diff --git a/config/scripts/vitest-sqlite-runtime-files.mjs b/config/scripts/vitest-sqlite-runtime-files.mjs
index 17d1522c97b1..80bd1d4744ab 100644
--- a/config/scripts/vitest-sqlite-runtime-files.mjs
+++ b/config/scripts/vitest-sqlite-runtime-files.mjs
@@ -194,6 +194,7 @@ export const SQLITE_RUNTIME_INCLUDE = [
   'src/main/opencode/opencode-acp-stored-messages.test.ts',
   'src/main/orcad/orcad-automations.test.ts',
   'src/main/orcad/orcad-local-serve-selection.test.ts',
+  'src/main/orcad/orcad-managed-idle-exit-chat-provider.test.ts',
   'src/main/orcad/serve-profile-ssh-targets.test.ts',
   'src/main/pi/rpc-launch-resolution.test.ts',
   'src/main/runtime/agent-session-conversation-clear-commit.test.ts',
diff --git a/src/main/native-chat/agent-session-wire/structured-agent-session-host.ts b/src/main/native-chat/agent-session-wire/structured-agent-session-host.ts
index 681dd3088a82..8f9a97671a07 100644
--- a/src/main/native-chat/agent-session-wire/structured-agent-session-host.ts
+++ b/src/main/native-chat/agent-session-wire/structured-agent-session-host.ts
@@ -175,6 +175,8 @@ export class StructuredAgentSessionHost {
   private now = (): number => this.deps.now?.() ?? Date.now()
 
   hasSession = (sessionId: string): boolean => this.sessions.has(sessionId)
+  hasLoadedProviders = (): boolean =>
+    [...this.sessions.values()].some(({ child }) => child !== null)
   sessionAgent = (sessionId: string) => this.deps.store.getRecord(sessionId)?.provider ?? null
 
   handleAdapterEvent = (event: Parameters<StructuredAgentSessionEventRecovery['handle']>[0]) =>
diff --git a/src/main/orcad/orcad-idle-exit-monitor.test.ts b/src/main/orcad/orcad-idle-exit-monitor.test.ts
index fbe31074a526..87ea58eefcf0 100644
--- a/src/main/orcad/orcad-idle-exit-monitor.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/orcad/orcad-idle-exit-monitor.test.ts
@@ -100,6 +100,22 @@ describe('OrcadIdleExitMonitor', () => {
     expect(h.onIdle).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
+  it('restarts the quiet period when the final idle stop declines after an asynchronous check', async () => {
+    const h = harness()
+    await h.monitor.check()
+    const decision = Promise.withResolvers<boolean>()
+    h.onIdle.mockImplementationOnce(() => decision.promise)
+    h.advance(100)
+    const checking = h.monitor.check()
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(h.onIdle).toHaveBeenCalledOnce())
+    decision.resolve(false)
+    expect(await checking).toBe(false)
+    h.advance(100)
+    expect(await h.monitor.check()).toBe(false)
+    h.advance(100)
+    expect(await h.monitor.check()).toBe(true)
+  })
+
   it('polls often enough for a short test timeout and at most once a minute', () => {
     expect(resolveOrcadIdlePollMs(15 * 60_000)).toBe(60_000)
     expect(resolveOrcadIdlePollMs(2_000)).toBe(400)
diff --git a/src/main/orcad/orcad-idle-exit-monitor.ts b/src/main/orcad/orcad-idle-exit-monitor.ts
index 58a053adffc8..4ddc0bf7329d 100644
--- a/src/main/orcad/orcad-idle-exit-monitor.ts
+++ b/src/main/orcad/orcad-idle-exit-monitor.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ export type OrcadIdleExitMonitorOptions = {
   probes: readonly OrcadIdleProbe[]
   /** Any client request restarts the quiet period, even one that came and went between checks. */
   lastClientActivityAt: () => number
-  onIdle: (evidence: OrcadIdleExitEvidence) => void
+  onIdle: (evidence: OrcadIdleExitEvidence) => void | boolean | Promise<void | boolean>
   now?: () => number
