diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9b66b73b..2fd94fe4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -497,6 +497,13 @@ A legacy record that already has an exit while its daemon is still finishing
 is refused the same way, before any restart prompt: a restart waits for proof
 that the daemon is gone, and a live legacy daemon cannot give it.
 
+**A dead session restarts only on an answer.** `attach` on a session that has
+exited shows its last lines and asks `Restart? [Y/n]`. At a terminal, Enter
+restarts it. Without one, only `y` or `yes` does. At EOF, or on any other
+input, attach exits 1 and the stored command does not run. `-r` restarts
+without asking, `--no-restart` never restarts, and `--force` answers nothing.
+The Node tool differs here ([decision 0020](docs/decisions/0020-an-unanswered-restart-prompt-does-not-restart.md)).
+
 `run` and `restart` are different and deliberately so: from inside a session
 `run` runs the command directly and `restart` restarts without attaching.
 Both did what was asked, so both exit 0.
diff --git a/crates/pty-conformance/divergences.toml b/crates/pty-conformance/divergences.toml
index e4f57e13..d0a3371d 100644
--- a/crates/pty-conformance/divergences.toml
+++ b/crates/pty-conformance/divergences.toml
@@ -297,3 +297,40 @@ f005432ad5c73b79abd7c5eaa8a0d6eb66ee9194 on Node 22 exceeded the five-second \
 harness deadline in CI run 40986814385. Remove when Node honors the quiet \
 session-first timeout.
 """
+
+[[divergence]]
+test = "attach_no_restart::a_restart_prompt_at_eof_declines"
+side = "node"
+kind = "intended"
+reason = """
+Decision 0020: attach's dead-session prompt at EOF declines, exits 1 and \
+names -r. Pinned Node f005432ad5c73b79abd7c5eaa8a0d6eb66ee9194 restarts \
+nothing there either, but its readline question never resolves and it exits \
+0 after the prompt, measured on Node 22.23.2 and 24.18.0 on Linux. Remove \
+this entry if Node exits 1 there, or if Rust drops the decision.
+"""
+
+[[divergence]]
+test = "attach_no_restart::a_restart_prompt_off_a_terminal_needs_a_yes"
+side = "node"
+kind = "intended"
+reason = """
+Decision 0020: with stdin not a terminal, only y or yes restarts a dead \
+session from attach's prompt. Pinned Node \
+f005432ad5c73b79abd7c5eaa8a0d6eb66ee9194 restarts on any line but a lone n, \
+so a piped empty line or relayed input reruns the stored command, measured \
+on Node 22.23.2 on Linux. Remove this entry if Node requires an explicit \
+answer, or if Rust drops the decision.
+"""
+
+[[divergence]]
+test = "attach_no_restart::force_is_not_an_answer_to_the_restart_prompt"
+side = "node"
+kind = "intended"
+reason = """
+Decision 0020: --force answers nothing, so attach --force at EOF declines, \
+exits 1 and names -r. Pinned Node f005432ad5c73b79abd7c5eaa8a0d6eb66ee9194 \
+also restarts nothing there but exits 0 after the prompt, measured on Node \
+22.23.2 on Linux. The test's piped-y half restarts on both. Remove this \
+entry with the EOF entry above.
+"""
diff --git a/crates/pty-conformance/tests/attach_no_restart.rs b/crates/pty-conformance/tests/attach_no_restart.rs
index 59fcae6d..cfb9f9c9 100644
--- a/crates/pty-conformance/tests/attach_no_restart.rs
+++ b/crates/pty-conformance/tests/attach_no_restart.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 //! default policy prompts `Restart? [Y/n]` and `--auto-restart` re-launches
 //! without asking. The terminal cases run the CLI inside a real pty
 //! (`Rig::pty_tty_raw`) with the same 30×100 geometry the Node test uses.
+//! The cases after them have no terminal: there the prompt restarts only on a
+//! `y`, which departs from Node (decision 0020).
