diff --git a/scripts/session-init.js b/scripts/session-init.js
index 2412ca1b..035f9561 100755
--- a/scripts/session-init.js
+++ b/scripts/session-init.js
@@ -286,9 +286,16 @@ async function main() {
 
   // Check for post-compaction restart marker
   const markerPath = path.join(__dirname, '../.claude/session-complete.marker');
+  let explicitRecoveryDoc = null;  // Store recovery_doc before deleting marker (inst_083)
+
   if (fs.existsSync(markerPath)) {
     try {
       const marker = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(markerPath, 'utf8'));
+
+      // Store recovery_doc BEFORE deleting marker (inst_083: Ensure correct handoff)
+      if (marker.recovery_doc) {
+        explicitRecoveryDoc = marker.recovery_doc;
+      }
       console.log('');
       log('═'.repeat(70), 'yellow');
       warning('⚠️  PREVIOUS SESSION ENDED WITH CLOSEDOWN');
@@ -329,14 +336,38 @@ async function main() {
   // Check for handoff documents (inst_083: Auto-inject handoff context)
   section('1a. Previous Session Handoff Detection');
   try {
-    const handoffFiles = fs.readdirSync(path.join(__dirname, '..'))
-      .filter(f => f.startsWith('SESSION_CLOSEDOWN_') && f.endsWith('.md'))
-      .sort()
-      .reverse();
+    // Prefer explicit recovery_doc from marker, fall back to alphabetical sort
+    let latestHandoff = null;
+    let handoffPath = null;
 
-    if (handoffFiles.length > 0) {
-      const latestHandoff = handoffFiles[0];
-      const handoffPath = path.join(__dirname, '..', latestHandoff);
+    if (explicitRecoveryDoc) {
+      // Use explicit recovery doc from compaction marker (inst_083: Reliable handoff)
+      const explicitPath = path.join(__dirname, '..', explicitRecoveryDoc);
+      if (fs.existsSync(explicitPath)) {
+        latestHandoff = explicitRecoveryDoc;
+        handoffPath = explicitPath;
+        log(`  Using explicit recovery doc from marker: ${explicitRecoveryDoc}`, 'cyan');
+      } else {
+        warning(`  Marker specified ${explicitRecoveryDoc} but file not found`);
+        warning(`  Falling back to alphabetical sort`);
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Fall back to alphabetical sort if no explicit recovery doc
+    if (!latestHandoff) {
+      const handoffFiles = fs.readdirSync(path.join(__dirname, '..'))
+        .filter(f => f.startsWith('SESSION_CLOSEDOWN_') && f.endsWith('.md'))
+        .sort()
+        .reverse();
+
+      if (handoffFiles.length > 0) {
+        latestHandoff = handoffFiles[0];
+        handoffPath = path.join(__dirname, '..', latestHandoff);
+        log(`  Using alphabetical fallback: ${latestHandoff}`, 'cyan');
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (latestHandoff && handoffPath) {
       const handoffContent = fs.readFileSync(handoffPath, 'utf8');
 
       console.log('');