diff --git a/cmd/gc/cmd_session.go b/cmd/gc/cmd_session.go
index b557609d94..fb0cdb9e34 100644
--- a/cmd/gc/cmd_session.go
+++ b/cmd/gc/cmd_session.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ continuity.`,
 		Args: cobra.ArbitraryArgs,
 		RunE: func(_ *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			if len(args) == 0 {
-				fmt.Fprintln(stderr, "gc session: missing subcommand (new, list, attach, submit, suspend, pin, unpin, reset, close, rename, prune, peek, kill, nudge, logs, wake, wait)") //nolint:errcheck // best-effort stderr
+				fmt.Fprintln(stderr, "gc session: missing subcommand (new, list, attach, submit, suspend, pin, unpin, reset, close, rename, prune, release-name, peek, kill, nudge, logs, wake, wait)") //nolint:errcheck // best-effort stderr
 			} else {
 				fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "gc session: unknown subcommand %q\n", args[0]) //nolint:errcheck // best-effort stderr
 			}
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ continuity.`,
 		newSessionCloseCmd(stdout, stderr),
 		newSessionRenameCmd(stdout, stderr),
 		newSessionPruneCmd(stdout, stderr),
+		newSessionReleaseNameCmd(stdout, stderr),
 		newSessionPeekCmd(stdout, stderr),
 		newSessionKillCmd(stdout, stderr),
 		newSessionNudgeCmd(stdout, stderr),
diff --git a/cmd/gc/cmd_session_release_name.go b/cmd/gc/cmd_session_release_name.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..05a2e0d247
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/gc/cmd_session_release_name.go
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/gastownhall/gascity/internal/config"
+	"github.com/gastownhall/gascity/internal/session"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+)
+
+// newSessionReleaseNameCmd creates the "gc session release-name <name-or-alias>"
+// command.
+func newSessionReleaseNameCmd(stdout, stderr io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
+	var jsonOutput bool
+	cmd := &cobra.Command{
+		Use:   "release-name <session-name-or-alias>",
+		Short: "Free a runtime name still reserved by a closed session",
+		Long: `Clear the runtime session name, alias, and canonical-identity record held
+by closed session beads matching the given name or alias.
+
+A closed session bead keeps the identifiers it ran under, and name resolution
+still consults them, so the name can stay reserved after every runtime that
+used it is gone. Nothing else releases it: nudge, wake, and kill all reject a
+closed bead, and prune does not accept the closed state. Use this when
+creating or waking a session fails with "already belongs to <bead-id>
+(closed)".
+
+A name held by a live session is refused — stop that session instead.`,
+		Example: `  gc session release-name rig/pack.refinery
+  gc session release-name city--pack__refinery --json`,
+		Args: cobra.ExactArgs(1),
+		RunE: func(_ *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			if cmdSessionReleaseName(args[0], stdout, stderr, jsonOutput) != 0 {
+				return errExit
+			}
+			return nil
+		},
+	}
+	cmd.Flags().BoolVar(&jsonOutput, "json", false, "emit JSONL")
+	return cmd
+}
+
+// cmdSessionReleaseName is the CLI entry point for "gc session release-name".
+func cmdSessionReleaseName(target string, stdout, stderr io.Writer, jsonOutput ...bool) int {
+	asJSON := sessionJSONRequested(jsonOutput)
+
+	store, code := openCityStore(stderr, "gc session release-name")
+	if store == nil {
+		return code
+	}
+
+	// The reservation lives on session beads, so route through the session
+	// coordination-class store for relocation-safety, as the other session
+	// catalog commands do.
+	cityPath, cityErr := resolveCity()
+	var cfg *config.City
+	if cityErr == nil {
+		cfg, _ = loadCityConfig(cityPath, configWarnWriter(asJSON, stderr))
+	}
+	sessStore := cliSessionStore(store, cfg, cityPath)
+
+	released, err := session.ReleaseSessionNameClaim(sessStore, target)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "gc session release-name: %v\n", err) //nolint:errcheck // best-effort stderr
+		return 1
+	}
+
+	count := len(released)
+	if asJSON {
+		result := sessionActionResult{
+			Action:   "release-name",
+			Identity: strings.TrimSpace(target),
+			Count:    &count,
+		}
+		if count == 1 {
+			result.SessionID = released[0].BeadID
+		}
+		if err := writeSessionActionJSON(stdout, result); err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "gc session release-name: %v\n", err) //nolint:errcheck // best-effort stderr
+			return 1
+		}
+		return 0
+	}
+
+	if count == 0 {
+		fmt.Fprintf(stdout, "No closed session reserves %q.\n", target) //nolint:errcheck // best-effort stdout
+		return 0
+	}
+	ids := make([]string, 0, count)
+	for _, r := range released {
+		ids = append(ids, r.BeadID)
+	}
+	fmt.Fprintf(stdout, "Released %q from %s.\n", target, strings.Join(ids, ", ")) //nolint:errcheck // best-effort stdout
+	return 0
+}
diff --git a/cmd/gc/cmd_session_release_name_test.go b/cmd/gc/cmd_session_release_name_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5c0087a752
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/gc/cmd_session_release_name_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/gastownhall/gascity/internal/beads"
+	"github.com/gastownhall/gascity/internal/session"
+)
+
+// releaseNameTestCity stands up a city store and returns it plus a helper that
+// creates session beads holding runtime identifiers.
