diff --git a/apps/proxy/ts_proxy/server.py b/apps/proxy/ts_proxy/server.py
index cca827a9..61dac1e3 100644
--- a/apps/proxy/ts_proxy/server.py
+++ b/apps/proxy/ts_proxy/server.py
@@ -703,9 +703,10 @@ class ProxyServer:
                 state = metadata.get(b'state', b'unknown').decode('utf-8')
                 owner = metadata.get(b'owner', b'').decode('utf-8')
 
-                # States that indicate the channel is running properly
+                # States that indicate the channel is running properly or shutting down
                 valid_states = [ChannelState.ACTIVE, ChannelState.WAITING_FOR_CLIENTS,
-                                ChannelState.CONNECTING, ChannelState.BUFFERING, ChannelState.INITIALIZING]
+                                ChannelState.CONNECTING, ChannelState.BUFFERING, ChannelState.INITIALIZING,
+                                ChannelState.STOPPING]
 
                 # If the channel is in a valid state, check if the owner is still active
                 if state in valid_states:
@@ -720,10 +721,10 @@ class ProxyServer:
                         logger.warning(f"Detected zombie channel {channel_id} - owner {owner} is no longer active")
                         self._clean_zombie_channel(channel_id, metadata)
                         return False
-                elif state in [ChannelState.STOPPING, ChannelState.STOPPED, ChannelState.ERROR]:
-                    # These states indicate the channel should be reinitialized
-                    logger.info(f"Channel {channel_id} exists but in terminal state: {state}")
-                    return True
+                elif state in [ChannelState.STOPPED, ChannelState.ERROR]:
+                    # These terminal states indicate the channel should be cleaned up and reinitialized
+                    logger.info(f"Channel {channel_id} in terminal state {state} - returning False to trigger cleanup")
+                    return False
                 else:
                     # Unknown or initializing state, check how long it's been in this state
                     if b'state_changed_at' in metadata:
diff --git a/apps/proxy/ts_proxy/views.py b/apps/proxy/ts_proxy/views.py
index c1b803ab..91f254a7 100644
--- a/apps/proxy/ts_proxy/views.py
+++ b/apps/proxy/ts_proxy/views.py
@@ -84,11 +84,18 @@ def stream_ts(request, channel_id):
                 if state_field in metadata:
                     channel_state = metadata[state_field].decode("utf-8")
 
-                    if channel_state:
-                        # Channel is being initialized or already active - no need for reinitialization
+                    # Active/running states - channel is operational, don't reinitialize
+                    if channel_state in [
+                        ChannelState.ACTIVE,
+                        ChannelState.WAITING_FOR_CLIENTS,
+                        ChannelState.BUFFERING,
+                        ChannelState.INITIALIZING,
+                        ChannelState.CONNECTING,
+                        ChannelState.STOPPING,
+                    ]:
                         needs_initialization = False
                         logger.debug(
-                            f"[{client_id}] Channel {channel_id} already in state {channel_state}, skipping initialization"
+                            f"[{client_id}] Channel {channel_id} in state {channel_state}, skipping initialization"
                         )
 
                         # Special handling for initializing/connecting states
@@ -98,19 +105,34 @@ def stream_ts(request, channel_id):
                         ]:
                             channel_initializing = True
                             logger.debug(
-                                f"[{client_id}] Channel {channel_id} is still initializing, client will wait for completion"
+                                f"[{client_id}] Channel {channel_id} is still initializing, client will wait"
                             )
+                    # Terminal states - channel needs cleanup before reinitialization
+                    elif channel_state in [
+                        ChannelState.ERROR,
+                        ChannelState.STOPPED,
+                    ]:
+                        needs_initialization = True
+                        logger.info(
+                            f"[{client_id}] Channel {channel_id} in terminal state {channel_state}, will reinitialize"
+                        )
+                    # Unknown/empty state - check if owner is alive
                     else:
-                        # Only check for owner if channel is in a valid state
                         owner_field = ChannelMetadataField.OWNER.encode("utf-8")
                         if owner_field in metadata:
                             owner = metadata[owner_field].decode("utf-8")
                             owner_heartbeat_key = f"ts_proxy:worker:{owner}:heartbeat"
                             if proxy_server.redis_client.exists(owner_heartbeat_key):
-                                # Owner is still active, so we don't need to reinitialize
+                                # Owner is still active with unknown state - don't reinitialize
                                 needs_initialization = False
                                 logger.debug(
-                                    f"[{client_id}] Channel {channel_id} has active owner {owner}"
+                                    f"[{client_id}] Channel {channel_id} has active owner {owner}, skipping init"
+                                )
+                            else:
+                                # Owner dead - needs reinitialization
+                                needs_initialization = True
+                                logger.warning(
+                                    f"[{client_id}] Channel {channel_id} owner {owner} is dead, will reinitialize"
                                 )
 
         # Start initialization if needed