diff --git a/src/commands/apply-migrations.ts b/src/commands/apply-migrations.ts
index 259409485..ca47ae673 100644
--- a/src/commands/apply-migrations.ts
+++ b/src/commands/apply-migrations.ts
@@ -133,14 +133,15 @@ function indexCompleted(entries: CompletedMigrationEntry[]): CompletedIndex {
  * Returns the resolved status for a migration based on its entries.
  *
  * Semantics (Bug 3 — keep "complete wins" safety):
- *   - If any entry is `complete`, the version is complete. Terminal state.
- *   - Otherwise, if the latest entry is `retry`, the version is pending
- *     (user requested a fresh attempt).
+ *   - If the latest entry is `retry`, the version is pending. This is the
+ *     explicit escape hatch written by `--force-retry`, and it overrides an
+ *     earlier `complete` entry without hand-editing the ledger.
+ *   - Otherwise, if any entry is `complete`, the version is complete.
  *   - Otherwise, if any entry is `partial`, the version is partial.
  *   - Otherwise, pending.
  *
- * `complete` never regresses. A later accidental `partial` append cannot
- * undo a completed migration.
+ * `complete` never regresses accidentally. A later `partial` append cannot
+ * undo a completed migration; only a trailing, explicit `retry` marker can.
  */
 function statusForVersion(
   version: string,
@@ -148,9 +149,9 @@ function statusForVersion(
 ): 'complete' | 'partial' | 'pending' | 'wedged' {
   const entries = idx.byVersion.get(version) ?? [];
   if (entries.length === 0) return 'pending';
-  if (entries.some(e => e.status === 'complete')) return 'complete';
   const latest = entries[entries.length - 1];
   if (latest.status === 'retry') return 'pending';
+  if (entries.some(e => e.status === 'complete')) return 'complete';
   // Bug 3 attempt cap — count consecutive partials from the end (stopping
   // at any 'retry' or 'complete'). If we hit MAX_CONSECUTIVE_PARTIALS,
   // the migration is wedged and needs explicit --force-retry to try again.
diff --git a/test/apply-migrations.test.ts b/test/apply-migrations.test.ts
index 223c28d50..87e8a8b91 100644
--- a/test/apply-migrations.test.ts
+++ b/test/apply-migrations.test.ts
@@ -167,6 +167,41 @@ describe('buildPlan — diff against completed + installed VERSION', () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe('force-retry escape hatch', () => {
+  test("complete then retry-latest → pending and buildPlan lists the version as pending", () => {
+    const idx = indexCompleted([
+      { version: '0.11.0', status: 'complete' },
+      { version: '0.11.0', status: 'retry' },
+    ]);
+
+    expect(statusForVersion('0.11.0', idx)).toBe('pending');
+    const plan = buildPlan(idx, '0.11.1', '0.11.0');
+    expect(plan.pending.map(m => m.version)).toEqual(['0.11.0']);
+    expect(plan.applied).toEqual([]);
+    expect(plan.partial).toEqual([]);
+    expect(plan.wedged).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  test('complete then stray partial without retry → still complete', () => {
+    const idx = indexCompleted([
+      { version: '0.11.0', status: 'complete' },
+      { version: '0.11.0', status: 'partial' },
+    ]);
+
+    expect(statusForVersion('0.11.0', idx)).toBe('complete');
+  });
+
+  test('retry followed by a newer complete → complete', () => {
+    const idx = indexCompleted([
+      { version: '0.11.0', status: 'complete' },
+      { version: '0.11.0', status: 'retry' },
+      { version: '0.11.0', status: 'complete' },
+    ]);
+
+    expect(statusForVersion('0.11.0', idx)).toBe('complete');
+  });
+});
+
 // v0.36.1.x (cherry-pick #1062): list, dry-run, and "all migrations up to
 // date" paths must exit 0 so shell scripts gating on the exit code work.
 // Pre-fix, these `return` statements left the CLI dispatcher's implicit