diff --git a/src-tauri/src/spaces.rs b/src-tauri/src/spaces.rs
index 59eaa40..d1d172f 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/spaces.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/spaces.rs
@@ -209,6 +209,17 @@ async fn my_key(app: &tauri::AppHandle) -> Result<[u8; 32], String> {
         .ok_or("create a SoulStream identity first")?;
     key_of(&info.public_key)
 }
+/// The key from the newest epoch below `epoch`. The map is keyed by a
+/// STRING, so it iterates lexicographically — `.last()` picks "9" over "10"
+/// and hands back a key from six epochs ago the moment a Space gets busy.
+fn key_below(rec: &SpaceRecord, epoch: u64) -> Option<String> {
+    rec.keys
+        .iter()
+        .filter_map(|(e, k)| e.parse::<u64>().ok().filter(|n| *n < epoch).map(|n| (n, k.clone())))
+        .max_by_key(|(n, _)| *n)
+        .map(|(_, k)| k)
+}
+
 /// The secret we sign with inside one Space, minted the first time we need
 /// it. Custody matches the inbox box key: it sits in the app folder, not in
 /// the delegate — a persona restored on another device mints fresh room keys
@@ -458,19 +469,21 @@ pub async fn open(app: &tauri::AppHandle, owner_b58: &str, space_b58: &str) -> R
     let (state, reachable) = fetch_state(app, &owner, &space_id).await?;
     if let Some(c) = &state.checkpoint {
         let r = l.spaces.get_mut(&rid).unwrap();
-        let changed = r.name != c.name || r.last_epoch != c.epoch || r.private != c.private;
+        let mut dirty = r.name != c.name || r.last_epoch != c.epoch || r.private != c.private;
         r.name = c.name.clone();
         r.last_epoch = c.epoch;
         r.private = c.private;
         // Adding members never rotates the key: the previous epoch's key
-        // carries forward until a removal issues a new one.
+        // carries forward until a removal issues a new one. A removal DOES
+        // rotate, and the real key arrives sealed — `on_inbox_space_key`
+        // overwrites this one when it lands.
         if c.private && !r.keys.contains_key(&c.epoch.to_string()) {
-            if let Some((_, k)) = r.keys.iter().filter(|(e, _)| e.parse::<u64>().unwrap_or(0) < c.epoch).last() {
-                let k = k.clone();
+            if let Some(k) = key_below(r, c.epoch) {
                 r.keys.insert(c.epoch.to_string(), k);
+                dirty = true;
             }
         }
-        if changed {
+        if dirty {
             let _ = save(app, &l);
         }
     }
@@ -581,7 +594,7 @@ pub async fn invite(app: &tauri::AppHandle, owner_b58: &str, space_b58: &str, pe
             .keys
             .get(&c.epoch.to_string())
             .cloned()
-            .or_else(|| rec.keys.values().last().cloned())
+            .or_else(|| key_below(rec, c.epoch + 1))
             .unwrap_or_else(|| b58(&rand32()));
         rec.keys.insert(c.epoch.to_string(), k.clone());
         key = Some(key_of(&k)?);
@@ -632,11 +645,21 @@ pub async fn remove_member(app: &tauri::AppHandle, owner_b58: &str, space_b58: &
         // A removal rotates: everyone who stays gets the new epoch's key.
         let k = rand32();
         rec.keys.insert(c.epoch.to_string(), b58(&k));
+        // An inbox is addressed by PERSONA, and since members became
+        // room-local the roster no longer holds one. Only this device can
+        // bridge the two; sealing to the roster key reaches nobody, and every
+        // member who stayed silently keeps a stale key.
+        let targets: Vec<[u8; 32]> = c
+            .members
+            .iter()
+            .filter(|m| m.key != me)
+            .map(|m| rec.roster.get(&b58(&m.key)).and_then(|p| key_of(p).ok()).unwrap_or(m.key))
+            .collect();
         save(app, &l)?;
-        for m in c.members.iter().filter(|m| m.key != me) {
+        for to in targets {
             let cargo = Cargo::SpaceKey(SpaceKeyCargo { space_id, owner, epoch: c.epoch, key: k });
-            if let Err(e) = inbox::send(app, &m.key, &cargo).await {
-                log::warn!("spaces: could not hand the epoch-{} key to {}: {e}", c.epoch, b58(&m.key));
+            if let Err(e) = inbox::send(app, &to, &cargo).await {
+                log::warn!("spaces: could not hand the epoch-{} key to {}: {e}", c.epoch, b58(&to));
             }
         }
     } else {
@@ -923,6 +946,22 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(rec("member", Some([9u8; 32])).roster.get(&room).is_none());
     }
 
+    /// Epoch keys are keyed by a STRING, and a BTreeMap orders those
+    /// lexicographically — "9" sorts after "10". A Space only has to reach its
+    /// tenth epoch for the wrong key to carry forward, and the symptom is
+    /// messages that simply will not open.
+    #[test]
+    fn the_newest_epoch_key_is_found_by_number_not_by_string() {
+        let mut r = rec("member", None);
+        for (e, k) in [(1u64, "one"), (9, "nine"), (10, "ten"), (11, "eleven")] {
+            r.keys.insert(e.to_string(), k.into());
+        }
+        assert_eq!(key_below(&r, 12).as_deref(), Some("eleven"));
+        assert_eq!(key_below(&r, 11).as_deref(), Some("ten"), "lexicographic order would say \"nine\"");
+        assert_eq!(key_below(&r, 10).as_deref(), Some("nine"));
+        assert_eq!(key_below(&r, 1), None, "nothing precedes the first epoch");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn contract_generation_is_pinned() {
         let ids = FreenetAdapter::contract_ids(SPACE_WASM.to_vec(), &sp::make_params(&[7u8; 32], &[1u8; 16]));