diff --git a/backend/src/api/live_simulation.rs b/backend/src/api/live_simulation.rs
index 8c783da..3bc62f8 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/live_simulation.rs
+++ b/backend/src/api/live_simulation.rs
@@ -109,12 +109,21 @@ pub async fn stream(
     }
 
     let frame_step = metadata.frame_step_seconds.max(0.001);
-    let speed = query
+    let requested = query
         .speed
         .filter(|value| value.is_finite() && *value > 0.0)
-        .unwrap_or(1.0)
-        .clamp(live_simulation::MIN_SPEED, live_simulation::MAX_SPEED);
-    state.live_simulation.set_speed(session_key, speed).await;
+        .map(|value| value.clamp(live_simulation::MIN_SPEED, live_simulation::MAX_SPEED));
+    let speed = match requested {
+        Some(speed) => {
+            state.live_simulation.set_speed(session_key, speed).await;
+            speed
+        }
+        None => state
+            .live_simulation
+            .speed(session_key)
+            .await
+            .unwrap_or(1.0),
+    };
     let frame_delay = Duration::from_secs_f64((frame_step / speed).clamp(0.01, 2.0));
     let replay_events = storage::get_replay_events(&state.pool, session_key).await?;
     let metadata_event = Event::default()
diff --git a/backend/src/api/tests.rs b/backend/src/api/tests.rs
index bb3b7c4..874962d 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/tests.rs
+++ b/backend/src/api/tests.rs
@@ -2013,6 +2013,40 @@ async fn live_simulation_start_accepts_lap_and_speed_and_speed_route_rebases() {
     .await;
 }
 
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn live_simulation_stream_without_speed_query_keeps_the_current_speed() {
+    let app = seeded_router().await;
+    post_json_body(
+        app.clone(),
+        "/api/sessions/9839/live-simulation/start",
+        json!({ "speed": 4.0 }),
+        StatusCode::OK,
+    )
+    .await;
+
+    let text = get_sse_prefix(app.clone(), "/api/sessions/9839/live-simulation/stream", |body| {
+        body.contains("event: snapshot")
+    })
+    .await;
+    assert!(text.contains("event: metadata"));
+
+    let before = get_json(
+        app.clone(),
+        "/api/sessions/9839/live-simulation/status",
+        StatusCode::OK,
+    )
+    .await;
+    tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(300)).await;
+    let after = get_json(
+        app,
+        "/api/sessions/9839/live-simulation/status",
+        StatusCode::OK,
+    )
+    .await;
+    let advanced = after["current_t"].as_f64().unwrap() - before["current_t"].as_f64().unwrap();
+    assert!(advanced >= 0.8, "simulation advanced only {advanced}s in 300ms; speed was reset");
+}
+
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn live_simulation_requires_cached_replay() {
     let app = seeded_router().await;
diff --git a/backend/src/live_simulation.rs b/backend/src/live_simulation.rs
index c0e6763..4090dac 100644
--- a/backend/src/live_simulation.rs
+++ b/backend/src/live_simulation.rs
@@ -124,6 +124,14 @@ impl LiveSimulationRegistry {
             .unwrap_or_else(|| inactive_status(session_key))
     }
 
+    pub async fn speed(&self, session_key: i64) -> Option<f64> {
+        self.sessions
+            .lock()
+            .await
+            .get(&session_key)
+            .map(|simulation| simulation.speed)
+    }
+
     /// Rebases the clock so the current simulation time is continuous across the change.
     /// Returns `None` when no simulation is running for the session.
     pub async fn set_speed(&self, session_key: i64, speed: f64) -> Option<LiveSessionStatus> {
@@ -429,6 +437,19 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(registry.set_speed(42, 1.0).await.is_none());
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn speed_is_reported_for_running_simulations() {
+        let pool = demo_pool().await;
+        let registry = LiveSimulationRegistry::default();
+        assert_eq!(registry.speed(9839).await, None);
+        let options = StartOptions {
+            speed: Some(4.0),
+            ..StartOptions::default()
+        };
+        registry.start(&pool, 9839, options).await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(registry.speed(9839).await, Some(4.0));
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn inactive_status_is_empty() {
         let registry = LiveSimulationRegistry::default();