diff --git a/cmd/server/store.go b/cmd/server/store.go
index 1261ea24..d3a30cee 100644
--- a/cmd/server/store.go
+++ b/cmd/server/store.go
@@ -1344,6 +1344,20 @@ func (s *PacketStore) MaxTransmissionID() int {
 	return maxID
 }
 
+// MaxObservationID returns the highest observation ID in the store.
+func (s *PacketStore) MaxObservationID() int {
+	s.mu.RLock()
+	defer s.mu.RUnlock()
+
+	maxID := 0
+	for id := range s.byObsID {
+		if id > maxID {
+			maxID = id
+		}
+	}
+	return maxID
+}
+
 // --- Internal filter/query helpers ---
 
 // filterPackets applies PacketQuery filters to the in-memory packet list.
diff --git a/cmd/server/websocket.go b/cmd/server/websocket.go
index e4696bc4..96f544e1 100644
--- a/cmd/server/websocket.go
+++ b/cmd/server/websocket.go
@@ -166,6 +166,17 @@ func NewPoller(db *DB, hub *Hub, interval time.Duration) *Poller {
 func (p *Poller) Start() {
 	lastID := p.db.GetMaxTransmissionID()
 	lastObsID := p.db.GetMaxObservationID()
+	// If the store already loaded data, use its max IDs as a floor.
+	// This prevents replaying the entire DB when the DB query fails
+	// (e.g., corrupted DB returns 0 from COALESCE).
+	if p.store != nil {
+		if storeMax := p.store.MaxTransmissionID(); storeMax > lastID {
+			lastID = storeMax
+		}
+		if storeMaxObs := p.store.MaxObservationID(); storeMaxObs > lastObsID {
+			lastObsID = storeMaxObs
+		}
+	}
 	log.Printf("[poller] starting from transmission ID %d, obs ID %d, interval %v", lastID, lastObsID, p.interval)
 
 	ticker := time.NewTicker(p.interval)