diff --git a/client/scripts/contract_hud_controller.gd b/client/scripts/contract_hud_controller.gd
index 89f3c74..21e87d0 100644
--- a/client/scripts/contract_hud_controller.gd
+++ b/client/scripts/contract_hud_controller.gd
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ func _detect_and_apply_completion_transitions(snapshot: Dictionary) -> void:
 				_tracked_instance_id = iid
 		var prev_status := str(_previous_status_by_instance.get(iid, ""))
 		var can_detect := not boot_seed or bool(_contract_was_active_in_session.get(iid, false))
-		if can_detect and prev_status == "active" and new_status == "completed":
+		if can_detect and prev_status != "completed" and new_status == "completed":
 			var summary := ContractClient.completion_reward_summary(iid, snapshot)
 			if not summary.is_empty():
 				_last_reward_instance_id = iid
diff --git a/client/test/contract_hud_controller_test.gd b/client/test/contract_hud_controller_test.gd
index 3558b90..a28e043 100644
--- a/client/test/contract_hud_controller_test.gd
+++ b/client/test/contract_hud_controller_test.gd
@@ -220,6 +220,20 @@ func test_reward_label_populates_on_active_to_completed_transition() -> void:
 	assert_str(built["reward_label"].text).contains("Salvage +15 XP")
 
 
+func test_reward_label_populates_when_first_get_is_already_completed() -> void:
+	# Arrange — issue marks session active; encounter completes before GET returns active
+	var built: Dictionary = await _build_controller(
+		NoopHttpTransport.new(), NoopHttpTransport.new()
+	)
+	var issue_row: Dictionary = (_active_snapshot()["contracts"] as Array)[0] as Dictionary
+	built["controller"].call("_on_issue_result_received", {"issued": true, "contract": issue_row})
+	# Act
+	built["controller"].call("_on_contracts_received", _completed_snapshot())
+	# Assert
+	assert_str(built["reward_label"].text).contains("Contract rewards:")
+	assert_str(built["reward_label"].text).contains("Salvage +15 XP")
+
+
 func test_completed_get_clears_stale_issue_patch_on_active_label() -> void:
 	# Arrange — simulate successful issue patch still held when encounter-complete GET arrives
 	var built: Dictionary = await _build_controller(