diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/identity.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/identity.rs
index e70bf560a6..adf6dd63db 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/identity.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/identity.rs
@@ -376,8 +376,16 @@ pub async fn import_identity(
 
         // Enqueue the new owner's disk projections and run the boot barrier.
         // Without this, config publication silently stops until the next
-        // restart: the flush loop checks `is_ready_for(db_path)` against the
-        // OLD owner's scope, and the new owner's scope was never certified.
+        // restart: the flush loop checks `readiness_state()` against the
+        // active scope's db_path, and the new owner's scope was never certified.
+        //
+        // Force-claim BEFORE scope resolution: if resolution fails transiently,
+        // the stale Ready(old_path) latch must not survive — it would cause
+        // `flush_active_pending_events` to refuse every retry claim for the
+        // session (claim_in_progress rejects from any Ready state, including
+        // the wrong old-path one). Dropping the claim on failure leaves the
+        // latch Unready so the flush loop can retry with the full transition
+        // once scope resolution recovers.
         //
         // Mirrors `apply_workspace`'s force-claim sequence. The legacy-
         // migration step is skipped here: a stranded legacy row for the
@@ -387,13 +395,13 @@ pub async fn import_identity(
         // pubkey — so the reconcile below is necessary to queue the new
         // owner's disk projections for the new scope.
         {
+            let claim =
+                crate::managed_agents::config_sync_readiness::force_claim_in_progress();
             match crate::managed_agents::retention::active_retention_scope(
                 &app_handle,
                 &state,
             ) {
                 Ok(scope) => {
-                    let claim =
-                        crate::managed_agents::config_sync_readiness::force_claim_in_progress();
                     crate::event_sync::spawn_event_sync_with_held_claim(
                         app_handle.clone(),
                         scope.owner_keys,
@@ -403,6 +411,10 @@ pub async fn import_identity(
                 }
                 Err(e) => {
                     eprintln!("buzz-desktop: import-identity: scope unavailable, config barrier skipped: {e}");
+                    // Claim drops here via RAII → latch becomes Unready; the
+                    // flush loop will retry with the full transition once scope
+                    // resolves.
+                    drop(claim);
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/workspace.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/workspace.rs
index 2db2faf406..53a10c0dce 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/workspace.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/workspace.rs
@@ -215,15 +215,15 @@ pub async fn apply_workspace(
     // Backfill this exact relay+owner scope only after the workspace has been
     // applied. Running at process boot would target the fallback relay and
     // collapse every community into one pending-event store.
+    //
+    // Force-claim BEFORE scope resolution: if resolution fails transiently,
+    // the stale Ready(old_path) latch must not survive — it would cause
+    // `flush_active_pending_events` to refuse every retry claim for the session.
+    // Dropping the claim on failure leaves the latch Unready so the flush loop
+    // can claim and run the full transition once scope resolution recovers.
+    let claim = crate::managed_agents::config_sync_readiness::force_claim_in_progress();
     match crate::managed_agents::retention::active_retention_scope(&restore_app, &state) {
         Ok(scope) => {
-            // Preempt the readiness latch from any state (including a prior
-            // scope's Ready) and hold InProgress across the entire sequence:
-            // legacy migration → reconcile → barrier. This closes the window
-            // between the old mark_unready() and spawn_event_sync's inner CAS,
-            // during which the flush loop could win the claim and certify
-            // readiness against pre-migration, pre-reconcile database state.
-            let claim = crate::managed_agents::config_sync_readiness::force_claim_in_progress();
             // Adopt whatever the pre-scoping release left queued in the global
             // retention database BEFORE the scoped reconcile and flush run, so
             // stranded tombstones and archive requests publish on this boot
@@ -238,6 +238,9 @@ pub async fn apply_workspace(
         }
         Err(error) => {
             eprintln!("buzz-desktop: scoped event-sync unavailable after workspace apply: {error}");
+            // Claim drops here via RAII → latch becomes Unready; the flush
+            // loop will retry with the full transition once scope resolves.
+            drop(claim);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/event_sync.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/event_sync.rs
index 4a5861544d..f1f092879a 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/event_sync.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/event_sync.rs
@@ -119,9 +119,7 @@ pub fn migrate_personas_to_events(
 ) -> Result<(), String> {
     use crate::managed_agents::managed_agents_base_dir;
 
