diff --git a/easytier/src/common/acl_processor.rs b/easytier/src/common/acl_processor.rs
index ce4904d2..a789e5e9 100644
--- a/easytier/src/common/acl_processor.rs
+++ b/easytier/src/common/acl_processor.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ pub struct RateLimitValue {
 pub enum RuleId {
     Priority(u32),
     Stateful(u32),
+    StatefulReverse,
     Default,
 }
 
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ impl RuleId {
         match self {
             RuleId::Priority(p) => p.to_string(),
             RuleId::Stateful(p) => format!("stateful-{}", p),
+            RuleId::StatefulReverse => "stateful-reverse".to_string(),
             RuleId::Default => "default".to_string(),
         }
     }
@@ -482,24 +484,30 @@ impl AclProcessor {
         stats
     }
 
-    /// Process a packet through ACL rules - Now lock-free!
+    /// Process a packet through ACL rules.
     pub fn process_packet(&self, packet_info: &PacketInfo, chain_type: ChainType) -> AclResult {
-        if let Some(result) = self.check_reverse_connection(packet_info) {
-            return result;
-        }
-
         // Check cache first for performance
         let cache_key = AclCacheKey::from_packet_info(packet_info, chain_type);
 
-        // If cache hit and can skip checks, return cached result
+        // If cache hit and can skip checks, return cached result. Cached drops may be
+        // overridden by a stateful reverse connection that was created after caching.
         if let Some(mut cached) = self.rule_cache.get_mut(&cache_key) {
             // Update last access time for LRU
             cached.last_access = Instant::now();
 
             self.increment_stat(AclStatKey::CacheHits);
+            if cached.acl_result.as_ref().map(|r| r.action) == Some(Action::Drop)
+                && let Some(result) = self.check_reverse_connection(packet_info)
+            {
+                return result;
+            }
             return self.process_packet_with_cache_entry(packet_info, &cached);
         }
 
+        if let Some(result) = self.check_reverse_connection(packet_info) {
+            return result;
+        }
+
         // Direct access to rules - no locks needed!
         let rules = match chain_type {
             ChainType::Inbound => &self.inbound_rules,
@@ -734,22 +742,35 @@ impl AclProcessor {
     }
 
     fn conn_track_key(&self, packet_info: &PacketInfo) -> String {
-        format!(
-            "{}:{}->{}:{}",
+        Self::make_conn_track_key(
             packet_info.src_ip,
-            packet_info.src_port.unwrap_or(0),
+            packet_info.src_port,
             packet_info.dst_ip,
-            packet_info.dst_port.unwrap_or(0)
+            packet_info.dst_port,
         )
     }
 
     fn reverse_conn_track_key(&self, packet_info: &PacketInfo) -> String {
+        Self::make_conn_track_key(
+            packet_info.dst_ip,
+            packet_info.dst_port,
+            packet_info.src_ip,
+            packet_info.src_port,
+        )
+    }
+
+    fn make_conn_track_key(
+        src_ip: IpAddr,
+        src_port: Option<u16>,
+        dst_ip: IpAddr,
+        dst_port: Option<u16>,
+    ) -> String {
         format!(
             "{}:{}->{}:{}",
-            packet_info.dst_ip,
-            packet_info.dst_port.unwrap_or(0),
-            packet_info.src_ip,
-            packet_info.src_port.unwrap_or(0)
+            src_ip,
+            src_port.unwrap_or(0),
+            dst_ip,
+            dst_port.unwrap_or(0)
         )
     }
 
@@ -759,7 +780,7 @@ impl AclProcessor {
         Self::update_conn_track_entry(entry.value_mut(), packet_info);
         Some(AclResult {
             action: Action::Allow,
-            matched_rule: Some(RuleId::Default),
+            matched_rule: Some(RuleId::StatefulReverse),
             should_log: false,
             log_context: Some(AclLogContext::StatefulMatch {
                 src_ip: packet_info.src_ip,
@@ -1413,8 +1434,11 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
-    #[tokio::test]
-    async fn test_stateful_allows_reverse_traffic_before_default_drop() {
+    #[test]
+    fn test_stateful_allows_reverse_traffic_before_default_drop() {
+        let runtime = tokio::runtime::Runtime::new().unwrap();
+        let _runtime_guard = runtime.enter();
+
         let mut acl_config = Acl::default();
         let mut acl_v1 = AclV1::default();
 
@@ -1474,6 +1498,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         let inbound_result = processor.process_packet(&inbound_reply, ChainType::Inbound);
         assert_eq!(inbound_result.action, Action::Allow);
+        assert_eq!(inbound_result.matched_rule, Some(RuleId::StatefulReverse));
     }
 
     #[test]