diff --git a/cmd/anvilsrv/main.go b/cmd/anvilsrv/main.go
index 260d696..5a30a73 100644
--- a/cmd/anvilsrv/main.go
+++ b/cmd/anvilsrv/main.go
@@ -223,10 +223,6 @@ func start(daemonize bool) {
 	// Wire up event bus to session manager and beads filesystem
 	mgr.SetEventBus(srv.Events())
 	beadsFS.SetEventBus(srv.Events())
-	beadsFS.SetSessionLiveness(func(agentID string) bool {
-		sess := mgr.Get(agentID)
-		return sess != nil
-	})
 
 	// Start maildir writer for message persistence
 	mailDir := filepath.Join(os.Getenv("HOME"), ".local", "share", "anvillm", "mail")
diff --git a/internal/p9/beads.go b/internal/p9/beads.go
index 35cfff2..d6eb5e8 100644
--- a/internal/p9/beads.go
+++ b/internal/p9/beads.go
@@ -84,13 +84,6 @@ type BeadsFS struct {
 	mounts      map[string]*MountedProject
 	mountsMu    sync.RWMutex
 	eventbus    *eventbus.Bus
-	isAlive     func(agentID string) bool // nil means no liveness check (all agents assumed dead)
-}
-
-// SetSessionLiveness wires a function that reports whether an agent session is alive.
-// Used by the claim handler to allow orphan takeover when the current assignee is dead.
-func (b *BeadsFS) SetSessionLiveness(fn func(agentID string) bool) {
-	b.isAlive = fn
 }
 
 // NewBeadsFS creates a beads filesystem handler from an existing store.
@@ -826,14 +819,8 @@ func (b *BeadsFS) executeCtlOnStore(store bd.Storage, mountName, cmd string) err
 			if issue == nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("bead not found: %s", beadID)
 			}
-			if issue.Status == bd.StatusInProgress && issue.Assignee != "" {
-				alive := b.isAlive != nil && b.isAlive(issue.Assignee)
-				if alive {
-					return fmt.Errorf("%w: assigned to %s", ErrAlreadyClaimed, issue.Assignee)
-				}
-				// assignee is dead — orphan takeover proceeds
-			} else if issue.Status != bd.StatusOpen {
-				return fmt.Errorf("bead %s is not claimable (status: %s)", beadID, issue.Status)
+			if issue.Status != bd.StatusOpen {
+				return fmt.Errorf("%w: %s (status: %s)", ErrAlreadyClaimed, beadID, issue.Status)
 			}
 			return tx.UpdateIssue(b.ctx, beadID, map[string]any{
 				"assignee": assignee,