-    let Ok(base_dir) = managed_agents_base_dir(app) else {
-        return Ok(());
-    };
+    let base_dir = managed_agents_base_dir(app)?;
 
     match migrate_personas_in_dir_at(&base_dir, keys, db_path) {
         Ok(0) => Ok(()),
@@ -273,9 +271,7 @@ pub fn migrate_teams_to_events(
 ) -> Result<(), String> {
     use crate::managed_agents::managed_agents_base_dir;
 
-    let Ok(base_dir) = managed_agents_base_dir(app) else {
-        return Ok(());
-    };
+    let base_dir = managed_agents_base_dir(app)?;
 
     match migrate_teams_in_dir_at(&base_dir, keys, db_path) {
         Ok(0) => Ok(()),
@@ -376,6 +372,27 @@ fn migrate_teams_in_dir_at(
     Ok(migrated)
 }
 
+/// Test seam: `run_event_sync` with an explicit `base_dir` instead of an
+/// `AppHandle`. Lets tests drive all three reconcile legs and the propagation
+/// of their `Result`s without a running Tauri application.
+///
+/// Used by `test_base_dir_failure_propagates_through_run_event_sync` to prove
+/// that a failing leg returns `Err`, the claim does NOT certify `Ready`, and
+/// a subsequent full retry enqueues the row.
+#[cfg(test)]
+pub(crate) fn run_event_sync_in_dir(
+    base_dir: &Path,
+    owner_keys: &nostr::Keys,
+    db_path: &Path,
+) -> Result<(), String> {
+    migrate_personas_in_dir_at(base_dir, owner_keys, db_path)?;
+    migrate_teams_in_dir_at(base_dir, owner_keys, db_path)?;
+    crate::managed_agents::reconcile::reconcile_agents_in_dir_at_test(
+        base_dir, owner_keys, db_path,
+    )?;
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 #[path = "event_sync_tests.rs"]
 mod tests;
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/event_sync_tests.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/event_sync_tests.rs
index 4253bea115..727a2b1d5d 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/event_sync_tests.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/event_sync_tests.rs
@@ -381,3 +381,85 @@ fn test_reconcile_failure_retry_with_full_transition_certifies_and_enqueues() {
 
