diff --git a/packages/cli/README.md b/packages/cli/README.md
index 589078c3..0eb1423c 100644
--- a/packages/cli/README.md
+++ b/packages/cli/README.md
@@ -145,9 +145,10 @@ inbox through the reader capability and does two things:
 - **Digest.** It sends one digest a day at 08:00 America/Chicago. The hour
   comes from the IANA zone, so daylight saving time is handled. If the host
   starts after 08:00 and the day has no digest yet, the digest goes at once.
-  The digest lists the inbox and marks each blocking decision as DM sent or
-  DM pending. An empty inbox gets one line. Each message stays within
-  Discord's 2000 characters.
+  The digest lists the inbox. It marks each blocking decision with one of
+  three states: "DM sent", "DM pending" or "DM refused, not retried". An
+  empty inbox gets one line. Each message stays within Discord's 2000
+  characters.
 
 The notifier only reads the bus. Its memory is the journal
 `<dataRoot>/notify/<business>/sent.jsonl` (directory 0700, file 0600), with
@@ -160,21 +161,41 @@ one line per send attempt:
 
 - A decision, or a day's digest, counts as sent once it has a `confirmed`
   line.
-- A `refused` or `unknown` send is retried. The wait starts at 30 s and
-  doubles up to 30 min. A duplicate costs less than a miss. Every retry
+- A `refused` or `unknown` send is retried. After an `unknown` outcome the
+  wait starts at 30 s and doubles up to 30 min. A duplicate costs less than
+  a miss. Every retry
   carries the same Discord nonce, so a retry inside Discord's dedupe window
   returns the first message. A DM's nonce comes from the decision id. A
   digest's comes from the business and the day.
+- A definite refusal is a DM refused with an HTTP 4xx other than 429. The
+  next attempt waits the full 30 min, counted from the refusal's `at` in
+  the journal, so a restart does not shorten it. After 5 of them for one
+  decision, at least 2 hours apart end to end, the notifier appends one
+  `gave-up` line, logs it once and never sends that DM again. The digest
+  marks the decision "DM refused, not retried". The count comes from the
+  journal, so a restart keeps it. An `unknown` outcome (network, 5xx or
+  429) retries without a limit (lead decisions 72 and 73).
+- Recovery after a give-up is manual. Fixing the binding does not resend
+  the DM, which stays given up. The decision stays open in `mosaic inbox`,
+  the digest lists it, and the operator decides it with `mosaic decide`.
 - On open, a final line without its newline is a torn write. The notifier
   copies those bytes to `torn-<UTC stamp>.bin` in the same directory (0600,
   a new file, synced), then truncates `sent.jsonl` to its last newline and
   syncs it. It logs both steps. A crash between the two leaves the torn
   tail in place, and the next open repairs it with a second copy. The next
   append therefore starts on a line of its own.
-- A malformed complete line refuses with exit 3 and changes nothing.
-- The journal refuses with exit 3 when its directory is looser than 0700 or
-  not yours, when `sent.jsonl` is a symlink, or when the file is not a
-  regular 0600 file you own.
+- A malformed complete line refuses with exit 3 and changes nothing. Each
+  line is type-checked: `at` an ISO timestamp, `kind` `dm` or `digest`,
+  `decision` a string (required for `dm`, null for `digest`), `day` a real
+  `YYYY-MM-DD` date (required for `digest`), `outcome` one of `confirmed`,
+  `refused`, `unknown` or `gave-up` (`gave-up` only for `dm`), `messageId`
+  a string (required when confirmed) or null, `status` an integer when
+  present.
+- The journal refuses with exit 3 when its directory is looser than 0700,
+  not yours, a symlink (dangling or not) or not writable, or cannot be
+  created (for example, a parent is a file). It also refuses when
+  `sent.jsonl` is a symlink, a directory or not writable, or is not a
+  regular 0600 file you own. The message names the path.
 - No Discord channel or user id goes in the journal, a log line or an
   error.
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/host.mjs b/packages/cli/src/host.mjs
index 159160c0..083f8f1d 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/host.mjs
+++ b/packages/cli/src/host.mjs
@@ -141,13 +141,13 @@ export async function startHost({ boot, business, notifier = null, bootTimeoutMs
     } catch (e) {
       notify.kill("SIGTERM");
       await ended(notify, 5000);
-      broker.send({ op: "close" });
+      if (broker.connected) broker.send({ op: "close" }, () => {});
       await ended(broker, CLOSE_TIMEOUT_MS);
       throw e;
     }
     if (ok?.ok !== true) {
       await ended(notify, 5000);
-      broker.send({ op: "close" });
+      if (broker.connected) broker.send({ op: "close" }, () => {});
       await ended(broker, CLOSE_TIMEOUT_MS);
       throw new CliError(`notifier refused to start: ${typeof ok?.error === "string" ? ok.error : "notifier-refused"}`, 3);
     }
@@ -181,11 +181,11 @@ export async function startHost({ boot, business, notifier = null, bootTimeoutMs
     closing = true;
     let result = code;
     if (notify) {
-      if (notify.connected) notify.send({ op: "stop" });
+      if (notify.connected) notify.send({ op: "stop" }, () => {});
       if ((await ended(notify, CLOSE_TIMEOUT_MS)) !== 0 && result === 0) result = 1;
     }
     await queue;
-    if (broker.connected) broker.send({ op: "close" });
+    if (broker.connected) broker.send({ op: "close" }, () => {});
     if ((await ended(broker, CLOSE_TIMEOUT_MS)) !== 0 && result === 0) result = 1;
     const now = readHostState(dataRoot);
     if (now && now.pid === state.pid && now.startTime === state.startTime) rmSync(hostFile(dataRoot), { force: true });
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/notifier.mjs b/packages/cli/src/notifier.mjs
index a4bb78d2..2a392b83 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/notifier.mjs
+++ b/packages/cli/src/notifier.mjs
@@ -4,17 +4,25 @@
 // bus; its memory is the journal `<dataRoot>/notify/<business>/sent.jsonl`
 // (0600, in a 0700 directory), one line per send attempt:
 //
-//   {at, kind: "dm"|"digest", decision, day?, outcome: "confirmed"|"refused"|"unknown", messageId, status?}
+//   {at, kind: "dm"|"digest", decision, day?, outcome: "confirmed"|"refused"|"unknown"|"gave-up", messageId, status?}
 //
 // A decision counts as sent once it has a confirmed line; a day's digest
 // likewise. A refused or unknown send is retried with backoff (30 s
 // doubling to 30 min): a duplicate costs less than a miss, and Discord's
 // nonce folds a retry inside its dedupe window into the first message.
+// The exception is a definite refusal, an HTTP 4xx other than 429 (lead
+// decision 72): the next try waits the full 30 min, counted from the
+// refusal's line so a restart cannot shorten it (lead decision 73), and
+// after five for one decision, counted from the journal, the notifier
+// appends one `gave-up` line, logs once and stops sending that DM. Five
+// tries span two hours, long enough to fix a binding or token typo. The
+// digest marks it "DM refused, not retried"; recovery is the operator
+// deciding it. Unknown outcomes (network, 5xx, 429) retry without a limit.
 // No Discord channel or user id goes in the journal, a log line or an
 // error; the Discord side (packages/discord/src/notify.mjs) keeps them.
 
 import { createHash } from "node:crypto";
-import { closeSync, constants, fstatSync, fsyncSync, ftruncateSync, lstatSync, mkdirSync, openSync, readFileSync, writeSync } from "node:fs";
+import { accessSync, closeSync, constants, fstatSync, fsyncSync, ftruncateSync, lstatSync, mkdirSync, openSync, readFileSync, writeSync } from "node:fs";
 import { dirname, join } from "node:path";
 import { CliError } from "./errors.mjs";
 import { authorizationLines, optionsLine, shortId } from "./format.mjs";
@@ -25,6 +33,7 @@ export const POLL_MS = 30000;
 const BACKOFF_MS = 30000;
 const BACKOFF_MAX_MS = 30 * 60 * 1000;
 const LIMIT = 2000;
+export const REFUSAL_LIMIT = 5;
 
 export const journalPath = (dataRoot, business) => join(dataRoot, "notify", business, "sent.jsonl");
 
