diff --git a/cli/src/__tests__/worktree.test.ts b/cli/src/__tests__/worktree.test.ts
index ad0edc4a464..d261b933173 100644
--- a/cli/src/__tests__/worktree.test.ts
+++ b/cli/src/__tests__/worktree.test.ts
@@ -8,13 +8,16 @@ import { eq } from "drizzle-orm";
 import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 import {
   agents,
+  authAccounts,
   authUsers,
   companies,
+  companyMemberships,
   createDb,
   executionWorkspaces,
   issueComments,
   issues,
   projectWorkspaces,
+  instanceUserRoles,
   projects,
   routines,
   routineTriggers,
@@ -27,6 +30,7 @@ import {
   markWorktreeSeedPending,
   pauseSeededScheduledRoutines,
   quarantineSeededWorktreeExecutionState,
+  readWorktreeSeedManifest,
   readSourceAttachmentBody,
   rebindWorkspaceCwd,
   resolveSourceConfigPath,
@@ -64,6 +68,88 @@ const embeddedPostgresSupport = await getEmbeddedPostgresTestSupport();
 const itEmbeddedPostgres = embeddedPostgresSupport.supported ? it : it.skip;
 const describeEmbeddedPostgres = embeddedPostgresSupport.supported ? describe : describe.skip;
 
+function mockVerifiedSeedResult() {
+  return {
+    backupSummary: "snapshot.sql",
+    snapshotAt: "2026-08-18T00:00:00.000Z",
+    migrationRevision: "0142_test.sql",
+    pausedScheduledRoutines: 0,
+    executionQuarantine: {
+      disabledTimerHeartbeats: 0,
+      resetRunningAgents: 0,
+      quarantinedInProgressIssues: 0,
+      unassignedTodoIssues: 0,
+      unassignedReviewIssues: 0,
+      stoppedProjectWorkspaceRuntimes: 0,
+      stoppedExecutionWorkspaceRuntimes: 0,
+      stoppedRuntimeServices: 0,
+    },
+    reboundWorkspaces: [],
+    validation: {
+      authUserCount: 1,
+      credentialAccountCount: 1,
+      instanceAdminCount: 1,
+      activeMembershipCount: 1,
+      companyCount: 1,
+      issueCount: 1,
+      representativeCompanyId: "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000001",
+      representativeIssueId: "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000002",
+      migrationRevision: "0142_test.sql",
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+async function seedValidWorktreeSource(connectionString: string) {
+  const db = createDb(connectionString);
+  const companyId = randomUUID();
+  const issueId = randomUUID();
+  const now = new Date();
+  await db.insert(authUsers).values({
+    id: "user-existing",
+    email: "existing@paperclip.ing",
+    name: "Existing User",
+    emailVerified: true,
+    createdAt: now,
+    updatedAt: now,
+  });
+  await db.insert(authAccounts).values({
+    id: "credential-existing",
+    accountId: "existing@paperclip.ing",
+    providerId: "credential",
+    userId: "user-existing",
+    password: "fixture-password-hash",
+    createdAt: now,
+    updatedAt: now,
+  });
+  await db.insert(instanceUserRoles).values({
+    userId: "user-existing",
+    role: "instance_admin",
+  });
+  await db.insert(companies).values({
+    id: companyId,
+    name: "Seed Source",
+    issuePrefix: "SEED",
+    requireBoardApprovalForNewAgents: false,
+  });
+  await db.insert(companyMemberships).values({
+    companyId,
+    principalType: "user",
+    principalId: "user-existing",
+    status: "active",
+  });
+  await db.insert(issues).values({
+    id: issueId,
+    companyId,
+    title: "Representative seed issue",
+    status: "backlog",
+    priority: "medium",
+    issueNumber: 1,
+    identifier: "SEED-1",
+  });
+  await db.$client.end({ timeout: 5 });
+  return { companyId, issueId };
+}
+
 if (!embeddedPostgresSupport.supported) {
   console.warn(
     `Skipping embedded Postgres worktree CLI tests on this host: ${embeddedPostgresSupport.reason ?? "unsupported environment"}`,
@@ -400,7 +486,7 @@ describe("worktree helpers", () => {
     expect(full.nullifyColumns).toEqual({});
   });
 
-  it("ensure-seeded seeds once and fast-exits on the seed-complete marker", async () => {
+  it("ensure-seeded seeds once and fast-exits on the verified manifest", async () => {
     const tempRoot = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "paperclip-worktree-ensure-seeded-"));
     try {
       const sourceConfigPath = path.join(tempRoot, "source", "config.json");
@@ -429,7 +515,7 @@ describe("worktree helpers", () => {
       markWorktreeSeedPending({ configPath: targetConfigPath, sourceConfigPath });
 
       const seedDatabase = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
-        backupSummary: "snapshot.sql",
+        ...mockVerifiedSeedResult(),
         pausedScheduledRoutines: 2,
         executionQuarantine: {
           disabledTimerHeartbeats: 1,
@@ -441,7 +527,6 @@ describe("worktree helpers", () => {
           stoppedExecutionWorkspaceRuntimes: 0,
           stoppedRuntimeServices: 0,
         },
-        reboundWorkspaces: [],
       });
 
       await expect(
@@ -449,7 +534,7 @@ describe("worktree helpers", () => {
       ).resolves.toMatchObject({ seeded: true, reason: "seeded" });
       await expect(
         ensureWorktreeSeeded({ config: targetConfigPath }, { seedDatabase }),
-      ).resolves.toEqual({ seeded: false, reason: "complete_marker" });
+      ).resolves.toEqual({ seeded: false, reason: "verified_manifest" });
 
       expect(seedDatabase).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
       expect(seedDatabase).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({
@@ -458,7 +543,14 @@ describe("worktree helpers", () => {
         instanceId: "ensure-seeded-test",
       }));
       expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(targetRoot, ".paperclip", "seed-pending"))).toBe(false);
-      expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(targetRoot, ".paperclip", "seed-complete"))).toBe(true);
+      expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(targetRoot, ".paperclip", "seed-complete"))).toBe(false);
+      expect(readWorktreeSeedManifest(targetConfigPath)).toMatchObject({
+        version: 2,
+        state: "verified",
+        phase: "complete",
+        migrationRevision: "0142_test.sql",
+        targetInstanceId: "ensure-seeded-test",
+      });
     } finally {
       fs.rmSync(tempRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
     }
@@ -499,7 +591,11 @@ describe("worktree helpers", () => {
         ),
       ).rejects.toThrow("seed failed");
 
-      expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(targetRoot, ".paperclip", "seed-pending"))).toBe(true);
+      expect(readWorktreeSeedManifest(targetConfigPath)).toMatchObject({
+        state: "failed",
+        phase: "pending",
+      });
+      expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(targetRoot, ".paperclip", "seed-pending"))).toBe(false);
       expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(targetRoot, ".paperclip", "seed-complete"))).toBe(false);
       expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(targetRoot, ".paperclip", "seed.lock"))).toBe(false);
     } finally {
@@ -537,21 +633,7 @@ describe("worktree helpers", () => {
 
       const seedDatabase = vi.fn(async () => {
         await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 100));
-        return {
-          backupSummary: "snapshot.sql",
-          pausedScheduledRoutines: 0,
-          executionQuarantine: {
-            disabledTimerHeartbeats: 0,
-            resetRunningAgents: 0,
-            quarantinedInProgressIssues: 0,
-            unassignedTodoIssues: 0,
-            unassignedReviewIssues: 0,
-            stoppedProjectWorkspaceRuntimes: 0,
-            stoppedExecutionWorkspaceRuntimes: 0,
-            stoppedRuntimeServices: 0,
-          },
-          reboundWorkspaces: [],
-        };
+        return mockVerifiedSeedResult();
       });
 
       const results = await Promise.all([
@@ -561,7 +643,7 @@ describe("worktree helpers", () => {
 
       expect(results).toEqual(expect.arrayContaining([
         expect.objectContaining({ seeded: true, reason: "seeded" }),
-        { seeded: false, reason: "complete_marker" },
+        { seeded: false, reason: "verified_manifest" },
       ]));
       expect(seedDatabase).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
       expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(targetRoot, ".paperclip", "seed.lock"))).toBe(false);
@@ -570,6 +652,58 @@ describe("worktree helpers", () => {
     }
   });
 
+  it("records an interrupted phase before retrying to a verified terminal state", async () => {
+    const tempRoot = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "paperclip-worktree-interrupted-seed-"));
+    try {
+      const sourceConfigPath = path.join(tempRoot, "source", "config.json");
+      const targetRoot = path.join(tempRoot, "worktree");
+      const targetConfigPath = path.join(targetRoot, ".paperclip", "config.json");
+      const targetPaths = resolveWorktreeLocalPaths({
+        cwd: targetRoot,
+        homeDir: path.join(tempRoot, "worktree-home"),
+        instanceId: "interrupted-seed",
+      });
+      const sourceConfig = buildSourceConfig();
+      const targetConfig = buildWorktreeConfig({
+        sourceConfig,
+        paths: targetPaths,
+        serverPort: 3196,
+        databasePort: 54996,
+      });
+      fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(sourceConfigPath), { recursive: true });
+      fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(targetConfigPath), { recursive: true });
+      fs.writeFileSync(sourceConfigPath, `${JSON.stringify(sourceConfig)}\n`);
+      fs.writeFileSync(targetConfigPath, `${JSON.stringify(targetConfig)}\n`);
+      fs.writeFileSync(
+        path.join(targetRoot, ".paperclip", ".env"),
+        `PAPERCLIP_HOME=${targetPaths.homeDir}\nPAPERCLIP_INSTANCE_ID=${targetPaths.instanceId}\n`,
+      );
+      markWorktreeSeedPending({ configPath: targetConfigPath, sourceConfigPath });
+      const interrupted = readWorktreeSeedManifest(targetConfigPath)!;
+      fs.writeFileSync(
+        path.join(targetRoot, ".paperclip", "seed-manifest.json"),
+        `${JSON.stringify({ ...interrupted, state: "running", phase: "restore" }, null, 2)}\n`,
+      );
+
+      await expect(ensureWorktreeSeeded(
+        { config: targetConfigPath },
+        { seedDatabase: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(mockVerifiedSeedResult()) },
+      )).resolves.toMatchObject({ seeded: true, reason: "seeded" });
+
+      const verified = readWorktreeSeedManifest(targetConfigPath)!;
+      expect(verified.state).toBe("verified");
+      expect(verified.diagnostics).toEqual(expect.arrayContaining([
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          phase: "restore",
+          status: "failed",
+          message: "The previous seed attempt ended without a terminal result.",
+        }),
+      ]));
+    } finally {
+      fs.rmSync(tempRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
   it("fails closed instead of racing to reclaim a stale seed lock", async () => {
     const tempRoot = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "paperclip-worktree-ensure-seeded-stale-lock-"));
     try {
@@ -983,15 +1117,7 @@ describe("worktree helpers", () => {
       const sourceDb = await startEmbeddedPostgresTestDatabase("paperclip-worktree-auth-source-");
 
       try {
-        const sourceDbClient = createDb(sourceDb.connectionString);
-        await sourceDbClient.insert(authUsers).values({
-          id: "user-existing",
-          email: "existing@paperclip.ing",
-          name: "Existing User",
-          emailVerified: true,
-          createdAt: new Date(),
-          updatedAt: new Date(),
-        });
+        await seedValidWorktreeSource(sourceDb.connectionString);
 
         fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(sourceKeyPath), { recursive: true });
         fs.mkdirSync(worktreeRoot, { recursive: true });
@@ -1028,6 +1154,18 @@ describe("worktree helpers", () => {
         const targetConfig = JSON.parse(
           fs.readFileSync(path.join(worktreeRoot, ".paperclip", "config.json"), "utf8"),
         ) as PaperclipConfig;
+        const manifestText = fs.readFileSync(
+          path.join(worktreeRoot, ".paperclip", "seed-manifest.json"),
+          "utf8",
+        );
+        expect(JSON.parse(manifestText)).toMatchObject({
+          version: 2,
+          seedMode: "minimal",
+          state: "verified",
+          phase: "complete",
+        });
+        expect(manifestText).not.toContain("fixture-password-hash");
+        expect(manifestText).not.toContain("source-master-key");
         const { default: EmbeddedPostgres } = await import("embedded-postgres");
         const targetPg = new EmbeddedPostgres({
           databaseDir: targetConfig.database.embeddedPostgresDataDir,
@@ -1284,9 +1422,8 @@ describe("worktree helpers", () => {
     const originalCwd = process.cwd();
     const originalPaperclipConfig = process.env.PAPERCLIP_CONFIG;
     const currentDatabaseReservation = await reserveTestPort();
-    const sourceDatabaseReservation = await reserveTestPort();
     const currentDatabasePort = currentDatabaseReservation.port;
-    const sourceDatabasePort = sourceDatabaseReservation.port;
+    const sourceDb = await startEmbeddedPostgresTestDatabase("paperclip-worktree-reseed-source-");
 
     try {
       fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(currentPaths.configPath), { recursive: true });
@@ -1301,15 +1438,28 @@ describe("worktree helpers", () => {
         serverPort: 3114,
         databasePort: currentDatabasePort,
       });
-      const sourceConfig = buildWorktreeConfig({
-        sourceConfig: buildSourceConfig(),
-        paths: sourcePaths,
-        serverPort: 3200,
-        databasePort: sourceDatabasePort,
-      });
+      const sourceConfig = buildSourceConfig();
+      sourceConfig.database = {
+        mode: "postgres",
+        embeddedPostgresDataDir: sourcePaths.embeddedPostgresDataDir,
+        embeddedPostgresPort: 54329,
+        backup: {
+          enabled: true,
+          intervalMinutes: 60,
+          retentionDays: 30,
+          dir: sourcePaths.backupDir,
+        },
+        connectionString: sourceDb.connectionString,
+      };
+      sourceConfig.logging.logDir = sourcePaths.logDir;
+      sourceConfig.storage.localDisk.baseDir = sourcePaths.storageDir;
+      sourceConfig.secrets.localEncrypted.keyFilePath = sourcePaths.secretsKeyFilePath;
+      await seedValidWorktreeSource(sourceDb.connectionString);
       fs.writeFileSync(currentPaths.configPath, JSON.stringify(currentConfig, null, 2), "utf8");
       fs.writeFileSync(sourcePaths.configPath, JSON.stringify(sourceConfig, null, 2), "utf8");
       fs.writeFileSync(sourcePaths.secretsKeyFilePath, "source-secret", "utf8");
+      const worktreeSentinelPath = path.join(repoRoot, "user-worktree-file.txt");
+      fs.writeFileSync(worktreeSentinelPath, "preserve me", "utf8");
       fs.writeFileSync(
         currentPaths.envPath,
         [
@@ -1325,11 +1475,11 @@ describe("worktree helpers", () => {
       process.chdir(repoRoot);
 
       await currentDatabaseReservation.release();
-      await sourceDatabaseReservation.release();
 
       await worktreeReseedCommand({
         fromConfig: sourcePaths.configPath,
         yes: true,
+        backupTarget: true,
       });
 
       const rewrittenConfig = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(currentPaths.configPath, "utf8"));
@@ -1341,9 +1491,13 @@ describe("worktree helpers", () => {
       expect(rewrittenEnv).toContain(`PAPERCLIP_INSTANCE_ID=${currentInstanceId}`);
       expect(rewrittenEnv).toContain("PAPERCLIP_WORKTREE_NAME=existing-name");
       expect(rewrittenEnv).toContain("PAPERCLIP_WORKTREE_COLOR=\"#112233\"");
+      expect(fs.readFileSync(worktreeSentinelPath, "utf8")).toBe("preserve me");
+      expect(
+        fs.readdirSync(path.join(currentPaths.backupDir, "repair")).some((name) => name.endsWith(".sql.gz")),
+      ).toBe(true);
     } finally {
       await currentDatabaseReservation.release();
-      await sourceDatabaseReservation.release();
+      await sourceDb.cleanup();
       process.chdir(originalCwd);
       if (originalPaperclipConfig === undefined) {
         delete process.env.PAPERCLIP_CONFIG;
diff --git a/cli/src/commands/worktree-lib.ts b/cli/src/commands/worktree-lib.ts
index 7da2857c5d6..4cdf7ef5364 100644
--- a/cli/src/commands/worktree-lib.ts
+++ b/cli/src/commands/worktree-lib.ts
@@ -5,12 +5,52 @@ import { expandHomePrefix } from "../config/home.js";
 
 export const DEFAULT_WORKTREE_HOME = "~/.paperclip-worktrees";
 export const WORKTREE_SEED_MODES = ["minimal", "full"] as const;
+export const WORKTREE_SEED_MANIFEST = "seed-manifest.json";
 export const WORKTREE_SEED_PENDING_MARKER = "seed-pending";
 export const WORKTREE_SEED_COMPLETE_MARKER = "seed-complete";
 export const WORKTREE_SEED_LOCK_MARKER = "seed.lock";
 
 export type WorktreeSeedMode = (typeof WORKTREE_SEED_MODES)[number];
 