   pollMs?: number
   log?: (line: string) => void
@@ -80,8 +80,17 @@ export class OrcadIdleExitMonitor {
     if (now - quietSince < this.options.timeoutMs) {
       return false
     }
+    if (
+      (await this.options.onIdle({
+        quietSince,
+        stoppedAt: now,
+        timeoutMs: this.options.timeoutMs
+      })) === false
+    ) {
+      this.quietSince = null
+      return false
+    }
     this.stop()
-    this.options.onIdle({ quietSince, stoppedAt: now, timeoutMs: this.options.timeoutMs })
     return true
   }
 
diff --git a/src/main/orcad/orcad-managed-idle-exit-chat-provider.test.ts b/src/main/orcad/orcad-managed-idle-exit-chat-provider.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e86bff86da67
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/orcad/orcad-managed-idle-exit-chat-provider.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { AGENT_JOURNAL_THREAD_SCOPE } from '../../shared/agent-session-journal-types'
+import {
+  createRestTestRig,
+  foundRestTestChat,
+  IDLE_MS,
+  REST_TEST_SESSION,
+  REST_TEST_THREAD,
+  sweepOnce,
+  type RestTestRig
+} from '../native-chat/agent-session-wire/structured-agent-session-rest-test-rig'
+import { OrcadIdleExitMonitor } from './orcad-idle-exit-monitor'
+import { createOrcadIdleProbes } from './orcad-managed-idle-exit'
+
+let rig: RestTestRig
+const SERVER_IDLE_MS = 15 * 60_000
+
+beforeEach(async () => {
+  rig = await createRestTestRig()
+  rig.host.collaboratorsForTests().lifetime.idleSweep.dispose()
+  await foundRestTestChat(rig)
+})
+
+afterEach(async () => {
+  await rig.dispose()
+})
+
+function idleMonitor() {
+  const onIdle = vi.fn()
+  const monitor = new OrcadIdleExitMonitor({
+    timeoutMs: SERVER_IDLE_MS,
+    now: () => rig.clock.now,
+    log: () => {},
+    lastClientActivityAt: () => 0,
+    onIdle,
+    probes: createOrcadIdleProbes(
+      { timeoutMs: SERVER_IDLE_MS, activationRoot: 'test-fence' },
+      {
+        readClientActivity: () => ({ openConnections: 0, requestsInFlight: 0, lastRequestAt: 0 }),
+        listTerminals: async () => [],
+        countDaemonSessions: async () => 0,
+        hasDaemon: () => true,
+        hasChatProviders: () => rig.host.hasLoadedProviders(),
+        agentStates: () => [{ state: 'blocked' }],
+        hasStagedMigration: () => false,
+        automationsBusy: () => false,
+        activationFenceExists: async () => false
+      }
+    )
+  })
+  return { monitor, onIdle }
+}
+
+function providerEvents() {
+  const events = rig.adapter.acquire.mock.calls.at(-1)?.[0].events
+  if (!events) {
+    throw new Error('no provider was started')
+  }
+  return events
+}
+
+it('U2: keeps the provider and disconnected server alive while an approval is unanswered', async () => {
+  providerEvents().appendItem(
+    { provider: 'codex', threadId: REST_TEST_THREAD, turnId: 'approval-turn', ordinal: 70 },
+    {
+      kind: 'approval',
+      title: 'Run the command?',
+      detail: null,
+      options: [{ id: 'allow', label: 'Allow' }],
+      resolution: { state: 'pending', selectedOptionId: null, resolvedBy: null, resolvedAt: null }
+    },
+    { turnScope: AGENT_JOURNAL_THREAD_SCOPE }
+  )
+  await rig.host.flushStreamedEvents(REST_TEST_SESSION)
+  const { monitor, onIdle } = idleMonitor()
+  expect(await monitor.check()).toBe(false)
+  rig.clock.now += 7 * 24 * 60 * 60_000
+  await sweepOnce(rig.host)
+
+  expect(rig.adapter.closeSession).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  expect(await monitor.check()).toBe(false)