@@ -62,14 +71,14 @@ export function dmContent(business, d) {
   return clip(lines.join("\n"), LIMIT);
 }
 
-export function digestContent(business, day, inbox, dmSent) {
+export function digestContent(business, day, inbox, dmSent, dmGaveUp = () => false) {
   if (inbox.length === 0) return `Mosaic digest (${business}, ${day}): your inbox is empty.`;
   const head = `Mosaic digest (${business}, ${day}): ${inbox.length} open decision(s).`;
   const tail = "Run mosaic inbox for the full list.";
   const lines = [head];
   let shown = 0;
   for (const d of inbox) {
-    const mark = d.blocking ? (dmSent(d.id) ? "[blocking, DM sent] " : "[blocking, DM pending] ") : "";
+    const mark = d.blocking ? (dmSent(d.id) ? "[blocking, DM sent] " : dmGaveUp(d.id) ? "[blocking, DM refused, not retried] " : "[blocking, DM pending] ") : "";
     const line = `- ${mark}${shortId(d.id)} ${d.action}: ${clip(d.question.replace(/\s+/g, " "), 160)}`;
     const more = inbox.length - shown - 1;
     const reserve = more > 0 ? `\n… and ${more} more.`.length : 0;
@@ -116,9 +125,32 @@ function copyTorn(dir, bytes, date) {
   }
 }
 
+const OUTCOMES = ["confirmed", "refused", "unknown", "gave-up"];
+const DAY = /^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}$/;
+const isDay = (d) => typeof d === "string" && DAY.test(d) && !Number.isNaN(Date.parse(d)) && new Date(d).toISOString().startsWith(d);
+const UNWRITABLE = ["EACCES", "EPERM", "EROFS"];
+
+// The first field of a journal record that has the wrong type, or null
+// (lead decision 72, J4). A confirmed line carries the message id.
+function badField(r) {
+  if (!r || typeof r !== "object" || Array.isArray(r)) return "record";
+  if (typeof r.at !== "string" || Number.isNaN(Date.parse(r.at)) || new Date(r.at).toISOString() !== r.at) return "at";
+  if (!["dm", "digest"].includes(r.kind)) return "kind";
+  if (r.kind === "dm" ? typeof r.decision !== "string" || r.decision === "" : r.decision !== null && r.decision !== undefined) return "decision";
+  if (r.kind === "digest" ? !isDay(r.day) : r.day !== undefined && !isDay(r.day)) return "day";
+  if (!OUTCOMES.includes(r.outcome) || (r.outcome === "gave-up" && r.kind !== "dm")) return "outcome";
+  if (r.outcome === "confirmed" ? typeof r.messageId !== "string" : r.messageId !== null && typeof r.messageId !== "string") return "messageId";
+  if (r.status !== undefined && !Number.isInteger(r.status)) return "status";
+  return null;
+}
+
+// A DM refused with an HTTP 4xx other than 429.
+const definite = (r) => r.kind === "dm" && r.outcome === "refused" && Number.isInteger(r.status) && r.status >= 400 && r.status < 500 && r.status !== 429;
+
 // Opens (creating if needed) the journal. The directory must be 0700 or
-// tighter and the file 0600, both owned by this user; a symlinked journal
-// refuses. Every complete line must parse, or the open refuses with exit 3.
+// tighter, writable and not a symlink, and the file 0600, both owned by
+// this user; a symlinked journal refuses. Every complete line must parse
+// and type-check, or the open refuses with exit 3.
 // A final line without its newline is a write that never finished (lead
 // decision 71): its bytes are copied to torn-<stamp>.bin, then the journal
 // is truncated to its last newline and fsynced, and both steps are logged.
@@ -126,20 +158,49 @@ function copyTorn(dir, bytes, date) {
 // both; the second copy is harmless.
 export function openJournal(file, { log = () => {}, now = () => new Date() } = {}) {
   const dir = dirname(file);
-  mkdirSync(dir, { recursive: true, mode: 0o700 });
+  try {
+    mkdirSync(dir, { recursive: true, mode: 0o700 });
+  } catch (e) {
+    // A dangling link in place of the directory fails mkdir with ENOENT.
+    if (e.code === "ENOENT" && lstatSync(dir, { throwIfNoEntry: false })?.isSymbolicLink()) throw new CliError(`notify journal directory must not be a symlink: ${dir}`, 3);
+    if ([...UNWRITABLE, "ENOTDIR"].includes(e.code)) throw new CliError(`notify journal directory cannot be created (${e.code}): ${dir}`, 3);
+    if (e.code !== "EEXIST") throw e;
+  }
   const ds = lstatSync(dir);
+  if (ds.isSymbolicLink()) throw new CliError(`notify journal directory must not be a symlink: ${dir}`, 3);
   if (!ds.isDirectory() || ds.uid !== process.getuid() || (ds.mode & 0o077) !== 0) {
     throw new CliError(`notify journal directory must be mode 0700 and owned by this user: ${dir}`, 3);
   }
+  try {
+    accessSync(dir, constants.W_OK | constants.X_OK);
+  } catch (e) {
+    if (UNWRITABLE.includes(e.code)) throw new CliError(`notify journal directory is not writable (${e.code}): ${dir}`, 3);
+    throw e;
+  }
   let fd;
   try {
     fd = openSync(file, O_RDWR | O_APPEND | O_CREAT | O_NOFOLLOW, 0o600);
   } catch (e) {
     if (e.code === "ELOOP") throw new CliError(`notify journal must not be a symlink: ${file}`, 3);
+    if (UNWRITABLE.includes(e.code)) throw new CliError(`notify journal is not writable (${e.code}): ${file}`, 3);
+    if (e.code === "EISDIR") throw new CliError(`notify journal must be a regular file, mode 0600, owned by this user: ${file}`, 3);
     throw e;
   }
   const sent = new Set();
   const days = new Set();
+  const refusals = new Map();
+  const gaveUp = new Set();
+  const refusedAt = new Map();
+  const count = (r) => {
+    if (r.kind === "dm" && r.outcome === "gave-up") gaveUp.add(r.decision);
+    if (definite(r)) {
+      refusals.set(r.decision, (refusals.get(r.decision) ?? 0) + 1);
+      refusedAt.set(r.decision, Date.parse(r.at));
+    }
+    if (r.outcome !== "confirmed") return;
+    if (r.kind === "dm") sent.add(r.decision);
+    else days.add(r.day);
+  };
   try {
     const st = fstatSync(fd);
     if (!st.isFile() || st.uid !== process.getuid() || (st.mode & 0o777) !== 0o600) {
@@ -156,12 +217,9 @@ export function openJournal(file, { log = () => {}, now = () => new Date() } = {
       } catch {
         r = null;
       }
-      if (!r || typeof r !== "object" || !["dm", "digest"].includes(r.kind)) {
-        throw new CliError(`notify journal line ${i + 1} is malformed: ${file}`, 3);
-      }
-      if (r.outcome !== "confirmed") return;
-      if (r.kind === "dm") sent.add(r.decision);
-      else days.add(r.day);
+      const bad = r === null ? "json" : badField(r);
+      if (bad) throw new CliError(`notify journal line ${i + 1} is malformed (${bad}): ${file}`, 3);
+      count(r);
     });
     if (end < bytes.length) {
       const name = copyTorn(dir, bytes.subarray(end), now());
@@ -176,6 +234,9 @@ export function openJournal(file, { log = () => {}, now = () => new Date() } = {
   return {
     sent,
     days,
+    refusals,
+    gaveUp,
+    refusedAt,
     append(record) {
       const afd = openSync(file, O_WRONLY | O_APPEND | O_NOFOLLOW);
       try {
@@ -183,9 +244,7 @@ export function openJournal(file, { log = () => {}, now = () => new Date() } = {
       } finally {
         closeSync(afd);
       }
-      if (record.outcome !== "confirmed") return;
-      if (record.kind === "dm") sent.add(record.decision);
-      else days.add(record.day);
+      count(record);
     },
   };
 }
@@ -202,6 +261,13 @@ export function createNotifier({ business, dataRoot, inbox, direct, now = () =>
     return b !== undefined && t < b.next;
   }
 
