diff --git a/e2e/pq_handshakes_test.go b/e2e/pq_handshakes_test.go
index f3e72a28..79f0871a 100644
--- a/e2e/pq_handshakes_test.go
+++ b/e2e/pq_handshakes_test.go
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert"
-	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert_test"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/e2e/router"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/handshake/fragment"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/header"
@@ -79,7 +78,7 @@ func (ht *handshakeTally) observe(p *udp.Packet) {
 	}
 	ht.Lock()
 	defer ht.Unlock()
-	if h.Subtype == header.HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024 {
+	if h.Subtype == header.HandshakeIXHybridMLKEM1024 {
 		ht.pq++
 		ht.maxPQLen = max(ht.maxPQLen, len(p.Data))
 	} else {
@@ -102,11 +101,14 @@ func isTunnelData(p *udp.Packet, receiver, to *nebula.Control) bool {
 	return h.Type == header.Message && h.Subtype == header.MessageNone
 }
 
+// newPQPair builds two hosts with v3 certificates that also trust the CA's v2
+// form, so a classical handshake can complete when the hybrid one does not.
 func newPQPair(t *testing.T, mine, theirs m) (myControl, theirControl *nebula.Control, myVpn, theirVpn []netip.Prefix, myUdp, theirUdp netip.AddrPort, r *router.R) {
 	t.Helper()
-	ca, _, caKey, _ := cert_test.NewTestCaCert(cert.Version2, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, time.Now(), time.Now().Add(10*time.Minute), nil, nil, []string{})
-	myControl, myVpn, myUdp, _ = newSimpleServer(cert.Version2, ca, caKey, "me", "10.128.0.1/24", mine)
-	theirControl, theirVpn, theirUdp, _ = newSimpleServer(cert.Version2, ca, caKey, "them", "10.128.0.2/24", theirs)
+	ca := newHybridCA(t)
+	ca2, _ := ca.v2()
+	myControl, myVpn, myUdp, _ = newSimpleServer(cert.Version3, ca.ca, ca.key, "me", "10.128.0.1/24", withCA(mine, ca.ca, ca2))
+	theirControl, theirVpn, theirUdp, _ = newSimpleServer(cert.Version3, ca.ca, ca.key, "them", "10.128.0.2/24", withCA(theirs, ca.ca, ca2))
 	myControl.InjectLightHouseAddr(theirVpn[0].Addr(), theirUdp)
 	r = router.NewR(t, myControl, theirControl)
 	myControl.Start()
@@ -114,36 +116,6 @@ func newPQPair(t *testing.T, mine, theirs m) (myControl, theirControl *nebula.Co
 	return
 }
 
-func TestPQHandshake(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-	// They only accept, which is all a PQ initiator needs.
-	myControl, theirControl, myVpn, theirVpn, myUdp, theirUdp, r := newPQPair(t, pqConfig(true, true, false), pqConfig(false, true, false))
-	defer r.RenderFlow()
-
-	var tally handshakeTally
-	myControl.InjectTunPacket(BuildTunUDPPacket(theirVpn[0].Addr(), 80, myVpn[0].Addr(), 80, []byte("Hi from me")))
-	require.True(t, r.RouteForAllExitFuncOrTimeout(5*time.Second, func(p *udp.Packet, receiver *nebula.Control) router.ExitType {
-		tally.observe(p)
-		if isTunnelData(p, receiver, theirControl) {
-			return router.RouteAndExit
-		}
-		return router.KeepRouting
-	}), "tunnel never came up")
-
-	assertUdpPacket(t, []byte("Hi from me"), theirControl.GetFromTun(true), myVpn[0].Addr(), theirVpn[0].Addr(), 80, 80)
-	assert.Zero(t, tally.classical, "no classical handshake should be needed")
-	assert.GreaterOrEqual(t, tally.pq, 4, "both messages travel as several fragments")
-	assert.LessOrEqual(t, tally.maxPQLen, fragment.MaxPacketLen)
-
-	assertHostInfoPair(t, myUdp, theirUdp, myVpn, theirVpn, myControl, theirControl)
-	assertTunnel(t, myVpn[0].Addr(), theirVpn[0].Addr(), myControl, theirControl, r)
-	assert.Empty(t, myControl.ListHostmapIndexes(true), "no pending index may outlive the handshake")
-	assert.Empty(t, theirControl.ListHostmapIndexes(true))
-
-	myControl.Stop()
-	theirControl.Stop()
-}
-
 // TestPQHandshakeLoss drops data fragments of both messages; the repair
 // fragments must carry the handshake without a retry.
 func TestPQHandshakeLoss(t *testing.T) {
@@ -223,12 +195,12 @@ func TestPQResendFreshSymbols(t *testing.T) {
 		case h != nil && fh == nil:
 			// Keep the classical fallback out of the way.
 			return router.Drop
-		case fh != nil && h.MessageCounter == 2 && fh.Index < 4:
+		case fh != nil && h.MessageCounter == 2 && fh.Index < 12:
 			firstMsg2++
 			return router.Drop
 		case fh != nil && h.MessageCounter == 2:
 			freshMsg2++
-		case fh != nil && h.MessageCounter == 1 && fh.Index >= 4:
+		case fh != nil && h.MessageCounter == 1 && fh.Index >= 10:
 			freshMsg1++
 		}
 		if isTunnelData(p, receiver, theirControl) {
@@ -238,7 +210,7 @@ func TestPQResendFreshSymbols(t *testing.T) {
 	}), "tunnel never came up")
 
 	assertUdpPacket(t, []byte("Hi from me"), theirControl.GetFromTun(true), myVpn[0].Addr(), theirVpn[0].Addr(), 80, 80)
-	assert.Equal(t, 4, firstMsg2, "the first msg2 is 2 data and 2 repair fragments")
+	assert.Equal(t, 12, firstMsg2, "the first msg2 is 9 data and 3 repair fragments")
 	assert.Positive(t, freshMsg1, "the retry offers fresh msg1 symbols")
 	assert.Positive(t, freshMsg2, "the resend offers fresh msg2 symbols")
 	assertTunnel(t, myVpn[0].Addr(), theirVpn[0].Addr(), myControl, theirControl, r)
@@ -268,7 +240,7 @@ func TestPQSticky(t *testing.T) {
 	myControl.ReHandshake(theirVpn[0].Addr())
 	r.RouteForAllExitFuncOrTimeout(time.Second, func(p *udp.Packet, receiver *nebula.Control) router.ExitType {
 		tally.observe(p)
-		if h, _ := handshakeOf(p); h != nil && h.Subtype == header.HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024 {
+		if h, _ := handshakeOf(p); h != nil && h.Subtype == header.HandshakeIXHybridMLKEM1024 {
 			return router.Drop
 		}
 		return router.KeepRouting
@@ -280,58 +252,6 @@ func TestPQSticky(t *testing.T) {
 	theirControl.Stop()
 }
 
-func TestPQRelays(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-	ca, _, caKey, _ := cert_test.NewTestCaCert(cert.Version1, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, time.Now(), time.Now().Add(10*time.Minute), nil, nil, []string{})
-	useRelays := pqConfig(true, true, false)
-	useRelays["relay"] = m{"use_relays": true}
-	amRelay := pqConfig(true, true, false)
-	amRelay["relay"] = m{"am_relay": true}
-	myControl, myVpnIpNet, _, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version1, ca, caKey, "me     ", "10.128.0.1/24", useRelays)
-	relayControl, relayVpnIpNet, relayUdpAddr, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version1, ca, caKey, "relay  ", "10.128.0.128/24", amRelay)
-	theirControl, theirVpnIpNet, theirUdpAddr, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version1, ca, caKey, "them   ", "10.128.0.2/24", useRelays)
-
-	myControl.InjectLightHouseAddr(relayVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), relayUdpAddr)
-	myControl.InjectRelays(theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), []netip.Addr{relayVpnIpNet[0].Addr()})
-	relayControl.InjectLightHouseAddr(theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), theirUdpAddr)
-
-	r := router.NewR(t, myControl, relayControl, theirControl)
-	defer r.RenderFlow()
-
-	myControl.Start()
-	relayControl.Start()
-	theirControl.Start()
-
-	var tally handshakeTally
-	var relayedPQ, relayedClassical int
-	myControl.InjectTunPacket(BuildTunUDPPacket(theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, []byte("Hi from me")))
-	require.True(t, r.RouteForAllExitFuncOrTimeout(10*time.Second, func(p *udp.Packet, receiver *nebula.Control) router.ExitType {
-		tally.observe(p)
-		outer := &header.H{}
-		if outer.Parse(p.Data) == nil && outer.Type == header.Message && outer.Subtype == header.MessageRelay {
-			if h, fh := handshakeOf(p); h != nil && fh != nil {
-				relayedPQ++
-				assert.LessOrEqual(t, len(p.Data), fragment.MaxPacketLen+32, "a relayed fragment fits the IPv6 minimum MTU")
-			} else if h != nil {
-				relayedClassical++
-			}
-		}
-		if isTunnelData(p, receiver, theirControl) {
-			return router.RouteAndExit
-		}
-		return router.KeepRouting
-	}), "tunnel never came up")
-
-	assertUdpPacket(t, []byte("Hi from me"), theirControl.GetFromTun(true), myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, 80)
-	assert.Positive(t, relayedPQ, "the end to end handshake is PQ through the relay")
-	assert.Zero(t, relayedClassical, "the relay coming up carries the PQ attempt, not the classical retry")
-	r.RenderHostmaps("Final hostmaps", myControl, relayControl, theirControl)
-
-	myControl.Stop()
-	relayControl.Stop()
-	theirControl.Stop()
-}
-
 // TestPQTimeoutReleasesIndexes lets a handshake with both a PQ and a classical
 // attempt pending time out, and checks neither index is left behind.
 func TestPQTimeoutReleasesIndexes(t *testing.T) {
@@ -370,7 +290,7 @@ func TestPQCookieUnderLoad(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Log("Flood them with the first fragment of msg1s nobody will finish")
 	for i := range 512 {
 		from := netip.AddrPortFrom(netip.AddrFrom4([4]byte{198, 18, byte(i >> 8), byte(i)}), 4242)
-		s, err := fragment.NewSender(make([]byte, 2000), header.HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024, 0, 1, uint32(i+1))
+		s, err := fragment.NewSender(make([]byte, 2000), header.HandshakeIXHybridMLKEM1024, 0, 1, uint32(i+1))
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		pkts, _, err := s.Attempt(0)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -382,7 +302,7 @@ func TestPQCookieUnderLoad(t *testing.T) {
 	myControl.InjectTunPacket(BuildTunUDPPacket(theirVpn[0].Addr(), 80, myVpn[0].Addr(), 80, []byte("Hi from me")))
 	require.True(t, r.RouteForAllExitFuncOrTimeout(5*time.Second, func(p *udp.Packet, receiver *nebula.Control) router.ExitType {
 		tally.observe(p)
-		if h, fh := handshakeOf(p); h != nil && h.Subtype == header.HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024 {
+		if h, fh := handshakeOf(p); h != nil && h.Subtype == header.HandshakeIXHybridMLKEM1024 {
 			switch {
 			case h.MessageCounter == 0:
 				cookieReplies++
diff --git a/e2e/pq_hybrid_test.go b/e2e/pq_hybrid_test.go
index 94c0f67a..f3a1949e 100644
--- a/e2e/pq_hybrid_test.go
+++ b/e2e/pq_hybrid_test.go
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ import (
 // hybridTally counts handshake packets by subtype and message.
 type hybridTally struct {
 	sync.Mutex
-	hybrid, phase1, classical int
-	msg3                      int
-	maxLen                    int
+	hybrid, classical int
+	msg3              int
+	maxLen            int
 }
 