     config_sync_readiness::mark_unready(); // cleanup
 }
+
+// ── Base-dir failure propagates through run_event_sync ────────────────────────
+//
+// Thufir IMPORTANT#2 coverage: all three reconcile wrappers formerly returned
+// `Ok(())` when `managed_agents_base_dir` failed (via `let Ok(...) else { return Ok(()) }`).
+// The fix replaces that with `let base_dir = ...?`, making the failure propagate.
+//
+// This test drives `run_event_sync_in_dir` (the AppHandle-free seam) with a
+// `db_path` pointing inside a non-existent directory so SQLite cannot open it,
+// forcing the first leg to return `Err`. Proves:
+//   1. `run_event_sync_in_dir` returns `Err` — a real reconcile failure, not a
+//      manual `drop(claim)`.
+//   2. The claim does NOT call `complete` when the leg fails — scope stays
+//      `Unready` (claim drops via RAII when the caller observes `Err`).
+//   3. A subsequent full retry with a valid `db_path` enqueues the row.
+#[test]
+fn test_base_dir_failure_propagates_through_run_event_sync() {
+    use crate::managed_agents::{
+        config_sync_readiness::{self, ReadinessState},
+        retention::{get_retained_event, open_retention_db},
+    };
+    use buzz_core_pkg::kind::KIND_PERSONA;
+
+    config_sync_readiness::mark_unready();
+
+    let keys = nostr::Keys::generate();
+    let pubkey = keys.public_key().to_hex();
+    let base = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+    write_base_personas(base.path(), &one_persona());
+
+    // A db_path inside a non-existent directory — SQLite cannot open it.
+    let bad_db_path = base.path().join("nonexistent_subdir").join("retention.db");
+    // A valid db_path for the successful retry.
+    let good_db_path = base.path().join("retention.db");
+
+    // Step 1: claim InProgress, run reconcile with bad db_path — leg fails.
+    // The claim must NOT be completed (scope stays Unready via RAII drop).
+    {
+        let claim = config_sync_readiness::claim_in_progress().expect("must claim from Unready");
+
+        let result = run_event_sync_in_dir(base.path(), &keys, &bad_db_path);
+        assert!(
+            result.is_err(),
+            "run_event_sync_in_dir must return Err when a reconcile leg fails"
+        );
+
+        // Observe the error: claim drops here without complete() → Unready.
+        let _ = result;
+        drop(claim);
+    }
+    assert_eq!(
+        config_sync_readiness::readiness_state(),
+        Some(ReadinessState::Unready),
+        "a failed reconcile leg must leave scope Unready (not Ready)"
+    );
+
+    // Step 2: retry — full transition with valid db_path. The row must be queued.
+    {
+        let claim = config_sync_readiness::claim_in_progress()
+            .expect("Unready scope must allow retry claim");
+
+        run_event_sync_in_dir(base.path(), &keys, &good_db_path)
+            .expect("full retry with valid db_path must succeed");
+
+        claim.complete(good_db_path.clone());
+    }
+    assert!(
+        config_sync_readiness::is_ready_for(&good_db_path),
+        "full retry must certify Ready"
+    );
+
+    let conn = open_retention_db(&good_db_path).expect("open db");
+    let row = get_retained_event(&conn, KIND_PERSONA, &pubkey, "code-reviewer")
+        .expect("db query")
+        .expect("row must exist after successful retry");
+    assert!(
+        row.pending_sync,
+        "disk edit must be pending after successful full retry"
+    );
+
+    config_sync_readiness::mark_unready(); // cleanup
+}
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/config_barrier.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/config_barrier.rs
index ac6cd1f58e..89d98f985a 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/config_barrier.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/config_barrier.rs
@@ -251,9 +251,14 @@ async fn run_boot_barrier_for_scope(
     // Phase 4 — generation-gate the enforcement phase.
     //
     // `enforce_decision_pass` checks `claim.is_current()` while
-    // `managed_agents_store_lock` is held (i.e., right here), so the
-    // generation cannot change between the check and the `run_decision_pass`
-    // write below. A preempted barrier returns `Abandoned` without writing.
+    // `managed_agents_store_lock` is held (i.e., right here). Note: the store
+    // lock does NOT freeze the readiness generation — `force_claim_in_progress`
+    // takes only the separate readiness mutex, so it can advance the generation
+    // during this interval. The real invariant is: a force-claim that preempts
+    // after the check sets `InProgress` on the new generation and will run its
+    // own barrier (or a full flush retry will) to supply the final gate writes.
+    // A preempted barrier returns `Abandoned` without writing, which is safe
+    // because the new owner's barrier is the authoritative one.
     enforce_decision_pass(claim, &conn, &owner_pubkey, &states)
 }
 
