diff --git a/kmod/src/server.c b/kmod/src/server.c
index ea9a0746..e4791980 100644
--- a/kmod/src/server.c
+++ b/kmod/src/server.c
@@ -2023,7 +2023,7 @@ static int reclaim_open_log_tree(struct super_block *sb, u64 rid)
 	mutex_unlock(&server->alloc_mutex);
 
 	/* only finalize, allowing merging, once the allocators are fully freed */
-	if (ret == 0) {
+	if (ret == 0 && !scoutfs_trigger(sb, RECLAIM_SKIP_FINALIZE)) {
 		/* the transaction is no longer open */
 		lt.commit_trans_seq = lt.get_trans_seq;
 
diff --git a/kmod/src/triggers.c b/kmod/src/triggers.c
index 317f0911..4616d013 100644
--- a/kmod/src/triggers.c
+++ b/kmod/src/triggers.c
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ static char *names[] = {
 	[SCOUTFS_TRIGGER_SRCH_FORCE_LOG_ROTATE] = "srch_force_log_rotate",
 	[SCOUTFS_TRIGGER_SRCH_MERGE_STOP_SAFE] = "srch_merge_stop_safe",
 	[SCOUTFS_TRIGGER_STATFS_LOCK_PURGE] = "statfs_lock_purge",
+	[SCOUTFS_TRIGGER_RECLAIM_SKIP_FINALIZE] = "reclaim_skip_finalize",
 };
 
 bool scoutfs_trigger_test_and_clear(struct super_block *sb, unsigned int t)
diff --git a/kmod/src/triggers.h b/kmod/src/triggers.h
index eeb33b49..64a798b7 100644
--- a/kmod/src/triggers.h
+++ b/kmod/src/triggers.h
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ enum scoutfs_trigger {
 	SCOUTFS_TRIGGER_SRCH_FORCE_LOG_ROTATE,
 	SCOUTFS_TRIGGER_SRCH_MERGE_STOP_SAFE,
 	SCOUTFS_TRIGGER_STATFS_LOCK_PURGE,
+	SCOUTFS_TRIGGER_RECLAIM_SKIP_FINALIZE,
 	SCOUTFS_TRIGGER_NR,
 };
 
diff --git a/tests/funcs/filter.sh b/tests/funcs/filter.sh
index 3dc593c8..cb766300 100644
--- a/tests/funcs/filter.sh
+++ b/tests/funcs/filter.sh
@@ -123,6 +123,9 @@ t_filter_dmesg()
 	re="$re|hrtimer: interrupt took .*"
 	re="$re|clocksource: Long readout interval"
 
+	# orphan log trees reclaim is handled, not an error
+	re="$re|scoutfs .* reclaiming orphan log trees"
+
 	# fencing tests force unmounts and trigger timeouts
 	re="$re|scoutfs .* forcing unmount"
 	re="$re|scoutfs .* reconnect timed out"
diff --git a/tests/golden/orphan-log-trees b/tests/golden/orphan-log-trees
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..08003b10
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/golden/orphan-log-trees
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+== create orphan log_trees entry via trigger
+== verify orphan is reclaimed and merge completes
+== verify orphan reclaim was logged
diff --git a/tests/sequence b/tests/sequence
index 1b6a74f3..e296553a 100644
--- a/tests/sequence
+++ b/tests/sequence
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ setup-error-teardown.sh
 resize-devices.sh
 change-devices.sh
 fence-and-reclaim.sh
+orphan-log-trees.sh
 quorum-heartbeat-timeout.sh
 orphan-inodes.sh
 mount-unmount-race.sh
diff --git a/tests/tests/orphan-log-trees.sh b/tests/tests/orphan-log-trees.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..14927eb6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/tests/orphan-log-trees.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+#
+# Test that orphaned log_trees entries from unmounted rids are
+# finalized and merged.
+#
+# An orphan log_trees entry is one whose rid has no mounted_clients
+# entry.  This can happen from incomplete reclaim across server
+# failovers.  We simulate it with the reclaim_skip_finalize trigger
+# which makes reclaim_open_log_tree skip the finalization step.
+#
+
+t_require_commands touch scoutfs
+t_require_mounts 2
+
+TIMEOUT=90
+
+echo "== create orphan log_trees entry via trigger"
+sv=$(t_server_nr)
+cl=$(t_first_client_nr)
+rid=$(t_mount_rid $cl)
+
+touch "$T_D0/file" "$T_D1/file"
+sync
+
+# arm the trigger so reclaim skips finalization
+t_trigger_arm_silent reclaim_skip_finalize $sv
+
+# force unmount the client, server will fence and reclaim it
+# but the trigger makes reclaim leave log_trees unfinalized
+t_force_umount $cl
+
+# wait for fencing to run
+verify_fenced() {
+	grep -q "running rid '$rid'" "$T_FENCED_LOG" 2>/dev/null
+}
+t_wait_until_timeout $TIMEOUT verify_fenced
+
+# give the server time to complete reclaim after fence
+sleep 5
+
+# remount the client so t_force_log_merge can sync all mounts.
+# the client gets a new rid; the old rid's log_trees is the orphan.
+t_mount $cl
+
+echo "== verify orphan is reclaimed and merge completes"
+t_force_log_merge
+
+echo "== verify orphan reclaim was logged"
+if ! dmesg | grep -q "reclaiming orphan log trees for rid $rid"; then
+	t_fail "expected orphan reclaim message for rid $rid in dmesg"
+fi
+
+t_pass