diff --git a/apps/workflows/src/checker/outbox.ts b/apps/workflows/src/checker/outbox.ts
index 0d518f6a..0cd0085c 100644
--- a/apps/workflows/src/checker/outbox.ts
+++ b/apps/workflows/src/checker/outbox.ts
@@ -571,7 +571,7 @@ export async function sweepExpiredOutbox(): Promise<{
   await commitDead(
     abandoned.map((row) => ({
       row,
-      error: "expired before delivery completed",
+      error: row.lastError ?? "expired before delivery completed",
     })),
   );