+func releaseNameTestCity(t *testing.T) (beads.Store, func(metadata map[string]string) beads.Bead) {
+	t.Helper()
+	clearGCEnv(t)
+	clearInheritedCityRoutingEnv(t)
+	t.Setenv("GC_BEADS", "file")
+	t.Setenv("GC_SESSION", "fake")
+
+	cityDir := t.TempDir()
+	t.Setenv("GC_CITY", cityDir)
+	t.Setenv("GC_CITY_PATH", cityDir)
+	writeNamedSessionCityTOML(t, cityDir)
+
+	store, err := openCityStoreAt(cityDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("openCityStoreAt(%q): %v", cityDir, err)
+	}
+	create := func(metadata map[string]string) beads.Bead {
+		t.Helper()
+		created, err := store.Create(beads.Bead{
+			Title:    metadata["session_name"],
+			Type:     session.BeadType,
+			Labels:   []string{session.LabelSession},
+			Metadata: metadata,
+		})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("create session bead: %v", err)
+		}
+		return created
+	}
+	return store, create
+}
+
+// TestCmdSessionReleaseNameClearsClosedHolder is the end-to-end operator lever:
+// a CLOSED session bead reserving an on_demand agent's runtime name is cleared
+// by one command, with no metadata surgery and no bead ID to look up first.
+func TestCmdSessionReleaseNameClearsClosedHolder(t *testing.T) {
+	const (
+		sessionName = "shutupandlisten--gc-toolkit__refinery"
+		identity    = "shutupandlisten/gc-toolkit.refinery"
+	)
+	store, create := releaseNameTestCity(t)
+	holder := create(map[string]string{
+		"session_name":                        sessionName,
+		"alias":                               identity,
+		"agent_name":                          identity,
+		session.CanonicalInstanceNameMetadata: identity,
+		"template":                            "test",
+	})
+	if err := store.Close(holder.ID); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Close: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	var stdout, stderr bytes.Buffer
+	if code := cmdSessionReleaseName(sessionName, &stdout, &stderr, true); code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("cmdSessionReleaseName = %d, want 0; stderr=%s", code, stderr.String())
+	}
+	if stderr.Len() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("stderr = %q, want empty", stderr.String())
+	}
+
+	var got sessionActionResult
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(bytes.TrimSpace(stdout.Bytes()), &got); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("stdout is not JSON: %v; stdout=%q", err, stdout.String())
+	}
+	if got.Action != "release-name" {
+		t.Fatalf("action = %q, want release-name", got.Action)
+	}
+	if got.Identity != sessionName {
+		t.Fatalf("identity = %q, want %q", got.Identity, sessionName)
+	}
+	if got.Count == nil || *got.Count != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("count = %v, want 1", got.Count)
+	}
+	if got.SessionID != holder.ID {
+		t.Fatalf("session_id = %q, want %q", got.SessionID, holder.ID)
+	}
+
+	after, err := store.Get(holder.ID)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Get: %v", err)
+	}
+	for _, key := range []string{"session_name", "alias", session.CanonicalInstanceNameMetadata} {
+		if v := after.Metadata[key]; v != "" {
+			t.Fatalf("metadata[%q] = %q, want empty after release", key, v)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCmdSessionReleaseNameRefusesLiveHolder keeps the lever from stealing a
+// name out from under a running session.
+func TestCmdSessionReleaseNameRefusesLiveHolder(t *testing.T) {
+	const sessionName = "shutupandlisten--gc-toolkit__refinery"
+	store, create := releaseNameTestCity(t)
+	holder := create(map[string]string{
+		"session_name": sessionName,
+		"state":        string(session.StateActive),
+		"template":     "test",
+	})
+
+	var stdout, stderr bytes.Buffer
+	if code := cmdSessionReleaseName(sessionName, &stdout, &stderr, false); code == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("cmdSessionReleaseName(live holder) = 0, want non-zero; stdout=%s", stdout.String())
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(stderr.String(), holder.ID) {
+		t.Fatalf("stderr = %q, want it to name the live holder %s", stderr.String(), holder.ID)
+	}
+
+	after, err := store.Get(holder.ID)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Get: %v", err)
+	}
+	if after.Metadata["session_name"] != sessionName {
+		t.Fatalf("session_name = %q, want %q left intact", after.Metadata["session_name"], sessionName)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCmdSessionReleaseNameNoHolder reports a clean no-op, so the command is
+// safe to run while diagnosing.
