diff --git a/install.ps1 b/install.ps1
index 3d709ae1ff..f64021c629 100644
--- a/install.ps1
+++ b/install.ps1
@@ -87,6 +87,11 @@ function Install-UnslothStudio {
         )
         if ($Code -eq 0) { $Code = 1 }
         Write-TauriLog "ERROR" $Message
+        # Clear the release-preservation handoff on any failure: a non-Tauri `irm | iex`
+        # run throws below and leaves the caller's session alive, so a leaked
+        # UNSLOTH_KEPT_TORCH would let a later `studio setup`/`update` (or a retry that
+        # skips the branch-entry clear) re-pin the abandoned exact torch release.
+        Remove-Item Env:UNSLOTH_KEPT_TORCH -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
         if (Get-Command Restore-StudioVenvRollback -CommandType Function -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue) {
             Restore-StudioVenvRollback
         }
diff --git a/tests/sh/test_torch_constraint.sh b/tests/sh/test_torch_constraint.sh
index d36581987b..24e12787e2 100644
--- a/tests/sh/test_torch_constraint.sh
+++ b/tests/sh/test_torch_constraint.sh
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ assert_eq "\$TORCH_CONSTRAINT used in pip install" "yes" "$_has_var"
 
 # No stray hardcoded default ranges outside the ceiling-composed assignments
 # (the curated ROCm >=2.11 floors are deliberately literal).
-_hardcoded=$(grep -c '"torch>=2.4,<2.11.0"\|"torch>=2.4,<2.12.0"' "$INSTALL_SH" || true)
+_hardcoded=$(grep -E -c '"torch>=2.4,<2.11.0"|"torch>=2.4,<2.12.0"' "$INSTALL_SH" || true)
 assert_eq "no hardcoded default torch range remains" "0" "$_hardcoded"
 
 # Companions must be bounded to torch's window everywhere, never bare: torchaudio