diff --git a/packages/core/realtime-js/src/RealtimeChannel.ts b/packages/core/realtime-js/src/RealtimeChannel.ts
index 4bf49e686..1e48eacd4 100644
--- a/packages/core/realtime-js/src/RealtimeChannel.ts
+++ b/packages/core/realtime-js/src/RealtimeChannel.ts
@@ -308,7 +308,10 @@ export default class RealtimeChannel {
 
       this.joinPush
         .receive('ok', async ({ postgres_changes }: PostgresChangesFilters) => {
-          this.socket.setAuth()
+          // Only refresh auth if using callback-based tokens
+          if (!this.socket._isManualToken()) {
+            this.socket.setAuth()
+          }
           if (postgres_changes === undefined) {
             callback?.(REALTIME_SUBSCRIBE_STATES.SUBSCRIBED)
             return
@@ -531,7 +534,7 @@ export default class RealtimeChannel {
         'channel',
         `resubscribe to ${this.topic} due to change in presence callbacks on joined channel`
       )
-      this.unsubscribe().then(() => this.subscribe())
+      this.unsubscribe().then(async () => await this.subscribe())
     }
     return this._on(type, filter, callback)
   }
diff --git a/packages/core/realtime-js/src/RealtimeClient.ts b/packages/core/realtime-js/src/RealtimeClient.ts
index 19db54fa6..91880472b 100755
--- a/packages/core/realtime-js/src/RealtimeClient.ts
+++ b/packages/core/realtime-js/src/RealtimeClient.ts
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ const WORKER_SCRIPT = `
 export default class RealtimeClient {
   accessTokenValue: string | null = null
   apiKey: string | null = null
+  private _manuallySetToken: boolean = false
   channels: RealtimeChannel[] = new Array()
   endPoint: string = ''
   httpEndpoint: string = ''
@@ -416,7 +417,18 @@ export default class RealtimeClient {
    *
    * On callback used, it will set the value of the token internal to the client.
    *
+   * When a token is explicitly provided, it will be preserved across channel operations
+   * (including removeChannel and resubscribe). The `accessToken` callback will not be
+   * invoked until `setAuth()` is called without arguments.
+   *
    * @param token A JWT string to override the token set on the client.
+   *
+   * @example
+   * // Use a manual token (preserved across resubscribes, ignores accessToken callback)
+   * client.realtime.setAuth('my-custom-jwt')
+   *
+   * // Switch back to using the accessToken callback
+   * client.realtime.setAuth()
    */
   async setAuth(token: string | null = null): Promise<void> {
     this._authPromise = this._performAuth(token)
@@ -426,6 +438,16 @@ export default class RealtimeClient {
       this._authPromise = null
     }
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Returns true if the current access token was explicitly set via setAuth(token),
+   * false if it was obtained via the accessToken callback.
+   * @internal
+   */
+  _isManualToken(): boolean {
+    return this._manuallySetToken
+  }
+
   /**
    * Sends a heartbeat message if the socket is connected.
    */
@@ -779,16 +801,33 @@ export default class RealtimeClient {
    */
   private async _performAuth(token: string | null = null): Promise<void> {
     let tokenToSend: string | null
+    let isManualToken = false
 
     if (token) {
       tokenToSend = token
+      // Track if this is a manually-provided token
+      isManualToken = true
     } else if (this.accessToken) {
-      // Always call the accessToken callback to get fresh token
-      tokenToSend = await this.accessToken()
+      // Call the accessToken callback to get fresh token
+      try {
+        tokenToSend = await this.accessToken()
+      } catch (e) {
+        this.log('error', 'Error fetching access token from callback', e)
+        // Fall back to cached value if callback fails
+        tokenToSend = this.accessTokenValue
+      }
     } else {
       tokenToSend = this.accessTokenValue
     }
 
