diff --git a/src/main/ipc/pty/ipc/spawn-preflight.ts b/src/main/ipc/pty/ipc/spawn-preflight.ts
index 4e421d05670..cd303bbf6f7 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/pty/ipc/spawn-preflight.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/pty/ipc/spawn-preflight.ts
@@ -94,7 +94,8 @@ export async function preparePtyIpcSpawnPreflight(ctx: PtyIpcSpawnState): Promis
     resolveStartupCwd: ctx.deps.resolvePtySpawnStartupCwd,
     ...(args.wslPassiveRestore === true
       ? {
-          passiveWslRestore: {
+          wslStartHold: {
+            wslPassiveRestore: true,
             sessionId: ctx.effectiveSessionId,
             isNewSession: ctx.ownsNewIncarnation,
             attachOnly: args.attachOnlyView === true
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/pty/pty-daemon-spawn-wsl-runtime.test.ts b/src/main/ipc/pty/pty-daemon-spawn-wsl-runtime.test.ts
index a1496e06aca..a1b5ec3d2e0 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/pty/pty-daemon-spawn-wsl-runtime.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/pty/pty-daemon-spawn-wsl-runtime.test.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,11 @@ vi.mock('../../codex/codex-pane-account-registry', () =>
 vi.mock('../../codex/codex-state-db-backfill-recovery', () =>
   import('./pty-ipc-mock-registry').then((m) => m.codexBackfillRecoveryModuleMock())
 )
+// Fake-win32 runs have no wsl.exe: the distro runs, so main's background-start hold passes (E9).
+vi.mock('../../wsl-background-distro-gate', async (importOriginal) => ({
+  ...(await importOriginal<object>()),
+  readWslDistroRunningState: vi.fn(async () => 'running')
+}))
 
 describe('registerPtyHandlers', () => {
   const { handlers, mainWindow } = setupPtyIpcSuite()
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/pty/pty-launch-parity.test.ts b/src/main/ipc/pty/pty-launch-parity.test.ts
index bdbb67e1ab3..11085fd64a8 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/pty/pty-launch-parity.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/pty/pty-launch-parity.test.ts
@@ -130,6 +130,11 @@ vi.mock('../../codex/codex-state-db-backfill-recovery', () =>
 vi.mock('../../../shared/openssh-default-shell', () => ({
   readOpenSshDefaultShell: vi.fn(() => '')
 }))
+// Fake-win32 runs have no wsl.exe: the distro runs, so main's background-start hold passes (E9).
+vi.mock('../../wsl-background-distro-gate', async (importOriginal) => ({
+  ...(await importOriginal<object>()),
+  readWslDistroRunningState: vi.fn(async () => 'running')
+}))
 
 // Exercise real window-lane spawning through provider, telemetry and pane binding.
 describe('window lane: pty:spawn request -> provider', () => {
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/pty/runtime/spawn-preflight-requested-shell.test.ts b/src/main/ipc/pty/runtime/spawn-preflight-requested-shell.test.ts
index dc16e9c2c9d..45bdf77e244 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/pty/runtime/spawn-preflight-requested-shell.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/pty/runtime/spawn-preflight-requested-shell.test.ts
@@ -3,13 +3,12 @@ import { mkdtempSync, rmSync, writeFileSync } from 'node:fs'
 import { tmpdir } from 'node:os'
 import { join } from 'node:path'
 import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
-import type { BrowserWindow } from 'electron'
 import { getDefaultSettings } from '../../../../shared/constants'
-import { finishPtyShutdown } from '../provider/liveness'
 import { prepareRuntimePtySpawn } from './spawn-preflight'
 import { buildRuntimePtySpawnOptions } from './spawn-options'
 import { createRuntimePtySpawnState, type RuntimePtySpawnArgs } from './spawn-state'
 import type { PtyRuntimeControllerDeps } from './controller-deps'
+import { makeRuntimePtySpawnTestDeps } from './spawn-preflight-test-deps-fixture'
 import { ClaudeProfileRouter } from '../../../claude-accounts/claude-profile-router'
 import { installClaudeProfileRouter } from '../../../claude-accounts/claude-profile-installed-router'
 
@@ -42,41 +41,7 @@ const HOST_DEFAULT_SHELL = 'powershell.exe'
 const hostPlatform = process.platform
 
 function makeDeps(): PtyRuntimeControllerDeps {
-  const noCodexResumeLaunch: PtyRuntimeControllerDeps['noCodexResumeLaunch'] = (command) => ({
-    codexResumeHome: null,
-    command,
-    notifyResumeUnavailable: false,
-    droppedResumeArgv: false,
-    providerSession: null
-  })
-  return {
-    store: undefined,
-    getSettings: () => ({
-      ...getDefaultSettings('/tmp'),
-      terminalWindowsShell: HOST_DEFAULT_SHELL
-    }),
-    adoptStablePane: async () => null,
-    getLocalPtyStartupPromise: () => undefined,
-    getLocalPtyProviderStartupPromise: () => undefined,
-    prepareCodexResumeHome: () => null,
-    resolveCodexResumeLaunch: async (command) => noCodexResumeLaunch(command),
-    noCodexResumeLaunch,
-    reconcileSharedRuntimeResumeHome: async (resumeHome) => resumeHome.codexHomePath,
-    stripSequencedStartupResumeArgv: (env) => env,
-    assertWorkspaceAcceptsNewPty: () => undefined,
-    resolvePtySpawnStartupCwd: (_worktreeId, cwd) => cwd,
-    requestSerializedBuffer: async () => null,
-    shutdownProviderAndDetectExit: async () => false,
-    rememberSyntheticKillExit: () => {},
-    rememberRetiredRejectedPty: () => {},
-    sendPtyExitToRenderer: () => {},
-    sendPtySpawnedToRenderer: () => {},
-    finishPtyShutdown,
-    trustedTerminalHandleEnv: new Set(),
-    retiredRejectedPtyIds: new Map(),
-    // oxlint-disable-next-line typescript/consistent-type-assertions -- SAFETY: only `operations.ts` (write/clearBuffer) reads `mainWindow`; the spawn preflight and option build never touch it, and a real BrowserWindow cannot exist in vitest.
