diff --git a/extension/dist/background.js b/extension/dist/background.js
index 68494313..f4ea272a 100644
--- a/extension/dist/background.js
+++ b/extension/dist/background.js
@@ -5,8 +5,33 @@ const WS_RECONNECT_BASE_DELAY = 2e3;
 const WS_RECONNECT_MAX_DELAY = 6e4;
 
 const attached = /* @__PURE__ */ new Set();
+function isDebuggableUrl$1(url) {
+  if (!url) return false;
+  return !url.startsWith("chrome://") && !url.startsWith("chrome-extension://");
+}
 async function ensureAttached(tabId) {
-  if (attached.has(tabId)) return;
+  try {
+    const tab = await chrome.tabs.get(tabId);
+    if (!isDebuggableUrl$1(tab.url)) {
+      attached.delete(tabId);
+      throw new Error(`Cannot debug tab ${tabId}: URL is ${tab.url ?? "unknown"}`);
+    }
+  } catch (e) {
+    if (e instanceof Error && e.message.startsWith("Cannot debug tab")) throw e;
+    attached.delete(tabId);
+    throw new Error(`Tab ${tabId} no longer exists`);
+  }
+  if (attached.has(tabId)) {
+    try {
+      await chrome.debugger.sendCommand({ tabId }, "Runtime.evaluate", {
+        expression: "1",
+        returnByValue: true
+      });
+      return;
+    } catch {
+      attached.delete(tabId);
+    }
+  }
   try {
     await chrome.debugger.attach({ tabId }, "1.3");
   } catch (e) {
@@ -89,6 +114,17 @@ function registerListeners() {
   chrome.debugger.onDetach.addListener((source) => {
     if (source.tabId) attached.delete(source.tabId);
   });
+  chrome.tabs.onUpdated.addListener((tabId, info) => {
+    if (info.url && !isDebuggableUrl$1(info.url)) {
+      if (attached.has(tabId)) {
+        attached.delete(tabId);
+        try {
+          chrome.debugger.detach({ tabId });
+        } catch {
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  });
 }
 