 
 use pty_conformance::*;
 use serde_json::Value;
@@ -213,3 +215,87 @@ fn auto_restart_relaunches_without_prompting() {
     assert_eq!(invocation_count(&marker), 2);
     assert_eq!(event_count(&rig, id, "session_start"), 1);
 }
+
+/// An attach that the prompt declined for want of an answer: exit 1, a way to
+/// restart named, and the old record left in place for a later answer.
+fn expect_unanswered(rig: &Rig, out: &Out, id: &str, marker: &Path) {
+    expect_status(out, 1);
+    expect_contains(&out.stdout(), "Restart? [Y/n]");
+    expect_contains(&out.stderr(), &format!("Session \"{id}\" was not restarted"));
+    expect_contains(&out.stderr(), "pass -r");
+    assert_eq!(invocation_count(marker), 1);
+    let kept = rig.meta(id).expect("the exited record is kept");
+    assert_eq!(kept["exitCode"], 42, "{kept}");
+}
+
+/// Decision 0020: stdin at EOF answers nothing, so the stored command does
+/// not run again.
+#[test]
+fn a_restart_prompt_at_eof_declines() {
+    let rig = Rig::new();
+    let marker = rig.tmp().join("invocations");
+    let id = "eof-target";
+    spawn_retained_once(&rig, id, &marker);
+
+    let out = rig.pty(&["attach", id]);
+    expect_unanswered(&rig, &out, id, &marker);
+}
+
+/// Decision 0020: off a terminal, only `y` or `yes` restarts. An empty line,
+/// which says yes at a terminal, does not.
+#[test]
+fn a_restart_prompt_off_a_terminal_needs_a_yes() {
+    let rig = Rig::new();
+    let marker = rig.tmp().join("invocations");
+    let id = "piped-target";
+    spawn_retained_once(&rig, id, &marker);
+
+    for input in [&b"\n"[..], b"future-relay-input\n"] {
+        let out = rig.pty_stdin(input, &["attach", id]);
+        expect_unanswered(&rig, &out, id, &marker);
+    }
+}
+
+/// A piped `y` is an answer: the session restarts, as at a terminal.
+#[test]
+fn a_piped_yes_restarts() {
+    let rig = Rig::new();
+    let marker = rig.tmp().join("invocations");
+    let id = "yes-target";
+    spawn_retained_once(&rig, id, &marker);
+
+    let out = rig.pty_stdin(b"y\n", &["attach", id]);
+    expect_contains(&out.stdout(), &format!("Session \"{id}\" restarted."));
+    wait_until("second invocation", || invocation_count(&marker) == 2);
+}
+
+/// `-r` restarts without a terminal and without asking.
+#[test]
+fn auto_restart_needs_no_terminal() {
+    let rig = Rig::new();
+    let marker = rig.tmp().join("invocations");
+    let id = "auto-piped-target";
+    spawn_retained_once(&rig, id, &marker);
+
+    let out = rig.pty(&["attach", "-r", id]);
+    expect_not_contains(&out.stdout(), "Restart?");
+    expect_contains(&out.stdout(), &format!("Session \"{id}\" restarted."));
+    wait_until("second invocation", || invocation_count(&marker) == 2);
+}
+
+/// `--force` only allows nesting. It answers nothing, and a `y` after it still
+/// restarts.
+#[test]
+fn force_is_not_an_answer_to_the_restart_prompt() {
+    let rig = Rig::new();
+    let marker = rig.tmp().join("invocations");
+    let id = "force-target";
+    spawn_retained_once(&rig, id, &marker);
+
+    let out = rig.pty(&["attach", "--force", id]);
+    expect_unanswered(&rig, &out, id, &marker);
+
+    let out = rig.pty_stdin(b"y\n", &["attach", "--force", id]);
+    expect_contains(&out.stdout(), &format!("Session \"{id}\" restarted."));
+    wait_until("second invocation", || invocation_count(&marker) == 2);
+}
diff --git a/crates/pty/src/cli/ask.rs b/crates/pty/src/cli/ask.rs
index 75ab4507..bac22253 100644
--- a/crates/pty/src/cli/ask.rs
+++ b/crates/pty/src/cli/ask.rs
@@ -1,38 +1,83 @@
-//! The `[Y/n]` prompt: write the question to stdout, read one line from
-//! stdin. No tty check, exactly like Node's `readline` prompt; a closed
-//! stdin reads as an empty answer, which proceeds.