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/config_sync_readiness.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/config_sync_readiness.rs
index 50d54bb066..1ebe87cc6c 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/config_sync_readiness.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/config_sync_readiness.rs
@@ -464,4 +464,56 @@ mod tests {
         drop(force_claim);
         assert_eq!(readiness_state(), Some(ReadinessState::Unready));
     }
+
+    // ── (i) force-claim before scope resolution: scope failure → Unready ─────
+    //
+    // Covers the Thufir IMPORTANT#1 fix: `force_claim_in_progress` runs BEFORE
+    // `active_retention_scope`. If scope resolution fails, the claim drops via
+    // RAII and the latch lands `Unready`. Without this fix, the stale
+    // `Ready(old_path)` would survive and `claim_in_progress` would reject every
+    // flush retry for the session (it only accepts from `Unready`).
+    //
+    // Scenario: scope A Ready → swap → scope resolution fails →
+    //   Unready (via RAII drop) → retry from flush loop wins claim →
+    //   full transition runs for scope B → Ready(B).
+    #[test]
+    fn test_scope_resolution_failure_after_force_claim_leaves_latch_unready_and_retryable() {
+        mark_unready();
+
+        let path_a = PathBuf::from("/scope/a.db");
+        let path_b = PathBuf::from("/scope/b.db");
+
+        // Scope A is Ready before the swap.
+        let claim_a = claim_in_progress().unwrap();
+        claim_a.complete(path_a.clone());
+        assert!(is_ready_for(&path_a), "scope A must be Ready before swap");
+
+        // Force-claim BEFORE scope resolution (the fix). Simulated scope
+        // resolution failure: drop the claim without calling complete().
+        {
+            let _claim = force_claim_in_progress();
+            // Scope resolution fails here — _claim drops via RAII.
+        }
+        assert_eq!(
+            readiness_state(),
+            Some(ReadinessState::Unready),
+            "scope failure after force_claim must leave latch Unready, not Ready(old_path)"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            !is_ready_for(&path_a),
+            "stale Ready(A) must not survive after force-claim + drop"
+        );
+
+        // The flush loop's Unready arm can now claim and run the full
+        // transition for scope B.
+        let retry_claim = claim_in_progress();
+        assert!(
+            retry_claim.is_some(),
+            "Unready latch must accept retry claim for scope B"
+        );
+        retry_claim.unwrap().complete(path_b.clone());
+        assert!(is_ready_for(&path_b), "full retry must certify Ready(B)");
+
+        mark_unready(); // cleanup
+    }
 }
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/persona_events/flush_barrier_tests.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/persona_events/flush_barrier_tests.rs
index f20e639d2e..514e14b8b9 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/persona_events/flush_barrier_tests.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/persona_events/flush_barrier_tests.rs
@@ -212,8 +212,8 @@ fn test_barrier_failure_resets_to_unready_for_retry() {
 // Scenario (reproduced deterministically using the process-global latch):
 //
 // 1. `spawn_event_sync` claims `InProgress` before reconcile starts.
-// 2. A flush tick fires and calls `claim_in_progress` (simulating
-//    run_boot_barrier's CAS entry). It is rejected — InProgress is taken.
+// 2. A flush tick fires and calls `claim_in_progress` (simulating the flush
+//    loop's CAS entry). It is rejected — InProgress is taken.
 // 3. Reconcile runs and retains a new row (publish_blocked=false).
 // 4. `run_boot_barrier_after_claim` runs the barrier: gates the stale row,
 //    then marks Ready.
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/reconcile.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/reconcile.rs
index c888350445..dcc3a79836 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/reconcile.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/reconcile.rs
@@ -36,9 +36,7 @@ pub(crate) fn reconcile_agents_to_events(
     keys: &nostr::Keys,
     db_path: &Path,
 ) -> Result<(), String> {
-    let Ok(base_dir) = super::managed_agents_base_dir(app) else {
-        return Ok(());
-    };
+    let base_dir = super::managed_agents_base_dir(app)?;
 
     match reconcile_agents_in_dir_at(&base_dir, keys, db_path) {
         Ok(0) => Ok(()),
@@ -71,6 +69,17 @@ pub(crate) fn reconcile_agents_in_dir(base_dir: &Path, keys: &nostr::Keys) -> Re
     reconcile_agents_in_dir_at(base_dir, keys, &base_dir.join("retention.db"))
 }
 
+/// Test seam with an explicit `db_path`. Used by `event_sync::run_event_sync_in_dir`
+/// so tests can pass a controlled (including failing) db_path to all three reconcile legs.
+#[cfg(test)]
+pub(crate) fn reconcile_agents_in_dir_at_test(
+    base_dir: &Path,
+    keys: &nostr::Keys,
+    db_path: &Path,
+) -> Result<u32, String> {
+    reconcile_agents_in_dir_at(base_dir, keys, db_path)
+}
+
 fn reconcile_agents_in_dir_at(
     base_dir: &Path,
     keys: &nostr::Keys,