 let ws = null;
@@ -161,7 +197,7 @@ function scheduleReconnect() {
   }, delay);
 }
 const automationSessions = /* @__PURE__ */ new Map();
-const WINDOW_IDLE_TIMEOUT = 3e4;
+const WINDOW_IDLE_TIMEOUT = 12e4;
 function getWorkspaceKey(workspace) {
   return workspace?.trim() || "default";
 }
@@ -265,17 +301,30 @@ async function handleCommand(cmd) {
     };
   }
 }
-function isWebUrl(url) {
+function isDebuggableUrl(url) {
   if (!url) return false;
   return !url.startsWith("chrome://") && !url.startsWith("chrome-extension://");
 }
 async function resolveTabId(tabId, workspace) {
-  if (tabId !== void 0) return tabId;
+  if (tabId !== void 0) {
+    try {
+      const tab = await chrome.tabs.get(tabId);
+      if (isDebuggableUrl(tab.url)) return tabId;
+      console.warn(`[opencli] Tab ${tabId} URL is not debuggable (${tab.url}), re-resolving`);
+    } catch {
+      console.warn(`[opencli] Tab ${tabId} no longer exists, re-resolving`);
+    }
+  }
   const windowId = await getAutomationWindow(workspace);
   const tabs = await chrome.tabs.query({ windowId });
-  const webTab = tabs.find((t) => t.id && isWebUrl(t.url));
-  if (webTab?.id) return webTab.id;
-  if (tabs.length > 0 && tabs[0]?.id) return tabs[0].id;
+  const debuggableTab = tabs.find((t) => t.id && isDebuggableUrl(t.url));
+  if (debuggableTab?.id) return debuggableTab.id;
+  const reuseTab = tabs.find((t) => t.id);
+  if (reuseTab?.id) {
+    await chrome.tabs.update(reuseTab.id, { url: "about:blank" });
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 200));
+    return reuseTab.id;
+  }
   const newTab = await chrome.tabs.create({ windowId, url: "about:blank", active: true });
   if (!newTab.id) throw new Error("Failed to create tab in automation window");
   return newTab.id;
@@ -292,7 +341,7 @@ async function listAutomationTabs(workspace) {
 }
 async function listAutomationWebTabs(workspace) {
   const tabs = await listAutomationTabs(workspace);
-  return tabs.filter((tab) => isWebUrl(tab.url));
+  return tabs.filter((tab) => isDebuggableUrl(tab.url));
 }
 async function handleExec(cmd, workspace) {
   if (!cmd.code) return { id: cmd.id, ok: false, error: "Missing code" };
@@ -307,28 +356,47 @@ async function handleExec(cmd, workspace) {
 async function handleNavigate(cmd, workspace) {
   if (!cmd.url) return { id: cmd.id, ok: false, error: "Missing url" };
   const tabId = await resolveTabId(cmd.tabId, workspace);
-  await chrome.tabs.update(tabId, { url: cmd.url });
+  const beforeTab = await chrome.tabs.get(tabId);
+  const beforeUrl = beforeTab.url ?? "";
+  const targetUrl = cmd.url;
+  await chrome.tabs.update(tabId, { url: targetUrl });
+  let timedOut = false;
   await new Promise((resolve) => {
-    chrome.tabs.get(tabId).then((tab2) => {
-      if (tab2.status === "complete") {
+    let urlChanged = false;
+    const listener = (id, info, tab2) => {
+      if (id !== tabId) return;
+      if (info.url && info.url !== beforeUrl) {
+        urlChanged = true;
+      }
+      if (urlChanged && info.status === "complete") {
+        chrome.tabs.onUpdated.removeListener(listener);
         resolve();
-        return;
       }
-      const listener = (id, info) => {
-        if (id === tabId && info.status === "complete") {
+    };
+    chrome.tabs.onUpdated.addListener(listener);
+    setTimeout(async () => {
+      try {
+        const currentTab = await chrome.tabs.get(tabId);
+        if (currentTab.url !== beforeUrl && currentTab.status === "complete") {
           chrome.tabs.onUpdated.removeListener(listener);
           resolve();
         }
-      };
-      chrome.tabs.onUpdated.addListener(listener);
-      setTimeout(() => {
-        chrome.tabs.onUpdated.removeListener(listener);
-        resolve();
-      }, 15e3);
-    });
+      } catch {
+      }
+    }, 100);
+    setTimeout(() => {
+      chrome.tabs.onUpdated.removeListener(listener);
+      timedOut = true;
+      console.warn(`[opencli] Navigate to ${targetUrl} timed out after 15s`);
+      resolve();
+    }, 15e3);
   });
   const tab = await chrome.tabs.get(tabId);
-  return { id: cmd.id, ok: true, data: { title: tab.title, url: tab.url, tabId } };
+  return {
+    id: cmd.id,
+    ok: true,
+    data: { title: tab.title, url: tab.url, tabId, timedOut }
+  };
 }
 async function handleTabs(cmd, workspace) {
   switch (cmd.op) {
@@ -425,7 +493,7 @@ async function handleSessions(cmd) {
   const data = await Promise.all([...automationSessions.entries()].map(async ([workspace, session]) => ({
     workspace,
     windowId: session.windowId,
-    tabCount: (await chrome.tabs.query({ windowId: session.windowId })).filter((tab) => isWebUrl(tab.url)).length,
+    tabCount: (await chrome.tabs.query({ windowId: session.windowId })).filter((tab) => isDebuggableUrl(tab.url)).length,
     idleMsRemaining: Math.max(0, session.idleDeadlineAt - now)
   })));
   return { id: cmd.id, ok: true, data };
diff --git a/extension/src/background.ts b/extension/src/background.ts
index c4d20303..eca411f5 100644
--- a/extension/src/background.ts
+++ b/extension/src/background.ts
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ type AutomationSession = {
 };
 
 const automationSessions = new Map<string, AutomationSession>();
-const WINDOW_IDLE_TIMEOUT = 30000; // 30s
+const WINDOW_IDLE_TIMEOUT = 120000; // 120s — longer to survive slow pipelines
 
