,3 +110,33 @@ def test_pause_roundtrip(store: Store) -> None:
     assert store.pause_reason() == "captcha"
     store.set_paused(False)
     assert store.is_paused() is False
+
+
+# The exact reason string BasePurchaser._signin_required emits for Costco. Built
+# from the shared marker so this test fails loudly if the two ever drift.
+_SIGNIN_REASON = (
+    "⚠️ Costco is logged out (hit the sign-in wall on the product page) — "
+    f"run `{LOGIN_PAUSE_MARKER} costco`, then retry"
+)
+
+
+def test_is_login_pause_recognises_signin_wall() -> None:
+    assert is_login_pause(_SIGNIN_REASON) is True
+    # Provider-scoped: matches the store the pause names…
+    assert is_login_pause(_SIGNIN_REASON, "costco") is True
+    # …and rejects a different store, so an Amazon probe can't clear a Costco pause.
+    assert is_login_pause(_SIGNIN_REASON, "amazon") is False
+
+
+def test_is_login_pause_rejects_operator_gated_reasons() -> None:
+    # These pauses require a human — never auto-clear them.
+    for reason in (
+        "⚠️ Costco challenge on the product page — worker paused, clear it manually",
+        "⚠️ 1 order(s) were interrupted by a restart (paper_towels) — review, then resume",
+        "worker crashed on row 7",
+        "⛔ recorded 24h spend $310.00 is over the $300.00 cap",
+        "paused via CLI",
+        "",
+    ):
+        assert is_login_pause(reason) is False
+        assert is_login_pause(reason, "costco") is False