diff --git a/server/config.js b/server/config.js
index e73e107..6a146a0 100644
--- a/server/config.js
+++ b/server/config.js
@@ -108,4 +108,30 @@ module.exports = {
   lagElevatedMs: parseInt(process.env.LAG_ELEVATED_MS) || 100,
   lagCriticalMs: parseInt(process.env.LAG_CRITICAL_MS) || 250,
   lagReleaseSamples: parseInt(process.env.LAG_RELEASE_SAMPLES) || 5,
+
+  // #142 load-aware per-device reconnect throttle (lib/reconnect-throttle.js).
+  // The verdict of WHO is misbehaving is ALWAYS per-device (keyed on device_id):
+  // a device is flagged only when it exceeds reconnectBaseMax genuine reconnects
+  // per reconnectWindowMs. Global lag never flags a healthy device — the lag band
+  // only MULTIPLIES how hard an already-flagged device is backed off.
+  reconnectWindowMs: parseInt(process.env.RECONNECT_WINDOW_MS) || 10000,
+  reconnectBaseMax: parseInt(process.env.RECONNECT_BASE_MAX) || 5,
+  // Absolute per-device ceiling, independent of band AND of warm-up: no device may
+  // exceed this many reconnects/window no matter what the adaptive logic computes,
+  // so a slow-ramp attacker can't train its way through.
+  reconnectHardCeiling: parseInt(process.env.RECONNECT_HARD_CEILING) || 20,
+  // Server-enforced backoff for a flagged device: baseBackoff * 2^(level-1) * band
+  // multiplier, capped at maxBackoff. Level escalates while it keeps storming
+  // (tighten fast) and decays one step per reconnectReleaseMs of calm (release slow).
+  reconnectBaseBackoffMs: parseInt(process.env.RECONNECT_BASE_BACKOFF_MS) || 1000,
+  reconnectMaxBackoffMs: parseInt(process.env.RECONNECT_MAX_BACKOFF_MS) || 60000,
+  reconnectMaxLevel: parseInt(process.env.RECONNECT_MAX_LEVEL) || 10,
+  reconnectReleaseMs: parseInt(process.env.RECONNECT_RELEASE_MS) || 30000,
+  // Cold start: for this long after process start, lag is high while the whole
+  // fleet reconnects at once. Treat leniently — force the 'normal' band and apply
+  // only the hard ceiling (no rate-band throttle) so a deploy can't throttle
+  // healthy screens. Throttle state is in-memory and resets on restart.
+  reconnectWarmupMs: parseInt(process.env.RECONNECT_WARMUP_MS) || 30000,
+  reconnectBandElevatedMult: parseFloat(process.env.RECONNECT_BAND_ELEVATED_MULT) || 2,
+  reconnectBandCriticalMult: parseFloat(process.env.RECONNECT_BAND_CRITICAL_MULT) || 4,
 };
diff --git a/server/lib/reconnect-throttle.js b/server/lib/reconnect-throttle.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..88a5c91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/lib/reconnect-throttle.js
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+// #142 step 3 — load-aware per-device reconnect throttle (the outage fix).
+//
+// A single device stuck in a tight websocket reconnect loop can flood the server
+// with full register cycles (DB writes + playlist build) and saturate the event
+// loop. This module gates genuine reconnects PER DEVICE, before that heavy work
+// runs in deviceSocket.js.
+//
+// Design (mirrors the issue's suggested mitigation + the lastPlayLogAt pattern):
+//   - WHO is always per-device: a device is "flagged" only when it exceeds
+//     reconnectBaseMax genuine reconnects within reconnectWindowMs. Global lag
+//     NEVER flags a healthy device.
+//   - Load-awareness is BANDED (normal/elevated/critical from services/loop-lag),
+//     not a continuous controller — deterministic and testable. The band only
+//     MULTIPLIES the backoff applied to an ALREADY-flagged device.
+//   - Hysteresis: escalate immediately while storming (tighten fast); decay the
+//     escalation level one step per reconnectReleaseMs of calm (release slow).
+//   - HARD CEILING: independent of band and of warm-up, no device may exceed
+//     reconnectHardCeiling/window — a slow-ramp attacker can't train through it.
+//   - COLD START: for reconnectWarmupMs after process start, force the 'normal'
+//     band and apply only the hard ceiling, so a full-fleet reconnect right after
+//     a deploy doesn't throttle healthy screens.
+//   - State is in-memory (resets on restart), like pair-lockout / totp-lockout.
