diff --git a/pairing.py b/pairing.py
index a751e1d..c372117 100644
--- a/pairing.py
+++ b/pairing.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ with nothing else provisioned. See bitspire packages/nostr-client/src/seed.ts.
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import asyncio
 import base64
 import json
 import re
@@ -143,6 +144,28 @@ def _recover_token(tokens: list[dict], client_name: str) -> str:
     return token
 
 
+async def _get_key_tokens_with_retry(
+    admin_client: NsecBunkerAdminClient,
+    key_name: str,
+    *,
+    attempts: int = 5,
+    delay: float = 0.4,
+) -> list[dict]:
+    """`get_key_tokens` can race a just-issued token: when the bunker is briefly
+    slow (a `nip44_decrypt`/`create_new_token` under load), listing tokens
+    milliseconds later can return an empty set before the write lands, and
+    pairing fails with 'no tokens'. Retry a few times with a short backoff
+    before giving up (bitspire#70)."""
+    tokens: list[dict] = []
+    for i in range(attempts):
+        tokens = await admin_client.get_key_tokens(key_name)
+        if tokens:
+            return tokens
+        if i < attempts - 1:
+            await asyncio.sleep(delay)
+    return tokens
+
+
 def build_seed_url(
     *,
     spire_npub: str,
@@ -299,7 +322,7 @@ async def pair_spire(
         await admin_client.create_new_token(
             key_name, client_name, policy_id, duration_hours=duration_hours
         )
-        tokens = await admin_client.get_key_tokens(key_name)
+        tokens = await _get_key_tokens_with_retry(admin_client, key_name)
     except NsecBunkerNotConfiguredError as exc:
         raise PairingError(f"nsecbunkerd is not configured: {exc}") from exc
     except NsecBunkerError as exc:
diff --git a/tests/test_pairing.py b/tests/test_pairing.py
index 15334fa..1f9207f 100644
--- a/tests/test_pairing.py
+++ b/tests/test_pairing.py
@@ -248,6 +248,50 @@ def test_malformed_token_raises():
         _pair(bunker)
 
 
+def test_get_key_tokens_retries_past_a_transient_empty(monkeypatch):
+    # A slow bunker can list no tokens right after create_new_token; retry.
+    import spirekeeper.pairing as pairing_mod
+
+    async def _no_sleep(*_a, **_k):
+        pass
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(pairing_mod.asyncio, "sleep", _no_sleep)
+
+    bunker = FakeBunker(token_secret="s")  # pragma: allowlist secret
+    real = bunker.get_key_tokens
+    calls = {"n": 0}
+
+    async def flaky(key_name):
+        calls["n"] += 1
+        return [] if calls["n"] == 1 else await real(key_name)
+
+    bunker.get_key_tokens = flaky
+    result = _pair(bunker)
+    assert calls["n"] == 2  # empty once, then the token
+    assert result.spire_npub == _SPIRE_NPUB
+
+
+def test_pair_raises_when_tokens_stay_empty(monkeypatch):
+    import spirekeeper.pairing as pairing_mod
+
+    async def _no_sleep(*_a, **_k):
+        pass
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(pairing_mod.asyncio, "sleep", _no_sleep)
+
+    bunker = FakeBunker()
+    calls = {"n": 0}
+
+    async def always_empty(key_name):
+        calls["n"] += 1
+        return []
+
+    bunker.get_key_tokens = always_empty
+    with pytest.raises(PairingError, match="no tokens"):
+        _pair(bunker)
+    assert calls["n"] == 5  # exhausted all attempts
+
+
 def test_bunker_relay_defaults_to_spire_event_relay():
     """No explicit bunker_relay -> the relay baked into bunker_url is the spire's
     own public event relay (relays[0]), NOT lnbits's internal bunker URL. This