+  expect(onIdle).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+})
+
+it('releases an idle provider after the existing window, then lets the disconnected server exit', async () => {
+  const { monitor, onIdle } = idleMonitor()
+  expect(await monitor.check()).toBe(false)
+  rig.clock.now += IDLE_MS - 1
+  await sweepOnce(rig.host)
+  expect(rig.adapter.closeSession).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  expect(await monitor.check()).toBe(false)
+
+  rig.clock.now += 2
+  await sweepOnce(rig.host)
+  expect(rig.adapter.closeSession).toHaveBeenCalledWith(REST_TEST_SESSION)
+  expect(rig.host.hasLoadedProviders()).toBe(false)
+  expect(await monitor.check()).toBe(false)
+  rig.clock.now += SERVER_IDLE_MS
+  expect(await monitor.check()).toBe(true)
+  expect(onIdle).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+})
+
+it('never releases a quiet running turn or idle-exits its server', async () => {
+  providerEvents().appendItem(
+    { provider: 'codex', threadId: REST_TEST_THREAD, turnId: 'working', ordinal: 71 },
+    { kind: 'turn', turnId: 'working', state: 'running' },
+    { turnScope: AGENT_JOURNAL_THREAD_SCOPE }
+  )
+  await rig.host.flushStreamedEvents(REST_TEST_SESSION)
+  const { monitor, onIdle } = idleMonitor()
+  expect(await monitor.check()).toBe(false)
+  for (let pass = 0; pass < 3; pass += 1) {
+    rig.clock.now += 7 * 24 * 60 * 60_000
+    await sweepOnce(rig.host)
+    expect(await monitor.check()).toBe(false)
+  }
+  expect(rig.adapter.closeSession).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  expect(onIdle).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+})
diff --git a/src/main/orcad/orcad-managed-idle-exit-host.ts b/src/main/orcad/orcad-managed-idle-exit-host.ts
index 7ea30102d189..2bd311183bd3 100644
--- a/src/main/orcad/orcad-managed-idle-exit-host.ts
+++ b/src/main/orcad/orcad-managed-idle-exit-host.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
 } from './orcad-idle-stop-record'
 import type { OrcadShutdownTrigger } from './orcad-lifecycle'
 import type { OrcadIdleStopRecord } from '../../shared/orcad-idle-exit'
+import { getStructuredAgentSessionHost } from '../native-chat/agent-session-wire/structured-agent-session-registry'
 
 let requestIdleShutdown: OrcadShutdownTrigger | null = null
 
@@ -67,6 +68,8 @@ async function startOrcadManagedIdleExit(
   const { countLiveOrcadDaemonSessions, retireOrcadDaemonIfIdle } =
     await import('./orcad-daemon-retirement')
   const idleRecord = createIdleStopRecordOwnership(input.userDataPath)
+  const hasChatProviders = (): boolean =>
+    getStructuredAgentSessionHost()?.hasLoadedProviders() ?? false
   const dispose = installOrcadManagedIdleExit({
     config: input.config,
     ports: {
@@ -75,14 +78,26 @@ async function startOrcadManagedIdleExit(
       countDaemonSessions: countLiveOrcadDaemonSessions,
       hasDaemon: () => getDaemonEndpointFacts() !== null,
       agentStates: input.agentStates,
+      hasChatProviders,
       hasStagedMigration: input.hasStagedMigration,
       automationsBusy: input.automationsBusy,
       activationFenceExists
     },
-    stop: (evidence) => {
-      void stopForIdle(input, evidence, retireOrcadDaemonIfIdle).finally(() =>
-        idleRecord.requestShutdown(requestIdleShutdown)
-      )
+    stop: async (evidence) => {
+      await stopForIdle(input, evidence, retireOrcadDaemonIfIdle)
+      // Clients or providers may return while daemon retirement awaits its reply.
