diff --git a/config/scripts/wsl-hook-relay-reattach-benchmark.mjs b/config/scripts/wsl-hook-relay-reattach-benchmark.mjs
index 778d9a81f14..037bdea37f5 100644
--- a/config/scripts/wsl-hook-relay-reattach-benchmark.mjs
+++ b/config/scripts/wsl-hook-relay-reattach-benchmark.mjs
@@ -323,15 +323,15 @@ async function main() {
     // Why: if jiti ever returns a second manager module, our monkey-patch would miss the singleton
     // that ensureWslHookRelayForReattach (loaded via pty.ts) closes over — fail closed now.
     const singletonProbe = []
-    const previousEnsure = wslHookRelayManager.ensureForDistro.bind(wslHookRelayManager)
-    wslHookRelayManager.ensureForDistro = (probedDistro) => {
+    const previousEnsureReady = wslHookRelayManager.ensureForDistroReady.bind(wslHookRelayManager)
+    wslHookRelayManager.ensureForDistroReady = async (probedDistro) => {
       singletonProbe.push(probedDistro)
     }
-    ensureWslHookRelayForReattach(
+    await ensureWslHookRelayForReattach(
       { isReattach: true, wslDistro: '__bench-singleton-probe__' },
       null
     )
-    wslHookRelayManager.ensureForDistro = previousEnsure
+    wslHookRelayManager.ensureForDistroReady = previousEnsureReady
     if (singletonProbe.length !== 1 || singletonProbe[0] !== '__bench-singleton-probe__') {
       throw new Error(
         'jiti duplicated the WSL hook-relay manager graph; reattach patch would not observe pty.ts'
@@ -360,15 +360,15 @@ async function main() {
     // Why: pty.ts refreshes through the production singleton, so route that singleton at the
     // benchmark-scoped manager instead of calling the reattach helper from here — a removed or
     // mislocated integration call in pty.ts must fail this benchmark.
-    wslHookRelayManager.ensureForDistro = (refreshedDistro) => {
+    wslHookRelayManager.ensureForDistroReady = async (refreshedDistro) => {
       relayRefreshes.push(refreshedDistro)
-      manager?.ensureForDistro(refreshedDistro)
+      await manager?.ensureForDistroReady(refreshedDistro)
     }
 
     const { runtime, getController } = createRuntimeStub()
     // Why hooks off: fresh WSL spawn still runs buildPtyHostEnv, which calls ensureForDistro when
     // hooks are on. This bench isolates the reattach call site (ensureWslHookRelayForReattach);
-    // the manager's own hooks gate lives behind the ensureForDistro patch above, so it stays out
+    // the manager's own hooks gate lives behind the ensureForDistroReady patch above, so it stays out
     // of the measurement — `manager` below resolves its own (enabled) managed-hook settings.
     ptyIpc.registerPtyHandlers(
       createRendererWindowStub(),
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ async function main() {
       ],
       ensureForDistro: async (startupDistro) => {
         startupDistros.push(startupDistro)
-        await manager.ensureForDistroReady(startupDistro)
+        await manager.ensureRunningDistroForStartup(startupDistro)
       }
     })
     const startupRelayReadyMs = performance.now() - startupStartedAt
diff --git a/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-launch.ts b/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-launch.ts
index 221ea42f080..a40911b16f5 100644
--- a/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-launch.ts
+++ b/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-launch.ts
@@ -249,15 +249,26 @@ export async function launchWslRelayWithInstall(options: {
   onChild: (child: ChildProcessWithoutNullStreams) => void
   onNoNode: () => void
   onFailure: (message: string) => void
+  continueAfterFailure?: () => Promise<boolean>
+  onContinuationBlocked: () => void
   connect: (transport: MultiplexerTransport, child: ChildProcessWithoutNullStreams) => Promise<void>
 }): Promise<void> {
   const { distro, env, bundleJsPath, version, io } = options
   let installTried = false
   let transientRetries = 0
+  let continuationRequiresRunning = false
   for (;;) {
     if (options.isDisposed()) {
       return
     }
+    if (
+      continuationRequiresRunning &&
+      !(await canContinueRelayStartup(options.continueAfterFailure))
+    ) {
+      options.onContinuationBlocked()
+      return
+    }
+    continuationRequiresRunning = false
     const child = io.spawnRelay(distro, env, version)
     options.onChild(child)
     try {
@@ -284,13 +295,19 @@ export async function launchWslRelayWithInstall(options: {
       ) {
         transientRetries++
         await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, io.transientRetryDelayMs))
+        continuationRequiresRunning = true
         continue
       }
       if (!installTried) {
+        if (!(await canContinueRelayStartup(options.continueAfterFailure))) {
+          options.onContinuationBlocked()
+          return
+        }
         installTried = true
         const script = buildGuestInstallScript(io.readBundle(bundleJsPath), version)
         const result = await io.runInstall(distro, script, env)
         if (result.code === 0) {
+          continuationRequiresRunning = true
           continue
         }
         options.onFailure(
@@ -304,6 +321,19 @@ export async function launchWslRelayWithInstall(options: {
   }
 }
 