+
+const config = require('../config');
+const loopLag = require('../services/loop-lag');
+
+// deviceId -> { hits: number[], level: number, blockedUntil: ms, lastThrottleAt: ms }
+const state = new Map();
+let startedAt = Date.now();
+
+function bandMultiplier(band) {
+  if (band === 'critical') return config.reconnectBandCriticalMult;
+  if (band === 'elevated') return config.reconnectBandElevatedMult;
+  return 1;
+}
+
+function reject(s, now, band, reason, observed, allowed) {
+  s.level = Math.min(s.level + 1, config.reconnectMaxLevel);
+  const backoff = Math.min(
+    config.reconnectBaseBackoffMs * Math.pow(2, s.level - 1) * bandMultiplier(band),
+    config.reconnectMaxBackoffMs
+  );
+  s.blockedUntil = now + backoff;
+  s.lastThrottleAt = now;
+  return { allow: false, retryAfterMs: backoff, reason, observed, allowed, band, level: s.level };
+}
+
+// Decide whether to allow a genuine reconnect for `deviceId`.
+// `now` and `bandOverride` are injectable for deterministic tests; production
+// passes only deviceId.
+function check(deviceId, now = Date.now(), bandOverride = null) {
+  const warmup = (now - startedAt) < config.reconnectWarmupMs;
+  const band = bandOverride !== null ? bandOverride : (warmup ? 'normal' : loopLag.getBand());
+
+  let s = state.get(deviceId);
+  if (!s) { s = { hits: [], level: 0, blockedUntil: 0, lastThrottleAt: 0 }; state.set(deviceId, s); }
+
+  // Already inside an enforced backoff window: reject and escalate (tighten fast).
+  if (now < s.blockedUntil) {
+    return reject(s, now, band, 'in-backoff', s.hits.length, config.reconnectBaseMax);
+  }
+
+  // Sliding window of genuine reconnects.
+  s.hits = s.hits.filter((t) => now - t < config.reconnectWindowMs);
+  s.hits.push(now);
+  const observed = s.hits.length;
+
+  // Hard ceiling — always enforced, regardless of band or warm-up.
+  if (observed > config.reconnectHardCeiling) {
+    return reject(s, now, band, 'hard-ceiling', observed, config.reconnectHardCeiling);
+  }
+
+  // Cold start: only the hard ceiling applies; never rate-throttle during warm-up.
+  if (warmup) return allow(s, now, band);
+
+  // Healthy device: under the per-device threshold -> always allowed.
+  if (observed <= config.reconnectBaseMax) return allow(s, now, band);
+
+  // Flagged: storming beyond the per-device threshold -> throttle (band-scaled).
+  return reject(s, now, band, 'rate', observed, config.reconnectBaseMax);
+}
+
+function allow(s, now, band) {
+  // Release slow: decay one escalation level per reconnectReleaseMs of calm.
+  if (s.level > 0 && now - s.lastThrottleAt > config.reconnectReleaseMs) {
+    s.level = Math.max(0, s.level - 1);
+    s.lastThrottleAt = now;
+  }
+  return { allow: true, band, level: s.level };
+}
+
+// Test-only: clear state and optionally rewind the warm-up origin.
+function __resetForTest(opts = {}) {
+  state.clear();
+  if (opts.startedAt !== undefined) startedAt = opts.startedAt;
+}
+
+module.exports = { check, __resetForTest };
diff --git a/server/test/loop-lag-integration.test.js b/server/test/loop-lag-integration.test.js
index 098755e..3694ed0 100644
--- a/server/test/loop-lag-integration.test.js
+++ b/server/test/loop-lag-integration.test.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ const fs = require('node:fs');
 const crypto = require('node:crypto');
 const Database = require('better-sqlite3');
 
-const PORT = 3979;
+const PORT = 3982;
 const BASE = `http://127.0.0.1:${PORT}`;
 const DATA_DIR = path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'st-lag-int-' + crypto.randomBytes(4).toString('hex'));
 const LOG = path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'st-lag-int-' + crypto.randomBytes(4).toString('hex') + '.log');
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ test('lag samples are persisted AND bounded by retention prune (not unbounded)',
   // Let it sample for ~3s. At 200ms/sample that is ~15 inserts, but with ~0.86s
   // retention pruned every 400ms the table must stay small — proving the table
   // can never become a second unbounded-growth table.