+export const WORKTREE_SEED_PHASES = [
+  "pending",
+  "source_validation",
+  "snapshot",
+  "restore",
+  "migrations",
+  "execution_quarantine",
+  "routine_pause",
+  "workspace_rebind",
+  "post_restore_validation",
+  "complete",
+] as const;
+
+export type WorktreeSeedPhase = (typeof WORKTREE_SEED_PHASES)[number];
+export type WorktreeSeedState = "pending" | "running" | "verified" | "failed";
+
+export type WorktreeSeedManifest = {
+  version: 2;
+  source: {
+    instanceId: string;
+    configPath: string;
+  };
+  snapshotAt: string | null;
+  seedMode: WorktreeSeedMode;
+  migrationRevision: string | null;
+  targetInstanceId: string;
+  phase: WorktreeSeedPhase;
+  state: WorktreeSeedState;
+  attemptId: string;
+  startedAt: string | null;
+  finishedAt: string | null;
+  diagnostics: Array<{
+    phase: WorktreeSeedPhase;
+    status: "started" | "succeeded" | "failed";
+    at: string;
+    message?: string;
+  }>;
+};
+
 export type WorktreeSeedPlan = {
   mode: WorktreeSeedMode;
   excludedTables: string[];
@@ -54,6 +94,7 @@ export type WorktreeUiBranding = {
 };
 
 export type WorktreeSeedMarkerPaths = {
+  manifest: string;
   pending: string;
   complete: string;
   lock: string;
@@ -62,6 +103,7 @@ export type WorktreeSeedMarkerPaths = {
 export function resolveWorktreeSeedMarkerPaths(configPath: string): WorktreeSeedMarkerPaths {
   const configDir = path.dirname(path.resolve(configPath));
   return {
+    manifest: path.resolve(configDir, WORKTREE_SEED_MANIFEST),
     pending: path.resolve(configDir, WORKTREE_SEED_PENDING_MARKER),
     complete: path.resolve(configDir, WORKTREE_SEED_COMPLETE_MARKER),
     lock: path.resolve(configDir, WORKTREE_SEED_LOCK_MARKER),
diff --git a/cli/src/commands/worktree.ts b/cli/src/commands/worktree.ts
index 7adee70c8ae..7e3a9ece58e 100644
--- a/cli/src/commands/worktree.ts
+++ b/cli/src/commands/worktree.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
   readdirSync,
   readFileSync,
   readlinkSync,
+  renameSync,
   rmSync,
   statSync,
   symlinkSync,
@@ -24,8 +25,11 @@ import { and, eq, inArray, sql } from "drizzle-orm";
 import {
   applyPendingMigrations,
   agents,
+  authAccounts,
+  authUsers,
   assets,
   companies,
+  companyMemberships,
   createDb,
   documentRevisions,
   documents,
@@ -39,6 +43,7 @@ import {
   issueComments,
   issueDocuments,
   issues,
+  instanceUserRoles,
   projectWorkspaces,
   projects,
   routines,
@@ -65,13 +70,16 @@ import {
   formatShellExports,
   generateWorktreeColor,
   isWorktreeSeedMode,
+  WORKTREE_SEED_PHASES,
   resolveSuggestedWorktreeName,
   resolveWorktreeSeedPlan,
   resolveWorktreeSeedMarkerPaths,
   resolveWorktreeLocalPaths,
   sanitizeWorktreeInstanceId,
   type WorktreeSeedPlan,
+  type WorktreeSeedManifest,
   type WorktreeSeedMode,
+  type WorktreeSeedPhase,
   type WorktreeLocalPaths,
 } from "./worktree-lib.js";
 import {
@@ -137,6 +145,7 @@ type WorktreeReseedOptions = {
   preserveLiveWork?: boolean;
   yes?: boolean;
   allowLiveTarget?: boolean;
+  backupTarget?: boolean;
 };
 
 type WorktreeRepairOptions = {
@@ -197,6 +206,8 @@ type CopiedGitHooksResult = {
 
 type SeedWorktreeDatabaseResult = {
   backupSummary: string;
+  snapshotAt: string;
+  migrationRevision: string;
   pausedScheduledRoutines: number;
   executionQuarantine: SeededWorktreeExecutionQuarantineSummary;
   reboundWorkspaces: Array<{
@@ -204,28 +215,26 @@ type SeedWorktreeDatabaseResult = {
     fromCwd: string;
     toCwd: string;
   }>;
+  validation: WorktreeSeedValidationSummary;
 };
 
-type WorktreeSeedPendingMarker = {
-  version: 1;
-  state: "pending";
-  sourceConfigPath: string;
-  seedMode: "minimal";
-  createdAt: string;
-};
-
-type WorktreeSeedCompleteMarker = {
-  version: 1;
-  state: "complete";
-  seedMode: WorktreeSeedMode;
-  completedAt: string;
+export type WorktreeSeedValidationSummary = {
+  authUserCount: number;
+  credentialAccountCount: number;
+  instanceAdminCount: number;
+  activeMembershipCount: number;
+  companyCount: number;
+  issueCount: number;
+  representativeCompanyId: string;
+  representativeIssueId: string;
+  migrationRevision: string;
 };
 
 type SeedWorktreeDatabase = typeof seedWorktreeDatabase;
 
 export type EnsureWorktreeSeededResult = {
   seeded: boolean;
-  reason: "seeded" | "complete_marker" | "legacy_unmarked";
+  reason: "seeded" | "verified_manifest" | "complete_marker" | "legacy_unmarked";
   details?: SeedWorktreeDatabaseResult;
 };
 
@@ -1393,6 +1402,140 @@ export async function quarantineSeededWorktreeExecutionState(
   }
 }
 
+type WorktreeSeedValidationExpectation = {
+  adminUserId: string;
+  representativeCompanyId: string;
+  representativeIssueId: string;
+};
+
+async function inspectVerifiedSeedDatabase(
+  connectionString: string,
+  expected?: WorktreeSeedValidationExpectation,
+): Promise<{ summary: WorktreeSeedValidationSummary; expectation: WorktreeSeedValidationExpectation }> {
+  const migrationState = await inspectMigrations(connectionString);
+  if (migrationState.status !== "upToDate") {
+    throw new Error(
+      `Migration journal is not current (${migrationState.pendingMigrations.length} pending migration(s)).`,
+    );
+  }
+  const migrationRevision = migrationState.appliedMigrations.at(-1);
+  if (!migrationRevision) {
+    throw new Error("Migration journal has no applied revision.");
+  }
+
+  const db = createDb(connectionString);
+  try {
+    const [counts] = await db
+      .select({
+        authUserCount: sql<number>`count(distinct ${authUsers.id})::int`,
+        credentialAccountCount: sql<number>`count(distinct ${authAccounts.id})::int`,
+        instanceAdminCount: sql<number>`count(distinct ${instanceUserRoles.userId})::int`,
+        activeMembershipCount: sql<number>`count(distinct ${companyMemberships.id})::int`,
+        companyCount: sql<number>`count(distinct ${companies.id})::int`,
+        issueCount: sql<number>`count(distinct ${issues.id})::int`,
+      })
+      .from(authUsers)
+      .leftJoin(authAccounts, eq(authAccounts.userId, authUsers.id))
+      .leftJoin(
+        instanceUserRoles,
+        and(eq(instanceUserRoles.userId, authUsers.id), eq(instanceUserRoles.role, "instance_admin")),
+      )
+      .leftJoin(
+        companyMemberships,
+        and(
+          eq(companyMemberships.principalType, "user"),
+          eq(companyMemberships.principalId, authUsers.id),
+          eq(companyMemberships.status, "active"),
+        ),
+      )
+      .leftJoin(companies, eq(companies.id, companyMemberships.companyId))
+      .leftJoin(issues, eq(issues.companyId, companies.id));
+
+    const admin = await db
+      .select({ userId: authUsers.id })
+      .from(authUsers)
+      .innerJoin(
+        instanceUserRoles,
+        and(eq(instanceUserRoles.userId, authUsers.id), eq(instanceUserRoles.role, "instance_admin")),
+      )
+      .innerJoin(
+        authAccounts,
+        and(
+          eq(authAccounts.userId, authUsers.id),
+          sql`length(trim(${authAccounts.providerId})) > 0`,
+          sql`length(trim(${authAccounts.accountId})) > 0`,
+        ),
+      )
+      .innerJoin(
+        companyMemberships,
+        and(
+          eq(companyMemberships.principalType, "user"),
+          eq(companyMemberships.principalId, authUsers.id),
+          eq(companyMemberships.status, "active"),
+        ),
+      )
+      .where(expected ? eq(authUsers.id, expected.adminUserId) : undefined)
+      .limit(1)
+      .then((rows) => rows[0] ?? null);
+    if (!admin) {
+      throw new Error(
+        "No auth user has a non-empty credential account, instance-admin role, and active company membership.",
+      );
+    }
+
+    const representative = await db
+      .select({ companyId: companies.id, issueId: issues.id })
+      .from(companies)
+      .innerJoin(issues, eq(issues.companyId, companies.id))
+      .where(
+        expected
+          ? and(
+              eq(companies.id, expected.representativeCompanyId),
+              eq(issues.id, expected.representativeIssueId),
+            )
+          : undefined,
+      )
+      .limit(1)
+      .then((rows) => rows[0] ?? null);
+    if (!representative) {
+      throw new Error("No representative cloned company and issue pair is readable.");
+    }
+
+    const summary: WorktreeSeedValidationSummary = {
+      authUserCount: counts?.authUserCount ?? 0,
+      credentialAccountCount: counts?.credentialAccountCount ?? 0,
+      instanceAdminCount: counts?.instanceAdminCount ?? 0,
+      activeMembershipCount: counts?.activeMembershipCount ?? 0,
+      companyCount: counts?.companyCount ?? 0,
+      issueCount: counts?.issueCount ?? 0,
+      representativeCompanyId: representative.companyId,
+      representativeIssueId: representative.issueId,
+      migrationRevision,
+    };
+    if (
+      summary.authUserCount < 1
+      || summary.credentialAccountCount < 1
+      || summary.instanceAdminCount < 1
+      || summary.activeMembershipCount < 1
+      || summary.companyCount < 1
+      || summary.issueCount < 1
+    ) {
+      throw new Error("Seed validation found an incomplete auth, membership, company, or issue shape.");
+    }
+
+    return {
+      summary,
+      expectation: {
+        adminUserId: admin.userId,
+        representativeCompanyId: representative.companyId,
+        representativeIssueId: representative.issueId,
+      },
+    };
+  } finally {
+    await db.$client?.end?.({ timeout: 5 }).catch(() => undefined);
+  }
+}
+
 async function seedWorktreeDatabase(input: {
   sourceConfigPath: string;
   sourceConfig: PaperclipConfig;
@@ -1401,6 +1544,7 @@ async function seedWorktreeDatabase(input: {
   instanceId: string;
   seedMode: WorktreeSeedMode;
   preserveLiveWork?: boolean;
+  onPhase?: (phase: WorktreeSeedPhase, status: "started" | "succeeded", message?: string) => void;
 }): Promise<SeedWorktreeDatabaseResult> {
   const seedPlan = resolveWorktreeSeedPlan(input.seedMode);
   const sourceEnvFile = resolvePaperclipEnvFile(input.sourceConfigPath);
@@ -1428,6 +1572,16 @@ async function seedWorktreeDatabase(input: {
       sourceEnvEntries,
       sourceHandle?.port,
     );
+    input.onPhase?.("source_validation", "started");
+    const sourceValidation = await inspectVerifiedSeedDatabase(sourceConnectionString);
+    input.onPhase?.(
+      "source_validation",
+      "succeeded",
+      `Validated ${sourceValidation.summary.companyCount} company record(s) and ${sourceValidation.summary.issueCount} issue record(s).`,
+    );
+
+    const snapshotAt = new Date().toISOString();
+    input.onPhase?.("snapshot", "started");
     const backup = await runDatabaseBackup({
       connectionString: sourceConnectionString,
       backupDir: path.resolve(input.targetPaths.backupDir, "seed"),
@@ -1438,6 +1592,7 @@ async function seedWorktreeDatabase(input: {
       excludeTables: seedPlan.excludedTables,
       nullifyColumns: seedPlan.nullifyColumns,
     });
+    input.onPhase?.("snapshot", "succeeded", `Created ${path.basename(backup.backupFile)}.`);
 
     targetHandle = await ensureEmbeddedPostgres(
       input.targetConfig.database.embeddedPostgresDataDir,
@@ -1445,27 +1600,56 @@ async function seedWorktreeDatabase(input: {
     );
 
     const adminConnectionString = `postgres://paperclip:paperclip@127.0.0.1:${targetHandle.port}/postgres`;
+    input.onPhase?.("restore", "started");
     await resetPostgresDatabase(adminConnectionString, "paperclip");
     const targetConnectionString = `postgres://paperclip:paperclip@127.0.0.1:${targetHandle.port}/paperclip`;
     await runDatabaseRestore({
       connectionString: targetConnectionString,
       backupFile: backup.backupFile,
     });
+    input.onPhase?.("restore", "succeeded");
+    input.onPhase?.("migrations", "started");
     await applyPendingMigrations(targetConnectionString);
+    input.onPhase?.("migrations", "succeeded");
+    input.onPhase?.("execution_quarantine", "started");
     const executionQuarantine = input.preserveLiveWork
       ? { ...EMPTY_SEEDED_WORKTREE_EXECUTION_QUARANTINE_SUMMARY }
       : await quarantineSeededWorktreeExecutionState(targetConnectionString);
+    input.onPhase?.(
+      "execution_quarantine",
+      "succeeded",
+      input.preserveLiveWork
+        ? "Preserved copied live work by explicit request."
+        : formatSeededWorktreeExecutionQuarantineSummary(executionQuarantine),
+    );
+    input.onPhase?.("routine_pause", "started");
     const pausedScheduledRoutines = await pauseSeededScheduledRoutines(targetConnectionString);
+    input.onPhase?.("routine_pause", "succeeded", `Paused ${pausedScheduledRoutines} scheduled routine(s).`);
+    input.onPhase?.("workspace_rebind", "started");
     const reboundWorkspaces = await rebindSeededProjectWorkspaces({
       targetConnectionString,
       currentCwd: input.targetPaths.cwd,
     });
+    input.onPhase?.("workspace_rebind", "succeeded", `Rebound ${reboundWorkspaces.length} workspace path(s).`);
+    input.onPhase?.("post_restore_validation", "started");
+    const targetValidation = await inspectVerifiedSeedDatabase(
+      targetConnectionString,
+      sourceValidation.expectation,
+    );
+    input.onPhase?.(
+      "post_restore_validation",
+      "succeeded",
+      `Validated migration ${targetValidation.summary.migrationRevision}.`,
+    );
 
     return {
       backupSummary: formatDatabaseBackupResult(backup),
+      snapshotAt,
+      migrationRevision: targetValidation.summary.migrationRevision,
       pausedScheduledRoutines,
       executionQuarantine,
       reboundWorkspaces,
+      validation: targetValidation.summary,
     };
   } finally {
     if (targetHandle?.startedByThisProcess) {
@@ -1477,46 +1661,184 @@ async function seedWorktreeDatabase(input: {
   }
 }
 