-    mainWindow: {} as BrowserWindow
-  }
+  return makeRuntimePtySpawnTestDeps(HOST_DEFAULT_SHELL)
 }
 
 async function resolveSpawnOptions(
@@ -216,7 +181,9 @@ describe('runtime pty spawn preflight: Claude account routing in a WSL pane', ()
       rows: 40,
       cwd: '\\\\wsl.localhost\\Ubuntu\\home\\u',
       shellOverride: 'wsl.exe',
-      env: { KEEP: '1' }
+      env: { KEEP: '1' },
+      // The user's start: a background one holds until the distro is proven running (E9).
+      wslUserAct: true
     }
     const ctx = createRuntimePtySpawnState(makeDeps(), args)
     await expect(prepareRuntimePtySpawn(ctx)).resolves.toBeNull()
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/pty/runtime/spawn-preflight-test-deps-fixture.ts b/src/main/ipc/pty/runtime/spawn-preflight-test-deps-fixture.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a22e2b932a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/ipc/pty/runtime/spawn-preflight-test-deps-fixture.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import type { BrowserWindow } from 'electron'
+import { getDefaultSettings } from '../../../../shared/constants'
+import { finishPtyShutdown } from '../provider/liveness'
+import type { PtyRuntimeControllerDeps } from './controller-deps'
+
+/** Runtime spawn deps for preflight tests: no store, a host default shell, and inert side effects. */
+export function makeRuntimePtySpawnTestDeps(
+  hostDefaultShell = 'powershell.exe'
+): PtyRuntimeControllerDeps {
+  const noCodexResumeLaunch: PtyRuntimeControllerDeps['noCodexResumeLaunch'] = (command) => ({
+    codexResumeHome: null,
+    command,
+    notifyResumeUnavailable: false,
+    droppedResumeArgv: false,
+    providerSession: null
+  })
+  return {
+    store: undefined,
+    getSettings: () => ({
+      ...getDefaultSettings('/tmp'),
+      terminalWindowsShell: hostDefaultShell
+    }),
+    adoptStablePane: async () => null,
+    getLocalPtyStartupPromise: () => undefined,
+    getLocalPtyProviderStartupPromise: () => undefined,
+    prepareCodexResumeHome: () => null,
+    resolveCodexResumeLaunch: async (command) => noCodexResumeLaunch(command),
+    noCodexResumeLaunch,
+    reconcileSharedRuntimeResumeHome: async (resumeHome) => resumeHome.codexHomePath,
+    stripSequencedStartupResumeArgv: (env) => env,
+    assertWorkspaceAcceptsNewPty: () => undefined,
+    resolvePtySpawnStartupCwd: (_worktreeId, cwd) => cwd,
+    requestSerializedBuffer: async () => null,
+    shutdownProviderAndDetectExit: async () => false,
+    rememberSyntheticKillExit: () => {},
+    rememberRetiredRejectedPty: () => {},
+    sendPtyExitToRenderer: () => {},
+    sendPtySpawnedToRenderer: () => {},
+    finishPtyShutdown,
+    trustedTerminalHandleEnv: new Set(),
+    retiredRejectedPtyIds: new Map(),
+    // oxlint-disable-next-line typescript/consistent-type-assertions -- SAFETY: only `operations.ts` (write/clearBuffer) reads `mainWindow`; the spawn preflight and option build never touch it, and a real BrowserWindow cannot exist in vitest.