+func TestCmdSessionReleaseNameNoHolder(t *testing.T) {
+	_, _ = releaseNameTestCity(t)
+
+	var stdout, stderr bytes.Buffer
+	if code := cmdSessionReleaseName("nobody-holds-this", &stdout, &stderr, true); code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("cmdSessionReleaseName = %d, want 0; stderr=%s", code, stderr.String())
+	}
+	var got sessionActionResult
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(bytes.TrimSpace(stdout.Bytes()), &got); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("stdout is not JSON: %v; stdout=%q", err, stdout.String())
+	}
+	if got.Count == nil || *got.Count != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("count = %v, want 0", got.Count)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/gc/metrics_census_gen.go b/cmd/gc/metrics_census_gen.go
index db57339cfe..bdb08b06b8 100644
--- a/cmd/gc/metrics_census_gen.go
+++ b/cmd/gc/metrics_census_gen.go
@@ -202,6 +202,7 @@ const (
 	productMetricsGeneratedCommandID201 productMetricsCommandID = 201
 	productMetricsGeneratedCommandID202 productMetricsCommandID = 202
 	productMetricsGeneratedCommandID203 productMetricsCommandID = 203
+	productMetricsGeneratedCommandID204 productMetricsCommandID = 204
 )
 
 var generatedProductMetricsGlobalConditionalModes = []productMetricsConditionalMode{productMetricsConditionalGenericMachineOutput, productMetricsConditionalManagedContext, productMetricsConditionalProviderHook}
@@ -446,6 +447,7 @@ var generatedProductMetricsCommandCensus = []productMetricsCommandCensusEntry{
 	{Path: "gc session peek", Aliases: []string{}, ConditionalModes: []productMetricsConditionalMode{}, Hidden: false, EffectiveHidden: false, DisableFlagParsing: false, Shape: productMetricsShapeRunnable, Classification: "session-peek", Mode: productMetricsModeStandard, Notice: productMetricsNoticeEligible, Recording: productMetricsRecordingRecordable, Owner: productMetricsOwnerImmediate, ID: productMetricsGeneratedCommandID147},
 	{Path: "gc session pin", Aliases: []string{}, ConditionalModes: []productMetricsConditionalMode{}, Hidden: false, EffectiveHidden: false, DisableFlagParsing: false, Shape: productMetricsShapeRunnable, Classification: "session-pin", Mode: productMetricsModeStandard, Notice: productMetricsNoticeEligible, Recording: productMetricsRecordingRecordable, Owner: productMetricsOwnerImmediate, ID: productMetricsGeneratedCommandID148},
 	{Path: "gc session prune", Aliases: []string{}, ConditionalModes: []productMetricsConditionalMode{}, Hidden: false, EffectiveHidden: false, DisableFlagParsing: false, Shape: productMetricsShapeRunnable, Classification: "session-prune", Mode: productMetricsModeStandard, Notice: productMetricsNoticeEligible, Recording: productMetricsRecordingRecordable, Owner: productMetricsOwnerImmediate, ID: productMetricsGeneratedCommandID149},
+	{Path: "gc session release-name", Aliases: []string{}, ConditionalModes: []productMetricsConditionalMode{}, Hidden: false, EffectiveHidden: false, DisableFlagParsing: false, Shape: productMetricsShapeRunnable, Classification: "session-release-name", Mode: productMetricsModeStandard, Notice: productMetricsNoticeEligible, Recording: productMetricsRecordingRecordable, Owner: productMetricsOwnerImmediate, ID: productMetricsGeneratedCommandID204},
 	{Path: "gc session rename", Aliases: []string{}, ConditionalModes: []productMetricsConditionalMode{}, Hidden: false, EffectiveHidden: false, DisableFlagParsing: false, Shape: productMetricsShapeRunnable, Classification: "session-rename", Mode: productMetricsModeStandard, Notice: productMetricsNoticeEligible, Recording: productMetricsRecordingRecordable, Owner: productMetricsOwnerImmediate, ID: productMetricsGeneratedCommandID150},
 	{Path: "gc session reset", Aliases: []string{}, ConditionalModes: []productMetricsConditionalMode{}, Hidden: false, EffectiveHidden: false, DisableFlagParsing: false, Shape: productMetricsShapeRunnable, Classification: "session-reset", Mode: productMetricsModeStandard, Notice: productMetricsNoticeEligible, Recording: productMetricsRecordingRecordable, Owner: productMetricsOwnerImmediate, ID: productMetricsGeneratedCommandID151},
 	{Path: "gc session submit", Aliases: []string{}, ConditionalModes: []productMetricsConditionalMode{}, Hidden: false, EffectiveHidden: false, DisableFlagParsing: false, Shape: productMetricsShapeRunnable, Classification: "session-submit", Mode: productMetricsModeStandard, Notice: productMetricsNoticeEligible, Recording: productMetricsRecordingRecordable, Owner: productMetricsOwnerImmediate, ID: productMetricsGeneratedCommandID152},
diff --git a/cmd/gc/productmetrics_command_census.json b/cmd/gc/productmetrics_command_census.json
index 2480fb6786..ec5c8c7019 100644
--- a/cmd/gc/productmetrics_command_census.json
+++ b/cmd/gc/productmetrics_command_census.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "schema_version": 1,