+  // One `gave-up` line and one log line; the decision is never sent again.
+  function giveUp(decision, t) {
+    journal.append({ at: new Date(t).toISOString(), kind: "dm", decision, outcome: "gave-up", messageId: null });
+    backoff.delete(`dm:${decision}`);
+    log(`notify: dm ${shortId(decision)} refused ${journal.refusals.get(decision)} times; gave up, not retried`);
+  }
+
   async function attempt(key, record, message) {
     const t = now().getTime();
     try {
@@ -212,10 +278,16 @@ export function createNotifier({ business, dataRoot, inbox, direct, now = () =>
     } catch (err) {
       const kind = err?.kind === "refused" ? "refused" : "unknown";
       const status = Number.isInteger(err?.details?.status) ? err.details.status : null;
+      const line = { at: new Date(t).toISOString(), ...record, outcome: kind, messageId: null, ...(status !== null ? { status } : {}) };
       const n = (backoff.get(key)?.n ?? -1) + 1;
-      backoff.set(key, { n, next: t + Math.min(BACKOFF_MS * 2 ** n, BACKOFF_MAX_MS) });
-      journal.append({ at: new Date(t).toISOString(), ...record, outcome: kind, messageId: null, ...(status !== null ? { status } : {}) });
-      log(`notify: ${record.kind} ${kind}${status !== null ? ` (HTTP ${status})` : ""}; retry in ${Math.round(Math.min(BACKOFF_MS * 2 ** n, BACKOFF_MAX_MS) / 1000)} s`);
+      const wait = definite(line) ? BACKOFF_MAX_MS : Math.min(BACKOFF_MS * 2 ** n, BACKOFF_MAX_MS);
+      backoff.set(key, { n, next: t + wait });
+      journal.append(line);
+      if (record.kind === "dm" && (journal.refusals.get(record.decision) ?? 0) >= REFUSAL_LIMIT) {
+        giveUp(record.decision, t);
+        return false;
+      }
+      log(`notify: ${record.kind} ${kind}${status !== null ? ` (HTTP ${status})` : ""}; retry in ${Math.round(wait / 1000)} s`);
       return false;
     }
   }
@@ -232,7 +304,15 @@ export function createNotifier({ business, dataRoot, inbox, direct, now = () =>
     }
     const t = now();
     for (const d of list) {
-      if (!d.blocking || journal.sent.has(d.id)) continue;
+      if (!d.blocking || journal.sent.has(d.id) || journal.gaveUp.has(d.id)) continue;
+      // A crash between the fifth refusal and its gave-up line.
+      if ((journal.refusals.get(d.id) ?? 0) >= REFUSAL_LIMIT) {
+        giveUp(d.id, t.getTime());
+        continue;
+      }
+      // A definite refusal waits the full cap from its journal line, which
+      // the in-memory backoff loses on a restart.
+      if (t.getTime() < (journal.refusedAt.get(d.id) ?? -Infinity) + BACKOFF_MAX_MS) continue;
       const key = `dm:${d.id}`;
       if (waiting(key, t.getTime())) continue;
       if (await attempt(key, { kind: "dm", decision: d.id }, { content: dmContent(business, d), nonce: dmNonce(d.id) })) done.dms++;
@@ -241,7 +321,7 @@ export function createNotifier({ business, dataRoot, inbox, direct, now = () =>
     const { day, hour } = zoned(t, zone);
     const key = `digest:${day}`;
     if (hour >= DIGEST_HOUR && !journal.days.has(day) && !waiting(key, t.getTime())) {
-      const content = digestContent(business, day, list, (id) => journal.sent.has(id));
+      const content = digestContent(business, day, list, (id) => journal.sent.has(id), (id) => journal.gaveUp.has(id));
       if (await attempt(key, { kind: "digest", decision: null, day }, { content, nonce: digestNonce(business, day) })) done.digest = true;
       else done.failed++;
     }
diff --git a/packages/cli/tests/host.test.mjs b/packages/cli/tests/host.test.mjs
index 8d20b47f..f8f11ec9 100644
--- a/packages/cli/tests/host.test.mjs
+++ b/packages/cli/tests/host.test.mjs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { test } from "node:test";
 import assert from "node:assert/strict";
 import { spawn, spawnSync } from "node:child_process";
+import { subscribe, unsubscribe } from "node:diagnostics_channel";
 import { createServer } from "node:http";
 import { once } from "node:events";
 import { existsSync, readFileSync, statSync, writeFileSync, mkdirSync } from "node:fs";
@@ -48,6 +49,70 @@ async function until(fn, ms = 8000) {
   throw new Error("timed out waiting");
 }
 
+// Records every IPC message this process sends to a child it creates while
+// the spy is on, by trapping the `send` that node installs on a new child.
+// The host never exposes the notifier's reader capability; this is how a
+// test sees it.
+function spySends(t, onSend = () => {}) {
+  const sent = [];
+  const onChild = ({ process: child }) => {
+    let send;
+    Object.defineProperty(child, "send", {
+      configurable: true,
+      get: () => send,
+      set(fn) {
+        send = function (m, ...rest) {
+          sent.push(m);
+          onSend(m);
+          return fn.call(this, m, ...rest);
+        };
+      },
+    });
+  };
+  subscribe("child_process", onChild);
+  t.after(() => unsubscribe("child_process", onChild));
+  return sent;
+}
+
+// Fails this process's sends to new children the way node fails a write to a
+// child that has just died: `fake(child, m)` returns an error to fail that
+// send (to its callback if it has one, otherwise as an 'error' event on the
+// next tick), or nothing to send it for real. Deterministic where the real
+// window after a SIGKILL is a millisecond wide (Darkwing R1, lead decision 73).
+// Every child it saw is killed after the test, so a host left half closed
+// fails the test rather than hang it.
+function failSends(t, fake) {
+  const children = [];
+  const onChild = ({ process: child }) => {
+    children.push(child);
+    let send;
+    Object.defineProperty(child, "send", {
+      configurable: true,
+      get: () => send,
+      set(fn) {
+        send = function (m, ...rest) {
+          const err = fake(this, m);
+          if (!err) return fn.call(this, m, ...rest);
+          const callback = rest.find((a) => typeof a === "function");
+          if (callback) process.nextTick(callback, err);
+          else process.nextTick(() => this.emit("error", err));
+          return false;
+        };
+      },
+    });
+  };
+  subscribe("child_process", onChild);
+  t.after(() => {
+    unsubscribe("child_process", onChild);
+    for (const child of children) child.kill("SIGKILL");
+  });
+}
+
+const epipe = (child) => {
+  child.kill("SIGKILL");
+  return Object.assign(new Error("write EPIPE"), { code: "EPIPE", errno: -32, syscall: "write" });
+};
+
 const procText = (pid, what) => {
   try {
     return readFileSync(`/proc/${pid}/${what}`, "utf8");
@@ -64,8 +129,12 @@ test("the host boots the broker, binds a launch in process, and the notifier DMs
   const boot = bootConfig({ system: loadSystem({ env: f.env }), businessId: "acme", env: f.env });
   assert.equal("trackers" in boot, false);
   const logs = [];
+  const sends = spySends(t);
   const host = await startHost({ boot, business: "acme", notifier: { binding: "test-seat", base: discord.base, pollMs: 100 }, log: (l) => logs.push(l) });
   t.after(() => host.close(0));
+  const start = sends.find((m) => m?.op === "start");
+  assert.equal(typeof start?.cap, "string", "the spy saw the notifier's start message");
+  assert.ok(start.cap.length >= 16);
 
   const state = JSON.parse(readFileSync(hostFile(f.dataRoot), "utf8"));
   assert.equal(statSync(hostFile(f.dataRoot)).mode & 0o777, 0o600);
@@ -84,12 +153,16 @@ test("the host boots the broker, binds a launch in process, and the notifier DMs
   assert.ok(discord.requests.every((r) => r.authorized));
   assert.match(discord.dms()[0].body.content, new RegExp(`mosaic decide ${d.id.slice(0, 8)}`));
 