+async function canContinueRelayStartup(
+  continueAfterFailure: (() => Promise<boolean>) | undefined
+): Promise<boolean> {
+  if (!continueAfterFailure) {
+    return true
+  }
+  try {
+    return await continueAfterFailure()
+  } catch {
+    return false
+  }
+}
+
 export function formatWslRelayFailure(failure: WslRelayStartupFailure): string {
   const detail = failure.stderr.trim()
   return `startup failed (${failure.kind}, code ${failure.code ?? 'unknown'})${detail ? `: ${detail}` : ''}`
diff --git a/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-lifecycle-state.ts b/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-lifecycle-state.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7db24235840
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-lifecycle-state.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+import type { ChildProcessWithoutNullStreams } from 'node:child_process'
+
+import type { SshChannelMultiplexer } from '../ssh/ssh-channel-multiplexer'
+
+export type WslHookRelayLifecycleState = {
+  /** Original casing for wsl.exe argv and breadcrumbs; map keys are lowercased. */
+  distro: string
+  phase: 'starting' | 'running' | 'failed'
+  child?: ChildProcessWithoutNullStreams
+  mux?: SshChannelMultiplexer
+  guestHome?: string
+  guestEndpointFilePath?: string
+  opencodeOverlayDir?: string
+  failures: number
+  cooldownUntil: number
+  connectedAt?: number
+  restartTimer?: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>
+  reinstallTimer?: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>
+  lastInstallAt?: number
+  firstAttempt?: Promise<void>
+}
diff --git a/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-manager.test.ts b/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-manager.test.ts
index 99bd16abacf..0775b254cc3 100644
--- a/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-manager.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-manager.test.ts
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ describe('WslHookRelayManager', () => {
     const { manager, deps } = createManager({ installHooks })
     let ready = false
 
-    const firstAttempt = manager.ensureForDistroReady('Ubuntu').then(() => {
+    const firstAttempt = manager.ensureRunningDistroForStartup('Ubuntu').then(() => {
       ready = true
     })
     await vi.waitFor(() => expect(deps.installHooks).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1))
@@ -285,6 +285,90 @@ describe('WslHookRelayManager', () => {
     await firstAttempt
     expect(manager.getGuestEndpointFilePath('Ubuntu')).not.toBeNull()
     expect(ready).toBe(true)
+    expect(deps.isDistroRunning).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    manager.disposeAll()
+  })
+
+  it('awaits an equivalent first attempt already started by a PTY path', async () => {
+    let releaseInstall: (() => void) | undefined
+    const installHooks = vi.fn(
+      () => new Promise<never[]>((resolve) => (releaseInstall = () => resolve([])))
+    )
+    const { manager, deps } = createManager({ installHooks })
+
+    manager.ensureForDistro('Ubuntu')
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(deps.installHooks).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1))
+    let ready = false
+    const startupAttempt = manager.ensureForDistroReady('ubuntu').then(() => {
+      ready = true
+    })
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setImmediate(resolve))
+    expect(ready).toBe(false)
+
+    releaseInstall?.()
+    await startupAttempt
+    expect(ready).toBe(true)
+    expect(deps.spawnRelay).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    manager.disposeAll()
+  })
+
+  it('does not respawn when a startup-owned distro stops during guest install', async () => {
+    const isDistroRunning = vi
+      .fn<() => Promise<boolean>>()
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce(true)
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce(false)
+    const waitForSentinel = vi
+      .fn()
+      .mockRejectedValueOnce(startupError(42))
+      .mockImplementationOnce(async () => guestTransport())
+    const { manager, deps } = createManager({ isDistroRunning, waitForSentinel })
+
+    await manager.ensureRunningDistroForStartup('Ubuntu')
+
+    expect(deps.spawnRelay).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(deps.runInstall).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(isDistroRunning).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+    expect(deps.warn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('continuation skipped'))
+    manager.disposeAll()
+  })
+
+  it('does not retry a transient startup failure after the distro stops', async () => {
+    const isDistroRunning = vi.fn(async () => false)
+    const waitForSentinel = vi
+      .fn()
+      .mockRejectedValueOnce(startupError(1, 'Catastrophic failure (E_UNEXPECTED)'))
+      .mockImplementationOnce(async () => guestTransport())
+    const { manager, deps } = createManager({ isDistroRunning, waitForSentinel })
+
+    await manager.ensureRunningDistroForStartup('Ubuntu')
+
+    expect(deps.spawnRelay).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(deps.runInstall).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(isDistroRunning).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    manager.disposeAll()
+  })
+
+  it('lets a concurrent reattach retry after startup drops a stopped attempt', async () => {
+    let rejectStartup!: (error: Error) => void
+    const waitForSentinel = vi
+      .fn()
+      .mockImplementationOnce(
+        () => new Promise<MultiplexerTransport>((_resolve, reject) => (rejectStartup = reject))
+      )
+      .mockImplementationOnce(async () => guestTransport())
+    const { manager, deps } = createManager({
+      isDistroRunning: vi.fn(async () => false),
+      waitForSentinel
+    })
+
+    const startup = manager.ensureRunningDistroForStartup('Ubuntu')
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(deps.spawnRelay).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1))
+    const reattach = manager.ensureForDistroReady('ubuntu')
+    rejectStartup(startupError(42))
+    await Promise.all([startup, reattach])
+
+    expect(deps.spawnRelay).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+    expect(deps.installHooks).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
     manager.disposeAll()
   })
 