+//! The `[Y/n]` prompts: write the question to stdout, read one line from
+//! stdin.
+//!
+//! [`ask`] has no tty check, like Node's `readline` prompt, and only a lone
+//! `n` declines. A closed stdin reads as an empty answer, which proceeds.
+//! Node differs there: its question never resolves at EOF, and the process
+//! exits 0 having done nothing. `pty restart` still asks this way.
+//!
+//! [`ask_consent`] asks for the dead-session restart in `attach`, where only an
+//! answer someone gave counts (decision 0020).
 //!
 //! node: src/cli.ts:4069-4078 (`ask`), 3922-3926 and 1836-1840 (callers).
 
 #![allow(dead_code)] // callers: the restart / dead-session prompts
 
-use std::io::{BufRead, Write};
+use std::io::{BufRead, IsTerminal, Write};
 
 /// Print `prompt` (no newline) and return the answer line without its
 /// line terminator.
 pub fn ask(prompt: &str) -> String {
+    read_answer(prompt).unwrap_or_default()
+}
+
+/// Did the answer decline? Node compares `answer.toLowerCase() === "n"`
+/// (the restart prompts) — only a lone `n`/`N` says no; anything else,
+/// including an empty line, proceeds.
+pub fn declined(answer: &str) -> bool {
+    answer.to_lowercase() == "n"
+}
+
+/// What the dead-session restart prompt was told.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum Consent {
+    Yes,
+    /// A lone `n`.
+    No,
+    /// Stdin was at EOF, or is not a terminal and did not say `y` or `yes`.
+    NoAnswer,
+}
+
+/// Print `prompt` and read one line, like [`ask`], but count only an answer.
+/// At a terminal, as in Node, anything but a lone `n` says yes, an empty line
+/// included. Anywhere else only `y` or `yes` does. EOF is never an answer.
+pub fn ask_consent(prompt: &str) -> Consent {
+    let answer = read_answer(prompt);
+    consent(answer.as_deref(), std::io::stdin().is_terminal())
+}
+
+fn consent(answer: Option<&str>, terminal: bool) -> Consent {
+    match answer {
+        None => Consent::NoAnswer,
+        Some(answer) if declined(answer) => Consent::No,
+        Some(_) if terminal => Consent::Yes,
+        Some(answer) if answer.eq_ignore_ascii_case("y") || answer.eq_ignore_ascii_case("yes") => {
+            Consent::Yes
+        }
+        Some(_) => Consent::NoAnswer,
+    }
+}
+
+/// Print `prompt` and read one line. `None` at EOF or on a read error.
+fn read_answer(prompt: &str) -> Option<String> {
     let mut out = std::io::stdout().lock();
     let _ = out.write_all(prompt.as_bytes());
     let _ = out.flush();
     drop(out);
     let mut line = String::new();
-    let _ = std::io::stdin().lock().read_line(&mut line);
+    match std::io::stdin().lock().read_line(&mut line) {
+        Ok(0) | Err(_) => return None,
+        Ok(_) => {}
+    }
     while line.ends_with('\n') || line.ends_with('\r') {
         line.pop();
     }
-    line
-}
-
-/// Did the answer decline? Node compares `answer.toLowerCase() === "n"`
-/// (the restart prompts) — only a lone `n`/`N` says no; anything else,
-/// including an empty line, proceeds.
