diff --git a/server/crates/arbiter-server/src/actors/flow_coordinator/client_connect_approval.rs b/server/crates/arbiter-server/src/actors/flow_coordinator/client_connect_approval.rs
index e33cff2..31eecc3 100644
--- a/server/crates/arbiter-server/src/actors/flow_coordinator/client_connect_approval.rs
+++ b/server/crates/arbiter-server/src/actors/flow_coordinator/client_connect_approval.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@ use kameo::{
     prelude::{ActorId, ActorRef, ActorStopReason, Context, WeakActorRef},
     reply::ReplySender,
 };
-use std::ops::ControlFlow;
+use std::{ops::ControlFlow, time::Duration};
+
+const APPROVAL_TIMEOUT: Duration = Duration::from_secs(30);
 
 pub struct Args {
     pub client: ClientProfile,
@@ -64,6 +66,14 @@ impl Actor for ClientApprovalController {
                 .await;
         }
 
+        let weak = actor_ref.downgrade();
+        tokio::spawn(async move {
+            tokio::time::sleep(APPROVAL_TIMEOUT).await;
+            if let Some(r) = weak.upgrade() {
+                let _ = r.tell(OnApprovalTimeout {}).await;
+            }
+        });
+
         Ok(this)
     }
 
@@ -104,4 +114,14 @@ impl ClientApprovalController {
             ctx.stop();
         }
     }
+
+    /// Fired after `APPROVAL_TIMEOUT` elapses. Any operator that hasn't responded
+    /// by then is treated as a denial to prevent zombie sessions from blocking the flow.
+    #[message(ctx)]
+    pub fn on_approval_timeout(&mut self, ctx: &mut Context<Self, ()>) {
+        if self.pending > 0 {
+            self.send_reply(Ok(false));
+            ctx.stop();
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/server/crates/arbiter-server/src/peers/operator/session/mod.rs b/server/crates/arbiter-server/src/peers/operator/session/mod.rs
index 78bb3c4..bae29d0 100644
--- a/server/crates/arbiter-server/src/peers/operator/session/mod.rs
+++ b/server/crates/arbiter-server/src/peers/operator/session/mod.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
 use super::{OutOfBand, OperatorConnection};
 use crate::{
     actors::{
-        flow_coordinator::{GetConnectedClientIds, client_connect_approval::ClientApprovalController},
-        operator_registry::ConnectOperator,
-    },
-    peers::client::ClientProfile,
+        flow_coordinator::{GetConnectedClientIds, client_connect_approval::{ClientApprovalAnswer, ClientApprovalController}}, operator_registry::ConnectOperator,
+    }, peers::client::ClientProfile,
 };
 use arbiter_crypto::authn;
 use arbiter_proto::transport::Sender;
@@ -93,6 +91,7 @@ impl OperatorSession {
                 actor = "operator",
                 event = "failed to announce new client connection"
             );
+            let _ = controller.tell(ClientApprovalAnswer { approved: false }).await;
             return;
         }