diff --git a/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-manager.ts b/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-manager.ts
index 2b4e0356552..5bbd1789de9 100644
--- a/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-manager.ts
+++ b/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-manager.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import {
 import { wireWslRelayLink } from './wsl-hook-relay-link'
 import { WslRelayRecovery } from './wsl-hook-relay-recovery'
 import { wslHookRelayStateKey } from './wsl-hook-relay-state-key'
+import type { WslHookRelayLifecycleState } from './wsl-hook-relay-lifecycle-state'
 import { SshChannelMultiplexer, type MultiplexerTransport } from '../ssh/ssh-channel-multiplexer'
 import { AGENT_HOOK_REQUEST_REPLAY_METHOD } from '../../shared/agent-hook-relay'
 import {
@@ -30,27 +31,10 @@ import {
   wslHookRelayEndpointFilePath
 } from '../../shared/wsl-hook-relay-contract'
 
-type DistroState = {
-  /** Original casing for wsl.exe argv and breadcrumbs; map keys are lowercased. */
-  distro: string
-  phase: 'starting' | 'running' | 'failed'
-  child?: ChildProcessWithoutNullStreams
-  mux?: SshChannelMultiplexer
-  guestHome?: string
-  guestEndpointFilePath?: string
-  opencodeOverlayDir?: string
-  failures: number
-  cooldownUntil: number
-  connectedAt?: number
-  restartTimer?: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>
-  reinstallTimer?: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>
-  lastInstallAt?: number
-}
-
 export class WslHookRelayManager {
   private deps: WslHookRelayManagerDeps
   private recovery: WslRelayRecovery
-  private states = new Map<string, DistroState>()
+  private states = new Map<string, WslHookRelayLifecycleState>()
   /** Distros a hooks-off teardown stopped, so re-enabling can put them back. */
   private stoppedByHooksOff = new Set<string>()
   private defaultDistro: string | null = null
@@ -85,18 +69,30 @@ export class WslHookRelayManager {
     void this.ensureForDistroReady(distro)
   }
 
-  /** Awaitable first attempt for the startup gate; failures retain timer-driven recovery. */
+  /** Awaitable first attempt for startup and reattach ordering. */
   async ensureForDistroReady(distro: string | null): Promise<void> {
+    await this.ensureForDistroReadyWhile(distro)
+  }
+
+  /** Startup retries must not resurrect a distro that stopped after inventory. */
+  async ensureRunningDistroForStartup(distro: string): Promise<void> {
+    await this.ensureForDistroReadyWhile(distro, () => this.deps.isDistroRunning(distro))
+  }
+
+  private async ensureForDistroReadyWhile(
+    distro: string | null,
+    continueAfterFailure?: () => Promise<boolean>
+  ): Promise<void> {
     if (this.disposed || !isWslHookRelayAllowed(this.deps)) {
       return
     }
-    await this.ensureInternal(distro).catch((err) => {
+    await this.ensureInternal(distro, continueAfterFailure).catch((err) => {
       const detail = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err)
       this.deps.warn(`[agent-hooks] WSL hook relay ensure failed: ${detail}`)
     })
   }
 
-  private stateFor(distro: string | null): DistroState | undefined {
+  private stateFor(distro: string | null): WslHookRelayLifecycleState | undefined {
     // Empty key never matches a real (non-empty) distro state.
     return this.states.get(wslHookRelayStateKey(distro ?? this.defaultDistro ?? ''))
   }
@@ -146,7 +142,10 @@ export class WslHookRelayManager {
     }
   }
 
-  private async ensureInternal(requestedDistro: string | null): Promise<void> {
+  private async ensureInternal(
+    requestedDistro: string | null,
+    continueAfterFailure?: () => Promise<boolean>
+  ): Promise<void> {
     const distro = requestedDistro ?? (await this.resolveDefaultDistro())
     if (!distro || this.disposed) {
       return
@@ -158,6 +157,10 @@ export class WslHookRelayManager {
         void maybeRerunWslRelayGuestInstall(this.deps, existing)
         return
       }
+      if (existing.phase === 'starting') {
+        await existing.firstAttempt
+        return await this.ensureInternal(requestedDistro, continueAfterFailure)
+      }
       if (existing.phase !== 'failed' || Date.now() < existing.cooldownUntil) {
         return
       }
@@ -182,7 +185,7 @@ export class WslHookRelayManager {
     if (existing) {
       this.recovery.clearTimers(existing)
     }
-    const state: DistroState = {
+    const state: WslHookRelayLifecycleState = {
       distro,
       phase: 'starting',
       failures: existing?.failures ?? 0,
@@ -195,31 +198,44 @@ export class WslHookRelayManager {
 
     const env = buildWslRelaySpawnEnv(coords, bundle.version, instanceKey)
 