+    mainWindow: {} as BrowserWindow
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/pty/runtime/spawn-preflight-wsl-background-hold.test.ts b/src/main/ipc/pty/runtime/spawn-preflight-wsl-background-hold.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..738631fbfec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/ipc/pty/runtime/spawn-preflight-wsl-background-hold.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import type * as BackgroundDistroGateModule from '../../../wsl-background-distro-gate'
+import { wslDistroHoldMessage } from '../../../../shared/wsl-distro-stopped-hold'
+import { prepareRuntimePtySpawn } from './spawn-preflight'
+import { createRuntimePtySpawnState, type RuntimePtySpawnArgs } from './spawn-state'
+import { makeRuntimePtySpawnTestDeps } from './spawn-preflight-test-deps-fixture'
+
+const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  readWslDistroRunningState: vi.fn<() => Promise<'running' | 'stopped' | 'unverifiable'>>()
+}))
+vi.mock('../../../wsl-background-distro-gate', async (importOriginal) => ({
+  ...(await importOriginal<typeof BackgroundDistroGateModule>()),
+  readWslDistroRunningState: mocks.readWslDistroRunningState
+}))
+
+const WSL_CWD = '\\\\wsl.localhost\\Ubuntu\\home\\me\\repo'
+const hostPlatform = process.platform
+
+async function prepare(args: Partial<RuntimePtySpawnArgs>): Promise<void> {
+  const ctx = createRuntimePtySpawnState(makeRuntimePtySpawnTestDeps(), {
+    cols: 120,
+    rows: 40,
+    cwd: WSL_CWD,
+    ...args
+  })
+  try {
+    await prepareRuntimePtySpawn(ctx)
+  } finally {
+    ctx.finishTerminalInstall()
+  }
+}
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', { configurable: true, value: 'win32' })
+  mocks.readWslDistroRunningState.mockReset()
+  mocks.readWslDistroRunningState.mockResolvedValue('stopped')
+})
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', { configurable: true, value: hostPlatform })
+})
+
+describe("main's background start in a stopped WSL distro (E9)", () => {
+  it('holds in the shared preflight, whichever provider would run it', async () => {
+    await expect(prepare({})).rejects.toThrow(wslDistroHoldMessage('Ubuntu', 'stopped'))
+    expect(mocks.readWslDistroRunningState).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+  })
+
+  it('names an unanswered read as unverifiable', async () => {
+    mocks.readWslDistroRunningState.mockResolvedValue('unverifiable')
+    await expect(prepare({})).rejects.toThrow(wslDistroHoldMessage('Ubuntu', 'unverifiable'))
+  })
+
+  it("never holds the user's start", async () => {
+    await expect(prepare({ wslUserAct: true })).resolves.toBeUndefined()
+    expect(mocks.readWslDistroRunningState).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('starts once the distro runs', async () => {
+    mocks.readWslDistroRunningState.mockResolvedValue('running')
+    await expect(prepare({})).resolves.toBeUndefined()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/pty/runtime/spawn-preflight.ts b/src/main/ipc/pty/runtime/spawn-preflight.ts
index c58dedd5a62..69031e67195 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/pty/runtime/spawn-preflight.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/pty/runtime/spawn-preflight.ts
@@ -76,7 +76,11 @@ export async function prepareRuntimePtySpawn(
     projectRuntimeSource: { kind: 'store', store: ctx.deps.store },
     preAdopted: ctx.preAdoptedStablePane !== null,
     getSettings: ctx.deps.getSettings,
-    resolveStartupCwd: ctx.deps.resolvePtySpawnStartupCwd
+    resolveStartupCwd: ctx.deps.resolvePtySpawnStartupCwd,
+    // Default-deny, as spawn-options' `wslBackgroundStart`: held before the cwd probe and any provider.
+    ...(args.wslUserAct === true
+      ? {}
+      : { wslStartHold: { wslBackgroundStart: true, sessionId: ctx.sessionId } })
   })
   ctx.cwd = target.cwd
   ctx.requestedCwd = target.requestedCwd
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/pty/spawn-startup-target.ts b/src/main/ipc/pty/spawn-startup-target.ts
index cae78b6d8ac..eea1c28725e 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/pty/spawn-startup-target.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/pty/spawn-startup-target.ts
@@ -55,8 +55,11 @@ type PtySpawnStartupArgs = {
     cwd: string | undefined,
     missingDirFallback?: TerminalStartupCwdMissingDirFallback
   ) => string | undefined
-  /** A restore the user did not ask for; held here, before any provider or cwd probe can boot WSL. */
-  passiveWslRestore?: Pick<PtySpawnOptions, 'sessionId' | 'isNewSession' | 'attachOnly'>
+  /** A restore or background start the user did not ask for; held here, before any provider or cwd probe can boot WSL. */
+  wslStartHold?: Pick<
+    PtySpawnOptions,
+    'wslPassiveRestore' | 'wslBackgroundStart' | 'sessionId' | 'isNewSession' | 'attachOnly'
+  >
 }
 
 export async function resolvePtySpawnStartupTarget(
@@ -73,10 +76,10 @@ export async function resolvePtySpawnStartupTarget(
       args.shellOverride,
       process.env.COMSPEC || 'powershell.exe'
     )
-  if (args.passiveWslRestore && !args.preAdopted) {
+  if (args.wslStartHold && !args.preAdopted) {
     // E9: whichever provider runs (daemon, degraded or off), and before the cwd probe's `wsl.exe`.
     await holdPassiveRestoreOfStoppedWslDistro(
-      { ...args.passiveWslRestore, wslPassiveRestore: true },
+      args.wslStartHold,
       resolveWslSessionContext({
         cwd: args.cwd,
         sessionId: args.sessionId,
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-create-agent-session.ts b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-create-agent-session.ts
index f4a46b0cb11..3803e6b6e97 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-create-agent-session.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-create-agent-session.ts
@@ -109,7 +109,14 @@ export abstract class OrcaRuntimeWithCreateAgentSession extends OrcaRuntimeWithG
     const reclaim: AgentSessionCreateOperation['reclaim'] = {}
     const operation = (async (): Promise<RuntimeCreateAgentSessionResult> => {
       // Reserve before async preflight so racing retries cannot independently dispatch.
-      const workspace = await this.resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(request.worktree)
+      // Only the agent-session RPC reaches here: the caller's own act, as its spawn below.
