diff --git a/gateway/delivery.py b/gateway/delivery.py
index 88701cd61d5..8d4e43fdcd2 100644
--- a/gateway/delivery.py
+++ b/gateway/delivery.py
@@ -44,6 +44,25 @@ def _looks_like_int(value: Optional[str]) -> bool:
         return False
 
 
+def _send_result_failed(result: Any) -> bool:
+    if isinstance(result, dict):
+        return result.get("success") is False
+    return getattr(result, "success", True) is False
+
+
+def _send_result_error(result: Any) -> Optional[str]:
+    if isinstance(result, dict):
+        error = result.get("error")
+    else:
+        error = getattr(result, "error", None)
+    return str(error) if error else None
+
+
+def _is_thread_not_found_delivery_error(result: Any) -> bool:
+    error = _send_result_error(result)
+    return bool(error and "thread not found" in error.lower())
+
+
 @dataclass
 class DeliveryTarget:
     """
@@ -268,6 +287,8 @@ class DeliveryRouter:
             )
         
         send_metadata = dict(metadata or {})
+        is_named_telegram_private_topic = False
+        named_telegram_private_topic_name: Optional[str] = None
         if target.thread_id:
             has_explicit_direct_topic = (
                 "direct_messages_topic_id" in send_metadata
@@ -283,6 +304,7 @@ class DeliveryRouter:
                 and not has_explicit_direct_topic
             )
             if is_named_telegram_private_topic:
+                named_telegram_private_topic_name = target_thread_id
                 ensure_dm_topic = getattr(adapter, "ensure_dm_topic", None)
                 if ensure_dm_topic is None:
                     raise RuntimeError(
@@ -318,8 +340,37 @@ class DeliveryRouter:
             elif "thread_id" not in send_metadata and "message_thread_id" not in send_metadata and not has_explicit_direct_topic:
                 send_metadata["thread_id"] = target_thread_id
         result = await adapter.send(target.chat_id, content, metadata=send_metadata or None)
-        if getattr(result, "success", True) is False:
-            raise RuntimeError(getattr(result, "error", None) or f"{target.platform.value} delivery failed")
+        if _send_result_failed(result):
+            if (
+                is_named_telegram_private_topic
+                and named_telegram_private_topic_name
+                and _is_thread_not_found_delivery_error(result)
+            ):
+                ensure_dm_topic = getattr(adapter, "ensure_dm_topic", None)
+                if ensure_dm_topic is None:
+                    raise RuntimeError(
+                        "Telegram adapter cannot refresh named private DM topics"
+                    )
+                try:
+                    refreshed_thread_id = await ensure_dm_topic(
+                        target.chat_id,
+                        named_telegram_private_topic_name,
+                        force_create=True,
+                    )
+                except TypeError:
+                    refreshed_thread_id = await ensure_dm_topic(
+                        target.chat_id,
+                        named_telegram_private_topic_name,
+                    )
+                if not refreshed_thread_id:
+                    raise RuntimeError(
+                        f"Failed to refresh Telegram private DM topic '{named_telegram_private_topic_name}'"
+                    )
+                send_metadata["thread_id"] = str(refreshed_thread_id)
+                send_metadata["telegram_dm_topic_created_for_send"] = True
+                result = await adapter.send(target.chat_id, content, metadata=send_metadata or None)
+            if _send_result_failed(result):
+                raise RuntimeError(_send_result_error(result) or f"{target.platform.value} delivery failed")
         return result
 
 
diff --git a/gateway/platforms/telegram.py b/gateway/platforms/telegram.py
index 56fdfc7ca3d..e8baff74e1d 100644
--- a/gateway/platforms/telegram.py
+++ b/gateway/platforms/telegram.py
@@ -1192,7 +1192,7 @@ class TelegramAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
         thread_id = await self._create_dm_topic(chat_id_int, name=name)
         return str(thread_id) if thread_id else None
 
-    async def ensure_dm_topic(self, chat_id: str, topic_name: str) -> Optional[str]:
+    async def ensure_dm_topic(self, chat_id: str, topic_name: str, force_create: bool = False) -> Optional[str]:
         """Return a private DM topic thread id, creating and persisting it if needed."""
         name = str(topic_name or "").strip()
         if not name:
@@ -1204,7 +1204,7 @@ class TelegramAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
 
         cache_key = f"{chat_id_int}:{name}"
         cached = self._dm_topics.get(cache_key)
-        if cached:
+        if cached and not force_create:
             return str(cached)
 
         topic_conf: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None
@@ -1219,7 +1219,7 @@ class TelegramAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
                     break
             break
 