 function getWorkspaceKey(workspace?: string): string {
   return workspace?.trim() || 'default';
@@ -238,7 +238,20 @@ function isDebuggableUrl(url?: string): boolean {
  * Otherwise, find or create a tab in the dedicated automation window.
  */
 async function resolveTabId(tabId: number | undefined, workspace: string): Promise<number> {
-  if (tabId !== undefined) return tabId;
+  // Even when an explicit tabId is provided, validate it is still debuggable.
+  // This prevents issues when extensions hijack the tab URL to chrome-extension://
+  // or when the tab has been closed by the user.
+  if (tabId !== undefined) {
+    try {
+      const tab = await chrome.tabs.get(tabId);
+      if (isDebuggableUrl(tab.url)) return tabId;
+      // Tab exists but URL is not debuggable — fall through to auto-resolve
+      console.warn(`[opencli] Tab ${tabId} URL is not debuggable (${tab.url}), re-resolving`);
+    } catch {
+      // Tab was closed — fall through to auto-resolve
+      console.warn(`[opencli] Tab ${tabId} no longer exists, re-resolving`);
+    }
+  }
 
   // Get (or create) the automation window
   const windowId = await getAutomationWindow(workspace);
@@ -255,6 +268,8 @@ async function resolveTabId(tabId: number | undefined, workspace: string): Promi
   const reuseTab = tabs.find(t => t.id);
   if (reuseTab?.id) {
     await chrome.tabs.update(reuseTab.id, { url: 'about:blank' });
+    // Wait briefly for the navigation to take effect
+    await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 200));
     return reuseTab.id;
   }
 
@@ -294,31 +309,62 @@ async function handleExec(cmd: Command, workspace: string): Promise<Result> {
 async function handleNavigate(cmd: Command, workspace: string): Promise<Result> {
   if (!cmd.url) return { id: cmd.id, ok: false, error: 'Missing url' };
   const tabId = await resolveTabId(cmd.tabId, workspace);
-  await chrome.tabs.update(tabId, { url: cmd.url });
 
-  // Wait for page to finish loading, checking current status first to avoid race
+  // Capture the current URL before navigation to detect actual URL change
+  const beforeTab = await chrome.tabs.get(tabId);
+  const beforeUrl = beforeTab.url ?? '';
+  const targetUrl = cmd.url;
+
+  await chrome.tabs.update(tabId, { url: targetUrl });
+
+  // Wait for: 1) URL to change from the old URL, 2) tab.status === 'complete'
+  // This avoids the race where 'complete' fires for the OLD URL (e.g. about:blank)
+  let timedOut = false;
   await new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
-    // Check if already complete (e.g. cached pages)
-    chrome.tabs.get(tabId).then(tab => {
-      if (tab.status === 'complete') { resolve(); return; }
+    let urlChanged = false;
+
+    const listener = (id: number, info: chrome.tabs.TabChangeInfo, tab: chrome.tabs.Tab) => {
+      if (id !== tabId) return;
+
+      // Track URL change (new URL differs from the one before navigation)
+      if (info.url && info.url !== beforeUrl) {
+        urlChanged = true;
+      }
 
-      const listener = (id: number, info: chrome.tabs.TabChangeInfo) => {
-        if (id === tabId && info.status === 'complete') {
+      // Only resolve when both URL has changed AND status is complete
+      if (urlChanged && info.status === 'complete') {
+        chrome.tabs.onUpdated.removeListener(listener);
+        resolve();
+      }
+    };
+    chrome.tabs.onUpdated.addListener(listener);
+
+    // Also check if the tab already navigated (e.g. instant cache hit)
+    setTimeout(async () => {
+      try {
+        const currentTab = await chrome.tabs.get(tabId);
+        if (currentTab.url !== beforeUrl && currentTab.status === 'complete') {
           chrome.tabs.onUpdated.removeListener(listener);
           resolve();
         }
-      };
-      chrome.tabs.onUpdated.addListener(listener);
-      // Timeout fallback
-      setTimeout(() => {
-        chrome.tabs.onUpdated.removeListener(listener);
-        resolve();
-      }, 15000);
-    });
+      } catch { /* tab gone */ }
+    }, 100);
+
+    // Timeout fallback with warning
+    setTimeout(() => {
+      chrome.tabs.onUpdated.removeListener(listener);
+      timedOut = true;
+      console.warn(`[opencli] Navigate to ${targetUrl} timed out after 15s`);
+      resolve();
+    }, 15000);
   });
 
   const tab = await chrome.tabs.get(tabId);
-  return { id: cmd.id, ok: true, data: { title: tab.title, url: tab.url, tabId } };
+  return {
+    id: cmd.id,
+    ok: true,
+    data: { title: tab.title, url: tab.url, tabId, timedOut },
+  };
 }
 
 async function handleTabs(cmd: Command, workspace: string): Promise<Result> {
diff --git a/extension/src/cdp.ts b/extension/src/cdp.ts
index ac9fe38a..bcf12413 100644
--- a/extension/src/cdp.ts
+++ b/extension/src/cdp.ts
@@ -8,8 +8,40 @@
 
 const attached = new Set<number>();
 
