diff --git a/web/workspace/src/lib/workspace/console/worker-console.ui.test.ts b/web/workspace/src/lib/workspace/console/worker-console.ui.test.ts
index a321d623..94f43ba6 100644
--- a/web/workspace/src/lib/workspace/console/worker-console.ui.test.ts
+++ b/web/workspace/src/lib/workspace/console/worker-console.ui.test.ts
@@ -380,6 +380,7 @@ Deno.test("Worker Console uses protocol observation events without transcript fe
     consolePage.includes("connectProtocolTransport") &&
       consolePage.includes("handleIncomingProtocolEvent") &&
       consolePage.includes("workspaceMultiplexer") &&
+      consolePage.includes('targetWorker.state === "stopped"') &&
       consolePage.includes('topic: "worker_protocol"') &&
       !consolePage.includes("seenObservationEventIds") &&
       consolePage.includes("createConsoleProjector") &&
diff --git a/web/workspace/src/routes/w/[workspaceId]/workers/[workerRef]/console/+page.svelte b/web/workspace/src/routes/w/[workspaceId]/workers/[workerRef]/console/+page.svelte
index ed8d1df4..e6f205ab 100644
--- a/web/workspace/src/routes/w/[workspaceId]/workers/[workerRef]/console/+page.svelte
+++ b/web/workspace/src/routes/w/[workspaceId]/workers/[workerRef]/console/+page.svelte
@@ -934,7 +934,7 @@
         token: number,
         target: ConsoleTarget,
     ) {
-        if (!targetWorker) {
+        if (!targetWorker || targetWorker.state === "stopped") {
             protocolState = "closed";
             return;
         }