diff --git a/frontend/index.html b/frontend/index.html
index 77a242e..cfb45fc 100644
--- a/frontend/index.html
+++ b/frontend/index.html
@@ -1710,11 +1710,29 @@
 		</div>
 	</div>
 
+	<div id="ram-op-modal" class="fixed inset-0 bg-black/50 z-50 flex items-center justify-center hidden">
+		<div class="bg-white dark:bg-slate-800 rounded-lg p-4 max-w-lg w-full max-h-[85vh] flex flex-col">
+			<div class="flex justify-between items-center mb-2 gap-3">
+				<span id="ram-op-title" class="font-bold text-sm flex-1"></span>
+				<button id="ram-op-close" onclick="ramOpModalClose()" disabled class="px-3 py-1 text-xs rounded-full bg-gray-200 dark:bg-slate-700 text-gray-700 dark:text-slate-300 hover:bg-gray-300 dark:hover:bg-slate-600 disabled:opacity-40 disabled:cursor-not-allowed" data-l10n="Close">Close</button>
+			</div>
+			<div class="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-gray-600 dark:text-slate-400">
+				<div id="ram-op-spin" class="animate-spin w-4 h-4 border-2 border-blue-500 border-t-transparent rounded-full"></div>
+				<span id="ram-op-status" data-l10n="Working...">Working...</span>
+			</div>
+			<div class="mt-2 w-full bg-gray-200 dark:bg-slate-700 rounded h-1.5">
+				<div id="ram-op-bar" class="bg-blue-600 dark:bg-blue-500 h-1.5 rounded" style="width:0%"></div>
+			</div>
+			<div id="ram-op-steps" class="mt-2 text-xs font-mono whitespace-pre-wrap overflow-auto text-gray-700 dark:text-slate-300"></div>
+			<div class="mt-2 text-xs text-amber-600 dark:text-amber-400" id="ram-op-warn" data-l10n="Do not close or reload this window while the operation is running.">Do not close or reload this window while the operation is running.</div>
+		</div>
+	</div>
+
 <script>
 // ===== Version =====
 // Single source of truth for the PWA version: shown in the header and used
 // by the server version check in pysimConnect().
-const SIMPLE_VERSION = '3.6.33';
+const SIMPLE_VERSION = '3.6.34';
 document.getElementById('app-version').textContent = 'v' + SIMPLE_VERSION;
 
 // ===== Tab switching =====
@@ -8267,6 +8285,72 @@ function ramHideProgress() {
 	document.getElementById('ram-progress').classList.add('hidden');
 }
 
+// ===== RAM operation modal (v3.6.34) =====
+// Long RAM operations (install chains, Explore) run behind a modal that blocks
+// everything else - an interrupted install can leave a half-loaded package.
+// The step headline comes from /api/status.ram_progress (polled every 2 s),
+// so it works while the install request holds the card lock.
+let _ramOpActive = false;
+
+function ramOpBeforeUnload(e) {
+	e.preventDefault();
+	e.returnValue = '';
+}
+
+function ramOpModalBegin(title) {
+	_ramOpActive = true;
+	document.getElementById('ram-op-title').textContent = title || '';
+	document.getElementById('ram-op-status').textContent = t('Working...');
+	document.getElementById('ram-op-status').className = 'text-sm text-gray-600 dark:text-slate-400';
+	document.getElementById('ram-op-bar').style.width = '0%';
+	document.getElementById('ram-op-steps').textContent = '';
+	document.getElementById('ram-op-close').disabled = true;
+	document.getElementById('ram-op-spin').classList.remove('hidden');
+	document.getElementById('ram-op-warn').classList.remove('hidden');
+	document.getElementById('ram-op-modal').classList.remove('hidden');
+	window.addEventListener('beforeunload', ramOpBeforeUnload);
+}
+
+function ramOpModalStatus(text) {
+	if (!_ramOpActive) return;
+	document.getElementById('ram-op-status').textContent = text || '';
+}
+
+// Headline of the modal from a /api/status.ram_progress payload (pure).
+function ramOpProgressText(p) {
+	if (!p) return '';
+	const parts = [];
+	parts.push(p.total ? t('Step') + ' ' + p.step + '/' + p.total : t('Working...'));
+	if (p.name) parts.push(p.name);
+	if (p.elapsed) parts.push(p.elapsed + ' s');
+	return parts.join(' \u2014 ');
+}
+
+function ramOpProgress(p) {
+	if (!_ramOpActive || !p || !p.active) return;
+	document.getElementById('ram-op-status').textContent = ramOpProgressText(p);
+	document.getElementById('ram-op-bar').style.width =
+		(p.total ? Math.min(100, Math.round(p.step * 100 / p.total)) : 10) + '%';
+}
+
+function ramOpModalFinish(summary, ok, stepsText) {
+	_ramOpActive = false;
+	window.removeEventListener('beforeunload', ramOpBeforeUnload);
+	document.getElementById('ram-op-spin').classList.add('hidden');
+	document.getElementById('ram-op-bar').style.width = '100%';
+	document.getElementById('ram-op-status').textContent = summary || '';
+	document.getElementById('ram-op-status').className = 'text-sm font-semibold ' +
+		(ok ? 'text-green-600 dark:text-green-400' : 'text-red-600 dark:text-red-400');
+	if (stepsText !== undefined) document.getElementById('ram-op-steps').textContent = stepsText || '';
+	document.getElementById('ram-op-warn').classList.add('hidden');
+	document.getElementById('ram-op-close').disabled = false;
+}
+
+function ramOpModalClose() {
+	if (_ramOpActive) return;
+	document.getElementById('ram-op-modal').classList.add('hidden');
+}
+
 function ramClearResults() {
 	_ramExplorerData = null;
 	ramHideProgress();
@@ -8992,6 +9076,8 @@ async function ramExplore(sp) {
 	const mem = { appCount: null, freeNV: null, freeV: null };
 	const isd = [], apps = [], elfs = [];
 