+    // Track whether this token was manually set or fetched via callback
+    if (isManualToken) {
+      this._manuallySetToken = true
+    } else if (this.accessToken) {
+      // If we used the callback, clear the manual flag
+      this._manuallySetToken = false
+    }
+
     if (this.accessTokenValue != tokenToSend) {
       this.accessTokenValue = tokenToSend
       this.channels.forEach((channel) => {
@@ -823,9 +862,12 @@ export default class RealtimeClient {
    * @internal
    */
   private _setAuthSafely(context = 'general'): void {
-    this.setAuth().catch((e) => {
-      this.log('error', `error setting auth in ${context}`, e)
-    })
+    // Only refresh auth if using callback-based tokens
+    if (!this._isManualToken()) {
+      this.setAuth().catch((e) => {
+        this.log('error', `Error setting auth in ${context}`, e)
+      })
+    }
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/packages/core/realtime-js/test/RealtimeChannel.lifecycle.test.ts b/packages/core/realtime-js/test/RealtimeChannel.lifecycle.test.ts
index 376f931bf..404011151 100644
--- a/packages/core/realtime-js/test/RealtimeChannel.lifecycle.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/realtime-js/test/RealtimeChannel.lifecycle.test.ts
@@ -229,10 +229,10 @@ describe('Channel Lifecycle Management', () => {
       assert.equal(channel.state, CHANNEL_STATES.joining)
     })
 
-    test('updates join push payload access token', () => {
+    test('updates join push payload access token', async () => {
       testSetup.socket.accessTokenValue = 'token123'
 
-      channel.subscribe()
+      await channel.subscribe()
 
       assert.deepEqual(channel.joinPush.payload, {
         access_token: 'token123',
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ describe('Channel Lifecycle Management', () => {
       })
       const channel = testSocket.channel('topic')
 
-      channel.subscribe()
+      await channel.subscribe()
       await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 50))
       assert.equal(channel.socket.accessTokenValue, tokens[0])
 
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ describe('Channel Lifecycle Management', () => {
       // Wait for disconnect to complete (including fallback timer)
       await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 150))
 
