diff --git a/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-recovery.test.ts b/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-recovery.test.ts
index 9a041382562..125f523c508 100644
--- a/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-recovery.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-recovery.test.ts
@@ -92,10 +92,40 @@ describe('WslRelayRecovery', () => {
     expect(restart).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
     expect(deferred).toHaveLength(1)
     // Something else (the user) started the distro: only now does the relay come back.
+    isDistroRunning.mockResolvedValue(true)
     deferred[0]()
+    await waitFor(() => restart.mock.calls.length === 1)
     expect(restart).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith('Ubuntu', { launchKinds: [] })
   })
 
+  it('re-reads a settled list before a drained restart, and waits again if the distro stopped', async () => {
+    const restart = vi.fn()
+    const deferred: (() => void)[] = []
+    const isDistroRunning = vi.fn(async (_distro: string, _startedAfter: number) => false)
+    const recovery = new WslRelayRecovery({
+      isDistroRunning,
+      deferUntilRunning: (_distro, task) => deferred.push(task),
+      captureSetup: () => ({ launchKinds: [] }),
+      warn: vi.fn(),
+      isDisposed: () => false,
+      isCurrent: () => true,
+      restart,
+      dropState: vi.fn()
+    })
+    recovery.scheduleRestart(makeState())
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(250)
+    await waitFor(() => deferred.length === 1)
+
+    // Drained by a list that still named the stopping distro; a fresh settled read says stopped.
+    deferred[0]()
+    await waitFor(() => deferred.length === 2)
+    expect(restart).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+
+    isDistroRunning.mockResolvedValue(true)
+    deferred[1]()
+    await waitFor(() => restart.mock.calls.length === 1)
+  })
+
   it('restarts with the relay config captured before dropState discarded it', async () => {
     const restart = vi.fn()
     const deferred: (() => void)[] = []
@@ -105,8 +135,9 @@ describe('WslRelayRecovery', () => {
       launchKinds: ['pi', 'omp']
     }
     const expected = live
+    const isDistroRunning = vi.fn(async (_distro: string, _startedAfter: number) => false)
     const recovery = new WslRelayRecovery({
-      isDistroRunning: async () => false,
+      isDistroRunning,
       deferUntilRunning: (_distro, task) => deferred.push(task),
       captureSetup: () => live ?? { launchKinds: [] },
       warn: vi.fn(),
@@ -120,7 +151,9 @@ describe('WslRelayRecovery', () => {
     recovery.scheduleRestart(makeState())
     await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(250)
     await waitFor(() => deferred.length === 1)
+    isDistroRunning.mockResolvedValue(true)
     deferred[0]()
+    await waitFor(() => restart.mock.calls.length === 1)
     expect(restart).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith('Ubuntu', expected)
   })
 
diff --git a/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-recovery.ts b/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-recovery.ts
index ec8d9a36e90..c535b5aeda6 100644
--- a/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-recovery.ts
+++ b/src/main/agent-hooks/wsl-hook-relay-recovery.ts
@@ -81,17 +81,33 @@ export class WslRelayRecovery {
       this.io.dropState(state)
       // E9: come back when the distro runs again (started by the user or another act), never boot it.
       let restarted = false
-      const restartOnce = (): void => {
-        if (!restarted && !this.io.isDisposed()) {
-          restarted = true
-          this.io.restart(state.distro, setup)
+      const restartOnce = (confirmedRunning = false): void => {
+        if (restarted || this.io.isDisposed()) {
+          return
         }
+        restarted = true
+        // A drained deferral is a hint: the relay spawn runs wsl.exe, which boots a distro that
+        // stopped again, so re-read a settled running list right before it.
+        const running = confirmedRunning
+          ? Promise.resolve(true)
+          : this.io.isDistroRunning(state.distro, performance.now()).catch(() => false)
+        void running.then((running) => {
+          if (this.io.isDisposed()) {
+            return
+          }
+          if (running) {
+            this.io.restart(state.distro, setup)
+            return
+          }
+          restarted = false
+          this.io.deferUntilRunning(state.distro, () => restartOnce())
+        })
       }
-      this.io.deferUntilRunning(state.distro, restartOnce)
+      this.io.deferUntilRunning(state.distro, () => restartOnce())
       const reprobe = setTimeout(() => {
         void this.io
           .isDistroRunning(state.distro, performance.now())
-          .then((running) => running && restartOnce())
+          .then((running) => running && restartOnce(true))
           .catch(() => {})
       }, REPROBE_AFTER_STOPPED_MS)
       reprobe.unref?.()
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-adapter-wsl-distro-loss.test.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-adapter-wsl-distro-loss.test.ts
index 1f452f03177..97bd84d5115 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-adapter-wsl-distro-loss.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-adapter-wsl-distro-loss.test.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ describe('a WSL bridge pane exit', () => {
   // The distro's boot id each read returns; never a real wsl.exe.
   let bootIds: string[]
   const readBootId = vi.fn(async () => (bootIds.length > 1 ? bootIds.shift()! : bootIds[0]!))
+  const noteMayHaveStopped = vi.fn()
 
