diff --git a/backend/druks/browser/sessions.py b/backend/druks/browser/sessions.py
index e244b656..a0a08142 100644
--- a/backend/druks/browser/sessions.py
+++ b/backend/druks/browser/sessions.py
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
     BrowserExportError,
     BrowserLaunchError,
     BrowserSessionNotReadyError,
-    BrowserSessionUnknownError,
 )
 from druks.browser.locks import acquire_writer_lock, release_writer_lock
 from druks.browser.models import StoredBrowserSession
@@ -100,15 +99,24 @@ async def playwright(self):
     def mark_stale(self) -> None:
         """Report the login bounced — the site wants the operator back. The
         pane shows the session as stale; the workflow decides whether to park."""
+        self._get_or_create_row().mark_stale()
+
+    def _get_or_create_row(self) -> StoredBrowserSession:
+        """The declaration's stored half, written the first time a run reaches
+        for the login. Until then the declaration is the only thing that exists —
+        the row appears in the sessions pane wanting a login, which is how the
+        operator learns the extension needs one."""
         row = StoredBrowserSession.get_for_name(self.name)
-        if not row:
-            raise BrowserSessionUnknownError(self.name)
-        row.mark_stale()
+        if row:
+            return row
+        return StoredBrowserSession.create(
+            name=self.name,
+            payload_format=BrowserSessionPayloadFormat.PROFILE_DIR,
+            site=self.site,
+        )
 
     def _ready_row(self) -> StoredBrowserSession:
-        row = StoredBrowserSession.get_for_name(self.name)
-        if not row:
-            raise BrowserSessionUnknownError(self.name)
+        row = self._get_or_create_row()
         if row.status != BrowserSessionStatus.READY.value:
             raise BrowserSessionNotReadyError(self.name, row.status)
         return row
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_browser_borrow.py b/backend/tests/test_browser_borrow.py
index 29246eba..7e312b6a 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_browser_borrow.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_browser_borrow.py
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
     BrowserClientMissingError,
     BrowserLaunchError,
     BrowserSessionNotReadyError,
-    BrowserSessionUnknownError,
     BrowserSessionWriterLockedError,
 )
 from druks.browser.models import StoredBrowserSession
@@ -178,20 +177,25 @@ async def test_persisting_borrow_refuses_a_second_writer(borrow):
     assert browser.commands == []
 
 
-async def test_borrow_requires_a_ready_session(borrow, druks_db):
-    with pytest.raises(BrowserSessionUnknownError):
+async def test_first_borrow_writes_the_declared_session_and_asks_for_a_login(borrow, druks_db):
+    """Nothing is stored until a run reaches for the login: the first borrow
+    writes the row so the pane can ask the operator to sign in, and says so."""
+    assert not StoredBrowserSession.get_for_name(XMe.docs.name)
+
+    with pytest.raises(BrowserSessionNotReadyError):
         async with XMe.docs.cdp():
             pass
 
-    StoredBrowserSession.create(
-        name=XMe.docs.name,
-        payload_format=BrowserSessionPayloadFormat.STORAGE_STATE,
-        site=XMe.docs.site,
-    )
+    row = StoredBrowserSession.get_for_name(XMe.docs.name)
+    assert row.status == BrowserSessionStatus.NEEDS_LOGIN.value
+    assert row.site == XMe.docs.site
+
     with pytest.raises(BrowserSessionNotReadyError):
         async with XMe.docs.cdp():
             pass
 
+    assert StoredBrowserSession.list_all() == [row]
+
 
 async def test_launch_failure_raises_and_releases_the_lock(borrow):
     browser, redis = borrow