diff --git a/packages/platform-apple/src/runner/__tests__/runner-exchange.test.ts b/packages/platform-apple/src/runner/__tests__/runner-exchange.test.ts
index d4e53a3c5a..b5b4b31e9d 100644
--- a/packages/platform-apple/src/runner/__tests__/runner-exchange.test.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-apple/src/runner/__tests__/runner-exchange.test.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import {
 let server: FakeRunnerServer | undefined;
 
 afterEach(async () => {
+  vi.unstubAllGlobals();
   await server?.close();
   server = undefined;
 });
@@ -408,6 +409,39 @@ test('a drain whose status read fails stops at once and leaves the charge abando
   assert.equal(session.commandCharges.hasAbandonedCharges, true);
 });
 
+test('a read-only command canceled in the connect retry delay withdraws its charge', async () => {
+  const session = sessionFor(await closedLocalPort());
+  session.state = 'starting';
+  const controller = new AbortController();
+  const refusedAttempts: string[] = [];
+  vi.stubGlobal(
+    'fetch',
+    vi.fn(async (url: string) => {
+      refusedAttempts.push(url);
+      setTimeout(() => controller.abort(createRequestCanceledError()), 0);
+      throw Object.assign(new Error('connect ECONNREFUSED'), { code: 'ECONNREFUSED' });
+    }),
+  );
+
+  await assert.rejects(
+    executeRunnerExchange(
+      IOS_SIMULATOR,
+      session,
+      { command: 'snapshot', appBundleId: 'com.example.app' },
+      undefined,
+      10_000,
+      async () => {},
+      controller.signal,
+    ),
+    (error: unknown) =>
+      isRequestCanceledError(error) &&
+      (error as { details?: { dispatched?: string } }).details?.dispatched === 'no',
+  );
+
+  assert.equal(refusedAttempts.length, 1);
+  assert.equal(session.commandCharges.hasOutstandingCharges, false);
+});
+
 test('a refused connection withdraws its charge although nothing canceled it', async () => {
   const port = await closedLocalPort();
   const session = sessionFor(port);
diff --git a/packages/platform-apple/src/runner/runner-startup-transport.ts b/packages/platform-apple/src/runner/runner-startup-transport.ts
index f1aa7c4c52..3c156ca640 100644
--- a/packages/platform-apple/src/runner/runner-startup-transport.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-apple/src/runner/runner-startup-transport.ts
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ export async function waitForRunner(
   // Every attempt posts the command itself, so the loop gives up "before send" only when no
   // attempt could have written it.
   let commandMayHaveBeenWritten = false;
+  const recordAttemptWriteEvidence = (error: unknown): void => {
+    if (!isRunnerCommandProvablyUnwritten(error)) commandMayHaveBeenWritten = true;
+  };
   const maxAttempts = Math.max(1, Math.ceil(timeoutMs / RUNNER_CONNECT_ATTEMPT_INTERVAL_MS));
   try {
     return await retryWithPolicy(
@@ -100,12 +103,10 @@ export async function waitForRunner(
           },
           setLastError: (err) => {
             lastError = err;
-            if (!isRunnerCommandProvablyUnwritten(err)) commandMayHaveBeenWritten = true;
+            recordAttemptWriteEvidence(err);
           },
         }).catch((error: unknown) => {
-          if (isRequestCanceledError(error) && !isRunnerCommandProvablyUnwritten(error)) {
-            commandMayHaveBeenWritten = true;
-          }
+          if (isRequestCanceledError(error)) recordAttemptWriteEvidence(error);
           throw error;
         });
         if (response) return response;