diff --git a/src/main/ipc/wsl-host-handlers-startup-reconcile.test.ts b/src/main/ipc/wsl-host-handlers-startup-reconcile.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..bb3d6e2c11d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/ipc/wsl-host-handlers-startup-reconcile.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+
+const order = vi.hoisted(() => ({ calls: new Array<string>(), serving: true }))
+vi.mock('electron', () => ({
+  BrowserWindow: { getAllWindows: () => [] },
+  ipcMain: { removeHandler: vi.fn(), handle: vi.fn() }
+}))
+vi.mock('../wsl/wsl-host-gate', async (importOriginal) => ({
+  ...(await importOriginal<Record<string, unknown>>()),
+  wslHostsServing: () => order.serving
+}))
+vi.mock('../../shared/runtime-environment-wsl-host-store', async (importOriginal) => ({
+  ...(await importOriginal<Record<string, unknown>>()),
+  reconcileWslHostBridgePorts: () => {
+    order.calls.push('reconcile')
+    return []
+  }
+}))
+vi.mock('../wsl/wsl-host-connector', () => ({ createWslHostConnector: vi.fn() }))
+vi.mock('../wsl/wsl-host-e2e-fake-connector', () => ({
+  readFakeWslHostsConfig: () => ({ serverFiles: 'present' }),
+  createFakeWslHostConnector: () => {
+    order.calls.push('connector')
+    return {
+      connect: async () => {
+        order.calls.push('connect')
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}))
+vi.mock('../wsl/wsl-orphan-holder-release', () => ({
+  releaseUnwantedWslHolders: async () => {},
+  wslHolderKeepPolicy: () => () => true
+}))
+vi.mock('./wsl-host-automation-wake-wiring', () => ({ createWslHostAutomationWake: () => null }))
+vi.mock('../wsl/wsl-host-service', () => ({
+  WslHostService: class {
+    connector: { connect: (distro: string) => Promise<void> } | null = null
+    attach(connector: { connect: (distro: string) => Promise<void> }): void {
+      this.connector = connector
+    }
+    handleConnectionChange(): void {}
+    isKnownDistro(): boolean {
+      return true
+    }
+    hasUserVisibleWork(): boolean {
+      return false
+    }
+    // Startup's first bridge work: adopting holders, then any reconnect.
+    async start(): Promise<void> {
+      order.calls.push('start')
+      await this.connector?.connect('Ubuntu')
+    }
+  }
+}))
+const instance = vi.hoisted((): { service: unknown } => ({ service: null }))
+vi.mock('../wsl/wsl-host-service-instance', () => ({
+  getWslHostService: () => instance.service,
+  setWslHostService: (service: unknown) => {
+    instance.service = service
+  }
+}))
+
+import { registerWslHostHandlers } from './wsl-host-handlers'
+
+function register(): void {
+  registerWslHostHandlers({
+    // oxlint-disable-next-line typescript/consistent-type-assertions -- SAFETY: startup reads settings only through onSettingsChanged.
+    store: { getSettings: () => ({}), onSettingsChanged: vi.fn() } as never,
+    getUserDataPath: () => '/user-data',
+    invalidateTransport: vi.fn()
+  })
+}
+
+// A crash between a pairing save's two writes hides the host unless its record is realigned first.