-  // No capability in a child's argv or environment, or in the state file.
-  for (const pid of Object.values(host.pids)) {
-    assert.ok(!procText(pid, "cmdline").includes(launch.cap));
-    assert.ok(!procText(pid, "environ").includes(launch.cap));
+  // No capability, the launch's or the notifier's reader, in a child's argv
+  // or environment, or in the state file.
+  for (const cap of [launch.cap, start.cap]) {
+    for (const pid of Object.values(host.pids)) {
+      assert.notEqual(procText(pid, "cmdline"), "", `pid ${pid} is readable`);
+      assert.ok(!procText(pid, "cmdline").includes(cap));
+      assert.ok(!procText(pid, "environ").includes(cap));
+    }
+    assert.ok(!readFileSync(hostFile(f.dataRoot), "utf8").includes(cap));
   }
-  assert.ok(!readFileSync(hostFile(f.dataRoot), "utf8").includes(launch.cap));
 
   assert.equal(await host.close(0), 0);
   const journal = readFileSync(journalPath(f.dataRoot, "acme"), "utf8");
@@ -107,6 +180,7 @@ test("a notifier that dies takes the host down with exit 1, so the unit restarts
   const boot = bootConfig({ system: loadSystem({ env: f.env }), businessId: "acme", env: f.env });
   const logs = [];
   const host = await startHost({ boot, business: "acme", notifier: { binding: "test-seat", base: discord.base, pollMs: 100 }, log: (l) => logs.push(l) });
+  t.after(() => host.close(0));
   process.kill(host.pids.notifier, "SIGKILL");
   assert.equal(await host.done, 1);
   assert.match(logs.join("\n"), /notifier exited \(SIGKILL\); stopping the host/);
@@ -114,6 +188,21 @@ test("a notifier that dies takes the host down with exit 1, so the unit restarts
   assert.equal(existsSync(hostFile(f.dataRoot)), false);
 });
 
+test("a second host for the same data root refuses with exit 3 while the first runs", async (t) => {
+  const root = tmp(t);
+  const f = fixture(root);
+  makeDeployment(root);
+  const boot = bootConfig({ system: loadSystem({ env: f.env }), businessId: "acme", env: f.env });
+  const host = await startHost({ boot, business: "acme", log: () => {} });
+  t.after(() => host.close(0));
+  const second = startHost({ boot, business: "acme", log: () => {} });
+  // If the refusal regresses and a second host starts, close it too.
+  t.after(async () => (await second.catch(() => null))?.close(0));
+  await assert.rejects(second, (e) => e.exitCode === 3 && e.message === `a bus host already runs for acme (pid ${process.pid})`);
+  assert.equal(hostStatus(f.dataRoot).host.live, true, "the first host still runs");
+  assert.equal(await host.close(0), 0);
+});
+
 test("a notifier that refuses stops the broker and the host refuses with exit 3", async (t) => {
   const root = tmp(t);
   const f = fixture(root);
@@ -127,9 +216,111 @@ test("a notifier that refuses stops the broker and the host refuses with exit 3"
   assert.equal(existsSync(hostFile(f.dataRoot)), false);
 });
 
+test("a notifier that refuses after the broker died still refuses with exit 3, without a send to the dead broker", async (t) => {
+  const root = tmp(t);
+  const f = fixture(root);
+  makeDeployment(root);
+  const boot = bootConfig({ system: loadSystem({ env: f.env }), businessId: "acme", env: f.env });
+  const children = [];
+  const onChild = ({ process: child }) => children.push(child);
+  subscribe("child_process", onChild);
+  t.after(() => unsubscribe("child_process", onChild));
+  const errors = [];
+  // The broker dies as the host sends the notifier its start message.
+  const sends = spySends(t, (m) => {
+    if (m?.op !== "start") return;
+    children[0].on("error", (e) => errors.push(e.code));
+    children[0].kill("SIGKILL");
+  });
+  const started = startHost({ boot, business: "acme", notifier: { binding: "test-seat" }, log: () => {} });
+  t.after(async () => (await started.catch(() => null))?.close(0));
+  await assert.rejects(started, (e) => e.exitCode === 3 && /no dmRecipient/.test(e.message));
+  await new Promise((r) => setImmediate(r));
+  assert.deepEqual(errors, [], "no close was sent over the closed channel");
+  assert.equal(sends.filter((m) => m?.op === "close").length, 0);
+});
+
+test("a notifier that dies before it replies, after the broker died, still refuses, without a send to the dead broker", async (t) => {
+  const root = tmp(t);
+  const f = fixture(root);
+  makeDeployment(root);
+  const boot = bootConfig({ system: loadSystem({ env: f.env }), businessId: "acme", env: f.env });
+  const children = [];
+  const onChild = ({ process: child }) => children.push(child);
+  subscribe("child_process", onChild);
+  t.after(() => unsubscribe("child_process", onChild));
+  const errors = [];
+  // The broker dies as the host sends the start message. The notifier is
+  // stopped so it cannot reply, and killed once the host has seen the broker
+  // disconnect: the host takes the no-reply path, not the refusal path.
+  const sends = spySends(t, (m) => {
+    if (m?.op !== "start") return;
+    children[0].on("error", (e) => errors.push(e.code));
+    children[1].kill("SIGSTOP");
+    children[0].once("disconnect", () => children[1].kill("SIGKILL"));
+    children[0].kill("SIGKILL");
+  });
+  const started = startHost({ boot, business: "acme", notifier: { binding: "test-seat" }, log: () => {} });
+  t.after(async () => (await started.catch(() => null))?.close(0));
+  await assert.rejects(started, (e) => e.exitCode === 1 && /notifier exited \(null\) before it replied/.test(e.message));
+  await new Promise((r) => setImmediate(r));
+  assert.deepEqual(errors, [], "no close was sent over the closed channel");
+  assert.equal(sends.filter((m) => m?.op === "close").length, 0);
+});
+
+test("a close send that fails with EPIPE after the notifier refuses still gives the notifier's refusal, exit 3", async (t) => {
+  const root = tmp(t);
+  const f = fixture(root);
+  makeDeployment(root);
+  const boot = bootConfig({ system: loadSystem({ env: f.env }), businessId: "acme", env: f.env });
+  failSends(t, (child, m) => (m?.op === "close" ? epipe(child) : null));
+  const started = startHost({ boot, business: "acme", notifier: { binding: "test-seat" }, log: () => {} });
+  t.after(async () => (await started.catch(() => null))?.close(0));
+  await assert.rejects(started, (e) => e.exitCode === 3 && /^notifier refused to start: .*no dmRecipient/.test(e.message));
+});
+
+test("a close send that fails with EPIPE after the notifier dies unanswered still gives the notifier's error", async (t) => {
+  const root = tmp(t);
+  const f = fixture(root);
+  makeDeployment(root);
+  const boot = bootConfig({ system: loadSystem({ env: f.env }), businessId: "acme", env: f.env });
+  failSends(t, (child, m) => {
+    if (m?.op === "close") return epipe(child);
+    if (m?.op === "start") {
+      // Stopped, it cannot reply; then it dies.
+      child.kill("SIGSTOP");
+      setImmediate(() => child.kill("SIGKILL"));
+    }
+    return null;
+  });
+  const started = startHost({ boot, business: "acme", notifier: { binding: "test-seat" }, log: () => {} });
+  t.after(async () => (await started.catch(() => null))?.close(0));
+  await assert.rejects(started, (e) => e.exitCode === 1 && /^notifier exited \(null\) before it replied/.test(e.message));
+});
+
+test("close() whose stop and close sends fail with EPIPE still finishes, with exit 1", async (t) => {
+  const root = tmp(t);
+  const f = fixture(root);
+  makeDeployment(root, { dmRecipient: IDS.owner });
+  const discord = await fakeDiscord(t);
+  const boot = bootConfig({ system: loadSystem({ env: f.env }), businessId: "acme", env: f.env });
+  failSends(t, (child, m) => (m?.op === "stop" || m?.op === "close" ? epipe(child) : null));
+  const host = await startHost({ boot, business: "acme", notifier: { binding: "test-seat", base: discord.base, pollMs: 100 }, log: () => {} });
+  // No t.after close: a close() that rejected leaves `done` pending forever.
+  assert.equal(await host.close(0), 1, "both children died by signal");
+  assert.equal(existsSync(hostFile(f.dataRoot)), false);
+});
+
 test("watchChildren reports a child that died before it was called, and one that dies later", async (t) => {
   const early = spawn(process.execPath, ["-e", "process.exit(7)"], { stdio: "ignore" });
   await once(early, "exit");
+  const killed = spawn(process.execPath, ["-e", "setTimeout(() => {}, 60000)"], { stdio: "ignore" });
+  await once(killed, "spawn");
+  killed.kill("SIGKILL");
+  await once(killed, "exit");
+  const signalled = [];
+  watchChildren({ broker: killed }, (...d) => signalled.push(d));
+  assert.deepEqual(signalled, [["broker", null, "SIGKILL"]], "a death by signal before the watch is not lost either");
   const late = spawn(process.execPath, ["-e", "setTimeout(() => {}, 60000)"], { stdio: "ignore" });
   t.after(() => late.kill("SIGKILL"));
   await once(late, "spawn");
@@ -215,6 +406,7 @@ test("bus-service.sh renders the unit and installs it into a given directory", (
   const first = spawnSync(script, ["install", "--dir", dir, "--no-reload"], { encoding: "utf8" });
   assert.equal(first.status, 0, first.stderr);
   assert.match(first.stdout, /written: /);
+  assert.match(first.stdout, /^ {2}mkdir -m 0700 -p <dataRoot>\/notify\/<business> +the notifier refuses a looser directory$/m);
   assert.equal(readFileSync(join(dir, "mosaic-bus@.service"), "utf8"), render.stdout);
   assert.match(spawnSync(script, ["install", "--dir", dir, "--no-reload"], { encoding: "utf8" }).stdout, /unchanged: /);
   assert.match(spawnSync(script, ["uninstall", "--dir", dir, "--no-reload"], { encoding: "utf8" }).stdout, /removed: /);
diff --git a/packages/cli/tests/notifier.test.mjs b/packages/cli/tests/notifier.test.mjs
index 99127662..3b65af47 100644
--- a/packages/cli/tests/notifier.test.mjs
+++ b/packages/cli/tests/notifier.test.mjs
@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
 import { test } from "node:test";
 import assert from "node:assert/strict";
-import { appendFileSync, chmodSync, mkdirSync, readdirSync, readFileSync, statSync, symlinkSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { appendFileSync, chmodSync, mkdirSync, readdirSync, readFileSync, rmSync, statSync, symlinkSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { dirname, join } from "node:path";
-import { createNotifier, digestContent, digestNonce, dmNonce, journalPath, openJournal, runLoop, zoned } from "../src/notifier.mjs";
+import { createNotifier, digestContent, digestNonce, dmNonce, journalPath, openJournal, POLL_MS, REFUSAL_LIMIT, runLoop, zoned } from "../src/notifier.mjs";
 import { RestOutcome } from "../../discord/src/rest.mjs";
 import { broker, tmp } from "./helpers.mjs";
 
