diff --git a/src/main/stats/collector-async-save.test.ts b/src/main/stats/collector-async-save.test.ts
index 80d6c8b5497..7a1ba6e5210 100644
--- a/src/main/stats/collector-async-save.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/stats/collector-async-save.test.ts
@@ -131,6 +131,46 @@ describe('StatsCollector async debounced save', () => {
     expect(JSON.parse(readFileSync(statsPath(), 'utf-8')).aggregates.totalAgentsSpawned).toBe(5)
   })
 
+  it('bounds retained events while a stalled write prevents serialization', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    const { StatsCollector, initStatsPath } = await importCollector()
+    initStatsPath()
+    const collector = new StatsCollector()
+
+    gate.blocked = true
+    collector.record({ type: 'agent_start', at: 0 })
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(5_000)
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(gate.writeFileCalls).toBe(1))
+
+    const expectedEvents = Array.from({ length: 10_000 }, (_, index) => ({
+      type: 'agent_start',
+      at: index + 10_001
+    }))
+    try {
+      for (let at = 1; at <= 20_000; at += 1) {
+        collector.record({ type: 'agent_start', at })
+        if (at % 5_000 === 0) {
+          await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(5_000)
+          expect(Reflect.get(collector, 'events').length).toBeLessThanOrEqual(10_000)
+        }
+      }
+      expect(gate.writeFileCalls).toBe(1)
+      expect(Reflect.get(collector, 'events')).toEqual(expectedEvents)
+    } finally {
+      const flushed = collector.flushAsync()
+      gate.blocked = false
+      gate.waiters.splice(0).forEach((resolve) => resolve())
+      await flushed
+    }
+
+    const persisted = JSON.parse(readFileSync(statsPath(), 'utf-8'))
+    expect(persisted.events).toEqual(expectedEvents)
+    expect(persisted.aggregates).toMatchObject({
+      totalAgentsSpawned: 20_001,
+      firstEventAt: 0
+    })
+  })
+
   it('retries a queued final snapshot after the active write fails', async () => {
     const { StatsCollector, initStatsPath } = await importCollector()
     initStatsPath()
diff --git a/src/main/stats/collector.ts b/src/main/stats/collector.ts
index ba484d63a57..9fd8d685c52 100644
--- a/src/main/stats/collector.ts
+++ b/src/main/stats/collector.ts
@@ -67,6 +67,10 @@ export class StatsCollector {
 
   record(event: StatsEvent): void {
     this.events.push(event)
+    // A stalled async write must not defer the in-memory retention limit.
+    if (this.events.length > MAX_EVENTS) {
+      this.events.splice(0, this.events.length - MAX_EVENTS)
+    }
     this.updateAggregates(event)
     this.scheduleSave()
   }