+      const workspace = await this.resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(
+        request.worktree,
+        undefined,
+        {
+          wslUserAct: true
+        }
+      )
       if (
         !(await this.executionOwnerSupportsAgentSessionOperation(
           workspace,
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/agent-session.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/agent-session.test.ts
index 1aba324134f..32e8f1232f2 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/agent-session.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/agent-session.test.ts
@@ -228,7 +228,8 @@ describe('agent session RPC methods', () => {
       'id:worktree-1',
       undefined,
       false,
-      expect.any(Function)
+      expect.any(Function),
+      { wslUserAct: true }
     )
     expect(createTerminal).toHaveBeenCalledWith('id:worktree-1', {
       wslUserAct: true,
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/terminal-create-idempotency.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/terminal-create-idempotency.test.ts
index a1e221d5a7a..e9f8741e869 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/terminal-create-idempotency.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/terminal-create-idempotency.test.ts
@@ -46,7 +46,8 @@ describe('terminal.create RPC idempotency', () => {
       'id:worktree-1',
       'mutation-1',
       false,
-      expect.any(Function)
+      expect.any(Function),
+      { wslUserAct: true }
     )
     expect(createTerminal).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       'id:worktree-1',
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/terminal/terminal-lifecycle-methods.ts b/src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/terminal/terminal-lifecycle-methods.ts
index 11135051432..da37dd06feb 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/terminal/terminal-lifecycle-methods.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/terminal/terminal-lifecycle-methods.ts
@@ -118,7 +118,8 @@ export const TERMINAL_LIFECYCLE_METHODS = [
             leafId: params.leafId,
             ...(params.spawnIntent ? { spawnIntent: params.spawnIntent } : {}),
             ...(preAllocatedHandle ? { preAllocatedHandle } : {})
-          })
+          }),
+        { wslUserAct: true }
       )
       // Switch point. A CLI start is work in the workspace; a window or phone tab is a person opening one.
       if (
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/runtime-folder-workspace-wsl-failed-start-pane.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/runtime-folder-workspace-wsl-failed-start-pane.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..19d8ecc8ac6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/runtime/runtime-folder-workspace-wsl-failed-start-pane.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+import type * as FsPromises from 'node:fs/promises'
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+
+const statMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn<(path: string) => Promise<{ isDirectory(): boolean }>>())
+vi.mock('node:fs/promises', async (importOriginal) => ({
+  ...(await importOriginal<typeof FsPromises>()),
+  stat: statMock
+}))
+vi.mock('../../shared/layout-owner-switch', () => ({ ORCA_LAYOUT_OWNER_IS_MAIN: true }))
+
+// Fragments stay side-effect ordered: mocks, then lifecycle, then fixtures.
+const { OrcaRuntimeService } = await import('./orca-runtime-test-mocks.spec')
+await import('./orca-runtime-test-lifecycle.spec')
+const {
+  createFolderWorkspaceRuntimeStore,
+  makeFolderProjectGroup,
+  makeFolderWorkspace,
+  TEST_FOLDER_WORKSPACE_KEY
+} = await import('./orca-runtime-test-fixtures.spec')
+const { blockedWslDistroForPath } = await import('../wsl/wsl-unc-access-gate')
+const { isWslUserActFor } = await import('../wsl/wsl-user-act-scope')
+
+const PARENT = '\\\\wsl.localhost\\Ubuntu\\home\\me'
+const FOLDER = `${PARENT}\\notes`
+const hostPlatform = process.platform
+const statsInUserAct: boolean[] = []
+
+function failedStart(wslUserAct: boolean): Promise<unknown> {
+  const runtime = new OrcaRuntimeService(
+    createFolderWorkspaceRuntimeStore(
+      makeFolderWorkspace({ folderPath: FOLDER }),
+      makeFolderProjectGroup({ parentPath: PARENT })
+    )
+  )
+  return runtime
+    .createTerminal(`id:${TEST_FOLDER_WORKSPACE_KEY}`, {
+      keepPaneOnStartFailure: true,
+      startFailure: new Error('agent runtime needs repair'),
+      ...(wslUserAct ? { wslUserAct: true as const } : {})
+    })
+    .catch(() => undefined)
+}
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', { configurable: true, value: 'win32' })
+  vi.spyOn(console, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => {})
+  statsInUserAct.length = 0
+  statMock.mockReset()
+  statMock.mockImplementation(async () => {
+    statsInUserAct.push(isWslUserActFor('Ubuntu'))
+    return { isDirectory: () => true }
+  })
+  // Stopped, as the real gate reads it: only the user's act on the distro passes.
+  vi.mocked(blockedWslDistroForPath).mockImplementation(async () =>
+    isWslUserActFor('Ubuntu') ? null : { distro: 'Ubuntu', state: 'stopped' }
+  )
+})
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', { configurable: true, value: hostPlatform })
+  vi.mocked(blockedWslDistroForPath).mockReset()
+  vi.mocked(blockedWslDistroForPath).mockResolvedValue(null)
+  vi.restoreAllMocks()
+})
+
+describe('the pane a failed start keeps, in a folder workspace on a stopped WSL distro (E9)', () => {
+  it("checks the folder as the user's act when the user started it", async () => {
+    await failedStart(true)
+    expect(statsInUserAct).toEqual([true])
+  })
+
+  it('never touches the folder for a background start', async () => {
+    await failedStart(false)
+    expect(statMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/runtime-folder-workspace-wsl-launch-scope.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/runtime-folder-workspace-wsl-launch-scope.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6b5d01fd174
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/runtime/runtime-folder-workspace-wsl-launch-scope.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+import type * as FsPromises from 'node:fs/promises'
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+
+const statMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn<(path: string) => Promise<{ isDirectory(): boolean }>>())
+vi.mock('node:fs/promises', async (importOriginal) => ({
+  ...(await importOriginal<typeof FsPromises>()),
+  stat: statMock
+}))
+
+// Fragments stay side-effect ordered: mocks, then lifecycle, then fixtures.