 func (ht *hybridTally) observe(p *udp.Packet) {
@@ -42,8 +42,6 @@ func (ht *hybridTally) observe(p *udp.Packet) {
 		if h.MessageCounter == 3 {
 			ht.msg3++
 		}
-	case header.HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024:
-		ht.phase1++
 	default:
 		ht.classical++
 	}
@@ -139,7 +137,7 @@ func TestHybridHandshake(t *testing.T) {
 	}), "tunnel never came up")
 
 	assertUdpPacket(t, []byte("Hi from me"), theirControl.GetFromTun(true), myVpn[0].Addr(), theirVpn[0].Addr(), 80, 80)
-	assert.Zero(t, tally.classical+tally.phase1, "a node with a v3 certificate speaks the hybrid handshake")
+	assert.Zero(t, tally.classical, "a node with a v3 certificate speaks the hybrid handshake")
 	assert.GreaterOrEqual(t, tally.hybrid, 7+9+2, "all three messages travel as several fragments")
 	assert.Positive(t, tally.msg3)
 	assert.LessOrEqual(t, tally.maxLen, fragment.MaxPacketLen)
@@ -233,9 +231,9 @@ func TestHybridNeverConfirmed(t *testing.T) {
 	theirControl.Stop()
 }
 
-// TestHybridToV2Peer has a v3 initiator meet a peer that speaks phase 1 post-quantum
-// handshakes but holds only a v2 certificate. Holding v3, the initiator never
-// offers phase 1, so the tunnel comes up classical on the v2 form.
+// TestHybridToV2Peer has a v3 initiator meet a peer that holds only a v2
+// certificate. Its post-quantum settings do nothing without a v3 certificate, so
+// the tunnel comes up classical on the v2 form.
 func TestHybridToV2Peer(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	ca := newHybridCA(t)
@@ -257,7 +255,6 @@ func TestHybridToV2Peer(t *testing.T) {
 
 	assertUdpPacket(t, []byte("Hi from me"), theirControl.GetFromTun(true), myVpn[0].Addr(), theirVpn[0].Addr(), 80, 80)
 	assert.Positive(t, tally.hybrid, "the hybrid attempt comes first")
-	assert.Zero(t, tally.phase1, "a v3 holder never initiates phase 1")
 	assert.Positive(t, tally.classical)
 	assertHostInfoPair(t, myUdp, theirUdp, myVpn, theirVpn, myControl, theirControl)
 	assert.Equal(t, cert.Version2, theirControl.GetHostInfoByVpnAddr(myVpn[0].Addr(), false).Cert.Version())
@@ -313,41 +310,12 @@ func TestHybridRequire(t *testing.T) {
 			return router.KeepRouting
 		}), "tunnel never came up")
 		assertUdpPacket(t, []byte("Hi from me"), theirControl.GetFromTun(true), myVpn[0].Addr(), theirVpn[0].Addr(), 80, 80)
-		assert.Zero(t, tally.classical+tally.phase1)
+		assert.Zero(t, tally.classical)
 		assertTunnel(t, myVpn[0].Addr(), theirVpn[0].Addr(), myControl, theirControl, r)
 
 		myControl.Stop()
 		theirControl.Stop()
 	})
-
-	t.Run("responder refuses phase 1", func(t *testing.T) {
-		ca := newHybridCA(t)
-		ca2, key2 := ca.v2()
-		myControl, myVpn, _, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version2, ca2, key2, "me", "10.128.0.1/24", pqRequire())
-		theirControl, theirVpn, theirUdp, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version3, ca.ca, ca.key, "them", "10.128.0.2/24", withCA(pqRequire(), ca.ca, ca2))
-		myControl.InjectLightHouseAddr(theirVpn[0].Addr(), theirUdp)
-		r := router.NewR(t, myControl, theirControl)
-		defer r.RenderFlow()
-		myControl.Start()
-		theirControl.Start()
-
-		var tally hybridTally
-		var answers int
-		myControl.InjectTunPacket(BuildTunUDPPacket(theirVpn[0].Addr(), 80, myVpn[0].Addr(), 80, []byte("Hi from me")))
-		r.RouteForAllExitFuncOrTimeout(time.Second, func(p *udp.Packet, receiver *nebula.Control) router.ExitType {
-			tally.observe(p)
-			if h, _ := handshakeOf(p); h != nil && h.MessageCounter == 2 {
-				answers++
-			}
-			return router.KeepRouting
-		})
-		assert.Positive(t, tally.phase1)
-		assert.Zero(t, answers, "a phase 1 msg1 gets no answer from a v3 node requiring post-quantum")
-		assert.Nil(t, theirControl.GetHostInfoByVpnAddr(myVpn[0].Addr(), false))
-
-		myControl.Stop()
-		theirControl.Stop()
-	})
 }
 
 func TestHybridRelays(t *testing.T) {
@@ -432,75 +400,113 @@ func TestHybridBackToBack(t *testing.T) {
 	theirControl.Stop()
 }
 
-// TestHybridRaceWithClassical has the initiator's classical attempt reach the
-// responder, which completes it at once, while the hybrid handshake is still
-// waiting for msg3. The initiator gets the hybrid msg2 first and commits to it,
-// so the responder must take the hybrid tunnel when msg3 arrives even though the
-// classical one is newer.
+// TestHybridRaceWithClassical has the initiator's classical attempt cross its
+// hybrid one: the hybrid msg2 is held back until the classical msg1 has reached
+// the responder, and the classical msg2 is lost, so the initiator commits to the
+// hybrid handshake.
+//
+// Arriving within the crossing window, the classical msg1 goes unanswered and
+// the responder ends up with the hybrid tunnel alone. Held past the window, as on
+// a very slow path, the responder completes it, and must still take the hybrid
+// tunnel when msg3 arrives even though the classical one is newer.
 func TestHybridRaceWithClassical(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
-	// Both trust the v2 form of the CA too, or the classical attempt could not complete.
-	ca := newHybridCA(t)
-	ca2, _ := ca.v2()
-	myControl, theirControl, myVpn, theirVpn, _, _, r := newHybridPairWithCA(t, ca,
-		withCA(pqConfig(true, true, false), ca.ca, ca2),
-		withCA(pqConfig(false, true, false), ca.ca, ca2),
-	)
-	defer r.RenderFlow()
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		name     string
+		delay    time.Duration
+		answered bool
+	}{
+		{"within the window", 0, false},
+		{"past the window", 500 * time.Millisecond, true},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+			// Both trust the v2 form of the CA too, or the classical attempt could not complete.
+			ca := newHybridCA(t)
+			ca2, _ := ca.v2()
+			myControl, theirControl, myVpn, theirVpn, _, _, r := newHybridPairWithCA(t, ca,
+				withCA(pqConfig(true, true, false), ca.ca, ca2),
+				withCA(pqConfig(false, true, false), ca.ca, ca2),
+			)
+			defer r.RenderFlow()
 