+    state.firstAttempt = launchWslRelayWithInstall({
+      distro: state.distro,
+      env,
+      bundleJsPath: bundle.jsPath,
+      version: bundle.version,
+      io: this.deps,
+      // Why the identity half: a hooks-off teardown drops this state and kills its child, but
+      // that kill reads as a startup failure and the retry loop would respawn an untracked relay.
+      isDisposed: () => this.disposed || this.states.get(key) !== state,
+      onChild: (child) => {
+        state.child = child
+      },
+      onNoNode: () =>
+        this.markFailed(
+          state,
+          `no node >= 18 found in distro '${state.distro}'; agent hooks stay degraded there`,
+          { cooldownBaseMs: NO_NODE_COOLDOWN_MS }
+        ),
+      onFailure: (message) =>
+        this.markFailed(state, message, {
+          cooldownBaseMs: FAILURE_COOLDOWN_BASE_MS
+        }),
+      continueAfterFailure,
+      onContinuationBlocked: () => {
+        state.phase = 'failed'
+        state.child = undefined
+        if (this.states.get(key) === state) {
+          this.states.delete(key)
+        }
+        this.deps.warn(
+          `[agent-hooks] WSL hook relay (${state.distro}): distro no longer confirmed running; startup continuation skipped`
+        )
+      },
+      connect: (transport, child) => this.connect(state, transport, child, instanceKey)
+    })
+
     try {
-      await launchWslRelayWithInstall({
-        distro: state.distro,
-        env,
-        bundleJsPath: bundle.jsPath,
-        version: bundle.version,
-        io: this.deps,
-        // Why the identity half: a hooks-off teardown drops this state and kills its child, but
-        // that kill reads as a startup failure and the retry loop would respawn an untracked relay.
-        isDisposed: () => this.disposed || this.states.get(key) !== state,
-        onChild: (child) => {
-          state.child = child
-        },
-        onNoNode: () =>
-          this.markFailed(
-            state,
-            `no node >= 18 found in distro '${state.distro}'; agent hooks stay degraded there`,
-            { cooldownBaseMs: NO_NODE_COOLDOWN_MS }
-          ),
-        onFailure: (message) =>
-          this.markFailed(state, message, {
-            cooldownBaseMs: FAILURE_COOLDOWN_BASE_MS
-          }),
-        connect: (transport, child) => this.connect(state, transport, child, instanceKey)
-      })
+      await state.firstAttempt
     } catch (err) {
       // Why: teardown may have already recorded this failure; don't double-
       // count. A request-level error can leave a live child — never leak it.
@@ -230,11 +246,13 @@ export class WslHookRelayManager {
           cooldownBaseMs: FAILURE_COOLDOWN_BASE_MS
         })
       }
+    } finally {
+      state.firstAttempt = undefined
     }
   }
 
   private async connect(
-    state: DistroState,
+    state: WslHookRelayLifecycleState,
     transport: MultiplexerTransport,
     child: ChildProcessWithoutNullStreams,
     instanceKey: string
@@ -306,7 +324,7 @@ export class WslHookRelayManager {
    *  one failed relaunch must not end self-recovery; the timer's
    *  distro-running probe keeps this from booting stopped distros. */
   private markFailed(
-    state: DistroState,
+    state: WslHookRelayLifecycleState,
     message: string,
     options: { cooldownBaseMs: number }
   ): void {
diff --git a/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-reattach.test.ts b/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-reattach.test.ts
index 881d25a2984..669a67b4d4f 100644
--- a/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-reattach.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-reattach.test.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,19 @@
 import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 
-import { ensureWslHookRelayForReattach } from './wsl-hook-relay-reattach'
+import {
+  ensureWslHookRelayForReattach,
+  WSL_HOOK_RELAY_REATTACH_FAIL_OPEN_MS
+} from './wsl-hook-relay-reattach'
 
 describe('ensureWslHookRelayForReattach', () => {
-  it('refreshes the surviving session distro after a local reattach', () => {
+  it('refreshes the surviving session distro after a local reattach', async () => {
     const ensure = vi.fn()
 
-    ensureWslHookRelayForReattach({ isReattach: true, wslDistro: 'Ubuntu-24.04' }, null, ensure)
+    await ensureWslHookRelayForReattach(
+      { isReattach: true, wslDistro: 'Ubuntu-24.04' },
+      null,
+      ensure
+    )
 
     expect(ensure).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
     expect(ensure).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Ubuntu-24.04')
@@ -19,20 +26,76 @@ describe('ensureWslHookRelayForReattach', () => {
     ['blank distro', { isReattach: true, wslDistro: '  ' }, null],
     ['SSH reattach', { isReattach: true, wslDistro: 'Ubuntu' }, 'ssh-1'],
     ['relay reattach', { isReattach: true, wslDistro: 'Ubuntu' }, 'relay-1']
-  ])('does not refresh a %s', (_label, result, connectionId) => {
+  ])('does not refresh a %s', async (_label, result, connectionId) => {
     const ensure = vi.fn()
 
