diff --git a/core/ble/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/ble/BleExceptionClassifier.kt b/core/ble/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/ble/BleExceptionClassifier.kt
index 6f5180b60..d273a0b90 100644
--- a/core/ble/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/ble/BleExceptionClassifier.kt
+++ b/core/ble/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/ble/BleExceptionClassifier.kt
@@ -26,7 +26,9 @@ import com.juul.kable.UnmetRequirementException
 /**
  * Classification of a BLE-layer exception for the transport layer to act on.
  *
- * @property isPermanent `true` if the condition won't resolve without user intervention (e.g. Bluetooth disabled).
+ * @property isPermanent `true` if the condition cannot resolve without explicit user re-selection of the device.
+ *   Currently always `false` — all known BLE exceptions can resolve without user intervention (BT toggling, permission
+ *   grants, transient GATT errors). Reserved for future use.
  * @property gattStatus the platform GATT status code when available (Android-specific).
  * @property message a human-readable description of the failure.
  */
@@ -50,6 +52,9 @@ fun Throwable.classifyBleException(): BleExceptionInfo? = when (this) {
     is GattRequestRejectedException ->
         BleExceptionInfo(isPermanent = false, message = "GATT request rejected (busy)")
     is UnmetRequirementException ->
-        BleExceptionInfo(isPermanent = true, message = message ?: "Bluetooth LE unavailable")
+        // Bluetooth disabled or runtime permission missing. Both can resolve without re-selecting the
+        // device (user re-enables BT, or grants permission). Surface as transient so the transport keeps
+        // retrying; UI can show a hint based on the message.
+        BleExceptionInfo(isPermanent = false, message = message ?: "Bluetooth LE unavailable")
     else -> null
 }
diff --git a/core/network/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/network/radio/BleRadioTransport.kt b/core/network/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/network/radio/BleRadioTransport.kt
index 77114ff55..f2ba25804 100644
--- a/core/network/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/network/radio/BleRadioTransport.kt
+++ b/core/network/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/network/radio/BleRadioTransport.kt
@@ -133,7 +133,11 @@ class BleRadioTransport(
 
     @Volatile private var isFullyConnected = false
     private var connectionJob: Job? = null
-    private val reconnectPolicy = BleReconnectPolicy()
+
+    // Never give up while the user has this device selected. Higher layers (SharedRadioInterfaceService)
+    // own the explicit-disconnect lifecycle and will close() us when the user picks a different device or
+    // toggles the connection off; until then, retry forever with the policy's exponential-backoff cap (60 s).
+    private val reconnectPolicy = BleReconnectPolicy(maxFailures = Int.MAX_VALUE)
 
     private val heartbeatSender =
         HeartbeatSender(
diff --git a/core/network/src/commonTest/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/network/radio/BleRadioTransportTest.kt b/core/network/src/commonTest/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/network/radio/BleRadioTransportTest.kt
index cb5fc9972..ac25a2321 100644
--- a/core/network/src/commonTest/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/network/radio/BleRadioTransportTest.kt
+++ b/core/network/src/commonTest/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/network/radio/BleRadioTransportTest.kt
@@ -131,16 +131,17 @@ class BleRadioTransportTest {
     }
 
     /**
-     * After [BleReconnectPolicy.DEFAULT_MAX_FAILURES] (10) consecutive failures, the reconnect loop should stop and
-     * signal a permanent disconnect. This prevents infinite battery drain when the device is genuinely offline.
+     * Reconnect policy must NEVER give up on its own. The transport is only ever instantiated for the user-selected
+     * device, and explicit-disconnect is owned by the service layer (close()). Even after a sustained failure storm —
+     * well beyond the legacy [BleReconnectPolicy.DEFAULT_MAX_FAILURES] — the transport must keep retrying and must
+     * never call `onDisconnect(isPermanent = true)` from the give-up path.
      *
-     * Time budget for 10 failures with bonded device (no scan): Each iteration = 3s settle + connectAndAwait throw +
-     * backoff Backoffs: 5s, 10s, 20s, 40s, 60s, 60s, 60s, 60s, 60s, (exit at failure 10 before backoff) Total ≈ 10×3s
-     * settle + 5+10+20+40+60+60+60+60+60 = 30 + 375 = 405s ≈ 405_000ms We use a generous 410_000ms to cover any timing
-     * variance.
+     * Time budget for 15 failures with bonded device (no scan): each iteration ≈ 3 s settle + immediate throw +
+     * backoff. Backoffs cap at 60 s after failure 5: 5+10+20+40+60+60+60+60+60+60+60+60+60+60+60 = 735 s, plus 15×3 s
+     * settle = 45 s, total ≈ 780 s. Use 800_000 ms to cover variance.
      */
     @Test
-    fun `reconnect loop stops after DEFAULT_MAX_FAILURES with permanent disconnect`() = runTest {
+    fun `reconnect loop never gives up - no permanent disconnect from policy`() = runTest {
         val device = FakeBleDevice(address = address, name = "Test Device")
         bluetoothRepository.bond(device)
 
@@ -158,11 +159,15 @@ class BleRadioTransportTest {
             )
         bleTransport.start()
 
-        // Advance enough time for all 10 failures to occur.
-        advanceTimeBy(410_001L)
+        // Run well past where the legacy policy (maxFailures = 10) would have given up.
+        advanceTimeBy(800_001L)
 
-        // Should have been called with isPermanent=true at least once (the final call).
-        verify { service.onDisconnect(isPermanent = true, errorMessage = any()) }
+        // Transient disconnects (isPermanent = false) are expected once the failure threshold is hit;
+        // the policy must NEVER signal a permanent disconnect on its own. Only explicit close()
+        // (verified separately by the service layer) may emit isPermanent = true.
+        verify(mode = dev.mokkery.verify.VerifyMode.not) {
+            service.onDisconnect(isPermanent = true, errorMessage = any())
+        }
 
         bleTransport.close()
     }