diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs
index b832d659e1..7b1dd84c2e 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs
@@ -267,6 +267,9 @@
 //!   from UI ticks to integrate a pending burst via [`ChatComposer::apply_paste`] or insert a
 //!   held single character. Explicit terminal paste events use [`ChatComposer::handle_paste`] to
 //!   classify input first; buffered keys have already been classified.
+//! - Startup recovery previews held keys with the live Vim Replace policy without consuming them.
+//!   Buffered pastes remain literal in recovery so large-paste and image classification stays with
+//!   the live paste path.
 //!
 //! # Input Disabled Mode
 //!
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer/mouse_tests.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer/mouse_tests.rs
index ad266284f5..d001e2f6e1 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer/mouse_tests.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer/mouse_tests.rs
@@ -56,6 +56,36 @@ fn composer_mouse_edits_flush_typing_and_reconcile_placeholders() {
     }
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn recovery_keeps_unselected_text_after_a_held_replace_key() {
+    for (text, expected) in [("abcd", "aXd"), ("!abcd", "!aXd")] {
+        let (mut composer, _rx) = new_test_composer();
+        composer.set_text_content(text.into(), Vec::new(), Vec::new());
+        composer.draft.textarea.set_cursor(/*pos*/ 0);
+        composer.set_vim_enabled(/*enabled*/ true);
+        composer.handle_key_event(KeyCode::Char('R').into());
+        let area = Rect::new(
+            /*x*/ 0, /*y*/ 0, /*width*/ 80, /*height*/ 4,
+        );
+        composer.render(area, &mut Buffer::empty(area));
+        let (x, y) = composer.cursor_pos(area).unwrap();
+        for (kind, column) in [
+            (Down(Left), x + 1),
+            (MouseEventKind::Drag(Left), x + 3),
+            (Up(Left), x + 3),
+        ] {
+            mouse(&mut composer, area, kind, column, y);
+        }
+        let now = Instant::now();
+        composer.handle_input_basic_with_time(KeyCode::Char('X').into(), now);
+        let before = composer.draft_snapshot();
+        assert_eq!(composer.recovery_snapshot().text, expected);
+        assert_eq!(composer.draft_snapshot(), before);
+        assert!(composer.handle_paste_burst_flush(now + PasteBurst::recommended_flush_delay()));
+        assert_eq!(composer.current_text(), expected);
+    }
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn selected_text_navigation_does_not_recall_history_or_select_images() {
     for (key, remote) in [
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer/paste_input.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer/paste_input.rs
index 1574e5f0e4..f84cf19184 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer/paste_input.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer/paste_input.rs
@@ -38,13 +38,31 @@ impl ChatComposer {
     /// Include accepted but unflushed keys without changing live paste detection.
     pub(crate) fn recovery_snapshot(&self) -> ComposerDraftSnapshot {
         let mut snapshot = self.draft_snapshot();
-        if let Some(pending) = self.draft.paste_burst.clone().flush_before_modified_input() {
-            let mut textarea = TextArea::new();
-            textarea.set_text_with_elements(&snapshot.text, &snapshot.text_elements);
-            textarea.insert_str_at(snapshot.cursor, &pending);
-            snapshot.text = textarea.text().to_owned();
-            snapshot.text_elements = textarea.text_elements();
+        let pending = self.draft.paste_burst.clone().flush_pending();
+        if matches!(pending, FlushResult::None) {
+            return snapshot;
         }
+        let mut textarea = TextArea::new();
+        textarea.set_text_with_elements(&snapshot.text, &snapshot.text_elements);
+        match pending {
+            FlushResult::Typed(ch) if self.draft.textarea.is_vim_replace_mode() => {
+                textarea.set_cursor(snapshot.cursor);
+                if let Some(selection) = self.draft.textarea.mouse_selection_range() {
+                    let offset = usize::from(self.draft.is_bash_mode);
+                    textarea.replace_range(
+                        selection.start + offset..selection.end + offset,
+                        &ch.to_string(),
+                    );
+                } else {
+                    textarea.replace_vim_text(&ch.to_string());
+                }
+            }
+            FlushResult::Typed(ch) => textarea.insert_str_at(snapshot.cursor, &ch.to_string()),
+            FlushResult::Paste(pasted) => textarea.insert_str_at(snapshot.cursor, &pasted),
+            FlushResult::None => {}
+        }
+        snapshot.text = textarea.text().to_owned();
+        snapshot.text_elements = textarea.text_elements();
         snapshot
     }
 