-	var heldMsg2 []*udp.Packet
-	var sawClassical, recvErrors int
-	myControl.InjectTunPacket(BuildTunUDPPacket(theirVpn[0].Addr(), 80, myVpn[0].Addr(), 80, []byte("Hi from me")))
-	require.True(t, r.RouteForAllExitFuncOrTimeout(3*time.Second, func(p *udp.Packet, receiver *nebula.Control) router.ExitType {
-		h, fh := handshakeOf(p)
-		switch {
-		case h != nil && fh != nil && h.MessageCounter == 2:
-			// Hold the hybrid msg2 back until the classical attempt has gone through.
-			heldMsg2 = append(heldMsg2, p.Copy())
-			return router.Drop
-		case h != nil && fh == nil && h.MessageCounter == 1:
-			sawClassical++
-			return router.RouteAndExit
-		}
-		return router.KeepRouting
-	}), "no classical attempt")
-	require.Positive(t, sawClassical)
+			var heldMsg2 []*udp.Packet
+			var classicalMsg1 *udp.Packet
+			holdMsg2 := func(p *udp.Packet) bool {
+				if h, fh := handshakeOf(p); h != nil && fh != nil && h.MessageCounter == 2 {
+					heldMsg2 = append(heldMsg2, p.Copy())
+					return true
+				}
+				return false
+			}
+			myControl.InjectTunPacket(BuildTunUDPPacket(theirVpn[0].Addr(), 80, myVpn[0].Addr(), 80, []byte("Hi from me")))
+			require.True(t, r.RouteForAllExitFuncOrTimeout(3*time.Second, func(p *udp.Packet, receiver *nebula.Control) router.ExitType {
+				if holdMsg2(p) {
+					return router.Drop
+				}
+				if h, fh := handshakeOf(p); h != nil && fh == nil && h.MessageCounter == 1 {
+					classicalMsg1 = p.Copy()
+					return router.ExitNow
+				}
+				return router.KeepRouting
+			}), "no classical attempt")
 
-	// Lose the classical msg2, so the initiator only ever completes the hybrid handshake.
-	r.RouteForAllExitFuncOrTimeout(50*time.Millisecond, func(p *udp.Packet, receiver *nebula.Control) router.ExitType {
-		if h, fh := handshakeOf(p); h != nil && fh == nil && h.MessageCounter == 2 {
-			return router.Drop
-		}
-		if h, fh := handshakeOf(p); h != nil && fh != nil && h.MessageCounter == 2 {
-			heldMsg2 = append(heldMsg2, p.Copy())
-			return router.Drop
-		}
-		return router.KeepRouting
-	})
-	require.NotNil(t, theirControl.GetHostInfoByVpnAddr(myVpn[0].Addr(), false), "the responder completed the classical handshake")
+			time.Sleep(tc.delay)
+			r.InjectUDPPacket(myControl, theirControl, classicalMsg1)
 
-	for _, p := range heldMsg2 {
-		r.InjectUDPPacket(theirControl, myControl, p)
+			// Lose any classical msg2, so the initiator only ever completes the hybrid
+			// handshake. With msg2 held the initiator keeps retrying, and a later
+			// classical retry may land past the window; only the crossing one counts.
+			var classicalMsg2 int
+			r.RouteForAllExitFuncOrTimeout(50*time.Millisecond, func(p *udp.Packet, receiver *nebula.Control) router.ExitType {
+				if h, fh := handshakeOf(p); h != nil && fh == nil && h.MessageCounter == 1 {
+					return router.Drop
+				}
+				if h, fh := handshakeOf(p); h != nil && fh == nil && h.MessageCounter == 2 {
+					classicalMsg2++
+					return router.Drop
+				}
+				if holdMsg2(p) {
+					return router.Drop
+				}
+				return router.KeepRouting
+			})
+			if tc.answered {
+				require.Positive(t, classicalMsg2, "past the window the classical msg1 is answered")
+				require.NotNil(t, theirControl.GetHostInfoByVpnAddr(myVpn[0].Addr(), false))
+			} else {
+				require.Zero(t, classicalMsg2, "within the window the classical msg1 goes unanswered")
+				require.Nil(t, theirControl.GetHostInfoByVpnAddr(myVpn[0].Addr(), false))
+			}
+
+			var recvErrors int
+			for _, p := range heldMsg2 {
+				r.InjectUDPPacket(theirControl, myControl, p)
+			}
+			require.True(t, routeUntilData(t, r, theirControl, 3*time.Second, func(p *udp.Packet, _ *nebula.Control) router.ExitType {
+				if isType(p, header.RecvError) {
+					recvErrors++
+				}
+				return router.KeepRouting
+			}), "data never arrived")
+			assertUdpPacket(t, []byte("Hi from me"), theirControl.GetFromTun(true), myVpn[0].Addr(), theirVpn[0].Addr(), 80, 80)
+
+			assert.Zero(t, recvErrors)
+			mine := myControl.GetHostInfoByVpnAddr(theirVpn[0].Addr(), false)
+			theirs := theirControl.GetHostInfoByVpnAddr(myVpn[0].Addr(), false)
+			require.NotNil(t, mine)
+			require.NotNil(t, theirs)
+			assert.Equal(t, cert.Version3, mine.Cert.Version())
+			assert.Equal(t, cert.Version3, theirs.Cert.Version(), "the responder's primary tunnel is the hybrid one")
+			assert.Equal(t, mine.LocalIndex, theirs.RemoteIndex)
+			if !tc.answered {
+				assert.Len(t, theirControl.ListHostmapIndexes(false), 1, "and the only one")
+			}
+
+			myControl.Stop()
+			theirControl.Stop()
+		})
 	}
-	require.True(t, routeUntilData(t, r, theirControl, 3*time.Second, func(p *udp.Packet, _ *nebula.Control) router.ExitType {
-		if isType(p, header.RecvError) {
-			recvErrors++
-		}
-		return router.KeepRouting
-	}), "data never arrived")
-	assertUdpPacket(t, []byte("Hi from me"), theirControl.GetFromTun(true), myVpn[0].Addr(), theirVpn[0].Addr(), 80, 80)
-
-	assert.Zero(t, recvErrors)
-	mine := myControl.GetHostInfoByVpnAddr(theirVpn[0].Addr(), false)
-	theirs := theirControl.GetHostInfoByVpnAddr(myVpn[0].Addr(), false)
-	require.NotNil(t, mine)
-	require.NotNil(t, theirs)
-	assert.Equal(t, cert.Version3, mine.Cert.Version())
-	assert.Equal(t, cert.Version3, theirs.Cert.Version(), "the responder's primary tunnel is the hybrid one")
-	assert.Equal(t, mine.LocalIndex, theirs.RemoteIndex)
-
-	myControl.Stop()
-	theirControl.Stop()
 }
 
 // TestHybridWrongResponder gives the initiator a stale address for its peer
diff --git a/handshake/credential.go b/handshake/credential.go
index ffd285b0..4892dbc7 100644
--- a/handshake/credential.go
+++ b/handshake/credential.go
@@ -47,19 +47,15 @@ func NewCredential(
 	return hc
 }
 
-// buildHandshakeState creates a noise.HandshakeState from this credential.
-// pskPlacement selects the noise psk modifier; 0 means none. A psk for
-// placements 2 and up is supplied later with SetPresharedKey. A hybrid
-// pattern also gets its KEM and the static KEM key.
+// buildHandshakeState creates a noise.HandshakeState from this credential. A
+// hybrid pattern also gets its KEM and the static KEM key.
 func (hc *Credential) buildHandshakeState(initiator bool, info subtypeInfo) (*noise.HandshakeState, error) {
 	cfg := noise.Config{
-		CipherSuite:           hc.cipherSuite,
-		Random:                rand.Reader,
-		Pattern:               info.pattern,
-		Initiator:             initiator,
-		StaticKeypair:         noise.DHKey{Private: hc.privateKey, Public: hc.publicKey},
-		PresharedKey:          []byte{},
-		PresharedKeyPlacement: info.pskPlacement,
+		CipherSuite:   hc.cipherSuite,
+		Random:        rand.Reader,
+		Pattern:       info.pattern,
+		Initiator:     initiator,
+		StaticKeypair: noise.DHKey{Private: hc.privateKey, Public: hc.publicKey},
 	}
 	if info.kem != nil {
 		cfg.KEMFunc = info.kem
diff --git a/handshake/handshake.proto b/handshake/handshake.proto
index 591aa797..0fe94271 100644
--- a/handshake/handshake.proto
+++ b/handshake/handshake.proto
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@ message NebulaHandshakeDetails {
   uint64 Cookie = 4 [deprecated = true];
   uint64 Time = 5;
   uint32 CertVersion = 8;
-  // KEMKey is the initiator's ephemeral ML-KEM-1024 encapsulation key. It is
-  // only present in msg1 of the ix_psk2_mlkem1024 subtype.
-  bytes KEMKey = 9;
   // reserved for WIP multiport
   reserved 6, 7;
+  // 9 carried an ephemeral ML-KEM key in ix_psk2_mlkem1024, a handshake that
+  // was never released
+  reserved 9;
 }
diff --git a/handshake/hybrid_test.go b/handshake/hybrid_test.go
index a398e185..5d857189 100644
--- a/handshake/hybrid_test.go
+++ b/handshake/hybrid_test.go
@@ -149,8 +149,6 @@ func TestHybridIX_CertVersions(t *testing.T) {
 	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrCertVersionMismatch)
 	_, err = NewMachine(cert.Version3, p.initCS.getCredential, v, func() (uint32, error) { return 1, nil }, true, header.HandshakeIXPSK0)
 	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrCertVersionMismatch)
-	_, err = NewMachine(cert.Version3, p.initCS.getCredential, v, func() (uint32, error) { return 1, nil }, true, header.HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024)
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrCertVersionMismatch)
 
 	// The v2 form still does a classical handshake, here with a peer that only has v2.
 	ca2 := cert.V2Form(p.ca)
diff --git a/handshake/kem.go b/handshake/kem.go
index a301a1f6..ca06caf1 100644
--- a/handshake/kem.go
+++ b/handshake/kem.go
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 package handshake
 
 import (
-	"crypto/hkdf"
 	"crypto/mlkem"
-	"crypto/sha256"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
@@ -11,65 +9,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/DefinedNet/noise"
 )
 
