diff --git a/src/control/queries.rs b/src/control/queries.rs
index 7908ab5..842c7a7 100644
--- a/src/control/queries.rs
+++ b/src/control/queries.rs
@@ -1320,7 +1320,7 @@ pub fn show_connections(node: &Node) -> Value {
             let mut conn_json = json!({
                 "link_id": conn.link_id().as_u64(),
                 "direction": format!("{}", conn.direction()),
-                "handshake_state": format!("{}", conn.handshake_state()),
+                "handshake_state": node.connection_handshake_state(conn.link_id()),
                 "started_at_ms": conn.started_at(),
                 "idle_ms": now.saturating_sub(conn.last_activity()),
                 "resend_count": node.connection_resend_count(conn.link_id()),
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 720efb8..8d31898 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ pub use cache::{CacheEntry, CacheError, CacheStats, CoordCache};
 pub use proto::fmp::{PromotionResult, cross_connection_winner};
 
 // Re-export peer types
-pub use peer::{ActivePeer, ConnectivityState, HandshakeState, PeerConnection, PeerError};
+pub use peer::{ActivePeer, ConnectivityState, PeerConnection, PeerError};
 
 // Re-export node types
 pub use node::{Node, NodeError, NodeState, UpdatePeersOutcome};
diff --git a/src/node/handlers/handshake.rs b/src/node/handlers/handshake.rs
index 475bdbb..7605113 100644
--- a/src/node/handlers/handshake.rs
+++ b/src/node/handlers/handshake.rs
@@ -640,7 +640,18 @@ impl Node {
                         error = %e,
                         "Handshake completion failed"
                     );
+                    // Drop the leg's Noise handle (byte-identical point) and
+                    // record the failure on the control machine as `send_failed`
+                    // — the failure state's new home. The machine PHASE stays
+                    // exactly where the old leg-carried failure left it
+                    // (`Handshaking{SentMsg1}`): the stale-connection sweep
+                    // reclaims the leg via the machine `is_failed()` at the next
+                    // tick, before any projection or resend, byte-identical to
+                    // the pre-collapse leg mark.
                     conn.mark_failed();
+                    if let Some(machine) = self.peer_machines.get_mut(&link_id) {
+                        machine.mark_send_failed();
+                    }
                     self.stats_mut()
                         .record_reject(RejectReason::Handshake(HandshakeReject::BadState));
                     return;
@@ -653,7 +664,13 @@ impl Node {
                     Ok(()) => {}
                     Err(e) => {
                         warn!(link_id = %link_id, our_profile = %our_profile, error = %e, "FMP negotiation failed");
+                        // Failure moves to the machine (`send_failed`); the phase
+                        // stays `Handshaking{SentMsg1}` so the sweep reclaims the
+                        // leg exactly as the pre-collapse leg mark did.
                         conn.mark_failed();
+                        if let Some(machine) = self.peer_machines.get_mut(&link_id) {
+                            machine.mark_send_failed();
+                        }
                         self.stats_mut()
                             .record_reject(RejectReason::Handshake(HandshakeReject::BadState));
                         return;
@@ -741,9 +758,16 @@ impl Node {
                         error = %e,
                         "Failed to send msg3"
                     );
+                    // Failure moves to the machine (`send_failed`); the phase
+                    // stays `Handshaking{SentMsg1}` (promote has not run yet) so
+                    // the sweep reclaims the leg exactly as the pre-collapse leg
+                    // mark did.
                     if let Some(conn) = self.leg_mut(&link_id) {
                         conn.mark_failed();
                     }
+                    if let Some(machine) = self.peer_machines.get_mut(&link_id) {
+                        machine.mark_send_failed();
+                    }
                     self.stats_mut()
                         .record_reject(RejectReason::Handshake(HandshakeReject::BadState));
                     return;
diff --git a/src/node/handlers/timeout.rs b/src/node/handlers/timeout.rs
index 28f1ae4..d39a423 100644
--- a/src/node/handlers/timeout.rs
+++ b/src/node/handlers/timeout.rs
@@ -19,15 +19,15 @@ impl LifecycleView for Node {
         // reap.
         self.peer_machines
             .iter()
-            .filter_map(|(link_id, machine)| machine.leg().map(|conn| (link_id, conn)))
-            .filter(|(link_id, conn)| {
-                conn.is_failed()
+            .filter_map(|(link_id, machine)| machine.leg().map(|conn| (link_id, machine, conn)))
+            .filter(|(link_id, machine, conn)| {
+                machine.is_failed()
                     || (conn.is_timed_out(now_ms, timeout_ms)
                         && !self.peer_timers.get(*link_id).is_some_and(|timers| {
                             timers.contains_key(&TimerKind::HandshakeTimeout)
                         }))
             })
-            .map(|(link_id, conn)| ConnSnapshot {
+            .map(|(link_id, _machine, conn)| ConnSnapshot {
                 link: *link_id,
                 is_outbound: conn.is_outbound(),
                 retry_addr: conn.expected_identity().map(|id| *id.node_addr()),
@@ -70,10 +70,16 @@ impl Node {
             match action {
                 ConnAction::ScheduleRetry { peer } => self.note_handshake_timeout(peer, now_ms),
                 ConnAction::Teardown { link } => {
-                    // Log before cleanup (needs live connection state).
+                    // Log before cleanup (needs live connection state). The
+                    // failure signal is now read from the control machine; the
+                    // leg still carries direction/idle for the log fields.
+                    let is_failed = self
+                        .peer_machines
+                        .get(&link)
+                        .is_some_and(|machine| machine.is_failed());
                     if let Some(conn) = self.leg(&link) {
                         let direction = conn.direction();
-                        if conn.is_failed() {
+                        if is_failed {
                             debug!(
                                 link_id = %link,
                                 direction = %direction,
diff --git a/src/node/mod.rs b/src/node/mod.rs
index a661a6c..7aa3d33 100644
--- a/src/node/mod.rs
+++ b/src/node/mod.rs
@@ -2021,7 +2021,7 @@ impl Node {
             .map(|conn| snap::ConnectionRow {
                 link_id: conn.link_id().as_u64(),
                 direction: format!("{}", conn.direction()),
-                handshake_state: format!("{}", conn.handshake_state()),
+                handshake_state: self.connection_handshake_state(conn.link_id()).to_string(),
                 started_at_ms: conn.started_at(),
                 last_activity_ms: conn.last_activity(),
                 resend_count: self.connection_resend_count(conn.link_id()),
@@ -2348,6 +2348,17 @@ impl Node {
             .map_or(0, |machine| machine.resend_count())
     }
 