-      channel.subscribe()
+      await channel.subscribe()
       await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 50))
       assert.equal(channel.socket.accessTokenValue, tokens[1])
     })
diff --git a/packages/core/realtime-js/test/RealtimeClient.auth.resubscribe.test.ts b/packages/core/realtime-js/test/RealtimeClient.auth.resubscribe.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9aed0ecac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/realtime-js/test/RealtimeClient.auth.resubscribe.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,190 @@
+import assert from 'assert'
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, test, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { testBuilders, EnhancedTestSetup } from './helpers/setup'
+import { utils } from './helpers/auth'
+import { CHANNEL_STATES } from '../src/lib/constants'
+
+let testSetup: EnhancedTestSetup
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  testSetup = testBuilders.standardClient()
+})
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  testSetup.cleanup()
+  testSetup.socket.removeAllChannels()
+})
+
+describe('Custom JWT token preservation', () => {
+  test('preserves access token when resubscribing after removeChannel', async () => {
+    // Test scenario:
+    // 1. Set custom JWT via setAuth (not using accessToken callback)
+    // 2. Subscribe to private channel
+    // 3. removeChannel
+    // 4. Create new channel with same topic and subscribe
+
+    const customToken = utils.generateJWT('1h')
+
+    // Step 1: Set auth with custom token (mimics user's setup)
+    await testSetup.socket.setAuth(customToken)
+
+    // Verify token was set
+    assert.strictEqual(testSetup.socket.accessTokenValue, customToken)
+
+    // Step 2: Create and subscribe to private channel (first time)
+    const channel1 = testSetup.socket.channel('conversation:dc3fb8c1-ceef-4c00-9f92-e496acd03593', {
+      config: { private: true },
+    })
+
+    // Spy on the push to verify join payload
+    const pushSpy = vi.spyOn(testSetup.socket, 'push')
+
+    // Simulate successful subscription
+    channel1.state = CHANNEL_STATES.closed // Start from closed
+    await channel1.subscribe()
+
+    // Verify first join includes access_token
+    const firstJoinCall = pushSpy.mock.calls.find((call) => call[0]?.event === 'phx_join')
+    expect(firstJoinCall).toBeDefined()
+    expect(firstJoinCall![0].payload).toHaveProperty('access_token', customToken)
+
+    // Step 3: Remove channel (mimics user cleanup)
+    await testSetup.socket.removeChannel(channel1)
+
+    // Verify channel was removed
+    expect(testSetup.socket.getChannels()).not.toContain(channel1)
+
+    // Step 4: Create NEW channel with SAME topic and subscribe
+    pushSpy.mockClear()
+    const channel2 = testSetup.socket.channel('conversation:dc3fb8c1-ceef-4c00-9f92-e496acd03593', {
+      config: { private: true },
+    })
+
+    // This should be a different channel instance
+    expect(channel2).not.toBe(channel1)
+
+    // Subscribe to the new channel
+    channel2.state = CHANNEL_STATES.closed
+    await channel2.subscribe()
+
+    // Verify second join also includes access token
+    const secondJoinCall = pushSpy.mock.calls.find((call) => call[0]?.event === 'phx_join')
+
+    expect(secondJoinCall).toBeDefined()
+    expect(secondJoinCall![0].payload).toHaveProperty('access_token', customToken)
+  })
+
+  test('supports accessToken callback for token rotation', async () => {
+    // Verify that callback-based token fetching works correctly
+    const customToken = utils.generateJWT('1h')
+    let callCount = 0
+
+    const clientWithCallback = testBuilders.standardClient({
+      accessToken: async () => {
+        callCount++
+        return customToken
+      },
+    })
+
+    // Set initial auth
+    await clientWithCallback.socket.setAuth()
+
+    // Create and subscribe to first channel
+    const channel1 = clientWithCallback.socket.channel('conversation:test', {
+      config: { private: true },
+    })
+
+    const pushSpy = vi.spyOn(clientWithCallback.socket, 'push')
+    channel1.state = CHANNEL_STATES.closed
+    await channel1.subscribe()
+
+    const firstJoin = pushSpy.mock.calls.find((call) => call[0]?.event === 'phx_join')
+    expect(firstJoin![0].payload).toHaveProperty('access_token', customToken)
+
+    // Remove and recreate
+    await clientWithCallback.socket.removeChannel(channel1)
+    pushSpy.mockClear()
+
+    const channel2 = clientWithCallback.socket.channel('conversation:test', {
+      config: { private: true },
+    })
+
+    channel2.state = CHANNEL_STATES.closed
+    await channel2.subscribe()
+
+    const secondJoin = pushSpy.mock.calls.find((call) => call[0]?.event === 'phx_join')
+
+    // Callback should provide token for both subscriptions
+    expect(secondJoin![0].payload).toHaveProperty('access_token', customToken)
+
+    clientWithCallback.cleanup()
+  })
+
+  test('preserves token when subscribing to different topics', async () => {
+    const customToken = utils.generateJWT('1h')
+    await testSetup.socket.setAuth(customToken)
+
+    // Subscribe to first topic
+    const channel1 = testSetup.socket.channel('topic1', { config: { private: true } })
+    channel1.state = CHANNEL_STATES.closed
+    await channel1.subscribe()
+
+    await testSetup.socket.removeChannel(channel1)
+
+    // Subscribe to DIFFERENT topic
+    const pushSpy = vi.spyOn(testSetup.socket, 'push')
+    const channel2 = testSetup.socket.channel('topic2', { config: { private: true } })
+    channel2.state = CHANNEL_STATES.closed
+    await channel2.subscribe()
+
+    const joinCall = pushSpy.mock.calls.find((call) => call[0]?.event === 'phx_join')
+    expect(joinCall![0].payload).toHaveProperty('access_token', customToken)
+  })
+
+  test('handles accessToken callback errors gracefully during subscribe', async () => {
+    const errorMessage = 'Token fetch failed during subscribe'
+    let callCount = 0
+    const tokens = ['initial-token', null] // Second call will throw
+
+    const accessToken = vi.fn(() => {
+      if (callCount++ === 0) {
+        return Promise.resolve(tokens[0])
+      }
+      return Promise.reject(new Error(errorMessage))
+    })
+
+    const logSpy = vi.fn()
+
+    const client = testBuilders.standardClient({
+      accessToken,
+      logger: logSpy,
+    })
+
+    // First subscribe should work
+    await client.socket.setAuth()
+    const channel1 = client.socket.channel('test', { config: { private: true } })
+    channel1.state = CHANNEL_STATES.closed
+    await channel1.subscribe()
+
+    expect(client.socket.accessTokenValue).toBe(tokens[0])
+
+    // Remove and resubscribe - callback will fail but should fall back
+    await client.socket.removeChannel(channel1)
+
+    const channel2 = client.socket.channel('test', { config: { private: true } })
+    channel2.state = CHANNEL_STATES.closed
+    await channel2.subscribe()
+
+    // Verify error was logged
+    expect(logSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'error',
+      'Error fetching access token from callback',
+      expect.any(Error)
+    )
+
+    // Verify subscription still succeeded with cached token
+    expect(client.socket.accessTokenValue).toBe(tokens[0])
+
+    client.cleanup()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/packages/core/realtime-js/test/RealtimeClient.auth.test.ts b/packages/core/realtime-js/test/RealtimeClient.auth.test.ts
index 60f140fdb..8aa6f22d5 100644
--- a/packages/core/realtime-js/test/RealtimeClient.auth.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/realtime-js/test/RealtimeClient.auth.test.ts
@@ -140,8 +140,12 @@ describe('auth during connection states', () => {
 