+describe('WSL host startup: the bridge-port reconcile', () => {
+  afterEach(() => {
+    order.calls = []
+    order.serving = true
+    instance.service = null
+  })
+
+  it('realigns saved records before the connector exists or any bridge connects', async () => {
+    register()
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(order.calls).toContain('connect'))
+    expect(order.calls).toEqual(['reconcile', 'connector', 'start', 'connect'])
+  })
+
+  it('reads and writes no record while WSL hosts are not serving', () => {
+    order.serving = false
+    register()
+    expect(order.calls).toEqual([])
+    expect(instance.service).toBeNull()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/wsl-host-handlers.ts b/src/main/ipc/wsl-host-handlers.ts
index bf411330dc2..1fddb4c9b65 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/wsl-host-handlers.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/wsl-host-handlers.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import { getRuntimeEnvironmentStatus } from './runtime-environments/runtime-envi
 import { callRuntimeEnvironment } from './runtime-environments/runtime-environment-transport-routing'
 import { isRemoteRuntimeConnectionReady } from './runtime-environments/runtime-environment-request-connections'
 import { resolveEnvironment } from '../../shared/runtime-environment-store'
+import { reconcileWslHostBridgePorts } from '../../shared/runtime-environment-wsl-host-store'
 import { getPreferredPairedRuntimeConnection } from '../../shared/runtime-environments'
 import { requestOrcadTerminalCensus } from '../ssh/orcad-terminal-census-client'
 import type { WslHostRuntimeAccess } from '../wsl/wsl-host-server-stop'
@@ -121,6 +122,14 @@ function createService(args: WslHostHandlerArgs): WslHostService | null {
   if (process.platform !== 'win32' && !fake) {
     return null
   }
+  // Before any bridge connects or the window lists servers: a crash mid-save must not hide a host.
+  try {
+    for (const environmentId of reconcileWslHostBridgePorts(args.getUserDataPath())) {
+      console.warn(`[wsl-hosts] Realigned ${environmentId}'s bridge port with its pairing.`)
+    }
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.warn('[wsl-hosts] Could not check WSL host records against their pairings:', error)
+  }
   let automationWake: WslHostAutomationWake | null = null
   const created = new WslHostService({
     userDataPath: args.getUserDataPath,
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/wsl-move-undo-host-connect.test.ts b/src/main/ipc/wsl-move-undo-host-connect.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..30a42ab3592
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/ipc/wsl-move-undo-host-connect.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { getDefaultWorkspaceSession } from '../../shared/constants'
+import { wslMoveCutoverFixture } from '../persistence/__fixtures__/wsl-mover/wsl-move-cutover-fixture'
+import { createWslMoveUndoPorts } from './wsl-move-undo-wiring'
+
+// The real connectWslMoveHostService runs here; only the host's records and runtime are faked.
+const host = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  pendingStop: false,
+  connect: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+  call: vi.fn(async (..._args: unknown[]): Promise<unknown> => ({
+    ok: true,
+    result: { terminals: [], truncated: false }
+  }))
+}))
+vi.mock('./runtime-environments/runtime-environment-transport-routing', () => ({
+  callRuntimeEnvironment: (...args: unknown[]) => host.call(...args)
+}))
+vi.mock('../../shared/runtime-environment-store', () => ({
+  listEnvironments: () => [{ id: 'wsl:Ubuntu' }]
+}))
+vi.mock('../../shared/runtime-environment-wsl-host-store', () => ({
+  findWslHostDeployment: () =>
+    host.pendingStop ? { environmentId: 'wsl:ubuntu', pendingStop: { at: 1 } } : null
+}))
+vi.mock('../wsl/wsl-host-service-instance', () => ({
+  getWslHostService: () => ({
+    recordForEnvironment: () => ({ environmentId: 'wsl:ubuntu', distro: 'Ubuntu' }),
+    getStatuses: () => [],
+    connect: host.connect,
+    ensureForRuntimeCall: vi.fn()
+  })
+}))
+
+const store = {
+  getWorkspaceSession: () => getDefaultWorkspaceSession(),
+  patchWorkspaceSession: vi.fn(),
+  listAutomations: () => [],
+  updateAutomation: vi.fn()
+}
+
+describe("undo's stop of the host's terminals: connecting the host", () => {
+  const move = wslMoveCutoverFixture('move-1', 'retained', {}, { repoIds: ['repo-a'] })
+
+  it('connects a host that is not serving, as the user’s act', async () => {
+    host.pendingStop = false
+    host.connect.mockClear()
+    expect(await createWslMoveUndoPorts(store, '/user-data').stopHostCopies(move)).toBe('stopped')
+    expect(host.connect).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+
+  it('never connects a host whose Remove is pending (E11)', async () => {
+    host.pendingStop = true
+    host.connect.mockClear()
+    host.call.mockClear()
+    await createWslMoveUndoPorts(store, '/user-data').stopHostCopies(move)
+    expect(host.connect).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    // It got past the removed-host check, so the skip is the pending Remove's.
