diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 7630b7b..2cfd955 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ struct App {
     session_ratings_index: usize,
     session_results: Vec<SessionResult>,
     acknowledged_unknown_window: Option<WindowIdentity>,
+    acknowledged_unknown_window_handoff_pending: bool,
     last_tick_50ms: Instant,
     last_tick_1s: Instant,
 }
@@ -223,6 +224,7 @@ impl App {
             session_ratings_index: 0,
             session_results: Vec::new(),
             acknowledged_unknown_window: None,
+            acknowledged_unknown_window_handoff_pending: false,
             last_tick_50ms: now,
             last_tick_1s: now,
         })
@@ -460,9 +462,16 @@ impl App {
     }
 
     fn tick_active_session(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
+        self.tick_active_session_with_snapshot(window::get_snapshot())
+    }
+
+    fn tick_active_session_with_snapshot(
+        &mut self,
+        window_snapshot: window::WindowSnapshot,
+    ) -> Result<()> {
         let elapsed = self.session_start.elapsed();
         self.session_remaining = self.user_duration.saturating_sub(elapsed);
-        let window_snapshot = update_session_stats(self);
+        let window_snapshot = update_session_stats_with_snapshot(self, window_snapshot);
 
         let should_prompt = self.state == State::InProgress
             && self.session_controller.runtime_state() == RuntimeState::Active
@@ -495,6 +504,7 @@ impl App {
 
     fn acknowledge_unknown_window(&mut self, window_snapshot: &window::WindowSnapshot) {
         self.acknowledged_unknown_window = Some(WindowIdentity::from(window_snapshot));
+        self.acknowledged_unknown_window_handoff_pending = true;
     }
 
     fn is_unknown_window_acknowledged(&mut self, window_snapshot: &window::WindowSnapshot) -> bool {
@@ -503,7 +513,14 @@ impl App {
             return true;
         }
 
+        if self.acknowledged_unknown_window_handoff_pending
+            && is_post_dismissal_app_foreground(window_snapshot)
+        {
+            return true;
+        }
+
         self.acknowledged_unknown_window = None;
+        self.acknowledged_unknown_window_handoff_pending = false;
         false
     }
 
@@ -628,6 +645,13 @@ fn should_prompt_for_unknown_window(
     !(title_matches || class_matches)
 }
 
+fn is_post_dismissal_app_foreground(window_snapshot: &window::WindowSnapshot) -> bool {
+    window_snapshot
+        .title
+        .to_lowercase()
+        .contains(&constants::APP_TITLE.to_lowercase())
+}
+
 fn usable_title_evidence(window_snapshot: &window::WindowSnapshot) -> bool {
     let title = window_snapshot.title.trim();
     !title.is_empty()
@@ -843,7 +867,13 @@ fn handle_key_press(app: &mut App, key_code: KeyCode) -> Result<()> {
 }
 
 fn update_session_stats(app: &mut App) -> window::WindowSnapshot {
-    let window_snapshot = window::get_snapshot();
+    update_session_stats_with_snapshot(app, window::get_snapshot())
+}
+
+fn update_session_stats_with_snapshot(
+    app: &mut App,
+    window_snapshot: window::WindowSnapshot,
+) -> window::WindowSnapshot {
     app.evidence_health = window_snapshot.health.clone();
     let window_title = if app.state == State::Paused {
         constants::PAUSED.to_string()
@@ -1424,7 +1454,8 @@ mod tests {
 
         assert_eq!(app.state, State::InProgress);
         assert!(app.is_unknown_window_acknowledged(&prompted_unknown));
-        assert!(!app.is_unknown_window_acknowledged(&dismissal_foreground));
+        assert!(app.is_unknown_window_acknowledged(&dismissal_foreground));
+        assert!(app.is_unknown_window_acknowledged(&prompted_unknown));
 
         let records = EventLog::open(&path).unwrap().records().unwrap();
         let violation = records
@@ -1451,6 +1482,78 @@ mod tests {
         let _ = fs::remove_file(path);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn post_dismissal_app_foreground_does_not_prompt_or_clear_triggering_acknowledgement() {
+        let path = unique_event_log_path("violation-prompt-app-handoff");
+        let mut app = App::new_with_event_log_path(&path).unwrap();
+        let prompted_unknown = window::WindowSnapshot {
+            title: "Browser - unrelated".to_string(),
+            class: Some("firefox".to_string()),
+            health: antidrift::domain::EvidenceHealth::Available,
+        };
+        let dismissal_foreground = window::WindowSnapshot {
+            title: "AntiDrift".to_string(),
+            class: Some("terminal".to_string()),
+            health: antidrift::domain::EvidenceHealth::Available,
+        };
+        let different_unknown = window::WindowSnapshot {
+            title: "Chat - unrelated".to_string(),
+            class: Some("chat".to_string()),
+            health: antidrift::domain::EvidenceHealth::Available,
+        };
+
+        app.user_intention = "write tests".to_string();
+        app.user_success_condition = "tests pass".to_string();
+        app.user_duration_str = "1".to_string();
+        app.to_in_progress().unwrap();
+
+        let commitment_id = app
+            .session_controller
+            .active_commitment()
+            .unwrap()
+            .id
+            .clone();
+        let mut log = EventLog::open(&path).unwrap();
+        log.append(
+            EventType::PolicyApplied,
+            RuntimeState::Active,
+            Some(commitment_id.clone()),
+            serde_json::json!({
+                "schema_version": antidrift::domain::POLICY_SCHEMA_VERSION,
+                "policy_id": "policy-app-handoff-test",
+                "commitment_id": commitment_id,
+                "runtime_state": "active",
+                "enforcement_level": "warn",
+                "allowed_context": {
+                    "window_classes": [],
+                    "window_title_substrings": ["Editor"],
+                    "domains": [],
+                    "repos": [],
+                    "commands": [],
+                },
+            }),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        let mut app = App::new_with_event_log_path(&path).unwrap();
+        app.enter_violation_prompt(&prompted_unknown);
+        app.violation_dismissal_reason = "Needed to inspect docs".to_string();
+        app.dismiss_violation_if_valid().unwrap();
+
+        app.tick_active_session_with_snapshot(dismissal_foreground)
+            .unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(app.state, State::InProgress);
+        assert!(app.is_unknown_window_acknowledged(&prompted_unknown));
+
+        app.tick_active_session_with_snapshot(different_unknown)
+            .unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(app.state, State::ViolationPrompt);
+
+        let _ = fs::remove_file(path);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn rating_completion_returns_controller_to_planning_for_next_session() {
         let path = unique_event_log_path("rating-completion");