+/** Check if a URL can be attached via CDP */
+function isDebuggableUrl(url?: string): boolean {
+  if (!url) return false;
+  return !url.startsWith('chrome://') && !url.startsWith('chrome-extension://');
+}
+
 async function ensureAttached(tabId: number): Promise<void> {
-  if (attached.has(tabId)) return;
+  // Verify the tab URL is debuggable before attempting attach
+  try {
+    const tab = await chrome.tabs.get(tabId);
+    if (!isDebuggableUrl(tab.url)) {
+      // Invalidate cache if previously attached
+      attached.delete(tabId);
+      throw new Error(`Cannot debug tab ${tabId}: URL is ${tab.url ?? 'unknown'}`);
+    }
+  } catch (e) {
+    // Re-throw our own error, catch only chrome.tabs.get failures
+    if (e instanceof Error && e.message.startsWith('Cannot debug tab')) throw e;
+    attached.delete(tabId);
+    throw new Error(`Tab ${tabId} no longer exists`);
+  }
+
+  if (attached.has(tabId)) {
+    // Verify the debugger is still actually attached by sending a harmless command
+    try {
+      await chrome.debugger.sendCommand({ tabId }, 'Runtime.evaluate', {
+        expression: '1', returnByValue: true,
+      });
+      return; // Still attached and working
+    } catch {
+      // Stale cache entry — need to re-attach
+      attached.delete(tabId);
+    }
+  }
 
   try {
     await chrome.debugger.attach({ tabId }, '1.3');
@@ -122,4 +154,13 @@ export function registerListeners(): void {
   chrome.debugger.onDetach.addListener((source) => {
     if (source.tabId) attached.delete(source.tabId);
   });
+  // Invalidate attached cache when tab URL changes to non-debuggable
+  chrome.tabs.onUpdated.addListener((tabId, info) => {
+    if (info.url && !isDebuggableUrl(info.url)) {
+      if (attached.has(tabId)) {
+        attached.delete(tabId);
+        try { chrome.debugger.detach({ tabId }); } catch { /* ignore */ }
+      }
+    }
+  });
 }
diff --git a/src/browser/daemon-client.ts b/src/browser/daemon-client.ts
index 6ddd1021..20e4fb50 100644
--- a/src/browser/daemon-client.ts
+++ b/src/browser/daemon-client.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 const DAEMON_PORT = parseInt(process.env.OPENCLI_DAEMON_PORT ?? '19825', 10);
 const DAEMON_URL = `http://127.0.0.1:${DAEMON_PORT}`;
 
+import type { BrowserSessionInfo } from '../types.js';
+
 let _idCounter = 0;
 
 function generateId(): string {
@@ -69,17 +71,19 @@ export async function isExtensionConnected(): Promise<boolean> {
 
 /**
  * Send a command to the daemon and wait for a result.
- * Retries up to 3 times with 500ms delay for transient failures.
+ * Retries up to 4 times: network errors retry at 500ms,
+ * transient extension errors retry at 1500ms.
  */
 export async function sendCommand(
   action: DaemonCommand['action'],
   params: Omit<DaemonCommand, 'id' | 'action'> = {},
 ): Promise<unknown> {
-  const id = generateId();
-  const command: DaemonCommand = { id, action, ...params };
-  const maxRetries = 3;
+  const maxRetries = 4;
 
   for (let attempt = 1; attempt <= maxRetries; attempt++) {
+    // Generate a fresh ID per attempt to avoid daemon-side duplicate detection
+    const id = generateId();
+    const command: DaemonCommand = { id, action, ...params };
     try {
       const controller = new AbortController();
       const timer = setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), 30000);
@@ -95,6 +99,17 @@ export async function sendCommand(
       const result = (await res.json()) as DaemonResult;
 
       if (!result.ok) {
+        // Check if error is a transient extension issue worth retrying
+        const errMsg = result.error ?? '';
+        const isTransient = errMsg.includes('Extension disconnected')
+          || errMsg.includes('Extension not connected')
+          || errMsg.includes('attach failed')
+          || errMsg.includes('no longer exists');
+        if (isTransient && attempt < maxRetries) {
+          // Longer delay for extension recovery (service worker restart)
+          await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 1500));
+          continue;
+        }
         throw new Error(result.error ?? 'Daemon command failed');
       }
 