   beforeEach(async () => {
     historyDir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), 'orca-distro-loss-history-'))
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ describe('a WSL bridge pane exit', () => {
     readRunning.mockClear()
     bootIds = ['boot-1']
     readBootId.mockClear()
+    noteMayHaveStopped.mockClear()
     const harness = await startDaemonAdapterHarness(
       () => {
         const subprocess = createMockSubprocess()
@@ -46,7 +48,8 @@ describe('a WSL bridge pane exit', () => {
         historyPath: historyDir,
         wslBridgeBootIdentity: new WslBridgeBootIdentity({
           isRunning: async () => true,
-          readBootId
+          readBootId,
+          noteMayHaveStopped
         })
       }
     )
@@ -97,6 +100,33 @@ describe('a WSL bridge pane exit', () => {
     expect(clear).toHaveBeenCalledWith(id, -1, expect.any(String), { closeHistory: false })
   })
 
+  it("closes a pane's own clean exit at once, with no settle wait or running-list read", async () => {
+    // A list that never answers: classifying the exit would hang it.
+    running = () => new Promise<WslRunningDistrosRead>(() => {})
+    const exits = collectExits()
+    const id = await spawnBridgePane()
+
+    subprocesses[0]!._simulateExit(0)
+
+    await waitFor(() => exits.length > 0)
+    expect(exits).toEqual([expect.objectContaining({ id, code: 0 })])
+    expect(exits[0]).not.toHaveProperty('hostLost')
+    expect(readRunning).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    // Still marked: background reads must settle in case the distro did stop (poweroff, --shutdown).
+    expect(noteMayHaveStopped).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Ubuntu')
+  })
+
+  it('marks a non-zero exit as a possible stop before classifying it', async () => {
+    running = async () => ({ status: 'confirmed', distros: [] })
+    const exits = collectExits()
+    await spawnBridgePane()
+
+    subprocesses[0]!._simulateExit(1)
+
+    await waitFor(() => exits.length > 0)
+    expect(noteMayHaveStopped).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Ubuntu')
+  })
+
   it('logs what the running list said, so a run can tell host loss from a raced reboot', async () => {
     const info = vi.spyOn(console, 'info').mockImplementation(() => {})
     for (const [distros, verdict] of [
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-adapter.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-adapter.ts
index 273b10d1867..19b614e34b7 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-adapter.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-adapter.ts
@@ -223,10 +223,13 @@ export class DaemonPtyAdapter extends DaemonPtyDaemonRecovery implements IPtyPro
           }
           return
         }
+        // Every bridge exit marks a possible stop (unseen to the user; covers poweroff or --shutdown).
         if (wslDistro) {
           this.wslBridgeBootIdentity.noteExit(wslDistro)
         }
-        if (wslDistro && isProvenProcessExit(event.payload.code)) {
+        // A terminate never exits 0 (awin: -1 per bridge pane; `exit`/`exit 0` gave 0): a clean exit is
+        // the user's own, so it closes at once, without the settle wait or classification.
+        if (wslDistro && event.payload.code !== 0 && isProvenProcessExit(event.payload.code)) {
           const exitAt = performance.now()
           void this.finishWslBridgeExit(event.sessionId, event.payload, wslDistro, exitAt)
           return
@@ -250,15 +253,8 @@ export class DaemonPtyAdapter extends DaemonPtyDaemonRecovery implements IPtyPro
     wslDistro: string,
     exitAt: number
   ): Promise<void> {
-    // A terminate never exits 0 (awin: -1 for each bridge pane; `exit`/`exit 0` gave 0), so a clean
-    // exit skips the boot-id read and stays an exit.
-    const verdict = await classifyWslBridgeExit(
-      wslDistro,
-      exitAt,
-      this.readRunningWslDistros,
-      async () =>
-        exit.code !== 0 &&
-        (await this.wslBridgeBootIdentity.rebootedSinceSpawn(sessionId, wslDistro))
+    const verdict = await classifyWslBridgeExit(wslDistro, exitAt, this.readRunningWslDistros, () =>
+      this.wslBridgeBootIdentity.rebootedSinceSpawn(sessionId, wslDistro)
     )
     // Lost, or booted again since the spawn, keeps the tab; an unanswered check reads as an exit.
     // The code shows a verify run which codes a terminate yields.
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-wsl-bridge-boot-identity.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-wsl-bridge-boot-identity.ts
index d61cfa328ba..dcbcc46412a 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-wsl-bridge-boot-identity.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-wsl-bridge-boot-identity.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,10 @@
  * calls 'running' can still be told apart as the distro having been terminated and booted again.
  * Reads go through the background-work gate (E9): only into a distro a fresh list says is running.
  */
-import { isWslDistroRunningForBackgroundWork } from '../wsl-background-distro-gate'
+import {
+  isWslDistroRunningForBackgroundWork,
+  noteWslDistroMayHaveStopped
+} from '../wsl-background-distro-gate'
 import { onRunningWslDistrosStopped } from '../wsl-running-distro-cache'
 import { readWslDistroBootId } from '../wsl/wsl-distro-boot-id'
 