+    /// Operator-visible handshake-state string for a pending handshake `link`,
+    /// derived from the per-peer control machine (the phase's home now that the
+    /// leg no longer carries it). Every leg surfaced by `connections()` is
+    /// embedded in a machine, so the lookup resolves; the `"initial"` default is
+    /// unreachable in that view and only guards a missing machine.
+    pub(crate) fn connection_handshake_state(&self, link: LinkId) -> &'static str {
+        self.peer_machines
+            .get(&link)
+            .map_or("initial", |machine| machine.displayed_handshake_state())
+    }
+
     pub(crate) fn cleanup_bootstrap_transport_if_unused(&mut self, transport_id: TransportId) {
         if !self
             .supervisor
diff --git a/src/node/tests/handshake.rs b/src/node/tests/handshake.rs
index eaf872c..a814cfe 100644
--- a/src/node/tests/handshake.rs
+++ b/src/node/tests/handshake.rs
@@ -792,7 +792,6 @@ async fn test_failed_connection_cleanup() {
     conn.set_our_index(our_index);
     conn.set_transport_id(transport_id);
     conn.set_source_addr(remote_addr.clone());
-    conn.mark_failed(); // Simulate send failure
 
     let link = Link::connectionless(
         link_id,
@@ -808,6 +807,24 @@ async fn test_failed_connection_cleanup() {
     node.pending_outbound
         .insert((transport_id, our_index.as_u32()), link_id);
 
+    // Simulate a stored-handshake send failure through the control machine —
+    // the failure carrier the stale-connection sweep now reads (the leg no
+    // longer carries a failed phase of its own).
+    {
+        let machine = node
+            .peer_machines
+            .get_mut(&link_id)
+            .expect("machine seeded by add_connection");
+        let alloc = &mut node.index_allocator;
+        let actions = machine.step(
+            crate::peer::machine::PeerEvent::HandshakeSendFailed,
+            now_ms,
+            alloc,
+        );
+        assert!(actions.is_empty());
+        assert!(machine.is_failed());
+    }
+
     assert_eq!(node.connection_count(), 1);
 
     // Failed connections should be cleaned up immediately regardless of age
diff --git a/src/peer/connection.rs b/src/peer/connection.rs
index 31dcf69..526a60d 100644
--- a/src/peer/connection.rs
+++ b/src/peer/connection.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 //! Peer Connection (Handshake Phase)
 //!
 //! Represents an in-progress connection before authentication completes.
-//! PeerConnection tracks the Noise IK handshake state and transitions to
-//! ActivePeer upon successful authentication.
+//! PeerConnection tracks the Noise IK handshake and transitions to
+//! ActivePeer upon successful authentication. The handshake *phase* (initial /
+//! sent_msg1 / complete / failed) is no longer tracked here — it lives on the
+//! per-peer control machine; the leg's crypto methods gate on the presence of
+//! their Noise handles (`noise_handshake` / `noise_session`) directly.
 
 use crate::PeerIdentity;
 use crate::noise::{self, NoiseError, NoiseSession};
@@ -12,12 +15,6 @@ use crate::utils::index::SessionIndex;
 use secp256k1::Keypair;
 use std::fmt;
 
-// The pure handshake-phase bookkeeping (`ConnectionState`) and its
-// `HandshakeState` phase enum now live in `proto::fmp::state`. Re-export
-// `HandshakeState` here so its original public path
-// (`crate::peer::HandshakeState`) is preserved for existing call sites.
-pub use crate::proto::fmp::HandshakeState;
-
 /// A connection in the handshake phase, before authentication completes.
 ///
 /// For outbound connections, we know the expected peer identity from config.
@@ -114,11 +111,6 @@ impl PeerConnection {
         self.state.direction()
     }
 
-    /// Get the handshake state.
-    pub fn handshake_state(&self) -> HandshakeState {
-        self.state.handshake_state()
-    }
-
     /// Get the expected/learned peer identity, if known.
     pub fn expected_identity(&self) -> Option<&PeerIdentity> {
         self.state.expected_identity()
@@ -134,21 +126,6 @@ impl PeerConnection {
         self.state.is_inbound()
     }
 
-    /// Check if handshake is in progress.
-    pub fn is_in_progress(&self) -> bool {
-        self.state.is_in_progress()
-    }
-
-    /// Check if handshake completed.
-    pub fn is_complete(&self) -> bool {
-        self.state.is_complete()
-    }
-
-    /// Check if handshake failed.
-    pub fn is_failed(&self) -> bool {
-        self.state.is_failed()
-    }
-
     /// When the connection started.
     pub fn started_at(&self) -> u64 {
         self.state.started_at()
@@ -281,20 +258,15 @@ impl PeerConnection {
             });
         }
 
