diff --git a/docs/reference/ci-runner-efficiency.md b/docs/reference/ci-runner-efficiency.md
index d36eaacb64b..312db2f190f 100644
--- a/docs/reference/ci-runner-efficiency.md
+++ b/docs/reference/ci-runner-efficiency.md
@@ -1897,3 +1897,22 @@ The collector succeeded after one unit shard failed, while required verification
 remained red. Its review recognized all five shards as a complete reference
 (10,608 files, 8,965,977 worker-ms). This was again a full fallback with
 `selectionEvaluated: false`, not evidence for enabling selected tests.
+
+## October 3 removal fixture cleanup ordering
+
+[37105566358](https://github.com/stablyai/orca/actions/runs/37105566358)
+failed unit shard 4 with `ENOTEMPTY` removing the failed-removal fixture's temporary
+directory; the other four shards passed. A client's removal reply intentionally
+precedes the detached job's final record persistence. This fixture reset tracking
+and removed the directory before waiting for that persistence, allowing a writer
+to race cleanup. Its teardown now awaits the existing settlement helper before
+resetting tracking or deleting the fixture. Production removal behavior and all
+assertions are unchanged.
+
+All 1,348 runtime tests passed (one existing skip). A temporary controlled queue
+held the final record write after the client replied: waiting before reset stayed
+pending and passed; resetting before waiting lost the tracked job and failed the
+same ordering assertion. The gate was released, both controls drained the captured
+job, and the instrumentation was removed. Changed-code quality passed. This proves
+the teardown ordering mechanism, not a measured avoided-retry saving. Final-head
+hosted qualification remains required.
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-tests/worktree-removal-failed-retry.spec.ts b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-tests/worktree-removal-failed-retry.spec.ts
index a875bc30336..00cd9ad8222 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-tests/worktree-removal-failed-retry.spec.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-tests/worktree-removal-failed-retry.spec.ts
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ describe('runtime Delete on a failed delete’s leftover', () => {
   })
 
   afterEach(async () => {
+    await _settlePendingWorktreeRemovalsForTests()
     _resetPendingWorktreeRemovalsForTests()
     await rm(directory, { recursive: true, force: true })
   })
@@ -159,6 +160,7 @@ describe('runtime listing straight after a delete fails partway', () => {
   })
 
   afterEach(async () => {
+    await _settlePendingWorktreeRemovalsForTests()
     _resetPendingWorktreeRemovalsForTests()
     vi.restoreAllMocks()
     await rm(directory, { recursive: true, force: true })