diff --git a/packages/server/src/terminal/terminal-worker-process.ts b/packages/server/src/terminal/terminal-worker-process.ts
index b3e8864f9d..855c39da59 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/terminal/terminal-worker-process.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/terminal/terminal-worker-process.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
   writeTerminalWorkerRecord,
   type TerminalWorkerRecord,
 } from "./terminal-worker-record.js";
+import { createTerminalWorkerRecordPublisher } from "./terminal-worker-record-publisher.js";
 import { resolveTerminalWorkerSocketPath } from "./terminal-worker-socket-path.js";
 import {
   TERMINAL_WORKER_PROTOCOL_OVERRIDE_ENV,
@@ -214,13 +215,17 @@ function runWorker(argv: string[]): void {
     replayController.send(message);
   }
 
-  function persistRecord(): void {
+  const recordPublisher = createTerminalWorkerRecordPublisher((state) => {
+    writeTerminalWorkerRecord(args.paseoHome, state);
+  });
+
+  async function persistRecord(): Promise<void> {
     if (!record || exiting) return;
     record = {
       ...record,
       terminals: record.terminals.filter((entry) => sessionsById.has(entry.id)),
     };
-    writeTerminalWorkerRecord(args.paseoHome, record);
+    await recordPublisher.publish(record);
   }
 
   function removeOwnFiles(): void {
@@ -233,6 +238,7 @@ function runWorker(argv: string[]): void {
   function exitWorker(code: number): void {
     if (exiting) return;
     exiting = true;
+    recordPublisher.stop();
     removeOwnFiles();
     server?.close();
     process.exit(code);
@@ -349,7 +355,9 @@ function runWorker(argv: string[]): void {
       outputCoalescer.flush();
       clearTerminalSubscriptions(session.id);
       sessionsById.delete(session.id);
-      persistRecord();
+      void persistRecord().catch((error) => {
+        if (!exiting) console.error("Cannot publish terminal exit:", error);
+      });
       if (exitsHeldDuringCreation.has(session.id)) {
         exitsHeldDuringCreation.set(session.id, info);
         return;
@@ -424,7 +432,7 @@ function runWorker(argv: string[]): void {
         { id: session.id, pid, startedAt: inspection.snapshot.startedAt },
       ],
     };
-    persistRecord();
+    await persistRecord();
   }
 
