diff --git a/src/app/(protected)/locations/_components/site-delete-dialog.tsx b/src/app/(protected)/locations/_components/site-delete-dialog.tsx
index 78f55716..5b7ba58b 100644
--- a/src/app/(protected)/locations/_components/site-delete-dialog.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(protected)/locations/_components/site-delete-dialog.tsx
@@ -51,8 +51,9 @@ export function SiteDeleteDialog({
     refetch,
   } = useSiteOpenWorkOrders(siteId, open);
   const openCount = openWorkOrders?.count ?? 0;
-  // Without the count the warning cannot be shown, so Delete waits for a successful check.
-  const countUnknown = isLoading || isError;
+  // Without a current count the warning cannot be trusted, so Delete waits for a successful check.
+  // `isFetching` covers reopening: the count cached from the last open is stale until the refetch lands.
+  const countUnknown = isLoading || isFetching || isError;
   // The server caps the id list; when it doesn't cover the stated count, open the site's whole board.
   const openIds = openWorkOrders?.workOrderIds ?? [];
   const openWorkOrdersHref =
@@ -73,7 +74,9 @@ export function SiteDeleteDialog({
     >
       <DialogTitle id="site-delete-title">Delete this site?</DialogTitle>
       <DialogContent>
-        {isLoading && <CircularProgress size={20} aria-label="Checking open work orders" />}
+        {isFetching && !isError && (
+          <CircularProgress size={20} aria-label="Checking open work orders" />
+        )}
         {isError && <DialogContentText role="alert">{CHECK_FAILED_MESSAGE}</DialogContentText>}
         {!countUnknown && (
           <DialogContentText>{describeDeletion(siteCode, openCount)}</DialogContentText>
@@ -88,7 +91,7 @@ export function SiteDeleteDialog({
             Try again
           </Button>
         )}
-        {openCount > 0 && (
+        {!countUnknown && openCount > 0 && (
           <Button variant="outlined" onClick={() => navigate(openWorkOrdersHref)}>
             View open work orders
           </Button>
diff --git a/src/test/app/(protected)/locations/site-delete.test.tsx b/src/test/app/(protected)/locations/site-delete.test.tsx
index a5395bb0..10b2c1d1 100644
--- a/src/test/app/(protected)/locations/site-delete.test.tsx
+++ b/src/test/app/(protected)/locations/site-delete.test.tsx
@@ -229,6 +229,42 @@ describe("Delete a site from the detail panel", () => {
     expect(deleteSite).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
+  it("holds Delete on reopen until the fresh open work-order count replaces the cached one", async () => {
+    let resolveRecheck: (value: { count: number; workOrderIds: number[] }) => void = () => {};
+    getOpenWorkOrders.mockResolvedValueOnce({ count: 0, workOrderIds: [] });
+    getOpenWorkOrders.mockReturnValueOnce(
+      new Promise((resolve) => {
+        resolveRecheck = resolve;
+      }),
+    );
+    renderAs("Admin");
+    const panel = await openPanel();
+
+    fireEvent.click(within(panel).getByRole("button", { name: "Delete" }));
+    let dialog = await screen.findByRole("dialog", { name: "Delete this site?" });
+    await within(dialog).findByText(
+      "This will permanently remove DAL1 from Sites. This cannot be undone.",
+    );
+    fireEvent.click(within(dialog).getByRole("button", { name: "Cancel" }));
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(screen.queryByRole("dialog", { name: "Delete this site?" })).not.toBeInTheDocument(),
+    );
+
+    fireEvent.click(within(panel).getByRole("button", { name: "Delete" }));
+    dialog = await screen.findByRole("dialog", { name: "Delete this site?" });
+    await waitFor(() => expect(getOpenWorkOrders).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2));
+
+    expect(within(dialog).getByRole("button", { name: "Delete" })).toBeDisabled();
+    expect(within(dialog).queryByText(/This cannot be undone/)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(within(dialog).getByLabelText("Checking open work orders")).toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    resolveRecheck({ count: 1, workOrderIds: [101] });
+
+    expect(await within(dialog).findByText(/It still has 1 open work order —/)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(within(dialog).getByRole("button", { name: "Delete" })).toBeEnabled();
+    expect(deleteSite).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   it("keeps the site and shows the server's refusal when the API answers 403", async () => {
     getOpenWorkOrders.mockResolvedValue({ count: 0, workOrderIds: [] });
     deleteSite.mockRejectedValue(forbidden());