+const AT = "2026-10-08T12:00:00.000Z";
+
 // Discord-side fake: records sends, answers from a script (default: ok).
+// An entry is "ok", "refused" (HTTP 403), "unknown", or {kind, status}.
 function fakeDirect(script = []) {
   const sends = [];
   let n = 0;
@@ -16,7 +19,8 @@ function fakeDirect(script = []) {
       sends.push(m);
       const next = script.shift() ?? "ok";
       if (next === "ok") return { messageId: `30000000000000${String(++n).padStart(4, "0")}` };
-      throw new RestOutcome(next, `dm: ${next}`, { status: next === "refused" ? 403 : null });
+      const { kind, status } = typeof next === "string" ? { kind: next, status: next === "refused" ? 403 : null } : next;
+      throw new RestOutcome(kind, `dm: ${kind}`, { status });
     },
   };
 }
@@ -91,14 +95,117 @@ test("a failed DM is journaled, backs off, and is retried until it lands", async
   assert.equal((await s.notifier.tick()).failed, 0, "inside the first 30 s backoff");
   s.time.advance(25_000);
   assert.equal((await s.notifier.tick()).failed, 1, "second attempt refused");
-  s.time.advance(45_000);
-  assert.equal((await s.notifier.tick()).dms, 0, "inside the 60 s backoff");
-  s.time.advance(20_000);
+  s.time.advance(29 * 60_000);
+  assert.equal((await s.notifier.tick()).dms, 0, "a definite refusal waits the full 30 min, not the 60 s step");
+  s.time.advance(60_000);
   assert.equal((await s.notifier.tick()).dms, 1);
   assert.deepEqual(s.journal().map((r) => r.outcome), ["unknown", "refused", "confirmed"]);
   assert.equal(s.journal()[1].status, 403);
   assert.equal(new Set(s.direct.sends.map((m) => m.nonce)).size, 1, "every retry reuses the nonce");
-  assert.ok(s.logs.some((l) => /retry in 30 s/.test(l)));
+  assert.ok(s.logs.some((l) => /unknown; retry in 30 s/.test(l)));
+  assert.ok(s.logs.some((l) => /refused \(HTTP 403\); retry in 1800 s/.test(l)));
+});
+
+// 05:00Z is 00:00 Chicago: eight hours of polls before the digest is due.
+const MIDNIGHT = "2026-10-08T05:00:00Z";
+const PAST_BACKOFF = 31 * 60_000;
+
+test("five definite refusals stop a DM: one gave-up line, one log line, and a restart keeps the count", async (t) => {
+  assert.equal(REFUSAL_LIMIT, 5);
+  const s = setup(t, MIDNIGHT, ["refused", "refused", "refused", { kind: "refused", status: 404 }, { kind: "refused", status: 400 }]);
+  const d = s.raise("git.push.protected", { target: "refactor", blocking: true, task_ref: "vikunja:1/7" });
+  for (let i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
+    assert.equal((await s.notifier.tick()).failed, 1);
+    s.time.advance(PAST_BACKOFF);
+  }
+  const after = s.make();
+  for (let i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
+    assert.equal((await after.tick()).failed, 1, "the restart did not reset the count");
+    s.time.advance(PAST_BACKOFF);
+  }
+  assert.equal(s.direct.sends.length, 5);
+  assert.deepEqual(s.journal().map((r) => r.outcome), ["refused", "refused", "refused", "refused", "refused", "gave-up"]);
+  assert.deepEqual(s.journal().at(-1), { at: s.journal().at(-1).at, kind: "dm", decision: d.id, outcome: "gave-up", messageId: null });
+  assert.deepEqual(await after.tick(), { dms: 0, digest: false, failed: 0 });
+  assert.deepEqual(await s.make().tick(), { dms: 0, digest: false, failed: 0 });
+  assert.equal(s.direct.sends.length, 5, "never sent again, before or after a restart");
+  assert.equal(s.journal().length, 6);
+  const gave = s.logs.filter((l) => /gave up/.test(l));
+  assert.deepEqual(gave, [`notify: dm ${d.id.slice(0, 8)} refused 5 times; gave up, not retried`]);
+  assert.equal(s.logs.filter((l) => /retry in/.test(l)).length, 4, "the fifth refusal logs the give-up, not a retry");
+  s.time.clock.t = new Date("2026-10-08T13:00:00Z");
+  assert.equal((await s.make().tick()).digest, true);
+  assert.match(s.direct.sends.at(-1).content, new RegExp(`\\[blocking, DM refused, not retried\\] ${d.id.slice(0, 8)} git\\.push\\.protected`));
+});
+
+test("429s, 5xx-style unknowns and refusals without a status never count toward the limit", async (t) => {
+  const script = [
+    ...Array(6).fill({ kind: "refused", status: 429 }),
+    ...Array(3).fill("unknown"),
+    { kind: "refused", status: null },
+    ...Array(REFUSAL_LIMIT - 1).fill("refused"),
+    "ok",
+  ];
+  const s = setup(t, MIDNIGHT, [...script]);
+  s.raise("git.push.protected", { target: "refactor", blocking: true, task_ref: "vikunja:1/7" });
+  for (let i = 0; i < script.length; i++) {
+    await s.notifier.tick();
+    s.time.advance(PAST_BACKOFF);
+  }
+  assert.equal(s.direct.sends.length, script.length);
+  assert.equal(s.journal().at(-1).outcome, "confirmed");
+  assert.ok(!s.journal().some((r) => r.outcome === "gave-up"));
+  assert.ok(!s.logs.some((l) => /gave up/.test(l)));
+});
+
+test("a crash between the fifth refusal and its gave-up line: the next poll appends it and sends nothing", async (t) => {
+  const s = setup(t, MIDNIGHT);
+  const d = s.raise("git.push.protected", { target: "refactor", blocking: true, task_ref: "vikunja:1/7" });
+  const file = journalPath(s.dataRoot, "demo");
+  const line = { at: AT, kind: "dm", decision: d.id, outcome: "refused", messageId: null, status: 403 };
+  appendFileSync(file, `${JSON.stringify(line)}\n`.repeat(REFUSAL_LIMIT));
+  assert.deepEqual(await s.make().tick(), { dms: 0, digest: false, failed: 0 });
+  assert.equal(s.direct.sends.length, 0);
+  assert.equal(s.journal().at(-1).outcome, "gave-up");
+  assert.equal(s.logs.filter((l) => /gave up/.test(l)).length, 1);
+  await s.make().tick();
+  assert.equal(s.journal().length, REFUSAL_LIMIT + 1, "one gave-up line only");
+});
+
+// Polls every POLL_MS from the current clock up to `until` ms later; returns
+// the minute (from `from`) of each new send.
+async function pollUntil(s, notifier, from, until, onPoll = () => {}) {
+  const minutes = [];
+  for (let elapsed = s.time.clock.t.getTime() - from; elapsed <= until; elapsed += POLL_MS) {
+    const before = s.direct.sends.length;
+    await notifier.tick();
+    if (s.direct.sends.length > before) minutes.push(elapsed / 60_000);
+    onPoll(elapsed);
+    s.time.advance(POLL_MS);
+  }
+  return minutes;
+}
+
+test("polled every POLL_MS against a permanent 403, a DM is sent at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min and gives up only then", async (t) => {
+  const s = setup(t, MIDNIGHT, Array(10).fill("refused"));
+  s.raise("git.push.protected", { target: "refactor", blocking: true, task_ref: "vikunja:1/7" });
+  const from = s.time.clock.t.getTime();
+  const gaveUp = () => s.journal().some((r) => r.outcome === "gave-up");
+  const minutes = await pollUntil(s, s.notifier, from, 120 * 60_000 + POLL_MS, (elapsed) => {
+    assert.equal(gaveUp(), elapsed >= 120 * 60_000, `gave-up line at +${elapsed / 1000} s`);
+  });
+  assert.deepEqual(minutes, [0, 30, 60, 90, 120]);
+  assert.equal(s.logs.filter((l) => /refused \(HTTP 403\); retry in 1800 s/.test(l)).length, 4);
+});
+
+test("a restart after the second refusal does not send before that refusal's 30 min are up", async (t) => {
+  const s = setup(t, MIDNIGHT, Array(10).fill("refused"));
+  s.raise("git.push.protected", { target: "refactor", blocking: true, task_ref: "vikunja:1/7" });
+  const from = s.time.clock.t.getTime();
+  assert.deepEqual(await pollUntil(s, s.notifier, from, 30 * 60_000), [0, 30]);
+  s.time.advance(60_000);
+  const after = s.make();
+  assert.deepEqual(await pollUntil(s, after, from, 60 * 60_000), [60], "nothing between the restart and +60 min");
 });
 