-        if self.state.handshake_state() != HandshakeState::Initial {
-            return Err(NoiseError::WrongState {
-                expected: "initial state".to_string(),
-                got: self.state.handshake_state().to_string(),
-            });
-        }
-
-        // XX initiator: no remote static needed upfront
+        // XX initiator: no remote static needed upfront. The old `!= Initial`
+        // phase guard is dropped — this method creates the Noise handshake
+        // handle, so there is no `take().expect()` to protect, and its Err path
+        // was unreachable in production (one call per fresh outbound leg).
         let mut hs = noise::HandshakeState::new_initiator(our_keypair);
         hs.set_local_epoch(epoch);
         let msg1 = hs.write_message_1()?;
 
         self.noise_handshake = Some(hs);
-        self.state.set_handshake_state(HandshakeState::SentMsg1);
         self.state.touch(current_time_ms);
 
         Ok(msg1)
@@ -324,13 +296,6 @@ impl PeerConnection {
             });
         }
 
-        if self.state.handshake_state() != HandshakeState::Initial {
-            return Err(NoiseError::WrongState {
-                expected: "initial state".to_string(),
-                got: self.state.handshake_state().to_string(),
-            });
-        }
-
         let mut hs = noise::HandshakeState::new_responder(our_keypair);
         hs.set_local_epoch(epoch);
 
@@ -346,10 +311,11 @@ impl PeerConnection {
             msg2.extend_from_slice(&encrypted);
         }
 
-        // XX: handshake NOT complete yet — need msg3.
-        // Keep the handshake state for complete_handshake_msg3().
+        // XX: handshake NOT complete yet — need msg3. Keep the Noise handshake
+        // handle for complete_handshake_msg3(); the phase (formerly
+        // `ReceivedMsg1`) now lives on the control machine, so no phase is set
+        // here. The handle's presence is the leg-local `ReceivedMsg1` signal.
         self.noise_handshake = Some(hs);
-        self.state.set_handshake_state(HandshakeState::ReceivedMsg1);
         self.state.touch(current_time_ms);
 
         Ok(msg2)
@@ -370,10 +336,14 @@ impl PeerConnection {
         negotiation_payload: Option<&[u8]>,
         current_time_ms: u64,
     ) -> Result<(Vec<u8>, Option<Vec<u8>>), NoiseError> {
-        if self.state.handshake_state() != HandshakeState::SentMsg1 {
+        // The leg is at `SentMsg1` iff its Noise handshake handle is present
+        // (set by `start_handshake`, taken here on completion). Gate on the
+        // handle directly now that the phase enum is gone — byte-equivalent to
+        // the old `!= SentMsg1` guard for every reachable transition.
+        if self.noise_handshake.is_none() {
             return Err(NoiseError::WrongState {
                 expected: "sent_msg1 state".to_string(),
-                got: self.state.handshake_state().to_string(),
+                got: "no active handshake".to_string(),
             });
         }
 
@@ -422,7 +392,6 @@ impl PeerConnection {
         // Handshake complete for initiator
         let session = hs.into_session()?;
         self.noise_session = Some(session);
-        self.state.set_handshake_state(HandshakeState::Complete);
         self.state.touch(current_time_ms);
 
         Ok((msg3, received_negotiation))
@@ -440,10 +409,15 @@ impl PeerConnection {
         message: &[u8],
         current_time_ms: u64,
     ) -> Result<Option<Vec<u8>>, NoiseError> {
-        if self.state.handshake_state() != HandshakeState::ReceivedMsg1 {
+        // The responder leg is at `ReceivedMsg1` iff its Noise handshake handle
+        // is present (set by `receive_handshake_init`, taken here on msg3). Gate
+        // on the handle directly now that the phase enum is gone — byte-equivalent
+        // to the old `!= ReceivedMsg1` guard for every reachable transition, and
+        // it protects the `take().expect()` below.
+        if self.noise_handshake.is_none() {
             return Err(NoiseError::WrongState {
                 expected: "received_msg1 state".to_string(),
-                got: self.state.handshake_state().to_string(),
+                got: "no active handshake".to_string(),
             });
         }
 
@@ -480,10 +454,10 @@ impl PeerConnection {
         // Capture remote epoch from msg3
         self.state.set_remote_epoch(hs.remote_epoch());
 
-        // Handshake complete for responder
+        // Handshake complete for responder. The completion signal is now the
+        // Noise session's presence (the phase enum is gone); no phase is set.
         let session = hs.into_session()?;
         self.noise_session = Some(session);
-        self.state.set_handshake_state(HandshakeState::Complete);
         self.state.touch(current_time_ms);
 
         Ok(received_negotiation)
@@ -494,24 +468,23 @@ impl PeerConnection {
     /// Returns the NoiseSession for use in ActivePeer. Can only be called
     /// once after handshake completes.
     pub fn take_session(&mut self) -> Option<NoiseSession> {
-        if self.state.handshake_state() == HandshakeState::Complete {
-            self.noise_session.take()
-        } else {
-            None
-        }
+        // The session exists iff the handshake reached `Complete`, so taking it
+        // unconditionally is byte-equivalent to the old `== Complete` gate.
+        self.noise_session.take()
     }
 
     /// Check if we have a completed session ready to take.
     pub fn has_session(&self) -> bool {
-        self.state.handshake_state() == HandshakeState::Complete && self.noise_session.is_some()
+        self.noise_session.is_some()
     }
 
     // === State Transitions (for manual control if needed) ===
 
-    /// Mark handshake as failed. Sets the pure lifecycle state and drops the
-    /// shell-owned crypto handshake handle.
+    /// Drop the shell-owned crypto handshake handle. The failure *state* now
+    /// lives on the control machine (`PeerMachine`); this only releases the
+    /// leg's Noise handle at the identical point it was released before, so a
+    /// subsequent `complete_handshake` on this leg still reports `WrongState`.
     pub fn mark_failed(&mut self) {
-        self.state.mark_failed();
         self.noise_handshake = None;
     }
 