+      const activity = input.rpc.readClientActivity()
+      if (
+        hasChatProviders() ||
+        activity.openConnections > 0 ||
+        activity.requestsInFlight > 0 ||
+        activity.lastRequestAt > evidence.quietSince
+      ) {
+        discardOrcadIdleStopRecord(input.userDataPath)
+        return false
+      }
+      idleRecord.requestShutdown(requestIdleShutdown)
+      return true
     }
   })
   input.registerCleanup(() => {
diff --git a/src/main/orcad/orcad-managed-idle-exit-provider-race.test.ts b/src/main/orcad/orcad-managed-idle-exit-provider-race.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..a5ac52b1612e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/orcad/orcad-managed-idle-exit-provider-race.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { ORCAD_MANAGED_ACTIVATION_ROOT_ENV } from '../../shared/orcad-idle-exit'
+import { bindOrcadIdleShutdown, beginOrcadIdleExit } from './orcad-managed-idle-exit-host'
+import { installOrcadManagedIdleExit } from './orcad-managed-idle-exit'
+import type * as ManagedIdleExit from './orcad-managed-idle-exit'
+import { retireOrcadDaemonIfIdle } from './orcad-daemon-retirement'
+import { discardOrcadIdleStopRecord } from './orcad-idle-stop-record'
+
+const { hasLoadedProviders } = vi.hoisted(() => ({ hasLoadedProviders: vi.fn(() => false) }))
+
+vi.mock('../native-chat/agent-session-wire/structured-agent-session-registry', () => ({
+  getStructuredAgentSessionHost: () => ({ hasLoadedProviders })
+}))
+vi.mock('../ipc/pty', () => ({ getLocalPtyProvider: () => ({ listProcesses: async () => [] }) }))
+vi.mock('../daemon/daemon-init', () => ({ getDaemonEndpointFacts: () => null }))
+vi.mock('./orcad-daemon-retirement', () => ({
+  countLiveOrcadDaemonSessions: vi.fn(async () => 0),
+  retireOrcadDaemonIfIdle: vi.fn()
+}))
+vi.mock('./orcad-idle-stop-record', () => ({
+  consumeOrcadIdleStopRecord: vi.fn(() => null),
+  discardOrcadIdleStopRecord: vi.fn(),
+  writeOrcadIdleStopRecord: vi.fn()
+}))
+vi.mock('./orcad-managed-idle-exit', async (importOriginal) => ({
+  ...(await importOriginal<typeof ManagedIdleExit>()),
+  installOrcadManagedIdleExit: vi.fn(() => () => {})
+}))
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  vi.clearAllMocks()
+  hasLoadedProviders.mockReturnValue(false)
+  vi.stubEnv(ORCAD_MANAGED_ACTIVATION_ROOT_ENV, 'test-fence')
+})
+
+afterEach(() => vi.unstubAllEnvs())
+
+it.each(['provider', 'client', 'request', 'recent request'])(
+  'rechecks a returning %s after daemon retirement before requesting an idle shutdown',
+  async (returning) => {
+    const activity = { openConnections: 0, requestsInFlight: 0, lastRequestAt: 0 }
+    const retire = Promise.withResolvers<{ retirement: string; reason: null }>()
+    vi.mocked(retireOrcadDaemonIfIdle).mockImplementationOnce(async () => ({
+      ...(await retire.promise),
+      retirement: 'retired',
+      liveSessions: 0
+    }))
+    const shutdown = vi.fn(() => true)
+    bindOrcadIdleShutdown(shutdown)
+    await beginOrcadIdleExit('test-profile').start({
+      rpc: {
+        readClientActivity: () => activity
+      },
+      agentStates: () => [],
+      hasStagedMigration: () => false,
+      automationsBusy: () => false,
+      registerCleanup: () => {}
+    })
+    const installed = vi.mocked(installOrcadManagedIdleExit).mock.calls.at(-1)?.[0]
+    if (!installed) {
+      throw new Error('idle monitor was not installed')
+    }
+    const stopping = installed.stop({ quietSince: 0, stoppedAt: 900_000, timeoutMs: 900_000 })
+    hasLoadedProviders.mockReturnValue(returning === 'provider')