@@ -13,12 +16,15 @@ export type WslBridgeBootIdentityDeps = {
   readBootId: (distro: string) => Promise<string | null>
   /** Confirmed running lists that no longer name a distro; returns an unsubscribe. */
   onDistrosStopped?: (listener: (stopped: string[]) => void) => () => void
+  /** A bridge exit may be its distro stopping: later background reads must start after it settles. */
+  noteMayHaveStopped?: (distro: string) => void
 }
 
-const PRODUCTION_DEPS: WslBridgeBootIdentityDeps = {
+export const PRODUCTION_WSL_BRIDGE_BOOT_IDENTITY_DEPS: WslBridgeBootIdentityDeps = {
   isRunning: isWslDistroRunningForBackgroundWork,
   readBootId: readWslDistroBootId,
-  onDistrosStopped: onRunningWslDistrosStopped
+  onDistrosStopped: onRunningWslDistrosStopped,
+  noteMayHaveStopped: noteWslDistroMayHaveStopped
 }
 
 function distroKey(distro: string): string {
@@ -38,7 +44,9 @@ export class WslBridgeBootIdentity {
   // Held only while a bridge pane lives, so an idle adapter keeps no listener.
   private unsubscribeStops: (() => void) | null = null
 
-  constructor(private readonly deps: WslBridgeBootIdentityDeps = PRODUCTION_DEPS) {}
+  constructor(
+    private readonly deps: WslBridgeBootIdentityDeps = PRODUCTION_WSL_BRIDGE_BOOT_IDENTITY_DEPS
+  ) {}
 
   /** A spawn or reattach of `sessionId`; a new incarnation takes the distro's current boot id. */
   noteSpawn(sessionId: string, distro: string, incarnationId?: string): void {
@@ -53,16 +61,22 @@ export class WslBridgeBootIdentity {
     }
     // A stop seen before the exit reaches us: a pane spawned meanwhile must not take the old id.
     this.unsubscribeStops ??=
-      this.deps.onDistrosStopped?.((stopped) => stopped.forEach((name) => this.noteExit(name))) ??
+      this.deps.onDistrosStopped?.((stopped) => stopped.forEach((name) => this.dropBootId(name))) ??
       null
     this.bySession.set(sessionId, { distro: key, incarnationId, bootId: this.distroBootId(distro) })
   }
 
   /**
    * Synchronous, as the exit arrives: it may be the first of a reboot's, so a spawn during its
-   * verdict must not inherit the old boot's id.
+   * verdict must not inherit the old boot's id. It may also be the distro stopping (E9): until that
+   * settles, a stopping distro WSL still lists must not pass the gate into a boot-id exec.
    */
   noteExit(distro: string): void {
+    this.deps.noteMayHaveStopped?.(distro)
+    this.dropBootId(distro)
+  }
+
+  private dropBootId(distro: string): void {
     this.byDistro.delete(distroKey(distro))
   }
 
