diff --git a/scripts/poker_sit.js b/scripts/poker_sit.js
index 59f8a70..547851b 100644
--- a/scripts/poker_sit.js
+++ b/scripts/poker_sit.js
@@ -108,60 +108,66 @@
             xhr.setRequestHeader("Authorization", "Bearer " + _token);
             xhr.onreadystatechange = function () {
                 if (xhr.readyState !== 4) return;
-                print("[pokerSeat] sit error response: " + xhr.status + " " + xhr.responseText);
+                print("[pokerSeat] sit response: " + xhr.status + " " + xhr.responseText);
                 if (xhr.status === 200) {
-                    // Seat reserved — now physically sit the avatar
                     MyAvatar.beginSit(getSeatPosition(), getSeatRotation());
                     isSeated = true;
                     Entities.editEntity(_entityID, { visible: false });
                     Controller.actionEvent.connect(onActionEvent);
-
                     Messages.sendMessage("poker:seat", JSON.stringify({
-                        event:     "sit",
-                        tableID:   _tableID,
-                        pokerID:   _pokerID,
-                        seatIndex: _seatIndex,
-                        username:  _username,
+                        event: "sit", tableID: _tableID, pokerID: _pokerID,
+                        seatIndex: _seatIndex, username: _username,
                     }));
+                    _busy = false;
                 } else {
                     try {
-                        var err = JSON.parse(xhr.responseText);
-                        notify(err.error || "Could not sit down");
+                        var resp = JSON.parse(xhr.responseText);
+                        if (resp.error === "already seated") {
+                            // Server thinks we're seated — stand first, then re-sit
+                            print("[pokerSeat] recovering stale seat, standing first");
+                            doStand(function() { onSit(); });
+                            return;
+                        }
+                        notify(resp.error || "Could not sit down");
                     } catch (e) {
                         notify("Could not sit down (" + xhr.status + ")");
                     }
+                    _busy = false;
                 }
-                _busy = false;
             };
-            xhr.send(JSON.stringify({
-                seatIndex: parseInt(_seatIndex),
-            }));
+            var payload = JSON.stringify({ seatIndex: parseInt(_seatIndex) });
+            print("[pokerSeat] sit payload: " + payload + " token: " + _token + " url: " + POKER_BASE + "/tables/" + _pokerID + "/sit");
+            xhr.send(payload);
         });
     }
 
+    function doStand(cb) {
+        var tok = getSharedToken(); // or _token if keeping per-instance
+        var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
+        xhr.open("POST", POKER_BASE + "/tables/" + _pokerID + "/stand", true);
+        xhr.setRequestHeader("Content-Type", "application/json");
+        xhr.setRequestHeader("Authorization", "Bearer " + tok);
+        xhr.onreadystatechange = function () {
+            if (xhr.readyState !== 4) return;
+            _token = null; // invalidate immediately on stand
+            if (isSeated) {
+                MyAvatar.endSit(getSeatPosition(), getSeatRotation());
+                isSeated = false;
+                Entities.editEntity(_entityID, { visible: true });
+                Controller.actionEvent.disconnect(onActionEvent);
+                Messages.sendMessage("poker:seat", JSON.stringify({
+                    event: "stand", tableID: _tableID,
+                    seatIndex: _seatIndex, username: _username,
+                }));
+            }
+            if (cb) cb();
+        };
+        xhr.send(JSON.stringify({ seatIndex: parseInt(_seatIndex) }));
+    }
+
     function onStand() {
         if (!isSeated) return;
-
-        var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
-        xhr.open("POST", POKER_BASE + "/tables/" + _pokerID + "/stand", true);
-        xhr.setRequestHeader("Content-Type", "application/json");
-        xhr.setRequestHeader("Authorization", "Bearer " + _token);
-        xhr.onreadystatechange = function () {
-            if (xhr.readyState !== 4) return;
-            // Stand regardless of server response — worst case server cleans up on disconnect
-            MyAvatar.endSit(getSeatPosition(), getSeatRotation());
-            isSeated = false;
-            Entities.editEntity(_entityID, { visible: true });
-            Controller.actionEvent.disconnect(onActionEvent);
-
-            Messages.sendMessage("poker:seat", JSON.stringify({
-                event:     "stand",
-                tableID:   _tableID,
-                seatIndex: _seatIndex,
-                username:  _username,
-            }));
-        };
-        xhr.send(JSON.stringify({ seatIndex: parseInt(_seatIndex) }));
+        doStand(null);
     }
 
     function onActionEvent(action, value) {