@@ -533,7 +506,6 @@ impl fmt::Debug for PeerConnection {
         f.debug_struct("PeerConnection")
             .field("link_id", &self.state.link_id())
             .field("direction", &self.state.direction())
-            .field("handshake_state", &self.state.handshake_state())
             .field("expected_identity", &self.state.expected_identity())
             .field("has_noise_handshake", &self.noise_handshake.is_some())
             .field("has_noise_session", &self.noise_session.is_some())
@@ -568,18 +540,6 @@ mod tests {
         epoch
     }
 
-    #[test]
-    fn test_handshake_state_properties() {
-        assert!(HandshakeState::Initial.is_in_progress());
-        assert!(HandshakeState::SentMsg1.is_in_progress());
-        assert!(HandshakeState::ReceivedMsg1.is_in_progress());
-        assert!(!HandshakeState::Complete.is_in_progress());
-        assert!(!HandshakeState::Failed.is_in_progress());
-
-        assert!(HandshakeState::Complete.is_complete());
-        assert!(HandshakeState::Failed.is_failed());
-    }
-
     #[test]
     fn test_outbound_connection() {
         let identity = make_peer_identity();
@@ -587,7 +547,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         assert!(conn.is_outbound());
         assert!(!conn.is_inbound());
-        assert_eq!(conn.handshake_state(), HandshakeState::Initial);
+        assert!(!conn.has_session());
         assert!(conn.expected_identity().is_some());
         assert_eq!(conn.started_at(), 1000);
     }
@@ -598,7 +558,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         assert!(conn.is_inbound());
         assert!(!conn.is_outbound());
-        assert_eq!(conn.handshake_state(), HandshakeState::Initial);
+        assert!(!conn.has_session());
         assert!(conn.expected_identity().is_none());
         assert_eq!(conn.started_at(), 2000);
     }
@@ -625,16 +585,16 @@ mod tests {
         let msg1 = initiator_conn
             .start_handshake(initiator_keypair, initiator_epoch, 1100)
             .unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(initiator_conn.handshake_state(), HandshakeState::SentMsg1);
+        // Post-msg1 the initiator holds an in-flight handshake, not yet a session.
+        assert!(!initiator_conn.has_session());
 
         // Responder processes msg1 and sends msg2 (XX: does NOT complete yet)
         let msg2 = responder_conn
             .receive_handshake_init(responder_keypair, responder_epoch, &msg1, None, 1200)
             .unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(
-            responder_conn.handshake_state(),
-            HandshakeState::ReceivedMsg1
-        );
+        // XX: the responder parks awaiting msg3 — it holds an in-flight
+        // handshake, not yet a session (the deleted phase was `ReceivedMsg1`).
+        assert!(!responder_conn.has_session());
         // Responder does NOT know initiator's identity yet (XX property)
         assert!(responder_conn.expected_identity().is_none());
 
@@ -642,16 +602,17 @@ mod tests {
         let (msg3, _neg) = initiator_conn
             .complete_handshake(&msg2, None, 1300)
             .unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(initiator_conn.handshake_state(), HandshakeState::Complete);
+        // The initiator completes at msg3 generation: it now holds a session.
+        assert!(initiator_conn.has_session());
 
         // Initiator learned responder's identity from msg2
         let discovered = initiator_conn.expected_identity().unwrap();
         assert_eq!(discovered.pubkey(), responder_identity.pubkey());
         assert_eq!(initiator_conn.remote_epoch(), Some(responder_epoch));
 
-        // Responder processes msg3 (completes handshake)
+        // Responder processes msg3 (completes handshake): it now holds a session.
         let _neg = responder_conn.complete_handshake_msg3(&msg3, 1400).unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(responder_conn.handshake_state(), HandshakeState::Complete);
+        assert!(responder_conn.has_session());
 
         // Responder learned initiator's identity from msg3
         let discovered = responder_conn.expected_identity().unwrap();
@@ -686,13 +647,19 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn test_connection_failure() {
+        // `mark_failed` releases the leg's Noise handshake handle. The failure
+        // *state* now lives on the control machine, but the leg-local effect is
+        // still observable: a completion attempt afterward reports `WrongState`
+        // (the handle-presence gate) and no session is produced.
         let identity = make_peer_identity();
+        let keypair = make_keypair();
         let mut conn = PeerConnection::outbound(LinkId::new(1), identity, 1000);
+        conn.start_handshake(keypair, make_epoch(), 1100).unwrap();
 
         conn.mark_failed();
-        assert!(conn.is_failed());
-        assert!(!conn.is_in_progress());
-        assert!(!conn.is_complete());
+
+        assert!(!conn.has_session());
+        assert!(conn.complete_handshake(&[0u8; 96], None, 1200).is_err());
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/src/peer/machine.rs b/src/peer/machine.rs
index 8decd41..d4ae10f 100644
--- a/src/peer/machine.rs
+++ b/src/peer/machine.rs
@@ -162,6 +162,57 @@ pub(crate) enum HandshakePhase {
     SentMsg2,
 }
 