     await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(() => resolve(undefined), 100))
 
-    // Verify that the error was logged
-    expect(logSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith('error', 'error setting auth in connect', expect.any(Error))
+    // Verify that the error was logged with more specific message
+    expect(logSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'error',
+      'Error fetching access token from callback',
+      expect.any(Error)
+    )
 
     // Verify that the connection was still established despite the error
     assert.ok(socketWithError.conn, 'connection should still exist')
@@ -199,7 +203,7 @@ describe('auth during connection states', () => {
     expect(socket.accessTokenValue).toBe(tokens[0])
 
     // Call the callback and wait for async operations to complete
-    await socket.reconnectTimer.callback()
+    await socket.reconnectTimer?.callback()
     await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 100))
     expect(socket.accessTokenValue).toBe(tokens[1])
     expect(accessToken).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
diff --git a/packages/core/realtime-js/test/RealtimeClient.channels.test.ts b/packages/core/realtime-js/test/RealtimeClient.channels.test.ts
index 6bac3dc00..8cfb4f437 100644
--- a/packages/core/realtime-js/test/RealtimeClient.channels.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/realtime-js/test/RealtimeClient.channels.test.ts
@@ -104,7 +104,8 @@ describe('channel', () => {
     const connectStub = vi.spyOn(testSetup.socket, 'connect')
     const disconnectStub = vi.spyOn(testSetup.socket, 'disconnect')
 
-    channel = testSetup.socket.channel('topic').subscribe()
+    channel = testSetup.socket.channel('topic')
+    await channel.subscribe()
 
     assert.equal(testSetup.socket.getChannels().length, 1)
     expect(connectStub).toHaveBeenCalled()
@@ -118,11 +119,11 @@ describe('channel', () => {
   test('does not remove other channels when removing one', async () => {
     const connectStub = vi.spyOn(testSetup.socket, 'connect')
     const disconnectStub = vi.spyOn(testSetup.socket, 'disconnect')
-    const channel1 = testSetup.socket.channel('chan1').subscribe()
-    const channel2 = testSetup.socket.channel('chan2').subscribe()
+    const channel1 = testSetup.socket.channel('chan1')
+    const channel2 = testSetup.socket.channel('chan2')
 
-    channel1.subscribe()
-    channel2.subscribe()
+    await channel1.subscribe()
+    await channel2.subscribe()
     assert.equal(testSetup.socket.getChannels().length, 2)
     expect(connectStub).toHaveBeenCalled()