   function enqueueCreateTerminalRequest(message: TerminalCreateRequest): Promise<void> {
diff --git a/packages/server/src/terminal/terminal-worker-record-publisher.test.ts b/packages/server/src/terminal/terminal-worker-record-publisher.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dba50b9efe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/server/src/terminal/terminal-worker-record-publisher.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { setTimeout as delay } from "node:timers/promises";
+import { createTerminalWorkerRecordPublisher } from "./terminal-worker-record-publisher.js";
+import type { TerminalWorkerRecord } from "./terminal-worker-record.js";
+
+const record: TerminalWorkerRecord = {
+  recordId: "worker",
+  pid: 123,
+  bootId: null,
+  createdAt: "now",
+  identity: { startedAt: "now", commandLine: "worker" },
+  protocolVersion: 1,
+  paseoVersion: "test",
+  socketPath: "socket",
+  secret: "secret",
+  terminals: [{ id: "terminal", pid: 124, startedAt: "now" }],
+};
+
+describe("live worker record publication", () => {
+  it.each(["EPERM", "EBUSY", "EACCES"])(
+    "publishes the latest state after %s contention clears",
+    async (code) => {
+      let locked = true;
+      const written: TerminalWorkerRecord[] = [];
+      const publisher = createTerminalWorkerRecordPublisher((state) => {
+        if (locked) throw Object.assign(new Error("reader holds record"), { code });
+        written.push(state);
+      });
+      try {
+        const creation = publisher.publish(record);
+        const exited = { ...record, terminals: [] };
+        const exit = publisher.publish(exited);
+        expect(written).toEqual([]);
+        locked = false;
+        await Promise.all([creation, exit]);
+        expect(written).toEqual([exited]);
+      } finally {
+        publisher.stop();
+      }
+    },
+  );
+
+  it("does not recreate a retired record when a reader releases it", async () => {
+    let locked = true;
+    const written: TerminalWorkerRecord[] = [];
+    const publisher = createTerminalWorkerRecordPublisher((state) => {
+      if (locked)
+        throw Object.assign(new Error("reader holds record"), {
+          code: "EPERM",
+        });
+      written.push(state);
+    });
+    const pending = publisher.publish(record);
+    const rejected = expect(pending).rejects.toThrow("stopped");
+    publisher.stop();
+    locked = false;
+    await rejected;
+    await delay(50);
+    expect(written).toEqual([]);
+    await expect(publisher.publish(record)).rejects.toThrow("stopped");
+  });
+
+  it("reports permanent storage failures without retrying", async () => {
+    const publisher = createTerminalWorkerRecordPublisher(() => {
+      throw Object.assign(new Error("disk full"), { code: "ENOSPC" });
+    });
+    await expect(publisher.publish(record)).rejects.toThrow("disk full");
+    publisher.stop();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/server/src/terminal/terminal-worker-record-publisher.ts b/packages/server/src/terminal/terminal-worker-record-publisher.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..415c785102
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/server/src/terminal/terminal-worker-record-publisher.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+import type { TerminalWorkerRecord } from "./terminal-worker-record.js";
+
+const TRANSIENT_ERRORS = new Set(["EPERM", "EBUSY", "EACCES"]);
+
+/** Serializes live worker publication, retaining the latest state across reader contention.
+ * Creation awaits publication; exit notifications need not wait for a reader to close.
+ * Stop before retiring the record so a pending retry cannot recreate it.
+ */
+export function createTerminalWorkerRecordPublisher(write: (record: TerminalWorkerRecord) => void) {
+  let stopped = false;
+  let latest: TerminalWorkerRecord;
+  let timer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | undefined;
+  let pending:
+    | {
+        promise: Promise<void>;
+        resolve: () => void;
+        reject: (error: unknown) => void;
+      }
+    | undefined;
+
+  function attempt(): void {
+    timer = undefined;
+    const publication = pending;
+    if (!publication) return;
+    try {
+      write(latest);
+      publication.resolve();
+      pending = undefined;
+    } catch (error) {
+      if (TRANSIENT_ERRORS.has((error as NodeJS.ErrnoException).code ?? "")) {
+        timer = setTimeout(attempt, 25);
+      } else {
+        publication.reject(error);
+        pending = undefined;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  return {
+    publish(record: TerminalWorkerRecord): Promise<void> {
+      if (stopped) return Promise.reject(new Error("Worker record publisher stopped"));
+      latest = record;
+      if (pending) return pending.promise;
+      let resolve!: () => void;
+      let reject!: (error: unknown) => void;
+      const promise = new Promise<void>((yes, no) => {
+        resolve = yes;
+        reject = no;
+      });
+      pending = { promise, resolve, reject };
+      attempt();
+      return promise;
+    },
+    stop(): void {
+      stopped = true;
+      clearTimeout(timer);
+      timer = undefined;
+      pending?.reject(new Error("Worker record publisher stopped"));
+      pending = undefined;
+    },
+  };
+}
diff --git a/packages/server/src/terminal/worker-terminal-manager.test.ts b/packages/server/src/terminal/worker-terminal-manager.test.ts
index ad066327a2..ffc9b18a45 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/terminal/worker-terminal-manager.test.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/terminal/worker-terminal-manager.test.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@ import { afterEach, expect, it } from "vitest";
 import { isPlatform } from "../test-utils/platform.js";
 import { EventEmitter } from "node:events";
 import {
+  closeSync,
   existsSync,
+  openSync,
   mkdirSync,
   mkdtempSync,
   readdirSync,
@@ -58,6 +60,7 @@ import {
   listTerminalWorkerRecords,
   readTerminalWorkerRecord,
   terminalWorkerDirectory,
+  terminalWorkerRecordPath,
   type TerminalWorkerRecord,
 } from "./terminal-worker-record.js";
 import { TERMINAL_WORKER_PROTOCOL_OVERRIDE_ENV } from "./terminal-worker-protocol.js";
@@ -807,52 +810,81 @@ async function recordedTerminalPids(paseoHome: string): Promise<Map<string, numb
   return pids;
 }
 