+    expect(host.call).toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/wsl-move-undo-wiring.test.ts b/src/main/ipc/wsl-move-undo-wiring.test.ts
index b95d843ef04..b992ff8416a 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/wsl-move-undo-wiring.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/wsl-move-undo-wiring.test.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ const host = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   enabledOnHost: new Map<string, boolean>(),
   listed: true,
   unreadable: false,
-  removalPending: false
+  removalPending: false,
+  connect: vi.fn(async (..._args: unknown[]): Promise<boolean> => true)
 }))
 vi.mock('../../shared/runtime-environment-store', () => ({
   listEnvironments: () => {
@@ -28,8 +29,10 @@ vi.mock('../../shared/runtime-environment-store', () => ({
   }
 }))
 vi.mock('./wsl-move-host-connect', () => ({
-  wslHostRemovalPending: () => host.removalPending
+  wslHostRemovalPending: () => host.removalPending,
+  connectWslMoveHostService: (...args: unknown[]) => host.connect(...args)
 }))
+vi.mock('../wsl/wsl-host-service-instance', () => ({ getWslHostService: () => ({}) }))
 vi.mock('./wsl-host-automation-disable', () => ({
   readWslHostAutomationStates: async (_userData: string, _environmentId: string, ids: string[]) =>
     Object.fromEntries(ids.map((id) => [id, host.enabledOnHost.get(id) ?? false])),
@@ -277,3 +280,42 @@ describe("undo's stop of the host's terminals", () => {
     })
   })
 })
+
+// After a relaunch the host has no open work, so a background-only reconnect refused every undo.
+describe("undo's connect to the host", () => {
+  const move = wslMoveCutoverFixture('move-1', 'retained', {}, { repoIds: ['repo-a'] })
+  const store = {
+    getWorkspaceSession: () => getDefaultWorkspaceSession(),
+    patchWorkspaceSession: vi.fn(),
+    listAutomations: () => [],
+    updateAutomation: vi.fn()
+  }
+
+  it('connects the host as the user’s act before asking it anything', async () => {
+    host.listed = true
+    host.connect.mockClear()
+    rpc.call.mockReset()
+    rpc.call.mockResolvedValue({ ok: true, result: { terminals: [], truncated: false } })
+    const ports = createWslMoveUndoPorts(store, '/user-data')
+    expect((await ports.stopHostAutomations?.(move))?.outcome).toBe('stopped')
+    expect(await ports.stopHostCopies(move)).toBe('stopped')
+    expect(host.connect.mock.calls.map(([, , distro, mode]) => [distro, mode])).toEqual([
+      [move.manifest.source.distro, 'user'],
+      [move.manifest.source.distro, 'user']
+    ])
+  })
+
+  it('refuses as unreachable, asking the host nothing, when it does not connect', async () => {
+    vi.spyOn(console, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => {})
+    host.listed = true
+    host.disabled = []
+    host.connect.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('distro failed to start'))
+    host.connect.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('distro failed to start'))
+    rpc.call.mockReset()
+    const ports = createWslMoveUndoPorts(store, '/user-data')
+    expect(await ports.stopHostAutomations?.(move)).toEqual({ outcome: 'unreachable' })
+    expect(await ports.stopHostCopies(move)).toBe('unreachable')
+    expect(host.disabled).toEqual([])
+    expect(rpc.call).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/wsl-move-undo-wiring.ts b/src/main/ipc/wsl-move-undo-wiring.ts
index d1fa804bc34..27ede2a57b5 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/wsl-move-undo-wiring.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/wsl-move-undo-wiring.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ import {
   type WslMoveHostAutomationStop
 } from '../persistence/moving-wsl-projects/wsl-move-undo-host-automations'
 import { scheduleWslMoveRewriteRetry } from '../persistence/moving-wsl-projects/wsl-move-rewrite-retry'