 test("the digest goes at 08:00 Chicago once a day, with blocking ones marked as DM'd", async (t) => {
@@ -150,7 +257,7 @@ const FRAGMENT = '{"at":"x","kind":"dm","dec';
 
 test("the journal: a torn tail is copied out and truncated, so an append after it reopens cleanly", (t) => {
   const file = journalPath(tmp(t), "demo");
-  openJournal(file).append({ at: "x", kind: "dm", decision: "a", outcome: "confirmed", messageId: "1" });
+  openJournal(file).append({ at: AT, kind: "dm", decision: "a", outcome: "confirmed", messageId: "1" });
   const good = readFileSync(file);
   appendFileSync(file, FRAGMENT);
   const logs = [];
@@ -164,7 +271,7 @@ test("the journal: a torn tail is copied out and truncated, so an append after i
   assert.equal(logs.length, 2);
   assert.match(logs[0], /copied a torn final line \(26 bytes\) to torn-20261008T235212345Z\.bin/);
   assert.match(logs[1], /truncated .* to its last newline/);
-  j.append({ at: "y", kind: "dm", decision: "b", outcome: "confirmed", messageId: "2" });
+  j.append({ at: AT, kind: "dm", decision: "b", outcome: "confirmed", messageId: "2" });
   const again = [];
   assert.deepEqual([...openJournal(file, { log: (l) => again.push(l) }).sent], ["a", "b"]);
   assert.deepEqual(again, [], "nothing torn the second time");
@@ -172,7 +279,7 @@ test("the journal: a torn tail is copied out and truncated, so an append after i
 
 test("the journal: a crash between the copy and the truncate leaves a tail the next open repairs", (t) => {
   const file = journalPath(tmp(t), "demo");
-  openJournal(file).append({ at: "x", kind: "dm", decision: "a", outcome: "confirmed", messageId: "1" });
+  openJournal(file).append({ at: AT, kind: "dm", decision: "a", outcome: "confirmed", messageId: "1" });
   appendFileSync(file, FRAGMENT);
   const now = () => new Date("2026-10-08T23:52:12.345Z");
   // The log after step 1 throws: the process dies before step 2.
@@ -182,7 +289,7 @@ test("the journal: a crash between the copy and the truncate leaves a tail the n
   const j = openJournal(file, { now });
   assert.deepEqual(tornFiles(file), ["torn-20261008T235212345Z-1.bin", "torn-20261008T235212345Z.bin"], "a second copy, the first kept");
   for (const n of tornFiles(file)) assert.equal(readFileSync(join(dirname(file), n), "utf8"), FRAGMENT);
-  j.append({ at: "y", kind: "dm", decision: "b", outcome: "confirmed", messageId: "2" });
+  j.append({ at: AT, kind: "dm", decision: "b", outcome: "confirmed", messageId: "2" });
   assert.deepEqual([...openJournal(file).sent], ["a", "b"]);
 });
 
@@ -222,6 +329,108 @@ test("the journal: a loose file mode, a loose directory or a symlinked journal r
   assert.throws(() => openJournal(linked), (e) => e.exitCode === 3 && /must not be a symlink/.test(e.message));
 });
 