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-wsl-bridge-exit-no-boot.test.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-wsl-bridge-exit-no-boot.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..244677a0b5c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-wsl-bridge-exit-no-boot.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+// E9 regression: a WSL bridge pane's exit after `wsl --terminate` must not lead Orca to run a command
+// in the distro (any `wsl.exe -d <distro> --exec` boots it again) while WSL still lists it as stopping.
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+
+const wslMocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  listRunningWslDistrosAsync:
+    vi.fn<(options?: { requireConfirmed?: boolean; startedAfter?: number }) => Promise<string[]>>(),
+  listWslDistrosAsync: vi.fn<() => Promise<string[]>>()
+}))
+vi.mock('../wsl', () => wslMocks)
+
+import {
+  _resetWslBackgroundDistroGateForTests,
+  deferUntilWslDistroRunning,
+  noteWslDistroMayHaveStopped,
+  readConfirmedRunningWslDistros,
+  wasWslDistroLastSeenRunningSettled
+} from '../wsl-background-distro-gate'
+import {
+  _resetRunningWslDistroCacheForTests,
+  resolveRunningWslDistros
+} from '../wsl-running-distro-cache'
+import {
+  PRODUCTION_WSL_BRIDGE_BOOT_IDENTITY_DEPS,
+  WslBridgeBootIdentity
+} from './daemon-wsl-bridge-boot-identity'
+import { classifyWslBridgeExit } from './daemon-wsl-bridge-exit'
+
+const originalPlatform = Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(process, 'platform')
+// WSL keeps listing a terminated distro for a moment while it stops.
+const STILL_LISTED_MS = 300
+let terminatedAt = Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  vi.useFakeTimers({ toFake: ['setTimeout', 'clearTimeout', 'performance'] })
+  Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', { configurable: true, value: 'win32' })
+  terminatedAt = Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY
+  wslMocks.listWslDistrosAsync.mockResolvedValue(['Ubuntu'])
+  wslMocks.listRunningWslDistrosAsync.mockImplementation((options) =>
+    resolveRunningWslDistros(async () => {
+      const startedAt = performance.now()
+      return startedAt < terminatedAt + STILL_LISTED_MS ? ['Ubuntu'] : []
+    }, options)
+  )
+})
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  if (originalPlatform) {
+    Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', originalPlatform)
+  }
+  _resetWslBackgroundDistroGateForTests()
+  _resetRunningWslDistroCacheForTests()
+  vi.useRealTimers()
+  vi.resetAllMocks()
+})
+
+describe('a WSL bridge pane exit after the distro is terminated', () => {
+  it('never execs into the distro while it is still being listed as it stops', async () => {
+    const readBootId = vi.fn(async () => 'boot-1')
+    // Production gate and stop bookkeeping; only the wsl.exe boot-id read is faked.
+    const boot = new WslBridgeBootIdentity({
+      ...PRODUCTION_WSL_BRIDGE_BOOT_IDENTITY_DEPS,
+      readBootId
+    })
+    boot.noteSpawn('pane-a', 'Ubuntu')
+    boot.noteSpawn('pane-b', 'Ubuntu')
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(readBootId).toHaveBeenCalledOnce())
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(60_000)
+    terminatedAt = performance.now()
+    // Both panes' wsl.exe exit together, as on the awin verify.
+    boot.noteExit('Ubuntu')
+    boot.noteExit('Ubuntu')
+    const exitAt = performance.now()
+    const verdicts = Promise.all(
+      ['pane-a', 'pane-b'].map((pane) =>
+        classifyWslBridgeExit('Ubuntu', exitAt, undefined, () =>
+          boot.rebootedSinceSpawn(pane, 'Ubuntu')
+        )
+      )
+    )
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(15_000)
+
+    const settled = await verdicts
+    // Only the read at spawn, while the distro ran; none after the terminate.
+    expect(readBootId).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    expect(settled).toEqual(['lost', 'lost'])
+  })
+
+  // The pre-boot-id path (build f59bd43): a dying file watcher or hook relay defers its restart
+  // until the distro runs, and any confirmed list used to drain it, one probed mid-stop included.
+  it('runs no deferred work off a list probed while the distro was still stopping', async () => {
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(60_000)
+    terminatedAt = performance.now()
+    noteWslDistroMayHaveStopped('Ubuntu')
+    const restarts = vi.fn()
+    deferUntilWslDistroRunning('Ubuntu', 'fs-watch:root-a', restarts)
+    deferUntilWslDistroRunning('Ubuntu', 'fs-watch:root-b', restarts)
+
+    // Some other read, e.g. a bridge exit's verdict, probes while WSL still lists the distro.
+    await expect(readConfirmedRunningWslDistros()).resolves.toEqual({
+      status: 'confirmed',
+      distros: ['Ubuntu']
+    })
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(15_000)
+    await readConfirmedRunningWslDistros()
+
+    expect(restarts).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('still runs deferred work once a settled list shows the distro running again', async () => {
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(60_000)
+    noteWslDistroMayHaveStopped('Ubuntu')
+    const restarts = vi.fn()
+    deferUntilWslDistroRunning('Ubuntu', 'fs-watch:root-a', restarts)
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1_000)
+
+    await readConfirmedRunningWslDistros()
+
+    expect(restarts).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+  })
+
+  // Review of #35143: Sleep and quit reads skip the probe for a pane they hold live.
+  it('does not let a list taken before the stop vouch for a live pane', async () => {
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(60_000)
+    await readConfirmedRunningWslDistros()
+    expect(wasWslDistroLastSeenRunningSettled('Ubuntu')).toBe(true)
+
+    terminatedAt = performance.now()
+    noteWslDistroMayHaveStopped('Ubuntu')
+    expect(wasWslDistroLastSeenRunningSettled('Ubuntu')).toBe(false)
+
+    // A probe while it still stops names it, yet is inside the settle window.
+    await readConfirmedRunningWslDistros()
+    expect(wasWslDistroLastSeenRunningSettled('Ubuntu')).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('lists once more past the settle when a mid-stop list skipped deferred work', async () => {
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(60_000)
+    noteWslDistroMayHaveStopped('Ubuntu')
+    const restarts = vi.fn()
+    deferUntilWslDistroRunning('Ubuntu', 'fs-watch:root-a', restarts)
+    // A false stop signal: the distro never went away, so a settled list names it.
+    await readConfirmedRunningWslDistros()
+    expect(restarts).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1_000)
+
+    expect(restarts).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-wsl-bridge-exit.test.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-wsl-bridge-exit.test.ts
index b690b1e2557..d0964d2fd76 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-wsl-bridge-exit.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-wsl-bridge-exit.test.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ describe('checkWslBridgeDistro', () => {
     )
     const exitAt = performance.now()
     const checks = [1, 2, 3].map(() => checkWslBridgeDistro('Ubuntu', exitAt, readRunning(probe)))
+    // The checks first wait out the stop's settle anchor, so the probe starts a tick later.
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(probe).toHaveBeenCalled())
     answer(['Debian'])
 
     await expect(Promise.all(checks)).resolves.toEqual(['lost', 'lost', 'lost'])
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-wsl-bridge-exit.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-wsl-bridge-exit.ts
index e8aa57e8f23..8627347baa3 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-wsl-bridge-exit.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-wsl-bridge-exit.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
  */
 import {
   readConfirmedRunningWslDistros,
+  settledWslRunningReadAnchor,
   type WslRunningDistrosRead
 } from '../wsl-background-distro-gate'
 