-import { wslHostRemovalPending } from './wsl-move-host-connect'
+import { connectWslMoveHostService, wslHostRemovalPending } from './wsl-move-host-connect'
+import { getWslHostService } from '../wsl/wsl-host-service-instance'
 import {
   disableWslHostAutomations,
   readWslHostAutomationStates,
@@ -54,6 +55,21 @@ const HOST_TERMINAL_LIST_LIMIT = 10_000
 const SLEEP_TIMEOUT_MS = 60_000
 const LIST_TIMEOUT_MS = 10_000
 
+/** Undo is the user's act: after a relaunch a host with no open work connects first, as Connect would. */
+async function connectUndoHost(userDataPath: string, move: WslMoveCutover): Promise<boolean> {
+  const service = getWslHostService()
+  if (!service) {
+    return true
+  }
+  try {
+    await connectWslMoveHostService(service, userDataPath, move.manifest.source.distro, 'user')
+    return true
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.warn('[wsl-move] The host did not connect for undo:', error)
+    return false
+  }
+}
+
 export function createWslMoveUndoPorts(
   store: Pick<
     Store,
@@ -72,6 +88,9 @@ export function createWslMoveUndoPorts(
       const hostIds = [...new Set(Object.keys(local.tabsByWorktree).filter(scope.inScope))].map(
         (id) => scope.worktreeId(id)
       )
+      if (!(await connectUndoHost(userDataPath, move))) {
+        return 'unreachable'
+      }
       const call = async (method: string, params: unknown, timeoutMs: number) => {
         try {
           return await callRuntimeEnvironment(
@@ -139,6 +158,9 @@ export function createWslMoveUndoPorts(
         if (wslHostRemovalPending(userDataPath, move.manifest.source.distro)) {
           return { outcome: 'removal-pending' }
         }
+        if (!(await connectUndoHost(userDataPath, move))) {
+          return { outcome: 'unreachable' }
+        }
         const environmentId = move.destinationEnvironmentId
         const stop = await stopWslMoveHostAutomations(
           userDataPath,
diff --git a/src/shared/runtime-environment-wsl-host-store.test.ts b/src/shared/runtime-environment-wsl-host-store.test.ts
index 25f95441985..4889251c25c 100644
--- a/src/shared/runtime-environment-wsl-host-store.test.ts
+++ b/src/shared/runtime-environment-wsl-host-store.test.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { listEnvironments } from './runtime-environment-store'
 import {
   addWslHostEnvironment,
   findWslHostDeployment,
+  reconcileWslHostBridgePorts,
   refreshWslHostPairing,
   removeWslHostEnvironment
 } from './runtime-environment-wsl-host-store'
@@ -172,6 +173,64 @@ describe('WSL host environment store', () => {
     expect(listEnvironments(userDataPath)[0]?.orcadDeployment).toMatchObject({ kind: 'wsl' })
   })
 
+  it('heals a crash between saving a moved bridge and its pairing, keeping the saved pairing', () => {
+    addWslHostEnvironment(userDataPath, {
+      id: 'wsl:ubuntu',
+      name: 'Ubuntu (WSL)',
+      pairingCode: code(42000),
+      record,
+      now: 100
+    })
+    const saved = findWslHostDeployment(userDataPath, 'wsl:ubuntu')
+    if (!saved) {
+      throw new Error('record missing')
+    }
+    // refreshWslHostPairing's record write landed; its pairing write never did.
+    writeWslHostDeployment(userDataPath, 'wsl:ubuntu', { ...saved, localPort: 42001 })
+    const [crashed] = listEnvironments(userDataPath)
+    expect(crashed?.orcadDeployment).toBeUndefined()
+
+    expect(reconcileWslHostBridgePorts(userDataPath)).toEqual(['wsl:ubuntu'])
+    const [healed] = listEnvironments(userDataPath)
+    expect(healed?.orcadDeployment).toMatchObject({ kind: 'wsl', localPort: 42000 })
+    expect(healed && getPreferredPairingOffer(healed)).toEqual(
+      crashed && getPreferredPairingOffer(crashed)
+    )
+    expect(reconcileWslHostBridgePorts(userDataPath)).toEqual([])
+
+    // The next connect saves both.
