diff --git a/src/node/handlers/encrypted.rs b/src/node/handlers/encrypted.rs
index 914b23e..8fd9ab1 100644
--- a/src/node/handlers/encrypted.rs
+++ b/src/node/handlers/encrypted.rs
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ impl Node {
     }
 
     /// Increment decrypt failure counter and force-remove peer if threshold exceeded.
-    fn handle_decrypt_failure(&mut self, node_addr: &crate::NodeAddr) {
+    pub(in crate::node) fn handle_decrypt_failure(&mut self, node_addr: &crate::NodeAddr) {
         if let Some(peer) = self.peers.get_mut(node_addr) {
             let count = peer.increment_decrypt_failures();
             if count >= DECRYPT_FAILURE_THRESHOLD {
diff --git a/src/node/tests/decrypt_failure.rs b/src/node/tests/decrypt_failure.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6da703d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/node/tests/decrypt_failure.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+//! Tests for the consecutive-decrypt-failure threshold force-removal path.
+//!
+//! Covers `Node::handle_decrypt_failure` (in `node/handlers/encrypted.rs`),
+//! which increments `ActivePeer::increment_decrypt_failures` on each AEAD
+//! verification failure and force-removes the peer once
+//! `DECRYPT_FAILURE_THRESHOLD` consecutive failures are observed. The
+//! threshold is a defensive signal against a peer whose session is
+//! desynchronized or under attack, so regression coverage of the wiring
+//! between counter, threshold, and peer eviction is security-relevant.
+
+use super::*;
+
+/// Drive a fully-promoted peer to the decrypt-failure threshold and verify
+/// it is removed from both `peers` and `peers_by_index`.
+///
+/// Setup uses the `make_completed_connection` harness so the peer has a
+/// real `our_index`/`transport_id`, ensuring `remove_active_peer` exercises
+/// the full `peers_by_index` cleanup path (not just the bare `peers` table).
+#[test]
+fn test_decrypt_failure_threshold_removes_peer() {
+    // Threshold constant in node/handlers/encrypted.rs (kept in sync with
+    // production code; see DECRYPT_FAILURE_THRESHOLD).
+    const THRESHOLD: u32 = 20;
+
+    let mut node = make_node();
+    let transport_id = TransportId::new(1);
+    let link_id = LinkId::new(1);
+
+    // Build a fully-promoted active peer with our_index/transport_id set
+    // so peers_by_index is populated by promote_connection.
+    let (conn, identity) = make_completed_connection(&mut node, link_id, transport_id, 1_000);
+    let node_addr = *identity.node_addr();
+
+    node.add_connection(conn).unwrap();
+    node.promote_connection(link_id, identity, 2_000).unwrap();
+
+    // Sanity: peer is registered and indexed.
+    assert_eq!(node.peer_count(), 1, "peer should be present after promote");
+    let our_index = node
+        .get_peer(&node_addr)
+        .and_then(|p| p.our_index())
+        .expect("promoted peer must have our_index");
+    assert_eq!(
+        node.peers_by_index.get(&(transport_id, our_index.as_u32())),
+        Some(&node_addr),
+        "peers_by_index must be populated after promote"
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        node.get_peer(&node_addr)
+            .unwrap()
+            .consecutive_decrypt_failures(),
+        0,
+        "fresh peer's failure counter must start at zero"
+    );
+
+    // Drive failures up to (but not including) the threshold; peer must
+    // remain present and the counter must increase monotonically.
+    for expected in 1..THRESHOLD {
+        node.handle_decrypt_failure(&node_addr);
+        let count = node
+            .get_peer(&node_addr)
+            .expect("peer must still be present below threshold")
+            .consecutive_decrypt_failures();
+        assert_eq!(
+            count, expected,
+            "counter should track failures pre-threshold"
+        );
+    }
+    assert_eq!(
+        node.peer_count(),
+        1,
+        "peer must remain registered until threshold is reached"
+    );
+
+    // The Nth failure crosses the threshold and triggers force-removal.
+    node.handle_decrypt_failure(&node_addr);
+
+    assert!(
+        node.get_peer(&node_addr).is_none(),
+        "peer must be removed from peers table at threshold"
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        node.peer_count(),
+        0,
+        "peer_count must be zero after eviction"
+    );
+    assert!(
+        !node
+            .peers_by_index
+            .contains_key(&(transport_id, our_index.as_u32())),
+        "peers_by_index entry must be cleaned up at threshold"
+    );
+}
diff --git a/src/node/tests/mod.rs b/src/node/tests/mod.rs
index b087570..dbd1892 100644
--- a/src/node/tests/mod.rs
+++ b/src/node/tests/mod.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ mod ble;
 mod bloom;
 mod bloom_poison;
 mod bootstrap;
+mod decrypt_failure;
 mod disconnect;
 mod discovery;
 #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
diff --git a/src/peer/active.rs b/src/peer/active.rs
index 819064c..942c278 100644
--- a/src/peer/active.rs
+++ b/src/peer/active.rs
@@ -1209,4 +1209,47 @@ mod tests {
         peer.reset_replay_suppressed();
         assert_eq!(peer.reset_replay_suppressed(), 0);
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_increment_decrypt_failures_monotonic() {
+        let identity = make_peer_identity();
+        let mut peer = ActivePeer::new(identity, LinkId::new(1), 1000);
+
+        // Initial count is zero
+        assert_eq!(peer.consecutive_decrypt_failures(), 0);
+
+        // Each call returns a strictly increasing count
+        let mut prev = 0u32;
+        for expected in 1..=25u32 {
+            let count = peer.increment_decrypt_failures();
+            assert_eq!(count, expected, "increment must return monotonic count");
+            assert!(count > prev, "count must strictly increase");
+            assert_eq!(peer.consecutive_decrypt_failures(), count);
+            prev = count;
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_reset_decrypt_failures_zeroes_counter() {
+        let identity = make_peer_identity();
+        let mut peer = ActivePeer::new(identity, LinkId::new(1), 1000);
+
+        // Drive counter up
+        for _ in 0..7 {
+            peer.increment_decrypt_failures();
+        }
+        assert_eq!(peer.consecutive_decrypt_failures(), 7);
+
+        // Reset zeroes it
+        peer.reset_decrypt_failures();
+        assert_eq!(peer.consecutive_decrypt_failures(), 0);
+
+        // Reset on zero is a no-op (still zero, no panic)
+        peer.reset_decrypt_failures();
+        assert_eq!(peer.consecutive_decrypt_failures(), 0);
+
+        // Counter resumes at 1 after reset
+        assert_eq!(peer.increment_decrypt_failures(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(peer.consecutive_decrypt_failures(), 1);
+    }
 }