+/// Map a lifecycle state to the operator-visible pending-connection handshake
+/// string. Total over `PeerState`; byte-identical to the strings the deleted
+/// leg `HandshakeState` `Display` produced for every (leg, machine) pairing that
+/// rests in the pending-connection view. On XX three arms are
+/// production-reachable in that view (verified against the pre-collapse leg
+/// display):
+/// - `Handshaking{SentMsg1}` → `"sent_msg1"` (outbound identified leg).
+/// - `Handshaking{SentMsg2}` → `"received_msg1"` (the inbound responder leg,
+///   which parks at `SentMsg2` after replying to msg1 while the deleted leg
+///   phase displayed `received_msg1` — a direction-aware synthesis with no leg
+///   twin).
+/// - `Discovered` → `"sent_msg1"` (GAP A: the anonymous-outbound leg rests with
+///   its machine parked at `Discovered` while its leg is already at `SentMsg1`;
+///   the anon path sends msg1 inline and dispatches no handshake-start event, so
+///   advancing the machine to `Handshaking{SentMsg1}` here would arm a retransmit
+///   timer the anon leg does not have — the overload is the neutral choice).
+///
+/// The `send_failed` → `"failed"` override is applied by the caller
+/// ([`displayed_handshake_state`](PeerMachine::displayed_handshake_state)). The
+/// remaining arms are kept total for a complete mapping and are not reachable in
+/// the view.
+fn handshake_state_str(state: PeerState) -> &'static str {
+    match state {
+        PeerState::Handshaking {
+            phase: HandshakePhase::Initial,
+            ..
+        } => "initial",
+        PeerState::Handshaking {
+            phase: HandshakePhase::SentMsg1,
+            ..
+        } => "sent_msg1",
+        PeerState::Handshaking {
+            phase: HandshakePhase::SentMsg2,
+            ..
+        } => "received_msg1",
+        // GAP A: the anonymous-outbound leg rests in the view with its machine
+        // parked at `Discovered` while the leg itself is at `SentMsg1`, so it
+        // displayed `"sent_msg1"` before the collapse. The only in-view
+        // `Discovered`-with-leg case is this anon leg (identified dials leave
+        // `Discovered` atomically within their handler before any tick), so the
+        // overload preserves display parity byte-for-byte.
+        PeerState::Discovered => "sent_msg1",
+        PeerState::Established { .. }
+        | PeerState::Active { .. }
+        | PeerState::Maintaining { .. }
+        | PeerState::Closing { .. } => "complete",
+        PeerState::Failed { .. } => "failed",
+        PeerState::Connecting { .. } | PeerState::Closed { .. } => "initial",
+    }
+}
+
 /// Which maintenance sub-machine `Maintaining` is running.
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub(crate) enum MaintainKind {
@@ -461,6 +512,13 @@ pub(crate) struct PeerMachine {
     conn: ConnectionState,
     /// Remote startup epoch (establish-path-only; NOT in send-state).
     remote_epoch: Option<[u8; 8]>,
+    /// A stored-handshake send failure was observed on this leg. The failure is
+    /// carried as a flag (not a `PeerState::Failed` transition) so retransmit
+    /// eligibility (`is_handshaking_sent_msg1`) survives until the
+    /// stale-connection sweep reclaims the leg. It drives both `is_failed`
+    /// (reaping) and the displayed handshake state (`"failed"`), reproducing the
+    /// pre-collapse leg `is_failed`/display signal byte-for-byte.
+    send_failed: bool,
 
     // --- rekey negotiation sub-state (control tier; NOT the pending send slot) ---
     rekey_in_progress: bool,
@@ -509,6 +567,7 @@ impl PeerMachine {
                 None => ConnectionState::outbound_anonymous(link, now),
             },
             remote_epoch: None,
+            send_failed: false,
             rekey_in_progress: false,
             rekey_our_index: None,
             rekey_msg1: None,
@@ -537,6 +596,7 @@ impl PeerMachine {
             leg: None,
             conn: ConnectionState::inbound(link, now),
             remote_epoch: None,
+            send_failed: false,
             rekey_in_progress: false,
             rekey_our_index: None,
             rekey_msg1: None,
@@ -605,6 +665,7 @@ impl PeerMachine {
             leg: None,
             conn,
             remote_epoch,
+            send_failed: false,
             rekey_in_progress: false,
             rekey_our_index: None,
             rekey_msg1: None,
@@ -708,6 +769,41 @@ impl PeerMachine {
         )
     }
 
+    /// Whether this peer's handshake has failed. The sole failure carrier now
+    /// that the leg's phase enum is gone: a terminal `PeerState::Failed`
+    /// (hard crypto/transport/ACL failures) OR the `send_failed` flag (a stored
+    /// handshake-initiation send failure that deliberately keeps the machine at
+    /// `Handshaking{SentMsg1}`). The stale-connection sweep reads this to reclaim
+    /// the leg, exactly as it read the leg's `is_failed` before.
+    pub(crate) fn is_failed(&self) -> bool {
+        matches!(self.state, PeerState::Failed { .. }) || self.send_failed
+    }
+
+    /// The operator-visible handshake-state string for the pending-connection
+    /// view, derived from the machine phase. Byte-identical to the strings the
+    /// leg's `HandshakeState` `Display` produced before the phase collapsed onto
+    /// the machine. A `send_failed` leg renders `"failed"` while its phase stays
+    /// `SentMsg1`, matching the pre-collapse leg display.
+    pub(crate) fn displayed_handshake_state(&self) -> &'static str {
+        if self.send_failed {
+            return "failed";
+        }
+        handshake_state_str(self.state)
+    }
+
+    /// Record a handshake failure that the shell observed on the leg (e.g. a
+    /// `complete_handshake` that rejected msg2), WITHOUT leaving the current
+    /// handshake phase. Mirrors the `HandshakeSendFailed` carve-out: the failure
+    /// is carried as `send_failed`, so the machine PHASE is unchanged (matching
+    /// the pre-collapse behavior, where the shell marked only the leg failed and
+    /// left the machine in place) while `is_failed`/display report the failure.
+    /// The stale-connection sweep reclaims the leg via
+    /// [`is_failed`](Self::is_failed) at the next tick, before any projection or
+    /// resend.
+    pub(crate) fn mark_send_failed(&mut self) {
+        self.send_failed = true;
+    }
+
     /// The crystallized node address, if identity is known.
     fn addr(&self) -> Option<NodeAddr> {
         self.node_addr
@@ -849,8 +945,11 @@ impl PeerMachine {
     /// actions are emitted.
     fn on_handshake_send_failed(&mut self) -> Vec<PeerAction> {
         if let Some(leg) = self.leg.as_mut() {
+            // Drop the leg's Noise handshake handle at the identical point as
+            // before; the failure *state* is recorded on the machine.
             leg.mark_failed();
         }
+        self.send_failed = true;
         Vec::new()
     }
 
