diff --git a/src/node/handlers/discovery.rs b/src/node/handlers/discovery.rs
index 1a484e3..cf343f3 100644
--- a/src/node/handlers/discovery.rs
+++ b/src/node/handlers/discovery.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 use crate::node::{Node, RecentRequest};
 use crate::protocol::{LookupRequest, LookupResponse};
 use crate::{NodeAddr, PeerIdentity};
-use tracing::{debug, error, trace, warn};
+use tracing::{debug, trace, warn};
 
 impl Node {
     /// Handle an incoming LookupRequest from a peer.
@@ -153,10 +153,10 @@ impl Node {
             let target_pubkey = match self.lookup_by_fips_prefix(&prefix) {
                 Some((_addr, pubkey)) => pubkey,
                 None => {
-                    error!(
+                    warn!(
                         request_id = response.request_id,
                         target = %self.peer_display_name(&target),
-                        "identity_cache miss for lookup target — this is a bug"
+                        "identity_cache miss for lookup target, cannot verify proof"
                     );
                     return;
                 }
diff --git a/src/node/handlers/session.rs b/src/node/handlers/session.rs
index ae99622..9825940 100644
--- a/src/node/handlers/session.rs
+++ b/src/node/handlers/session.rs
@@ -731,7 +731,14 @@ impl Node {
                 "CoordsRequired response rate-limited, skipping standalone CoordsWarmup");
         }
 
-        self.maybe_initiate_lookup(&msg.dest_addr).await;
+        // Only trigger discovery if we have the target's identity cached —
+        // otherwise we can't verify the LookupResponse proof.
+        if self.has_cached_identity(&msg.dest_addr) {
+            self.maybe_initiate_lookup(&msg.dest_addr).await;
+        } else {
+            debug!(dest = %msg.dest_addr,
+                "Skipping discovery after CoordsRequired: no cached identity for target");
+        }
 
         // Reset coords warmup counter so the next N packets also include
         // COORDS_PRESENT, re-warming transit caches along the path.
@@ -783,8 +790,16 @@ impl Node {
         // Invalidate stale cached coordinates
         self.coord_cache.remove(&msg.dest_addr);
 
-        // Trigger re-discovery to get fresh coordinates
-        self.maybe_initiate_lookup(&msg.dest_addr).await;
+        // Trigger re-discovery to get fresh coordinates, but only if we have
+        // the target's identity cached — otherwise we can't verify the
+        // LookupResponse proof. This avoids a race when the XK responder
+        // receives PathBroken before msg3 completes (identity unknown).
+        if self.has_cached_identity(&msg.dest_addr) {
+            self.maybe_initiate_lookup(&msg.dest_addr).await;
+        } else {
+            debug!(dest = %msg.dest_addr,
+                "Skipping discovery after PathBroken: no cached identity for target");
+        }
 
         // Reset coords warmup counter so the next N packets include
         // COORDS_PRESENT, re-warming transit caches along the new path.
diff --git a/src/node/mod.rs b/src/node/mod.rs
index 9ef4e0b..9d705b9 100644
--- a/src/node/mod.rs
+++ b/src/node/mod.rs
@@ -963,6 +963,13 @@ impl Node {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Check if a node's identity is in the cache (without LRU touch).
+    pub(crate) fn has_cached_identity(&self, addr: &NodeAddr) -> bool {
+        let mut prefix = [0u8; 15];
+        prefix.copy_from_slice(&addr.as_bytes()[0..15]);
+        self.identity_cache.contains_key(&prefix)
+    }
+
     /// Number of identity cache entries.
     pub fn identity_cache_len(&self) -> usize {
         self.identity_cache.len()
diff --git a/src/node/tests/discovery.rs b/src/node/tests/discovery.rs
index 01b31aa..455699d 100644
--- a/src/node/tests/discovery.rs
+++ b/src/node/tests/discovery.rs
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ async fn test_response_proof_verification_failure() {
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn test_response_identity_cache_miss() {
     // Verify that a response is discarded when the origin lacks the
-    // target's pubkey in identity_cache (should never happen in practice).
+    // target's pubkey in identity_cache (e.g., XK responder before msg3).
     let mut node = make_node();
     let from = make_node_addr(0xAA);