+	ramOpModalBegin(t('Explore Card (all GP data)'));
+
 	async function paginate(p1, collector, parser, label, quiet) {
 		// Compact listing format (GP 11.4.2.2: P2.b2=0) with the chained GET
 		// RESPONSE - see ramGetStatusApdu().  The card's SCP80 layer runs both
@@ -9005,6 +9091,7 @@ async function ramExplore(sp) {
 		while (guard++ < 32) {
 			const apdu = ramGetStatusApdu(p1, p2);
 			ramShowProgress(label + ' P1=' + p1 + ' P2=' + p2 + '...');
+			ramOpModalStatus(label + ' P1=' + p1 + ' P2=' + p2);
 			const res = await ramSendOta(apdu, Object.assign({}, sp, { cntr, spi2 }));
 			// Reuse the format detected for the first packet of this run
 			if (res.ram_format) sp.ram_format = res.ram_format;
@@ -9089,6 +9176,7 @@ async function ramExplore(sp) {
 	}
 
 	 ramShowProgress(t('Card resources (GET DATA FF21)') + '...');
+	 ramOpModalStatus(t('Card resources (GET DATA FF21)'));
 	try {
 		const memRes = await ramSendOta('80CAFF2100', Object.assign({}, sp, { spi2: '01' }));
 		if (memRes.ram_format) sp.ram_format = memRes.ram_format;
@@ -9144,6 +9232,7 @@ async function ramExplore(sp) {
 
 	_ramExplorerData = { mem: mem, isd: isd, apps: apps, elfs: elfs, fmt: sp.ram_format || '' };
 	ramRenderExplorer();
+	ramOpModalFinish(resultEl.textContent, errors.length === 0, errors.join('\n'));
 }
 
 // GP DELETE (Card Spec v2.3.1 11.2, Tables 11-20/11-23): P1=00 (last/only
@@ -9292,9 +9381,11 @@ async function ramInstallCap(sp) {
 	if (!file) { alert(t('Select a .cap file')); return; }
 	if (file.size > 48 * 1024) { alert(t('CAP file exceeds 48 kB limit')); return; }
 
-	ramShowProgress(t('Reading CAP file...'));
+	const capPkg = (_capAnalysis.ram.memory && _capAnalysis.ram.memory.package_aid) || '';
+	ramOpModalBegin(t('Installing package') + (capPkg ? ' \u2014 ' + capPkg : ''));
+	ramOpModalStatus(t('Reading CAP file...'));
 	const capHex = await ramReadFileHex(file);
-	ramShowProgress(t('Sending to server for install...'));
+	ramOpModalStatus(t('Sending to server for install...'));
 