-pub fn declined(answer: &str) -> bool {
-    answer.to_lowercase() == "n"
+    Some(line)
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
-    use super::declined;
+    use super::{Consent, consent, declined};
 
     #[test]
     fn only_a_lone_n_declines() {
@@ -42,4 +87,41 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(!declined("y"));
         assert!(!declined("no"));
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn consent_needs_an_answer_and_off_a_terminal_a_yes() {
+        for terminal in [true, false] {
+            assert_eq!(
+                consent(None, terminal),
+                Consent::NoAnswer,
+                "terminal={terminal}"
+            );
+            for no in ["n", "N"] {
+                assert_eq!(
+                    consent(Some(no), terminal),
+                    Consent::No,
+                    "{no:?} terminal={terminal}"
+                );
+            }
+            for yes in ["y", "Y", "yes", "YES"] {
+                assert_eq!(
+                    consent(Some(yes), terminal),
+                    Consent::Yes,
+                    "{yes:?} terminal={terminal}"
+                );
+            }
+        }
+        for other in ["", "no", "future-relay-input"] {
+            assert_eq!(
+                consent(Some(other), true),
+                Consent::Yes,
+                "{other:?} at a terminal"
+            );
+            assert_eq!(
+                consent(Some(other), false),
+                Consent::NoAnswer,
+                "{other:?} off a terminal"
+            );
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/crates/pty/src/cli/attach.rs b/crates/pty/src/cli/attach.rs
index 0cbd3186..167a0c8c 100644
--- a/crates/pty/src/cli/attach.rs
+++ b/crates/pty/src/cli/attach.rs
@@ -228,8 +228,21 @@ fn handle_dead_session(name: &str, meta: Option<SessionMetadata>, auto_restart:
     println!("Command was: {command}");
     println!();
 
-    if !auto_restart && super::ask::declined(&ask::ask("Restart? [Y/n] ")) {
-        return Ok(0);
+    if !auto_restart {
+        match ask::ask_consent("Restart? [Y/n] ") {
+            ask::Consent::Yes => {}
+            ask::Consent::No => return Ok(0),
+            // Nobody said yes, so the stored command does not run again
+            // (decision 0020).
+            ask::Consent::NoAnswer => {
+                println!();
+                eprintln!(
+                    "pty attach: Session \"{name}\" was not restarted: the restart prompt got no answer."
+                );
+                eprintln!("  Answer y, or pass -r to restart it without asking.");
+                return Ok(1);
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     // An exited session's daemon can still be finishing, and it needs the
diff --git a/docs/decisions/0020-an-unanswered-restart-prompt-does-not-restart.md b/docs/decisions/0020-an-unanswered-restart-prompt-does-not-restart.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7e9cd68e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/decisions/0020-an-unanswered-restart-prompt-does-not-restart.md
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+# 0020 — An unanswered restart prompt does not restart
+
+**Status:** accepted
+
+**Node behavior.** `handleDeadSession` (`src/cli.ts`) asks `Restart? [Y/n] `
+through `readline/promises`, with no terminal check. Any line but a lone `n`
+restarts the session, an empty line included. When stdin reaches EOF first,
+the question never resolves: the process exits 0 after the prompt, and
+nothing restarts.
+
+Measured with no terminal, against the pinned Node reference on Node 22.23.2
+and 24.18.0, and against Rust before this change:
+
+| stdin | Node | Rust before |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `</dev/null` | exit 0, not restarted | restarted |
+| an empty line | restarted | restarted |
+| `future-input` | restarted | restarted |
+| `y` or `yes` | restarted | restarted |
+| `n` | exit 0, not restarted | exit 0, not restarted |
+| `-r`, `</dev/null` | restarted | restarted |
+| `--force`, `</dev/null` | exit 0, not restarted | restarted |
+
+**Rust behavior.** The dead-session prompt in `attach` counts only an answer
+that someone gave (`ask::ask_consent`):
+- At a terminal, as in Node, any line but a lone `n` restarts, an empty line
+  included.
+- Anywhere else, only `y` or `yes`, in any case, restarts.
