diff --git a/client/iface/wgproxy/bind/proxy.go b/client/iface/wgproxy/bind/proxy.go
index 4f26eec1a..be690ed4f 100644
--- a/client/iface/wgproxy/bind/proxy.go
+++ b/client/iface/wgproxy/bind/proxy.go
@@ -136,14 +136,8 @@ func (p *ProxyBind) CloseConn() error {
 	return p.close()
 }
 
-// InjectPacket writes b to the remote peer over the underlying transport.
-func (p *ProxyBind) InjectPacket(b []byte) error {
-	if p.remoteConn == nil {
-		return errors.New("proxy not started")
-	}
-	if _, err := p.remoteConn.Write(b); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
+// InjectPacket is a no-op for the userspace proxy: first-packet reinjection is kernel-only.
+func (p *ProxyBind) InjectPacket(_ []byte) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/client/iface/wgproxy/proxy.go b/client/iface/wgproxy/proxy.go
index 42568158d..40346bc15 100644
--- a/client/iface/wgproxy/proxy.go
+++ b/client/iface/wgproxy/proxy.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ type Proxy interface {
 	SetDisconnectListener(disconnected func())
 
 	// InjectPacket writes a raw packet directly to the remote peer over the underlying transport,
-	// bypassing WireGuard. Used to replay the captured lazyconn handshake initiation.
+	// bypassing WireGuard. Used to replay the captured lazyconn handshake initiation. Only the
+	// kernel-mode proxies act on it; the userspace proxy is a no-op since reinjection is kernel-only.
 	InjectPacket(b []byte) error
 }
diff --git a/client/internal/lazyconn/activity/lazy_conn.go b/client/internal/lazyconn/activity/lazy_conn.go
index 4fcf2a8e8..2564a9905 100644
--- a/client/internal/lazyconn/activity/lazy_conn.go
+++ b/client/internal/lazyconn/activity/lazy_conn.go
@@ -4,22 +4,15 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"io"
 	"net"
-	"slices"
-	"sync"
 	"time"
 )
 
 // lazyConn detects activity when WireGuard attempts to send packets.
-// It does not deliver packets, only signals that activity occurred. The first packet WG-go writes
-// is captured so the lazyconn manager can reinject it through the real bind endpoint, avoiding the
-// handshake-retry wait when the real connection comes up.
+// It does not deliver packets, only signals that activity occurred.
 type lazyConn struct {
 	activityCh chan struct{}
 	ctx        context.Context
 	cancel     context.CancelFunc
-
-	mu             sync.Mutex
-	capturedPacket []byte
 }
 
 // newLazyConn creates a new lazyConn for activity detection.
@@ -38,19 +31,12 @@ func (c *lazyConn) Read(_ []byte) (n int, err error) {
 	return 0, io.EOF
 }
 
-// Write signals activity detection when ICEBind routes packets to this endpoint. The first packet
-// is cloned and stored so it can be replayed on the real endpoint once ICE/relay comes up.
+// Write signals activity detection when ICEBind routes packets to this endpoint.
 func (c *lazyConn) Write(b []byte) (n int, err error) {
 	if c.ctx.Err() != nil {
 		return 0, io.EOF
 	}
 
-	c.mu.Lock()
-	if c.capturedPacket == nil && len(b) > 0 {
-		c.capturedPacket = slices.Clone(b)
-	}
-	c.mu.Unlock()
-
 	select {
 	case c.activityCh <- struct{}{}:
 	default:
@@ -59,14 +45,6 @@ func (c *lazyConn) Write(b []byte) (n int, err error) {
 	return len(b), nil
 }
 
-// CapturedPacket returns the first packet written to this connection, or nil. The slice aliases
-// the internal buffer, which is written once and never mutated, so the caller must not modify it.
-func (c *lazyConn) CapturedPacket() []byte {
-	c.mu.Lock()
-	defer c.mu.Unlock()
-	return c.capturedPacket
-}
-
 // ActivityChan returns the channel that signals when activity is detected.
 func (c *lazyConn) ActivityChan() <-chan struct{} {
 	return c.activityCh
diff --git a/client/internal/lazyconn/activity/listener_bind.go b/client/internal/lazyconn/activity/listener_bind.go
index eceb8728e..72a0cfc76 100644
--- a/client/internal/lazyconn/activity/listener_bind.go
+++ b/client/internal/lazyconn/activity/listener_bind.go
@@ -118,21 +118,15 @@ func (d *BindListener) ReadPackets() {
 		d.peerCfg.Log.Infof("exit from activity listener")
 	}
 
-	// Leave the peer in place. ConfigureWGEndpoint will UpdatePeer with the real endpoint;
-	// removing the peer here wipes wireguard-go's staged queue and drops the user packet that
-	// triggered activation.
+	d.peerCfg.Log.Debugf("removing lazy endpoint for peer %s", d.peerCfg.PublicKey)
 	_ = d.lazyConn.Close()
 	d.bind.RemoveEndpoint(d.fakeIP)
 	d.done.Done()
 }
 
-// CapturedPacket returns the first packet that triggered activity, or nil if none was captured.
-// Safe to call after ReadPackets returns.
+// CapturedPacket is unused in userspace bind mode: first-packet reinjection is kernel-only.
 func (d *BindListener) CapturedPacket() []byte {
-	if d.lazyConn == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	return d.lazyConn.CapturedPacket()
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Close stops the listener and cleans up resources.
diff --git a/client/internal/lazyconn/activity/listener_bind_test.go b/client/internal/lazyconn/activity/listener_bind_test.go
index 6e45bc605..0288e1d49 100644
--- a/client/internal/lazyconn/activity/listener_bind_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/lazyconn/activity/listener_bind_test.go
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ func TestManager_BindMode(t *testing.T) {
 	select {
 	case ev := <-mgr.OnActivityChan:
 		assert.Equal(t, cfg.PeerConnID, ev.PeerConnID, "Received peer connection ID should match")
-		assert.Equal(t, []byte{0x01, 0x02, 0x03}, ev.FirstPacket, "First packet should be captured for reinjection")
+		assert.Nil(t, ev.FirstPacket, "Bind mode does not capture packets: reinjection is kernel-only")
 	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
 		t.Fatal("timeout waiting for activity notification")
 	}