+test("the journal: a line with a wrong type refuses with exit 3 and names the field", (t) => {
+  const file = journalPath(tmp(t), "demo");
+  openJournal(file);
+  const dm = { at: AT, kind: "dm", decision: "a", outcome: "confirmed", messageId: "1" };
+  const digest = { at: AT, kind: "digest", decision: null, day: "2026-10-08", outcome: "confirmed", messageId: "2" };
+  const bad = [
+    ["record", [1]],
+    ["at", { ...dm, at: "x" }],
+    ["at", { ...dm, at: "2026-10-08" }],
+    ["at", { ...dm, at: 1 }],
+    ["kind", { ...dm, kind: "dg" }],
+    ["decision", { ...dm, decision: 7 }],
+    ["decision", { ...dm, decision: "" }],
+    ["decision", { ...digest, decision: "a" }],
+    ["day", { ...digest, day: undefined }],
+    ["day", { ...digest, day: "2026-10-8" }],
+    ["day", { ...digest, day: "2026-13-45" }],
+    ["day", { ...digest, day: "2026-02-30" }],
+    ["day", { ...dm, day: 20261008 }],
+    ["outcome", { ...dm, outcome: "sent" }],
+    ["outcome", { ...digest, outcome: "gave-up", messageId: null }],
+    ["messageId", { ...dm, messageId: null }],
+    ["messageId", { ...dm, outcome: "refused", messageId: 1 }],
+    ["status", { ...dm, outcome: "refused", messageId: null, status: "403" }],
+    ["status", { ...dm, outcome: "refused", messageId: null, status: 403.5 }],
+  ];
+  for (const [field, r] of bad) {
+    const text = `${JSON.stringify(dm)}\n${JSON.stringify(r)}\n`;
+    writeFileSync(file, text);
+    assert.throws(() => openJournal(file), (e) => e.exitCode === 3 && e.message === `notify journal line 2 is malformed (${field}): ${file}`, `${field}: ${JSON.stringify(r)}`);
+    assert.equal(readFileSync(file, "utf8"), text, "a refusal changes nothing");
+  }
+  const good = [dm, digest, { ...dm, outcome: "refused", messageId: null, status: 403 }, { ...dm, outcome: "gave-up", messageId: null }, { ...digest, outcome: "unknown", messageId: null }];
+  writeFileSync(file, good.map((r) => `${JSON.stringify(r)}\n`).join(""));
+  const j = openJournal(file);
+  assert.deepEqual([...j.sent], ["a"]);
+  assert.deepEqual([...j.days], ["2026-10-08"]);
+  assert.deepEqual([...j.gaveUp], ["a"]);
+  assert.deepEqual([...j.refusals], [["a", 1]]);
+});
+
+test("the journal: a symlinked directory refuses and says it is a link", (t) => {
+  const root = tmp(t);
+  const real = join(root, "real");
+  mkdirSync(real, { mode: 0o700 });
+  const file = journalPath(root, "demo");
+  mkdirSync(dirname(dirname(file)), { mode: 0o700 });
+  symlinkSync(real, dirname(file));
+  assert.throws(() => openJournal(file), (e) => e.exitCode === 3 && e.message === `notify journal directory must not be a symlink: ${dirname(file)}`);
+  assert.deepEqual(readdirSync(real), [], "nothing was created through the link");
+});
+
+test("the journal: a dangling directory link, a parent that is a file and a journal that is a directory each refuse with exit 3", (t) => {
+  const root = tmp(t);
+  const dangling = journalPath(root, "demo");
+  mkdirSync(dirname(dirname(dangling)), { mode: 0o700 });
+  symlinkSync(join(root, "missing"), dirname(dangling));
+  assert.throws(() => openJournal(dangling), (e) => e.exitCode === 3 && e.message === `notify journal directory must not be a symlink: ${dirname(dangling)}`);
+  const under = join(root, "plain", "notify", "demo", "sent.jsonl");
+  writeFileSync(join(root, "plain"), "");
+  assert.throws(() => openJournal(under), (e) => e.exitCode === 3 && e.message === `notify journal directory cannot be created (ENOTDIR): ${dirname(under)}`);
+  const asDir = journalPath(root, "acme");
+  mkdirSync(asDir, { recursive: true, mode: 0o700 });
+  assert.throws(() => openJournal(asDir), (e) => e.exitCode === 3 && e.message === `notify journal must be a regular file, mode 0600, owned by this user: ${asDir}`);
+});
+
+test("the journal: an append after the file was swapped for a symlink refuses and writes nothing through it", (t) => {
+  const root = tmp(t);
+  const file = journalPath(root, "demo");
+  const j = openJournal(file);
+  const other = join(root, "elsewhere.jsonl");
+  writeFileSync(other, "", { mode: 0o600 });
+  rmSync(file);
+  symlinkSync(other, file);
+  assert.throws(() => j.append({ at: AT, kind: "dm", decision: "a", outcome: "confirmed", messageId: "1" }), (e) => e.code === "ELOOP");
+  assert.equal(readFileSync(other, "utf8"), "");
+});
+
+test("the journal: a directory it cannot write or create refuses with exit 3 and names the path", { skip: process.getuid() === 0 && "root ignores the modes" }, (t) => {
+  const root = tmp(t);
+  const file = journalPath(root, "demo");
+  mkdirSync(dirname(file), { recursive: true, mode: 0o700 });
+  // Modes are restored in finally: tmp()'s cleanup runs first among the after hooks.
+  chmodSync(dirname(file), 0o500);
+  try {
+    assert.throws(() => openJournal(file), (e) => e.exitCode === 3 && e.message === `notify journal directory is not writable (EACCES): ${dirname(file)}`);
+  } finally {
+    chmodSync(dirname(file), 0o700);
+  }
+  openJournal(file);
+  chmodSync(file, 0o400);
+  assert.throws(() => openJournal(file), (e) => e.exitCode === 3 && e.message === `notify journal is not writable (EACCES): ${file}`);
+  const parent = join(root, "notify");
+  const other = journalPath(root, "acme");
+  chmodSync(parent, 0o500);
+  try {
+    assert.throws(() => openJournal(other), (e) => e.exitCode === 3 && e.message === `notify journal directory cannot be created (EACCES): ${dirname(other)}`);
+  } finally {
+    chmodSync(parent, 0o700);
+  }
+});
+
 test("digest content stays within Discord's 2000 characters", () => {
   const inbox = Array.from({ length: 60 }, (_, i) => ({ id: `${String(i).padStart(8, "0")}-x`, action: "deploy", question: "q".repeat(300), blocking: i % 2 === 0 }));
   const text = digestContent("demo", "2026-10-08", inbox, () => true);
diff --git a/packages/cli/tests/trackers-boot.test.mjs b/packages/cli/tests/trackers-boot.test.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b7710013
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/tests/trackers-boot.test.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+// Sage's row 39 gate check, not part of the candidate: the S4 host boots the
+// S3 adapter through the real process.mjs when bootConfig emits trackers.
+import { test } from "node:test";
+import assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import { chmodSync, mkdirSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { Client } from "../../bus/src/client.mjs";
+import { bootConfig, loadSystem } from "../src/config.mjs";
+import { startHost, startTimeOf } from "../src/host.mjs";
+import { writeJson } from "../../business/tests/helpers.mjs";
+import { FakeVikunja } from "../../tasks/src/fake.mjs";
+import { SCOPES } from "../../tasks/tests/world.mjs";
+import { fixture, tmp } from "./helpers.mjs";
+
+test("bootConfig trackers reach the S3 adapter in the real broker child, which goes ready against a fake Vikunja", async (t) => {
+  const root = tmp(t);
+  const fake = new FakeVikunja();
+  const srv = await fake.listen();
+  t.after(() => srv.close());
+  const owner = fake.user("svc-acme");
+  const bots = {};
+  for (const r of ["sync", "pm", "cto", "coder", "reviewer"]) bots[r] = fake.user(`bot-acme-${r}`, { owner });
+  const project = fake.project("Acme", owner);
+  for (const r of ["pm", "cto", "coder", "reviewer"]) fake.share(project, bots[r], 1);
+  fake.share(project, bots.sync, 0);
+  fake.install(project);
+
+  const f = fixture(root, "acme", (doc) => {
+    doc.vars["tracker.baseUrl"] = srv.url;
+    doc.tracker.sync.botId = bots.sync;
+    for (const r of Object.keys(doc.roles)) doc.roles[r].tracker.botId = bots[r];
+    return doc;
+  });
+  const put = (file, token) => {
+    writeFileSync(file, token + "\n");
+    chmodSync(file, 0o600);
+  };
+  put(f.doc.tracker.sync.credentials.vikunja.file, fake.token(bots.sync, SCOPES.sync));
+  for (const r of Object.keys(f.doc.roles)) put(f.doc.roles[r].credentials.vikunja.file, fake.token(bots[r], r === "pm" ? SCOPES.pm : SCOPES.worker));
+  writeJson(join(root, "project", ".mosaic", "project.json"), { projectVersion: 1, id: "stack", vars: { "tracker.project": project } });
+
+  mkdirSync(f.dataRoot, { recursive: true, mode: 0o700 });
+  const boot = bootConfig({ system: loadSystem({ env: f.env }), businessId: "acme", env: f.env });
+  assert.deepEqual(boot.trackers, { acme: { baseUrl: srv.url, project, pollSeconds: 60, reconcileMinutes: 60 } });
+  const host = await startHost({ boot, business: "acme", log: () => {} });
+  t.after(() => host.close(0));
+
+  const launch = await host.bindLaunch({ business: "acme", role: "pm", run: "pm-run", harness: "pi", pid: process.pid, startTime: startTimeOf(process.pid) });
+  const pm = new Client({ path: host.path, cap: launch.cap });
+  await pm.call("role.claim");
+  let code;
+  const end = Date.now() + 15000;
+  do {
+    code = await pm.call("task.close", {}).then(() => "ok", (e) => e.code);
+    if (code !== "tracker-starting") break;
+    await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 100));
+  } while (Date.now() < end);
+  console.log(`task.close {} answered: ${code}; fake saw ${fake.requests.length} requests, first ${fake.requests.slice(0, 3).map((r) => `${r.method} ${r.path} ${r.status}`).join(", ")}`);
+  assert.ok(fake.requests.some((r) => r.path === "/info"), "the adapter called the fake");
+  assert.doesNotMatch(code, /^(tracker-|credential-|scope-too-broad)/, "the adapter is ready, so the verb fails on its own arguments");
+  const before = fake.requests.length;
+  const missing = await pm.call("task.close", { task_ref: `vikunja:${project}/999`, verdict: "gate check" }).then(() => "ok", (e) => e.code);
+  console.log(`task.close on a missing task answered: ${missing}; it made ${fake.requests.slice(before).map((r) => `${r.method} ${r.path} ${r.status}`).join(", ")}`);
+  assert.ok(fake.requests.length > before, "a well-formed verb reached Vikunja through the adapter");
+  assert.equal(await host.close(0), 0);
+});
diff --git a/packages/discord/tests/journal.test.mjs b/packages/discord/tests/journal.test.mjs
index e3443510..681d8b83 100644
--- a/packages/discord/tests/journal.test.mjs
+++ b/packages/discord/tests/journal.test.mjs
@@ -17,6 +17,15 @@ function journal() {
   return dir;
 }
 