 	// The STK hex is regenerated on every toolkit field edit; recompute it
 	// once more at send time unless the user pasted a custom hex directly
@@ -9373,7 +9464,9 @@ async function ramInstallApp(sp, op) {
 		spi1: sp.spi1, spi2: '01', kic: sp.kic, kid: sp.kid,
 		tar: sp.tar, cntr: sp.cntr, kicKey: sp.kicKey, kidKey: sp.kidKey,
 	};
-	ramShowProgress(t('Sending to card...'));
+	ramOpModalBegin(t(mode === 'make_selectable' ? 'INSTALL [for make selectable]' : 'INSTALL [for install]')
+		+ ((instance || module) ? ' \u2014 ' + (instance || module) : ''));
+	ramOpModalStatus(t('Sending to card...'));
 	const data = await pysimFetch('/api/ram-install-app', body);
 	ramHideProgress();
 	ramShowInstallResult(data, t('OK'));
@@ -9399,6 +9492,7 @@ function ramShowInstallResult(data, okText) {
 		resultEl.textContent = t('Install FAILED at step:') + ' ' + data.failed_step + (data.error ? ' (' + data.error + ')' : '');
 		resultEl.classList.remove('hidden', 'text-green-600'); resultEl.classList.add('text-red-600');
 	}
+	ramOpModalFinish(resultEl.textContent, !!data.success, txt);
 }
 
 async function ramExecute() {
@@ -9427,6 +9521,7 @@ async function ramExecute() {
 		resultEl.textContent = t('Error') + ': ' + e.message;
 		resultEl.classList.remove('hidden', 'text-green-600'); resultEl.classList.add('text-red-600');
 		ramHideProgress();
+		if (_ramOpActive) ramOpModalFinish(resultEl.textContent, false, '');
 	}
 }
 
@@ -11661,6 +11756,7 @@ async function pysimResetCardData(refreshStatus) {
 
 function pysimCardStateUpdate(status) {
 	if (!status || typeof status.connected !== 'boolean') return;
+	ramOpProgress(status.ram_progress);
 	_pysimServerAvailable = true;
 	_pysimLastStatus = status;
 	_pysimCardEquipped = !!status.connected;
@@ -17593,6 +17689,9 @@ const LANG_RU = {
 	'Start': 'Запустить',
 	'Clear': 'Очистить',
 	'Loading...': 'Загрузка...',
+	'Close': 'Закрыть',
+	'Installing package': 'Установка пакета',
+	'Do not close or reload this window while the operation is running.': 'Не закрывайте и не перезагружайте окно, пока операция выполняется.',
 	'Working...': 'Выполняется...',
 	'APDU hex': 'APDU (hex)',
 	'CAP file (max 48 kB)': 'CAP-файл (не более 48 кБ)',
diff --git a/frontend/style.css b/frontend/style.css
index 50d0c68..541ae96 100644
--- a/frontend/style.css
+++ b/frontend/style.css
@@ -819,6 +819,10 @@ video {
   display: none;
 }
 
+.h-1\.5 {
+  height: 0.375rem;
+}
+
 .h-16 {
   height: 4rem;
 }
@@ -992,6 +996,10 @@ video {
   max-width: 80rem;
 }
 