+const { OrcaRuntimeService } = await import('./orca-runtime-test-mocks.spec')
+await import('./orca-runtime-test-lifecycle.spec')
+const {
+  createFolderWorkspaceRuntimeStore,
+  makeFolderProjectGroup,
+  makeFolderWorkspace,
+  TEST_FOLDER_WORKSPACE_KEY
+} = await import('./orca-runtime-test-fixtures.spec')
+const { blockedWslDistroForPath } = await import('../wsl/wsl-unc-access-gate')
+const { isWslUserActFor } = await import('../wsl/wsl-user-act-scope')
+const { wslDistroHoldMessage } = await import('../../shared/wsl-distro-stopped-hold')
+const { LOCAL_EXECUTION_HOST_ID } = await import('../../shared/execution-host')
+
+const PARENT = '\\\\wsl.localhost\\Ubuntu\\home\\me'
+const FOLDER = `${PARENT}\\notes`
+const hostPlatform = process.platform
+const statsInUserAct: boolean[] = []
+
+function makeRuntime(): InstanceType<typeof OrcaRuntimeService> {
+  return new OrcaRuntimeService(
+    createFolderWorkspaceRuntimeStore(
+      makeFolderWorkspace({ folderPath: FOLDER }),
+      makeFolderProjectGroup({ parentPath: PARENT })
+    )
+  )
+}
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', { configurable: true, value: 'win32' })
+  statsInUserAct.length = 0
+  statMock.mockReset()
+  statMock.mockImplementation(async () => {
+    statsInUserAct.push(isWslUserActFor('Ubuntu'))
+    return { isDirectory: () => true }
+  })
+  // Stopped, as the real gate reads it: only the user's act on the distro passes.
+  vi.mocked(blockedWslDistroForPath).mockImplementation(async () =>
+    isWslUserActFor('Ubuntu') ? null : { distro: 'Ubuntu', state: 'stopped' }
+  )
+})
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', { configurable: true, value: hostPlatform })
+  vi.mocked(blockedWslDistroForPath).mockReset()
+  vi.mocked(blockedWslDistroForPath).mockResolvedValue(null)
+})
+
+describe('a runtime start in a folder workspace on a stopped WSL distro (E9)', () => {
+  it("checks the folder as the user's act, which may start the distro", async () => {
+    await expect(
+      makeRuntime().resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(
+        `id:${TEST_FOLDER_WORKSPACE_KEY}`,
+        undefined,
+        {
+          wslUserAct: true
+        }
+      )
+    ).resolves.toMatchObject({ id: TEST_FOLDER_WORKSPACE_KEY, path: FOLDER })
+    expect(statsInUserAct).toEqual([true])
+  })
+
+  it('treats a deduplicated CLI create as the user act too', async () => {
+    const run = vi.fn(async () => ({ handle: 'term-1' }))
+    await makeRuntime().dedupeTerminalCreate(
+      'local',
+      `id:${TEST_FOLDER_WORKSPACE_KEY}`,
+      'mutation-1',
+      false,
+      // oxlint-disable-next-line typescript/consistent-type-assertions -- SAFETY: the dedupe returns `run`'s result untouched; only the launch scope is under test.
+      run as never,
+      { wslUserAct: true }
+    )
+    expect(statsInUserAct).toEqual([true])
+    expect(run).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+  })
+
+  it('checks the folder as the user act for an agent-session create', async () => {
+    await makeRuntime()
+      .createAgentSession({
+        clientOperationId: `${Date.now()}-0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef`,
+        worktree: `id:${TEST_FOLDER_WORKSPACE_KEY}`,
+        agent: 'claude'
+      })
+      // Later launch steps are out of scope; only the folder check's act is under test.
+      .catch(() => undefined)
+    expect(statsInUserAct[0]).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('checks the folder as the user act for a resume the user asked for', async () => {
+    await makeRuntime().resumeAgentSessionInWorkspace(TEST_FOLDER_WORKSPACE_KEY, {
+      agent: 'claude',
+      providerSession: { key: 'session_id', id: 'provider-session-1' },
+      captureHostId: LOCAL_EXECUTION_HOST_ID,
+      mutationId: 'resume-1'
+    })
+    expect(statsInUserAct[0]).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('checks the folder as the user act for an explicit agent-session ensure', async () => {
+    await makeRuntime()
+      .ensureAgentSession({
+        kind: 'explicit',
+        worktree: `id:${TEST_FOLDER_WORKSPACE_KEY}`,
+        agent: 'claude',
+        providerSession: { key: 'session_id', id: 'provider-session-1' }
+      })
+      // Later launch steps are out of scope; only the folder check's act is under test.