-    ensureWslHookRelayForReattach(result, connectionId, ensure)
+    await ensureWslHookRelayForReattach(result, connectionId, ensure)
 
     expect(ensure).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
-  it('preserves exact distro ownership across multiple local reattachments', () => {
+  it('preserves exact distro ownership across multiple local reattachments', async () => {
     const ensure = vi.fn()
 
-    ensureWslHookRelayForReattach({ isReattach: true, wslDistro: 'Ubuntu' }, null, ensure)
-    ensureWslHookRelayForReattach({ isReattach: true, wslDistro: 'Debian' }, null, ensure)
+    await ensureWslHookRelayForReattach({ isReattach: true, wslDistro: 'Ubuntu' }, null, ensure)
+    await ensureWslHookRelayForReattach({ isReattach: true, wslDistro: 'Debian' }, null, ensure)
 
     expect(ensure.mock.calls).toEqual([['Ubuntu'], ['Debian']])
   })
+
+  it('awaits relay readiness only for the reattached WSL session', async () => {
+    let release!: () => void
+    const ensure = vi.fn(() => new Promise<void>((resolve) => (release = resolve)))
+    let ready = false
+
+    const reattach = ensureWslHookRelayForReattach(
+      { isReattach: true, wslDistro: 'Ubuntu' },
+      null,
+      ensure
+    ).then(() => {
+      ready = true
+    })
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setImmediate(resolve))
+    expect(ready).toBe(false)
+
+    release()
+    await reattach
+    expect(ready).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('fails open a WSL reattach when optional relay readiness stalls', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    const warn = vi.spyOn(console, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => {})
+    try {
+      const reattach = ensureWslHookRelayForReattach(
+        { isReattach: true, wslDistro: 'Ubuntu' },
+        null,
+        () => new Promise<void>(() => {})
+      )
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(WSL_HOOK_RELAY_REATTACH_FAIL_OPEN_MS)
+      await expect(reattach).resolves.toBeUndefined()
+      expect(warn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('timed out'))
+      expect(vi.getTimerCount()).toBe(0)
+    } finally {
+      warn.mockRestore()
+      vi.useRealTimers()
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('fails open a WSL reattach when relay readiness rejects', async () => {
+    const warn = vi.spyOn(console, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => {})
+    try {
+      await expect(
+        ensureWslHookRelayForReattach({ isReattach: true, wslDistro: 'Ubuntu' }, null, () =>
+          Promise.reject(new Error('relay failed'))
+        )
+      ).resolves.toBeUndefined()
+      expect(warn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.stringContaining('reattach failed'),
+        expect.any(Error)
+      )
+    } finally {
+      warn.mockRestore()
+    }
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-reattach.ts b/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-reattach.ts
index 837fe82b983..1f7cdf79b48 100644
--- a/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-reattach.ts
+++ b/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-reattach.ts
@@ -3,18 +3,37 @@ import { wslHookRelayManager } from './wsl-hook-relay-manager'
 
 type ReattachResult = Pick<PtySpawnResult, 'isReattach' | 'wslDistro'>
 
-export function ensureWslHookRelayForReattach(
+export const WSL_HOOK_RELAY_REATTACH_FAIL_OPEN_MS = 60_000
+
+export async function ensureWslHookRelayForReattach(
   result: ReattachResult,
   connectionId?: string | null,
-  ensureForDistro: (distro: string) => void = (distro) =>
-    wslHookRelayManager.ensureForDistro(distro)
-): void {
+  ensureForDistro: (distro: string) => void | Promise<void> = (distro) =>
+    wslHookRelayManager.ensureForDistroReady(distro)
+): Promise<void> {
   // Why: the current renderer preference can differ from the surviving PTY's proven distro ownership.
   if (connectionId || result.isReattach !== true || typeof result.wslDistro !== 'string') {
     return
   }
   const distro = result.wslDistro.trim()
   if (distro) {
-    ensureForDistro(distro)
+    let timeout: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | undefined
+    try {
+      await Promise.race([
+        Promise.resolve().then(() => ensureForDistro(distro)),
+        new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+          timeout = setTimeout(() => {
+            console.warn(`[agent-hooks] WSL hook relay reattach timed out for '${distro}'`)
+            resolve()
+          }, WSL_HOOK_RELAY_REATTACH_FAIL_OPEN_MS)
+        })
+      ])
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.warn(`[agent-hooks] WSL hook relay reattach failed for '${distro}':`, error)
+    } finally {
+      if (timeout) {
+        clearTimeout(timeout)
+      }
+    }
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-startup-reconciliation.ts b/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-startup-reconciliation.ts
index eb5152afb0d..3fe1cb61ee1 100644
--- a/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-startup-reconciliation.ts
+++ b/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-startup-reconciliation.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ const defaultDeps: StartupReconciliationDeps = {
   platform: process.platform,
   listLiveProcesses: listLiveDaemonProcesses,
   listRunningDistros: listRunningWslDistros,
-  ensureForDistro: (distro) => wslHookRelayManager.ensureForDistroReady(distro)
+  ensureForDistro: (distro) => wslHookRelayManager.ensureRunningDistroForStartup(distro)
 }
 
 export async function reconcileWslHookRelaysOnStartup(
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/pty.test.ts b/src/main/ipc/pty.test.ts
index 010f35f436e..026b6ec2b9e 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/pty.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/pty.test.ts
@@ -1174,6 +1174,84 @@ describe('registerPtyHandlers', () => {
     clearProviderPtyState(ptyId)
   })
 