+.max-w-lg {
+  max-width: 32rem;
+}
+
 .max-w-md {
   max-width: 28rem;
 }
diff --git a/frontend/sw.js b/frontend/sw.js
index f21805a..a404d33 100644
--- a/frontend/sw.js
+++ b/frontend/sw.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-const CACHE = 'simple-v306';
+const CACHE = 'simple-v307';
 const URLS = [
   'index.html',
   'help.html',
diff --git a/frontend/tests/card_state.test.js b/frontend/tests/card_state.test.js
index 2789f26..647673b 100644
--- a/frontend/tests/card_state.test.js
+++ b/frontend/tests/card_state.test.js
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ let code = 'var _pysimCardStateKey = null;\nvar _pysimCardSession = null;\n'
 	+ 'var _pysimHeaderIccid = undefined;\nvar _pysimHeaderScp80 = undefined;\nvar _pysimHeaderScp81 = undefined;\n'
 	+ 'var _cardsAutoIccid = null;\nvar _pysimCardIccid = null;\n';
 code += extractFunc(html, 'pysimCardStateUpdate') + '\n';
+// the status poll also feeds the RAM operation modal (DOM-bound, covered in
+// ram.test.js) - stub it for these state tests
+code += 'var ramOpProgress = function() {};\n';
 code += extractFunc(html, 'pysimRefresh', true) + '\n';
 code += extractFunc(html, 'pysimAvailabilityState') + '\n';
 code += extractFunc(html, 'pysimControlDisabled') + '\n';
diff --git a/frontend/tests/ram.test.js b/frontend/tests/ram.test.js
index 70d60cf..26e0cad 100644
--- a/frontend/tests/ram.test.js
+++ b/frontend/tests/ram.test.js
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ function extractFunc(src, name) {
 const FNS = ['berLenStr', 'buildApdu', 'escHtml', 'esc', 'chainInit', 'chainRamBuildRowHex', 'ramFmtLifecycle', 'ramFmtPrivileges', 'ramRenderExploreHtml', 'ramStepLine', 'ramGetStatusApdu', 'ramDeleteApdu',
 	'stkParamsBuild', 'ramRemoteSwOk', 'spPorAccepted', 'ramIncrementCntr', 'ramDeleteFromExplorer', 'ramListingSpi2', 'ramRemoveFromExplorer', 'ramHasInstance', 'ramExpandedQueryApdu',
 	'_parseRawElfEntry', '_parseRawAppEntry', 'ramParseElfStatus', 'ramParseAppStatus', 'parseTLV', '_parseE3Entry',
-	'ramCardIdxAfterRemove', 'ramClearResults', 'ramHideProgress', 'ramOpChanged', 'ramRender', 'ramApplyCard', 'ramExecute', 'decodePrivileges', 'ramActionBtn', 'ramCapToolkitMode',
+	'ramCardIdxAfterRemove', 'ramClearResults', 'ramHideProgress', 'ramOpChanged', 'ramRender', 'ramApplyCard', 'ramExecute', 'decodePrivileges', 'ramActionBtn', 'ramCapToolkitMode', 'ramOpProgressText',
 	'jcAidNorm', 'jcAidName', 'jcAidSuffix', 'jcAidHtml'];
 let code = '';
 for (const f of FNS) {
@@ -274,6 +274,16 @@ test('ramFmtPrivileges decodes the GP privilege bytes (live ISD values)', () =>
 	delete global.t;
 });
 
+test('ramOpProgressText renders the step headline', () => {
+	global.t = s => s;
+	assert.strictEqual(
+		ramOpProgressText({ step: 3, total: 11, name: 'LOAD (2/9)', elapsed: 4.2 }),
+		'Step 3/11 \u2014 LOAD (2/9) \u2014 4.2 s');
+	assert.strictEqual(ramOpProgressText({ step: 0, total: 0, name: '' }), 'Working...');
+	assert.strictEqual(ramOpProgressText(null), '');
+	delete global.t;
+});
+
 test('ramCapToolkitMode picks CA/EA from the CAP linked libraries', () => {
 	// sim.toolkit / sim.access (A0000000090003...) -> SIM Toolkit (CA field)
 	assert.strictEqual(ramCapToolkitMode([{ aid: 'A0000000090003FFFFFFFF8910710002' }]), 'ca');
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 22eb7d6..0fcd90f 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "pysim-simple-server"
-version = "3.6.33"
+version = "3.6.34"
 description = "HTTP REST server wrapping pysim for the SIMple PWA"
 requires-python = ">=3.8"
 # pysim is a git-only dependency installed explicitly by setup.bat/setup.sh.
diff --git a/pysim_simple_server/server.py b/pysim_simple_server/server.py
index b4488f3..2e73b48 100644
--- a/pysim_simple_server/server.py
+++ b/pysim_simple_server/server.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ from osmocom.tlv import BER_TLV_IE
 from osmocom.utils import rpad
 
 
-VERSION = '3.6.33'
+VERSION = '3.6.34'
 
 MAX_ENVELOPE_SEGMENTS = 5  # max SMS segments for outgoing C-APDU in ENVELOPE
 
@@ -1208,6 +1208,37 @@ def _ram_detect_format(server, scc, sp, state):
     return 'compact'
 
 
+# Live progress of the RAM operation currently running.  The long install
+# chains hold _CARD_LOCK for the whole request, so the PWA cannot learn the
+# step from the response - /api/status (lock-free cached state, polled every
+# 2 s) carries this dict instead (v3.6.34).
+_RAM_PROGRESS = {'active': False, 'kind': '', 'step': 0, 'total': 0,
+                 'name': '', 'started': 0.0}
+
+
+def _ram_progress_begin(kind, total):
+    _RAM_PROGRESS.update({'active': True, 'kind': str(kind),
+                          'step': 0, 'total': int(total or 0), 'name': '',
+                          'started': time.time()})
+
+
+def _ram_progress_step(step, name):
+    _RAM_PROGRESS.update({'step': int(step), 'name': str(name or '')})
+
+
+def _ram_progress_end():
+    _RAM_PROGRESS['active'] = False
+
+
+def _ram_progress_payload():
+    pr = _RAM_PROGRESS
+    started = pr.get('started') or 0
+    return {'active': bool(pr.get('active')), 'kind': pr.get('kind', ''),
+            'step': int(pr.get('step') or 0), 'total': int(pr.get('total') or 0),
+            'name': pr.get('name', ''),
+            'elapsed': round(time.time() - started, 1) if started else 0}
+
+
 def _ram_step_result(step_name, last_sw, por, por_hex, bytes_, segments):
     """Assemble a RAM-install step record and its failure reason.
 