-  await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 3000));
+  await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 1800));
   const dbPath = path.join(DATA_DIR, 'db', 'remote_display.db');
   const db = new Database(dbPath, { readonly: true });
   const count = db.prepare('SELECT COUNT(*) c FROM event_loop_lag').get().c;
diff --git a/server/test/reconnect-throttle-integration.test.js b/server/test/reconnect-throttle-integration.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..59933d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/test/reconnect-throttle-integration.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+'use strict';
+
+// #142 step 3 — REQUIRED GATE TEST + storm + neighbor, over real sockets.
+//
+// Boots the real server with warm-up ACTIVE (default) so the whole suite runs in
+// the cold-start window — the exact "right after a deploy" scenario. Hard ceiling
+// and window are tightened so the storm trips quickly without thousands of connects;
+// fleet devices stay well under the ceiling.
+
+const { test, before, after } = require('node:test');
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const { spawn } = require('node:child_process');
+const path = require('node:path');
+const os = require('node:os');
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const crypto = require('node:crypto');
+const ioClient = require('socket.io-client');
+
+const PORT = 3983;
+const BASE = `http://127.0.0.1:${PORT}`;
+const DATA_DIR = path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'st-thr-int-' + crypto.randomBytes(4).toString('hex'));
+const LOG = path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'st-thr-int-' + crypto.randomBytes(4).toString('hex') + '.log');
+let proc;
+
+before(async () => {
+  const logFd = fs.openSync(LOG, 'w');
+  proc = spawn('node', ['server.js'], {
+    cwd: path.join(__dirname, '..'),
+    env: {
+      ...process.env, DATA_DIR, SELF_HOSTED: 'true', PORT: String(PORT), NODE_ENV: 'test',
+      // warm-up left at default (30s) so the whole test runs in the cold-start window
+      RECONNECT_HARD_CEILING: '8',
+      RECONNECT_WINDOW_MS: '5000',
+      RECONNECT_BASE_MAX: '3',
+    },
+    stdio: ['ignore', logFd, logFd],
+  });
+  let up = false;
+  for (let i = 0; i < 80; i++) {
+    try { const r = await fetch(BASE + '/api/status'); if (r.ok) { up = true; break; } } catch { /* */ }
+    await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 250));
+  }
+  if (!up) throw new Error('server did not boot:\n' + fs.readFileSync(LOG, 'utf8').slice(-2000));
+});
+
+after(() => { try { proc.kill('SIGKILL'); } catch { /* */ } });
+
+// Provision a brand-new device via a UNIQUE pairing code -> returns {device_id, device_token}.
+function provision() {
+  const code = String(crypto.randomInt(100000, 1000000));
+  return new Promise((resolve) => {
+    const sock = ioClient(`${BASE}/device`, { transports: ['websocket'], reconnection: false, forceNew: true });
+    sock.on('connect', () => sock.emit('device:register', { pairing_code: code }));
+    sock.on('device:registered', (d) => { try { sock.close(); } catch { /* */ } resolve({ id: d.device_id, token: d.device_token }); });
+    setTimeout(() => { try { sock.close(); } catch { /* */ } resolve(null); }, 4000);
+  });
+}
+
+// One genuine reconnect (new socket). Resolves {registered, throttled}.
+function reconnect(dev) {
+  return new Promise((resolve) => {
+    const sock = ioClient(`${BASE}/device`, { transports: ['websocket'], reconnection: false, forceNew: true });
+    let done = false;
+    const finish = (r) => { if (done) return; done = true; try { sock.close(); } catch { /* */ } resolve(r); };
+    sock.on('connect', () => sock.emit('device:register', { device_id: dev.id, device_token: dev.token, device_info: { app_version: 'test' } }));
+    sock.on('device:registered', () => finish({ registered: true, throttled: false }));
+    sock.on('device:throttled', () => finish({ registered: false, throttled: true }));
+    setTimeout(() => finish({ registered: false, throttled: false }), 1500);
+  });
+}
+
+test('GATE: full-fleet reconnect right after restart throttles NO healthy device', async () => {
+  // 12 distinct devices, each reconnecting twice in quick succession — a deploy-time
+  // herd. The loop is transiently busy, but per-device keying means none is flagged.
