diff --git a/mobile/ios/Runner/NativeEmojiPickerView.swift b/mobile/ios/Runner/NativeEmojiPickerView.swift
index 610eb1a86..ebed6e73f 100644
--- a/mobile/ios/Runner/NativeEmojiPickerView.swift
+++ b/mobile/ios/Runner/NativeEmojiPickerView.swift
@@ -420,6 +420,7 @@ actor NativeEmojiRemoteImageLoader {
 
   private let maximumConcurrentDownloads: Int
   private let downloader: Downloader
+  private let admissionAttemptForTesting: (() -> Void)?
   private let cache = NSCache<NSURLRequest, UIImage>()
   private var activeDownloadCount = 0
   private var waiters: [Waiter] = []
@@ -427,11 +428,13 @@ actor NativeEmojiRemoteImageLoader {
   init(
     maximumConcurrentDownloads: Int = defaultMaximumConcurrentDownloads,
     cacheByteLimit: Int = defaultCacheByteLimit,
+    admissionAttemptForTesting: (() -> Void)? = nil,
     downloader: @escaping Downloader = NativeEmojiRemoteImageLoader.download
   ) {
     precondition(maximumConcurrentDownloads > 0)
     precondition(cacheByteLimit >= 0)
     self.maximumConcurrentDownloads = maximumConcurrentDownloads
+    self.admissionAttemptForTesting = admissionAttemptForTesting
     self.downloader = downloader
     cache.totalCostLimit = cacheByteLimit
   }
@@ -442,6 +445,7 @@ actor NativeEmojiRemoteImageLoader {
       return cached
     }
 
+    recordAdmissionAttemptForTesting()
     try await acquireDownloadSlot()
     defer { releaseDownloadSlot() }
 
@@ -455,6 +459,10 @@ actor NativeEmojiRemoteImageLoader {
     return image
   }
 
+  private func recordAdmissionAttemptForTesting() {
+    admissionAttemptForTesting?()
+  }
+
   private func acquireDownloadSlot() async throws {
     try Task.checkCancellation()
     guard activeDownloadCount >= maximumConcurrentDownloads else {
diff --git a/mobile/ios/RunnerTests/RunnerTests.swift b/mobile/ios/RunnerTests/RunnerTests.swift
index f856ae4ff..a6ccdde99 100644
--- a/mobile/ios/RunnerTests/RunnerTests.swift
+++ b/mobile/ios/RunnerTests/RunnerTests.swift
@@ -458,15 +458,22 @@ class RunnerTests: XCTestCase {
 
   func testRemoteEmojiLoaderLimitsConcurrentDownloads() async throws {
     let maximumConcurrentDownloads = 3
+    let taskCount = 8
     let probe = NativeEmojiDownloadProbe()
+    let tasksAttemptedAdmission = XCTestExpectation(
+      description: "all download tasks attempted admission"
+    )
+    tasksAttemptedAdmission.expectedFulfillmentCount = taskCount
     let loader = NativeEmojiRemoteImageLoader(
       maximumConcurrentDownloads: maximumConcurrentDownloads,
-      cacheByteLimit: 0
-    ) { _ in
-      await probe.holdDownload()
-      return UIImage()
-    }
-    let tasks = (0..<8).map { index in
+      cacheByteLimit: 0,
+      admissionAttemptForTesting: { tasksAttemptedAdmission.fulfill() },
+      downloader: { _ in
+        await probe.holdDownload()
+        return UIImage()
+      }
+    )
+    let tasks = (0..<taskCount).map { index in
       Task {
         try await loader.image(
           for: URLRequest(
@@ -476,8 +483,8 @@ class RunnerTests: XCTestCase {
       }
     }
 
+    await fulfillment(of: [tasksAttemptedAdmission], timeout: 2)
     await probe.waitUntilStarted(maximumConcurrentDownloads)
-    try await Task.sleep(nanoseconds: 50_000_000)
     var snapshot = await probe.snapshot()
     XCTAssertEqual(snapshot.started, maximumConcurrentDownloads)
     XCTAssertEqual(snapshot.peakActive, maximumConcurrentDownloads)
diff --git a/mobile/lib/features/channels/emoji_picker/ios_native_picker.dart b/mobile/lib/features/channels/emoji_picker/ios_native_picker.dart
index 798089fa0..d3cd67e75 100644
--- a/mobile/lib/features/channels/emoji_picker/ios_native_picker.dart
+++ b/mobile/lib/features/channels/emoji_picker/ios_native_picker.dart
@@ -18,9 +18,13 @@ Future<void> _presentIosEmojiPicker({
   required void Function(String emoji) onSelect,
   VoidCallback? onDismiss,
 }) async {
-  // Only one native sheet owns the handler at a time; coalesce a reentrant open
-  // so it cannot steal the live sheet's callbacks from its original owner.
-  if (_iosEmojiPickerPresenting) return;
+  // Only one native sheet owns the handler at a time. Reject a reentrant open
+  // without replacing the live sheet's callbacks, and complete the rejected
+  // caller so its local picker-open lifecycle is not stranded.
+  if (_iosEmojiPickerPresenting) {
+    onDismiss?.call();
+    return;
+  }
   _iosEmojiPickerPresenting = true;
 
   final container = ProviderScope.containerOf(context, listen: false);
diff --git a/mobile/test/features/channels/emoji_picker_test.dart b/mobile/test/features/channels/emoji_picker_test.dart
index 8c7c05ef5..f64932f0a 100644
--- a/mobile/test/features/channels/emoji_picker_test.dart
+++ b/mobile/test/features/channels/emoji_picker_test.dart
@@ -941,11 +941,13 @@ void main() {
         await tester.pumpAndSettle();
         expect(presents, 1);
 
-        // A second open while the first sheet is live is coalesced: it neither
-        // presents again nor replaces the live sheet's method-call handler.
+        // A second open while the first sheet is live is rejected: it neither
+        // presents again nor replaces the live sheet's method-call handler,
+        // and its independent lifecycle is completed immediately.
         await tester.tap(find.text('Open second'));
         await tester.pumpAndSettle();
         expect(presents, 1);
+        expect(secondDismissals, 1);
 
         // Native events still reach the original owner, and only it.
         await _sendNativeEmojiPickerCall(tester, 'selected', '\u{1F525}');
@@ -953,7 +955,7 @@ void main() {
         expect(firstSelected, ['\u{1F525}']);
         expect(secondSelected, isEmpty);
         expect(firstDismissals, 1);
-        expect(secondDismissals, 0);
+        expect(secondDismissals, 1);
       } finally {
         _setMockNativeEmojiPickerHandler(null);
         debugDefaultTargetPlatformOverride = previousPlatform;