-function writeWorktreeSeedMarker(
-  filePath: string,
-  marker: WorktreeSeedPendingMarker | WorktreeSeedCompleteMarker,
-): void {
+const WORKTREE_SEED_DIAGNOSTIC_LIMIT = 32;
+const WORKTREE_SEED_DIAGNOSTIC_MESSAGE_LIMIT = 512;
+const activeSeedInterruptHandlers = new Map<string, (signal: NodeJS.Signals) => void>();
+
+function dispatchSeedInterruption(signal: NodeJS.Signals): void {
+  for (const handler of activeSeedInterruptHandlers.values()) {
+    try {
+      handler(signal);
+    } catch {
+      // Continue terminalizing the other active manifests before exiting.
+    }
+  }
+  process.exit(signal === "SIGINT" ? 130 : 143);
+}
+
+const dispatchSeedSigint = () => dispatchSeedInterruption("SIGINT");
+const dispatchSeedSigterm = () => dispatchSeedInterruption("SIGTERM");
+
+function registerSeedInterruptHandler(handler: (signal: NodeJS.Signals) => void): () => void {
+  const id = randomUUID();
+  if (activeSeedInterruptHandlers.size === 0) {
+    process.once("SIGINT", dispatchSeedSigint);
+    process.once("SIGTERM", dispatchSeedSigterm);
+  }
+  activeSeedInterruptHandlers.set(id, handler);
+  return () => {
+    activeSeedInterruptHandlers.delete(id);
+    if (activeSeedInterruptHandlers.size === 0) {
+      process.off("SIGINT", dispatchSeedSigint);
+      process.off("SIGTERM", dispatchSeedSigterm);
+    }
+  };
+}
+
+type LegacyWorktreeSeedPendingMarker = {
+  version: 1;
+  state: "pending";
+  sourceConfigPath: string;
+};
+
+function resolveSeedInstanceId(configPath: string): string {
+  const envEntries = readPaperclipEnvEntries(resolvePaperclipEnvFile(configPath));
+  return nonEmpty(envEntries.PAPERCLIP_INSTANCE_ID)
+    ?? sanitizeWorktreeInstanceId(path.basename(path.dirname(path.resolve(configPath))));
+}
+
+function writeWorktreeSeedManifest(filePath: string, manifest: WorktreeSeedManifest): void {
   mkdirSync(path.dirname(filePath), { recursive: true });
-  writeFileSync(filePath, `${JSON.stringify(marker, null, 2)}\n`, { mode: 0o600 });
+  const temporaryPath = `${filePath}.${process.pid}.${randomUUID()}.tmp`;
+  writeFileSync(temporaryPath, `${JSON.stringify(manifest, null, 2)}\n`, { mode: 0o600 });
+  renameSync(temporaryPath, filePath);
+}
+
+export function readWorktreeSeedManifest(configPath: string): WorktreeSeedManifest | null {
+  const manifestPath = resolveWorktreeSeedMarkerPaths(configPath).manifest;
+  if (!existsSync(manifestPath)) return null;
+  let parsed: unknown;
+  try {
+    parsed = JSON.parse(readFileSync(manifestPath, "utf8"));
+  } catch (error) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `Invalid worktree seed manifest at ${manifestPath}: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}`,
+    );
+  }
+  const value = parsed as Partial<WorktreeSeedManifest>;
+  const diagnosticsValid = Array.isArray(value.diagnostics) && value.diagnostics.every((diagnostic) => (
+    diagnostic
+    && typeof diagnostic === "object"
+    && WORKTREE_SEED_PHASES.includes(diagnostic.phase)
+    && ["started", "succeeded", "failed"].includes(diagnostic.status)
+    && typeof diagnostic.at === "string"
+    && (diagnostic.message === undefined || typeof diagnostic.message === "string")
+  ));
+  const verifiedTerminalValid = value.state !== "verified" || (
+    value.phase === "complete"
+    && typeof value.snapshotAt === "string"
+    && value.snapshotAt.length > 0
+    && typeof value.migrationRevision === "string"
+    && value.migrationRevision.length > 0
+    && typeof value.startedAt === "string"
+    && typeof value.finishedAt === "string"
+    && value.diagnostics?.some((diagnostic) => (
+      diagnostic.phase === "complete" && diagnostic.status === "succeeded"
+    )) === true
+  );
+  if (
+    !value
+    || typeof value !== "object"
+    || value.version !== 2
+    || !value.source
+    || typeof value.source.instanceId !== "string"
+    || typeof value.source.configPath !== "string"
+    || typeof value.targetInstanceId !== "string"
+    || value.targetInstanceId.length === 0
+    || !isWorktreeSeedMode(String(value.seedMode ?? ""))
+    || !WORKTREE_SEED_PHASES.includes(value.phase as WorktreeSeedPhase)
+    || !["pending", "running", "verified", "failed"].includes(String(value.state ?? ""))
+    || typeof value.attemptId !== "string"
+    || value.attemptId.length === 0
+    || !diagnosticsValid
+    || !verifiedTerminalValid
+  ) {
+    throw new Error(`Invalid worktree seed manifest at ${manifestPath}.`);
+  }
+  return value as WorktreeSeedManifest;
 }
 
 export function markWorktreeSeedPending(input: {
   configPath: string;
   sourceConfigPath: string;
-  now?: Date;
-}): void {
-  const markers = resolveWorktreeSeedMarkerPaths(input.configPath);
-  rmSync(markers.complete, { force: true });
-  writeWorktreeSeedMarker(markers.pending, {
-    version: 1,
-    state: "pending",
-    sourceConfigPath: path.resolve(input.sourceConfigPath),
-    seedMode: "minimal",
-    createdAt: (input.now ?? new Date()).toISOString(),
-  });
-}
-
-export function markWorktreeSeedComplete(input: {
-  configPath: string;
+  targetInstanceId?: string;
   seedMode?: WorktreeSeedMode;
   now?: Date;
 }): void {
   const markers = resolveWorktreeSeedMarkerPaths(input.configPath);
-  writeWorktreeSeedMarker(markers.complete, {
-    version: 1,
-    state: "complete",
+  const at = (input.now ?? new Date()).toISOString();
+  writeWorktreeSeedManifest(markers.manifest, {
+    version: 2,
+    source: {
+      instanceId: resolveSeedInstanceId(input.sourceConfigPath),
+      configPath: path.resolve(input.sourceConfigPath),
+    },
+    snapshotAt: null,
     seedMode: input.seedMode ?? "minimal",
-    completedAt: (input.now ?? new Date()).toISOString(),
+    migrationRevision: null,
+    targetInstanceId: input.targetInstanceId ?? resolveSeedInstanceId(input.configPath),
+    phase: "pending",
+    state: "pending",
+    attemptId: randomUUID(),
+    startedAt: null,
+    finishedAt: null,
+    diagnostics: [{ phase: "pending", status: "succeeded", at }],
   });
+  // New manifests are authoritative. Legacy files are removed so no caller can
+  // mistake a stale binary marker for current verified seed state.
+  rmSync(markers.complete, { force: true });
   rmSync(markers.pending, { force: true });
 }
 
-function readWorktreeSeedPendingMarker(filePath: string): WorktreeSeedPendingMarker {
+function updateWorktreeSeedManifest(input: {
+  configPath: string;
+  phase: WorktreeSeedPhase;
+  status: "started" | "succeeded" | "failed";
+  state?: WorktreeSeedManifest["state"];
+  message?: string;
+  snapshotAt?: string | null;
+  migrationRevision?: string | null;
+  now?: Date;
+}): WorktreeSeedManifest {
+  const markers = resolveWorktreeSeedMarkerPaths(input.configPath);
+  const current = readWorktreeSeedManifest(input.configPath);
+  if (!current) throw new Error(`Worktree seed manifest does not exist at ${markers.manifest}.`);
+  const at = (input.now ?? new Date()).toISOString();
+  const nextState = input.state ?? current.state;
+  const diagnostic = {
+    phase: input.phase,
+    status: input.status,
+    at,
+    ...(input.message
+      ? { message: input.message.slice(0, WORKTREE_SEED_DIAGNOSTIC_MESSAGE_LIMIT) }
+      : {}),
+  };
+  const next: WorktreeSeedManifest = {
+    ...current,
+    phase: input.phase,
+    state: nextState,
+    snapshotAt: input.snapshotAt === undefined ? current.snapshotAt : input.snapshotAt,
+    migrationRevision:
+      input.migrationRevision === undefined ? current.migrationRevision : input.migrationRevision,
+    startedAt: current.startedAt ?? (input.status === "started" ? at : null),
+    finishedAt: nextState === "verified" || nextState === "failed" ? at : null,
+    diagnostics: [...current.diagnostics, diagnostic].slice(-WORKTREE_SEED_DIAGNOSTIC_LIMIT),
+  };
+  writeWorktreeSeedManifest(markers.manifest, next);
+  return next;
+}
+
+function readLegacyWorktreeSeedPendingMarker(filePath: string): LegacyWorktreeSeedPendingMarker {
   let parsed: unknown;
   try {
     parsed = JSON.parse(readFileSync(filePath, "utf8"));
@@ -1537,7 +1859,7 @@ function readWorktreeSeedPendingMarker(filePath: string): WorktreeSeedPendingMar
     throw new Error(`Invalid worktree seed-pending marker at ${filePath}.`);
   }
 
-  return parsed as WorktreeSeedPendingMarker;
+  return parsed as LegacyWorktreeSeedPendingMarker;
 }
 
 const WORKTREE_SEED_LOCK_POLL_MS = 50;
@@ -1631,6 +1953,117 @@ async function acquireWorktreeSeedLock(lockPath: string): Promise<() => Promise<
   }
 }
 
+function startWorktreeSeedAttempt(configPath: string, now = new Date()): WorktreeSeedManifest {
+  const markers = resolveWorktreeSeedMarkerPaths(configPath);
+  const current = readWorktreeSeedManifest(configPath);
+  if (!current) throw new Error(`Worktree seed manifest does not exist at ${markers.manifest}.`);
+  const at = now.toISOString();
+  const next: WorktreeSeedManifest = {
+    ...current,
+    state: "running",
+    phase: "pending",
+    attemptId: randomUUID(),
+    snapshotAt: null,
+    migrationRevision: null,
+    startedAt: at,
+    finishedAt: null,
+    diagnostics: [
+      ...current.diagnostics,
+      { phase: "pending" as const, status: "started" as const, at },
+    ].slice(-WORKTREE_SEED_DIAGNOSTIC_LIMIT),
+  };
+  writeWorktreeSeedManifest(markers.manifest, next);
+  return next;
+}
+
+async function runVerifiedWorktreeSeed(input: {
+  configPath: string;
+  sourceConfigPath: string;
+  sourceConfig: PaperclipConfig;
+  targetConfig: PaperclipConfig;
+  targetPaths: WorktreeLocalPaths;
+  instanceId: string;
+  seedMode: WorktreeSeedMode;
+  preserveLiveWork?: boolean;
+  seedDatabase: SeedWorktreeDatabase;
+}): Promise<SeedWorktreeDatabaseResult> {
+  let activePhase: WorktreeSeedPhase = "pending";
+  const previous = readWorktreeSeedManifest(input.configPath);
+  if (previous?.state === "running") {
+    updateWorktreeSeedManifest({
+      configPath: input.configPath,
+      phase: previous.phase,
+      status: "failed",
+      state: "failed",
+      message: "The previous seed attempt ended without a terminal result.",
+    });
+  }
+  startWorktreeSeedAttempt(input.configPath);
+
+  const unregisterInterruption = registerSeedInterruptHandler((signal) => {
+    updateWorktreeSeedManifest({
+      configPath: input.configPath,
+      phase: activePhase,
+      status: "failed",
+      state: "failed",
+      message: `Seed interrupted by ${signal} during ${activePhase}.`,
+    });
+  });
+
+  try {
+    const details = await input.seedDatabase({
+      sourceConfigPath: input.sourceConfigPath,
+      sourceConfig: input.sourceConfig,
+      targetConfig: input.targetConfig,
+      targetPaths: input.targetPaths,
+      instanceId: input.instanceId,
+      seedMode: input.seedMode,
+      preserveLiveWork: input.preserveLiveWork,
+      onPhase: (phase, status, message) => {
+        activePhase = phase;
+        updateWorktreeSeedManifest({
+          configPath: input.configPath,
+          phase,
+          status,
+          state: "running",
+          message,
+          ...(phase === "snapshot" && status === "started"
+            ? { snapshotAt: new Date().toISOString() }
+            : {}),
+        });
+      },
+    });
+    if (!details.snapshotAt || !details.migrationRevision || !details.validation) {
+      throw new Error("Seed implementation returned without required validation evidence.");
+    }
+    updateWorktreeSeedManifest({
+      configPath: input.configPath,
+      phase: "complete",
+      status: "succeeded",
+      state: "verified",
+      snapshotAt: details.snapshotAt,
+      migrationRevision: details.migrationRevision,
+      message:
+        `Verified ${details.validation.companyCount} company record(s), `
+        + `${details.validation.issueCount} issue record(s), auth, admin, membership, and migration state.`,
+    });
+    return details;
+  } catch (error) {
+    updateWorktreeSeedManifest({
+      configPath: input.configPath,
+      phase: activePhase,
+      status: "failed",
+      state: "failed",
+      // Do not persist the underlying error: database/driver errors may contain
+      // connection credentials. The CLI still returns the exact error to its caller.
+      message: `Seed failed during ${activePhase}.`,
+    });
+    throw error;
+  } finally {
+    unregisterInterruption();
+  }
+}
+
 export async function ensureWorktreeSeeded(
   opts: WorktreeEnsureSeededOptions = {},
   dependencies: { seedDatabase?: SeedWorktreeDatabase } = {},
@@ -1642,24 +2075,36 @@ export async function ensureWorktreeSeeded(
   try {
     // These checks deliberately happen under the cross-process lock. A second
     // service process waits for the first seed transaction, then observes the
-    // complete marker instead of cloning the same database concurrently.
-    if (existsSync(markers.complete)) {
+    // verified manifest instead of cloning the same database concurrently.
+    let manifest = readWorktreeSeedManifest(configPath);
+    if (manifest?.state === "verified") {
+      return { seeded: false, reason: "verified_manifest" };
+    }
+    if (!manifest && existsSync(markers.complete)) {
       return { seeded: false, reason: "complete_marker" };
     }
-    if (!existsSync(markers.pending)) {
+    if (!manifest && existsSync(markers.pending)) {
+      const legacyPending = readLegacyWorktreeSeedPendingMarker(markers.pending);
+      markWorktreeSeedPending({
+        configPath,
+        sourceConfigPath: legacyPending.sourceConfigPath,
+        seedMode: "minimal",
+      });
+      manifest = readWorktreeSeedManifest(configPath);
+    }
+    if (!manifest) {
       // Worktrees created before lazy seeding shipped were seeded eagerly and
       // have neither marker. Preserve that compatibility without re-cloning.
       return { seeded: false, reason: "legacy_unmarked" };
     }
 
