diff --git a/libs/langgraph/langgraph/pregel/_checkpoint.py b/libs/langgraph/langgraph/pregel/_checkpoint.py
index c336f75a6..c77a8b283 100644
--- a/libs/langgraph/langgraph/pregel/_checkpoint.py
+++ b/libs/langgraph/langgraph/pregel/_checkpoint.py
@@ -242,6 +242,10 @@ def channels_from_checkpoint(
     (`_DeltaSnapshot` blob or pre-migration plain value) and accumulate
     the writes between it and the target. All delta channels needing
     replay are batched into a single saver call.
+
+    A delta channel with no version at the checkpoint was never written, so
+    it is empty without a walk. A walk for it would find no snapshot to stop
+    at and read every ancestor, every time the thread is loaded.
     """
     channel_specs: dict[str, BaseChannel] = {}
     managed_specs: dict[str, ManagedValueSpec] = {}
@@ -254,7 +258,8 @@ def channels_from_checkpoint(
     delta_channels: list[str] = [
         k
         for k, spec in channel_specs.items()
-        if _needs_replay(spec, checkpoint["channel_values"].get(k, MISSING))
+        if k in checkpoint["channel_versions"]
+        and _needs_replay(spec, checkpoint["channel_values"].get(k, MISSING))
     ]
     histories: Mapping[str, Any] = {}
     if delta_channels and saver is not None and config is not None:
@@ -296,7 +301,8 @@ async def achannels_from_checkpoint(
     delta_channels: list[str] = [
         k
         for k, spec in channel_specs.items()
-        if _needs_replay(spec, checkpoint["channel_values"].get(k, MISSING))
+        if k in checkpoint["channel_versions"]
+        and _needs_replay(spec, checkpoint["channel_values"].get(k, MISSING))
     ]
     histories: Mapping[str, Any] = {}
     if delta_channels and saver is not None and config is not None:
diff --git a/libs/langgraph/tests/test_delta_channel_supersteps_bound.py b/libs/langgraph/tests/test_delta_channel_supersteps_bound.py
index a2c3a2776..6d96e6169 100644
--- a/libs/langgraph/tests/test_delta_channel_supersteps_bound.py
+++ b/libs/langgraph/tests/test_delta_channel_supersteps_bound.py
@@ -193,3 +193,45 @@ async def test_counter_reset_after_supersteps_snapshot() -> None:
 
         state = graph.get_state(config)
         assert state.values["b"] == ["seed-b"]
+
+
+class _HistoryRequestSaver(InMemorySaver):
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        super().__init__()
+        self.requested: list[list[str]] = []
+
+    def get_delta_channel_history(self, *, config: Any, channels: Any) -> Any:
+        self.requested.append(sorted(channels))
+        return super().get_delta_channel_history(config=config, channels=channels)
+
+
+def test_never_written_channel_is_not_walked() -> None:
+    saver = _HistoryRequestSaver()
+    graph = _build_two_channel_graph(saver, n_loops=3)
+    config = {"configurable": {"thread_id": "never-written"}}
+    graph.invoke({"a": ["seed-a"]}, config)
+    saver.requested.clear()
+
+    graph.invoke({"a": ["more-a"]}, config)
+    state = graph.get_state(config)
+
+    assert state.values["b"] == []
+    assert saver.requested and all(r == ["a"] for r in saver.requested), (
+        f"only the written channel needs a walk; asked for {saver.requested}"
+    )
+
+
+async def test_anever_written_channel_is_not_walked() -> None:
+    saver = _HistoryRequestSaver()
+    graph = _build_two_channel_graph(saver, n_loops=3)
+    config = {"configurable": {"thread_id": "never-written"}}
+    await graph.ainvoke({"a": ["seed-a"]}, config)
+    saver.requested.clear()
+
+    await graph.ainvoke({"a": ["more-a"]}, config)
+    state = await graph.aget_state(config)
+
+    assert state.values["b"] == []
+    assert saver.requested and all(r == ["a"] for r in saver.requested), (
+        f"only the written channel needs a walk; asked for {saver.requested}"
+    )