diff --git a/hermes_state.py b/hermes_state.py
index 36e5c91fe8a..2ca3c657d13 100644
--- a/hermes_state.py
+++ b/hermes_state.py
@@ -1836,6 +1836,48 @@ class SessionDB:
 
         return cleaned
 
+    def _is_compression_ancestor(
+        self, conn, *, ancestor_id: str, descendant_id: str
+    ) -> bool:
+        """Return True if *ancestor_id* is a compression predecessor of
+        *descendant_id* (walking parent links up the continuation chain).
+
+        Uses the same edge definition as :meth:`get_compression_tip`: a
+        parent → child edge counts as a compression continuation only when the
+        parent ended with ``end_reason = 'compression'`` and the child started
+        at or after the parent's ``ended_at`` (which distinguishes continuations
+        from delegate subagents / branch children that also carry a
+        ``parent_session_id``).
+        """
+        if not ancestor_id or not descendant_id or ancestor_id == descendant_id:
+            return False
+        current = descendant_id
+        # Bound the walk defensively, mirroring get_compression_tip.
+        for _ in range(100):
+            row = conn.execute(
+                "SELECT parent_session_id, started_at FROM sessions WHERE id = ?",
+                (current,),
+            ).fetchone()
+            if row is None or not row["parent_session_id"]:
+                return False
+            parent_id = row["parent_session_id"]
+            parent = conn.execute(
+                "SELECT ended_at, end_reason FROM sessions WHERE id = ?",
+                (parent_id,),
+            ).fetchone()
+            if (
+                parent is None
+                or parent["end_reason"] != "compression"
+                or parent["ended_at"] is None
+                or row["started_at"] is None
+                or row["started_at"] < parent["ended_at"]
+            ):
+                return False
+            if parent_id == ancestor_id:
+                return True
+            current = parent_id
+        return False
+
     def set_session_title(self, session_id: str, title: str) -> bool:
         """Set or update a session's title.
 
@@ -1854,9 +1896,29 @@ class SessionDB:
                 )
                 conflict = cursor.fetchone()
                 if conflict:
-                    raise ValueError(
-                        f"Title '{title}' is already in use by session {conflict['id']}"
-                    )
+                    conflict_id = conflict["id"]
+                    # A compression continuation is the live, projected-forward
+                    # head of its conversation; its compressed predecessors are
+                    # ended and hidden from the session list (list_sessions_rich
+                    # projects roots → tip). When the title that "conflicts" is
+                    # held by such a hidden ancestor, the user has no way to free
+                    # it — renaming the visible tip back to the base name would
+                    # dead-end with "already in use by <session they can't see>".
+                    # Treat this as a transfer: move the title off the ancestor
+                    # onto the continuation. Uniqueness is preserved (still only
+                    # one session carries the exact title) and the parent-link
+                    # lineage is untouched.
+                    if self._is_compression_ancestor(
+                        conn, ancestor_id=conflict_id, descendant_id=session_id
+                    ):
+                        conn.execute(
+                            "UPDATE sessions SET title = NULL WHERE id = ?",
+                            (conflict_id,),
+                        )
+                    else:
+                        raise ValueError(
+                            f"Title '{title}' is already in use by session {conflict_id}"
+                        )
             cursor = conn.execute(
                 "UPDATE sessions SET title = ? WHERE id = ?",
                 (title, session_id),