diff --git a/NucleicRemote/NucleicRemote/Models/RemoteStore.swift b/NucleicRemote/NucleicRemote/Models/RemoteStore.swift
index 0c2a579..20ab612 100644
--- a/NucleicRemote/NucleicRemote/Models/RemoteStore.swift
+++ b/NucleicRemote/NucleicRemote/Models/RemoteStore.swift
@@ -706,10 +706,12 @@ final class RemoteStore: ObservableObject {
     }
 
     /// Map an `NWConnection` failure to a connectivity state the pairing/onboarding UI can act on.
-    /// Only meaningful while we're still establishing the link; once `.connected`, a drop is the
-    /// normal `.closed` → reconnect path's job.
+    /// Only meaningful while we're still establishing the link; once connected, a drop is the
+    /// normal `.closed` → reconnect path's job. And only when the connect chain has nothing
+    /// left to try — a failed LAN probe about to fall back to the tailnet is routine, not news.
     private func handleTransportFailure(_ error: String) {
-        guard connectivity != .connected else { return }
+        guard !connectivity.isLive else { return }
+        guard connectPlan?.remaining.isEmpty != false else { return }
         connectivity = .failed(Self.friendlyTransportError(error))
     }