-  "next_id": 204,
+  "next_id": 205,
   "permanent_ids": [
     {
       "name": "help",
@@ -3705,6 +3705,21 @@
       "owner": "immediate",
       "id": 149
     },
+    {
+      "path": "gc session release-name",
+      "aliases": [],
+      "conditional_modes": [],
+      "hidden": false,
+      "effective_hidden": false,
+      "disable_flag_parsing": false,
+      "shape": "runnable",
+      "recording_policy": "recordable",
+      "mode": "standard",
+      "notice_policy": "eligible",
+      "classification": "session-release-name",
+      "owner": "immediate",
+      "id": 204
+    },
     {
       "path": "gc session rename",
       "aliases": [],
diff --git a/cmd/gc/session_action_json_test.go b/cmd/gc/session_action_json_test.go
index 263fa6d65c..ebf98c1534 100644
--- a/cmd/gc/session_action_json_test.go
+++ b/cmd/gc/session_action_json_test.go
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ func TestSessionMutationActionSchemasDeclared(t *testing.T) {
 		{"session", "kill", "--json-schema=result"},
 		{"session", "rename", "--json-schema=result"},
 		{"session", "prune", "--json-schema=result"},
+		{"session", "release-name", "--json-schema=result"},
 		{"session", "reset", "--json-schema=result"},
 		{"session", "pin", "--json-schema=result"},
 		{"session", "unpin", "--json-schema=result"},
diff --git a/docs/reference/cli.md b/docs/reference/cli.md
index 91e7721171..46d584d7d5 100644
--- a/docs/reference/cli.md
+++ b/docs/reference/cli.md
@@ -3975,6 +3975,7 @@ gc session
 | [gc session peek](#gc-session-peek) | View session output without attaching |
 | [gc session pin](#gc-session-pin) | Keep a session awake |
 | [gc session prune](#gc-session-prune) | Close old dormant sessions |
+| [gc session release-name](#gc-session-release-name) | Free a runtime name still reserved by a closed session |
 | [gc session rename](#gc-session-rename) | Rename a session |
 | [gc session reset](#gc-session-reset) | Restart a session fresh while preserving the bead |
 | [gc session submit](#gc-session-submit) | Submit a message with semantic delivery intent |
@@ -4192,6 +4193,35 @@ gc session prune --state asleep,suspended,drained --before 1h
 | `--json` | bool |  | emit JSONL |
 | `--state` | string | `suspended` | comma-separated states to prune (suspended, asleep, drained) |
 
+## gc session release-name
+
+Clear the runtime session name, alias, and canonical-identity record held
+by closed session beads matching the given name or alias.
+
+A closed session bead keeps the identifiers it ran under, and name resolution
+still consults them, so the name can stay reserved after every runtime that
+used it is gone. Nothing else releases it: nudge, wake, and kill all reject a
+closed bead, and prune does not accept the closed state. Use this when
+creating or waking a session fails with "already belongs to &lt;bead-id&gt;
+(closed)".
+
+A name held by a live session is refused — stop that session instead.
+
+```
+gc session release-name <session-name-or-alias> [flags]
+```
+
+**Example:**
+
+```
+gc session release-name rig/pack.refinery
+gc session release-name city--pack__refinery --json
+```
+
+| Flag | Type | Default | Description |
+|------|------|---------|-------------|
+| `--json` | bool |  | emit JSONL |
+
 ## gc session rename
 
 Rename a session
diff --git a/internal/productmetrics/command_ids_gen.go b/internal/productmetrics/command_ids_gen.go
index 82853851f4..97d330f304 100644
--- a/internal/productmetrics/command_ids_gen.go
+++ b/internal/productmetrics/command_ids_gen.go
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 package productmetrics
 
-// command-census-ledger: {"next_id":204,"identities":[{"name":"agent-add","id":5,"wire":"agent-add","retired":false},{"name":"agent-list","id":6,"wire":"agent-list","retired":false},{"name":"agent-resume","id":7,"wire":"agent-resume","retired":false},{"name":"agent-suspend","id":8,"wire":"agent-suspend","retired":false},{"name":"agent-script","id":9,"wire":"agent-script","retired":false},{"name":"analyze-reliability","id":10,"wire":"analyze-reliability","retired":false},{"name":"bd","id":11,"wire":"bd","retired":false},{"name":"beads-city-use-external","id":12,"wire":"beads-city-use-external","retired":false},{"name":"beads-city-use-managed","id":13,"wire":"beads-city-use-managed","retired":false},{"name":"beads-health","id":14,"wire":"beads-health","retired":false},{"name":"beads-list","id":15,"wire":"beads-list","retired":false},{"name":"beads-show","id":16,"wire":"beads-show","retired":false},{"name":"build-image","id":17,"wire":"build-image","retired":false},{"name":"cities","id":18,"wire":"cities","retired":false},{"name":"cities-list","id":19,"wire":"cities-list","retired":false},{"name":"completion","id":20,"wire":"completion","retired":false},{"name":"config-explain","id":21,"wire":"config-explain","retired":false