@@ -39,14 +40,16 @@ export async function checkWslBridgeDistro(
   readRunning: ReadRunningWslDistros = readConfirmedRunningWslDistros,
   { firstMs = WSL_EXIT_CHECK_FIRST_MS, totalMs = WSL_EXIT_CHECK_TOTAL_MS } = {}
 ): Promise<WslBridgeExitVerdict> {
+  // WSL keeps listing a stopping distro for a moment; a read inside that window would say 'running'.
+  const startedAfter = await settledWslRunningReadAnchor(distro, exitAt)
   const startedAt = performance.now()
-  let running = await readWithin(() => readRunning({ startedAfter: exitAt }), firstMs)
+  let running = await readWithin(() => readRunning({ startedAfter }), firstMs)
   if (running.status !== 'confirmed') {
     const remainingMs = totalMs - (performance.now() - startedAt)
     running =
       remainingMs > 0
         ? await readWithin(
-            () => readRunning({ startedAfter: exitAt, bypassFailureBackoff: true }),
+            () => readRunning({ startedAfter, bypassFailureBackoff: true }),
             remainingMs
           )
         : running
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/hooks/register-worktree-hook-inspection-handler.ts b/src/main/ipc/hooks/register-worktree-hook-inspection-handler.ts
index 12ebcd751e7..83ba23498f3 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/hooks/register-worktree-hook-inspection-handler.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/hooks/register-worktree-hook-inspection-handler.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { isFolderRepo } from '../../../shared/repo-kind'
 import { inspectSetupScriptImportCandidates } from '../../../shared/setup-script-imports'
 import { joinWorktreeRelativePath } from '../../runtime/runtime-relative-paths'
 import { windowsFsPath } from '../../wsl/wsl-unc-drive-fs-path'
+import { blockedWslDistroForPath } from '../../wsl/wsl-unc-access-gate'
 import { readFile, stat } from 'node:fs/promises'
 import { isENOENT } from '../filesystem/filesystem-path-containment'
 import { resolveRepoForExecutionHost } from '../worktrees/repo-host-ownership'
@@ -20,6 +21,10 @@ export function registerWorktreeHookInspectionHandler(context: WorktreeIpcContex
       if (!repo || isFolderRepo(repo) || getRepoDialableSshTargetId(repo)) {
         return []
       }
+      // A background sidebar inspection: opening `\\wsl.localhost` paths would boot a stopped distro (E9).
+      if (await blockedWslDistroForPath(repo.path)) {
+        return []
+      }
 
       return inspectSetupScriptImportCandidates(
         async (relativePath) => {
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/hooks/worktree-hook-inspection-unc-drive.test.ts b/src/main/ipc/hooks/worktree-hook-inspection-unc-drive.test.ts
index 54715d93fe6..1b24db302bb 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/hooks/worktree-hook-inspection-unc-drive.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/hooks/worktree-hook-inspection-unc-drive.test.ts
@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@ import type { Repo } from '../../../shared/repo-types'
 const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   handlers: new Map<string, (event: unknown, args: unknown) => unknown>(),
   readFile: vi.fn(),
-  stat: vi.fn()
+  stat: vi.fn(),
+  blocked: vi.fn<(path: string) => Promise<{ distro: string; state: 'stopped' } | null>>()
 }))
+vi.mock('../../wsl/wsl-unc-access-gate', () => ({ blockedWslDistroForPath: mocks.blocked }))
 
 vi.mock('electron', () => ({
   ipcMain: {
@@ -34,6 +36,7 @@ function enoent(path: string): Error {
 describe('setup script import inspection of a UNC drive-mount project', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', { configurable: true, value: 'win32' })
+    mocks.blocked.mockResolvedValue(null)
     // WSL 2.7 refuses Windows access to a drive mount over UNC; the drive path opens.
     mocks.readFile.mockImplementation(async (path: string) => {
       if (path.startsWith('\\\\')) {
@@ -70,4 +73,23 @@ describe('setup script import inspection of a UNC drive-mount project', () => {
     expect(mocks.readFile).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringMatching(/^\\\\/), 'utf-8')
     expect(warn).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
+
+  it('opens nothing in a stopped distro, so a background inspection cannot boot it (E9)', async () => {
+    mocks.readFile.mockClear()
+    mocks.stat.mockClear()
+    mocks.blocked.mockResolvedValue({ distro: 'Ubuntu', state: 'stopped' })
+    const repo: Partial<Repo> = { id: 'repo', path: UNC, kind: 'git', executionHostId: 'local' }
+    const store = { getRepos: () => [repo], getRepo: () => repo }
+    // oxlint-disable-next-line typescript/consistent-type-assertions -- SAFETY: The handler reads only these store accessors.
+    registerWorktreeHookInspectionHandler({ store } as never)
+
+    const candidates = await mocks.handlers.get('hooks:inspectSetupScriptImports')!(null, {
+      repoId: 'repo'
+    })
+
+    expect(candidates).toEqual([])
+    expect(mocks.blocked).toHaveBeenCalledWith(UNC)
+    expect(mocks.readFile).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(mocks.stat).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/runtime-repository-hooks-commands.ts b/src/main/runtime/runtime-repository-hooks-commands.ts
index 02588f72aae..01a12ce5f7d 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/runtime-repository-hooks-commands.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/runtime-repository-hooks-commands.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { isENOENT } from '../ipc/filesystem/filesystem-path-containment'
 import { isFolderRepo } from '../../shared/repo-kind'
 import { inspectSetupScriptImportCandidates } from '../../shared/setup-script-imports'
 import { joinWorktreeRelativePath } from './runtime-relative-paths'
+import { blockedWslDistroForPath } from '../wsl/wsl-unc-access-gate'
 