+  it.each(['renderer', 'runtime'] as const)(
+    'rejects %s publication when a WSL PTY exits during relay readiness',
+    async (entry) => {
+      const ptyId = `pty-${entry}-relay-exit`
+      const incarnationId = `incarnation-${entry}-relay-exit`
+      const runtime = new OrcaRuntimeService()
+      const registerRuntimePty = vi.spyOn(runtime, 'registerPty')
+      let releaseRelay!: () => void
+      const ensureForDistro = vi
+        .spyOn(wslHookRelayManager, 'ensureForDistroReady')
+        .mockImplementation(() => new Promise<void>((resolve) => (releaseRelay = resolve)))
+      const provider = createAgentClaimProvider({
+        spawn: vi.fn(async () => {
+          runtime.onPtySpawned(ptyId, incarnationId)
+          return {
+            id: ptyId,
+            incarnationId,
+            isReattach: true,
+            wslDistro: 'Ubuntu-24.04'
+          }
+        }),
+        authoritativeOwnerListings: false
+      })
+      const store = { persistPtyBinding: vi.fn() }
+      setLocalPtyProvider(provider as never)
+      registerPtyHandlers(
+        mainWindow as never,
+        runtime,
+        undefined,
+        undefined,
+        undefined,
+        store as never
+      )
+      const spawnArgs = {
+        cols: 80,
+        rows: 24,
+        cwd: '/tmp/worktree',
+        sessionId: ptyId,
+        worktreeId: 'repo::/tmp/worktree',
+        tabId: `tab-${entry}-relay-exit`,
+        leafId: '55555555-5555-4555-8555-555555555555'
+      }
+      const controller = (
+        runtime as unknown as {
+          ptyController: { spawn(args: Record<string, unknown>): Promise<unknown> }
+        }
+      ).ptyController
+
+      try {
+        const spawn =
+          entry === 'renderer'
+            ? (handlers.get('pty:spawn')!(null, spawnArgs) as Promise<unknown>)
+            : controller.spawn({
+                ...spawnArgs,
+                preAllocatedHandle: 'term-runtime-relay-exit',
+                persistHostSessionBinding: true
+              })
+        const rejectedSpawn = expect(spawn).rejects.toThrow('agent_session_exited_during_start')
+        await vi.waitFor(() => expect(ensureForDistro).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Ubuntu-24.04'))
+        runtime.onPtyExit(ptyId, 0, incarnationId)
+        releaseRelay()
+        await rejectedSpawn
+
+        expect(store.persistPtyBinding).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+        expect(registerRuntimePty).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+        const internals = runtime as unknown as {
+          earlyExitedPtyIncarnations: Map<string, string | null>
+          pendingPtyRegistrationIncarnations: Map<string, string | null>
+        }
+        expect(internals.earlyExitedPtyIncarnations.size).toBe(0)
+        expect(internals.pendingPtyRegistrationIncarnations.size).toBe(0)
+      } finally {
+        ensureForDistro.mockRestore()
+        clearProviderPtyState(ptyId)
+      }
+    }
+  )
+
   it('adopts a live controller-owned local fallback when listings cannot serialize claims', async () => {
     const sessions: {
       id: string
@@ -9069,7 +9147,7 @@ describe('registerPtyHandlers', () => {
     'adopts a completed runtime-owned pane before replacement launch preflight ($label)',
     async ({ worktreeId, cwd }) => {
       type StableAdoption = {
-        result: { id: string; incarnationId?: string; isReattach?: boolean }
+        result: { id: string; incarnationId?: string; isReattach?: boolean; wslDistro?: string }
         owner: { handle?: string; tabId: string; leafId: string; ptyId: string }
         materialized?: true
       } | null
@@ -9091,6 +9169,9 @@ describe('registerPtyHandlers', () => {
       const tabId = 'tab-live-owner'
       const leafId = '66666666-6666-4666-8666-666666666666'
       const paneKey = makePaneKey(tabId, leafId)
+      const ensureForDistro = vi
+        .spyOn(wslHookRelayManager, 'ensureForDistroReady')
+        .mockResolvedValue(undefined)
       let ownerPublished = false
       let releaseAttach!: () => void
       let attachBarrier: Promise<void>
@@ -9110,6 +9191,7 @@ describe('registerPtyHandlers', () => {
               id: 'pty-live-owner',
               incarnationId: 'inc-live-owner',
               isReattach: true,
+              wslDistro: 'Ubuntu-24.04',
               snapshot: 'original-live-output',
               providerSequence: { value: 20, generation: 'continued' as const }
             }
@@ -9334,6 +9416,8 @@ describe('registerPtyHandlers', () => {
       expect(
         mainWindow.webContents.send.mock.calls.filter(([channel]) => channel === 'pty:spawned')
       ).toHaveLength(1)
+      expect(ensureForDistro).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+      ensureForDistro.mockRestore()
     }
   )
 
