diff --git a/loopx/capabilities/manager_context/roundtrip.py b/loopx/capabilities/manager_context/roundtrip.py
index 8431f52edf..b89f7d4242 100644
--- a/loopx/capabilities/manager_context/roundtrip.py
+++ b/loopx/capabilities/manager_context/roundtrip.py
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ def _return_source(host, path, frozen_route, original_grant=None):
 
 
 def _return_transaction(host, path, phase, request):
-    root, now, exact = (host[key] for key in ("root", "now", "exact"))
+    root, exact = (host[key] for key in ("root", "exact"))
     payload = {key: value for key, value in request.items() if key != "facts"}
     observed = dict(request["facts"])
     for field, keys in {
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ def _return_transaction(host, path, phase, request):
     result = effect_runtime_result("manager.return_delivery.transact", {
         "schema_version": RETURN_DELIVERY_TRANSACTION,
         "runtime_root": str(root.resolve()), "request_id": path.parent.name,
-        "result_key": path.stem, "phase": phase, "now": now.isoformat(),
+        "result_key": path.stem, "phase": phase, "now": host["clock"]().isoformat(),
         "exact": exact, "facts": observed, **payload,
     }, retry_safe=False)
     if (not isinstance(result, dict) or result.get("schema_version") != RETURN_DELIVERY_TRANSACTION
@@ -539,13 +539,13 @@ def _belongs_to_chat_host(root, store, path):
 
 
 def _pending_return_paths(host, paths):
-    root, now, exact, cancelled = (host[key] for key in ("root", "now", "exact", "cancelled"))
+    root, scan_at, exact, cancelled = (host[key] for key in ("root", "scan_at", "exact", "cancelled"))
     paths = iter(paths)
     while not cancelled() and (batch := list(islice(paths, 128))):
         candidates = [{"request_id": path.parent.name, "result_key": path.stem} for path in batch]
         selected = effect_runtime_result("manager.return_delivery.transact", {
             "schema_version": RETURN_DELIVERY_TRANSACTION, "phase": "scan",
-            "runtime_root": str(root.resolve()), "now": now.isoformat(), "exact": exact,
+            "runtime_root": str(root.resolve()), "now": scan_at.isoformat(), "exact": exact,
             "candidates": candidates,
         })
         if not isinstance(selected, dict) or selected.get("schema_version") != RETURN_DELIVERY_TRANSACTION:
@@ -561,13 +561,22 @@ def drain(root, registry, store, external_sender, *, now=None, cancelled=lambda:
     """Run the typed return transaction with the existing Chat/provider adapters."""
     if cancelled():
         return 0
-    now = now or datetime.now(timezone.utc)
+
+    def clock() -> datetime:
+        return datetime.now(timezone.utc) if now is None else now
+
+    # Keep one eligibility instant for the scan. The per-return transaction
+    # observes its own time after acquiring the route and source guards.
+    scan_at = clock()
     try:
         exact = load_project_registry(registry).get("profile_id") == SOURCE_SESSION_PROFILE_ID
     except (OSError, ValueError, TypeError):
         exact = False
     processed = 0
-    host = {"root": root, "registry": registry, "store": store, "now": now, "exact": exact, "cancelled": cancelled}
+    host = {
+        "root": root, "registry": registry, "store": store,
+        "scan_at": scan_at, "clock": clock, "exact": exact, "cancelled": cancelled,
+    }
     paths = iter_result_paths(_root(root) / "replies")
     for path in _pending_return_paths(host, paths):
         progress()
diff --git a/tests/test_manager_context_roundtrip.py b/tests/test_manager_context_roundtrip.py
index 7dce9ea044..5f5d533f12 100644
--- a/tests/test_manager_context_roundtrip.py
+++ b/tests/test_manager_context_roundtrip.py
@@ -925,7 +925,18 @@ def verify(self, *_):
     assert sender.sends == 1 and path.read_bytes() == saved
 
 
-def test_known_provider_locator_is_verified_after_restart_without_resend(flow):
+def test_known_provider_locator_is_verified_after_restart_without_resend(flow, monkeypatch):
+    from loopx.capabilities.manager_context import roundtrip
+
+    class Clock:
+        instant = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
+
+        @classmethod
+        def now(cls, tz):
+            assert tz is timezone.utc
+            return cls.instant
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(roundtrip, "datetime", Clock)
     root, registry, store, create = flow
     session, _, receipt = create(True)
     rid = receipt["request_id"]
@@ -960,6 +971,7 @@ def send_with_attempt(self, route, session, turn, text, record_attempt):
         def verify(self, route, session, turn, text, attempt):
             self.verify_calls += 1
             assert attempt["message_ref"] == "om_provider_reply"
+            Clock.instant += timedelta(seconds=7)
             return {
                 "ok": True,
                 "verification_performed": True,
@@ -982,6 +994,7 @@ def verify(self, route, session, turn, text, attempt):
     drain(root, registry, ChatSessionStore(root), transport)
     recovered = reply_status(root, receipt)[0]
     assert recovered["status"] == "delivered"
+    assert datetime.fromisoformat(recovered["delivered_at"]) == Clock.instant
     assert recovered["verification"] == "reconciled_after_restart"
     assert transport.send_calls == 1
     assert transport.verify_calls == 1