 type RuntimeRepositoryHooksCommandsDeps = {
   resolveRepo: (selector: string) => Promise<Repo>
@@ -70,7 +71,8 @@ export class RuntimeRepositoryHooksCommands {
 
   async inspectRepoSetupScriptImports(repoSelector: string) {
     const repo = await this.deps.resolveRepo(repoSelector)
-    if (isFolderRepo(repo)) {
+    // A stopped distro's `\\wsl.localhost` paths would boot it for a background inspection (E9).
+    if (isFolderRepo(repo) || (await blockedWslDistroForPath(repo.path))) {
       return []
     }
     return inspectSetupScriptImportCandidates(async (relativePath) => {
diff --git a/src/main/wsl-background-distro-gate.ts b/src/main/wsl-background-distro-gate.ts
index fbea1a44d82..45b51168449 100644
--- a/src/main/wsl-background-distro-gate.ts
+++ b/src/main/wsl-background-distro-gate.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@ import { outsideWslUserAct } from './wsl/wsl-user-act-scope'
 import {
   onConfirmedRunningWslDistros,
   onRunningWslDistrosStopped,
-  peekConfirmedRunningWslDistros
+  peekConfirmedRunningWslDistros,
+  peekConfirmedRunningWslDistrosObservation
 } from './wsl-running-distro-cache'
 
 // Background work must not boot stopped distros: old WSL idle-stop can erase VM-wide WSLInterop (microsoft/WSL#13885).
@@ -66,8 +67,21 @@ export function noteWslDistroLaunched(distro: string): void {
   }
 }
 
-// The earliest start a running read may have: after `startedAfter` and any stop's settle window.
-async function settledStartedAfter(
+// The earliest start a read may have to count as running: after any stop's settle, or a wake.
+function settledRunningFloor(distro: string): number {
+  const stoppedAt = mayHaveStoppedAt.get(distroKey(distro))
+  const woken = wokenAt.get(distroKey(distro))
+  return Math.max(
+    stoppedAt === undefined ? -Infinity : stoppedAt + WSL_STOP_SETTLE_MS,
+    woken ?? -Infinity
+  )
+}
+
+/**
+ * The earliest start a running read may have: after `startedAfter` and any stop's settle window.
+ * Waits until that moment has passed, so a probe started on return qualifies.
+ */
+export async function settledWslRunningReadAnchor(
   distro: string,
   startedAfter: number | undefined
 ): Promise<number | undefined> {
@@ -76,12 +90,7 @@ async function settledStartedAfter(
       noteWslDistroMayHaveStopped(candidate)
     }
   })
-  const stoppedAt = mayHaveStoppedAt.get(distroKey(distro))
-  const woken = wokenAt.get(distroKey(distro))
-  const floor = Math.max(
-    stoppedAt === undefined ? -Infinity : stoppedAt + WSL_STOP_SETTLE_MS,
-    woken ?? -Infinity
-  )
+  const floor = settledRunningFloor(distro)
   const anchor = floor === -Infinity ? startedAfter : Math.max(startedAfter ?? -Infinity, floor)
   // Timers truncate to whole ms on a ms clock and can wake ~2ms short; sleep until the anchor has passed.
   const settled = anchor ?? -Infinity
@@ -91,13 +100,23 @@ async function settledStartedAfter(
   return anchor
 }
 
+/** Without probing: the last confirmed list names `distro` and was probed after any stop settled. */
+export function wasWslDistroLastSeenRunningSettled(distro: string): boolean {
+  const observation = peekConfirmedRunningWslDistrosObservation()
+  return (
+    observation !== null &&
+    observation.probeStartedAt >= settledRunningFloor(distro) &&
+    observation.distros.some((candidate) => distroKey(candidate) === distroKey(distro))
+  )
+}
+
 /** A confirmed list from a probe started after `startedAfter` and after `distro`'s stop settled. */
 export async function readSettledConfirmedRunningWslDistros(
   distro: string,
   startedAfter?: number
 ): Promise<WslRunningDistrosRead> {
   return readConfirmedRunningWslDistros({
-    startedAfter: await settledStartedAfter(distro, startedAfter)
+    startedAfter: await settledWslRunningReadAnchor(distro, startedAfter)
   })
 }
 
