diff --git a/contracts/stream_contract/src/errors.rs b/contracts/stream_contract/src/errors.rs
index 596d68d3..6ab8f74f 100644
--- a/contracts/stream_contract/src/errors.rs
+++ b/contracts/stream_contract/src/errors.rs
@@ -35,4 +35,6 @@ pub enum StreamError {
     StreamNotPaused = 13,
     /// `pause_stream` was called on a stream that is already paused.
     StreamAlreadyPaused = 14,
+    /// Operation requires an active stream, but the stream is inactive (cancelled or completed).
+    StreamNotActive = 15,
 }
diff --git a/contracts/stream_contract/src/lib.rs b/contracts/stream_contract/src/lib.rs
index 3ce60858..17f746f2 100644
--- a/contracts/stream_contract/src/lib.rs
+++ b/contracts/stream_contract/src/lib.rs
@@ -535,6 +535,8 @@ impl StreamContract {
 
         stream.is_active = false;
         stream.status = StreamStatus::Cancelled;
+        stream.paused = false;
+        stream.paused_at = None;
         stream.last_update_time = now;
 
         let recipient = stream.recipient.clone();
@@ -622,6 +624,10 @@ impl StreamContract {
         let mut stream = load_stream(&env, stream_id)?;
         Self::validate_stream_ownership(&stream, &sender)?;
 
+        if !stream.is_active {
+            return Err(StreamError::StreamNotActive);
+        }
+
         if !stream.paused {
             return Err(StreamError::StreamNotPaused);
         }
diff --git a/contracts/stream_contract/src/test.rs b/contracts/stream_contract/src/test.rs
index 74a87b12..4b8b93cf 100644
--- a/contracts/stream_contract/src/test.rs
+++ b/contracts/stream_contract/src/test.rs
@@ -2100,6 +2100,76 @@ fn test_fuzz_cancel_early_refunds() {
     }
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn test_resume_on_cancelled_stream_fails() {
+    let env = Env::default();
+    env.mock_all_auths();
+    let (token, _) = create_token(&env);
+    let sender = Address::generate(&env);
+    let recipient = Address::generate(&env);
+    mint(&env, &token, &sender, 1_000);
+
+    let client = create_contract(&env);
+    let id = client.create_stream(&sender, &recipient, &token, &1_000, &1_000);
+
+    // Advance time and pause the stream.
+    env.ledger().with_mut(|l| l.timestamp += 300);
+    client.pause_stream(&sender, &id);
+
+    // Cancel the paused stream — this should set is_active=false and status=Cancelled,
+    // but previously would leave paused=true, allowing a subsequent resume to corrupt state.
+    client.cancel_stream(&sender, &id);
+
+    // Resume on a cancelled stream must fail.
+    let result = client.try_resume_stream(&sender, &id);
+    assert_eq!(
+        result,
+        Err(Ok(StreamError::StreamNotActive)),
+        "resume_stream must return StreamNotActive on an inactive stream"
+    );
+
+    // Stream state must be unchanged: still cancelled, not resumed.
+    let s = client.get_stream(&id).unwrap();
+    assert!(!s.is_active);
+    assert_eq!(s.status, StreamStatus::Cancelled);
+    assert!(s.paused);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn test_resume_on_cancelled_stream_fails() {
+    let env = Env::default();
+    env.mock_all_auths();
+    let (token, _) = create_token(&env);
+    let sender = Address::generate(&env);
+    let recipient = Address::generate(&env);
+    mint(&env, &token, &sender, 1_000);
+
+    let client = create_contract(&env);
+    let id = client.create_stream(&sender, &recipient, &token, &1_000, &1_000);
+
+    // Advance time and pause the stream.
+    env.ledger().with_mut(|l| l.timestamp += 300);
+    client.pause_stream(&sender, &id);
+
+    // Cancel the paused stream — this should set is_active=false and status=Cancelled,
+    // but previously would leave paused=true, allowing a subsequent resume to corrupt state.
+    client.cancel_stream(&sender, &id);
+
+    // Resume on a cancelled stream must fail with StreamNotActive.
+    let result = client.try_resume_stream(&sender, &id);
+    assert_eq!(
+        result,
+        Err(Ok(StreamError::StreamNotActive)),
+        "resume_stream must return StreamNotActive on an inactive stream"
+    );
+
+    // Stream state must be unchanged: still cancelled, not resumed.
+    let s = client.get_stream(&id).unwrap();
+    assert!(!s.is_active);
+    assert_eq!(s.status, StreamStatus::Cancelled);
+    assert!(s.paused);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn test_fuzz_pause_resume_maintains_active_state() {
     let env = Env::default();
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/NotificationDropdown.tsx b/frontend/src/components/NotificationDropdown.tsx
index 68178168..f077404b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/NotificationDropdown.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/NotificationDropdown.tsx
@@ -122,6 +122,13 @@ export const NotificationDropdown: React.FC<NotificationDropdownProps> = ({ publ
 
     return (
         <div className="relative">
+            <span
+                aria-live="polite"
+                aria-busy="false"
+                className="sr-only"
+            >
+                {unreadCount} new notifications
+            </span>
             <button
                 onClick={handleDropdownOpen}
                 aria-label={`Notifications${unreadCount > 0 ? `, ${unreadCount} unread` : ""}`}
@@ -136,7 +143,7 @@ export const NotificationDropdown: React.FC<NotificationDropdownProps> = ({ publ
                         strokeLinejoin="round"
                         strokeWidth="2"
                         d="M15 17h5l-1.405-1.405A2.032 2.032 0 0118 14.158V11a6.002 6.002 0 00-4-5.659V5a2 2 0 10-4 0v.341C7.67 6.165 6 8.388 6 11v3.159c0 .538-.214 1.055-.595 1.436L4 17h5m6 0v1a3 3 0 11-6 0v-1m6 0H9"
-                    />
+                />
                 </svg>
 
                 {unreadCount > 0 && (