diff --git a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/sdk.test.ts b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/sdk.test.ts
index 1f3d992d5d7..7116f8865cd 100644
--- a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/sdk.test.ts
+++ b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/sdk.test.ts
@@ -1323,6 +1323,39 @@ describe("MatrixClient crypto bootstrapping", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it("catches and logs repair bootstrap failure when UIA is unavailable without password", async () => {
+    matrixJsClient.getCrypto = vi.fn(() => ({ on: vi.fn() }));
+    const client = new MatrixClient("https://matrix.example.org", "token", {
+      encryption: true,
+      // no password
+    });
+    const uiaError = new Error("Interactive auth required");
+    const bootstrapSpy = vi
+      .fn()
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce({
+        crossSigningReady: false,
+        crossSigningPublished: false,
+        ownDeviceVerified: false,
+      })
+      .mockRejectedValueOnce(uiaError);
+    await (
+      client as unknown as {
+        ensureCryptoSupportInitialized: () => Promise<void>;
+      }
+    ).ensureCryptoSupportInitialized();
+    (
+      client as unknown as {
+        cryptoBootstrapper: { bootstrap: typeof bootstrapSpy };
+      }
+    ).cryptoBootstrapper.bootstrap = bootstrapSpy;
+
+    // start() must NOT throw even when the repair bootstrap fails
+    await expect(client.start()).resolves.not.toThrow();
+
+    // repair was attempted
+    expect(bootstrapSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+  });
+
   it("provides secret storage callbacks and resolves stored recovery key", async () => {
     const tmpDir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "matrix-sdk-test-"));
     const recoveryKeyPath = path.join(tmpDir, "recovery-key.json");