@@ -108,7 +127,7 @@ export async function readWslDistroRunningState(
   distro: string,
   options: { startedAfter?: number; retryUnverifiable?: boolean } = {}
 ): Promise<WslDistroRunningState> {
-  const startedAfter = await settledStartedAfter(distro, options.startedAfter)
+  const startedAfter = await settledWslRunningReadAnchor(distro, options.startedAfter)
   let read = await readConfirmedRunningWslDistros({ startedAfter })
   if (read.status === 'unavailable' && options.retryUnverifiable) {
     read = await readConfirmedRunningWslDistros({ startedAfter, bypassFailureBackoff: true })
@@ -150,9 +169,16 @@ export function deferUntilWslDistroRunning(
     return () => {}
   }
   // A probe started inside a user act must not hand its boot allowance to the drain it causes.
-  unsubscribeObservations ??= onConfirmedRunningWslDistros((distros) =>
-    outsideWslUserAct(() => noteWslDistrosRunning(distros))
-  )
+  // A list probed while a distro was still stopping names it too: only a settled one may drain it.
+  unsubscribeObservations ??= onConfirmedRunningWslDistros((distros, probeStartedAt) => {
+    const settled = distros.filter((distro) => probeStartedAt >= settledRunningFloor(distro))
+    for (const distro of distros) {
+      if (!settled.includes(distro)) {
+        probeAfterStopSettles(distro)
+      }
+    }
+    outsideWslUserAct(() => noteWslDistrosRunning(settled))
+  })
   let tasks = deferredTasksByDistro.get(keyForDistro)
   if (!tasks) {
     tasks = new Map()
@@ -167,6 +193,26 @@ export function deferUntilWslDistroRunning(
   }
 }
 
+const settleProbes = new Map<string, ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>>()
+
+/** Deferred work a mid-stop list skipped should not wait on an unrelated probe: list once more past the settle. */
+function probeAfterStopSettles(distro: string): void {
+  const key = distroKey(distro)
+  if (!deferredTasksByDistro.get(key)?.size || settleProbes.has(key)) {
+    return
+  }
+  const floor = settledRunningFloor(distro)
+  const timer = setTimeout(
+    () => {
+      settleProbes.delete(key)
+      void readConfirmedRunningWslDistros({ startedAfter: floor })
+    },
+    Math.max(Math.ceil(floor - performance.now()), 0) + 1
+  )
+  timer.unref?.()
+  settleProbes.set(key, timer)
+}
+
 /** Runs work deferred for these distros; callers must know they are running now. */
 export function noteWslDistrosRunning(distros: readonly string[]): void {
   for (const distro of distros) {
@@ -196,6 +242,10 @@ function logDeferredTaskFailure(error: unknown): void {
 
 export function _resetWslBackgroundDistroGateForTests(): void {
   deferredTasksByDistro.clear()
+  for (const timer of settleProbes.values()) {
+    clearTimeout(timer)
+  }
+  settleProbes.clear()
   unsubscribeObservations?.()
   unsubscribeObservations = null
   mayHaveStoppedAt.clear()
diff --git a/src/main/wsl-running-distro-cache.ts b/src/main/wsl-running-distro-cache.ts
index e2c0a1d064b..2dd2ba6a4df 100644
--- a/src/main/wsl-running-distro-cache.ts
+++ b/src/main/wsl-running-distro-cache.ts
@@ -40,22 +40,22 @@ function notifyStopped(previous: string[] | null, running: string[]): void {
   }
 }
 
-const confirmedObservationListeners = new Set<(distros: readonly string[]) => void>()
+type ConfirmedObservationListener = (distros: readonly string[], probeStartedAt: number) => void
 
-/** Notified with every confirmed (successful) probe result; never with a fallback list. */
-export function onConfirmedRunningWslDistros(
-  listener: (distros: readonly string[]) => void
-): () => void {
+const confirmedObservationListeners = new Set<ConfirmedObservationListener>()
+
+/** Notified with every confirmed (successful) probe result and when its probe started; never a fallback list. */
+export function onConfirmedRunningWslDistros(listener: ConfirmedObservationListener): () => void {
   confirmedObservationListeners.add(listener)
   return () => {
     confirmedObservationListeners.delete(listener)
   }
 }
 
-function notifyConfirmedObservation(distros: readonly string[]): void {
+function notifyConfirmedObservation(distros: readonly string[], probeStartedAt: number): void {
   for (const listener of confirmedObservationListeners) {
     try {
-      listener(distros)
+      listener(distros, probeStartedAt)
     } catch (error) {
       console.warn('[wsl] running-distro listener failed', error)
     }
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ function observeRunningWslDistros(
       failureStreak = 0
       backoffBypassed = false
       notifyStopped(previous, distros)
-      notifyConfirmedObservation(distros)
+      notifyConfirmedObservation(distros, startedAt)
       return { distros, confirmed: true }
     })
     .catch((error: unknown) => {
@@ -155,6 +155,14 @@ export function peekConfirmedRunningWslDistros(): readonly string[] | null {
   return cache
 }
 