-    const pending = readWorktreeSeedPendingMarker(markers.pending);
     const sourceConfigPath = opts.fromConfig || opts.fromDataDir || opts.fromInstance
       ? resolveSourceConfigPath({
           fromConfig: opts.fromConfig,
           fromDataDir: opts.fromDataDir,
           fromInstance: opts.fromInstance,
         })
-      : path.resolve(pending.sourceConfigPath);
+      : path.resolve(manifest.source.configPath);
 
     if (path.resolve(sourceConfigPath) === path.resolve(configPath)) {
       throw new Error(
@@ -1679,16 +2124,17 @@ export async function ensureWorktreeSeeded(
     const targetRoot = path.dirname(path.dirname(configPath));
     const targetPaths = resolveWorktreeReseedTargetPaths({ configPath, rootPath: targetRoot });
     const seedDatabase = dependencies.seedDatabase ?? seedWorktreeDatabase;
-    const details = await seedDatabase({
+    const details = await runVerifiedWorktreeSeed({
+      configPath,
       sourceConfigPath,
       sourceConfig,
       targetConfig,
       targetPaths,
       instanceId: targetPaths.instanceId,
-      seedMode: "minimal",
+      seedMode: manifest.seedMode,
       preserveLiveWork: opts.preserveLiveWork,
+      seedDatabase,
     });
-    markWorktreeSeedComplete({ configPath });
     return { seeded: true, reason: "seeded", details };
   } finally {
     await releaseLock();
@@ -1762,6 +2208,8 @@ async function runWorktreeInit(opts: WorktreeInitOptions): Promise<void> {
   markWorktreeSeedPending({
     configPath: paths.configPath,
     sourceConfigPath,
+    targetInstanceId: instanceId,
+    seedMode,
   });
   const sourceEnvEntries = readPaperclipEnvEntries(resolvePaperclipEnvFile(sourceConfigPath));
   const existingAgentJwtSecret =
@@ -1790,8 +2238,11 @@ async function runWorktreeInit(opts: WorktreeInitOptions): Promise<void> {
     }
     const spinner = p.spinner();
     spinner.start(`Seeding isolated worktree database from source instance (${seedMode})...`);
+    const markers = resolveWorktreeSeedMarkerPaths(paths.configPath);
+    const releaseSeedLock = await acquireWorktreeSeedLock(markers.lock);
     try {
-      const seeded = await seedWorktreeDatabase({
+      const seeded = await runVerifiedWorktreeSeed({
+        configPath: paths.configPath,
         sourceConfigPath,
         sourceConfig,
         targetConfig,
@@ -1799,16 +2250,18 @@ async function runWorktreeInit(opts: WorktreeInitOptions): Promise<void> {
         instanceId,
         seedMode,
         preserveLiveWork: opts.preserveLiveWork,
+        seedDatabase: seedWorktreeDatabase,
       });
       seedSummary = seeded.backupSummary;
       seedExecutionQuarantineSummary = seeded.executionQuarantine;
       pausedScheduledRoutineCount = seeded.pausedScheduledRoutines;
       reboundWorkspaceSummary = seeded.reboundWorkspaces;
-      markWorktreeSeedComplete({ configPath: paths.configPath, seedMode });
       spinner.stop(`Seeded isolated worktree database (${seedMode}).`);
     } catch (error) {
       spinner.stop(pc.red("Failed to seed worktree database."));
       throw error;
+    } finally {
+      await releaseSeedLock();
     }
   }
 
@@ -3480,6 +3933,34 @@ export async function worktreeMergeHistoryCommand(sourceArg: string | undefined,
   }
 }
 
+async function backupWorktreeReseedTarget(input: {
+  targetConfig: PaperclipConfig;
+  targetPaths: WorktreeLocalPaths;
+}): Promise<string> {
+  if (input.targetConfig.database.mode !== "embedded-postgres") {
+    throw new Error("Managed worktree repair requires an embedded PostgreSQL target.");
+  }
+  const targetHandle = await ensureEmbeddedPostgres(
+    input.targetConfig.database.embeddedPostgresDataDir,
+    input.targetConfig.database.embeddedPostgresPort,
+  );
+  try {
+    const adminConnectionString = `postgres://paperclip:paperclip@127.0.0.1:${targetHandle.port}/postgres`;
+    await ensurePostgresDatabase(adminConnectionString, "paperclip");
+    const result = await runDatabaseBackup({
+      connectionString: `postgres://paperclip:paperclip@127.0.0.1:${targetHandle.port}/paperclip`,
+      backupDir: path.resolve(input.targetPaths.backupDir, "repair"),
+      retention: { dailyDays: 30, weeklyWeeks: 12, monthlyMonths: 12 },
+      filenamePrefix: `${input.targetPaths.instanceId}-pre-repair`,
+      backupEngine: "auto",
+      includeMigrationJournal: true,
+    });
+    return formatDatabaseBackupResult(result);
+  } finally {
+    if (targetHandle.startedByThisProcess) await targetHandle.stop();
+  }
+}
+
 async function runWorktreeReseed(opts: WorktreeReseedOptions): Promise<void> {
   const seedMode = opts.seedMode ?? "full";
   if (!isWorktreeSeedMode(seedMode)) {
@@ -3535,8 +4016,23 @@ async function runWorktreeReseed(opts: WorktreeReseedOptions): Promise<void> {
 
   const spinner = p.spinner();
   spinner.start(`Reseeding ${targetEndpoint.label} from ${source.label} (${seedMode})...`);
+  const markers = resolveWorktreeSeedMarkerPaths(targetEndpoint.configPath);
+  mkdirSync(path.dirname(markers.lock), { recursive: true });
+  const releaseSeedLock = await acquireWorktreeSeedLock(markers.lock);
   try {
-    const seeded = await seedWorktreeDatabase({
+    let targetBackupSummary: string | null = null;
+    if (opts.backupTarget) {
+      targetBackupSummary = await backupWorktreeReseedTarget({ targetConfig, targetPaths });
+      p.log.message(pc.dim(`Recoverable pre-repair backup: ${targetBackupSummary}`));
+    }
+    markWorktreeSeedPending({
+      configPath: targetEndpoint.configPath,
+      sourceConfigPath: source.configPath,
+      targetInstanceId: targetPaths.instanceId,
+      seedMode,
+    });
+    const seeded = await runVerifiedWorktreeSeed({
+      configPath: targetEndpoint.configPath,
       sourceConfigPath: source.configPath,
       sourceConfig,
       targetConfig,
@@ -3544,8 +4040,8 @@ async function runWorktreeReseed(opts: WorktreeReseedOptions): Promise<void> {
       instanceId: targetPaths.instanceId,
       seedMode,
       preserveLiveWork: opts.preserveLiveWork,
+      seedDatabase: seedWorktreeDatabase,
     });
-    markWorktreeSeedComplete({ configPath: targetEndpoint.configPath, seedMode });
     spinner.stop(`Reseeded ${targetEndpoint.label} (${seedMode}).`);
     p.log.message(pc.dim(`Source: ${source.configPath}`));
     p.log.message(pc.dim(`Target: ${targetEndpoint.configPath}`));
@@ -3567,6 +4063,8 @@ async function runWorktreeReseed(opts: WorktreeReseedOptions): Promise<void> {
   } catch (error) {
     spinner.stop(pc.red("Failed to reseed worktree database."));
     throw error;
+  } finally {
+    await releaseSeedLock();
   }
 }
 
@@ -3748,6 +4246,7 @@ export function registerWorktreeCommands(program: Command): void {
     .option("--preserve-live-work", "Do not quarantine copied agent work or workspace runtime services in the seeded worktree", false)
     .option("--yes", "Skip the destructive confirmation prompt", false)
     .option("--allow-live-target", "Override the guard that requires the target worktree DB to be stopped first", false)
+    .option("--backup-target", "Retain a recoverable full backup of the isolated target DB before reseeding", false)
     .action(worktreeReseedCommand);
 
   worktree
diff --git a/doc/DEVELOPING.md b/doc/DEVELOPING.md
index 4c448aaa387..21c3b97a4bb 100644
--- a/doc/DEVELOPING.md
+++ b/doc/DEVELOPING.md
@@ -479,25 +479,24 @@ After `worktree init`, both the server and the CLI auto-load the repo-local `.pa
 
 Seeding a worktree database is the heaviest part of `worktree init`. That work can be deferred so a worktree is cheap to create and only pays the seed cost the first time it is actually used — the CLI/dev-time analog of the server's lazy runtime provisioning (see the board-operator guide's "Lazy runtime provisioning" section).
 
-Seeding state is tracked with two marker files under the worktree's `.paperclip/` directory:
+Seeding state is tracked in `.paperclip/seed-manifest.json`. The versioned manifest records only non-secret evidence: source instance id/config path, target instance id, seed mode, snapshot time, migration revision, attempt timestamps, current phase, terminal state, and a bounded phase diagnostic history. It never stores database credentials or auth credential material. The legacy `seed-pending` and `seed-complete` files remain read-only compatibility signals for worktrees created before the manifest shipped.
 
-- `seed-pending` — the isolated database has not been seeded yet (a **lean** worktree). Written by `worktree init` before any seed runs.
-- `seed-complete` — the database was seeded; the pending marker is removed.
+The default `worktree init` still seeds eagerly. A lean worktree (created without an eager seed) has a `pending` manifest until something seeds it on demand:
 
-The default `worktree init` still seeds eagerly and writes `seed-complete` immediately. A lean worktree (created without an eager seed) keeps its `seed-pending` marker until something seeds it on demand:
-
-- `pnpm paperclipai worktree ensure-seeded` performs the deferred seed **exactly once**. It is lock-guarded and idempotent: a present `seed-complete` marker or a missing `seed-pending` marker short-circuits it, so it is safe to call repeatedly and from concurrent processes. It reads the source instance from the `seed-pending` marker unless you pass `--from-config`.
+- `pnpm paperclipai worktree ensure-seeded` performs the deferred seed **exactly once**. It is lock-guarded and idempotent: only a complete `verified` manifest short-circuits it, so it is safe to call repeatedly and from concurrent processes. It reads the source identity from the manifest unless you pass `--from-config`.
 - `paperclipai run` calls `ensureWorktreeSeeded` automatically before doctor/boot, so `run` transparently seeds a lean worktree on first launch.
-- Managed git-worktree runtime startup also runs `scripts/provision-worktree-runtime.sh` automatically when a legacy workspace policy has no explicit runtime provision command and the worktree is still `seed-pending`. An explicitly configured runtime provision command always takes precedence.
+- Managed git-worktree runtime startup also runs `scripts/provision-worktree-runtime.sh` automatically when a legacy workspace policy has no explicit runtime provision command and the manifest is not verified. An explicitly configured runtime provision command always takes precedence.
 - Worktrees created before lazy seeding shipped have neither marker; they are treated as already-seeded for backward compatibility (never re-cloned).
 
-**Seed-pending guard.** `pnpm dev` (the dev-runner) refuses to boot a worktree whose database is still `seed-pending` and points you at the fix:
+Both `minimal` and `full` modes use the same terminal validation contract. Before a manifest can become `verified`, Paperclip proves the migration journal is current and reads a credential-backed auth user, instance administrator role, active company membership, and representative cloned company/issue pair in both source and target. Restore, migrations, execution quarantine, routine pausing, workspace rebinding, and post-restore validation all run under the seed lock. An interruption leaves the exact active phase in terminal `failed` state; it cannot produce readiness evidence.
+
+**Unverified-seed guard.** `pnpm dev` (the dev-runner) refuses to boot a worktree whose manifest is pending, running, failed, malformed, or missing required verification evidence and points you at the fix:
 
 ```
 [paperclip] this worktree database is seed-pending. Run `pnpm paperclipai worktree ensure-seeded` before `pnpm dev`.
 ```
 
-This guard (`isWorktreeSeedPending` in `server/src/dev-runner-worktree.ts`) prevents `pnpm dev` from starting the app against an empty, unseeded database — run `worktree ensure-seeded` once and re-run `pnpm dev`.
+This guard (`isWorktreeSeedPending` in `server/src/dev-runner-worktree.ts`) prevents `pnpm dev` from starting the app against an empty or partially restored database — run `worktree ensure-seeded` once and re-run `pnpm dev`.
 
 Provisioned git worktrees also pause seeded routines that still have enabled schedule triggers in the isolated worktree database by default. This prevents copied daily/cron routines from firing unexpectedly inside the new workspace instance during development without disabling webhook/API-only routines.
 