@@ -17482,9 +17566,10 @@ describe('registerPtyHandlers', () => {
   it('refreshes the WSL hook relay for the distro a reattached pane already owns', async () => {
     // Why here and not only in the helper's unit test: nothing else catches pty.ts dropping the
     // reattach call — the manager owns the hooks/platform gating this spy stands in for.
+    let releaseRelay!: () => void
     const ensureForDistro = vi
-      .spyOn(wslHookRelayManager, 'ensureForDistro')
-      .mockImplementation(() => {})
+      .spyOn(wslHookRelayManager, 'ensureForDistroReady')
+      .mockImplementation(() => new Promise<void>((resolve) => (releaseRelay = resolve)))
     setLocalPtyProvider({
       spawn: vi.fn(async () => ({ id: 'pty-wsl', isReattach: true, wslDistro: 'Ubuntu-24.04' })),
       write: vi.fn(),
@@ -17499,7 +17584,23 @@ describe('registerPtyHandlers', () => {
     registerPtyHandlers(mainWindow as never)
 
     try {
-      await handlers.get('pty:spawn')!(null, { cols: 80, rows: 24, sessionId: 'pty-wsl' })
+      let spawnReady = false
+      const spawn = (
+        handlers.get('pty:spawn')!(null, {
+          cols: 80,
+          rows: 24,
+          sessionId: 'pty-wsl'
+        }) as Promise<unknown>
+      ).then(() => {
+        spawnReady = true
+      })
+      await vi.waitFor(() => expect(ensureForDistro).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Ubuntu-24.04'))
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setImmediate(resolve))
+      expect(spawnReady).toBe(false)
+
+      releaseRelay()
+      await spawn
+      expect(spawnReady).toBe(true)
       expect(ensureForDistro).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Ubuntu-24.04')
     } finally {
       ensureForDistro.mockRestore()
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/pty.ts b/src/main/ipc/pty.ts
index 3ff4e36fe1d..29b8d1ab40b 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/pty.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/pty.ts
@@ -4414,10 +4414,6 @@ export function registerPtyHandlers(
             leafId: preAdoptedStablePane.owner.leafId
           }
         }
-        ensureWslHookRelayForReattach(
-          { isReattach: true, wslDistro: preAdoptedStablePane.result.wslDistro },
-          args.connectionId
-        )
         if (!args.connectionId) {
           options?.onCodexHomePtySpawned?.({
             id: result.id,
@@ -4997,7 +4993,6 @@ export function registerPtyHandlers(
               sequenceBeforeProviderSpawn
             )
           }
-          ensureWslHookRelayForReattach(result, args.connectionId)
           runtime?.preparePtyExecutionContext?.(
             result.id,
             args.connectionId
@@ -5006,6 +5001,9 @@ export function registerPtyHandlers(
                 ? expectedWslDistro
                 : result.wslDistro
           )
+          await ensureWslHookRelayForReattach(result, args.connectionId)
+          // Why: the PTY can exit while WSL relay readiness is pending.
+          runtime?.assertPtyRegistrationAllowed?.(result.id, result.incarnationId)
         } catch (err) {
           if (
             (isNewDaemonSession || preparedProvisionalExecutionContext) &&
@@ -6430,7 +6428,6 @@ export function registerPtyHandlers(
               sequenceBeforeProviderSpawn
             )
           }
-          ensureWslHookRelayForReattach(result, args.connectionId)
           runtime?.preparePtyExecutionContext?.(
             result.id,
             args.connectionId
@@ -6439,6 +6436,9 @@ export function registerPtyHandlers(
                 ? expectedWslDistro
                 : result.wslDistro
           )
+          await ensureWslHookRelayForReattach(result, args.connectionId)
+          // Why: the PTY can exit while WSL relay readiness is pending.
+          runtime?.assertPtyRegistrationAllowed?.(result.id, result.incarnationId)
           spawnTiming.mark('provider_spawn')
         } catch (err) {
           if ((isMintedSessionId || preparedProvisionalExecutionContext) && effectiveSessionAppId) {
diff --git a/src/main/startup/first-window-startup-services.test.ts b/src/main/startup/first-window-startup-services.test.ts
index ca9d90b7006..d98f8fbdcf4 100644
--- a/src/main/startup/first-window-startup-services.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/startup/first-window-startup-services.test.ts
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ describe('startFirstWindowStartupServices', () => {
     expect(completed).toBe(true)
   })
 