+      .catch(() => undefined)
+    expect(statsInUserAct[0]).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('holds background work with Start, naming the distro, without touching the folder', async () => {
+    await expect(
+      makeRuntime().resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(`id:${TEST_FOLDER_WORKSPACE_KEY}`)
+    ).rejects.toThrow(wslDistroHoldMessage('Ubuntu', 'stopped'))
+    expect(statMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/session-construction/agent-session/get-agent-session-execution-namespace.ts b/src/main/runtime/session-construction/agent-session/get-agent-session-execution-namespace.ts
index d47771fddd9..d630a169e7e 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/session-construction/agent-session/get-agent-session-execution-namespace.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/session-construction/agent-session/get-agent-session-execution-namespace.ts
@@ -106,7 +106,10 @@ export abstract class OrcaRuntimeWithGetAgentSessionExecutionNamespace extends O
     if (!this.store) {
       throw new Error('runtime_unavailable')
     }
-    const workspace = await this.resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(request.worktree)
+    // An explicit ensure is the caller's own act (automatic is refused above), as its spawn below.
+    const workspace = await this.resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(request.worktree, undefined, {
+      wslUserAct: true
+    })
     const namespace = this.getAgentSessionExecutionNamespace(workspace, request.agent)
     if (
       !namespace ||
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/session-graph/session-graph-authority.ts b/src/main/runtime/session-graph/session-graph-authority.ts
index 75bff5217f6..7e850e2ee50 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/session-graph/session-graph-authority.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/session-graph/session-graph-authority.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,12 @@ import {
   getFolderWorkspacePathStatus,
   inferFolderWorkspacePathConnection
 } from '../../project-groups/folder-workspace-path-status'
+import {
+  blockedWslDistroForPath,
+  runAsWslUserAct,
+  wslDistroForPath
+} from '../../wsl/wsl-unc-access-gate'
+import { wslDistroHoldMessage } from '../../../shared/wsl-distro-stopped-hold'
 import type { TerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope } from '../runtime-legacy-worker-terminal-recovery-types'
 import { folderWorkspaceKey, parseWorkspaceKey } from '../../../shared/workspace-scope'
 import type { ResolvedWorktree } from '../runtime-worktree-path-identity'
@@ -117,8 +123,10 @@ export abstract class OrcaRuntimeWithTransitionGraphReloadToTerminalState extend
     return connection.kind === 'ssh' ? connection.connectionId : null
   }
 
+  /** `wslUserAct`: the user's start, so its folder check may start a stopped WSL distro (E9). */
   protected async resolveFolderWorkspaceLaunchScope(
-    selector: string
+    selector: string,
+    options: { wslUserAct?: boolean } = {}
   ): Promise<(TerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope & { folderWorkspace: FolderWorkspace }) | null> {
     const workspace = this.resolveFolderWorkspaceSelector(selector)
     if (!workspace) {
@@ -127,11 +135,24 @@ export abstract class OrcaRuntimeWithTransitionGraphReloadToTerminalState extend
     if (!this.store) {
       throw new Error('runtime_unavailable')
     }
-    const status = await getFolderWorkspacePathStatus(this.store, {
-      scope: 'folder-workspace',
-      folderWorkspaceId: workspace.id
-    })
-    assertFolderWorkspacePathUsable(status)
+    const store = this.store
+    const readStatus = () =>
+      getFolderWorkspacePathStatus(store, {
+        scope: 'folder-workspace',
+        folderWorkspaceId: workspace.id
+      })
+    if (options.wslUserAct) {
+      assertFolderWorkspacePathUsable(
+        await runAsWslUserAct(wslDistroForPath(workspace.folderPath), readStatus)
+      )
+    } else {
+      // Background work holds with Start (a pane's card, an automation's hold), never "unavailable".
+      const blocked = await blockedWslDistroForPath(workspace.folderPath)
+      if (blocked) {
+        throw new Error(wslDistroHoldMessage(blocked.distro, blocked.state))
+      }
+      assertFolderWorkspacePathUsable(await readStatus())
+    }
     return {
       id: folderWorkspaceKey(workspace.id),
       path: workspace.folderPath,
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/session-lifecycle/projection/restored-pane-materialize.ts b/src/main/runtime/session-lifecycle/projection/restored-pane-materialize.ts
index b42edbbf71e..43b15a7f817 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/session-lifecycle/projection/restored-pane-materialize.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/session-lifecycle/projection/restored-pane-materialize.ts
@@ -225,7 +225,9 @@ export abstract class OrcaRuntimeWithRestoredPaneStart extends OrcaRuntimeWithBu
     if (resumeStartup === undefined && tab.launchAgent) {
       let workspace
       try {
-        workspace = await this.resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(`id:${worktreeId}`)
+        workspace = await this.resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(`id:${worktreeId}`, undefined, {
+          wslUserAct: wslUserAct === true
+        })
         agentStartup = await this.resolveMobileSessionTerminalCommand(workspace, {
           agent: tab.launchAgent
         })
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/session-lifecycle/projection/resume-agent-session-in-workspace.ts b/src/main/runtime/session-lifecycle/projection/resume-agent-session-in-workspace.ts
index 03efd433a91..9bb92eb4d99 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/session-lifecycle/projection/resume-agent-session-in-workspace.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/session-lifecycle/projection/resume-agent-session-in-workspace.ts
@@ -109,7 +109,10 @@ export abstract class OrcaRuntimeWithResumeAgentSessionInWorkspace extends OrcaR
     }
     let workspace
     try {
-      workspace = await this.resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(`id:${worktreeId}`)
+      // A resume the user asked for, as its create below.