-// kemPSKSalt separates the psk derivation from any other use of the secret.
-const kemPSKSalt = "nebula ix_psk2_mlkem1024 v1"
-
 var ErrInvalidKEMKey = errors.New("peer sent an invalid ML-KEM encapsulation key")
 
-// kemPSK derives the noise psk from an ML-KEM shared secret. The ciphertext is
-// bound in because, unlike the encapsulation key, it travels outside the noise
-// transcript.
-func kemPSK(sharedKey, ciphertext []byte) ([]byte, error) {
-	secret := make([]byte, 0, len(sharedKey)+len(ciphertext))
-	secret = append(secret, sharedKey...)
-	secret = append(secret, ciphertext...)
-	return hkdf.Extract(sha256.New, secret, []byte(kemPSKSalt))
-}
-
-// kemEncapsulate is the responder half: encapsulate to the initiator's key,
-// install the psk, and remember the ciphertext to prefix the response with.
-func (m *Machine) kemEncapsulate(encapsulationKey []byte) error {
-	ek, err := mlkem.NewEncapsulationKey1024(encapsulationKey)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %w", ErrInvalidKEMKey, err)
-	}
-	sharedKey, ct := ek.Encapsulate()
-	psk, err := kemPSK(sharedKey, ct)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := m.hs.SetPresharedKey(psk); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	m.kemCiphertext = ct
-	return nil
-}
-
-// kemDecapsulate is the initiator half: recover the shared secret from the
-// ciphertext prefixing the response and install the psk. It returns the rest of
-// the message, which is the noise message.
-func (m *Machine) kemDecapsulate(msg []byte) ([]byte, error) {
-	if len(msg) < mlkem.CiphertextSize1024 {
-		return nil, ErrPacketTooShort
-	}
-	if m.kemKey == nil {
-		return nil, errors.New("no ML-KEM decapsulation key for this handshake")
-	}
-	ct := msg[:mlkem.CiphertextSize1024]
-	sharedKey, err := m.kemKey.Decapsulate(ct)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	psk, err := kemPSK(sharedKey, ct)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if err := m.hs.SetPresharedKey(psk); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return msg[mlkem.CiphertextSize1024:], nil
-}
-
 // KEMMLKEM1024 is ML-KEM-1024 for the noise library's hybrid patterns. Private
 // keys are the 64 byte seed, the same form v3 private keys store.
 var KEMMLKEM1024 noise.KEMFunc = kemMLKEM1024{}
diff --git a/handshake/kem_test.go b/handshake/kem_test.go
deleted file mode 100644
index c4f40b05..00000000
--- a/handshake/kem_test.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,208 +0,0 @@
-package handshake
-
-import (
-	"bytes"
-	"crypto/mlkem"
-	"net/netip"
-	"testing"
-	"time"
-
-	"github.com/DefinedNet/noise"
-	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert"
-	ct "github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert_test"
-	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/header"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-)
-
-func newKEMMachine(t *testing.T, cs *testCertState, v CertVerifier, initiator bool, index uint32) *Machine {
-	t.Helper()
-	m, err := NewMachine(
-		cs.version, cs.getCredential, v,
-		func() (uint32, error) { return index, nil },
-		initiator, header.HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024,
-	)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	return m
-}
-
-type kemFixture struct {
-	initCS, respCS *testCertState
-	v              CertVerifier
-}
-
-func newKEMFixture(t *testing.T, cipher noise.CipherFunc) kemFixture {
-	ca, _, caKey, _ := ct.NewTestCaCert(
-		cert.Version2, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, time.Time{}, time.Time{}, nil, nil, nil,
-	)
-	return kemFixture{
-		initCS: newTestCertStateWithCipher(t, ca, caKey, "initiator", []netip.Prefix{netip.MustParsePrefix("10.0.0.1/24")}, cipher),
-		respCS: newTestCertStateWithCipher(t, ca, caKey, "responder", []netip.Prefix{netip.MustParsePrefix("10.0.0.2/24")}, cipher),
-		v:      testVerifier(ct.NewTestCAPool(ca)),
-	}
-}
-
-func requireKeysMatch(t *testing.T, a, b *Result) {
-	t.Helper()
-	c, err := a.EKey.Encrypt(nil, nil, []byte("hello"))
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	p, err := b.DKey.Decrypt(nil, nil, c)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Equal(t, []byte("hello"), p)
-
-	c, err = b.EKey.Encrypt(nil, nil, []byte("world"))
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	p, err = a.DKey.Decrypt(nil, nil, c)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Equal(t, []byte("world"), p)
-}
-
-func TestKEMHandshake(t *testing.T) {
-	for _, cipher := range []noise.CipherFunc{noise.CipherChaChaPoly, noise.CipherAESGCM} {
-		t.Run(cipher.CipherName(), func(t *testing.T) {
-			f := newKEMFixture(t, cipher)
-			initM := newKEMMachine(t, f.initCS, f.v, true, 1000)
-			respM := newKEMMachine(t, f.respCS, f.v, false, 2000)
-
-			msg1, err := initM.Initiate(nil)
-			require.NoError(t, err)
-			assert.Equal(t, header.HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024, header.MessageSubType(msg1[1]))
-			assert.Greater(t, len(msg1), header.Len+mlkem.EncapsulationKeySize1024)
-
-			msg2, respR, err := respM.ProcessPacket(nil, msg1)
-			require.NoError(t, err)
-			require.NotNil(t, respR)
-			assert.Greater(t, len(msg2), header.Len+mlkem.CiphertextSize1024)
-
-			_, initR, err := initM.ProcessPacket(nil, msg2)
-			require.NoError(t, err)
-			require.NotNil(t, initR)
-
-			assert.Equal(t, "responder", initR.RemoteCert.Certificate.Name())
-			assert.Equal(t, "initiator", respR.RemoteCert.Certificate.Name())
-			assert.Equal(t, uint32(2000), initR.RemoteIndex)
-			assert.Equal(t, uint32(1000), respR.RemoteIndex)
-			requireKeysMatch(t, initR, respR)
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-// TestKEMSecretMatters checks the ML-KEM secret really reaches the transport
-// keys: an initiator holding a different decapsulation key cannot complete even
-// though every DH input is genuine.
-func TestKEMSecretMatters(t *testing.T) {
-	f := newKEMFixture(t, noise.CipherChaChaPoly)
-	initM := newKEMMachine(t, f.initCS, f.v, true, 1000)
-	respM := newKEMMachine(t, f.respCS, f.v, false, 2000)
-
-	msg1, err := initM.Initiate(nil)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	msg2, _, err := respM.ProcessPacket(nil, msg1)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	other, err := mlkem.GenerateKey1024()
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	initM.kemKey = other
-
-	_, res, err := initM.ProcessPacket(nil, msg2)
-	require.Error(t, err)
-	assert.Nil(t, res)
-}
-
-func TestKEMTamperedCiphertext(t *testing.T) {
-	f := newKEMFixture(t, noise.CipherChaChaPoly)
-	initM := newKEMMachine(t, f.initCS, f.v, true, 1000)
-	respM := newKEMMachine(t, f.respCS, f.v, false, 2000)
-
-	msg1, err := initM.Initiate(nil)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	msg2, respR, err := respM.ProcessPacket(nil, msg1)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	t.Run("truncated", func(t *testing.T) {
-		_, res, err := initM.ProcessPacket(nil, msg2[:header.Len+mlkem.CiphertextSize1024-1])
-		require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrPacketTooShort)
-		assert.Nil(t, res)
-		assert.False(t, initM.Failed())
-	})
-
-	t.Run("flipped ciphertext bit", func(t *testing.T) {
-		bad := bytes.Clone(msg2)
-		bad[header.Len+10] ^= 1
-		_, res, err := initM.ProcessPacket(nil, bad)
-		require.Error(t, err)
-		assert.Nil(t, res)
-		assert.False(t, initM.Failed(), "a forged ciphertext must not kill the handshake")
-	})
-
-	t.Run("genuine response still completes", func(t *testing.T) {
-		_, initR, err := initM.ProcessPacket(nil, msg2)
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-		require.NotNil(t, initR)
-		requireKeysMatch(t, initR, respR)
-	})
-}
-
-// TestKEMBadMsg1 drives processPayload by hand. With the psk modifier msg1's
-// payload is encrypted under a key derived from the public ephemeral, so a
-// forged payload would need re-encrypting; the parsing rules are what matter.
-func TestKEMBadMsg1(t *testing.T) {
-	f := newKEMFixture(t, noise.CipherChaChaPoly)
-	msg1Flags := subtypeInfos[header.HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024].msgs[0]
-	cert := f.initCS.creds[cert.Version2]
-	payload := func(kemKey []byte) []byte {
-		return MarshalPayload(nil, Payload{
-			Cert:           cert.Bytes,
-			CertVersion:    uint32(cert.Cert.Version()),
-			InitiatorIndex: 1000,
-			Time:           1,
-			KEMKey:         kemKey,
-		})
-	}
-	dk, err := mlkem.GenerateKey1024()
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	t.Run("missing KEM key", func(t *testing.T) {
-		m := newKEMMachine(t, f.respCS, f.v, false, 2000)
-		err := m.processPayload(payload(nil), msg1Flags)
-		require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrUnexpectedContent)
-		assert.True(t, m.Failed())
-	})
-
-	t.Run("invalid KEM key", func(t *testing.T) {
-		m := newKEMMachine(t, f.respCS, f.v, false, 2000)
-		// Coefficients of 0xfff exceed the modulus, which ML-KEM must reject.
-		bad := bytes.Repeat([]byte{0xff}, mlkem.EncapsulationKeySize1024)
-		err := m.kemEncapsulate(bad)
-		require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrInvalidKEMKey)
-		err = m.kemEncapsulate(bad[:100])
-		require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrInvalidKEMKey)
-	})
-
-	t.Run("valid KEM key", func(t *testing.T) {
-		m := newKEMMachine(t, f.respCS, f.v, false, 2000)
-		require.NoError(t, m.kemEncapsulate(dk.EncapsulationKey().Bytes()))
-		assert.Len(t, m.kemCiphertext, mlkem.CiphertextSize1024)
-	})
-
-	t.Run("KEM key on the classical subtype", func(t *testing.T) {
-		m := newTestMachine(t, f.respCS, f.v, false, 2000)
-		classical := subtypeInfos[header.HandshakeIXPSK0].msgs[0]
-		err := m.processPayload(payload(dk.EncapsulationKey().Bytes()), classical)
-		require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrUnexpectedContent)
-		assert.True(t, m.Failed())
-	})
-}
-
-// TestKEMDistinctFromClassical makes sure the two subtypes cannot be mixed: a
-// classical responder cannot answer a KEM initiator.
-func TestKEMDistinctFromClassical(t *testing.T) {
-	f := newKEMFixture(t, noise.CipherChaChaPoly)
-	initM := newKEMMachine(t, f.initCS, f.v, true, 1000)
-	respM := newTestMachine(t, f.respCS, f.v, false, 2000)
-
-	msg1, err := initM.Initiate(nil)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	_, _, err = respM.ProcessPacket(nil, msg1)
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrSubtypeMismatch)
-}
diff --git a/handshake/machine.go b/handshake/machine.go
index f879bc5e..5337b5ad 100644
--- a/handshake/machine.go
+++ b/handshake/machine.go
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@ package handshake
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
-	"crypto/mlkem"
-	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"slices"
 	"time"
@@ -70,9 +68,6 @@ type Machine struct {
 	remoteCertSet  bool
 	payloadSet     bool
 	failed         bool
-
-	kemKey        *mlkem.DecapsulationKey1024 // initiator's ephemeral ML-KEM key, until completion
-	kemCiphertext []byte                      // responder's ciphertext to prefix its response with
 }
 