-        if topic_conf and topic_conf.get("thread_id"):
+        if topic_conf and topic_conf.get("thread_id") and not force_create:
             thread_id = int(topic_conf["thread_id"])
             self._dm_topics[cache_key] = thread_id
             return str(thread_id)
@@ -1242,7 +1242,7 @@ class TelegramAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
 
         topic_conf["thread_id"] = thread_id
         self._dm_topics[cache_key] = int(thread_id)
-        self._persist_dm_topic_thread_id(chat_id_int, name, int(thread_id))
+        self._persist_dm_topic_thread_id(chat_id_int, name, int(thread_id), replace_existing=force_create)
         return str(thread_id)
 
     async def rename_dm_topic(
@@ -1268,7 +1268,13 @@ class TelegramAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
             self.name, chat_id, thread_id, name,
         )
 
-    def _persist_dm_topic_thread_id(self, chat_id: int, topic_name: str, thread_id: int) -> None:
+    def _persist_dm_topic_thread_id(
+        self,
+        chat_id: int,
+        topic_name: str,
+        thread_id: int,
+        replace_existing: bool = False,
+    ) -> None:
         """Save a newly created thread_id back into config.yaml so it persists across restarts."""
         try:
             from hermes_constants import get_hermes_home
@@ -1301,9 +1307,10 @@ class TelegramAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
                 matching_chat_entry = chat_entry
                 for t in chat_entry.setdefault("topics", []):
                     if t.get("name") == topic_name:
-                        if not t.get("thread_id"):
-                            t["thread_id"] = thread_id
-                            changed = True
+                        if replace_existing or not t.get("thread_id"):
+                            if t.get("thread_id") != thread_id:
+                                t["thread_id"] = thread_id
+                                changed = True
                         break
                 else:
                     chat_entry.setdefault("topics", []).append(
diff --git a/tests/gateway/test_delivery.py b/tests/gateway/test_delivery.py
index 69a62fb4330..f94836e3159 100644
--- a/tests/gateway/test_delivery.py
+++ b/tests/gateway/test_delivery.py
@@ -134,11 +134,31 @@ class RecordingAdapter:
         self.calls.append({"chat_id": chat_id, "content": content, "metadata": metadata})
         return {"success": True}
 
-    async def ensure_dm_topic(self, chat_id, topic_name):
-        self.ensure_dm_topic_calls.append({"chat_id": chat_id, "topic_name": topic_name})
+    async def ensure_dm_topic(self, chat_id, topic_name, force_create=False):
+        self.ensure_dm_topic_calls.append(
+            {"chat_id": chat_id, "topic_name": topic_name, "force_create": force_create}
+        )
         return "38049"
 
 
+class StaleTopicAdapter:
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.calls = []
+        self.ensure_dm_topic_calls = []
+
+    async def send(self, chat_id, content, metadata=None):
+        self.calls.append({"chat_id": chat_id, "content": content, "metadata": dict(metadata or {})})
+        if len(self.calls) == 1:
+            return SendResult(success=False, error="Bad Request: message thread not found")
+        return SendResult(success=True, message_id="fresh-message")
+
+    async def ensure_dm_topic(self, chat_id, topic_name, force_create=False):
+        self.ensure_dm_topic_calls.append(
+            {"chat_id": chat_id, "topic_name": topic_name, "force_create": force_create}
+        )
+        return "38064" if force_create else "32343"
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_explicit_telegram_private_thread_requires_reply_anchor(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr("gateway.delivery.get_hermes_home", lambda: tmp_path)
@@ -162,7 +182,7 @@ async def test_named_telegram_private_topic_is_created_before_delivery(tmp_path,
     await router._deliver_to_platform(target, "hello", metadata=None)
 