-  it('reconciles after both authorities and keeps local reattach gated until relays are ready', async () => {
+  it('starts reconciliation after both authorities without gating unrelated local PTYs', async () => {
     const events: string[] = []
     let resolveDaemon!: () => void
     let resolveHooks!: () => void
@@ -66,7 +66,10 @@ describe('startFirstWindowStartupServices', () => {
       reconcileWslHookRelays: () =>
         new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
           events.push('relay-reconciliation-started')
-          resolveRelays = resolve
+          resolveRelays = () => {
+            events.push('relay-reconciliation-ready')
+            resolve()
+          }
         }),
       onDaemonError: vi.fn(),
       onAgentHookServerError: vi.fn(),
@@ -80,16 +83,22 @@ describe('startFirstWindowStartupServices', () => {
 
     resolveDaemon()
     await vi.waitFor(() => expect(events).toContain('relay-reconciliation-started'))
+    let firstWindowReady = false
+    void started.firstWindowReady.then(() => {
+      firstWindowReady = true
+    })
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setImmediate(resolve))
+    expect(firstWindowReady).toBe(true)
     let localPtyReady = false
     void started.localPtyReady.then(() => {
       localPtyReady = true
     })
-    await Promise.resolve()
-    expect(localPtyReady).toBe(false)
-
-    resolveRelays()
     await started.localPtyReady
     expect(localPtyReady).toBe(true)
+    expect(events).not.toContain('relay-reconciliation-ready')
+
+    resolveRelays()
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(events).toContain('relay-reconciliation-ready'))
   })
 
   it('reports reconciliation failure and still opens the startup gate', async () => {
@@ -104,7 +113,9 @@ describe('startFirstWindowStartupServices', () => {
     })
 
     await expect(started.localPtyReady).resolves.toBeUndefined()
-    expect(onWslHookRelayReconciliationError).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.any(Error))
+    await vi.waitFor(() =>
+      expect(onWslHookRelayReconciliationError).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.any(Error))
+    )
   })
 
   it('opens the provider gate when daemon startup finishes without waiting for hooks', async () => {
@@ -233,16 +244,19 @@ describe('startFirstWindowStartupServices', () => {
     vi.useFakeTimers()
     const onDaemonError = vi.fn()
     const onAgentHookServerError = vi.fn()
+    const reconcileWslHookRelays = vi.fn(async () => {})
     let daemonSignal: AbortSignal | undefined
 
     try {
       const started = startFirstWindowStartupServices({
         startDaemonPtyProvider: (signal) => {
           daemonSignal = signal
-          return new Promise<void>(() => {})
+          return new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+            signal.addEventListener('abort', () => resolve(), { once: true })
+          })
         },
         startAgentHookServer: () => Promise.resolve(),
-        reconcileWslHookRelays: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+        reconcileWslHookRelays,
         onDaemonError,
         onAgentHookServerError,
         onWslHookRelayReconciliationError: vi.fn()
@@ -257,6 +271,7 @@ describe('startFirstWindowStartupServices', () => {
       expect(onDaemonError).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.any(Error))
       expect(onAgentHookServerError).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
       expect(daemonSignal?.aborted).toBe(true)
+      expect(reconcileWslHookRelays).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
     } finally {
       vi.useRealTimers()
     }
diff --git a/src/main/startup/first-window-startup-services.ts b/src/main/startup/first-window-startup-services.ts
index 813779d005d..19c49f65e24 100644
--- a/src/main/startup/first-window-startup-services.ts
+++ b/src/main/startup/first-window-startup-services.ts
@@ -79,13 +79,15 @@ export function startFirstWindowStartupServices({
   const daemon = startService('daemon PTY provider', startDaemonPtyProvider, onDaemonError)
   const hooks = startService('agent hook server', startAgentHookServer, onAgentHookServerError)
   let failOpened = false
-  const allServicesReady = Promise.all([daemon.ready, hooks.ready])
+  const startupAuthoritiesReady = Promise.all([daemon.ready, hooks.ready]).then(() => undefined)
+  const wslHookRelayReconciliation = startupAuthoritiesReady
     .then(() => (failOpened ? undefined : reconcileWslHookRelays()))
     .catch(onWslHookRelayReconciliationError)
     .then(() => undefined)
+  void wslHookRelayReconciliation
   let windowTimeout: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null
   let failOpenTimeout: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null
-  const servicesSettled = allServicesReady.finally(() => {
+  const startupAuthoritiesSettled = startupAuthoritiesReady.finally(() => {
     if (windowTimeout) {
       clearTimeout(windowTimeout)
     }
@@ -102,12 +104,12 @@ export function startFirstWindowStartupServices({
     }, LOCAL_PTY_STARTUP_FAIL_OPEN_TIMEOUT_MS)
   })
   const firstWindowReady = Promise.race([
-    servicesSettled,
+    startupAuthoritiesSettled,
     new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
       windowTimeout = setTimeout(resolve, FIRST_WINDOW_STARTUP_SERVICE_TIMEOUT_MS)
     })
   ])
-  const localPtyReady = Promise.race([servicesSettled, failOpenReady])
+  const localPtyReady = Promise.race([startupAuthoritiesSettled, failOpenReady])
   // Why: destructive routing only needs daemon authority. A stalled optional
   // hook server must not hold terminal close for the full fail-open window.
   const localPtyProviderReady = Promise.race([daemon.ready, failOpenReady])