diff --git a/src/main/codex/codex-structured-prompt-ownership.ts b/src/main/codex/codex-structured-prompt-ownership.ts
index ff42a105fc6..69c9556bade 100644
--- a/src/main/codex/codex-structured-prompt-ownership.ts
+++ b/src/main/codex/codex-structured-prompt-ownership.ts
@@ -21,8 +21,9 @@ function providerTurnId(session: CodexSession, turnId: string): string | undefin
   return session.translator ? session.translator.commandProviderTurnId(turnId) : turnId
 }
 
-/** How long a Stop waits for Codex to open the turn it answered a send into. Under the quit
- *  path's eviction budget, which a close or quit queued behind the Stop spends. */
+/** How long a Stop waits for Codex to open the turn it answered a send into. A close or quit queued
+ *  behind the Stop spends this out of the eviction budget, so a full wait plus a slow provider
+ *  close can overrun it; the next launch's recovery then settles the lease. */
 export const CODEX_STOP_TURN_OPEN_WAIT_MS = 5_000
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/main/codex/codex-structured-turn-open-wait.ts b/src/main/codex/codex-structured-turn-open-wait.ts
index 63e37294005..1e303a58fba 100644
--- a/src/main/codex/codex-structured-turn-open-wait.ts
+++ b/src/main/codex/codex-structured-turn-open-wait.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ export function createCodexTurnOpenWaits(): CodexTurnOpenWaits {
           resolve()
         }
         const bound = setTimeout(endWait, withinMs)
+        // A Stop's wait must never be what keeps the process alive at quit.
+        bound.unref?.()
         waits.set(endWait, turnId)
       }),
     observe: (threadId, method, params) => {