@@ -603,6 +602,7 @@ For an already-created worktree where you want to keep the existing repo-local c
 | `--seed-mode <mode>` | Seed profile: `minimal` or `full` (default: `full`) |
 | `--yes` | Skip the destructive confirmation prompt |
 | `--allow-live-target` | Override the guard that requires the target worktree DB to be stopped first |
+| `--backup-target` | Retain a recoverable full target-DB backup before reseeding |
 
 Examples:
 
@@ -622,6 +622,8 @@ npx paperclipai worktree reseed \
   --seed-mode full
 ```
 
+Managed workspace repair uses this same verified full-reseed contract through `POST /api/execution-workspaces/:id/runtime-commands/repair`. The exclusive, audited operation stops managed services, writes a recoverable pre-repair database backup under the isolated instance's backup directory, performs the full seed/migration/quarantine/rebinding sequence, and restarts only after terminal manifest and service-health validation. It preserves the worktree filesystem. On failure, services remain stopped while the database backup, seed manifest, bounded phase diagnostics, and operation log are retained for inspection; repair never retries itself in a loop.
+
 **`npx paperclipai worktree:make <name> [options]`** — Create `~/NAME` as a git worktree, then initialize an isolated Paperclip instance inside it. This combines `git worktree add` with `worktree init` in a single step.
 
 | Option | Description |
diff --git a/packages/shared/src/types/workspace-operation.ts b/packages/shared/src/types/workspace-operation.ts
index d1ccf6622d5..345e306ca7a 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/types/workspace-operation.ts
+++ b/packages/shared/src/types/workspace-operation.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ export type WorkspaceOperationPhase =
   | "workspace_config_freshness"
   | "workspace_provision"
   | "workspace_runtime_provision"
+  | "workspace_repair"
   | "workspace_teardown"
   | "worktree_cleanup"
   | "workspace_finalize";
diff --git a/scripts/__tests__/provision-worktree-self-heal.test.mjs b/scripts/__tests__/provision-worktree-self-heal.test.mjs
index 606a24edc2d..b81ff42942f 100644
--- a/scripts/__tests__/provision-worktree-self-heal.test.mjs
+++ b/scripts/__tests__/provision-worktree-self-heal.test.mjs
@@ -137,7 +137,10 @@ test("uses the base CLI when its import graph boots", () => {
   assert.equal(result.status, 0, result.stderr);
   const config = readWorktreeConfig(worktreeCwd);
   assert.equal(config.$meta.source, "fake-cli");
-  assert.ok(fs.existsSync(path.join(worktreeCwd, ".paperclip", "seed-pending")));
+  assert.equal(
+    JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(worktreeCwd, ".paperclip", "seed-manifest.json"), "utf8")).state,
+    "pending",
+  );
   const initInvocation = readCliInvocations(baseCwd).find(
     (args) => args[0] === "worktree" && args[1] === "init",
   );
@@ -166,7 +169,10 @@ test("falls back to an isolated config when the base CLI cannot boot", () => {
   );
   const env = fs.readFileSync(path.join(worktreeCwd, ".paperclip", ".env"), "utf8");
   assert.match(env, /PAPERCLIP_IN_WORKTREE=true/);
-  assert.ok(fs.existsSync(path.join(worktreeCwd, ".paperclip", "seed-pending")));
+  assert.equal(
+    JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(worktreeCwd, ".paperclip", "seed-manifest.json"), "utf8")).state,
+    "pending",
+  );
 });
 
 test("repairs an unhealthy base install under the lock and then uses the CLI", (t) => {
@@ -271,7 +277,7 @@ test("runtime provisioning invokes ensure-seeded once and fast-exits after succe
 
   const second = runRuntimeProvision(baseCwd, worktreeCwd);
   assert.equal(second.status, 0, second.stderr);
-  assert.match(second.stderr, /already seeded; skipping/);
+  assert.match(second.stderr, /already seeded.*skipping/);
   const ensureCallsAfterSecond = readCliInvocations(baseCwd)
     .filter((args) => args[0] === "worktree" && args[1] === "ensure-seeded");
   assert.equal(ensureCallsAfterSecond.length, 1);
@@ -290,3 +296,22 @@ test("runtime provisioning leaves seed-pending in place when ensure-seeded fails
   assert.ok(fs.existsSync(path.join(worktreeCwd, ".paperclip", "seed-pending")));
   assert.ok(!fs.existsSync(path.join(worktreeCwd, ".paperclip", "seed-complete")));
 });
+
+test("runtime provisioning does not trust a truncated verified manifest", () => {
+  const baseCwd = makeBaseWorkspace({ helpExit: 0, initExit: 0, ensureExit: 4 });
+  const worktreeCwd = makeTempDir("paperclip-provision-runtime-truncated-");
+  fs.mkdirSync(path.join(worktreeCwd, ".paperclip"), { recursive: true });
+  fs.writeFileSync(path.join(worktreeCwd, ".paperclip", "config.json"), "{}\n");
+  fs.writeFileSync(
+    path.join(worktreeCwd, ".paperclip", "seed-manifest.json"),
+    JSON.stringify({ version: 2, state: "verified" }),
+  );
+
+  const result = runRuntimeProvision(baseCwd, worktreeCwd);
+  assert.equal(result.status, 4, result.stderr);
+  assert.equal(
+    readCliInvocations(baseCwd)
+      .filter((args) => args[0] === "worktree" && args[1] === "ensure-seeded").length,
+    1,
+  );
+});
diff --git a/scripts/provision-worktree-runtime.sh b/scripts/provision-worktree-runtime.sh
index 539713fa096..7fd9fc8213c 100755
--- a/scripts/provision-worktree-runtime.sh
+++ b/scripts/provision-worktree-runtime.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ paperclip_home="${PAPERCLIP_HOME:-$HOME/.paperclip}"
 paperclip_instance_id="${PAPERCLIP_INSTANCE_ID:-default}"
 paperclip_dir="$worktree_cwd/.paperclip"
 worktree_config_path="$paperclip_dir/config.json"
+seed_manifest_path="$paperclip_dir/seed-manifest.json"
 seed_pending_marker_path="$paperclip_dir/seed-pending"
 seed_complete_marker_path="$paperclip_dir/seed-complete"
 
@@ -20,8 +21,37 @@ if [[ ! -d "$worktree_cwd" ]]; then
   exit 1
 fi
 
-if [[ -e "$seed_complete_marker_path" || ! -e "$seed_pending_marker_path" ]]; then
-  echo "Worktree database is already seeded; skipping runtime provisioning." >&2
+if [[ -e "$seed_manifest_path" ]]; then
+  seed_manifest_state="$(SEED_MANIFEST_PATH="$seed_manifest_path" node <<'EOF'
+const fs = require("node:fs");
+try {
+  const value = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(process.env.SEED_MANIFEST_PATH, "utf8"));
+  const complete = value?.version === 2
+    && value?.state === "verified"
+    && value?.phase === "complete"
+    && typeof value?.source?.instanceId === "string" && value.source.instanceId.length > 0
+    && typeof value?.source?.configPath === "string" && value.source.configPath.length > 0
+    && (value?.seedMode === "minimal" || value?.seedMode === "full")
+    && typeof value?.snapshotAt === "string" && value.snapshotAt.length > 0
+    && typeof value?.migrationRevision === "string" && value.migrationRevision.length > 0
+    && typeof value?.targetInstanceId === "string" && value.targetInstanceId.length > 0
+    && typeof value?.attemptId === "string" && value.attemptId.length > 0
+    && typeof value?.startedAt === "string"
+    && typeof value?.finishedAt === "string"
+    && Array.isArray(value?.diagnostics)
+    && value.diagnostics.some((entry) => entry?.phase === "complete" && entry?.status === "succeeded" && typeof entry?.at === "string");
+  process.stdout.write(complete ? "verified" : "incomplete");
+} catch {
+  process.stdout.write("invalid");
+}
+EOF
+)"
+  if [[ "$seed_manifest_state" == "verified" ]]; then
+    echo "Worktree database has a verified seed manifest; skipping runtime provisioning." >&2
+    exit 0
+  fi
+elif [[ -e "$seed_complete_marker_path" || ! -e "$seed_pending_marker_path" ]]; then
+  echo "Worktree database is already seeded by a legacy marker; skipping runtime provisioning." >&2
   exit 0
 fi
 
@@ -31,6 +61,17 @@ if [[ ! -f "$worktree_config_path" ]]; then
 fi
 
 source_config_path="${PAPERCLIP_CONFIG:-}"
+if [[ -e "$seed_manifest_path" ]]; then
+  manifest_source_config_path="$(SEED_MANIFEST_PATH="$seed_manifest_path" node <<'EOF'
+const fs = require("node:fs");
+const value = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(process.env.SEED_MANIFEST_PATH, "utf8"));
+process.stdout.write(typeof value?.source?.configPath === "string" ? value.source.configPath : "");
+EOF
+)"
+  if [[ -n "$manifest_source_config_path" ]]; then
+    source_config_path="$manifest_source_config_path"
+  fi
+fi
 if [[ -z "$source_config_path" && ( -e "$base_cwd/.paperclip/config.json" || -L "$base_cwd/.paperclip/config.json" ) ]]; then
   source_config_path="$base_cwd/.paperclip/config.json"
 fi
@@ -41,7 +82,7 @@ source_config_args=(--from-config "$source_config_path")
 if [[ "$source_config_path" == "$worktree_config_path" ]]; then
   # A human may invoke this after sourcing `worktree env`, which points
   # PAPERCLIP_CONFIG at the target. In that case the CLI reads the original
-  # source config from the seed-pending marker instead.
+  # source config from the seed manifest or legacy pending marker instead.
   source_config_args=()
 fi
 
diff --git a/scripts/provision-worktree.sh b/scripts/provision-worktree.sh
index b5b283a1343..55b0c2e1c30 100644
--- a/scripts/provision-worktree.sh
+++ b/scripts/provision-worktree.sh
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ paperclip_instance_id="${PAPERCLIP_INSTANCE_ID:-default}"
 paperclip_dir="$worktree_cwd/.paperclip"
 worktree_config_path="$paperclip_dir/config.json"
 worktree_env_path="$paperclip_dir/.env"
+seed_manifest_path="$paperclip_dir/seed-manifest.json"
 seed_pending_marker_path="$paperclip_dir/seed-pending"
 seed_complete_marker_path="$paperclip_dir/seed-complete"
 worktree_name="${PAPERCLIP_WORKSPACE_BRANCH:-$(basename "$worktree_cwd")}"
@@ -237,25 +238,48 @@ for (const rawValue of runtimePaths) {
 EOF
 }
 
-write_seed_pending_marker() {
+write_seed_pending_manifest() {
+  SEED_MANIFEST_PATH="$seed_manifest_path" \
   SEED_PENDING_MARKER_PATH="$seed_pending_marker_path" \
   SEED_COMPLETE_MARKER_PATH="$seed_complete_marker_path" \
   SOURCE_CONFIG_PATH="$source_config_path" \
+  TARGET_INSTANCE_ID="$worktree_instance_id" \
   node <<'EOF'
+const crypto = require("node:crypto");
 const fs = require("node:fs");
 const path = require("node:path");
 
+const manifestPath = process.env.SEED_MANIFEST_PATH;
 const pendingPath = process.env.SEED_PENDING_MARKER_PATH;
 const completePath = process.env.SEED_COMPLETE_MARKER_PATH;
+const sourceConfigPath = path.resolve(process.env.SOURCE_CONFIG_PATH);
+const sourceEnvPath = path.join(path.dirname(sourceConfigPath), ".env");
+let sourceInstanceId = path.basename(path.dirname(sourceConfigPath));
+if (fs.existsSync(sourceEnvPath)) {
+  const match = fs.readFileSync(sourceEnvPath, "utf8").match(/^\s*(?:export\s+)?PAPERCLIP_INSTANCE_ID\s*=\s*["']?([^\s"'#]+)["']?/m);
+  if (match?.[1]) sourceInstanceId = match[1];
+}
 fs.rmSync(completePath, { force: true });
+fs.rmSync(pendingPath, { force: true });
+const at = new Date().toISOString();
 fs.writeFileSync(
-  pendingPath,
+  manifestPath,
   `${JSON.stringify({
-    version: 1,
-    state: "pending",
-    sourceConfigPath: path.resolve(process.env.SOURCE_CONFIG_PATH),
+    version: 2,
+    source: {
+      instanceId: sourceInstanceId,
+      configPath: sourceConfigPath,
+    },
+    snapshotAt: null,
     seedMode: "minimal",
-    createdAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+    migrationRevision: null,
+    targetInstanceId: process.env.TARGET_INSTANCE_ID,
+    phase: "pending",
+    state: "pending",
+    attemptId: crypto.randomUUID(),
+    startedAt: null,
+    finishedAt: null,
+    diagnostics: [{ phase: "pending", status: "succeeded", at }],
   }, null, 2)}\n`,
   { mode: 0o600 },
 );
@@ -551,8 +575,8 @@ else
   created_worktree_config=1
 fi
 
-if [[ "$created_worktree_config" -eq 1 && ! -e "$seed_pending_marker_path" && ! -e "$seed_complete_marker_path" ]]; then
-  write_seed_pending_marker
+if [[ "$created_worktree_config" -eq 1 && ! -e "$seed_manifest_path" && ! -e "$seed_pending_marker_path" && ! -e "$seed_complete_marker_path" ]]; then
+  write_seed_pending_manifest
 fi
 
 list_base_node_modules_paths() {
diff --git a/server/src/__tests__/dev-runner-worktree.test.ts b/server/src/__tests__/dev-runner-worktree.test.ts
index f3a29440ebd..5dd179edb58 100644
--- a/server/src/__tests__/dev-runner-worktree.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/__tests__/dev-runner-worktree.test.ts
@@ -36,6 +36,36 @@ describe("dev-runner worktree env bootstrap", () => {
     expect(isWorktreeSeedPending(root)).toBe(false);
   });
 
+  it("guards every manifest state except a complete verified manifest", () => {
+    const root = createTempRoot("paperclip-dev-runner-seed-manifest-");
+    const manifestPath = path.join(root, ".paperclip", "seed-manifest.json");
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(manifestPath), { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(manifestPath, JSON.stringify({ version: 2, state: "failed" }), "utf8");
+    expect(isWorktreeSeedPending(root)).toBe(true);
+
+    fs.writeFileSync(manifestPath, JSON.stringify({ version: 2, state: "verified" }), "utf8");
+    expect(isWorktreeSeedPending(root)).toBe(true);
+
+    fs.writeFileSync(manifestPath, JSON.stringify({
+      version: 2,
+      source: { instanceId: "source", configPath: "/source/config.json" },
+      snapshotAt: "2026-08-18T00:00:00.000Z",
+      seedMode: "minimal",
+      migrationRevision: "0001",
+      targetInstanceId: "target",
+      phase: "complete",
+      state: "verified",
+      attemptId: "attempt",
+      startedAt: "2026-08-18T00:00:00.000Z",
+      finishedAt: "2026-08-18T00:01:00.000Z",
+      diagnostics: [{ phase: "complete", status: "succeeded", at: "2026-08-18T00:01:00.000Z" }],
+    }), "utf8");
+    expect(isWorktreeSeedPending(root)).toBe(false);
+
+    fs.writeFileSync(manifestPath, "not-json", "utf8");
+    expect(isWorktreeSeedPending(root)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
   it("detects linked git worktrees from .git files", () => {
     const root = createTempRoot("paperclip-dev-runner-worktree-");
     fs.writeFileSync(path.join(root, ".git"), "gitdir: /tmp/paperclip/.git/worktrees/feature\n", "utf8");
diff --git a/server/src/__tests__/execution-workspace-runtime-control-conflict.test.ts b/server/src/__tests__/execution-workspace-runtime-control-conflict.test.ts
index 3999299f586..8290e4eddfa 100644
--- a/server/src/__tests__/execution-workspace-runtime-control-conflict.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/__tests__/execution-workspace-runtime-control-conflict.test.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+import { EventEmitter } from "node:events";
+import fs from "node:fs";
+import os from "node:os";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { PassThrough } from "node:stream";
 import express from "express";
 import request from "supertest";
 import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
@@ -29,6 +34,12 @@ const mockBuildWorkspaceRuntimeDesiredStatePatch = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
 // `execution-workspace-runtime-lease-route.test.ts` exercises the lease itself against a real db.
 const mockClaimRuntimeLease = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(async () => null));
 const mockReleaseRuntimeLease = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(async () => undefined));
+const mockSpawn = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
+
+vi.mock("node:child_process", async () => ({
+  ...(await vi.importActual<typeof import("node:child_process")>("node:child_process")),