@@ -2872,7 +2971,8 @@ mod tests {
         );
         m.set_leg(PeerConnection::outbound(LinkId::new(1), peer, 100));
         assert!(m.is_handshaking_sent_msg1());
-        assert!(!m.leg().expect("leg embedded").is_failed());
+        assert!(!m.is_failed());
+        assert_eq!(m.displayed_handshake_state(), "sent_msg1");
 
         let actions = m.step(PeerEvent::HandshakeSendFailed, 200, &mut alloc);
         assert_eq!(actions, Vec::new(), "HandshakeSendFailed emits no actions");
@@ -2881,11 +2981,17 @@ mod tests {
             "retransmit eligibility survives a send failure"
         );
         assert!(
-            m.leg().expect("leg retained").is_failed(),
-            "the leg carries the failed mark the sweep reads"
+            m.is_failed(),
+            "the machine carries the failed mark the sweep reads"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            m.displayed_handshake_state(),
+            "failed",
+            "the send-failed leg still displays as failed"
         );
 
-        // With no leg (e.g. after take_leg) the event is a defensive no-op.
+        // With no leg (e.g. after take_leg) the event stays a defensive no-op
+        // for the leg handle and keeps the state retransmit-eligible.
         let _ = m.take_leg();
         let actions = m.step(PeerEvent::HandshakeSendFailed, 300, &mut alloc);
         assert_eq!(actions, Vec::new());
@@ -2893,6 +2999,78 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(m.leg().is_none());
     }
 
+    // ---- Test 7f: handshake_state_str is a total, byte-identical mapping ---
+    // Pins the displayed-string derivation for every `PeerState` arm against the
+    // strings the deleted leg `HandshakeState` `Display` produced.
+    #[test]
+    fn handshake_state_str_total_mapping() {
+        let link = LinkId::new(1);
+        let addr = *peer_identity().node_addr();
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            handshake_state_str(PeerState::Handshaking {
+                link,
+                phase: HandshakePhase::Initial,
+            }),
+            "initial"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            handshake_state_str(PeerState::Handshaking {
+                link,
+                phase: HandshakePhase::SentMsg1,
+            }),
+            "sent_msg1"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            handshake_state_str(PeerState::Handshaking {
+                link,
+                phase: HandshakePhase::SentMsg2,
+            }),
+            "received_msg1"
+        );
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            handshake_state_str(PeerState::Established { addr }),
+            "complete"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(handshake_state_str(PeerState::Active { addr }), "complete");
+        assert_eq!(
+            handshake_state_str(PeerState::Maintaining {
+                addr,
+                kind: MaintainKind::Mtu,
+            }),
+            "complete"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            handshake_state_str(PeerState::Closing {
+                addr,
+                reason: CloseReason::Requested,
+            }),
+            "complete"
+        );
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            handshake_state_str(PeerState::Failed {
+                reason: FailReason::HandshakeFailed,
+            }),
+            "failed"
+        );
+
+        // GAP A: the anonymous-outbound leg rests at `Discovered` while its leg
+        // is at `SentMsg1`, so the pending-connection view displayed "sent_msg1".
+        assert_eq!(handshake_state_str(PeerState::Discovered), "sent_msg1");
+        assert_eq!(
+            handshake_state_str(PeerState::Connecting { link }),
+            "initial"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            handshake_state_str(PeerState::Closed {
+                backoff_deadline_ms: 0,
+            }),
+            "initial"
+        );
+    }
+
     // ---- Test 8: liveness -> LinkDeadSuspected -> ReportLost --------------
     #[test]
     fn liveness_to_link_dead() {
diff --git a/src/peer/mod.rs b/src/peer/mod.rs
index 65e2c33..690dfd0 100644
--- a/src/peer/mod.rs
+++ b/src/peer/mod.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ mod connection;
 pub(crate) mod machine;
 
 pub use active::{ActivePeer, ConnectivityState};
-pub use connection::{HandshakeState, PeerConnection};
+pub use connection::PeerConnection;
 