     assert adapter.ensure_dm_topic_calls == [
-        {"chat_id": "722341991", "topic_name": "Hermes API Test"}
+        {"chat_id": "722341991", "topic_name": "Hermes API Test", "force_create": False}
     ]
     assert adapter.calls == [
         {
@@ -176,6 +196,24 @@ async def test_named_telegram_private_topic_is_created_before_delivery(tmp_path,
     ]
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_named_telegram_private_topic_refreshes_stale_thread_id(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr("gateway.delivery.get_hermes_home", lambda: tmp_path)
+    adapter = StaleTopicAdapter()
+    router = DeliveryRouter(GatewayConfig(), adapters={Platform.TELEGRAM: adapter})
+    target = DeliveryTarget.parse("telegram:722341991:Personal")
+
+    result = await router._deliver_to_platform(target, "hello", metadata=None)
+
+    assert getattr(result, "message_id", None) == "fresh-message"
+    assert adapter.ensure_dm_topic_calls == [
+        {"chat_id": "722341991", "topic_name": "Personal", "force_create": False},
+        {"chat_id": "722341991", "topic_name": "Personal", "force_create": True},
+    ]
+    assert [call["metadata"]["thread_id"] for call in adapter.calls] == ["32343", "38064"]
+    assert all(call["metadata"]["telegram_dm_topic_created_for_send"] is True for call in adapter.calls)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_explicit_telegram_private_thread_uses_reply_fallback_with_anchor(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr("gateway.delivery.get_hermes_home", lambda: tmp_path)
diff --git a/tests/gateway/test_dm_topics.py b/tests/gateway/test_dm_topics.py
index b50f80291ef..332375229c5 100644
--- a/tests/gateway/test_dm_topics.py
+++ b/tests/gateway/test_dm_topics.py
@@ -224,7 +224,33 @@ async def test_ensure_dm_topic_creates_on_demand_and_persists():
     assert adapter._dm_topics_config == [
         {"chat_id": 111, "topics": [{"name": "On Demand", "thread_id": 444}]}
     ]
-    adapter._persist_dm_topic_thread_id.assert_called_once_with(111, "On Demand", 444)
+    adapter._persist_dm_topic_thread_id.assert_called_once_with(
+        111, "On Demand", 444, replace_existing=False
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_ensure_dm_topic_force_create_replaces_persisted_thread_id():
+    """Refreshing a stale named topic should replace the cached persisted thread_id."""
+    adapter = _make_adapter()
+    bot = AsyncMock()
+    bot.create_forum_topic.return_value = SimpleNamespace(message_thread_id=777)
+    adapter._bot = bot
+    adapter._persist_dm_topic_thread_id = MagicMock()
+    adapter._dm_topics = {"111:General": 500}
+    adapter._dm_topics_config = [
+        {"chat_id": 111, "topics": [{"name": "General", "thread_id": 500}]}
+    ]
+
+    result = await adapter.ensure_dm_topic("111", "General", force_create=True)
+
+    assert result == "777"
+    bot.create_forum_topic.assert_called_once_with(chat_id=111, name="General")
+    assert adapter._dm_topics["111:General"] == 777
+    assert adapter._dm_topics_config[0]["topics"][0]["thread_id"] == 777
+    adapter._persist_dm_topic_thread_id.assert_called_once_with(
+        111, "General", 777, replace_existing=True
+    )
 
 
 # ── _persist_dm_topic_thread_id ──
@@ -309,6 +335,45 @@ def test_persist_dm_topic_thread_id_skips_if_already_set(tmp_path):
     assert topics[0]["thread_id"] == 500  # unchanged
 
 
+def test_persist_dm_topic_thread_id_replaces_existing_when_requested(tmp_path):
+    """Forced refresh should overwrite a stale persisted thread_id."""
+    import yaml
+
+    config_data = {
+        "platforms": {
+            "telegram": {
+                "extra": {
+                    "dm_topics": [
+                        {
+                            "chat_id": 111,
+                            "topics": [
+                                {"name": "General", "icon_color": 123, "thread_id": 500},
+                            ],
+                        }
+                    ]
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    config_file = tmp_path / ".hermes" / "config.yaml"
+    config_file.parent.mkdir(parents=True)
+    with open(config_file, "w") as f:
+        yaml.dump(config_data, f)
+
+    adapter = _make_adapter()
+
+    with patch.object(Path, "home", return_value=tmp_path), \
+         patch.dict(os.environ, {"HERMES_HOME": str(tmp_path / ".hermes")}):
+        adapter._persist_dm_topic_thread_id(111, "General", 999, replace_existing=True)
+
+    with open(config_file) as f:
+        result = yaml.safe_load(f)
+
+    topics = result["platforms"]["telegram"]["extra"]["dm_topics"][0]["topics"]
+    assert topics[0]["thread_id"] == 999
+
+
 # ── _get_dm_topic_info ──
 
 
diff --git a/tests/gateway/test_telegram_thread_fallback.py b/tests/gateway/test_telegram_thread_fallback.py
index 1900ff09124..86aa2eefeb5 100644
--- a/tests/gateway/test_telegram_thread_fallback.py
+++ b/tests/gateway/test_telegram_thread_fallback.py
@@ -624,6 +624,33 @@ async def test_send_created_private_topic_uses_message_thread_without_anchor():
     assert "direct_messages_topic_id" not in call_log[0]
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_created_private_topic_thread_not_found_fails_without_root_fallback():
+    """Created private-topic sends must not retry into All Messages on stale thread IDs."""
+    adapter = _make_adapter()
+    call_log = []
+
+    async def mock_send_message(**kwargs):
+        call_log.append(dict(kwargs))
+        raise FakeBadRequest("Message thread not found")
+
+    adapter._bot = SimpleNamespace(send_message=mock_send_message)
+
+    result = await adapter.send(
+        chat_id="123",
+        content="created topic message",
+        metadata={
+            "thread_id": "32343",
+            "telegram_dm_topic_created_for_send": True,
+        },
+    )
+
+    assert result.success is False
+    assert "thread not found" in str(result.error).lower()
+    assert len(call_log) == 1
+    assert call_log[0]["message_thread_id"] == 32343
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_send_uses_metadata_reply_fallback_for_streaming_dm_topics():
     """Metadata-only sends still stay in Hermes-created Telegram DM topics."""