diff --git a/.changeset/t13256-idle-no-pingpong.md b/.changeset/t13256-idle-no-pingpong.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8f1703180f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/t13256-idle-no-pingpong.md
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+---
+id: t13256-idle-no-pingpong
+tasks: [T13256]
+kind: test
+summary: "Two idle replicas syncing in a loop exchange no segments after the first round (journal spec §3.5 R7-7)"
+---
+
+A new two-device test runs on the fake server. Device B joins the journal device A started, and each device makes one real
+write. One round of `cleo cloud sync` carries both writes across. Then four more rounds with no writes run on each device.
+
+- No device sends a segment in those rounds, and the stream's segment count does not move.
+- Applying the other device's segment never makes a device seal or send one back: the apply's echo is subtracted (§3.3).
+- Both stores end with the same rows.
+
+This test guards the R7-7 rule for when receive watermarks land: a watermark rides on an ordinary segment and is never sent
+alone after a pull.
diff --git a/packages/core/src/cloud/__tests__/nexus-vault.test.ts b/packages/core/src/cloud/__tests__/nexus-vault.test.ts
index 8b8d067d9c..9bdb6e1a8d 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/cloud/__tests__/nexus-vault.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/cloud/__tests__/nexus-vault.test.ts
@@ -5787,6 +5787,57 @@ describe('sync enable push: the genesis checkpoint (T12343 S4-1b)', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it('two idle replicas syncing in a loop exchange no segments after the first round (T13256, §3.5 R7-7)', async () => {
+    const { m: a, dbPath: aDb } = await journalMachine();
+    await on(a, () => enableSyncPush(vopts(a, { allowUnreleased: true })));
+    await on(a, async () => {
+      setSyncFlag(await storeOf(aDb), 'sync.pull', true, { allowUnreleased: true });
+    });
+    const { b, bDb } = await restoredJoiner();
+    expect((await on(b, () => enableSyncPush(vopts(b, { allowUnreleased: true })))).status).toBe(
+      'joined',
+    );
+    const sync = async (m: Machine) => {
+      const r = await on(m, () => cloudSync(vopts(m, { scope: 'project', allowUnreleased: true })));
+      expect(r.streams[0]?.status, `${m.name}: ${r.streams[0]?.refused}`).toBe('synced');
+      return r.streams[0];
+    };
+    // One real write each, then a first round carries them both ways.
+    await on(a, async () => {
+      (await storeOf(aDb)).exec("UPDATE tasks_tasks SET title = 'from A' WHERE id = 'T1'");
+    });
+    await on(b, async () => {
+      (await storeOf(bDb)).exec("UPDATE tasks_tasks SET title = 'from B' WHERE id = 'T2'");
+    });
+    await sync(a);
+    await sync(b);
+    await sync(a);
+    const settled = fake.stream(STREAM).segments.length;
+    expect(settled).toBe(2);
+    // Idle from here on: applying the other's segment never makes either side send one back.
+    for (let round = 0; round < 4; round++) {
+      const ra = await sync(a);
+      const rb = await sync(b);
+      // Nothing sealed (no echo re-sealed and netted away), sent or received.
+      for (const [who, r] of [
+        ['A', ra],
+        ['B', rb],
+      ] as const) {
+        expect(r?.sealed, `round ${round}: ${who} sealed`).toBe(0);
+        expect(r?.sent, `round ${round}: ${who} sent`).toBe(0);
+        expect(r?.received, `round ${round}: ${who} received`).toBe(0);
+      }
+    }
+    expect(fake.stream(STREAM).segments).toHaveLength(settled);
+    const titles = "SELECT id, title FROM tasks_tasks WHERE id IN ('T1', 'T2') ORDER BY id";
+    const onA = await on(a, async () => (await storeOf(aDb)).prepare(titles).all());
+    expect(await on(b, async () => (await storeOf(bDb)).prepare(titles).all())).toEqual(onA);
+    expect(onA).toEqual([
+      { id: 'T1', title: 'from A' },
+      { id: 'T2', title: 'from B' },
+    ]);
+  });
+
   it('a joined store with push off syncs pull-only: synced, the push leg skipped (T13312)', async () => {
     const { m: a, dbPath: aDb } = await journalMachine();
     await on(a, () => enableSyncPush(vopts(a, { allowUnreleased: true })));