diff --git a/peer/on_tick.go b/peer/on_tick.go
index a9aedda..afdd5b6 100644
--- a/peer/on_tick.go
+++ b/peer/on_tick.go
@@ -36,12 +36,12 @@ func (a *App) onTick() {
 			}
 
 		case StateDirect:
-			// Demote stale non-public direct peers back to probing.
-			// Public nodes skip this: the non-public peer will re-initiate the
-			// handshake, and WireGuard will update the endpoint automatically.
-			if !p.IsPublic && !p.Up() && !a.isPublic {
-				a.devAddProbe(p, p.WGEndpoint())
+			if p.IsPublic || a.isPublic || p.Up() {
+				break
 			}
+			// Stale non-public direct peer: demote to probing so WireGuard
+			// resumes handshake attempts on the direct path.
+			a.devAddProbe(p, p.WGEndpoint())
 		}
 	}