diff --git a/roadscore/prototype/composer_choice.py b/roadscore/prototype/composer_choice.py
index 07942db140..1b3e2803fa 100644
--- a/roadscore/prototype/composer_choice.py
+++ b/roadscore/prototype/composer_choice.py
@@ -21,8 +21,12 @@ def check_available():
     worker_state=json.loads((ROOT/'generated/ace_worker_state.json').read_text());profile=worker_state['profile']
    except (OSError,ValueError,KeyError):raise SystemExit('ACE worker profile unavailable; restart preparation explicitly')
    from generation_seed import configured_seed
-   if worker_state.get('generation_seed')!=configured_seed():raise SystemExit('Resident ACE seed differs; stop owned worker and prepare requested seed')
-   if profile!=selected_profile():raise SystemExit('Resident ACE profile differs; stop owned worker and prepare requested profile')
+   resident_handoff=False
+   if os.environ.get('ROADSCORE_RESIDENT')=='1' and os.environ.get('ROADSCORE_SEED_ORIGIN')!='judging-route':
+    try:resident_handoff=json.loads((ROOT/'generated/ace_initial.json').read_text()).get('resident_capable') is True
+    except (OSError,ValueError):pass
+   if not resident_handoff and worker_state.get('generation_seed')!=configured_seed():raise SystemExit('Resident ACE seed differs; stop owned worker and prepare requested seed')
+   if not resident_handoff and profile!=selected_profile():raise SystemExit('Resident ACE profile differs; stop owned worker and prepare requested profile')
   return
  lockpath=ROOT/'generated/gpu.lock'
  if lockpath.exists():
diff --git a/roadscore/prototype/test_composer_resident_handoff.py b/roadscore/prototype/test_composer_resident_handoff.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dee47d4668
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roadscore/prototype/test_composer_resident_handoff.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import json, os, tempfile, unittest
+from pathlib import Path
+from unittest.mock import patch, Mock
+import composer_choice as c
+
+class ResidentHandoffTest(unittest.TestCase):
+ def check(self, optin, capable, judging=False):
+  with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as folder:
+   root=Path(folder); (root/'generated').mkdir()
+   (root/'generated/ace_worker_state.json').write_text(json.dumps({'profile':'prism','generation_seed':1}))
+   (root/'generated/ace_initial.json').write_text(json.dumps({'resident_capable':capable}))
+   command=Mock(); command.read_bytes.return_value=b'python /worker.py\0'
+   env={'ROADSCORE_COMPOSER':'ace','ROADSCORE_RESIDENT':optin,'ROADSCORE_SEED_ORIGIN':'judging-route' if judging else 'fresh-session'}
+   with patch.object(c,'ROOT',root),patch.object(c,'worker_path',return_value=Path('/worker.py')),patch.object(Path,'glob',return_value=[command]),patch.dict(os.environ,env),patch('generation_seed.configured_seed',return_value=2),patch('ace_profiles.selected',return_value='prism'):
+    c.check_available()
+ def test_opted_capable_reaches_authenticated_handoff(self):self.check('1',True)
+ def test_no_optin_rejects(self):
+  with self.assertRaises(SystemExit):self.check('0',True)
+ def test_nonresident_rejects(self):
+  with self.assertRaises(SystemExit):self.check('1',False)
+ def test_judging_rejects(self):
+  with self.assertRaises(SystemExit):self.check('1',True,True)
+if __name__=='__main__':unittest.main()