diff --git a/crates/dekaf/src/session.rs b/crates/dekaf/src/session.rs
index bd76504baf..9d6e816560 100644
--- a/crates/dekaf/src/session.rs
+++ b/crates/dekaf/src/session.rs
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ enum SessionDataPreviewState {
 
 pub struct Session {
     app: Arc<App>,
-    reads: HashMap<(TopicName, i32), PendingRead>,
+    reads: HashMap<(TopicName, i32), (PendingRead, std::time::Instant)>,
     secret: String,
     auth: Option<Authenticated>,
     data_preview_state: SessionDataPreviewState,
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ impl Session {
             ..
         } = request;
 
-        let client = self
+        let mut client = self
             .auth
             .as_mut()
             .ok_or(anyhow::anyhow!("Session not authenticated"))?
@@ -454,16 +454,34 @@ impl Session {
                     }
                 };
 
-                if matches!(self.reads.get(&key), Some(pending) if pending.offset == fetch_offset) {
-                    metrics::counter!(
-                        "dekaf_fetch_requests",
-                        "topic_name" => key.0.to_string(),
-                        "partition_index" => key.1.to_string(),
-                        "state" => "read_pending"
-                    )
-                    .increment(1);
-                    continue; // Common case: fetch is at the pending offset.
+                match self.reads.get(&key) {
+                    Some((_, started_at))
+                        if started_at.elapsed() > std::time::Duration::from_secs(60 * 5) =>
+                    {
+                        metrics::counter!(
+                            "dekaf_fetch_requests",
+                            "topic_name" => key.0.to_string(),
+                            "partition_index" => key.1.to_string(),
+                            "state" => "read_expired"
+                        )
+                        .increment(1);
+                        tracing::debug!(lifetime=?started_at.elapsed(), topic_name=?key.0,partition_index=?key.1, "Restarting expired Read");
+                        self.reads.remove(&key);
+                        client = client.with_fresh_gazette_client();
+                    }
+                    Some(_) => {
+                        metrics::counter!(
+                            "dekaf_fetch_requests",
+                            "topic_name" => key.0.to_string(),
+                            "partition_index" => key.1.to_string(),
+                            "state" => "read_pending"
+                        )
+                        .increment(1);
+                        continue; // Common case: fetch is at the pending offset.
+                    }
+                    _ => {}
                 }
+
                 let Some(collection) = Collection::new(&client, &key.0).await? else {
                     metrics::counter!(
                         "dekaf_fetch_requests",
@@ -566,12 +584,16 @@ impl Session {
                     "started read",
                 );
 
-                if let Some(old) = self.reads.insert(key.clone(), pending) {
+                if let Some((old, started_at)) = self
+                    .reads
+                    .insert(key.clone(), (pending, std::time::Instant::now()))
+                {
                     tracing::warn!(
                         topic = topic_request.topic.as_str(),
                         partition = partition_request.partition,
                         old_offset = old.offset,
                         new_offset = fetch_offset,
+                        read_lifetime = ?started_at.elapsed(),
                         "discarding pending read due to offset jump",
                     );
                 }
@@ -588,7 +610,7 @@ impl Session {
             for partition_request in &topic_request.partitions {
                 key.1 = partition_request.partition;
 
-                let Some(pending) = self.reads.get_mut(&key) else {
+                let Some((pending, _)) = self.reads.get_mut(&key) else {
                     partition_responses.push(
                         PartitionData::default()
                             .with_partition_index(partition_request.partition)