diff --git a/OpenNest.Engine.Tests/Jobs/ClampRemovalRepairTests.cs b/OpenNest.Engine.Tests/Jobs/ClampRemovalRepairTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..07b5177
--- /dev/null
+++ b/OpenNest.Engine.Tests/Jobs/ClampRemovalRepairTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+using OpenNest.Engine.Jobs;
+using OpenNest.Engine.NestingEngines.Rectangles;
+using OpenNest.Engine.Tests.NestingEngines;
+using OpenNest.Geometry;
+
+namespace OpenNest.Engine.Tests.Jobs;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Slice 6 task 6.4: regressions for the independent Slice 3b reviews of last-resort clamp
+/// removal (D8/D9, C10-C13). Geometry: a 23"-long, 3"-wide sheet with 1.5 x 0.625 clamps
+/// centred at X = 6 and X = 21 (clamp-1 spans X [5.25, 6.75], clamp-2 [20.25, 21.75]); a
+/// 3"-tall part always crosses the clamp band, a 14"-wide part fits only with one clamp
+/// removed, a 22"-wide part only with both removed.
+/// </summary>
+public class ClampRemovalRepairTests
+{
+    private static ClampZone[] Zones() => new[]
+    {
+        new ClampZone("clamp-1", new Box(5.25, 0, 1.5, 0.625)),
+        new ClampZone("clamp-2", new Box(20.25, 0, 1.5, 0.625)),
+    };
+
+    private static NestPlateStock Stock(int? quantity = null) =>
+        JobBuilder.Stock("sheet", width: 3, length: 23, quantity: quantity, clampZones: Zones());
+
+    private static NestItem Item(string name, double w, double h, int quantity) =>
+        new() { Drawing = new Drawing(name, TestDrawingFactory.Rectangle(w, h)), Quantity = quantity };
+
+    private static NestPipelineRequest Request(NestPlateStock stock, params NestItem[] items) =>
+        new("Rectangles", items, new[] { stock });
+
+    /// <summary>Delegates the ordinary solve to Rectangles, then fails every later call.</summary>
+    private sealed class ProbeThrowEngine : INestingEngine
+    {
+        public int Calls;
+
+        public NestJobResult Solve(NestJob job, IProgress<NestJobProgress> progress = null,
+            CancellationToken token = default)
+        {
+            if (++Calls > 1)
+                throw new InvalidOperationException("feasibility probe failed");
+            return new RectanglesNestingEngine().Solve(job, progress, token);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Solves with Rectangles and cancels the run on its second call.</summary>
+    private sealed class CancelOnSecondCallEngine(CancellationTokenSource source) : INestingEngine
+    {
+        private int calls;
+
+        public NestJobResult Solve(NestJob job, IProgress<NestJobProgress> progress = null,
+            CancellationToken token = default)
+        {
+            var result = new RectanglesNestingEngine().Solve(job, progress, token);
+            if (++calls == 2)
+                source.Cancel();
+            return result;
+        }
+    }
+
+    // PM 1db4333f: an optional recovery probe failure must not discard the ordinary result.
+    [Fact]
+    public void FailingRecoveryProbeKeepsTheOrdinaryResult()
+    {
+        var engine = new ProbeThrowEngine();
+        var request = Request(Stock(), Item("wide", 14, 3, 1), Item("small", 2, 1, 1));
+
+        var result = NestPipeline.Run(engine, "probe-throw", request);
+
+        Assert.True(engine.Calls > 1, "recovery never probed");
+        Assert.True(result.IsValid, string.Join("; ", result.Violations));
+        // Items map to part ids in request order: part-0 = wide (blocked), part-1 = small.
+        Assert.Equal(1, Assert.Single(result.Raw.Fulfillment, f => f.PartId == "part-0").Unplaced);
+        Assert.Equal(0, Assert.Single(result.Raw.Fulfillment, f => f.PartId == "part-1").Unplaced);
+        Assert.All(result.Job.Plates, s => Assert.DoesNotContain("removed", s.Id));
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void CancellationDuringRecoveryStillCancelsTheRun()
+    {
+        using var source = new CancellationTokenSource();
+        var request = Request(Stock(), Item("wide", 14, 3, 1), Item("small", 2, 1, 1));
+
+        Assert.ThrowsAny<OperationCanceledException>(() =>
+            NestPipeline.Run(new CancelOnSecondCallEngine(source), "cancel", request, token: source.Token));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/OpenNest.Engine/Jobs/ClampRemovalRecovery.cs b/OpenNest.Engine/Jobs/ClampRemovalRecovery.cs
index 2c20831..ed6ddc9 100644
--- a/OpenNest.Engine/Jobs/ClampRemovalRecovery.cs
+++ b/OpenNest.Engine/Jobs/ClampRemovalRecovery.cs
@@ -36,6 +36,22 @@ internal static class ClampRemovalRecovery
         ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(raw);
         ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(engine);
 
+        // Recovery is optional: any failure inside it (a throwing probe or residual solve)
+        // keeps the caller's ordinary result instead of discarding it. Cancellation still
+        // propagates.
+        try
+        {
+            return Recover(job, raw, engine, token);
+        }
+        catch (Exception exception) when (exception is not OperationCanceledException)
+        {
+            token.ThrowIfCancellationRequested();
+            return null;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static Outcome Recover(NestJob job, NestJobResult raw, INestingEngine engine, CancellationToken token)
+    {
         if (raw.Status == NestJobStatus.Complete)
             return null;