diff --git a/.changeset/zero-deposit-channel-closed.md b/.changeset/zero-deposit-channel-closed.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..178fcef3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/zero-deposit-channel-closed.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'mppx': patch
+---
+
+Return `410 ChannelClosedError` instead of `402 AmountExceedsDepositError` when a channel's on-chain deposit is zero but the channel still exists (payer is non-zero). This handles a race window during settlement where the escrow contract zeros the deposit before setting the finalized flag.
diff --git a/src/tempo/server/Session.test.ts b/src/tempo/server/Session.test.ts
index 4d4de693..c904ac7f 100644
--- a/src/tempo/server/Session.test.ts
+++ b/src/tempo/server/Session.test.ts
@@ -885,6 +885,34 @@ describe.runIf(isLocalnet)('session', () => {
         }),
       ).rejects.toThrow(ChannelClosedError)
     })
+
+    test('rejects voucher when deposit is zero (settled race window)', async () => {
+      const { channelId, serializedTransaction } = await createSignedOpenTransaction(10000000n)
+      // Use a large TTL so the voucher path uses the cached store state
+      // instead of reading on-chain. This lets us simulate the settlement
+      // race where deposit=0 but finalized=false by manipulating the store.
+      const server = createServer({ channelStateTtl: 60_000 })
+      await openServerChannel(server, channelId, serializedTransaction)
+
+      // Simulate the escrow contract zeroing the deposit before setting
+      // finalized (the race window this PR guards against).
+      await store.updateChannel(channelId, (ch) => (ch ? { ...ch, deposit: 0n } : null))
+
+      await expect(
+        server.verify({
+          credential: {
+            challenge: makeChallenge({ id: 'challenge-after-settle', channelId }),
+            payload: {
+              action: 'voucher' as const,
+              channelId,
+              cumulativeAmount: '2000000',
+              signature: await signTestVoucher(channelId, 2000000n),
+            },
+          },
+          request: makeRequest(),
+        }),
+      ).rejects.toThrow(ChannelClosedError)
+    })
   })
 
   describe('topUp', () => {
diff --git a/src/tempo/server/Session.ts b/src/tempo/server/Session.ts
index ea4fb7e3..ce9cb2d9 100644
--- a/src/tempo/server/Session.ts
+++ b/src/tempo/server/Session.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
   type Address,
   type Hex,
   parseUnits,
+  zeroAddress,
   type Account as viem_Account,
   type Client as viem_Client,
 } from 'viem'
@@ -456,6 +457,15 @@ async function verifyAndAcceptVoucher(parameters: {
   if (onChain.closeRequestedAt !== 0n) {
     throw new ChannelClosedError({ reason: 'channel has a pending close request' })
   }
+  // Treat a zero deposit on an existing channel as settled/closed.
+  // During settlement the escrow contract may zero the deposit before
+  // setting the finalized flag, creating a brief window where
+  // finalized=false but deposit=0. Without this guard the voucher
+  // check below would return a 402 (AmountExceedsDepositError) instead
+  // of the correct 410 (ChannelClosedError).
+  if (onChain.deposit === 0n && onChain.payer !== zeroAddress) {
+    throw new ChannelClosedError({ reason: 'channel deposit is zero (settled)' })
+  }
 
   if (voucher.cumulativeAmount <= onChain.settled) {
     throw new VerificationFailedError({