 // NewMachine creates a handshake state machine. The subtype determines both
@@ -93,7 +88,7 @@ func NewMachine(
 	}
 
 	// Version 3 certificates go with hybrid patterns and nothing else, the
-	// classical and phase 1 subtypes use the v2 form instead.
+	// classical subtype uses the v2 form instead.
 	hybrid := info.kem != nil
 	if hybrid != (version == cert.Version3) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %v", ErrCertVersionMismatch, version)
@@ -246,18 +241,7 @@ func (m *Machine) ProcessPacket(out, packet []byte) ([]byte, *Result, error) {
 		return nil, nil, ErrInitiateNotCalled
 	}
 
-	noiseMsg := packet[header.Len:]
-	if m.myMsgFlags().kemCiphertext {
-		var err error
-		// Installing a psk derived from a forged ciphertext is harmless: ReadMessage
-		// then fails without advancing, and the next packet installs its own.
-		noiseMsg, err = m.kemDecapsulate(noiseMsg)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, nil, err
-		}
-	}
-
-	msg, cs1, cs2, err := m.hs.ReadMessage(nil, noiseMsg)
+	msg, cs1, cs2, err := m.hs.ReadMessage(nil, packet[header.Len:])
 	eKey, dKey := m.cipherStates(cs1, cs2)
 	if err != nil {
 		// Noise ReadMessage failed. The noise library checkpoints and rolls back
@@ -318,8 +302,6 @@ func (m *Machine) cipherStates(cs1, cs2 *noise.CipherState) (*noise.CipherState,
 }
 
 func (m *Machine) completed(eKey, dKey *noise.CipherState) *Result {
-	m.kemKey = nil
-	m.kemCiphertext = nil
 	m.result.EKey = eKey
 	m.result.DKey = dKey
 	m.result.MessageIndex = uint64(m.hs.MessageIndex())
@@ -328,7 +310,7 @@ func (m *Machine) completed(eKey, dKey *noise.CipherState) *Result {
 
 func (m *Machine) processPayload(msg []byte, flags msgFlags) error {
 	if len(msg) == 0 {
-		if flags.expectsPayload || flags.expectsCert || flags.kemKey {
+		if flags.expectsPayload || flags.expectsCert {
 			m.failed = true
 			return ErrMissingContent
 		}
@@ -354,12 +336,6 @@ func (m *Machine) processPayload(msg []byte, flags msgFlags) error {
 		return ErrUnexpectedContent
 	}
 
-	hasKEMKey := len(payload.KEMKey) > 0
-	if hasKEMKey != flags.kemKey {
-		m.failed = true
-		return ErrUnexpectedContent
-	}
-
 	// Process payload
 	if flags.expectsPayload {
 		var remoteIndex uint32
@@ -386,13 +362,6 @@ func (m *Machine) processPayload(msg []byte, flags msgFlags) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if flags.kemKey {
-		if err := m.kemEncapsulate(payload.KEMKey); err != nil {
-			m.failed = true
-			return err
-		}
-	}
-
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -462,21 +431,11 @@ func (m *Machine) validateCert(payload Payload) error {
 }
 
 func (m *Machine) marshalOutgoing(flags msgFlags) ([]byte, error) {
-	if !flags.expectsPayload && !flags.expectsCert && !flags.kemKey {
+	if !flags.expectsPayload && !flags.expectsCert {
 		return nil, nil
 	}
 
 	var p Payload
-	if flags.kemKey {
-		if m.kemKey == nil {
-			dk, err := mlkem.GenerateKey1024()
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("generate ML-KEM key: %w", err)
-			}
-			m.kemKey = dk
-		}
-		p.KEMKey = m.kemKey.EncapsulationKey().Bytes()
-	}
 	if flags.expectsPayload {
 		if !m.indexAllocated {
 			index, err := m.allocIndex()
@@ -528,13 +487,6 @@ func (m *Machine) buildResponse(out []byte) ([]byte, *noise.CipherState, *noise.
 		uint64(m.hs.MessageIndex()+1),
 	)
 
-	if flags.kemCiphertext {
-		if m.kemCiphertext == nil {
-			return nil, nil, nil, errors.New("no ML-KEM ciphertext to send")
-		}
-		out = append(out, m.kemCiphertext...)
-	}
-
 	// noise.WriteMessage appends the encrypted handshake message to out,
 	// reusing capacity when present.
 	out, cs1, cs2, err := m.hs.WriteMessage(out, hsBytes)
diff --git a/handshake/patterns.go b/handshake/patterns.go
index d27390f1..ebd8e61a 100644
--- a/handshake/patterns.go
+++ b/handshake/patterns.go
@@ -12,16 +12,13 @@ import (
 type msgFlags struct {
 	expectsPayload bool // message carries indexes and time
 	expectsCert    bool // message carries the certificate
-	kemKey         bool // payload carries an ML-KEM encapsulation key
-	kemCiphertext  bool // message is prefixed with the ML-KEM ciphertext for the peer's key
 }
 
 // subtypeInfo bundles the noise pattern with the per-message flags for a
 // given handshake subtype.
 type subtypeInfo struct {
-	pattern      noise.HandshakePattern
-	pskPlacement int // noise psk modifier position, 0 means no psk token
-	msgs         []msgFlags
+	pattern noise.HandshakePattern
+	msgs    []msgFlags
 
 	// kem is the KEM of a hybrid pattern, nil for any other. Hybrid patterns
 	// carry composite static keys and need version 3 certificates on both
@@ -41,22 +38,6 @@ var subtypeInfos = map[header.MessageSubType]subtypeInfo{
 		},
 	},
 
-	// IX with an ephemeral ML-KEM-1024 exchange:
-	//   msg1 (I->R): payload + cert + encapsulation key
-	//   msg2 (R->I): ciphertext || noise(payload + cert)
-	// The responder encapsulates after reading msg1 and mixes the shared secret in
-	// through the psk2 token at the end of msg2. The ciphertext travels outside the
-	// noise message because the initiator needs the secret before it can process
-	// that token.
-	header.HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024: {
-		pattern:      noise.HandshakeIX,
-		pskPlacement: 2,
-		msgs: []msgFlags{
-			{expectsPayload: true, expectsCert: true, kemKey: true},
-			{expectsPayload: true, expectsCert: true, kemCiphertext: true},
-		},
-	},
-
 	// Hybrid IX (github.com/DefinedNet/noise, see its PQ_RESEARCH.md):
 	//   msg1 (I->R): e, s                          payload + cert
 	//   msg2 (R->I): ekem, skem, e, ee, se, s, es  payload + cert
diff --git a/handshake/payload.go b/handshake/payload.go
index 93ebf061..4567fc0d 100644
--- a/handshake/payload.go
+++ b/handshake/payload.go
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ type Payload struct {
 	ResponderIndex uint32
 	Time           uint64
 	CertVersion    uint32
-	KEMKey         []byte // ML-KEM encapsulation key, only in subtypes that carry one
 }
 
 // Proto field numbers for NebulaHandshakeDetails
@@ -30,7 +29,6 @@ const (
 	fieldResponderIndex = 3 // uint32
 	fieldTime           = 5 // uint64
 	fieldCertVersion    = 8 // uint32
-	fieldKEMKey         = 9 // bytes
 )
 
