diff --git a/docs/sdk-reference/error-handling/errors.md b/docs/sdk-reference/error-handling/errors.md
index 61521a0..8fa1e9e 100644
--- a/docs/sdk-reference/error-handling/errors.md
+++ b/docs/sdk-reference/error-handling/errors.md
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ error and the operation details.
       DOE --> InvokeError
       DOE --> ChildContextError
       DOE --> WaitForConditionError
-      SIE[StepInterruptedError]
+      SIE["StepInterruptedError (retryStrategy callback only)"]
     ```
 
     ```typescript
@@ -74,9 +74,11 @@ error and the operation details.
     subclass corresponds to a specific operation type. The `cause` property holds the
     original error your code threw.
 
-    `StepInterruptedError` is not a `DurableOperationError`. The SDK throws it when an
-    at-most-once step started but Lambda was interrupted before the SDK checkpointed the
-    result. See [Step interrupted](#step-interrupted) below.
+    The TypeScript SDK passes `StepInterruptedError` to your
+    `retryStrategy(error, attempt)` callback when Lambda interrupts an at-most-once step
+    before the SDK checkpoints the result. From `context.step(...)` the SDK throws a
+    `StepError` whose `cause.name` equals `"StepInterruptedError"`. See
+    [Step interrupted](#step-interrupted) below.
 
 === "Python"
 
diff --git a/docs/sdk-reference/operations/step.md b/docs/sdk-reference/operations/step.md
index b1f1377..dab591f 100644
--- a/docs/sdk-reference/operations/step.md
+++ b/docs/sdk-reference/operations/step.md
@@ -55,8 +55,10 @@ The step will checkpoint the last error after exhausting all retry attempts.
 
     **Returns:** `DurablePromise<T>`. Use `await` to get the result.
 
-    **Throws:** `DurableOperationError` wrapping the original error after retries are
-    exhausted. `StepInterruptedError` if an at-most-once step was interrupted.
+    **Throws:** `StepError` (a `DurableOperationError` subclass) wrapping the original
+    error after retries are exhausted. For an at-most-once step that Lambda interrupted
+    before the SDK checkpointed the result, the SDK throws a `StepError` whose
+    `cause.name` equals `"StepInterruptedError"`.
 
 === "Python"
 
@@ -208,10 +210,11 @@ The step will checkpoint the last error after exhausting all retry attempts.
     ```
 
     - `AtLeastOncePerRetry` (default) Re-executes the step if the function replays before
-        the result is checkpointed. Safe for idempotent operations.
+        the SDK checkpoints the result. Safe for idempotent operations.
     - `AtMostOncePerRetry` Executes the step at most once per retry attempt. If the function
-        replays before the result is checkpointed, the SDK skips the step and raises
-        `StepInterruptedError`. Use for operations with side effects.
+        replays before the SDK checkpoints the result, the SDK skips the step and throws a
+        `StepError` whose `cause.name` equals `"StepInterruptedError"`. Use for operations
+        with side effects.
 
 === "Python"
 
@@ -342,7 +345,7 @@ debugging easier.
 
 === "Java"
 
-    The name is always the first argument. Pass `null` for no name. 
+    The name is always the first argument. Pass `null` for no name.
 
 ## Configuration
 
diff --git a/examples/typescript/sdk-reference/error-handling/exception-hierarchy.ts b/examples/typescript/sdk-reference/error-handling/exception-hierarchy.ts
index 9ad8d5f..aef0b7d 100644
--- a/examples/typescript/sdk-reference/error-handling/exception-hierarchy.ts
+++ b/examples/typescript/sdk-reference/error-handling/exception-hierarchy.ts
@@ -11,16 +11,18 @@ import {
 } from "@aws/durable-execution-sdk-js";
 
 // DurableOperationError
-//   StepError              — step failed after retries exhausted
-//   CallbackError          — callback operation failed
-//   CallbackTimeoutError   — callback timed out
-//   CallbackSubmitterError — callback submitter failed
-//   InvokeError            — invoke operation failed
-//   ChildContextError      — child context failed
-//   WaitForConditionError  — wait-for-condition failed
+//   StepError:              step failed after retries exhausted
+//   CallbackError:          callback operation failed
+//   CallbackTimeoutError:   callback timed out
+//   CallbackSubmitterError: callback submitter failed
+//   InvokeError:            invoke operation failed
+//   ChildContextError:      child context failed
+//   WaitForConditionError:  wait-for-condition failed
 //
-// StepInterruptedError     — at-most-once step interrupted before checkpoint
-//   (not a DurableOperationError; thrown directly)
+// StepInterruptedError: internal sentinel. The SDK passes it to your
+//   retryStrategy(error, attempt) callback when Lambda interrupts an
+//   at-most-once step. From context.step(...) the SDK throws a StepError
+//   whose cause.name === "StepInterruptedError".
 
 export {
   DurableOperationError,
diff --git a/examples/typescript/sdk-reference/error-handling/step-interrupted.ts b/examples/typescript/sdk-reference/error-handling/step-interrupted.ts
index f3c184b..eaefada 100644
--- a/examples/typescript/sdk-reference/error-handling/step-interrupted.ts
+++ b/examples/typescript/sdk-reference/error-handling/step-interrupted.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import {
   withDurableExecution,
   StepSemantics,
-  StepInterruptedError,
+  StepError,
 } from "@aws/durable-execution-sdk-js";
 
 export const handler = withDurableExecution(async (event, context) => {
@@ -15,11 +15,14 @@ export const handler = withDurableExecution(async (event, context) => {
     );
     return { status: "charged", result };
   } catch (err) {
-    if (err instanceof StepInterruptedError) {
-      // The step started but Lambda was interrupted before the result was
-      // checkpointed. The SDK will not re-run the step on the next invocation.
-      // Inspect your payment system to determine whether the charge succeeded.
-      context.logger.warn("Payment step interrupted — check payment system");
+    if (
+      err instanceof StepError &&
+      err.cause?.name === "StepInterruptedError"
+    ) {
+      // Lambda interrupted the step before the SDK checkpointed the result.
+      // The SDK will not re-run the step on the next invocation. Check your
+      // payment system to determine whether the charge succeeded.
+      context.logger.warn("Payment step interrupted; check payment system");
       return { status: "unknown" };
     }
     throw err;