@@ -117,4 +132,4 @@ export async function listSessions(): Promise<BrowserSessionInfo[]> {
   const result = await sendCommand('sessions');
   return Array.isArray(result) ? result : [];
 }
-import type { BrowserSessionInfo } from '../types.js';
+
diff --git a/src/browser/mcp.ts b/src/browser/mcp.ts
index 655810ae..c5e80634 100644
--- a/src/browser/mcp.ts
+++ b/src/browser/mcp.ts
@@ -55,7 +55,9 @@ export class BrowserBridge {
   }
 
   private async _ensureDaemon(timeoutSeconds?: number): Promise<void> {
-    const timeoutMs = Math.max(1, timeoutSeconds ?? Math.ceil(DAEMON_SPAWN_TIMEOUT / 1000)) * 1000;
+    // Use default if not provided, zero, or negative
+    const effectiveSeconds = (timeoutSeconds && timeoutSeconds > 0) ? timeoutSeconds : Math.ceil(DAEMON_SPAWN_TIMEOUT / 1000);
+    const timeoutMs = effectiveSeconds * 1000;
 
     if (await isExtensionConnected()) return;
     if (await isDaemonRunning()) {
diff --git a/src/browser/page.ts b/src/browser/page.ts
index 9fdadf9b..967a17ca 100644
--- a/src/browser/page.ts
+++ b/src/browser/page.ts
@@ -186,14 +186,19 @@ export class Page implements IPage {
 
   async closeTab(index?: number): Promise<void> {
     await sendCommand('tabs', { op: 'close', ...this._workspaceOpt(), ...(index !== undefined ? { index } : {}) });
+    // Invalidate cached tabId — the closed tab might have been our active one.
+    // We can't know for sure (close-by-index doesn't return tabId), so reset.
+    this._tabId = undefined;
   }
 
   async newTab(): Promise<void> {
-    await sendCommand('tabs', { op: 'new', ...this._workspaceOpt() });
+    const result = await sendCommand('tabs', { op: 'new', ...this._workspaceOpt() }) as { tabId?: number };
+    if (result?.tabId) this._tabId = result.tabId;
   }
 
   async selectTab(index: number): Promise<void> {
-    await sendCommand('tabs', { op: 'select', index, ...this._workspaceOpt() });
+    const result = await sendCommand('tabs', { op: 'select', index, ...this._workspaceOpt() }) as { selected?: number };
+    if (result?.selected) this._tabId = result.selected;
   }
 
   async networkRequests(includeStatic: boolean = false): Promise<unknown[]> {
diff --git a/src/daemon.ts b/src/daemon.ts
index 8e07a95b..8423d066 100644
--- a/src/daemon.ts
+++ b/src/daemon.ts
@@ -142,6 +142,27 @@ wss.on('connection', (ws: WebSocket) => {
   console.error('[daemon] Extension connected');
   extensionWs = ws;
 
+  // ── Heartbeat: ping every 15s, close if 2 pongs missed ──
+  let missedPongs = 0;
+  const heartbeatInterval = setInterval(() => {
+    if (ws.readyState !== WebSocket.OPEN) {
+      clearInterval(heartbeatInterval);
+      return;
+    }
+    if (missedPongs >= 2) {
+      console.error('[daemon] Extension heartbeat lost, closing connection');
+      clearInterval(heartbeatInterval);
+      ws.terminate();
+      return;
+    }
+    missedPongs++;
+    ws.ping();
+  }, 15000);
+
+  ws.on('pong', () => {
+    missedPongs = 0;
+  });
+
   ws.on('message', (data: RawData) => {
     try {
       const msg = JSON.parse(data.toString());
@@ -168,6 +189,7 @@ wss.on('connection', (ws: WebSocket) => {
 
   ws.on('close', () => {
     console.error('[daemon] Extension disconnected');
+    clearInterval(heartbeatInterval);
     if (extensionWs === ws) {
       extensionWs = null;
       // Reject all pending requests since the extension is gone
@@ -180,6 +202,7 @@ wss.on('connection', (ws: WebSocket) => {
   });
 
   ws.on('error', () => {
+    clearInterval(heartbeatInterval);
     if (extensionWs === ws) extensionWs = null;
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/pipeline/executor.ts b/src/pipeline/executor.ts
index 49d4face..2135beea 100644
--- a/src/pipeline/executor.ts
+++ b/src/pipeline/executor.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
  * Pipeline executor: runs YAML pipeline steps sequentially.
  */
 