+- EOF is never an answer, at a terminal or not.
+- With no answer, attach ends the prompt line and prints two lines to standard
+  error. It exits 1 and keeps the exited record:
+
+  ```
+  pty attach: Session "<name>" was not restarted: the restart prompt got no answer.
+    Answer y, or pass -r to restart it without asking.
+  ```
+- A lone `n` still exits 0. `-r` still restarts without asking. `--force`
+  still only allows attaching from inside another session, and it answers
+  nothing.
+
+**Why.** Agents and scripts call `attach` without a terminal (#214). A prompt
+that nobody answered is not consent to run a stored command again, and a
+rerun repeats whatever the command does. Off a terminal, an empty line or
+relayed input is no more a person's answer than EOF is, so only `y` counts
+there. Node already restarts nothing at EOF, but it exits 0, the same as a
+declined prompt. Exit 1, with the flag that restarts, tells the caller what
+happened and what to do.
+
+**Client effect.**
+- A script or seat that relied on `attach` restarting a dead session without a
+  terminal must pass `-r` now, or pipe `y`.
+- At EOF, `attach` exits 1 where Node exits 0. Neither restarts.
+- Off a terminal, any line but `y`, `yes` or `n` exits 1 where Node restarts.
+- At a terminal nothing changes, except that EOF (Ctrl+D) exits 1.
+
+**Not changed.** `pty restart` asks `Kill and restart? [Y/n]` through the old
+`ask`, so at EOF it still stops a running session and starts it again. Node
+exits 0 there and leaves the session running. That is a parity defect outside
+this decision and is left for a separate change.
+
+**Test.** `crates/pty-conformance/tests/attach_no_restart.rs`:
+- `a_restart_prompt_at_eof_declines`,
+  `a_restart_prompt_off_a_terminal_needs_a_yes` and
+  `force_is_not_an_answer_to_the_restart_prompt` fail on Node.
+  `crates/pty-conformance/divergences.toml` records all three as intended.
+- `a_piped_yes_restarts` and `auto_restart_needs_no_terminal` pass on both.
+- The terminal cases before them are unchanged and pass on both.
+
+The unit test `consent_needs_an_answer_and_off_a_terminal_a_yes` in
+`crates/pty/src/cli/ask.rs` covers each answer at a terminal and off one.
+
+**Migration / negotiation.** Pass `-r` to restart a dead session without a
+terminal, or `--no-restart` never to restart one. Release note: `pty attach`
+no longer restarts a dead session when the restart prompt gets no answer.
+That covers stdin at EOF, and stdin that is not a terminal unless it gives `y`
+or `yes`. It exits 1 instead, without running the stored command. Any
+script or seat that relied on `attach` restarting a dead session
+non-interactively must pass `-r` now.
diff --git a/docs/parity.md b/docs/parity.md
index 2a891d9b..c2cb44f8 100644
--- a/docs/parity.md
+++ b/docs/parity.md
@@ -381,6 +381,7 @@ Decided on 2026-08-29. Each row records the decision.
 | `up`/`down` and `pty.toml` | S | Kept. Already ported; the binding rule needs the tag pair. |
 | `queryStats` waiting out its 2 s timeout on a daemon that closes without STATUS, and `peek -f` hanging on a plain close | S | Not reproduced, on purpose. Both end promptly instead. Deliberate improvements, not gaps — accepted, decision 0006. |
 | `peek --wait` missing a pattern that scrolls off between two 200 ms screen reads | S | Not reproduced, on purpose. The wait also watches the output stream, and a timeout says when the pattern is in the scrollback from before the wait. Accepted, decision 0019. |
+| `attach`'s dead-session prompt restarting with no terminal on any line but `n` | S | Not reproduced, on purpose. Off a terminal only `y` or `yes` restarts, and EOF never does. With no answer, attach exits 1 and names `-r`, where Node exits 0 at EOF and restarts on any other line. Accepted, decision 0020. |
 
 ## 12c. What differs because the kernel differs