-it("never adopts a live worker's terminals after a kill cleanup it could not finish, even once the worker rewrites its record", async () => {
-  const paseoHome = createTemporaryHome();
-  const cwd = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "worker-terminal-manager-unfinished-kill-"));
-  temporaryDirs.push(cwd);
-  const first = await startRealWorkerManager({ paseoHome });
-  manager = first;
-  const ending = await first.createTerminal({
-    workspaceId: "ws-unfinished-kill",
-    cwd,
-    ...nodeTerminalCommand("setInterval(() => {}, 1000);"),
-  });
-  const remaining = await first.createTerminal({
-    workspaceId: "ws-unfinished-kill",
-    cwd,
-    ...nodeTerminalCommand("setInterval(() => {}, 1000);"),
-  });
-  const pids = await recordedTerminalPids(paseoHome);
-  const endingPid = pids.get(ending.id)!;
-  const remainingPid = pids.get(remaining.id)!;
+it.each([false, true])(
+  "never adopts a live worker's terminals after a kill cleanup it could not finish, even once the worker rewrites its record (held reader: %s)",
+  async (holdReader) => {
+    const paseoHome = createTemporaryHome();
+    const cwd = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "worker-terminal-manager-unfinished-kill-"));
+    temporaryDirs.push(cwd);
+    const first = await startRealWorkerManager({ paseoHome });
+    manager = first;
+    const exitRequestPath = join(cwd, "exit-requested");
+    const exitObservedPath = join(cwd, "exit-observed");
+    const ending = await first.createTerminal({
+      workspaceId: "ws-unfinished-kill",
+      cwd,
+      ...nodeTerminalCommand(`
+      const { existsSync, writeFileSync } = require("node:fs");
+      setInterval(() => {
+        if (existsSync(${JSON.stringify(exitRequestPath)})) {
+          writeFileSync(${JSON.stringify(exitObservedPath)}, "");
+          process.exit(0);
+        }
+      }, 25);
+    `),
+    });
+    const remaining = await first.createTerminal({
+      workspaceId: "ws-unfinished-kill",
+      cwd,
+      ...nodeTerminalCommand("setInterval(() => {}, 1000);"),
+    });
+    const pids = await recordedTerminalPids(paseoHome);
+    const endingPid = pids.get(ending.id)!;
+    const remainingPid = pids.get(remaining.id)!;
+    const [record] = await workerRecords(paseoHome);
 
-  // A kill cleanup whose process table read fails signals nothing and leaves the worker live.
-  const inspector = createTerminalWorkerProcessInspector();
-  await expect(
-    reapTerminalWorkers({
-      paseoHome,
-      inspector: { ...inspector, listProcesses: () => Promise.reject(new Error("ps timed out")) },
-    }),
-  ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(TerminalCleanupNotConfirmedError);
-  await first.detach();
-  expect((await readUnconfirmedTerminalCleanup(paseoHome)).length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    // A kill cleanup whose process table read fails signals nothing and leaves the worker live.
+    const inspector = createTerminalWorkerProcessInspector();
+    await expect(
+      reapTerminalWorkers({
+        paseoHome,
+        inspector: {
+          ...inspector,
+          listProcesses: () => Promise.reject(new Error("ps timed out")),
+        },
+      }),
+    ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(TerminalCleanupNotConfirmedError);
+    expect((await readUnconfirmedTerminalCleanup(paseoHome)).length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
 
-  // One terminal ends on its own: the live worker rewrites its record from memory.
-  process.kill(endingPid, "SIGKILL");
-  await waitForCondition(
-    async () => !(await recordedTerminalPids(paseoHome)).has(ending.id),
-    10000,
-  );
-  expect((await readUnconfirmedTerminalCleanup(paseoHome)).length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    // Keep an ordinary reader open until the worker delivers the terminal exit.
+    // Windows cannot replace the record while this handle is open. The exit must
+    // still reach the controller, and publication must recover after release.
+    const recordFd = holdReader
+      ? openSync(terminalWorkerRecordPath(paseoHome, record!.pid), "r")
+      : null;
+    try {
+      writeFileSync(exitRequestPath, "");
+      await waitForCondition(() => first.getTerminal(ending.id) === undefined, 10000);
+      expect(existsSync(exitObservedPath)).toBe(true);
+      expect(isProcessAlive(endingPid)).toBe(false);
+    } finally {
+      if (recordFd !== null) closeSync(recordFd);
+    }
+    await waitForCondition(
+      async () => !(await recordedTerminalPids(paseoHome)).has(ending.id),
+      10000,
+    );
+    expect((await readUnconfirmedTerminalCleanup(paseoHome)).length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
 
-  manager = await startRealWorkerManager({ paseoHome });
+    await first.detach();
+    manager = await startRealWorkerManager({ paseoHome });
 
-  expect(manager.getTerminal(remaining.id)).toBeUndefined();
-  expect(await manager.getTerminals(cwd)).toEqual([]);
-  await waitForCondition(() => !isProcessAlive(remainingPid), 10000);
-  expect(await readUnconfirmedTerminalCleanup(paseoHome)).toEqual([]);
-});
+    expect(manager.getTerminal(remaining.id)).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(await manager.getTerminals(cwd)).toEqual([]);
+    await waitForCondition(() => !isProcessAlive(remainingPid), 10000);
+    expect(await readUnconfirmedTerminalCleanup(paseoHome)).toEqual([]);
+  },
+);
 
 // The worker's own `ps`, delayed: a program that exits while the worker reads its birth time
 // lands its exit in the middle of creation. Only the worker launched while this PATH is set sees