diff --git a/nostr_core/core_relay_pool.c b/nostr_core/core_relay_pool.c
index b7381b02..1b517b24 100644
--- a/nostr_core/core_relay_pool.c
+++ b/nostr_core/core_relay_pool.c
@@ -548,11 +548,23 @@ static void check_connection_health(relay_connection_t* relay) {
         now - relay->last_ping_sent >= relay->pool->reconnect_config.ping_interval_seconds &&
         !relay->ping_pending) {
 
-        if (nostr_ws_ping(relay->ws_client) == 0) {
+        int ping_rc = nostr_ws_ping(relay->ws_client);
+        if (ping_rc == 0) {
             relay->last_ping_sent = now;
             relay->ping_pending = 1;
             // Store high-resolution start time for latency measurement
             relay->pending_ping_start_ms = get_current_time_ms();
+        } else {
+            // Ping send failed: the underlying transport is dead (e.g. the
+            // remote closed the TCP connection). The ws client's cached
+            // state may still claim CONNECTED because it only transitions
+            // on a clean WebSocket CLOSE frame. Close the client so the
+            // cached state resets, and mark the relay disconnected so the
+            // reconnect logic performs a fresh connect.
+            nostr_ws_close(relay->ws_client);
+            relay->ws_client = NULL;
+            relay->status = NOSTR_POOL_RELAY_DISCONNECTED;
+            relay->ping_pending = 0;
         }
     }
 
@@ -560,7 +572,10 @@ static void check_connection_health(relay_connection_t* relay) {
     if (relay->ping_pending &&
         now - relay->last_ping_sent > relay->pool->reconnect_config.pong_timeout_seconds) {
 
-        // No pong received - connection is dead
+        // No pong received - connection is dead. Close the client for the
+        // same reason as above: the cached ws state cannot be trusted.
+        nostr_ws_close(relay->ws_client);
+        relay->ws_client = NULL;
         relay->status = NOSTR_POOL_RELAY_DISCONNECTED;
         relay->ping_pending = 0;
     }