diff --git a/services/mam-api/src/scheduler.js b/services/mam-api/src/scheduler.js
index d77726c..3865bb4 100644
--- a/services/mam-api/src/scheduler.js
+++ b/services/mam-api/src/scheduler.js
@@ -137,10 +137,11 @@ async function tick() {
 
     // Orphaned live assets: recorder stopped but asset still 'live'.
     // Happens when the capture sidecar crashes before finalize() runs.
-    // Wait 90s grace before marking error — this prevents a mam-api restart
-    // from racing the capture container's finalize() POST, which can take up
-    // to 30s for large files on a slow upload or busy node.
-    const ORPHAN_GRACE_SECONDS = parseInt(process.env.ORPHAN_GRACE_SECONDS || '90', 10);
+    // Grace window is measured from when the RECORDER was last updated
+    // (i.e. when it transitioned to stopped), not from asset creation.
+    // This prevents a race where the scheduler fires before the capture
+    // container's finalize POST lands (can take 30-60s on large files).
+    const ORPHAN_GRACE_SECONDS = parseInt(process.env.ORPHAN_GRACE_SECONDS || '120', 10);
     const orphanResult = await client.query(
       `UPDATE assets a
        SET status = 'error', updated_at = NOW()
@@ -148,7 +149,7 @@ async function tick() {
        WHERE a.status = 'live'
          AND a.display_name = r.current_session_id
          AND r.status = 'stopped'
-         AND a.updated_at < NOW() - ($1 || ' seconds')::INTERVAL
+         AND r.updated_at < NOW() - ($1 || ' seconds')::INTERVAL
        RETURNING a.id, a.display_name`,
       [ORPHAN_GRACE_SECONDS]
     );