 use crate::NodeAddr;
 use crate::transport::LinkId;
diff --git a/src/proto/fmp/mod.rs b/src/proto/fmp/mod.rs
index 231473b..10bac15 100644
--- a/src/proto/fmp/mod.rs
+++ b/src/proto/fmp/mod.rs
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@
 //! - `limits.rs` — the pure connection-retry backoff math.
 //! - `state.rs` — [`ConnectionState`], the pure handshake-phase connection
 //!   bookkeeping (owned by the shell `PeerConnection` beside its Noise crypto
-//!   handles) and its [`HandshakeState`] phase enum, plus [`Fmp`], the
-//!   (stateless) lifecycle anchor owned by `Node`.
+//!   handles), plus [`Fmp`], the (stateless) lifecycle anchor owned by `Node`.
+//!   The handshake phase itself lives on the per-peer control machine.
 //! - `wire.rs` — the FMP wire codec: XX handshake message types, disconnect
 //!   reasons, the orderly disconnect message, and the negotiation payload.
 //!   Also carries the relocated FMP link wire framing (moved from
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ pub(crate) use core::{
 };
 pub use core::{PromotionResult, cross_connection_winner};
 pub(crate) use limits::backoff_ms;
-pub use state::HandshakeState;
 pub(crate) use state::{ConnectionState, Fmp};
 pub(crate) use wire::{Disconnect, DisconnectReason};
 pub use wire::{HandshakeMessageType, NegotiationPayload, NodeProfile, TlvEntry};
diff --git a/src/proto/fmp/state.rs b/src/proto/fmp/state.rs
index d72c22e..4e429d6 100644
--- a/src/proto/fmp/state.rs
+++ b/src/proto/fmp/state.rs
@@ -1,19 +1,20 @@
 //! Sans-IO FMP connection-lifecycle state.
 //!
 //! The pure, runtime-agnostic bookkeeping for an in-progress FMP peer
-//! connection — link/direction identity, the handshake-phase enum, learned
-//! peer identity and epoch, index/transport/address tracking, handshake-resend
-//! scheduling, and link statistics — extracted out of the async node shell.
+//! connection — link/direction identity, learned peer identity and epoch,
+//! index/transport/address tracking, handshake-resend scheduling, and link
+//! statistics — extracted out of the async node shell. The handshake phase
+//! itself lives solely on the per-peer control machine
+//! ([`PeerMachine`](crate::peer::machine::PeerMachine)), not here.
 //!
 //! [`ConnectionState`] owns every **pure** field of the handshake-phase
 //! connection. The Noise crypto handles (`noise::HandshakeState`,
 //! `NoiseSession`) stay shell-owned in
 //! [`PeerConnection`](crate::peer::PeerConnection), which holds a
 //! `ConnectionState` alongside them and drives the two halves side by side. The
-//! shell's XX transition methods validate against the pure phase, drive the
-//! Noise objects, then write learned results back through the pure setters here
-//! (`set_handshake_state`, `set_expected_identity`, `set_remote_epoch`,
-//! `touch`).
+//! shell's XX transition methods drive the Noise objects, then write learned
+//! results back through the pure setters here (`set_expected_identity`,
+//! `set_remote_epoch`, `touch`).
 //!
 //! This state is `no_std`+`alloc`-clean with respect to transport: the
 //! identifier/address/statistics value types are the plain-data `transport`
@@ -31,59 +32,6 @@ use super::wire::NodeProfile;
 use crate::PeerIdentity;
 use crate::transport::{LinkDirection, LinkId, LinkStats, TransportAddr, TransportId};
 use crate::utils::index::SessionIndex;
-use core::fmt;
-
-/// Handshake protocol state machine.
-///
-/// For Noise XX pattern:
-/// - Initiator: Initial → SentMsg1 → Complete (after processing msg2 + sending msg3)
-/// - Responder: Initial → ReceivedMsg1 → Complete (after processing msg3)
-#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
-pub enum HandshakeState {
-    /// Initial state, ready to start handshake.
-    Initial,
-    /// Initiator: Sent message 1, awaiting message 2.
-    SentMsg1,
-    /// Responder: Received message 1, ready to send message 2.
-    ReceivedMsg1,
-    /// Handshake completed successfully.
-    Complete,
-    /// Handshake failed.
-    Failed,
-}
-
-impl HandshakeState {
-    /// Check if handshake is still in progress.
-    pub fn is_in_progress(&self) -> bool {
-        matches!(
-            self,
-            HandshakeState::Initial | HandshakeState::SentMsg1 | HandshakeState::ReceivedMsg1
-        )
-    }
-
-    /// Check if handshake completed successfully.
-    pub fn is_complete(&self) -> bool {
-        matches!(self, HandshakeState::Complete)
-    }
-
-    /// Check if handshake failed.
-    pub fn is_failed(&self) -> bool {
-        matches!(self, HandshakeState::Failed)
-    }
-}
-
-impl fmt::Display for HandshakeState {
-    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
-        let s = match self {
-            HandshakeState::Initial => "initial",
-            HandshakeState::SentMsg1 => "sent_msg1",
-            HandshakeState::ReceivedMsg1 => "received_msg1",
-            HandshakeState::Complete => "complete",
-            HandshakeState::Failed => "failed",
-        };
-        write!(f, "{}", s)
-    }
-}
 
 /// Pure, runtime-agnostic bookkeeping for a connection in the handshake phase.
 ///
@@ -101,10 +49,6 @@ pub struct ConnectionState {
     /// Connection direction (we initiated or they initiated).
     direction: LinkDirection,
 
-    // === Handshake State ===
-    /// Current handshake state.
-    handshake_state: HandshakeState,
-
     /// Expected peer identity (known for outbound, learned for inbound).
     /// Updated after receiving their static key in the handshake.
     expected_identity: Option<PeerIdentity>,
@@ -171,7 +115,6 @@ impl ConnectionState {
         Self {
             link_id,
             direction: LinkDirection::Outbound,
-            handshake_state: HandshakeState::Initial,
             expected_identity: Some(expected_identity),
             started_at: current_time_ms,
             last_activity: current_time_ms,
@@ -199,7 +142,6 @@ impl ConnectionState {
         Self {
             link_id,
             direction: LinkDirection::Outbound,
-            handshake_state: HandshakeState::Initial,
             expected_identity: None,
             started_at: current_time_ms,
             last_activity: current_time_ms,
@@ -225,7 +167,6 @@ impl ConnectionState {
         Self {
             link_id,
             direction: LinkDirection::Inbound,
-            handshake_state: HandshakeState::Initial,
             expected_identity: None,
             started_at: current_time_ms,
             last_activity: current_time_ms,
@@ -255,7 +196,6 @@ impl ConnectionState {
         Self {
             link_id,
             direction: LinkDirection::Inbound,
-            handshake_state: HandshakeState::Initial,
             expected_identity: None,
             started_at: current_time_ms,
             last_activity: current_time_ms,
@@ -285,11 +225,6 @@ impl ConnectionState {
         self.direction
     }
 
-    /// Get the handshake state.
-    pub fn handshake_state(&self) -> HandshakeState {
-        self.handshake_state
-    }
-
     /// Get the expected/learned peer identity, if known.
     pub fn expected_identity(&self) -> Option<&PeerIdentity> {
         self.expected_identity.as_ref()
@@ -305,21 +240,6 @@ impl ConnectionState {
         self.direction == LinkDirection::Inbound
     }
 