+      workspace = await this.resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(`id:${worktreeId}`, undefined, {
+        wslUserAct: true
+      })
     } catch {
       return refuse('no_resume_command')
     }
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/failed-start-pane.ts b/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/failed-start-pane.ts
index 118b3ea8716..4dac063946a 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/failed-start-pane.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/failed-start-pane.ts
@@ -187,14 +187,17 @@ export abstract class OrcaRuntimeWithFailedStartPanes extends OrcaRuntimeWithCre
     worktreeSelector: string,
     created: dependencies.Worktree | undefined,
     pane: FailedStartPane,
-    { title }: dependencies.TerminalCreateOptions,
+    { title, wslUserAct }: dependencies.TerminalCreateOptions,
     error: unknown
   ): Promise<void> {
     if (error instanceof PaneOwnerContentionError) {
       // Another owner's terminal runs in the pane; the window attaches to it.
       return
     }
-    const workspace = await this.resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(worktreeSelector, created)
+    // The failed start's own act: a user's start may wake the distro; background stays held.
+    const workspace = await this.resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(worktreeSelector, created, {
+      wslUserAct: wslUserAct === true
+    })
     const create = { type: 'createTerminalTab' as const, workspace: workspace.id, ...pane }
     const reply = await this.applyLayoutCommand(title ? { ...create, title } : create)
     // `tab_exists`: the start wrote this pane before failing and kept it.
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/mobile-terminal-owned-create.ts b/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/mobile-terminal-owned-create.ts
index d6655924e74..e1429d360c0 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/mobile-terminal-owned-create.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/mobile-terminal-owned-create.ts
@@ -53,7 +53,13 @@ export abstract class OrcaRuntimeWithCreateRuntimeOwnedMobileSessionTerminal ext
     opts: OwnedMobileTerminalCreateOptions = {}
   ): Promise<RuntimeMobileSessionCreateTerminalResult> {
     this.pruneOwnedMobileDispatchRecipes()
-    const workspace = await this.resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(`id:${worktreeId}`)
+    const workspace = await this.resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(
+      `id:${worktreeId}`,
+      undefined,
+      {
+        wslUserAct: opts.wslUserAct === true
+      }
+    )
     const cwd = this.resolveWorkspaceTerminalStartupCwd(workspace, opts.cwd)
     // Why: an SSH sessionId means reattach; only synthesize local serve ids so SSH fresh terminals still call pty.spawn.
     const stableSessionId =
@@ -133,7 +139,8 @@ export abstract class OrcaRuntimeWithCreateRuntimeOwnedMobileSessionTerminal ext
           `id:${worktreeId}`,
           opts.createMutation.id,
           true,
-          (_selector, handle) => create(handle)
+          (_selector, handle) => create(handle),
+          { wslUserAct: opts.wslUserAct === true }
         )
       : await create()
     if (terminal.ptyId) {
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/mobile-terminal-renderer-create.ts b/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/mobile-terminal-renderer-create.ts
index 74757c94652..245b0e985ba 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/mobile-terminal-renderer-create.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/mobile-terminal-renderer-create.ts
@@ -63,7 +63,10 @@ export abstract class OrcaRuntimeWithRunCreateMobileSessionTerminal extends Orca
   ): Promise<RuntimeMobileSessionCreateTerminalResult> {
     const pairedCreate = Boolean(opts.clientNavigationId)
     const graphEpoch = this.captureReadyGraphEpoch()
-    const workspace = await this.resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(worktreeSelector)
+    // The paired client's own create: its user's act, as every start below.
+    const workspace = await this.resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(worktreeSelector, undefined, {
+      wslUserAct: true
+    })
     const worktreeId = workspace.id
     const cwd = this.resolveWorkspaceTerminalStartupCwd(workspace, opts.cwd)
     assertMobileTerminalShellSupported(this.store, workspace, opts.shellOverride, cwd)
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/terminal-create-deduplication.ts b/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/terminal-create-deduplication.ts
index 204f8a10371..9ce871eb14b 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/terminal-create-deduplication.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/terminal-create-deduplication.ts
@@ -14,8 +14,21 @@ import {
 } from '../../../../shared/execution-host'
 import { resolveWorktreeLaunchHost } from '../../worktree-launch-host-repo'
 import type { TuiAgent } from '../../../../shared/tui-agent'
+import type { Worktree } from '../../../../shared/worktree/types'
+import type { TerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope } from '../../runtime-legacy-worker-terminal-recovery-types'
 
 export abstract class OrcaRuntimeWithTerminalCreateDeduplication extends OrcaRuntimeWithCreateAgentSession {
+  /** A create's scope: its `wslUserAct` lets the folder check start a stopped WSL distro (E9). */
+  protected resolveTerminalCreateLaunchScope(
+    selector: string,
+    createdWorktree: Worktree | undefined,
+    opts: { wslUserAct?: boolean }
+  ): Promise<TerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope> {
+    return this.resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(selector, createdWorktree, {
+      wslUserAct: opts.wslUserAct === true
+    })
+  }
+
   async dedupeTerminalCreate(
     clientIdentity: string,
     worktreeSelector: string | undefined,
@@ -24,7 +37,8 @@ export abstract class OrcaRuntimeWithTerminalCreateDeduplication extends OrcaRun
     run: (
       canonicalWorktreeSelector: string | undefined,
