diff --git a/services/capture/deltacast-bridge/main.c b/services/capture/deltacast-bridge/main.c
index 1e1f76f..829f4bf 100644
--- a/services/capture/deltacast-bridge/main.c
+++ b/services/capture/deltacast-bridge/main.c
@@ -297,39 +297,51 @@ static void *audio_thread(void *arg) {
 static void *video_thread(void *arg) {
     PortState *ps = (PortState *)arg;
 
-    int fd = open(ps->video_fifo, O_WRONLY);
-    if (fd < 0) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "[video:%u] open FIFO failed: %s\n", ps->port, strerror(errno));
-        atomic_store(&g_port_stop[ps->port], 1);
-        return NULL;
-    }
-
-    HANDLE slot = NULL;
+    /* Outer loop: reopen the FIFO writer each time a reader connects.
+     * Mirror the audio thread pattern — EPIPE means the ffmpeg sidecar for
+     * this port died (session stop/restart), NOT a hardware fault.  We reopen
+     * and block until the next recorder start; other ports are unaffected. */
     while (!atomic_load(&g_stop) && !atomic_load(&g_port_stop[ps->port])) {
-        ULONG r = VHD_LockSlotHandle(ps->video_stream, &slot);
-        if (r == VHDERR_NOERROR) {
-            BYTE  *buf = NULL;
-            ULONG  sz  = 0;
-            if (VHD_GetSlotBuffer(slot, VHD_SDI_BT_VIDEO, &buf, &sz) == VHDERR_NOERROR) {
-                if (write_all(fd, buf, sz) < 0) {
-                    /* EPIPE on video: the capture sidecar for this port died.
-                     * Stop only this port's threads — other ports unaffected. */
-                    fprintf(stderr, "[video:%u] EPIPE — stopping port\n", ps->port);
-                    atomic_store(&g_port_stop[ps->port], 1);
-                    VHD_UnlockSlotHandle(slot);
-                    break;
-                }
-            }
-            VHD_UnlockSlotHandle(slot);
-        } else if (r != VHDERR_TIMEOUT) {
-            fprintf(stderr, "[video:%u] VHD_LockSlotHandle error %lu — stopping port\n",
-                    ps->port, r);
-            atomic_store(&g_port_stop[ps->port], 1);
-            break;
+
+        int fd = open(ps->video_fifo, O_WRONLY);
+        if (fd < 0) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "[video:%u] open FIFO failed: %s\n", ps->port, strerror(errno));
+            struct timespec ts = {0, 200000000L};
+            nanosleep(&ts, NULL);
+            continue;
         }
+        fprintf(stderr, "[video:%u] FIFO writer connected\n", ps->port);
+
+        HANDLE slot = NULL;
+        int fatal = 0;
+        while (!atomic_load(&g_stop) && !atomic_load(&g_port_stop[ps->port])) {
+            ULONG r = VHD_LockSlotHandle(ps->video_stream, &slot);
+            if (r == VHDERR_NOERROR) {
+                BYTE  *buf = NULL;
+                ULONG  sz  = 0;
+                if (VHD_GetSlotBuffer(slot, VHD_SDI_BT_VIDEO, &buf, &sz) == VHDERR_NOERROR) {
+                    if (write_all(fd, buf, sz) < 0) {
+                        /* EPIPE: sidecar died (session stop/restart).
+                         * Break to outer loop — reopen for next session. */
+                        fprintf(stderr, "[video:%u] EPIPE — waiting for next reader\n", ps->port);
+                        VHD_UnlockSlotHandle(slot);
+                        break;
+                    }
+                }
+                VHD_UnlockSlotHandle(slot);
+            } else if (r != VHDERR_TIMEOUT) {
+                fprintf(stderr, "[video:%u] VHD_LockSlotHandle error %lu — stopping port\n",
+                        ps->port, r);
+                atomic_store(&g_port_stop[ps->port], 1);
+                fatal = 1;
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+
+        close(fd);
+        if (fatal) break;
     }
 
-    close(fd);
     return NULL;
 }