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/paste_burst.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/paste_burst.rs
index 8084f6b9fe..c07712b272 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/paste_burst.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/paste_burst.rs
@@ -304,18 +304,21 @@ impl PasteBurst {
         let timed_out = self
             .last_plain_char_time
             .is_some_and(|t| now.duration_since(t) > timeout);
-        if timed_out && self.is_active_internal() {
+        if timed_out {
+            self.flush_pending()
+        } else {
+            FlushResult::None
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Flush without waiting, retaining the typed-key versus paste distinction.
+    pub(crate) fn flush_pending(&mut self) -> FlushResult {
+        if self.is_active_internal() {
             self.active = false;
             let out = std::mem::take(&mut self.buffer);
             FlushResult::Paste(out)
-        } else if timed_out {
-            // If we were saving a single fast char and no burst followed,
-            // flush it as normal typed input.
-            if let Some((ch, _at)) = self.pending_first_char.take() {
-                FlushResult::Typed(ch)
-            } else {
-                FlushResult::None
-            }
+        } else if let Some((ch, _at)) = self.pending_first_char.take() {
+            FlushResult::Typed(ch)
         } else {
             FlushResult::None
         }
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/textarea/vim_commands.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/textarea/vim_commands.rs
index 143054f495..9e798f84ac 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/textarea/vim_commands.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/textarea/vim_commands.rs
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ impl TextArea {
         self.vim_commands.replace_steps.clear();
     }
 
-    pub(super) fn replace_vim_text(&mut self, text: &str) {
+    pub(in crate::bottom_pane) fn replace_vim_text(&mut self, text: &str) {
         for grapheme in text.graphemes(/*is_extended*/ true) {
             let cursor_before = self.cursor_pos;
             while let Some(element) = self
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/startup_recovery_tests.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/startup_recovery_tests.rs
index a0afc87d0e..57cedd8bde 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/startup_recovery_tests.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/startup_recovery_tests.rs
@@ -48,6 +48,32 @@ async fn recovery_keeps_edits_and_pastes_after_chatwidget_handoff() {
     }
 }
 
+#[tokio::test(start_paused = true)]
+async fn recovery_after_handoff_preserves_pending_vim_replace_key() {
+    scope(async {
+        let (mut chat, _sender, _rx, _op_rx) =
+            crate::chatwidget::tests::make_chatwidget_manual_with_sender().await;
+        let mut draft = snapshot("abcd");
+        draft.cursor = 0;
+        remember(draft.clone());
+        let mut pending = Some(draft);
+        let mut confirmed = false;
+        chat.restore_startup_input_when_ready(&mut pending, &mut confirmed);
+        chat.toggle_vim_mode_and_notify();
+        chat.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::from(KeyCode::Char('R')));
+        chat.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::from(KeyCode::Char('X')));
+
+        // A failure now prints the eventual edit but must not consume the live pending key.
+        assert_eq!(chat.composer_text_with_pending(), "abcd");
+        insta::assert_snapshot!(take_unsent_text().unwrap(), @"Xbcd");
+        assert_eq!(chat.composer_text_with_pending(), "abcd");
+        tokio::time::advance(std::time::Duration::from_millis(100)).await;
+        assert!(chat.handle_paste_burst_tick(crate::tui::FrameRequester::test_dummy()));
+        assert_eq!(chat.composer_text_with_pending(), "Xbcd");
+    })
+    .await;
+}
+
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn recovery_refresh_stops_after_submission_or_startup_completion() {
     scope(async {