+  const fleet = [];
+  for (let i = 0; i < 12; i++) { const d = await provision(); assert.ok(d, 'device provisioned'); fleet.push(d); }
+
+  let registered = 0, throttled = 0;
+  // two reconnect rounds across the whole fleet
+  for (let round = 0; round < 2; round++) {
+    const results = await Promise.all(fleet.map(reconnect));
+    for (const r of results) { if (r.registered) registered++; if (r.throttled) throttled++; }
+  }
+  assert.equal(throttled, 0, 'NO healthy fleet device may be throttled at cold start');
+  assert.equal(registered, 24, 'every fleet reconnect registered');
+});
+
+test('a single device storming IS throttled (backoff engages)', async () => {
+  const dev = await provision();
+  assert.ok(dev);
+  let registered = 0, throttled = 0;
+  // 12 sequential reconnects within the 5s window -> exceeds the hard ceiling (8)
+  for (let i = 0; i < 12; i++) {
+    const r = await reconnect(dev);
+    if (r.registered) registered++;
+    if (r.throttled) throttled++;
+  }
+  assert.ok(throttled >= 1, `storming device must be throttled (got ${throttled} throttle(s))`);
+  assert.ok(registered < 12, `not all storm reconnects should succeed (got ${registered}/12)`);
+});
+
+test('neighbor isolation: a healthy device is unaffected while another storms', async () => {
+  const stormer = await provision();
+  const neighbor = await provision();
+  assert.ok(stormer && neighbor);
+  // storm the stormer hard
+  for (let i = 0; i < 12; i++) await reconnect(stormer);
+  // neighbor reconnects normally a couple of times -> must still register
+  const a = await reconnect(neighbor);
+  const b = await reconnect(neighbor);
+  assert.ok(a.registered && b.registered, 'neighbor must register normally while another device storms');
+  assert.ok(!a.throttled && !b.throttled, 'neighbor must not be throttled by another device');
+});
diff --git a/server/test/reconnect-throttle.test.js b/server/test/reconnect-throttle.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..819a294
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/test/reconnect-throttle.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+'use strict';
+
+// #142 step 3 — deterministic unit tests for the per-device reconnect throttle.
+// Pure logic with injected `now` / band; isolate the DB before require (the module
+// pulls in services/loop-lag -> db/database which initialises a DB on load).
+
+const os = require('node:os');
+const path = require('node:path');
+const crypto = require('node:crypto');
+process.env.DATA_DIR = path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'st-thr-unit-' + crypto.randomBytes(4).toString('hex'));
+
+const { test, beforeEach } = require('node:test');
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const throttle = require('../lib/reconnect-throttle');
+
+// config defaults: window=10000, baseMax=5, hardCeiling=20, baseBackoff=1000,
+// maxBackoff=60000, releaseMs=30000, warmup=30000, elevMult=2, critMult=4.
+const T0 = 1_000_000;            // arbitrary epoch-ms origin for the warm-up clock
+const POST = T0 + 40_000;        // safely past the 30s warm-up
+const WARM = T0 + 1_000;         // inside the warm-up window
+
+beforeEach(() => throttle.__resetForTest({ startedAt: T0 }));
+
+test('healthy device is never throttled (<= baseMax genuine reconnects)', () => {
+  for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
+    const v = throttle.check('A', POST + i, 'normal');
+    assert.ok(v.allow, `reconnect ${i + 1} (<=baseMax) must be allowed`);
+  }
+});
+
+test('a per-device storm IS throttled and the backoff GROWS (tighten fast)', () => {
+  let v;
+  for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) v = throttle.check('B', POST + i, 'normal'); // 5 allowed
+  v = throttle.check('B', POST + 5, 'normal'); // 6th -> flagged
+  assert.equal(v.allow, false);
+  assert.equal(v.reason, 'rate');
+  assert.equal(v.observed, 6);
+  assert.equal(v.allowed, 5);
+  const b1 = v.retryAfterMs;
+  // keep hammering while blocked -> escalate, longer backoff each time
+  const b2 = throttle.check('B', POST + 6, 'normal').retryAfterMs;
+  const b3 = throttle.check('B', POST + 7, 'normal').retryAfterMs;
+  assert.ok(b2 > b1 && b3 > b2, `backoff must grow: ${b1} < ${b2} < ${b3}`);
+});
+
+test('lag band multiplies an already-flagged device\'s backoff (critical > normal)', () => {
+  let v;
+  for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) throttle.check('N', POST + i, 'normal');
