diff --git a/extensions/msteams/src/monitor-handler/message-handler.authz.test.ts b/extensions/msteams/src/monitor-handler/message-handler.authz.test.ts
index 1770a88027c..aa06a7df97d 100644
--- a/extensions/msteams/src/monitor-handler/message-handler.authz.test.ts
+++ b/extensions/msteams/src/monitor-handler/message-handler.authz.test.ts
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ describe("msteams monitor handler authz", () => {
   });
 
   it("keeps the DM pairing path wired through shared access resolution", async () => {
-    const { deps, upsertPairingRequest } = createDeps({
+    const { conversationStore, deps, upsertPairingRequest, recordInboundSession } = createDeps({
       channels: {
         msteams: {
           dmPolicy: "pairing",
@@ -262,8 +262,18 @@ describe("msteams monitor handler authz", () => {
         conversation: {
           id: "a:personal-chat",
           conversationType: "personal",
+          tenantId: "tenant-1",
         },
+        channelId: "msteams",
+        serviceUrl: "https://smba.trafficmanager.net/amer/",
+        locale: "en-US",
         channelData: {},
+        entities: [
+          {
+            type: "clientInfo",
+            timezone: "America/New_York",
+          },
+        ],
         attachments: [],
       },
       sendActivity: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
@@ -275,6 +285,33 @@ describe("msteams monitor handler authz", () => {
       id: "new-user-aad",
       meta: { name: "New User" },
     });
+    expect(conversationStore.upsert).toHaveBeenCalledWith("a:personal-chat", {
+      activityId: "msg-pairing",
+      user: {
+        id: "new-user-id",
+        aadObjectId: "new-user-aad",
+        name: "New User",
+      },
+      agent: {
+        id: "bot-id",
+        name: "Bot",
+      },
+      bot: {
+        id: "bot-id",
+        name: "Bot",
+      },
+      conversation: {
+        id: "a:personal-chat",
+        conversationType: "personal",
+        tenantId: "tenant-1",
+      },
+      channelId: "msteams",
+      serviceUrl: "https://smba.trafficmanager.net/amer/",
+      locale: "en-US",
+      timezone: "America/New_York",
+    });
+    expect(recordInboundSession).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(runtimeApiMockState.dispatchReplyFromConfigWithSettledDispatcher).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
   it("logs an info drop reason when dmPolicy allowlist rejects a sender", async () => {
diff --git a/extensions/msteams/src/monitor-handler/message-handler.ts b/extensions/msteams/src/monitor-handler/message-handler.ts
index 48d8289b5a3..948f7a43357 100644
--- a/extensions/msteams/src/monitor-handler/message-handler.ts
+++ b/extensions/msteams/src/monitor-handler/message-handler.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,37 @@ import { recordMSTeamsSentMessage, wasMSTeamsMessageSent } from "../sent-message
 import { resolveMSTeamsSenderAccess } from "./access.js";
 import { resolveMSTeamsInboundMedia } from "./inbound-media.js";
 
+function buildStoredConversationReference(params: {
+  activity: MSTeamsTurnContext["activity"];
+  conversationId: string;
+  conversationType: string;
+  teamId?: string;
+}): StoredConversationReference {
+  const { activity, conversationId, conversationType, teamId } = params;
+  const from = activity.from;
+  const conversation = activity.conversation;
+  const agent = activity.recipient;
+  const clientInfo = activity.entities?.find((e) => e.type === "clientInfo") as
+    | { timezone?: string }
+    | undefined;
+  return {
+    activityId: activity.id,
+    user: from ? { id: from.id, name: from.name, aadObjectId: from.aadObjectId } : undefined,
+    agent,
+    bot: agent ? { id: agent.id, name: agent.name } : undefined,
+    conversation: {
+      id: conversationId,
+      conversationType,
+      tenantId: conversation?.tenantId,
+    },
+    teamId,
+    channelId: activity.channelId,
+    serviceUrl: activity.serviceUrl,
+    locale: activity.locale,
+    ...(clientInfo?.timezone ? { timezone: clientInfo.timezone } : {}),
+  };
+}
+
 export function createMSTeamsMessageHandler(deps: MSTeamsMessageHandlerDeps) {
   const {
     cfg,
@@ -140,6 +171,12 @@ export function createMSTeamsMessageHandler(deps: MSTeamsMessageHandlerDeps) {
     const conversationMessageId = extractMSTeamsConversationMessageId(rawConversationId);
     const conversationType = conversation?.conversationType ?? "personal";
     const teamId = activity.channelData?.team?.id;
+    const conversationRef = buildStoredConversationReference({
+      activity,
+      conversationId,
+      conversationType,
+      teamId,
+    });
 
     const {
       dmPolicy,
@@ -177,6 +214,11 @@ export function createMSTeamsMessageHandler(deps: MSTeamsMessageHandlerDeps) {
         allowNameMatching,
       });
       if (access.decision === "pairing") {
+        conversationStore.upsert(conversationId, conversationRef).catch((err) => {
+          log.debug?.("failed to save conversation reference", {
+            error: formatUnknownError(err),
+          });
+        });
         const request = await pairing.upsertPairingRequest({
           id: senderId,
           meta: { name: senderName },
@@ -306,30 +348,6 @@ export function createMSTeamsMessageHandler(deps: MSTeamsMessageHandlerDeps) {
       return;
     }
 
-    // Extract clientInfo entity (Teams sends this on every activity with timezone, locale, etc.)
-    const clientInfo = activity.entities?.find((e) => e.type === "clientInfo") as
-      | { timezone?: string; locale?: string; country?: string; platform?: string }
-      | undefined;
-
-    // Build conversation reference for proactive replies.
-    const agent = activity.recipient;
-    const conversationRef: StoredConversationReference = {
-      activityId: activity.id,
-      user: { id: from.id, name: from.name, aadObjectId: from.aadObjectId },
-      agent,
-      bot: agent ? { id: agent.id, name: agent.name } : undefined,
-      conversation: {
-        id: conversationId,
-        conversationType,
-        tenantId: conversation?.tenantId,
-      },
-      teamId,
-      channelId: activity.channelId,
-      serviceUrl: activity.serviceUrl,
-      locale: activity.locale,
-      // Only set timezone if present (preserve previously stored value on next upsert)
-      ...(clientInfo?.timezone ? { timezone: clientInfo.timezone } : {}),
-    };
     conversationStore.upsert(conversationId, conversationRef).catch((err) => {
       log.debug?.("failed to save conversation reference", {
         error: formatUnknownError(err),
@@ -642,8 +660,10 @@ export function createMSTeamsMessageHandler(deps: MSTeamsMessageHandlerDeps) {
     // Use Teams clientInfo timezone if no explicit userTimezone is configured.
     // This ensures the agent knows the sender's timezone for time-aware responses
     // and proactive sends within the same session.
-    // Apply Teams clientInfo timezone if no explicit userTimezone is configured.
-    const senderTimezone = clientInfo?.timezone || conversationRef.timezone;
+    const activityClientInfo = activity.entities?.find((e) => e.type === "clientInfo") as
+      | { timezone?: string }
+      | undefined;
+    const senderTimezone = activityClientInfo?.timezone || conversationRef.timezone;
     const configOverride =
       senderTimezone && !cfg.agents?.defaults?.userTimezone
         ? {