@@ -5161,6 +5192,7 @@ class PysimHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
                 'card_session': int(getattr(self.server, 'card_session', 0)),
                 'proactive_seq': _PROACTIVE_ENTRY_ID,
                 'equipping': bool(getattr(self.server, 'equipping', False)),
+                'ram_progress': _ram_progress_payload(),
                 'auto_equip': bool(_AUTO_EQUIP),
                 'card': card.name if card else None,
                 'profile': str(rs.profile) if rs and rs.profile else None,
@@ -6326,41 +6358,50 @@ class PysimHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
                             'tar': tar, 'kic_key': kic_key, 'kid_key': kid_key,
                             'include_cpi': body.get('includeCpi', True)}
 
-                # RAM command format: detected per operation (a read-only probe
-                # step) unless the caller pinned compact/expanded (v3.6.24).
-                ram_format = _ram_normalize_format(body.get('ram_format'))
-                if ram_format == 'auto':
-                    ram_format = _ram_detect_format(self.server, scc, sp_state, state)
-
                 # INSTALL [for load] -> LOAD blocks -> INSTALL [for install]
                 seq = _cap_apdu_sequence(
                     loadfile_aid, module_aid, loadfile_data, sd_aid=sd_aid,
                     privileges=privileges_hex,
                     install_params=install_params_hex, stk_params=stk_params_hex,
                     make_selectable=make_selectable, block_size=block_size)
-                sys.stderr.write('RAM-INSTALL: %d APDUs (INSTALL / %d x LOAD / INSTALL, %s) loadfile_aid=%s\n' % (
-                    len(seq), len(seq) - 2, ram_format, loadfile_aid))
-                for apdu_idx, gp_apdu in enumerate(seq):
-                    if apdu_idx == 0:
-                        step_name = 'INSTALL [for load]'
-                    elif apdu_idx == len(seq) - 1:
-                        step_name = 'INSTALL [for install]'
-                    else:
-                        step_name = 'LOAD (%d/%d)' % (apdu_idx, len(seq) - 2)
-                    if not _ram_send_gp_apdu(self.server, scc, sp_state, state,
-                                             step_name,
-                                             _ram_format_apdu(gp_apdu, ram_format)):
-                        resp = {'success': False, 'steps': steps, 'failed_step': len(steps),
-                                'error': (state['encode_error'] or state['failure'].get('error')
-                                          or ('%s failed' % step_name)),
-                                'final_cntr': state['cntr'], 'ram_format': ram_format,
-                                'load_file_aid': loadfile_aid, 'module_aid': module_aid,
-                                'load_block_size': block_size,
-                                'load_block_size_requested': block_size_req,
-                                'load_block_size_auto': not block_size_req}
-                        self._send_json(resp)
-                        self._log_resp(resp)
-                        return
+
+                # Live progress for the PWA's operation modal (the request holds
+                # _CARD_LOCK until the chain is done; /api/status carries this)
+                _ram_progress_begin('install-cap', len(seq) + 1)
+                try:
+                    # RAM command format: detected per operation (a read-only
+                    # probe step) unless the caller pinned compact/expanded.
+                    ram_format = _ram_normalize_format(body.get('ram_format'))
+                    if ram_format == 'auto':
+                        _ram_progress_step(0, 'FORMAT CHECK')
+                        ram_format = _ram_detect_format(self.server, scc, sp_state, state)
+                    sys.stderr.write('RAM-INSTALL: %d APDUs (INSTALL / %d x LOAD / INSTALL, %s) loadfile_aid=%s\n' % (
+                        len(seq), len(seq) - 2, ram_format, loadfile_aid))
+
+                    for apdu_idx, gp_apdu in enumerate(seq):
+                        if apdu_idx == 0:
+                            step_name = 'INSTALL [for load]'
+                        elif apdu_idx == len(seq) - 1:
+                            step_name = 'INSTALL [for install]'
+                        else:
+                            step_name = 'LOAD (%d/%d)' % (apdu_idx, len(seq) - 2)
+                        _ram_progress_step(apdu_idx + 1, step_name)
+                        if not _ram_send_gp_apdu(self.server, scc, sp_state, state,
+                                                 step_name,
+                                                 _ram_format_apdu(gp_apdu, ram_format)):
+                            resp = {'success': False, 'steps': steps, 'failed_step': len(steps),
+                                    'error': (state['encode_error'] or state['failure'].get('error')
+                                              or ('%s failed' % step_name)),
+                                    'final_cntr': state['cntr'], 'ram_format': ram_format,
+                                    'load_file_aid': loadfile_aid, 'module_aid': module_aid,
+                                    'load_block_size': block_size,
+                                    'load_block_size_requested': block_size_req,
+                                    'load_block_size_auto': not block_size_req}
+                            self._send_json(resp)
+                            self._log_resp(resp)
+                            return
+                finally:
+                    _ram_progress_end()
 