},{"name":"config-show","id":22,"wire":"config-show","retired":false},{"name":"converge-approve","id":23,"wire":"converge-approve","retired":false},{"name":"converge-create","id":24,"wire":"converge-create","retired":false},{"name":"converge-iterate","id":25,"wire":"converge-iterate","retired":false},{"name":"converge-list","id":26,"wire":"converge-list","retired":false},{"name":"converge-retry","id":27,"wire":"converge-retry","retired":false},{"name":"converge-status","id":28,"wire":"converge-status","retired":false},{"name":"converge-stop","id":29,"wire":"converge-stop","retired":false},{"name":"converge-test-gate","id":30,"wire":"converge-test-gate","retired":false},{"name":"converge-test-trigger","id":31,"wire":"converge-test-trigger","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-add","id":32,"wire":"convoy-add","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-check","id":33,"wire":"convoy-check","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-close","id":34,"wire":"convoy-close","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-control","id":35,"wire":"convoy-control","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-create","id":36,"wire":"convoy-create","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-delete","id":37,"wire":"convoy-delete","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-delete-source","id":38,"wire":"convoy-delete-source","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-land","id":39,"wire":"convoy-land","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-list","id":40,"wire":"convoy-list","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-reopen-source","id":41,"wire":"convoy-reopen-source","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-status","id":42,"wire":"convoy-status","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-stranded","id":43,"wire":"convoy-stranded","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-target","id":44,"wire":"convoy-target","retired":false},{"name":"costs","id":45,"wire":"costs","retired":false},{"name":"dashboard","id":46,"wire":"dashboard","retired":false},{"name":"dashboard-serve","id":47,"wire":"dashboard-serve","retired":false},{"name":"doctor","id":48,"wire":"doctor","retired":false},{"name":"dolt-cleanup","id":49,"wire":"dolt-cleanup","retired":false},{"name":"events","id":50,"wire":"events","retired":false},{"name":"events-rotate","id":51,"wire":"events-rotate","retired":false},{"name":"extmsg-bind","id":52,"wire":"extmsg-bind","retired":false},{"name":"extmsg-handoff","id":53,"wire":"extmsg-handoff","retired":false},{"name":"extmsg-unbind","id":54,"wire":"extmsg-unbind","retired":false},{"name":"formula-cook","id":55,"wire":"formula-cook","retired":false},{"name":"formula-list","id":56,"wire":"formula-list","retired":false},{"name":"formula-show","id":57,"wire":"formula-show","retired":false},{"name":"formula-version-check","id":58,"wire":"formula-version-check","retired":false},{"name":"github-pr-backfill","id":59,"wire":"github-pr-backfill","retired":false},{"name":"graph","id":60,"wire":"graph","retired":false},{"name":"handoff","id":61,"wire":"handoff","retired":false},{"name":"import-add","id":62,"wire":"import-add","retired":false},{"name":"import-check","id":63,"wire":"import-check","retired":false},{"name":"import-credential-add","id":64,"wire":"import-credential-add","retired":false},{"name":"import-credential-list","id":65,"wire":"import-credential-list","retired":false},{"name":"import-credential-remove","id":66,"wire":"import-credential-remove","retired":false},{"name":"import-install","id":67,"wire":"import-install","retired":false},{"name":"import-list","id":68,"wire":"import-list","retired":false},{"name":"import-prune","id":69,"wire":"import-prune","retired":false},{"name":"import-remove","id":70,"wire":"import-remove","retired":false},{"name":"import-status","id":71,"wire":"import-status","retired":false},{"name":"import-upgrade","id":72,"wire":"import-upgrade","retired":false},{"name":"import-why","id":73,"wire":"import-why","retired":false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+// command-census-ledger: {"next_id":205,"identities":[{"name":"agent-add","id":5,"wire":"agent-add","retired":false},{"name":"agent-list","id":6,"wire":"agent-list","retired":false},{"name":"agent-resume","id":7,"wire":"agent-resume","retired":false},{"name":"agent-suspend","id":8,"wire":"agent-suspend","retired":false},{"name":"agent-script","id":9,"wire":"agent-script","retired":false},{"name":"analyze-reliability","id":10,"wire":"analyze-reliability","retired":false},{"name":"bd","id":11,"wire":"bd","retired":false},{"name":"beads-city-use-external","id":12,"wire":"beads-city-use-external","retired":false},{"name":"beads-city-use-managed","id":13,"wire":"beads-city-use-managed","retired":false},{"name":"beads-health","id":14,"wire":"beads-health","retired":false},{"name":"beads-list","id":15,"wire":"beads-list","retired":false},{"name":"beads-show","id":16,"wire":"beads-show","retired":false},{"name":"build-image","id":17,"wire":"build-image","retired":false},{"name":"cities","id":18,"wire":"cities","retired":false},{"name":"cities-list","id":19,"wire":"cities-list","retired":false},{"name":"completion","id":20,"wire":"completion","retired":false},{"name":"config-explain","id":21,"wire":"config-explain","retired":false},{"name":"config-show","id":22,"wire":"config-show","retired":false},{"name":"converge-approve","id":23,"wire":"converge-approve","retired":false},{"name":"converge-create","id":24,"wire":"converge-create","retired":false},{"name":"converge-iterate","id":25,"wire":"converge-iterate","retired":false},{"name":"converge-list","id":26,"wire":"converge-list","retired":false},{"name":"converge-retry","id":27,"wire":"converge-retry","retired":false},{"name":"converge-status","id":28,"wire":"converge-status","retired":false},{"name":"converge-stop","id":29,"wire":"converge-stop","retired":false},{"name":"converge-test-gate","id":30,"wire":"converge-test-gate","retired":false},{"name":"converge-test-trigger","id":31,"wire":"converge-test-trigger","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-add","id":32,"wire":"convoy-add","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-check","id":33,"wire":"convoy-check","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-close","id":34,"wire":"convoy-close","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-control","id":35,"wire":"convoy-control","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-create","id":36,"wire":"convoy-create","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-delete","id":37,"wire":"convoy-delete","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-delete-source","id":38,"wire":"convoy-delete-source","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-land","id":39,"wire":"convoy-land","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-list","id":40,"wire":"convoy-list","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-reopen-source","id":41,"wire":"convoy-reopen-source","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-status","id":42,"wire":"convoy-status","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-stranded","id":43,"wire":"convoy-stranded","retired":false},{"name":"convoy-target","id":44,"wire":"convoy-target","retired":false},{"name":"costs","id":45,"wire":"costs","retired":false},{"name":"dashboard","id":46,"wire":"dashboard","retired":false},{"name":"dashboard-serve","id":47,"wire":"dashboard-serve","retired":false},{"name":"doctor","id":48,"wire":"doctor","retired":false},{"name":"dolt-cleanup","id":49,"wire":"dolt-cleanup","retired":false},{"name":"events","id":50,"wire":"events","retired":false},{"name":"events-rotate","id":51,"wire":"events-rotate","retired":false},{"name":"extmsg-bind","id":52,"wire":"extmsg-bind","retired":false},{"name":"extmsg-handoff","id":53,"wire":"extmsg-handoff","retired":false},{"name":"extmsg-unbind","id":54,"wire":"extmsg-unbind","retired":false},{"name":"formula-cook","id":55,"wire":"formula-cook","retired":false},{"name":"formula-list","id":56,"wire":"formula-list","retired":false},{"name":"formula-show","id":57,"wire":"formula-show","retired":false},{"name":"formula-version-check","id":58,"wire":"formula-version-check","retired":false},{"name":"github-pr-backfill","id":59,"wire":"github-pr-backfill","retired":false},{"name":"graph","id":60,"wire":"graph","retired":false},{"name":"handoff","id":61,"wire":"handoff","retired":false},{"name":"import-add","id":62,"wire":"import-add","retired":false},{"name":"import-check","id":63,"wire":"import-check","retired":false},{"name":"import-credential-add","id":64,"wire":"import-credential-add","retired":false},{"name":"import-credential-list","id":65,"wire":"import-credential-list","retired":false},{"name":"import-credential-remove","id":66,"wire":"import-credential-remove","retired":false},{"name":"import-install","id":67,"wire":"import-install","retired":false},{"name":"import-list","id":68,"wire":"import-list","retired":false},{"name":"import-prune","id":69,"wire":"import-prune","retired":false},{"name":"import-remove","id":70,"wire":"import-remove","retired":false},{"name":"import-status","id":71,"wire":"import-status","retired":false},{"name":"import-upgrade","id":72,"wire":"import-upgrade","retired":false},{"name":"import-why","id":73,"wire":"import-why","retired":false},{"name":"init","id":74,"wire":"init","retired":false},{"name":"lint","id":75,"wire":"lint","retired":false},{"name":"mail-archive","id":76,"wire":"mail-archive","retired":false},{"name":"mail-check","id":77,"wire":"mail-check","retired":false},{"name":"mail-count","id":78,"wire":"mail-count","retired":false},{"name":"mail-delete","id":79,"wire