+  spawn: mockSpawn,
+}));
 
 vi.mock("../telemetry.js", () => ({ getTelemetryClient: mockGetTelemetryClient }));
 
@@ -45,7 +56,7 @@ vi.mock("../services/index.js", () => ({
     claim: mockClaimRuntimeLease,
     release: mockReleaseRuntimeLease,
   }),
-  LEASED_WORKSPACE_RUNTIME_ACTIONS: ["start", "stop", "restart"],
+  LEASED_WORKSPACE_RUNTIME_ACTIONS: ["start", "stop", "restart", "repair"],
 }));
 
 vi.mock("../services/workspace-runtime.js", () => ({
@@ -135,6 +146,7 @@ async function createApp() {
 describe.sequential("execution workspace runtime control conflict and failure reconciliation", () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.clearAllMocks();
+    mockSpawn.mockReset();
     mockAccessService.decide.mockResolvedValue({
       allowed: true,
       action: "runtime:manage",
@@ -165,7 +177,7 @@ describe.sequential("execution workspace runtime control conflict and failure re
         // Mirror the real recorder: a throwing `run` becomes a terminal failed operation and
         // the error still propagates to the caller.
         try {
-          await input.run();
+          await input.run(async () => undefined);
         } catch (error) {
           (error as any).recordedOperationStatus = "failed";
           throw error;
@@ -247,6 +259,156 @@ describe.sequential("execution workspace runtime control conflict and failure re
     );
   });
 
+  it("runs an audited full repair through terminal seed and service readiness validation", async () => {
+    const workspaceCwd = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "paperclip-route-repair-success-"));
+    try {
+      const configDir = path.join(workspaceCwd, ".paperclip");
+      const sourceConfigPath = path.join(workspaceCwd, "source", "config.json");
+      const cliRunner = path.join(workspaceCwd, "cli", "node_modules", "tsx", "dist", "cli.mjs");
+      const cliEntry = path.join(workspaceCwd, "cli", "src", "index.ts");
+      fs.mkdirSync(configDir, { recursive: true });
+      fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(sourceConfigPath), { recursive: true });
+      fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(cliRunner), { recursive: true });
+      fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(cliEntry), { recursive: true });
+      fs.writeFileSync(path.join(configDir, "config.json"), "{}\n");
+      fs.writeFileSync(sourceConfigPath, "{}\n");
+      fs.writeFileSync(cliRunner, "// test runner\n");
+      fs.writeFileSync(cliEntry, "// test entry\n");
+      fs.writeFileSync(path.join(configDir, "seed-manifest.json"), JSON.stringify({
+        version: 2,
+        source: { instanceId: "source", configPath: sourceConfigPath },
+        state: "failed",
+        attemptId: "previous",
+      }));
+
+      const { deriveWorktreeInstanceId } = await import("../services/workspace-instance-cleanup.js");
+      mockExecutionWorkspaceService.getById.mockResolvedValue(buildExecutionWorkspace({ cwd: workspaceCwd }));
+      mockEnsurePersistedExecutionWorkspaceAvailable.mockResolvedValue({ cwd: workspaceCwd });
+      mockStartRuntimeServices.mockResolvedValue([{
+        id: "service-1",
+        status: "running",
+        healthStatus: "healthy",
+      }]);
+      mockSpawn.mockImplementation((_command: string, args: string[]) => {
+        expect(args).toEqual(expect.arrayContaining([
+          "worktree", "reseed", "--seed-mode", "full", "--yes", "--backup-target",
+        ]));
+        const child = new EventEmitter() as EventEmitter & {
+          stdout: PassThrough;
+          stderr: PassThrough;
+          kill: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
+        };
+        child.stdout = new PassThrough();
+        child.stderr = new PassThrough();
+        child.kill = vi.fn();
+        queueMicrotask(() => {
+          fs.writeFileSync(path.join(configDir, "seed-manifest.json"), JSON.stringify({
+            version: 2,
+            source: { instanceId: "source", configPath: sourceConfigPath },
+            snapshotAt: "2026-08-18T00:00:00.000Z",
+            seedMode: "full",
+            migrationRevision: "0142_test.sql",
+            targetInstanceId: deriveWorktreeInstanceId(workspaceCwd),
+            phase: "complete",
+            state: "verified",
+            attemptId: "repair-attempt",
+            startedAt: "2026-08-18T00:00:00.000Z",
+            finishedAt: "2026-08-18T00:01:00.000Z",
+            diagnostics: [{ phase: "complete", status: "succeeded", at: "2026-08-18T00:01:00.000Z" }],
+          }));
+          child.emit("exit", 0);
+        });
+        return child;
+      });
+
+      const app = await createApp();
+      const res = await request(app)
+        .post(`/api/execution-workspaces/${executionWorkspaceId}/runtime-commands/repair`)
+        .send({});
+
+      expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+      expect(mockStopRuntimeServicesForExecutionWorkspace).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.objectContaining({ executionWorkspaceId, workspaceCwd }),
+      );
+      expect(mockStartRuntimeServices).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      expect(mockLogActivity).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.anything(),
+        expect.objectContaining({ action: "execution_workspace.runtime_repair" }),
+      );
+    } finally {
+      fs.rmSync(workspaceCwd, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("fails repair at the exact seed phase and leaves managed services stopped", async () => {
+    const workspaceCwd = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "paperclip-route-repair-failure-"));
+    try {
+      const configDir = path.join(workspaceCwd, ".paperclip");
+      const sourceConfigPath = path.join(workspaceCwd, "source", "config.json");
+      const cliRunner = path.join(workspaceCwd, "cli", "node_modules", "tsx", "dist", "cli.mjs");
+      const cliEntry = path.join(workspaceCwd, "cli", "src", "index.ts");
+      for (const dir of [configDir, path.dirname(sourceConfigPath), path.dirname(cliRunner), path.dirname(cliEntry)]) {
+        fs.mkdirSync(dir, { recursive: true });
+      }
+      fs.writeFileSync(path.join(configDir, "config.json"), "{}\n");
+      fs.writeFileSync(sourceConfigPath, "{}\n");
+      fs.writeFileSync(cliRunner, "// test runner\n");
+      fs.writeFileSync(cliEntry, "// test entry\n");
+      fs.writeFileSync(path.join(configDir, "seed-manifest.json"), JSON.stringify({
+        version: 2,
+        source: { instanceId: "source", configPath: sourceConfigPath },
+        state: "failed",
+        attemptId: "previous",
+      }));
+      mockExecutionWorkspaceService.getById.mockResolvedValue(buildExecutionWorkspace({ cwd: workspaceCwd }));
+      mockEnsurePersistedExecutionWorkspaceAvailable.mockResolvedValue({ cwd: workspaceCwd });
+      mockSpawn.mockImplementation(() => {
+        const child = new EventEmitter() as EventEmitter & {
+          stdout: PassThrough;
+          stderr: PassThrough;
+          kill: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
+        };
+        child.stdout = new PassThrough();
+        child.stderr = new PassThrough();
+        child.kill = vi.fn();
+        queueMicrotask(() => {
+          fs.writeFileSync(path.join(configDir, "seed-manifest.json"), JSON.stringify({
+            version: 2,
+            source: { instanceId: "source", configPath: sourceConfigPath },
+            state: "failed",
+            phase: "restore",
+            attemptId: "repair-attempt",
+          }));
+          child.emit("exit", 4);
+        });
+        return child;
+      });
+
+      const progress: Array<Record<string, unknown>> = [];
+      mockWorkspaceOperationService.createRecorder.mockReturnValue({
+        attachExecutionWorkspaceId: vi.fn(),
+        recordOperation: async (input: any) => {
+          await input.run(async (entry: Record<string, unknown>) => {
+            progress.push(entry);
+          });
+        },
+      });
+      const app = await createApp();
+      const res = await request(app)
+        .post(`/api/execution-workspaces/${executionWorkspaceId}/runtime-commands/repair`)
+        .send({});
+
+      expect(res.status).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(400);
+      expect(progress).toEqual(expect.arrayContaining([
+        expect.objectContaining({ metadata: { seedFailurePhase: "restore" } }),
+      ]));
+      expect(mockStartRuntimeServices).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(mockStopRuntimeServicesForExecutionWorkspace).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+    } finally {
+      fs.rmSync(workspaceCwd, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
   it("reconciles once when the operation's own time budget fails a start that never settles", async () => {
     const { WorkspaceOperationTimeoutError } = await import("../services/workspace-operations.js");
     // The recorder's ceiling fires outside `run`, so only the outer handler can reconcile.
diff --git a/server/src/__tests__/execution-workspaces-routes.test.ts b/server/src/__tests__/execution-workspaces-routes.test.ts
index 1d113f46bfe..89111b9b0aa 100644
--- a/server/src/__tests__/execution-workspaces-routes.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/__tests__/execution-workspaces-routes.test.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ const mockExecutionWorkspaceService = vi.hoisted(() => ({
 const mockWorkspaceOperationService = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   listForExecutionWorkspace: vi.fn(),
   createRecorder: vi.fn(),
+  assertRuntimeControlAvailable: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
 }));
 
 const mockWorkspaceRuntimeLeaseService = vi.hoisted(() => ({
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ vi.mock("../services/index.js", () => ({
   logActivity: mockLogActivity,
   workspaceOperationService: () => mockWorkspaceOperationService,
   workspaceRuntimeLeaseService: () => mockWorkspaceRuntimeLeaseService,
-  LEASED_WORKSPACE_RUNTIME_ACTIONS: ["start", "stop", "restart"],
+  LEASED_WORKSPACE_RUNTIME_ACTIONS: ["start", "stop", "restart", "repair"],
 }));
 
 vi.mock("../services/environment-runtime.js", () => ({
diff --git a/server/src/__tests__/workspace-operations-reconciliation.test.ts b/server/src/__tests__/workspace-operations-reconciliation.test.ts
index 9f2808a9a1c..9133fbae0e6 100644
--- a/server/src/__tests__/workspace-operations-reconciliation.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/__tests__/workspace-operations-reconciliation.test.ts
@@ -44,14 +44,14 @@ describe("workspace runtime control serialization", () => {
 
     await expect(runExclusiveWorkspaceRuntimeControl({
       executionWorkspaceId: "workspace-1",
-      action: "restart",
-      run: async () => "restarted",
+      action: "repair",
+      run: async () => "repaired",
     })).rejects.toMatchObject({
       status: 409,
       details: {
         code: "workspace_runtime_control_in_progress",
         activeAction: "start",
-        requestedAction: "restart",
+        requestedAction: "repair",
       },
     });
 
@@ -204,4 +204,71 @@ describeEmbeddedPostgres("workspace operation reconciliation", () => {
       .then((rows) => rows[0]);
     expect(unrelated?.status).toBe("running");
   });
+
+  it("persists bounded repair phase progress on the operation row and log", async () => {
+    const companyId = randomUUID();
+    const projectId = randomUUID();
+    const executionWorkspaceId = randomUUID();
+    await db.insert(companies).values({
+      id: companyId,
+      name: "Workspace repair diagnostics",
+      issuePrefix: `R${companyId.replace(/-/g, "").slice(0, 7).toUpperCase()}`,
+      requireBoardApprovalForNewAgents: false,
+    });
+    await db.insert(projects).values({
+      id: projectId,
+      companyId,
+      name: "Repair diagnostics",
+      status: "in_progress",
+    });
+    await db.insert(executionWorkspaces).values({
+      id: executionWorkspaceId,
+      companyId,
+      projectId,
+      mode: "isolated_workspace",
+      strategyType: "git_worktree",
+      name: "Repair diagnostics workspace",
+      status: "active",
+      cwd: "/tmp/repair-diagnostics-workspace",
+    });
+
+    const operation = await workspaceOperationService(db)
+      .createRecorder({ companyId, executionWorkspaceId })
+      .recordOperation({
+        phase: "workspace_repair",
+        command: "workspace command repair",
+        cwd: "/tmp/repair-diagnostics-workspace",
+        metadata: { action: "repair" },
+        run: async (reportProgress) => {
+          await reportProgress({
+            metadata: {
+              repairPhase: "target_backup",
+              repairDiagnostics: [{
+                phase: "target_backup",
+                status: "succeeded",
+                at: "2026-08-18T00:00:00.000Z",
+              }],
+              databaseOnly: true,
+              worktreePreserved: true,
+            },
+            system: "Workspace repair target_backup: succeeded.\n",
+          });
+          return { status: "succeeded", metadata: { backupRetained: true } };
+        },
+      });
+
+    expect(operation).toMatchObject({
+      status: "succeeded",
+      metadata: {
+        action: "repair",
+        repairPhase: "target_backup",
+        databaseOnly: true,
+        worktreePreserved: true,
+        backupRetained: true,
+      },
+    });
+    expect((await workspaceOperationService(db).readLog(operation.id)).content).toContain(
+      "Workspace repair target_backup: succeeded.",
+    );
+  });
 });
diff --git a/server/src/__tests__/workspace-runtime-routes-authz.test.ts b/server/src/__tests__/workspace-runtime-routes-authz.test.ts
index 3b7906cd867..64bfce7f9c2 100644
--- a/server/src/__tests__/workspace-runtime-routes-authz.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/__tests__/workspace-runtime-routes-authz.test.ts
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ vi.mock("../services/index.js", () => ({
   secretService: () => mockSecretService,
   workspaceOperationService: () => mockWorkspaceOperationService,
   workspaceRuntimeLeaseService: () => mockWorkspaceRuntimeLeaseService,
-  LEASED_WORKSPACE_RUNTIME_ACTIONS: ["start", "stop", "restart"],
+  LEASED_WORKSPACE_RUNTIME_ACTIONS: ["start", "stop", "restart", "repair"],
 }));
 
 vi.mock("../services/workspace-runtime.js", () => ({
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ function registerWorkspaceRouteMocks() {
     secretService: () => mockSecretService,
     workspaceOperationService: () => mockWorkspaceOperationService,
     workspaceRuntimeLeaseService: () => mockWorkspaceRuntimeLeaseService,
-    LEASED_WORKSPACE_RUNTIME_ACTIONS: ["start", "stop", "restart"],
+    LEASED_WORKSPACE_RUNTIME_ACTIONS: ["start", "stop", "restart", "repair"],
   }));
 
   vi.doMock("../services/workspace-runtime.js", () => ({
diff --git a/server/src/__tests__/workspace-runtime.test.ts b/server/src/__tests__/workspace-runtime.test.ts
index b96d455a05e..a2adbeab014 100644
--- a/server/src/__tests__/workspace-runtime.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/__tests__/workspace-runtime.test.ts
@@ -456,6 +456,39 @@ describe("resolveRuntimeProvisionCommand", () => {
 
       await fs.writeFile(path.join(cwd, ".paperclip", "seed-complete"), "{}\n");
       expect(resolveRuntimeProvisionCommand({ config: {}, workspace })).toBe("");
+
+      await fs.writeFile(