-import chalk from 'chalk';
+
 import type { IPage } from '../types.js';
 import { getStep, type StepHandler } from './registry.js';
 import { log } from '../logger.js';
@@ -11,8 +11,13 @@ import { ConfigError } from '../errors.js';
 export interface PipelineContext {
   args?: Record<string, unknown>;
   debug?: boolean;
+  /** Max retry attempts per step (default: 2 for browser steps, 0 for others) */
+  stepRetries?: number;
 }
 
+/** Steps that interact with the browser and may fail transiently */
+const BROWSER_STEPS = new Set(['navigate', 'evaluate', 'click', 'type', 'press', 'wait', 'snapshot', 'scroll']);
+
 export async function executePipeline(
   page: IPage | null,
   pipeline: unknown[],
@@ -23,28 +28,68 @@ export async function executePipeline(
   let data: unknown = null;
   const total = pipeline.length;
 
-  for (let i = 0; i < pipeline.length; i++) {
-    const step = pipeline[i];
-    if (!step || typeof step !== 'object') continue;
-    for (const [op, params] of Object.entries(step)) {
-      if (debug) debugStepStart(i + 1, total, op, params);
+  try {
+    for (let i = 0; i < pipeline.length; i++) {
+      const step = pipeline[i];
+      if (!step || typeof step !== 'object') continue;
+      for (const [op, params] of Object.entries(step)) {
+        if (debug) debugStepStart(i + 1, total, op, params);
 
-      const handler = getStep(op);
-      if (handler) {
-        data = await handler(page, params, data, args);
-      } else {
-        throw new ConfigError(
-          `Unknown pipeline step "${op}" at index ${i}.`,
-          'Check the YAML pipeline step name or register the custom step before execution.',
-        );
-      }
+        const handler = getStep(op);
+        if (handler) {
+          data = await executeStepWithRetry(handler, page, params, data, args, op, ctx.stepRetries);
+        } else {
+          throw new ConfigError(
+            `Unknown pipeline step "${op}" at index ${i}.`,
+            'Check the YAML pipeline step name or register the custom step before execution.',
+          );
+        }
 
-      if (debug) debugStepResult(op, data);
+        if (debug) debugStepResult(op, data);
+      }
+    }
+  } catch (err) {
+    // Attempt cleanup: close automation window on pipeline failure
+    if (page && typeof (page as unknown as Record<string, unknown>).closeWindow === 'function') {
+      try { await (page as unknown as { closeWindow: () => Promise<void> }).closeWindow(); } catch { /* ignore */ }
     }
+    throw err;
   }
   return data;
 }
 
+async function executeStepWithRetry(
+  handler: StepHandler,
+  page: IPage | null,
+  params: unknown,
+  data: unknown,
+  args: Record<string, unknown>,
+  op: string,
+  configRetries?: number,
+): Promise<unknown> {
+  const maxRetries = configRetries ?? (BROWSER_STEPS.has(op) ? 2 : 0);
+
+  for (let attempt = 0; attempt <= maxRetries; attempt++) {
+    try {
+      return await handler(page, params, data, args);
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (attempt >= maxRetries) throw err;
+      // Only retry on transient browser errors
+      const msg = err instanceof Error ? err.message : '';
+      const isTransient = msg.includes('Extension disconnected')
+        || msg.includes('attach failed')
+        || msg.includes('no longer exists')
+        || msg.includes('CDP connection')
+        || msg.includes('Daemon command failed');
+      if (!isTransient) throw err;
+      // Brief delay before retry
+      await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 1000));
+    }
+  }
+  // Unreachable
+  throw new Error(`Step "${op}" failed after ${maxRetries} retries`);
+}
+
 function debugStepStart(stepNum: number, total: number, op: string, params: unknown): void {
   let preview = '';
   if (typeof params === 'string') {