-    /// Check if handshake is in progress.
-    pub fn is_in_progress(&self) -> bool {
-        self.handshake_state.is_in_progress()
-    }
-
-    /// Check if handshake completed.
-    pub fn is_complete(&self) -> bool {
-        self.handshake_state.is_complete()
-    }
-
-    /// Check if handshake failed.
-    pub fn is_failed(&self) -> bool {
-        self.handshake_state.is_failed()
-    }
-
     /// When the connection started.
     pub fn started_at(&self) -> u64 {
         self.started_at
@@ -425,20 +345,6 @@ impl ConnectionState {
         self.peer_profile = Some(peer_profile);
     }
 
-    // === Handshake Phase Advance ===
-
-    /// Advance the pure handshake phase. Driven by the shell after it has
-    /// stepped the Noise objects.
-    pub fn set_handshake_state(&mut self, state: HandshakeState) {
-        self.handshake_state = state;
-    }
-
-    /// Mark the pure handshake phase failed. The shell drops the crypto handle
-    /// separately.
-    pub fn mark_failed(&mut self) {
-        self.handshake_state = HandshakeState::Failed;
-    }
-
     // === Handshake Resend ===
 
     /// Store the wire-format msg1 bytes for resend and schedule the first resend.
diff --git a/src/proto/fmp/tests/state.rs b/src/proto/fmp/tests/state.rs
index f3be620..0d17665 100644
--- a/src/proto/fmp/tests/state.rs
+++ b/src/proto/fmp/tests/state.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
-//! Unit tests for the pure FMP connection state ([`ConnectionState`]) and its
-//! [`HandshakeState`] phase enum. These exercise the extracted bookkeeping
-//! directly, with no crypto involved; the crypto-driving transition behavior is
-//! covered by the shell `peer::connection` suite.
+//! Unit tests for the pure FMP connection state ([`ConnectionState`]). These
+//! exercise the extracted bookkeeping directly, with no crypto involved; the
+//! crypto-driving transition behavior is covered by the shell `peer::connection`
+//! suite, and the handshake phase itself lives on the control machine.
 
-use crate::proto::fmp::{ConnectionState, HandshakeState, NodeProfile};
+use crate::proto::fmp::{ConnectionState, NodeProfile};
 use crate::transport::{LinkId, TransportAddr, TransportId};
 use crate::utils::index::SessionIndex;
 use crate::{Identity, PeerIdentity};
@@ -12,21 +12,6 @@ fn make_peer_identity() -> PeerIdentity {
     PeerIdentity::from_pubkey(Identity::generate().pubkey())
 }
 
-#[test]
-fn handshake_state_predicates() {
-    assert!(HandshakeState::Initial.is_in_progress());
-    assert!(HandshakeState::SentMsg1.is_in_progress());
-    assert!(HandshakeState::ReceivedMsg1.is_in_progress());
-    assert!(!HandshakeState::Complete.is_in_progress());
-    assert!(!HandshakeState::Failed.is_in_progress());
-
-    assert!(HandshakeState::Complete.is_complete());
-    assert!(!HandshakeState::Initial.is_complete());
-
-    assert!(HandshakeState::Failed.is_failed());
-    assert!(!HandshakeState::Complete.is_failed());
-}
-
 #[test]
 fn outbound_initializes_pure_fields() {
     let identity = make_peer_identity();
@@ -34,8 +19,6 @@ fn outbound_initializes_pure_fields() {
 
     assert!(state.is_outbound());
     assert!(!state.is_inbound());
-    assert_eq!(state.handshake_state(), HandshakeState::Initial);
-    assert!(state.is_in_progress());
     assert!(state.expected_identity().is_some());
     assert_eq!(state.link_id(), LinkId::new(1));
     assert_eq!(state.started_at(), 1000);
@@ -53,7 +36,6 @@ fn inbound_initializes_pure_fields() {
 
     assert!(state.is_inbound());
     assert!(!state.is_outbound());
-    assert_eq!(state.handshake_state(), HandshakeState::Initial);
     assert!(state.expected_identity().is_none());
     assert_eq!(state.started_at(), 2000);
 }
@@ -111,27 +93,6 @@ fn identity_and_epoch_setters() {
     assert_eq!(state.remote_epoch(), Some([9u8; 8]));
 }
 
-#[test]
-fn handshake_state_advance_and_fail() {
-    let mut state = ConnectionState::outbound(LinkId::new(1), make_peer_identity(), 0);
-    assert!(state.is_in_progress());
-
-    state.set_handshake_state(HandshakeState::SentMsg1);
-    assert_eq!(state.handshake_state(), HandshakeState::SentMsg1);
-    assert!(state.is_in_progress());
-    assert!(!state.is_complete());
-
-    state.set_handshake_state(HandshakeState::Complete);
-    assert!(state.is_complete());
-    assert!(!state.is_in_progress());
-
-    state.mark_failed();
-    assert!(state.is_failed());
-    assert!(!state.is_in_progress());
-    assert!(!state.is_complete());
-    assert_eq!(state.handshake_state(), HandshakeState::Failed);
-}
-
 #[test]
 fn resend_bookkeeping() {
     let mut state = ConnectionState::outbound(LinkId::new(1), make_peer_identity(), 0);
@@ -182,7 +143,6 @@ fn outbound_anonymous_initializes_pure_fields() {
     let state = ConnectionState::outbound_anonymous(LinkId::new(5), 4000);
     assert!(state.is_outbound());
     assert!(!state.is_inbound());
-    assert_eq!(state.handshake_state(), HandshakeState::Initial);
     assert!(state.expected_identity().is_none());
     assert_eq!(state.link_id(), LinkId::new(5));
     assert_eq!(state.started_at(), 4000);