diff --git a/cli/real_clearance_composition.py b/cli/real_clearance_composition.py
index cfd4e97..7faa40e 100644
--- a/cli/real_clearance_composition.py
+++ b/cli/real_clearance_composition.py
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@
 _CLEANUP_TIMEOUT_S: float = 5.0
 _STOP_TIMEOUT_S: float = 3.0
 _DIAGNOSTIC_READ_TIMEOUT_S: float = 10.0
+_SW_KEEPALIVE_POLL_INTERVAL_S: float = 0.5
+_SW_KEEPALIVE_MAX_RETRIES: int = 6
 
 _logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -244,6 +246,16 @@ def make_sw_keepalive_checker(
     loop throughout the session.
     """
 
+    async def _poll() -> bool | None:
+        attempts = _SW_KEEPALIVE_MAX_RETRIES + 1
+        for i in range(attempts):
+            result: bool | None = await engine.read_extension_alarm("swKeepalive")
+            if result is True or result is None:
+                return result
+            if i < attempts - 1:
+                await asyncio.sleep(_SW_KEEPALIVE_POLL_INTERVAL_S)
+        return False
+
     def _check() -> bool | None:
         _is_closed = loop.is_closed()
         _is_running = loop.is_running()
@@ -255,7 +267,7 @@ def _check() -> bool | None:
         try:
             result: bool | None = loop.run_until_complete(
                 asyncio.wait_for(
-                    engine.read_extension_alarm("swKeepalive"),
+                    _poll(),
                     timeout=_DIAGNOSTIC_READ_TIMEOUT_S,
                 )
             )
diff --git a/tests/unit/cli/test_real_clearance_composition.py b/tests/unit/cli/test_real_clearance_composition.py
index 50abe4e..26ca650 100644
--- a/tests/unit/cli/test_real_clearance_composition.py
+++ b/tests/unit/cli/test_real_clearance_composition.py
@@ -808,6 +808,72 @@ def test_callable_delegates_to_engine_false(self) -> None:
 
         assert result is False
 
+    def test_false_is_retried_and_resolves_true(self) -> None:
+        """False on first read is retried; True on subsequent read returns True."""
+        from cli.real_clearance_composition import make_sw_keepalive_checker
+
+        engine = MagicMock()
+        engine.read_extension_alarm = AsyncMock(side_effect=[False, True])
+        loop = asyncio.new_event_loop()
+        try:
+            checker = make_sw_keepalive_checker(engine=engine, loop=loop)
+            result = checker()
+        finally:
+            loop.close()
+
+        assert result is True
+        assert engine.read_extension_alarm.call_count == 2
+
+    def test_false_repeatedly_returns_false_after_max_attempts(self) -> None:
+        """Persistent False across all attempts returns False (not indefinite loop)."""
+        from cli.real_clearance_composition import (
+            _SW_KEEPALIVE_MAX_RETRIES,
+            make_sw_keepalive_checker,
+        )
+
+        engine = MagicMock()
+        engine.read_extension_alarm = AsyncMock(return_value=False)
+        loop = asyncio.new_event_loop()
+        try:
+            checker = make_sw_keepalive_checker(engine=engine, loop=loop)
+            result = checker()
+        finally:
+            loop.close()
+
+        assert result is False
+        assert engine.read_extension_alarm.call_count == _SW_KEEPALIVE_MAX_RETRIES + 1
+
+    def test_none_not_retried_returns_none(self) -> None:
+        """None (SW unreachable) is not retried — returned immediately."""
+        from cli.real_clearance_composition import make_sw_keepalive_checker
+
+        engine = MagicMock()
+        engine.read_extension_alarm = AsyncMock(return_value=None)
+        loop = asyncio.new_event_loop()
+        try:
+            checker = make_sw_keepalive_checker(engine=engine, loop=loop)
+            result = checker()
+        finally:
+            loop.close()
+
+        assert result is None
+        assert engine.read_extension_alarm.call_count == 1
+
+    def test_false_then_none_returns_none(self) -> None:
+        """If alarm disappears mid-retry (False then None), returns None."""
+        from cli.real_clearance_composition import make_sw_keepalive_checker
+
+        engine = MagicMock()
+        engine.read_extension_alarm = AsyncMock(side_effect=[False, None])
+        loop = asyncio.new_event_loop()
+        try:
+            checker = make_sw_keepalive_checker(engine=engine, loop=loop)
+            result = checker()
+        finally:
+            loop.close()
+
+        assert result is None
+
 
 def test_injection_domain_consistent_with_navigation_url() -> None:
     """allowed_clearance_domain must equal the hostname of the navigation target URL.