                 resp = {'success': True, 'steps': steps, 'load_file_aid': loadfile_aid,
                         'module_aid': module_aid, 'final_cntr': state['cntr'],
@@ -6425,15 +6466,22 @@ class PysimHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
                     'include_cpi': body.get('includeCpi', True)}
                 state = {'steps': [], 'encode_error': None, 'failure': {},
                          'cntr': sp_state['cntr']}
-                # RAM command format: detected per operation (a read-only probe
-                # step) unless the caller pinned compact/expanded (v3.6.24).
-                ram_format = _ram_normalize_format(body.get('ram_format'))
-                if ram_format == 'auto':
-                    ram_format = _ram_detect_format(self.server, scc, sp_state, state)
-                apdu = _ram_format_apdu(apdu, ram_format)
-                sys.stderr.write('RAM-INSTALL-APP: %s (%s, %s) cntr=%s\n' % (
-                    apdu, step_name, ram_format, sp_state['cntr']))
-                ok = _ram_send_gp_apdu(self.server, scc, sp_state, state, step_name, apdu)
+                # Live progress for the PWA's operation modal (see /api/ram-install)
+                _ram_progress_begin('install-app', 2)
+                try:
+                    # RAM command format: detected per operation (a read-only
+                    # probe step) unless the caller pinned compact/expanded.
+                    ram_format = _ram_normalize_format(body.get('ram_format'))
+                    if ram_format == 'auto':
+                        _ram_progress_step(0, 'FORMAT CHECK')
+                        ram_format = _ram_detect_format(self.server, scc, sp_state, state)
+                    apdu = _ram_format_apdu(apdu, ram_format)
+                    _ram_progress_step(1, step_name)
+                    sys.stderr.write('RAM-INSTALL-APP: %s (%s, %s) cntr=%s\n' % (
+                        apdu, step_name, ram_format, sp_state['cntr']))
+                    ok = _ram_send_gp_apdu(self.server, scc, sp_state, state, step_name, apdu)
+                finally:
+                    _ram_progress_end()
                 resp = {'success': bool(ok), 'steps': state['steps'],
                         'final_cntr': state['cntr'], 'ram_format': ram_format}
                 if not ok:
diff --git a/tests/test_ota_helpers.py b/tests/test_ota_helpers.py
index ac0e168..9b75d33 100644
--- a/tests/test_ota_helpers.py
+++ b/tests/test_ota_helpers.py
@@ -1588,3 +1588,20 @@ class RamCommandFormatTests(unittest.TestCase):
         # only the accepted (expanded) probe advanced the 5-byte counter
         self.assertEqual(state['cntr'], '10000AAAC9')
         self.assertEqual(len(state['steps']), 2)
+
+
+class RamProgressTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Live RAM-operation progress exposed in /api/status (v3.6.34)."""
+
+    def test_progress_lifecycle_and_payload(self):
+        from pysim_simple_server import server as srv
+        srv._ram_progress_begin('install-cap', 5)
+        p = srv._ram_progress_payload()
+        self.assertTrue(p['active'])
+        self.assertEqual((p['kind'], p['step'], p['total']), ('install-cap', 0, 5))
+        srv._ram_progress_step(3, 'LOAD (2/3)')
+        p = srv._ram_progress_payload()
+        self.assertEqual((p['step'], p['name']), (3, 'LOAD (2/3)'))
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(p['elapsed'], 0)
+        srv._ram_progress_end()
+        self.assertFalse(srv._ram_progress_payload()['active'])