 // MarshalPayload encodes a handshake payload in protobuf wire format compatible
@@ -59,10 +57,6 @@ func MarshalPayload(out []byte, p Payload) []byte {
 		details = protowire.AppendTag(details, fieldCertVersion, protowire.VarintType)
 		details = protowire.AppendVarint(details, uint64(p.CertVersion))
 	}
-	if len(p.KEMKey) > 0 {
-		details = protowire.AppendTag(details, fieldKEMKey, protowire.BytesType)
-		details = protowire.AppendBytes(details, p.KEMKey)
-	}
 
 	out = protowire.AppendTag(out, 1, protowire.BytesType)
 	out = protowire.AppendBytes(out, details)
@@ -167,16 +161,6 @@ func unmarshalPayloadDetails(p *Payload, b []byte) error {
 			}
 			p.CertVersion = uint32(v)
 			b = b[n:]
-		case fieldKEMKey:
-			if typ != protowire.BytesType {
-				return errInvalidHandshakeDetails
-			}
-			v, n := protowire.ConsumeBytes(b)
-			if n < 0 {
-				return errInvalidHandshakeDetails
-			}
-			p.KEMKey = append([]byte(nil), v...)
-			b = b[n:]
 		default:
 			n := protowire.ConsumeFieldValue(num, typ, b)
 			if n < 0 {
diff --git a/handshake_manager.go b/handshake_manager.go
index 0c76ddf3..96704ad7 100644
--- a/handshake_manager.go
+++ b/handshake_manager.go
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ func (hm *HandshakeManager) HandleIncoming(via ViaSender, packet []byte, h *head
 	// don't yet support) are dropped here rather than silently routed through
 	// the IX path. Add a case when introducing a new pattern.
 	switch {
-	case h.Subtype == header.HandshakeIXPSK0, h.Subtype == header.HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024, handshake.IsHybrid(h.Subtype):
+	case h.Subtype == header.HandshakeIXPSK0, handshake.IsHybrid(h.Subtype):
 		// supported
 	default:
 		hm.l.Debug("dropping handshake with unsupported subtype",
@@ -870,6 +870,13 @@ func (hm *HandshakeManager) beginHandshake(via ViaSender, packet []byte, h *head
 		return
 	}
 
+	// A classical attempt crossing the peer's hybrid one goes unanswered.
+	if !handshake.IsHybrid(machine.Subtype()) && hm.crossesHybrid(vpnAddrs, time.Now()) {
+		f.l.Debug("Ignoring classical handshake that crossed a hybrid one",
+			"vpnAddrs", vpnAddrs, "from", via, "window", hm.hybridWindow())
+		return
+	}
+
 	connState, err := newConnectionStateFromResult(result)
 	if err != nil {
 		f.l.Error("Discarding handshake with an invalid message index", "error", err, "vpnAddrs", vpnAddrs)
diff --git a/handshake_manager_hybrid.go b/handshake_manager_hybrid.go
index 76ee3c44..84ee5da1 100644
--- a/handshake_manager_hybrid.go
+++ b/handshake_manager_hybrid.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"log/slog"
+	"net/netip"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
@@ -60,15 +61,63 @@ type hybridState struct {
 
 	confirmsMu sync.Mutex
 	confirms   map[*HostInfo]*hybridConfirm
+
+	// answered holds when this responder answered each peer's latest new
+	// hybrid msg1, for the crossing window.
+	answeredMu sync.Mutex
+	answered   map[netip.Addr]time.Time
 }
 
 func newHybridState() hybridState {
 	return hybridState{
 		responders: map[uint32]*HandshakeHostInfo{},
 		confirms:   map[*HostInfo]*hybridConfirm{},
+		answered:   map[netip.Addr]time.Time{},
 	}
 }
 
+// A peer that sent a hybrid msg1 alternates, and its first classical attempt
+// follows anywhere from right away to three retry intervals later: the retry
+// timer is set one interval out, lands two slots ahead on the timer wheel, and
+// the wheel only moves on whole ticks of the manager's clock. Answering that
+// classical msg1 races the hybrid handshake and leaves a classical tunnel behind
+// on the responder whichever wins. So for four retry intervals after answering a
+// peer's hybrid msg1, its classical msg1s go unanswered; the crossing one arrives
+// within that wherever the round trip, since both travel the same path. The
+// window is short on purpose: an initiator whose hybrid attempt fails on its own
+// side, say one that does not trust our v3 CA yet, still gets a classical answer
+// to a later attempt. Blocking for as long as any hybrid state remains would
+// refuse it until its handshake timed out, and its next handshake would start
+// with a hybrid msg1 again.
+
+// hybridWindow is how long classical msg1s go unanswered after a hybrid msg1.
+func (hm *HandshakeManager) hybridWindow() time.Duration {
+	return 4 * hm.config.tryInterval
+}
+
+// noteHybridMsg1 opens the crossing window for a peer whose new hybrid msg1 this
+// responder answered.
+func (hm *HandshakeManager) noteHybridMsg1(vpnAddrs []netip.Addr, now time.Time) {
+	hm.hybrid.answeredMu.Lock()
+	defer hm.hybrid.answeredMu.Unlock()
+	for _, a := range vpnAddrs {
+		hm.hybrid.answered[a] = now
+	}
+}
+
+// crossesHybrid reports whether a classical msg1 from a peer arrived within the
+// crossing window of its hybrid msg1.
+func (hm *HandshakeManager) crossesHybrid(vpnAddrs []netip.Addr, now time.Time) bool {
+	hm.hybrid.answeredMu.Lock()
+	defer hm.hybrid.answeredMu.Unlock()
+	for _, a := range vpnAddrs {
+		if at, ok := hm.hybrid.answered[a]; ok && now.Sub(at) < hm.hybridWindow() {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 // awaitMsg3 keeps a responder's hybrid handshake pending after msg1, and sends
 // msg2. hh is already in the indexes under the local index the Machine
 // allocated.
@@ -128,6 +177,7 @@ func (hm *HandshakeManager) awaitMsg3(via ViaSender, hh *HandshakeHostInfo, mach
 
 	hm.sendHandshakeResponse(via, response, hostinfo, false, received)
 	hm.pqAnswered.add(packet[header.Len:], hostinfo, now)
+	hm.noteHybridMsg1(vpnAddrs, now)
 }
 
 // continueHybridResponder collects msg3 fragments for a pending responder and
@@ -294,6 +344,14 @@ func (hm *HandshakeManager) isHybridResponder(index uint32) bool {
 
 // expireHybridResponders drops responders that never got their msg3.
 func (hm *HandshakeManager) expireHybridResponders(now time.Time) {
+	hm.hybrid.answeredMu.Lock()
+	for a, at := range hm.hybrid.answered {
+		if now.Sub(at) >= hm.hybridWindow() {
+			delete(hm.hybrid.answered, a)
+		}
+	}
+	hm.hybrid.answeredMu.Unlock()
+
 	hm.Lock()
 	defer hm.Unlock()
 	for idx, hh := range hm.hybrid.responders {
diff --git a/handshake_manager_pq.go b/handshake_manager_pq.go
index d6d9c5a1..a4370d29 100644
--- a/handshake_manager_pq.go
+++ b/handshake_manager_pq.go
@@ -72,6 +72,17 @@ func (hm *HandshakeManager) pqConfig() *pqHandshakeConfig {
 	return hm.pq.Load()
 }
 
