diff --git a/src/Models/Comment.php b/src/Models/Comment.php
index c04ede11..f6f9c333 100644
--- a/src/Models/Comment.php
+++ b/src/Models/Comment.php
@@ -119,8 +119,6 @@ public function replies()
      */
     public static function publish(array $attributes): Comment
     {
-        static::unguard();
-
         // If replies or parent is set somehow unset it
         unset($attributes['replies'], $attributes['parent']);
 
@@ -139,9 +137,10 @@ public static function publish(array $attributes): Comment
         $attributes['created_at'] = now();
         $attributes['updated_at'] = now();
 
-        $comment = static::create($attributes);
-        static::reguard();
-
-        return $comment;
+        // Unguard only for this insert: `unguarded()` restores the guard even when the insert
+        // throws. A bare unguard() left every model in a long-lived (Octane) worker unguarded
+        // after a failed insert, so request params became where clauses and stray payload keys
+        // became insert columns on unrelated models.
+        return static::unguarded(fn () => static::create($attributes));
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/Unit/Models/OperationalModelsTest.php b/tests/Unit/Models/OperationalModelsTest.php
index 4978d81d..af164fe8 100644
--- a/tests/Unit/Models/OperationalModelsTest.php
+++ b/tests/Unit/Models/OperationalModelsTest.php
@@ -636,6 +636,21 @@ public function clear(): bool
     Carbon::setTestNow();
 });
 
+it('leaves models guarded when publishing a comment fails', function () {
+    operational_models_database();
+    session([
+        'user'    => 'user-1',
+        'company' => 'company-1',
+    ]);
+
+    // A duplicate primary key makes the insert throw.
+    Comment::publish(['uuid' => 'comment-dup', 'content' => 'First', 'subject_uuid' => 'order-1', 'subject_type' => User::class]);
+
+    expect(fn () => Comment::publish(['uuid' => 'comment-dup', 'content' => 'Second', 'subject_uuid' => 'order-1', 'subject_type' => User::class]))
+        ->toThrow(Exception::class)
+        ->and(Comment::isUnguarded())->toBeFalse();
+});
+
 it('defines comment company parent and replies relationship contracts', function () {
     operational_models_database();