":"mail-delete","retired":false},{"name":"mail-inbox","id":80,"wire":"mail-inbox","retired":false},{"name":"mail-mark-read","id":81,"wire":"mail-mark-read","retired":false},{"name":"mail-mark-unread","id":82,"wire":"mail-mark-unread","retired":false},{"name":"mail-peek","id":83,"wire":"mail-peek","retired":false},{"name":"mail-read","id":84,"wire":"mail-read","retired":false},{"name":"mail-reply","id":85,"wire":"mail-reply","retired":false},{"name":"mail-send","id":86,"wire":"mail-send","retired":false},{"name":"mail-thread","id":87,"wire":"mail-thread","retired":false},{"name":"maintenance-dolt-gc","id":88,"wire":"maintenance-dolt-gc","retired":false},{"name":"maintenance-status","id":89,"wire":"maintenance-status","retired":false},{"name":"mcp-list","id":90,"wire":"mcp-list","retired":false},{"name":"nudge-status","id":91,"wire":"nudge-status","retired":false},{"name":"order-check","id":92,"wire":"order-check","retired":false},{"name":"order-history","id":93,"wire":"order-history","retired":false},{"name":"order-list","id":94,"wire":"order-list","retired":false},{"name":"order-run","id":95,"wire":"order-run","retired":false},{"name":"order-show","id":96,"wire":"order-show","retired":false},{"name":"order-sweep-nudge-mail","id":97,"wire":"order-sweep-nudge-mail","retired":false},{"name":"order-sweep-tracking","id":98,"wire":"order-sweep-tracking","retired":false},{"name":"pack-fetch","id":99,"wire":"pack-fetch","retired":false},{"name":"pack-list","id":100,"wire":"pack-list","retired":false},{"name":"pack-registry-add","id":101,"wire":"pack-registry-add","retired":false},{"name":"pack-registry-list","id":102,"wire":"pack-registry-list","retired":false},{"name":"pack-registry-login","id":103,"wire":"pack-registry-login","retired":false},{"name":"pack-registry-publish","id":104,"wire":"pack-registry-publish","retired":false},{"name":"pack-registry-refresh","id":105,"wire":"pack-registry-refresh","retired":false},{"name":"pack-registry-remove","id":106,"wire":"pack-registry-remove","retired":false},{"name":"pack-registry-search","id":107,"wire":"pack-registry-search","retired":false},{"name":"pack-registry-show","id":108,"wire":"pack-registry-show","retired":false},{"name":"pack-registry-whoami","id":109,"wire":"pack-registry-whoami","retired":false},{"name":"pack-release-hash","id":110,"wire":"pack-release-hash","retired":false},{"name":"pack-release-stamp","id":111,"wire":"pack-release-stamp","retired":false},{"name":"pack-release-validate","id":112,"wire":"pack-release-validate","retired":false},{"name":"pack-release-verify","id":113,"wire":"pack-release-verify","retired":false},{"name":"perf-run","id":114,"wire":"perf-run","retired":false},{"name":"perf-session-new","id":115,"wire":"perf-session-new","retired":false},{"name":"prime","id":116,"wire":"prime","retired":false},{"name":"prompt-synth","id":117,"wire":"prompt-synth","retired":false},{"name":"register","id":118,"wire":"register","retired":false},{"name":"reload","id":119,"wire":"reload","retired":false},{"name":"restart","id":120,"wire":"restart","retired":false},{"name":"resume","id":121,"wire":"resume","retired":false},{"name":"rig-add","id":122,"wire":"rig-add","retired":false},{"name":"rig-list","id":123,"wire":"rig-list","retired":false},{"name":"rig-remove","id":124,"wire":"rig-remove","retired":false},{"name":"rig-restart","id":125,"wire":"rig-restart","retired":false},{"name":"rig-resume","id":126,"wire":"rig-resume","retired":false},{"name":"rig-set-endpoint","id":127,"wire":"rig-set-endpoint","retired":false},{"name":"rig-status","id":128,"wire":"rig-status","retired":false},{"name":"rig-suspend","id":129,"wire":"rig-suspend","retired":false},{"name":"runtime-check","id":130,"wire":"runtime-check","retired":false},{"name":"runtime-conformance","id":131,"wire":"runtime-conformance","retired":false},{"name":"runtime-drain","id":132,"wire":"runtime-drain","retired":false},{"name":"runtime-drain-ack","id":133,"wire":"runtime-drain-ack","retired":false},{"name":"runtime-drain-check","id":134,"wire":"runtime-drain-check","retired":false},{"name":"runtime-request-restart","id":135,"wire":"runtime-request-restart","retired":false},{"name":"runtime-undrain","id":136,"wire":"runtime-undrain","retired":false},{"name":"service-doctor","id":137,"wire":"service-doctor","retired":false},{"name":"service-list","id":138,"wire":"service-list","retired":false},{"name":"service-restart","id":139,"wire":"service-restart","retired":false},{"name":"session-attach","id":140,"wire":"session-attach","retired":false},{"name":"session-close","id":141,"wire":"session-close","retired":false},{"name":"session-kill","id":142,"wire":"session-kill","retired":false},{"name":"session-list","id":143,"wire":"session-list","retired":false},{"name":"session-logs","id":144,"wire":"session-logs","retired":false},{"name":"session-new","id":145,"wire":"session-new