+    activity.openConnections = returning === 'client' ? 1 : 0
+    activity.requestsInFlight = returning === 'request' ? 1 : 0
+    activity.lastRequestAt = returning === 'recent request' ? 1 : 0
+    retire.resolve({ retirement: 'retired', reason: null })
+
+    expect(await stopping).toBe(false)
+    expect(shutdown).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(discardOrcadIdleStopRecord).toHaveBeenCalledWith('test-profile')
+  }
+)
diff --git a/src/main/orcad/orcad-managed-idle-exit.test.ts b/src/main/orcad/orcad-managed-idle-exit.test.ts
index d14532b2ff05..3092f2c13119 100644
--- a/src/main/orcad/orcad-managed-idle-exit.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/orcad/orcad-managed-idle-exit.test.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ function idlePorts(): OrcadManagedIdleExitPorts {
     countDaemonSessions: async () => 0,
     hasDaemon: () => true,
     agentStates: () => [{ state: 'done' }],
+    hasChatProviders: () => false,
     hasStagedMigration: () => false,
     automationsBusy: () => false,
     activationFenceExists: async () => false
@@ -73,6 +74,7 @@ describe('createOrcadIdleProbes', () => {
       clients: 'idle',
       terminals: 'idle',
       agents: 'idle',
+      'chat-providers': 'idle',
       migration: 'idle',
       automations: 'idle',
       activation: 'idle'
@@ -97,6 +99,7 @@ describe('createOrcadIdleProbes', () => {
     ['an in-process terminal', { listTerminals: async () => [{ id: 'pty-1' }] }, 'terminals'],
     ['a live daemon session', { countDaemonSessions: async () => 2 }, 'terminals'],
     ['a working agent', { agentStates: () => [{ state: 'working' }] }, 'agents'],
+    ['a loaded chat provider', { hasChatProviders: () => true }, 'chat-providers'],
     ['a staged migration', { hasStagedMigration: () => true }, 'migration'],
     ['an enabled or running automation', { automationsBusy: () => true }, 'automations'],
     ['a held activation fence', { activationFenceExists: async () => true }, 'activation']
diff --git a/src/main/orcad/orcad-managed-idle-exit.ts b/src/main/orcad/orcad-managed-idle-exit.ts
index 74229ef2a65a..0963e0ad44ae 100644
--- a/src/main/orcad/orcad-managed-idle-exit.ts
+++ b/src/main/orcad/orcad-managed-idle-exit.ts
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ export type OrcadManagedIdleExitPorts = {
   countDaemonSessions: () => Promise<number | null>
   hasDaemon: () => boolean
   agentStates: () => readonly { state: string }[]
+  hasChatProviders: () => boolean
   hasStagedMigration: () => boolean
   /** An enabled schedule or an unsettled run; nothing would fire either once the host exits. */
   automationsBusy: () => boolean
@@ -84,6 +85,7 @@ export function createOrcadIdleProbes(
       name: 'agents',
       read: () => verdict(ports.agentStates().some((entry) => entry.state === 'working'))
     },
+    { name: 'chat-providers', read: () => verdict(ports.hasChatProviders()) },
     { name: 'migration', read: () => verdict(ports.hasStagedMigration()) },
     { name: 'automations', read: () => verdict(ports.automationsBusy()) },
     {
@@ -110,7 +112,7 @@ export function installOrcadManagedIdleExit(input: {
   config: OrcadManagedIdleExitConfig
   ports: OrcadManagedIdleExitPorts
   /** Records the clean stop, then runs the same graceful shutdown as SIGTERM. */
-  stop: (evidence: OrcadIdleExitEvidence) => void
+  stop: (evidence: OrcadIdleExitEvidence) => void | boolean | Promise<void | boolean>
 }): () => void {
   const monitor = new OrcadIdleExitMonitor({
     timeoutMs: input.config.timeoutMs,