diff --git a/apps/orb_trader/engine.py b/apps/orb_trader/engine.py
index 8c638cd..00ae4d0 100644
--- a/apps/orb_trader/engine.py
+++ b/apps/orb_trader/engine.py
@@ -846,6 +846,22 @@ class ORBTradingEngine:
             self._session.session_id, date_str, phase="eod_exit"
         )
 
+        # Cancel any unfilled breakout candidates — must run unconditionally so
+        # stale pending records are cleaned up even when there are no open positions
+        # (e.g., server restarted after ORB detection but before any breakout).
+        for cand in self._pending_cands:
+            self._state.update_candidate_status(
+                self._session.session_id, date_str, cand["ticker"], "timeout"
+            )
+        self._pending_cands = []
+
+        db_cands = self._state.list_candidates(self._session.session_id, date_str)
+        for c in db_cands:
+            if c["status"] == "pending":
+                self._state.update_candidate_status(
+                    self._session.session_id, date_str, c["ticker"], "timeout"
+                )
+
         positions = self._state.get_open_positions(self._session.session_id, date_str)
         if not positions:
             self._log("EOD: no open positions")
@@ -880,21 +896,6 @@ class ORBTradingEngine:
                     self._session.session_id, date_str, pos.ticker
                 )
 
-        # Cancel any unfilled breakout candidates (in-memory and DB)
-        for cand in self._pending_cands:
-            self._state.update_candidate_status(
-                self._session.session_id, date_str, cand["ticker"], "timeout"
-            )
-        self._pending_cands = []
-
-        # Also sweep DB for any pending records not in in-memory list (e.g. after restart)
-        db_cands = self._state.list_candidates(self._session.session_id, date_str)
-        for c in db_cands:
-            if c["status"] == "pending":
-                self._state.update_candidate_status(
-                    self._session.session_id, date_str, c["ticker"], "timeout"
-                )
-
         return {"closed": closed}
 
     # ── Phase 6: Post-close ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
diff --git a/tests/unit/orb_trader/test_detection_guards.py b/tests/unit/orb_trader/test_detection_guards.py
index b3b4404..4be31e1 100644
--- a/tests/unit/orb_trader/test_detection_guards.py
+++ b/tests/unit/orb_trader/test_detection_guards.py
@@ -246,3 +246,47 @@ class TestMaxSimultaneousEntries:
 
         mock_snaps.assert_called_once()
         assert result["remaining"] == 1
+
+
+# ── EOD DB sweep ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+class TestEodDbSweep:
+    def test_sweep_runs_with_no_open_positions(self):
+        # Regression: before fix, DB sweep was inside the "has positions" branch;
+        # after a server restart with no open positions, stale pending records leaked.
+        eng = _make_engine()
+        eng._state.get_open_positions.return_value = []
+        eng._state.list_candidates.return_value = [
+            {"ticker": "AAPL", "status": "pending"},
+            {"ticker": "NVDA", "status": "pending"},
+            {"ticker": "TSLA", "status": "filled"},  # already filled, must not be touched
+        ]
+
+        result = eng.run_eod_exit("2026-01-05")
+
+        assert result["closed"] == 0
+        # Both pending records should be timed out
+        calls = [
+            call.args for call in eng._state.update_candidate_status.call_args_list
+        ]
+        assert ("test-session", "2026-01-05", "AAPL", "timeout") in calls
+        assert ("test-session", "2026-01-05", "NVDA", "timeout") in calls
+        # Filled record must not be touched
+        assert ("test-session", "2026-01-05", "TSLA", "timeout") not in calls
+
+    def test_in_memory_pending_swept_with_no_open_positions(self):
+        # In-memory pending candidates must also be swept unconditionally
+        eng = _make_engine()
+        eng._state.get_open_positions.return_value = []
+        eng._state.list_candidates.return_value = []
+        eng._pending_cands = [
+            {"ticker": "MSFT", "direction": "bullish", "orb_bar": {}, "atr": 1.0,
+             "score": 0.5, "rvol": 1.5, "gap_pct": 0.02},
+        ]
+
+        eng.run_eod_exit("2026-01-05")
+
+        assert eng._pending_cands == []  # cleared
+        eng._state.update_candidate_status.assert_called_once_with(
+            "test-session", "2026-01-05", "MSFT", "timeout"
+        )