+        path.join(cwd, ".paperclip", "seed-manifest.json"),
+        JSON.stringify({ version: 2, state: "failed" }),
+      );
+      expect(resolveRuntimeProvisionCommand({ config: {}, workspace })).toBe(
+        "bash ./scripts/provision-worktree-runtime.sh",
+      );
+      await fs.writeFile(
+        path.join(cwd, ".paperclip", "seed-manifest.json"),
+        JSON.stringify({ version: 2, state: "verified" }),
+      );
+      expect(resolveRuntimeProvisionCommand({ config: {}, workspace })).toBe(
+        "bash ./scripts/provision-worktree-runtime.sh",
+      );
+      await fs.writeFile(
+        path.join(cwd, ".paperclip", "seed-manifest.json"),
+        JSON.stringify({
+          version: 2,
+          source: { instanceId: "source", configPath: "/source/config.json" },
+          snapshotAt: "2026-08-18T00:00:00.000Z",
+          seedMode: "full",
+          migrationRevision: "0001",
+          targetInstanceId: "target",
+          phase: "complete",
+          state: "verified",
+          attemptId: "attempt",
+          startedAt: "2026-08-18T00:00:00.000Z",
+          finishedAt: "2026-08-18T00:01:00.000Z",
+          diagnostics: [{ phase: "complete", status: "succeeded", at: "2026-08-18T00:01:00.000Z" }],
+        }),
+      );
+      expect(resolveRuntimeProvisionCommand({ config: {}, workspace })).toBe("");
     } finally {
       await fs.rm(baseCwd, { recursive: true, force: true });
     }
diff --git a/server/src/dev-runner-worktree.ts b/server/src/dev-runner-worktree.ts
index 800aa1e3158..b78e80fe70b 100644
--- a/server/src/dev-runner-worktree.ts
+++ b/server/src/dev-runner-worktree.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { existsSync, lstatSync, readFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import os from "node:os";
 import path from "node:path";
+import { hasVerifiedWorktreeSeedManifest } from "./worktree-seed-manifest.js";
 
 function parseEnvFile(contents: string): Record<string, string> {
   const entries: Record<string, string> = {};
@@ -58,6 +59,10 @@ export function resolveWorktreeEnvFilePath(rootDir: string): string {
 
 export function isWorktreeSeedPending(rootDir: string): boolean {
   const markerDir = path.resolve(rootDir, ".paperclip");
+  const manifestPath = path.resolve(markerDir, "seed-manifest.json");
+  if (existsSync(manifestPath)) {
+    return !hasVerifiedWorktreeSeedManifest(manifestPath);
+  }
   return existsSync(path.resolve(markerDir, "seed-pending"))
     && !existsSync(path.resolve(markerDir, "seed-complete"));
 }
diff --git a/server/src/routes/execution-workspaces.ts b/server/src/routes/execution-workspaces.ts
index 9477b2d0ac5..e195ad12433 100644
--- a/server/src/routes/execution-workspaces.ts
+++ b/server/src/routes/execution-workspaces.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+import { spawn } from "node:child_process";
+import { existsSync, readFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import path from "node:path";
 import { and, eq } from "drizzle-orm";
 import { Router, type Request, type Response } from "express";
 import type { Db } from "@paperclipai/db";
@@ -45,6 +48,8 @@ import { appendWithCap } from "../adapters/utils.js";
 import { environmentRuntimeService } from "../services/environment-runtime.js";
 import type { PluginWorkerManager } from "../services/plugin-worker-manager.js";
 import { runExclusiveWorkspaceRuntimeControl } from "../services/workspace-operations.js";
+import { deriveWorktreeInstanceId } from "../services/workspace-instance-cleanup.js";
+import { isVerifiedWorktreeSeedManifest } from "../worktree-seed-manifest.js";
 
 const WORKSPACE_CONTROL_OUTPUT_MAX_CHARS = 256 * 1024;
 
@@ -151,7 +156,7 @@ export function executionWorkspaceRoutes(db: Db, opts: { pluginWorkerManager?: P
   async function handleExecutionWorkspaceRuntimeCommand(req: Request, res: Response) {
     const id = req.params.id as string;
     const action = String(req.params.action ?? "").trim().toLowerCase();
-    if (action !== "start" && action !== "stop" && action !== "restart" && action !== "run") {
+    if (action !== "start" && action !== "stop" && action !== "restart" && action !== "repair" && action !== "run") {
       res.status(404).json({ error: "Workspace command action not found" });
       return;
     }
@@ -262,7 +267,7 @@ export function executionWorkspaceRoutes(db: Db, opts: { pluginWorkerManager?: P
       return;
     }
 
-    if ((action === "start" || action === "restart") && !effectiveRuntimeConfig) {
+    if ((action === "start" || action === "restart" || action === "repair") && !effectiveRuntimeConfig) {
       res.status(422).json({ error: "Execution workspace has no workspace command configuration or inherited project workspace default" });
       return;
     }
@@ -327,7 +332,11 @@ export function executionWorkspaceRoutes(db: Db, opts: { pluginWorkerManager?: P
     }
 
     const recordRuntimeControlOperation = () => recorder.recordOperation({
-      phase: action === "stop" ? "workspace_teardown" : "workspace_provision",
+      phase: action === "stop"
+        ? "workspace_teardown"
+        : action === "repair"
+          ? "workspace_repair"
+          : "workspace_provision",
       command: workspaceCommand?.command ?? `workspace command ${action}`,
       cwd: existing.cwd,
       metadata: {
@@ -339,7 +348,7 @@ export function executionWorkspaceRoutes(db: Db, opts: { pluginWorkerManager?: P
         runtimeServiceId: selectedRuntimeServiceId,
         serviceIndex: selectedServiceIndex,
       },
-      run: async () => {
+      run: async (reportProgress) => {
         const ensureWorkspaceAvailable = async () =>
           await ensurePersistedExecutionWorkspaceAvailable({
             base: {
@@ -429,7 +438,234 @@ export function executionWorkspaceRoutes(db: Db, opts: { pluginWorkerManager?: P
           else stderr = appendWithCap(stderr, chunk, WORKSPACE_CONTROL_OUTPUT_MAX_CHARS);
         };
 
-        if (action === "stop" || action === "restart") {
+        if (action === "repair") {
+          type RepairPhase =
+            | "managed_stop"
+            | "target_backup"
+            | "full_reseed"
+            | "managed_restart"
+            | "readiness_validation";
+          const repairDiagnostics: Array<{
+            phase: RepairPhase;
+            status: "started" | "succeeded" | "failed";
+            at: string;
+          }> = [];
+          let repairPhase: RepairPhase = "managed_stop";
+          const reportRepairPhase = async (
+            phase: RepairPhase,
+            status: "started" | "succeeded" | "failed",
+          ) => {
+            repairPhase = phase;
+            repairDiagnostics.push({ phase, status, at: new Date().toISOString() });
+            if (repairDiagnostics.length > 32) repairDiagnostics.splice(0, repairDiagnostics.length - 32);
+            await reportProgress({
+              metadata: {
+                repairPhase,
+                repairDiagnostics: [...repairDiagnostics],
+                databaseOnly: true,
+                worktreePreserved: true,
+              },
+              system: `Workspace repair ${phase}: ${status}.\n`,
+            });
+          };
+
+          try {
+            await reportRepairPhase("managed_stop", "started");
+            await stopRuntimeServicesForExecutionWorkspace({
+              db,
+              executionWorkspaceId: existing.id,
+              workspaceCwd,
+            });
+            await reportRepairPhase("managed_stop", "succeeded");
+
+            const manifestPath = path.join(workspaceCwd, ".paperclip", "seed-manifest.json");
+            const targetConfigPath = path.join(workspaceCwd, ".paperclip", "config.json");
+            let sourceConfigPath: string | null = null;
+            let previousAttemptId: string | null = null;
+            if (existsSync(manifestPath)) {
+              try {
+                const manifest = JSON.parse(readFileSync(manifestPath, "utf8")) as {
+                  attemptId?: unknown;
+                  source?: { configPath?: unknown };
+                };
+                previousAttemptId = typeof manifest.attemptId === "string" ? manifest.attemptId : null;
+                sourceConfigPath = typeof manifest.source?.configPath === "string"
+                  ? path.resolve(manifest.source.configPath)
+                  : null;
+              } catch {
+                throw new Error("Workspace seed manifest is malformed; repair source identity cannot be trusted.");
+              }
+            }
+            const baseWorkspaceCwd = projectWorkspace?.cwd ?? workspaceCwd;
+            const baseConfigPath = path.join(baseWorkspaceCwd, ".paperclip", "config.json");
+            if (!sourceConfigPath && existsSync(baseConfigPath) && path.resolve(baseConfigPath) !== path.resolve(targetConfigPath)) {
+              sourceConfigPath = baseConfigPath;
+            }
+            if (!sourceConfigPath || !existsSync(sourceConfigPath)) {
+              throw new Error("Workspace repair has no readable configured source instance.");
+            }
+
+            const cliRunner = path.join(baseWorkspaceCwd, "cli", "node_modules", "tsx", "dist", "cli.mjs");
+            const cliEntry = path.join(baseWorkspaceCwd, "cli", "src", "index.ts");
+            const cliDist = path.join(baseWorkspaceCwd, "cli", "dist", "index.js");
+            const cliArgs = existsSync(cliRunner) && existsSync(cliEntry)
+              ? [cliRunner, cliEntry]
+              : existsSync(cliDist)
+                ? [cliDist]
+                : null;
+            if (!cliArgs) {
+              throw new Error("Workspace repair cannot find a runnable Paperclip CLI in the base workspace.");
+            }
+
+            await reportRepairPhase("target_backup", "started");
+            const child = spawn(process.execPath, [
+              ...cliArgs,
+              "worktree",
+              "reseed",
+              "--from-config",
+              sourceConfigPath,
+              "--to",
+              workspaceCwd,
+              "--seed-mode",
+              "full",
+              "--yes",
+              "--backup-target",
+            ], {
+              cwd: baseWorkspaceCwd,
+              env: process.env,
+              stdio: ["ignore", "pipe", "pipe"],
+            });
+            child.stdout?.on("data", (chunk: Buffer) => {
+              void onLog("stdout", chunk.toString("utf8"));
+            });
+            child.stderr?.on("data", (chunk: Buffer) => {
+              void onLog("stderr", chunk.toString("utf8"));
+            });
+            let repairCommandTimedOut = false;
+            let repairCommandForceTimeout: NodeJS.Timeout | null = null;
+            const repairCommandTimeout = setTimeout(() => {
+              repairCommandTimedOut = true;
+              child.kill("SIGTERM");
+              repairCommandForceTimeout = setTimeout(() => child.kill("SIGKILL"), 5_000);
+              repairCommandForceTimeout.unref?.();
+            }, 20 * 60_000);
+            repairCommandTimeout.unref?.();
+
+            let reseedObserved = false;
+            const manifestPoll = setInterval(() => {
+              if (reseedObserved || !existsSync(manifestPath)) return;
+              try {
+                const current = JSON.parse(readFileSync(manifestPath, "utf8")) as {
+                  attemptId?: unknown;
+                  state?: unknown;
+                };
+                if (
+                  typeof current.attemptId === "string"
+                  && current.attemptId !== previousAttemptId
+                  && (current.state === "pending" || current.state === "running" || current.state === "failed")
+                ) {
+                  reseedObserved = true;
+                }
+              } catch {
+                // The atomic manifest writer makes this unlikely; the terminal
+                // read below remains authoritative.
+              }
+            }, 100);
+            manifestPoll.unref?.();
+            const exitCode = await new Promise<number>((resolve, reject) => {
+              child.once("error", reject);
+              child.once("exit", (code) => resolve(code ?? 1));
+            }).finally(() => {
+              clearInterval(manifestPoll);
+              clearTimeout(repairCommandTimeout);
+              if (repairCommandForceTimeout) clearTimeout(repairCommandForceTimeout);
+            });
+            if (reseedObserved) {
+              await reportRepairPhase("target_backup", "succeeded");
+              await reportRepairPhase("full_reseed", "started");
+            }
+            if (exitCode !== 0) {
+              let seedFailurePhase: string | null = null;
+              try {
+                const failedManifest = JSON.parse(readFileSync(manifestPath, "utf8")) as {
+                  phase?: unknown;
+                  state?: unknown;
+                };
+                seedFailurePhase = failedManifest.state === "failed" && typeof failedManifest.phase === "string"
+                  ? failedManifest.phase
+                  : null;
+              } catch {
+                // The outer repair phase remains exact when no seed phase was persisted.
+              }
+              await reportProgress({
+                metadata: { seedFailurePhase },
+                system: seedFailurePhase ? `Workspace seed failed during ${seedFailurePhase}.\n` : null,
+              });
+              throw new Error(
+                repairCommandTimedOut
+                  ? `Workspace database repair command timed out during ${repairPhase}.`
+                  : `Workspace database repair command failed during ${repairPhase}.`,
+              );
+            }
+            if (!reseedObserved) {
+              await reportRepairPhase("target_backup", "succeeded");
+              await reportRepairPhase("full_reseed", "started");
+            }
+
+            const manifest = JSON.parse(readFileSync(manifestPath, "utf8")) as Record<string, unknown>;
+            if (!isVerifiedWorktreeSeedManifest(manifest)) {
+              throw new Error("Workspace reseed returned without a verified terminal manifest.");
+            }
+            const expectedInstanceId = deriveWorktreeInstanceId(workspaceCwd);
+            if (manifest.targetInstanceId !== expectedInstanceId) {
+              throw new Error("Verified seed manifest belongs to a different workspace instance.");
+            }
+            await reportRepairPhase("full_reseed", "succeeded");
+
+            await reportRepairPhase("managed_restart", "started");
+            const availableWorkspace = await ensureWorkspaceAvailable();
+            if (!availableWorkspace) {
+              throw new Error("Execution workspace needs a local path before Paperclip can restart it.");
+            }
+            const startedServices = await startRuntimeServicesForWorkspaceControl({
+              db,
+              actor: {
+                id: actor.agentId ?? null,
+                name: actor.actorType === "user" ? "Board" : "Agent",
+                companyId: existing.companyId,
+              },
+              issue: existing.sourceIssueId
+                ? { id: existing.sourceIssueId, identifier: null, title: existing.name }
+                : null,
+              workspace: availableWorkspace,
+              executionWorkspaceId: existing.id,
+              config: {
+                workspaceRuntime: effectiveRuntimeConfig,
+                runtimeProvisionCommand:
+                  existing.config?.runtimeProvisionCommand
+                  ?? projectPolicy?.workspaceStrategy?.runtimeProvisionCommand
+                  ?? null,
+              },
+              adapterEnv: {},
+              onLog,
+              recorder,
+            });
+            runtimeServiceCount = startedServices.length;
+            await reportRepairPhase("managed_restart", "succeeded");
+
+            await reportRepairPhase("readiness_validation", "started");
+            if (
+              startedServices.length === 0
+              || startedServices.some((service) => service.status !== "running" || service.healthStatus !== "healthy")
+            ) {
+              throw new Error("Managed restart did not produce healthy runtime services.");
+            }
+            await reportRepairPhase("readiness_validation", "succeeded");
+          } catch (error) {
+            await reportRepairPhase(repairPhase, "failed");
+            throw error;
+          }
+        } else if (action === "stop" || action === "restart") {
           await stopRuntimeServicesForExecutionWorkspace({
             db,
             executionWorkspaceId: existing.id,
@@ -481,7 +717,7 @@ export function executionWorkspaceRoutes(db: Db, opts: { pluginWorkerManager?: P
             throw error;
           }
           runtimeServiceCount = startedServices.length;
-        } else {
+        } else if (action !== "repair") {
           runtimeServiceCount = selectedRuntimeServiceId ? Math.max(0, (existing.runtimeServices?.length ?? 1) - 1) : 0;
         }
 
@@ -504,7 +740,7 @@ export function executionWorkspaceRoutes(db: Db, opts: { pluginWorkerManager?: P
               config: { workspaceRuntime: effectiveRuntimeConfig },
               currentDesiredState,
               currentServiceStates: existing.config?.serviceStates ?? null,
-              action,
+              action: action === "repair" ? "start" : action,
               serviceIndex: selectedServiceIndex,
             });
         const metadata = mergeExecutionWorkspaceConfig(existing.metadata as Record<string, unknown> | null, {
@@ -522,6 +758,8 @@ export function executionWorkspaceRoutes(db: Db, opts: { pluginWorkerManager?: P
               ? "Stopped execution workspace runtime services.\n"
               : action === "restart"
                 ? "Restarted execution workspace runtime services.\n"
+                : action === "repair"
+                  ? "Repaired the isolated workspace database and restarted healthy runtime services.\n"
                 : "Started execution workspace runtime services.\n",
           metadata: {
             runtimeServiceCount,
@@ -565,7 +803,9 @@ export function executionWorkspaceRoutes(db: Db, opts: { pluginWorkerManager?: P
           // The operation is already terminal here. This also catches the recorder's own time
           // budget expiring on a start that never settles, which is the one failure the inner
           // handler cannot see — reconcile there too so no listener or desired state is left over.
-          if (action === "start" || action === "restart") await reconcileFailedRuntimeStart(error);
+          if (action === "start" || action === "restart" || action === "repair") {
+            await reconcileFailedRuntimeStart(error);
+          }
           throw error;
         }
       },
diff --git a/server/src/services/workspace-operations.ts b/server/src/services/workspace-operations.ts
index 384f5785ee8..773744a40d7 100644
--- a/server/src/services/workspace-operations.ts
+++ b/server/src/services/workspace-operations.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ type WorkspaceOperationRow = typeof workspaceOperations.$inferSelect;
  * Managed runtime control actions. Every one of these mutates the runtime rows and
  * local listeners of a single execution workspace, so only one may be live at a time.
  */
-const RUNTIME_CONTROL_ACTIONS = new Set(["start", "stop", "restart", "run"]);
+const RUNTIME_CONTROL_ACTIONS = new Set(["start", "stop", "restart", "repair", "run"]);
 
 /**
  * Identity of this server process. A `running` runtime-control operation stamped with a
@@ -234,7 +234,10 @@ export interface WorkspaceOperationRecorder {
      * timeout error is rethrown, so a hung provider can never leave an active operation.
      */
     timeoutMs?: number | null;
-    run: () => Promise<{
+    run: (reportProgress: (input: {
+      metadata?: Record<string, unknown> | null;
+      system?: string | null;
+    }) => Promise<void>) => Promise<{
       status?: WorkspaceOperationStatus;
       exitCode?: number | null;
       stdout?: string | null;
@@ -484,7 +487,7 @@ export function workspaceOperationService(db: Db) {
           // Managed runtime controls get an ownership stamp so bounded recovery can tell a
           // slow-but-live operation from one abandoned by a dead request or server process.
           const runtimeControlAction = readRuntimeControlAction(recordInput.metadata);
-          const insertedMetadata = runtimeControlAction
+          let currentMetadata = runtimeControlAction
             ? {
                 ...(recordInput.metadata ?? {}),
                 runtimeControlOwner: {
@@ -515,7 +518,7 @@ export function workspaceOperationService(db: Db) {
               logStore: handle.store,
               logRef: handle.logRef,
               metadata: redactCurrentUserValue(
-                insertedMetadata,
+                currentMetadata,
                 currentUserRedactionOptions,
               ) as Record<string, unknown> | null,
               startedAt,
@@ -532,17 +535,21 @@ export function workspaceOperationService(db: Db) {
           if (runtimeControlAction) {
             heartbeatTimer = setInterval(() => {
               const heartbeatAt = new Date();
+              currentMetadata = combineMetadata(currentMetadata, {
+                runtimeControlOwner: {
+                  ownerId: RUNTIME_CONTROL_OWNER_ID,
+                  pid: process.pid,
+                  action: runtimeControlAction,
+                  heartbeatAt: heartbeatAt.toISOString(),
+                } satisfies RuntimeControlOwnerStamp,
+              });
               void db
                 .update(workspaceOperations)
                 .set({
-                  metadata: combineMetadata(insertedMetadata, {
-                    runtimeControlOwner: {
-                      ownerId: RUNTIME_CONTROL_OWNER_ID,
-                      pid: process.pid,
-                      action: runtimeControlAction,
-                      heartbeatAt: heartbeatAt.toISOString(),
-                    } satisfies RuntimeControlOwnerStamp,
-                  }),
+                  metadata: redactCurrentUserValue(
+                    currentMetadata,
+                    currentUserRedactionOptions,
+                  ) as Record<string, unknown> | null,
                   updatedAt: heartbeatAt,
                 })
                 .where(and(eq(workspaceOperations.id, id), eq(workspaceOperations.status, "running")))
@@ -551,9 +558,29 @@ export function workspaceOperationService(db: Db) {
             heartbeatTimer.unref?.();
           }
 
+          const reportProgress = async (progress: {
+            metadata?: Record<string, unknown> | null;
+            system?: string | null;
+          }) => {
+            await append("system", progress.system ?? null);
+            currentMetadata = combineMetadata(currentMetadata, progress.metadata);
+            await db
+              .update(workspaceOperations)
+              .set({
+                metadata: redactCurrentUserValue(
+                  currentMetadata,
+                  currentUserRedactionOptions,
+                ) as Record<string, unknown> | null,
+                stdoutExcerpt: stdoutExcerpt || null,
+                stderrExcerpt: stderrExcerpt || null,
+                updatedAt: new Date(),
+              })
+              .where(and(eq(workspaceOperations.id, id), eq(workspaceOperations.status, "running")));
+          };
+
           const timeoutMs = recordInput.timeoutMs ?? defaultRuntimeControlTimeoutMs(runtimeControlAction);
           const settle = async () => {
-            if (!timeoutMs || timeoutMs <= 0) return await recordInput.run();
+            if (!timeoutMs || timeoutMs <= 0) return await recordInput.run(reportProgress);
             const timeout = new Promise<never>((_resolve, reject) => {
               timeoutTimer = setTimeout(
                 () => reject(new WorkspaceOperationTimeoutError(timeoutMs, runtimeControlAction)),
@@ -561,7 +588,7 @@ export function workspaceOperationService(db: Db) {
               );
               timeoutTimer.unref?.();
             });
-            return await Promise.race([recordInput.run(), timeout]);
+            return await Promise.race([recordInput.run(reportProgress), timeout]);
           };
 
           try {
@@ -583,7 +610,7 @@ export function workspaceOperationService(db: Db) {
                 logSha256: finalized.sha256,
                 logCompressed: finalized.compressed,
                 metadata: redactCurrentUserValue(
-                  combineMetadata(insertedMetadata, result.metadata),
+                  combineMetadata(currentMetadata, result.metadata),
                   currentUserRedactionOptions,
                 ) as Record<string, unknown> | null,
                 finishedAt,
@@ -613,7 +640,7 @@ export function workspaceOperationService(db: Db) {
                 ...(runtimeControlAction
                   ? {
                       metadata: redactCurrentUserValue(
-                        combineMetadata(insertedMetadata, {
+                        combineMetadata(currentMetadata, {
                           failureReason: error instanceof WorkspaceOperationTimeoutError
                             ? "runtime_control_timeout"
                             : "runtime_control_error",
diff --git a/server/src/services/workspace-runtime-leases.ts b/server/src/services/workspace-runtime-leases.ts
index 79e8fe9c6c8..eba79d341d6 100644
--- a/server/src/services/workspace-runtime-leases.ts
+++ b/server/src/services/workspace-runtime-leases.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ const TERMINAL_HEARTBEAT_RUN_STATUSES = new Set([
 ]);
 
 /** Runtime control actions that mutate the workspace and therefore need the lease. */
-export const LEASED_WORKSPACE_RUNTIME_ACTIONS: readonly string[] = ["start", "stop", "restart"];
+export const LEASED_WORKSPACE_RUNTIME_ACTIONS: readonly string[] = ["start", "stop", "restart", "repair"];
 
 /**
  * Upper bound on how long a lease survives without the owner touching it. Recovery
diff --git a/server/src/services/workspace-runtime.ts b/server/src/services/workspace-runtime.ts
index 3753fe60eb1..d024758dea5 100644
--- a/server/src/services/workspace-runtime.ts
+++ b/server/src/services/workspace-runtime.ts
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ import { and, desc, eq, gte, inArray, isNull, lte, ne, or } from "drizzle-orm";
 import { asNumber, asString, parseObject, renderTemplate } from "../adapters/utils.js";
 import { conflict } from "../errors.js";
 import { resolveHomeAwarePath } from "../home-paths.js";
+import { hasVerifiedWorktreeSeedManifest } from "../worktree-seed-manifest.js";
 import {
   createLocalServiceKey,
   findLocalServiceRegistryRecordByRuntimeServiceId,
@@ -5015,6 +5016,7 @@ export function resolveRuntimeProvisionCommand(input: {
   if (input.workspace.strategy !== "git_worktree") return "";
 
   const stateDir = path.join(input.workspace.cwd, ".paperclip");
+  const manifestPath = path.join(stateDir, "seed-manifest.json");
   const pendingMarker = path.join(stateDir, "seed-pending");
   const completeMarker = path.join(stateDir, "seed-complete");
   const provisionScript = path.join(
@@ -5022,11 +5024,11 @@ export function resolveRuntimeProvisionCommand(input: {
     "scripts",
     "provision-worktree-runtime.sh",
   );
-  if (
-    !existsSync(pendingMarker)
-    || existsSync(completeMarker)
-    || !existsSync(provisionScript)
-  ) {
+  let needsSeed = existsSync(pendingMarker) && !existsSync(completeMarker);
+  if (existsSync(manifestPath)) {
+    needsSeed = !hasVerifiedWorktreeSeedManifest(manifestPath);
+  }
+  if (!needsSeed || !existsSync(provisionScript)) {
     return "";
   }
 
diff --git a/server/src/worktree-seed-manifest.ts b/server/src/worktree-seed-manifest.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d1b281ed894
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/worktree-seed-manifest.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+import { existsSync, readFileSync } from "node:fs";
+
+const WORKTREE_SEED_MODES = new Set(["minimal", "full"]);
+
+type SeedDiagnostic = {
+  phase?: unknown;
+  status?: unknown;
+  at?: unknown;
+};
+
+/**
+ * A manifest is readiness evidence only when the complete validation phase was
+ * durably recorded. A bare `state: verified` is deliberately insufficient so
+ * truncated or hand-edited files cannot start a partially restored workspace.
+ */
+export function isVerifiedWorktreeSeedManifest(value: unknown): boolean {
+  if (!value || typeof value !== "object") return false;
+  const manifest = value as Record<string, unknown>;
+  const source = manifest.source as Record<string, unknown> | null;
+  const diagnostics = manifest.diagnostics as SeedDiagnostic[] | null;
+  return manifest.version === 2
+    && manifest.state === "verified"
+    && manifest.phase === "complete"
+    && typeof source?.instanceId === "string"
+    && source.instanceId.length > 0
+    && typeof source.configPath === "string"
+    && source.configPath.length > 0
+    && WORKTREE_SEED_MODES.has(String(manifest.seedMode ?? ""))
+    && typeof manifest.snapshotAt === "string"
+    && manifest.snapshotAt.length > 0
+    && typeof manifest.migrationRevision === "string"
+    && manifest.migrationRevision.length > 0
+    && typeof manifest.targetInstanceId === "string"
+    && manifest.targetInstanceId.length > 0
+    && typeof manifest.attemptId === "string"
+    && manifest.attemptId.length > 0
+    && typeof manifest.startedAt === "string"
+    && typeof manifest.finishedAt === "string"
+    && Array.isArray(diagnostics)
+    && diagnostics.some((diagnostic) => (
+      diagnostic?.phase === "complete"
+      && diagnostic.status === "succeeded"
+      && typeof diagnostic.at === "string"
+    ));
+}
+
+export function hasVerifiedWorktreeSeedManifest(manifestPath: string): boolean {
+  if (!existsSync(manifestPath)) return false;
+  try {
+    return isVerifiedWorktreeSeedManifest(JSON.parse(readFileSync(manifestPath, "utf8")));
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/ui/src/api/execution-workspaces.ts b/ui/src/api/execution-workspaces.ts
index e6c075a86d1..b3de8342297 100644
--- a/ui/src/api/execution-workspaces.ts
+++ b/ui/src/api/execution-workspaces.ts
@@ -114,6 +114,11 @@ export const executionWorkspacesApi = {
       `/execution-workspaces/${id}/runtime-commands/${action}`,
       sanitizeWorkspaceRuntimeControlTarget(target),
     ),
+  repair: (id: string) =>
+    api.post<{ workspace: ExecutionWorkspace; operation: WorkspaceOperation }>(
+      `/execution-workspaces/${id}/runtime-commands/repair`,
+      {},
+    ),
   update: (id: string, data: Record<string, unknown>) => api.patch<ExecutionWorkspace>(`/execution-workspaces/${id}`, data),
   /**
    * Reconcile a git-worktree branch divergence via the S4 (`PAP-1586`) op.