+/** The last confirmed list with its probe's start, for callers that must judge its age. */
+export function peekConfirmedRunningWslDistrosObservation(): {
+  distros: readonly string[]
+  probeStartedAt: number
+} | null {
+  return cache ? { distros: cache, probeStartedAt: cacheStartedAt } : null
+}
+
 export function _resetRunningWslDistroCacheForTests(): void {
   cache = null
   cacheStartedAt = -Infinity
diff --git a/src/main/wsl/wsl-guest-pane-processes.test.ts b/src/main/wsl/wsl-guest-pane-processes.test.ts
index e4c6791d677..c38553ff9ef 100644
--- a/src/main/wsl/wsl-guest-pane-processes.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/wsl/wsl-guest-pane-processes.test.ts
@@ -11,9 +11,11 @@ const runWslProcess = vi.hoisted(() =>
     timedOut: false
   }))
 )
-const peekConfirmedRunningWslDistros = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn((): string[] | null => null))
-vi.mock('../wsl-background-distro-gate', () => ({ isWslDistroRunning }))
-vi.mock('../wsl-running-distro-cache', () => ({ peekConfirmedRunningWslDistros }))
+const wasWslDistroLastSeenRunningSettled = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn((_distro: string) => false))
+vi.mock('../wsl-background-distro-gate', () => ({
+  isWslDistroRunning,
+  wasWslDistroLastSeenRunningSettled
+}))
 vi.mock('./wsl-runner', () => ({ runWslProcess }))
 
 const {
@@ -33,8 +35,8 @@ describe('the guest process table', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     isWslDistroRunning.mockReset()
     isWslDistroRunning.mockResolvedValue(true)
-    peekConfirmedRunningWslDistros.mockReset()
-    peekConfirmedRunningWslDistros.mockReturnValue(null)
+    wasWslDistroLastSeenRunningSettled.mockReset()
+    wasWslDistroLastSeenRunningSettled.mockReturnValue(false)
     runWslProcess.mockReset()
   })
 
@@ -77,8 +79,8 @@ describe('the guest process table', () => {
     expect(runWslProcess).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
-  it('skips the running check for a live pane whose distro was last seen running', async () => {
-    peekConfirmedRunningWslDistros.mockReturnValue(['ubuntu'])
+  it('skips the running check for a live pane whose distro was last seen running, settled', async () => {
+    wasWslDistroLastSeenRunningSettled.mockReturnValue(true)
     runWslProcess.mockResolvedValue({
       environmentResolved: true,
       code: 0,
@@ -87,12 +89,13 @@ describe('the guest process table', () => {
       timedOut: false
     })
     expect(await readWslGuestPaneProcesses('Ubuntu', 3_000, { running: true })).toEqual([])
+    expect(wasWslDistroLastSeenRunningSettled).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Ubuntu')
     expect(isWslDistroRunning).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
   // Review of #33398: a session the client still holds as live may be in a distro terminated since.
-  it('still checks a live pane whose distro is not in the last confirmed running list', async () => {
-    peekConfirmedRunningWslDistros.mockReturnValue(['Debian'])
+  it('still checks a live pane whose distro was not last seen running after any stop settled', async () => {
+    wasWslDistroLastSeenRunningSettled.mockReturnValue(false)
     isWslDistroRunning.mockResolvedValue(false)
     expect(await readWslGuestPaneProcesses('Ubuntu', 3_000, { running: true })).toBeNull()
     expect(isWslDistroRunning).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Ubuntu')
diff --git a/src/main/wsl/wsl-guest-pane-processes.ts b/src/main/wsl/wsl-guest-pane-processes.ts
index d9e2dfe5482..d3d369253da 100644
--- a/src/main/wsl/wsl-guest-pane-processes.ts
+++ b/src/main/wsl/wsl-guest-pane-processes.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 /** Windows sees only wsl.exe and bridge bash lacks OSC 7; inherited ORCA_PANE_KEY identifies shell folders inside the guest. */
 import { isShellProcess } from '../../shared/shell-process-detection'
-import { isWslDistroRunning } from '../wsl-background-distro-gate'
-import { peekConfirmedRunningWslDistros } from '../wsl-running-distro-cache'
+import {
+  isWslDistroRunning,
+  wasWslDistroLastSeenRunningSettled
+} from '../wsl-background-distro-gate'
 import { runWslProcess } from './wsl-runner'
 
 export type WslGuestProcessRow = {
@@ -76,10 +78,9 @@ export function readWslGuestPaneProcesses(
     return inFlight
   }
   const read = (async () => {
-    // A client-held live session may belong to a terminated distro; require confirmation before skipping the boot guard.
-    const knownRunning =
-      opts.running === true &&
-      (peekConfirmedRunningWslDistros() ?? []).some((running) => running.toLowerCase() === key)
+    // A client-held live session may belong to a terminated distro; skip the probe only on a list
+    // taken after any stop of the distro settled (a list from before a terminate still names it).
+    const knownRunning = opts.running === true && wasWslDistroLastSeenRunningSettled(distro)
     if (!knownRunning && !(await isWslDistroRunning(distro))) {
       return null
     }