diff --git a/easel/src/claude-server.mjs b/easel/src/claude-server.mjs
index 5a5f5b2504..9476f5b29e 100644
--- a/easel/src/claude-server.mjs
+++ b/easel/src/claude-server.mjs
@@ -410,9 +410,28 @@ export class ClaudeServer extends EventEmitter {
 
   #assistant(message) {
     const content = message.message?.content || [];
-    // A rate limit or a refused model comes back as a synthetic assistant
-    // message with no stream behind it. It reads as an error, not as an answer.
-    if (message.is_api_error_message) return;
+    // A rate limit, a usage cap, or a refused model comes back as a synthetic
+    // assistant message with no stream behind it. It reads as an error, not as
+    // an answer — and it is the only explanation there will be: the turn that
+    // follows reports `interrupted`, and an interrupted turn carries no error.
+    // Dropping it left a session that simply stopped, for no stated reason.
+    if (message.is_api_error_message) {
+      const text = content
+        .filter((block) => block.type === "text" && block.text)
+        .map((block) => block.text)
+        .join(" ")
+        .trim();
+      this.emit("notification", {
+        method: "error",
+        params: {
+          error: { message: text || "the engine refused the turn" },
+          // The turn's own result decides whether the session is done for; this
+          // is the reason, not the verdict.
+          willRetry: true,
+        },
+      });
+      return;
+    }
     let index = 0;
     for (const block of content) {
       if (block.type === "tool_use") {
diff --git a/easel/test/claude-server.test.mjs b/easel/test/claude-server.test.mjs
index 3f38c7bcc2..4da73ba838 100644
--- a/easel/test/claude-server.test.mjs
+++ b/easel/test/claude-server.test.mjs
@@ -188,3 +188,28 @@ test("an interrupted turn reads as interrupted, not as a failure", async (t) =>
   assert.equal(turn.status, "interrupted");
   assert.equal(turn.error, undefined);
 });
+
+// A turn that the API refuses reports `interrupted`, and an interrupted turn
+// carries no error — so if the refusal itself is dropped, the session simply
+// stops for no stated reason. That is what two parallel sessions looked like.
+test("a refused turn says why, instead of stopping in silence", async (t) => {
+  const engine = bridge(t, {
+    environment: { FAKE_CLAUDE_API_ERROR: "Usage limit reached. Try again at 6pm." },
+  });
+
+  const errors = [];
+  const finished = new Promise((resolve) => {
+    engine.on("notification", ({ method, params }) => {
+      if (method === "error") errors.push(params.error?.message);
+      if (method === "turn/completed") resolve(params.turn);
+    });
+  });
+
+  await engine.connect();
+  await engine.startTurn("make a piece");
+  const turn = await finished;
+
+  assert.equal(turn.status, "interrupted", "the turn still reports how it ended");
+  assert.deepEqual(errors, ["Usage limit reached. Try again at 6pm."],
+    "and the reason reaches the interface");
+});
diff --git a/easel/test/fake-claude-cli.mjs b/easel/test/fake-claude-cli.mjs
index 3c9d7a611c..4fcb71948e 100644
--- a/easel/test/fake-claude-cli.mjs
+++ b/easel/test/fake-claude-cli.mjs
@@ -57,6 +57,19 @@ createInterface({ input: process.stdin }).on("line", (line) => {
     return;
   }
 
+  // A turn the API refuses outright: a usage cap or a rate limit arrives as a
+  // synthetic assistant message with no stream behind it, then an aborted
+  // result. This is the shape two parallel sessions hit.
+  if (message.type === "user" && process.env.FAKE_CLAUDE_API_ERROR) {
+    send({
+      type: "assistant",
+      is_api_error_message: true,
+      message: { id: "msg_err", content: [{ type: "text", text: process.env.FAKE_CLAUDE_API_ERROR }] },
+    });
+    send({ type: "result", subtype: "error_during_execution", terminal_reason: "aborted_by_api" });
+    return;
+  }
+
   if (message.type === "user") {
     send({ type: "stream_event", event: { type: "message_start", message: { id: "msg_1" } } });
     send({ type: "stream_event", event: { type: "content_block_start", index: 0, content_block: { type: "text", text: "" } } });