+// warnPQWithoutV3 says so when post-quantum settings are on but the node has no
+// version 3 certificate: post-quantum handshakes are hybrid only, so they do
+// nothing until it has one. require is refused outright when loading pki.
+func warnPQWithoutV3(l *slog.Logger, cfg pqHandshakeConfig, cs *CertState) {
+	if _, ok := cs.hybridSubtype(); ok || !(cfg.initiate || cfg.accept || cfg.sticky) {
+		return
+	}
+	l.Warn("handshakes.pq has no effect without a version 3 certificate in pki.cert",
+		"initiate", cfg.initiate, "accept", cfg.accept, "sticky", cfg.sticky)
+}
+
 // reloadPQ applies changed post-quantum settings. Handshakes already in flight
 // keep going; the new settings apply to the next attempt and packet.
 func (hm *HandshakeManager) reloadPQ(c *config.C) {
@@ -80,6 +91,12 @@ func (hm *HandshakeManager) reloadPQ(c *config.C) {
 	}
 	old := hm.pqConfig()
 	cfg := pqHandshakeConfigFrom(c)
+	cs := hm.f.pki.getCertState()
+	if _, ok := cs.hybridSubtype(); cfg.require && !ok {
+		hm.l.Error("Refusing handshakes.pq.require without a version 3 certificate in pki.cert, keeping the previous settings")
+		return
+	}
+	warnPQWithoutV3(hm.l, cfg, cs)
 	hm.pq.Store(&cfg)
 	hm.l.Info("Post-quantum handshake settings changed",
 		"initiate", cfg.initiate, "oldInitiate", old.initiate,
@@ -220,6 +237,9 @@ func reassembled(h *header.H, msg []byte) []byte {
 // it, so classical stops getting turns.
 func (hm *HandshakeManager) usePQ(hh *HandshakeHostInfo, vpnIp netip.Addr, triggered bool) bool {
 	cfg := hm.pqConfig()
+	if _, ok := hm.f.pki.getCertState().hybridSubtype(); !ok {
+		return false
+	}
 	switch {
 	case !cfg.initiate, hh.noPQ:
 		return false
@@ -281,11 +301,11 @@ func (hm *HandshakeManager) relayEstablished(target netip.Addr, relayHI *HostInf
 func (hm *HandshakeManager) buildPQAttempt(hh *HandshakeHostInfo) bool {
 	cs := hm.f.pki.getCertState()
 	v := hm.initiatingVersion(hh, cs)
-	subtype := header.HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024
-	if st, ok := cs.hybridSubtype(); ok {
-		v = cert.Version3
-		subtype = st
+	subtype, ok := cs.hybridSubtype()
+	if !ok {
+		return false
 	}
+	v = cert.Version3
 	if cs.GetCredential(v) == nil {
 		hm.f.l.Error("Unable to handshake with host because no certificate is available",
 			"vpnAddrs", hh.hostinfo.vpnAddrs, "certVersion", v)
@@ -410,23 +430,17 @@ func (hm *HandshakeManager) handleFragment(via ViaSender, packet []byte, h *head
 			hm.l.Debug("dropping post-quantum handshake, not accepting them", "from", via)
 			return
 		}
-		hybrid := handshake.IsHybrid(h.Subtype)
-		if hybrid || cfg.require {
-			mine, hasV3 := hm.f.pki.getCertState().hybridSubtype()
-			switch {
-			case hybrid && !hasV3:
-				hm.l.Debug("dropping hybrid handshake, no v3 certificate to answer it with", "from", via)
-				return
-			case hybrid && h.Subtype != mine:
-				// The peer's suite uses another KEM. Like a peer without PQ, it
-				// falls back to classical unless either side requires PQ.
-				hm.l.Debug("dropping hybrid handshake, our v3 certificate's suite uses another KEM", "from", via,
-					"style", header.SubTypeName(header.Handshake, h.Subtype), "ours", header.SubTypeName(header.Handshake, mine))
-				return
-			case !hybrid && hasV3:
-				hm.l.Debug("dropping post-quantum handshake, hybrid handshakes are required", "from", via)
-				return
-			}
+		mine, hasV3 := hm.f.pki.getCertState().hybridSubtype()
+		switch {
+		case !hasV3:
+			hm.l.Debug("dropping hybrid handshake, no v3 certificate to answer it with", "from", via)
+			return
+		case h.Subtype != mine:
+			// The peer's suite uses another KEM. Like a peer without PQ, it
+			// falls back to classical unless either side requires PQ.
+			hm.l.Debug("dropping hybrid handshake, our v3 certificate's suite uses another KEM", "from", via,
+				"style", header.SubTypeName(header.Handshake, h.Subtype), "ours", header.SubTypeName(header.Handshake, mine))
+			return
 		}
 		if h.RemoteIndex != 0 {
 			hm.l.Debug("dropping stage-1 handshake with non-zero RemoteIndex",
diff --git a/handshake_manager_pq_test.go b/handshake_manager_pq_test.go
index 673c599f..8da03755 100644
--- a/handshake_manager_pq_test.go
+++ b/handshake_manager_pq_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert_test"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/handshake/fragment"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/header"
@@ -49,11 +51,26 @@ func newPQTestManager(t *testing.T) (*HandshakeManager, *recordingConn) {
 		handshakeManager: hm,
 		outside:          conn,
 		messageMetrics:   newMessageMetricsOnlyRecvError(),
+		pki:              newV3TestPKI(t),
 		l:                l,
 	}
 	return hm, conn
 }
 
+// newV3TestPKI holds a version 3 certificate, which post-quantum handshakes need.
+func newV3TestPKI(t *testing.T) *PKI {
+	t.Helper()
+	ca, _, caKey, _ := cert_test.NewTestCaCert(cert.Version3, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, time.Time{}, time.Time{}, nil, nil, nil)
+	c, _, keyPEM, _ := cert_test.NewTestCert(cert.Version3, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, ca, caKey, "me", time.Time{}, time.Time{}, []netip.Prefix{netip.MustParsePrefix("10.0.0.1/24")}, nil, nil)
+	key, _, curve, err := cert.UnmarshalPrivateKeyFromPEM(keyPEM)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	cs, err := newCertState(cert.Version2, nil, cert.V2Form(c), c, false, curve, key, "aes")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	p := &PKI{}
+	p.cs.Store(cs)
+	return p
+}
+
 // fragmentIndexes checks every packet is a fragment of the expected response and
 // returns their symbol indexes.
 func fragmentIndexes(t *testing.T, pkts [][]byte, fragID, remoteIndex uint32) []int {
@@ -63,7 +80,7 @@ func fragmentIndexes(t *testing.T, pkts [][]byte, fragID, remoteIndex uint32) []
 		require.LessOrEqual(t, len(p), fragment.MaxPacketLen)
 		var h header.H
 		require.NoError(t, h.Parse(p))
-		assert.Equal(t, header.HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024, h.Subtype)
+		assert.Equal(t, header.HandshakeIXHybridMLKEM1024, h.Subtype)
 		assert.Equal(t, remoteIndex, h.RemoteIndex)
 		assert.Equal(t, uint64(2), h.MessageCounter)
 		fh, _, err := fragment.Parse(p[header.Len:])
@@ -81,7 +98,7 @@ func TestSendFragmentedResponse(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// A 2000 byte message is 2 symbols of 1000, so packets of 1024 bytes.
 	msg := make([]byte, header.Len, header.Len+2000)
-	header.Encode(msg, header.Version, header.Handshake, header.HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024, 5, 2)
+	header.Encode(msg, header.Version, header.Handshake, header.HandshakeIXHybridMLKEM1024, 5, 2)
 	r := rand.New(rand.NewPCG(1, 1))
 	for range 2000 {
 		msg = append(msg, byte(r.Uint32()))
@@ -184,7 +201,7 @@ func TestPQCookies(t *testing.T) {
 // pqMsg1Fragment builds the first fragment of a msg1, optionally with a cookie.
 func pqMsg1Fragment(t *testing.T, fragID uint32, cookie *fragment.Cookie) ([]byte, *header.H) {
 	t.Helper()
-	s, err := fragment.NewSender(make([]byte, 2000), header.HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024, 0, 1, fragID)
+	s, err := fragment.NewSender(make([]byte, 2000), header.HandshakeIXHybridMLKEM1024, 0, 1, fragID)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	if cookie != nil {
 		s.SetCookie(*cookie)
@@ -239,7 +256,7 @@ func TestPQCookieUnderLoad(t *testing.T) {
 		var rh header.H
 		require.NoError(t, rh.Parse(reply))
 		assert.Equal(t, header.Handshake, rh.Type)
-		assert.Equal(t, header.HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024, rh.Subtype)
+		assert.Equal(t, header.HandshakeIXHybridMLKEM1024, rh.Subtype)
 		assert.Equal(t, uint32(7), rh.RemoteIndex, "the reply names the initiator's FragID")
 		assert.Equal(t, uint64(pqCookieCounter), rh.MessageCounter)
 		copy(cookie[:], reply[header.Len:])
@@ -271,7 +288,7 @@ func TestPQCookieUnderLoad(t *testing.T) {
 
 	t.Run("a reply never outgrows what prompted it", func(t *testing.T) {
 		p, h := pqMsg1Fragment(t, 8, nil)
-		hm.sendCookie(via, header.HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024, fragment.Header{FragID: 8}, pqFragKey{}, pqCookieReplyLen-1, time.Now())
+		hm.sendCookie(via, header.HandshakeIXHybridMLKEM1024, fragment.Header{FragID: 8}, pqFragKey{}, pqCookieReplyLen-1, time.Now())
 		assert.Empty(t, conn.take())
 		hm.handleFragment(via, p, h)
 		assert.Len(t, conn.take(), 1)
@@ -282,7 +299,7 @@ func TestPQHandleCookie(t *testing.T) {
 	hm, conn := newPQTestManager(t)
 	via := ViaSender{UdpAddr: netip.MustParseAddrPort("192.0.2.1:4242")}
 
-	s, err := fragment.NewSender(make([]byte, 2000), header.HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024, 0, 1, 99)
+	s, err := fragment.NewSender(make([]byte, 2000), header.HandshakeIXHybridMLKEM1024, 0, 1, 99)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	_, _, err = s.Attempt(2)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -290,7 +307,7 @@ func TestPQHandleCookie(t *testing.T) {
 	hm.indexes[99] = hh
 
 	reply := make([]byte, header.Len, pqCookieReplyLen)
-	header.Encode(reply, header.Version, header.Handshake, header.HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024, 99, pqCookieCounter)
+	header.Encode(reply, header.Version, header.Handshake, header.HandshakeIXHybridMLKEM1024, 99, pqCookieCounter)
 	reply = append(reply, bytes16(0xab)...)
 	var h header.H
 	require.NoError(t, h.Parse(reply))
@@ -312,7 +329,7 @@ func TestPQHandleCookie(t *testing.T) {
 
 	t.Run("replies for other indexes are ignored", func(t *testing.T) {
 		other := append([]byte(nil), reply...)
-		header.Encode(other, header.Version, header.Handshake, header.HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024, 98, pqCookieCounter)
+		header.Encode(other, header.Version, header.Handshake, header.HandshakeIXHybridMLKEM1024, 98, pqCookieCounter)
 		var oh header.H
 		require.NoError(t, oh.Parse(other))
 		hh.pq.cookieResendAt = time.Time{}
@@ -336,6 +353,7 @@ func TestReloadPQ(t *testing.T) {
 	cfg := defaultHandshakeConfig
 	cfg.pq = pqHandshakeConfigFrom(c)
 	hm := NewHandshakeManager(l, newHostMap(l), newTestLighthouse(), &udp.NoopConn{}, cfg)
+	hm.f = &Interface{pki: newV3TestPKI(t)}
 	c.RegisterReloadCallback(hm.reloadPQ)
 
 	assert.Equal(t, pqHandshakeConfig{repairDelay: DefaultPQRepairDelay}, *hm.pqConfig())
@@ -394,7 +412,7 @@ func TestUsePQ(t *testing.T) {
 
 	set(pqHandshakeConfig{initiate: true, sticky: true})
 	assert.Equal(t, []bool{true, false}, attempts(false, false), "sticky alternates until the peer has done PQ")
-	hm.notePQPeer(header.HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024, []netip.Addr{peer})
+	hm.notePQPeer(header.HandshakeIXHybridMLKEM1024, []netip.Addr{peer})
 	assert.Equal(t, []bool{true, true, true}, attempts(false, false, false), "then only PQ")
 }
 
