diff --git a/keel/agent.py b/keel/agent.py
index 44fb0c1a..6bd1dd38 100644
--- a/keel/agent.py
+++ b/keel/agent.py
@@ -377,6 +377,23 @@ def _seed_paper_account_if_needed(
         paper_trader.seed_cash(seed, now_ts)
 
 
+def _clear_live_mode_if_needed(repo: Repository) -> None:
+    """Symmetric to `_seed_paper_account_if_needed`'s mode clear, for the live side.
+
+    On a paper->live flip, clear the shared HWM/history/drawdown scalars before this cycle's
+    update_drawdown, so a synthetic paper HWM never poisons live equity. Called unconditionally
+    at the top of the live branch -- BEFORE the broker-equity read -- so an unreadable broker on
+    the first live cycle can't skip the clear and let stale paper scalars survive an extra cycle.
+    Gated on the prior mode being "paper" so a fresh/continuing live run leaves real scalars intact.
+    """
+    if repo.get_state("equity_state_mode") == "paper":
+        repo.set_state("equity_high_water_mark", None)
+        repo.set_state("drawdown_total_pct", Decimal("0"))
+        repo.set_state("drawdown_weekly_pct", Decimal("0"))
+        repo.set_state("equity_history", [])
+    repo.set_state("equity_state_mode", "live")
+
+
 def _paper_resolve_bars(
     trader: PaperTrader,
     product_id: str,
@@ -768,6 +785,11 @@ def run_once(
                     repo.set_state("paper_last_contribution_month", month_start)
             equity_now = paper_trader.equity(latest_price_by_product)
         else:
+            # Mirrors `_seed_paper_account_if_needed`'s clear: unconditional, at the top of the
+            # branch, BEFORE the broker-equity read, so an unreadable broker on the first live
+            # cycle after a paper->live flip can't skip the clear (see
+            # `_clear_live_mode_if_needed`'s docstring).
+            _clear_live_mode_if_needed(repo)
             equity_now = _mark_to_market_equity(
                 repo, broker, products, latest_price_by_product, config.quote_currency
             )
@@ -786,22 +808,9 @@ def run_once(
                 paper=paper_trader is not None,
             )
         else:
-            # The symmetric live-side mode stamp/clear -- only right before a REAL update, so an
-            # unreadable broker (equity_now is None, handled above) never gets to zero out the
-            # previous cycle's scalars on the strength of a stamp alone.
-            # TODO(pre-live-arming): asymmetric with the paper-side clear above -- this guards on
-            # `!= "live"` (fires unless already live) rather than `== "paper"` (fires only on an
-            # actual paper->live flip). On a paper->live flip whose first live cycle reads an
-            # unreadable broker, `equity_now` is None, this whole branch is skipped, and stale
-            # paper drawdown scalars survive one extra cycle before self-healing on the next
-            # readable cycle. Fix before arming live execution: gate this clear on `== "paper"`
-            # and hoist it above the broker-equity read so it fires unconditionally on the flip.
-            if paper_trader is None and repo.get_state("equity_state_mode") != "live":
-                repo.set_state("equity_high_water_mark", None)
-                repo.set_state("drawdown_total_pct", Decimal("0"))
-                repo.set_state("drawdown_weekly_pct", Decimal("0"))
-                repo.set_state("equity_history", [])
-                repo.set_state("equity_state_mode", "live")
+            # The live-side mode clear now happens up-front in the live branch above (see
+            # `_clear_live_mode_if_needed`), symmetrically with the paper-side clear in
+            # `_seed_paper_account_if_needed`. Nothing left to stamp/clear here.
             equity_mod.update_drawdown(repo, equity=equity_now, now_ts=now_ts)
 
             if paper_trader is not None:
diff --git a/tests/test_agent.py b/tests/test_agent.py
index cda07134..634110b7 100644
--- a/tests/test_agent.py
+++ b/tests/test_agent.py
@@ -636,6 +636,32 @@ def get_accounts(self) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
     assert repo.get_state("drawdown_total_pct") is None
 
 
+def test_paper_to_live_flip_clears_stale_scalars_even_when_broker_unreadable(
+    repo: Repository,
+) -> None:
+    """Pre-live-arming fix: a paper->live flip whose FIRST live cycle reads an unreadable broker
+    must still clear the stale paper drawdown scalars, not let them survive a cycle. Regression
+    for the asymmetric live-side mode clear (was gated inside the equity-readable branch)."""
+    repo.set_state("equity_state_mode", "paper")
+    repo.set_state("equity_high_water_mark", Decimal("999999"))
+    repo.set_state("drawdown_total_pct", Decimal("0.9"))
+    repo.set_state("drawdown_weekly_pct", Decimal("0.5"))
+
+    class _BrokenAccountsBroker(FakeBroker):
+        def get_accounts(self) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
+            raise RuntimeError("broker down")
+
+    series = {(PRODUCT, Granularity.ONE_DAY): [_candle(1_000 + i * 86_400) for i in range(30)]}
+    broker = _BrokenAccountsBroker(series=series)
+
+    run_once(broker, repo, _config(), now_ts=1_000 + 29 * 86_400)
+
+    assert repo.get_state("equity_state_mode") == "live"
+    assert repo.get_state("equity_high_water_mark") is None
+    assert repo.get_state("drawdown_total_pct") == Decimal("0")
+    assert repo.get_state("drawdown_weekly_pct") == Decimal("0")
+
+
 def test_run_once_computes_a_real_equity_that_moves_rail_11(repo: Repository) -> None:
     """Pins the VALUE, not just the presence, of the scalars.