diff --git a/src/RemoteContainers.Aspire/Docker/DockerApiClient.cs b/src/RemoteContainers.Aspire/Docker/DockerApiClient.cs
index 7852ab5..71c9566 100644
--- a/src/RemoteContainers.Aspire/Docker/DockerApiClient.cs
+++ b/src/RemoteContainers.Aspire/Docker/DockerApiClient.cs
@@ -107,8 +107,10 @@ public DockerApiClient(ILogger<DockerApiClient> logger, HttpClient httpClient, A
           _logger.LogError(ex, "Docker API request failed for {ResourceName}; retrying…", resourceName);
         }
 
-        lastSeenId = null;
-        isFirstPoll = false;
+        // Do not reset lastSeenId or isFirstPoll — a transient error gives no information about the
+        // container state, so the existing stabilization state must be preserved. Resetting would
+        // set lastSeenId to null, causing the next successful find to be accepted immediately via the
+        // "appeared after an empty poll" path, which defeats the two-poll confirmation.
       }
 
       await Task.Delay(pollInterval, cancellationToken);