+// A pid that is provably dead: a child spawned and reaped here, then
+// confirmed gone with kill(pid, 0). A fixed number can belong to a live process.
+function deadPid() {
+  for (;;) {
+    const { pid } = spawnSync(process.execPath, ["-e", ""], { stdio: "ignore" });
+    if (Number.isSafeInteger(pid) && !pidAlive(pid)) return pid;
+  }
+}
+
 function publish(dir, rec) {
   mkdirSync(lockPath(dir), { recursive: true });
   writeFileSync(ownerPath(dir), JSON.stringify(rec) + "\n", { mode: 0o600 });
@@ -76,7 +85,7 @@ test("lock: the claim is exclusive; a second start against a live owner refuses"
 
 test("lock: a stale lock (dead owner, reused pid, or record without start) refuses run and is never signaled; only unlock clears it", () => {
   const dir = journal();
-  const dead = { pid: 2 ** 22 - 7, start: "1", boot: bootId() };
+  const dead = { pid: deadPid(), start: "1", boot: bootId() };
   publish(dir, dead);
   assert.equal(stopTarget(dir), null);
   assert.throws(() => writePid(dir, process.pid), (err) => err instanceof DiscordError && /which is gone/.test(err.message) && /unlock/.test(err.message));
@@ -116,7 +125,7 @@ test("lock: a stale lock (dead owner, reused pid, or record without start) refus
   assert.throws(() => unlock(dir), /cannot be verified; nothing removed/);
   rmSync(stopPath(dir));
   rmSync(lockPath(dir), { recursive: true });
-  publish(dir, { pid: 2 ** 22 - 7, start: "1" });
+  publish(dir, { pid: deadPid(), start: "1" });
   assert.equal(ownerState(readPid(dir)), "dead");
   unlock(dir);
   rmSync(stopPath(dir));
@@ -227,8 +236,9 @@ test("lock: identity syntax; only canonical unsigned decimal start ticks and low
 
 test("lock: a process whose start marker or boot id cannot be read refuses to claim", () => {
   const dir = journal();
-  assert.equal(processStart(2 ** 22 - 7), null);
-  assert.throws(() => writePid(dir, 2 ** 22 - 7), (err) => err instanceof DiscordError && /start time or the boot id/.test(err.message));
+  const gone = deadPid();
+  assert.equal(processStart(gone), null);
+  assert.throws(() => writePid(dir, gone), (err) => err instanceof DiscordError && /start time or the boot id/.test(err.message));
   assert.equal(existsSync(lockPath(dir)), false, "nothing was left behind");
   const noBoot = (pid) => ({ start: processStart(pid), boot: null });
   assert.throws(() => writePid(dir, process.pid, { identity: noBoot }), /start time or the boot id/);
@@ -276,7 +286,7 @@ test("lock: four processes racing for the same binding; exactly one claims it an
 
 test("lock: stale handoff; concurrent starts over a stale lock all refuse, nothing reclaims, one unlock then exactly one live owner", async () => {
   const dir = journal();
-  const stale = { pid: 2 ** 22 - 7, start: "1", boot: bootId() };
+  const stale = { pid: deadPid(), start: "1", boot: bootId() };
   publish(dir, stale);
   // Several starts race over the stale lock: none may reclaim it.
   const r1 = await race(dir, 4, "stale");
@@ -315,7 +325,7 @@ test("lock: four-party schedule; claims landing inside an unlock's gap never sur
   const worker = fileURLToPath(new URL("../fixtures/claim-worker.mjs", import.meta.url));
   const go = join(dir, "go");
   writeFileSync(go, "");
-  const stale = { pid: 2 ** 22 - 7, start: "1", boot: bootId() };
+  const stale = { pid: deadPid(), start: "1", boot: bootId() };
   publish(dir, stale);
   const claims = [];
   const claim = (tag) => {
diff --git a/scripts/bus-service.sh b/scripts/bus-service.sh
index 4d8c4b95..a60b3610 100755
--- a/scripts/bus-service.sh
+++ b/scripts/bus-service.sh
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ install_unit() {
     fi
     cat <<MSG
 next, for one business (one per data root):
+  mkdir -m 0700 -p <dataRoot>/notify/<business>               the notifier refuses a looser directory
   write <dataRoot>/notify/<business>/notify.json, mode 0600:
     {"notifyVersion": 1, "binding": "<discord binding>"}   or "binding": null for no DMs
   systemctl --user enable --now mosaic-bus@<business>      start now and at login