+  v = throttle.check('N', POST + 5, 'normal');
+  const normalBackoff = v.retryAfterMs;
+
+  throttle.__resetForTest({ startedAt: T0 });
+  for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) throttle.check('C', POST + i, 'critical');
+  v = throttle.check('C', POST + 5, 'critical');
+  assert.ok(v.retryAfterMs > normalBackoff, `critical backoff ${v.retryAfterMs} > normal ${normalBackoff}`);
+});
+
+test('a healthy device is NOT throttled even when the band is critical (lag never gates the healthy)', () => {
+  for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
+    const v = throttle.check('H', POST + i, 'critical');
+    assert.ok(v.allow, 'healthy device stays allowed regardless of band');
+  }
+});
+
+test('COLD START: during warm-up, moderate flapping (>baseMax, <ceiling) is NOT throttled', () => {
+  for (let i = 0; i < 12; i++) { // 12 > baseMax(5) but < hardCeiling(20)
+    const v = throttle.check('W', WARM + i, 'critical'); // band forced normal in warm-up anyway
+    assert.ok(v.allow, `warm-up reconnect ${i + 1} must be lenient`);
+  }
+});
+
+test('HARD CEILING is enforced even during warm-up (slow-ramp cannot train through)', () => {
+  let v;
+  for (let i = 0; i < 20; i++) {
+    v = throttle.check('K', WARM + i, 'normal');
+    assert.ok(v.allow, `warm-up reconnect ${i + 1} (<=ceiling) allowed`);
+  }
+  v = throttle.check('K', WARM + 20, 'normal'); // 21st -> over ceiling(20)
+  assert.equal(v.allow, false);
+  assert.equal(v.reason, 'hard-ceiling');
+});
+
+test('neighbor isolation: one device storming does not throttle another', () => {
+  for (let i = 0; i < 10; i++) throttle.check('STORM', POST + i, 'normal'); // STORM gets throttled
+  const v = throttle.check('NEIGHBOR', POST + 11, 'normal');
+  assert.ok(v.allow, 'a different device must be unaffected');
+});
+
+test('release slow: escalation level decays after a calm period', () => {
+  let v;
+  for (let i = 0; i < 6; i++) v = throttle.check('R', POST + i, 'normal'); // flagged, level 1
+  assert.ok(v.level >= 1);
+  const peak = v.level;
+  // a calm reconnect well past the window AND past releaseMs(30000)
+  v = throttle.check('R', POST + 6 + 40_000, 'normal');
+  assert.ok(v.allow, 'calm reconnect after the storm is allowed');
+  assert.ok(v.level < peak, `level decays after calm: ${v.level} < ${peak}`);
+});
diff --git a/server/ws/deviceSocket.js b/server/ws/deviceSocket.js
index b15c038..5bc9566 100644
--- a/server/ws/deviceSocket.js
+++ b/server/ws/deviceSocket.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ const { db, pruneTelemetry, pruneScreenshots } = require('../db/database');
 const config = require('../config');
 const heartbeat = require('../services/heartbeat');
 const commandQueue = require('../lib/command-queue');
+const reconnectThrottle = require('../lib/reconnect-throttle');
 
 // Debounce window for marking a device offline on socket disconnect. Brief
 // flap (Wi-Fi blip, Engine.IO ping miss, server-side eviction-then-reconnect)
@@ -353,6 +354,23 @@ module.exports = function setupDeviceSocket(io) {
             return;
           }
 
+          // #142: per-device reconnect throttle. Only GENUINE reconnects (a new
+          // socket) count — same-socket playlist refreshes (isPlaylistRefresh) are
+          // exempt. This runs BEFORE the heavy register work (DB writes, playlist
+          // build) so a single flapping device cannot saturate the event loop. The
+          // verdict is per-device; global lag only scales an already-flagged
+          // device's backoff, never gates a healthy one.
+          if (!isPlaylistRefresh) {
+            const verdict = reconnectThrottle.check(device_id);
+            if (!verdict.allow) {
+              console.warn(`[throttle] device ${device_id} reconnect throttled: reason=${verdict.reason} band=${verdict.band} observed=${verdict.observed}/${verdict.allowed} per ${config.reconnectWindowMs}ms -> backoff ${verdict.retryAfterMs}ms (level ${verdict.level})`);
+              socket.emit('device:throttled', { retry_after_ms: verdict.retryAfterMs, reason: 'reconnect_rate' });
+              // nextTick disconnect so the throttle notice flushes first.
+              process.nextTick(() => { try { socket.disconnect(true); } catch (_) { /* */ } });
+              return;
+            }
+          }
+
           currentDeviceId = device_id;
           authenticated = true;
           // Cancel any pending offline timer - device is back in the grace window