@@ -528,3 +546,59 @@ func TestPQMsg2Slots(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.False(t, hh.pq.heard)
 	})
 }
+
+// Post-quantum handshakes are hybrid only, so without a version 3 certificate
+// there is nothing to initiate and require is refused.
+func TestPQNeedsV3(t *testing.T) {
+	l := test.NewLogger()
+	ca, _, caKey, _ := cert_test.NewTestCaCert(cert.Version2, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, time.Time{}, time.Time{}, nil, nil, nil)
+	c2, _, keyPEM, _ := cert_test.NewTestCert(cert.Version2, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, ca, caKey, "me", time.Time{}, time.Time{}, []netip.Prefix{netip.MustParsePrefix("10.0.0.1/24")}, nil, nil)
+	key, _, curve, err := cert.UnmarshalPrivateKeyFromPEM(keyPEM)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	cs, err := newCertState(cert.Version2, nil, c2, nil, false, curve, key, "aes")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	v2PKI := &PKI{}
+	v2PKI.cs.Store(cs)
+
+	hm := NewHandshakeManager(l, newHostMap(l), newTestLighthouse(), &udp.NoopConn{}, defaultHandshakeConfig)
+	hm.f = &Interface{pki: v2PKI}
+	hm.pq.Store(&pqHandshakeConfig{initiate: true, accept: true})
+	assert.False(t, hm.usePQ(&HandshakeHostInfo{counter: 1}, netip.MustParseAddr("10.0.0.2"), false), "no v3 certificate, no hybrid attempt")
+
+	conf := config.NewC(l)
+	require.NoError(t, conf.LoadString(`handshakes: {pq: {initiate: true}}`))
+	conf.RegisterReloadCallback(hm.reloadPQ)
+	require.NoError(t, conf.ReloadConfigString(`handshakes: {pq: {require: true}}`))
+	assert.False(t, hm.pqConfig().require, "require without a v3 certificate is refused on reload")
+
+	// And when loading the pki.
+	certPEM, err := c2.MarshalPEM()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	conf = config.NewC(l)
+	conf.Settings["pki"] = map[string]any{"cert": string(certPEM), "key": string(keyPEM)}
+	conf.Settings["handshakes"] = map[string]any{"pq": map[string]any{"require": true}}
+	_, err = newCertStateFromConfig(conf, "aes")
+	require.ErrorContains(t, err, "handshakes.pq.require needs a version 3 certificate")
+}
+
+// After answering a peer's hybrid msg1, its classical msg1s go unanswered for
+// four retry intervals, and only for that peer.
+func TestHybridCrossingWindow(t *testing.T) {
+	hm, _ := newPQTestManager(t)
+	peer := []netip.Addr{netip.MustParseAddr("10.1.0.1")}
+	other := []netip.Addr{netip.MustParseAddr("10.1.0.2")}
+	now := time.Unix(1000, 0)
+	w := 4 * hm.config.tryInterval
+	assert.Equal(t, w, hm.hybridWindow())
+
+	assert.False(t, hm.crossesHybrid(peer, now))
+	hm.noteHybridMsg1(peer, now)
+	assert.True(t, hm.crossesHybrid(peer, now.Add(w-time.Millisecond)))
+	assert.False(t, hm.crossesHybrid(peer, now.Add(w)))
+	assert.False(t, hm.crossesHybrid(other, now))
+
+	hm.expireHybridResponders(now.Add(w))
+	hm.hybrid.answeredMu.Lock()
+	assert.Empty(t, hm.hybrid.answered, "expired windows are forgotten")
+	hm.hybrid.answeredMu.Unlock()
+}
diff --git a/header/header.go b/header/header.go
index e8e5829d..d6f5cef4 100644
--- a/header/header.go
+++ b/header/header.go
@@ -68,10 +68,8 @@ const (
 	HandshakeIXPSK0 MessageSubType = 0
 	HandshakeXXPSK0 MessageSubType = 1
 
-	// HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024 is IX with an ephemeral ML-KEM-1024 exchange mixed
-	// in through the psk2 slot. Its messages exceed the MTU and travel as
-	// fragments (see handshake/fragment).
-	HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024 MessageSubType = 2
+	// 2 was ix_psk2_mlkem1024, an ephemeral ML-KEM exchange over IX on version 2
+	// certificates that was never released. Do not reuse it.
 
 	// HandshakeIXHybridMLKEM1024 is the hybrid IX of github.com/DefinedNet/noise:
 	// IX with X25519 or P256 and ML-KEM-1024 side by side, authenticated by
@@ -82,7 +80,7 @@ const (
 // IsFragmented reports whether handshake messages of this subtype travel as
 // fragments.
 func IsFragmented(st MessageSubType) bool {
-	return st == HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024 || st == HandshakeIXHybridMLKEM1024
+	return st == HandshakeIXHybridMLKEM1024
 }
 
 var ErrHeaderTooShort = errors.New("header is too short")
@@ -105,7 +103,6 @@ var subTypeMap = map[MessageType]*map[MessageSubType]string{
 	CloseTunnel: &subTypeNoneMap,
 	Handshake: {
 		HandshakeIXPSK0:            "ix_psk0",
-		HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024:   "ix_psk2_mlkem1024",
 		HandshakeIXHybridMLKEM1024: "ix_hybrid_mlkem1024",
 	},
 	Control: &subTypeNoneMap,
@@ -217,7 +214,7 @@ func IsValidSubType(t MessageType, s MessageSubType) bool {
 	case Message:
 		return s == MessageNone || s == MessageRelay
 	case Handshake:
-		return s == HandshakeIXPSK0 || s == HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024 || s == HandshakeIXHybridMLKEM1024
+		return s == HandshakeIXPSK0 || s == HandshakeIXHybridMLKEM1024
 	case Test:
 		return s == TestReply || s == TestRequest
 	case Control, CloseTunnel, RecvError, LightHouse:
diff --git a/header/header_test.go b/header/header_test.go
index 505040d3..cb259c57 100644
--- a/header/header_test.go
+++ b/header/header_test.go
@@ -97,7 +97,6 @@ func TestTypeMap(t *testing.T) {
 		CloseTunnel: &subTypeNoneMap,
 		Handshake: {
 			HandshakeIXPSK0:            "ix_psk0",
-			HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024:   "ix_psk2_mlkem1024",
 			HandshakeIXHybridMLKEM1024: "ix_hybrid_mlkem1024",
 		},
 		Control: &subTypeNoneMap,
@@ -124,7 +123,9 @@ func TestIsValidSubType(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.False(t, IsValidSubType(Message, 2))
 
 	assert.True(t, IsValidSubType(Handshake, HandshakeIXPSK0))
-	assert.True(t, IsValidSubType(Handshake, HandshakeIXPSK2MLKEM1024))
+	assert.True(t, IsValidSubType(Handshake, HandshakeIXHybridMLKEM1024))
+	// 2 was the unreleased ix_psk2_mlkem1024 and stays reserved.
+	assert.False(t, IsValidSubType(Handshake, 2))
 	// HandshakeXXPSK0 is defined but not a wire-valid subtype.
 	assert.False(t, IsValidSubType(Handshake, HandshakeXXPSK0))
 
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 21168481..1f5d2b41 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -235,6 +235,7 @@ func Main(c *config.C, configTest bool, buildVersion string, l *slog.Logger, dev
 		pq:             pqHandshakeConfigFrom(c),
 	}
 
+	warnPQWithoutV3(l, handshakeConfig.pq, pki.getCertState())
 	handshakeManager := NewHandshakeManager(l, hostMap, lightHouse, udpConns[0], handshakeConfig)
 	c.RegisterReloadCallback(handshakeManager.reloadPQ)
 	lightHouse.handshakeTrigger = handshakeManager.trigger
diff --git a/pki.go b/pki.go
index 893c258c..3a88b431 100644
--- a/pki.go
+++ b/pki.go
@@ -222,7 +222,6 @@ func (cs *CertState) GetDefaultCertificate() cert.Certificate {
 // DefaultVersion returns the preferred cert version for initiating handshakes.
 func (cs *CertState) DefaultVersion() cert.Version { return cs.initiatingVersion }
 
-// GetCredential returns the pre-computed handshake credential for the given version, or nil.
 // hybridSubtype returns the hybrid handshake subtype for the KEM of the v3
 // certificate's suite, false without a v3 certificate.
 func (cs *CertState) hybridSubtype() (header.MessageSubType, bool) {
@@ -232,6 +231,7 @@ func (cs *CertState) hybridSubtype() (header.MessageSubType, bool) {
 	return handshake.HybridSubtype(cert.PQSuiteOf(cs.v3Cert))
 }
 
+// GetCredential returns the pre-computed handshake credential for the given version, or nil.
 func (cs *CertState) GetCredential(v cert.Version) *handshake.Credential {
 	switch v {
 	case cert.Version1:
@@ -446,6 +446,12 @@ func newCertStateFromConfig(c *config.C, cipher string) (*CertState, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unknown pki.initiating_version: %v", rawInitiatingVersion)
 	}
 
+	// Post-quantum handshakes are hybrid only, so requiring them without a v3
+	// certificate would leave this node unable to reach anyone.
+	if v3 == nil && c.GetBool("handshakes.pq.require", false) {
+		return nil, errors.New("handshakes.pq.require needs a version 3 certificate in pki.cert")
+	}
+
 	return newCertState(initiatingVersion, v1, v2, v3, isPkcs11, curve, rawKey, cipher)
 }