+    refreshWslHostPairing(userDataPath, 'wsl:ubuntu', {
+      pairingCode: code(42002, 'token-2'),
+      localPort: 42002,
+      remotePort: 6768
+    })
+    expect(listEnvironments(userDataPath)[0]?.orcadDeployment).toMatchObject({ localPort: 42002 })
+  })
+
+  it('leaves a record written for a different pairing, or with no server, alone', () => {
+    addWslHostEnvironment(userDataPath, {
+      id: 'wsl:ubuntu',
+      name: 'Ubuntu (WSL)',
+      pairingCode: code(42000),
+      record,
+      now: 100
+    })
+    const saved = findWslHostDeployment(userDataPath, 'wsl:ubuntu')
+    if (!saved) {
+      throw new Error('record missing')
+    }
+    const otherKey = Buffer.alloc(32, 3).toString('base64')
+    writeWslHostDeployment(userDataPath, 'wsl:ubuntu', {
+      ...saved,
+      localPort: 42001,
+      pairingPublicKeyB64: otherKey,
+      previousPairingPublicKeyB64: otherKey
+    })
+    writeWslHostDeployment(userDataPath, 'wsl:orphan', { ...saved, environmentId: 'wsl:orphan' })
+    expect(reconcileWslHostBridgePorts(userDataPath)).toEqual([])
+    expect(findWslHostDeployment(userDataPath, 'wsl:ubuntu')?.localPort).toBe(42001)
+  })
+
   it('removes the environment and its record', () => {
     addWslHostEnvironment(userDataPath, {
       id: 'wsl:ubuntu',
diff --git a/src/shared/runtime-environment-wsl-host-store.ts b/src/shared/runtime-environment-wsl-host-store.ts
index fac7cd89f6f..648c9142cf5 100644
--- a/src/shared/runtime-environment-wsl-host-store.ts
+++ b/src/shared/runtime-environment-wsl-host-store.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import {
 import { resolveEnvironmentFromStore } from './runtime-environment-store'
 import { findCollidingEnvironmentName } from './runtime-environment-name-collision'
 import {
+  hasNonWslOwner,
   readWslHostDeployments,
   writeWslHostDeployment,
   type WslHostDeploymentRecord,
@@ -165,6 +166,39 @@ export function refreshWslHostPairing(
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * A crash between refreshWslHostPairing's writes leaves the record's bridge port off the saved
+ * pairing, so the overlay drops the WSL link. The record follows the pairing: its port is only
+ * where the next connect listens, and that connect saves both. Returns the repaired ids.
+ */
+export function reconcileWslHostBridgePorts(userDataPath: string): string[] {
+  const environments = readEnvironmentStore(userDataPath).environments
+  const repaired: string[] = []
+  for (const record of readWslHostDeployments(userDataPath).deployments) {
+    const environment = environments.find((entry) => entry.id === record.environmentId)
+    // A link that overlaid cleanly reads as an owner too, and needs nothing.
+    if (!environment || hasNonWslOwner(environment)) {
+      continue
+    }
+    // A record written for a different pairing stays ignored, not rebound to this one.
+    const key = getPreferredPairingOffer(environment).publicKeyB64
+    if (
+      record.pairingPublicKeyB64 !== undefined &&
+      key !== record.pairingPublicKeyB64 &&
+      key !== record.previousPairingPublicKeyB64
+    ) {
+      continue
+    }
+    const port = getPreferredLoopbackRuntimePort(environment)
+    if (port === null || port === record.localPort) {
+      continue
+    }
+    writeWslHostDeployment(userDataPath, record.environmentId, { ...record, localPort: port })
+    repaired.push(record.environmentId)
+  }
+  return repaired
+}
+
 /** Marks (or with null, clears) a Remove that could not prove the host's server stopped. */
 export function setWslHostPendingStop(
   userDataPath: string,
diff --git a/src/shared/wsl-host-deployment-store.ts b/src/shared/wsl-host-deployment-store.ts
index 1cfbb8811f5..1b18cc75260 100644
--- a/src/shared/wsl-host-deployment-store.ts
+++ b/src/shared/wsl-host-deployment-store.ts
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ export function writeWslHostDeployment(
   )
 }
 
-function hasNonWslOwner(environment: KnownRuntimeEnvironment): boolean {
+export function hasNonWslOwner(environment: KnownRuntimeEnvironment): boolean {
   return Boolean(
     environment.orcadDeployment ||
     environment.sshAccess ||