       preAllocatedHandle: string | undefined
-    ) => Promise<RuntimeTerminalCreate>
+    ) => Promise<RuntimeTerminalCreate>,
+    options: { wslUserAct?: boolean } = {}
   ): Promise<RuntimeTerminalCreate> {
     if (!clientMutationId || !worktreeSelector) {
       if (reconcileExisting) {
@@ -32,7 +46,11 @@ export abstract class OrcaRuntimeWithTerminalCreateDeduplication extends OrcaRun
       }
       return await run(worktreeSelector, undefined)
     }
-    const workspace = await this.resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(worktreeSelector)
+    const workspace = await this.resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(
+      worktreeSelector,
+      undefined,
+      options
+    )
     const canonicalWorktreeSelector = `id:${workspace.id}`
     const preAllocatedHandle = deriveRemoteRuntimeTerminalCreateHandle(
       clientIdentity,
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/terminal-create.ts b/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/terminal-create.ts
index c311c24900f..2986bf6fec4 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/terminal-create.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/terminal-create.ts
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ export abstract class OrcaRuntimeWithCreateTerminal extends OrcaRuntimeWithTermi
       if (!ptyController?.spawn) {
         throw new Error('runtime_unavailable')
       }
-      const workspace = await this.resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(worktreeSelector, created)
+      const workspace = await this.resolveTerminalCreateLaunchScope(worktreeSelector, created, opts)
       const launchOpts = await this.resolveAgentTerminalCreateOptions(workspace, opts)
       const launchTitleAt = { sequence: this.nextTitleObservationSequence(), epochMs: Date.now() }
       let cwd = this.resolveWorkspaceTerminalStartupCwd(workspace, launchOpts.cwd) ?? workspace.path
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/terminal-split-in-main.ts b/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/terminal-split-in-main.ts
index 66ecc51997d..213c1520c21 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/terminal-split-in-main.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/terminal-split-in-main.ts
@@ -98,7 +98,9 @@ export abstract class OrcaRuntimeWithSplitPaneInMain extends OrcaRuntimeWithSpli
       return this.keepSplitThatCannotStart(source, opts, new Error('runtime_unavailable'))
     }
     const workspace = await this.resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(
-      `id:${source.worktreeId}`
+      `id:${source.worktreeId}`,
+      undefined,
+      { wslUserAct: opts.wslUserAct === true }
     ).catch((error: unknown) => this.keepSplitThatCannotStart(source, opts, error))
     const preAllocatedHandle = this.createPreAllocatedTerminalHandle()
     const result = await spawnInAdmittedPane(this.store, controller, {
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/terminal-split-surface.ts b/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/terminal-split-surface.ts
index 1a7ca6e6d60..be9e6dc9753 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/terminal-split-surface.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/terminal-split-surface.ts
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ export abstract class OrcaRuntimeWithSplitPtyBackedTerminal extends OrcaRuntimeW
     const direction = opts.direction ?? 'horizontal'
     const workspace = await this.resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(
       `id:${pty.worktreeId}`,
-      createdWorktree
+      createdWorktree,
+      { wslUserAct: opts.wslUserAct === true }
     )
     const sourceAuthority = this.resolveTerminalSplitSourceAuthority(
       workspace.id,
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/terminal-workspace-scope.ts b/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/terminal-workspace-scope.ts
index bc5505ef747..7c880a4ea7f 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/terminal-workspace-scope.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/terminal/launch/terminal-workspace-scope.ts
@@ -120,14 +120,17 @@ export abstract class OrcaRuntimeWithResolveBrowserNetworkExecutionHostForWorktr
 
   async resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope(
     selector: string,
-    createdWorktree?: Worktree
+    createdWorktree?: Worktree,
+    options: { wslUserAct?: boolean } = {}
   ): Promise<TerminalWorkspaceLaunchScope> {
-    return (await this.resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchTarget(selector, createdWorktree)).scope
+    return (await this.resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchTarget(selector, createdWorktree, options))
+      .scope
   }
 
   protected async resolveTerminalWorkspaceLaunchTarget(
     selector: string,
-    createdWorktree?: Worktree
+    createdWorktree?: Worktree,
+    options: { wslUserAct?: boolean } = {}
   ): Promise<ResolvedTerminalWorkspaceLaunchTarget> {
     if (isFloatingWorkspaceSelector(selector)) {
       // Why no managed worktree: the floating sentinel has no repo or worktree record behind it.
@@ -143,7 +146,7 @@ export abstract class OrcaRuntimeWithResolveBrowserNetworkExecutionHostForWorktr
       }
     }
 
-    const folderScope = await this.resolveFolderWorkspaceLaunchScope(selector)
+    const folderScope = await this.resolveFolderWorkspaceLaunchScope(selector, options)
     if (folderScope) {
       return {
         scope: folderScope,
diff --git a/tests/e2e/prepared-action-launch.test-fixture.ts b/tests/e2e/prepared-action-launch.test-fixture.ts
index 1edf8f0649f..6ba697c3f98 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/prepared-action-launch.test-fixture.ts
+++ b/tests/e2e/prepared-action-launch.test-fixture.ts
@@ -117,7 +117,9 @@ export async function consumePreparedBackgroundCommand(
     'id:wt-1',
     undefined,
     false,
-    expect.any(Function)
+    expect.any(Function),
+    // terminal.create is the caller's own act, as its createTerminal (E9).
+    { wslUserAct: true }
   )
   return result
 }