","retired":false},{"name":"session-nudge","id":146,"wire":"session-nudge","retired":false},{"name":"session-peek","id":147,"wire":"session-peek","retired":false},{"name":"session-pin","id":148,"wire":"session-pin","retired":false},{"name":"session-prune","id":149,"wire":"session-prune","retired":false},{"name":"session-rename","id":150,"wire":"session-rename","retired":false},{"name":"session-reset","id":151,"wire":"session-reset","retired":false},{"name":"session-submit","id":152,"wire":"session-submit","retired":false},{"name":"session-suspend","id":153,"wire":"session-suspend","retired":false},{"name":"session-unpin","id":154,"wire":"session-unpin","retired":false},{"name":"session-wait","id":155,"wire":"session-wait","retired":false},{"name":"session-wake","id":156,"wire":"session-wake","retired":false},{"name":"shell-install","id":157,"wire":"shell-install","retired":false},{"name":"shell-remove","id":158,"wire":"shell-remove","retired":false},{"name":"shell-status","id":159,"wire":"shell-status","retired":false},{"name":"skill-list","id":160,"wire":"skill-list","retired":false},{"name":"sling","id":161,"wire":"sling","retired":false},{"name":"start","id":162,"wire":"start","retired":false},{"name":"status","id":163,"wire":"status","retired":false},{"name":"stop","id":164,"wire":"stop","retired":false},{"name":"supervisor-install","id":165,"wire":"supervisor-install","retired":false},{"name":"supervisor-logs","id":166,"wire":"supervisor-logs","retired":false},{"name":"supervisor-reload","id":167,"wire":"supervisor-reload","retired":false},{"name":"supervisor-run","id":168,"wire":"supervisor-run","retired":false},{"name":"supervisor-start","id":169,"wire":"supervisor-start","retired":false},{"name":"supervisor-status","id":170,"wire":"supervisor-status","retired":false},{"name":"supervisor-stop","id":171,"wire":"supervisor-stop","retired":false},{"name":"supervisor-uninstall","id":172,"wire":"supervisor-uninstall","retired":false},{"name":"suspend","id":173,"wire":"suspend","retired":false},{"name":"trace-cycle","id":174,"wire":"trace-cycle","retired":false},{"name":"trace-reasons","id":175,"wire":"trace-reasons","retired":false},{"name":"trace-show","id":176,"wire":"trace-show","retired":false},{"name":"trace-start","id":177,"wire":"trace-start","retired":false},{"name":"trace-status","id":178,"wire":"trace-status","retired":false},{"name":"trace-stop","id":179,"wire":"trace-stop","retired":false},{"name":"trace-tail","id":180,"wire":"trace-tail","retired":false},{"name":"unregister","id":181,"wire":"unregister","retired":false},{"name":"wait-cancel","id":182,"wire":"wait-cancel","retired":false},{"name":"wait-inspect","id":183,"wire":"wait-inspect","retired":false},{"name":"wait-list","id":184,"wire":"wait-list","retired":false},{"name":"wait-ready","id":185,"wire":"wait-ready","retired":false},{"name":"context-add","id":186,"wire":"context-add","retired":false},{"name":"context-current","id":187,"wire":"context-current","retired":false},{"name":"context-list","id":188,"wire":"context-list","retired":false},{"name":"context-remove","id":189,"wire":"context-remove","retired":false},{"name":"context-show","id":190,"wire":"context-show","retired":false},{"name":"context-use","id":191,"wire":"context-use","retired":false},{"name":"login","id":192,"wire":"login","retired":false},{"name":"logout","id":193,"wire":"logout","retired":false},{"name":"whoami","id":194,"wire":"whoami","retired":false},{"name":"runtime-heartbeat","id":195,"wire":"runtime-heartbeat","retired":false},{"name":"pack-registry-requests","id":196,"wire":"pack-registry-requests","retired":false},{"name":"events-reemit-execution","id":197,"wire":"events-reemit-execution","retired":false},{"name":"storage-migrate","id":198,"wire":"storage-migrate","retired":false},{"name":"storage-status","id":199,"wire":"storage-status","retired":false},{"name":"ready","id":200,"wire":"ready","retired":false},{"name":"storage-recover-stranded","id":201,"wire":"storage-recover-stranded","retired":false},{"name":"beads-metadata-cas","id":202,"wire":"beads-metadata-cas","retired":false},{"name":"nudge-show","id":203,"wire":"nudge-show","retired":false},{"name":"session-release-name","id":204,"wire":"session-release-name","retired":false}]}
 
 const (
 	generatedCommandID5   CommandID = 5
@@ -204,6 +204,7 @@ const (
 	generatedCommandID201 CommandID = 201
 	generatedCommandID202 CommandID = 202
 	generatedCommandID203 CommandID = 203
+	generatedCommandID204 CommandID = 204
 )
 
 func generatedCommandIDCatalog(yield func(commandIDEntry)) {
@@ -406,4 +407,5 @@ func generatedCommandIDCatalog(yield func(commandIDEntry)) {
 	yield(commandIDEntry{id: generatedCommandID201, wire: "storage-recover-stranded"})
 	yield(commandIDEntry{id: generatedCommandID202, wire: "beads-metadata-cas"})
 	yield(commandIDEntry{id: generatedCommandID203, wire: "nudge-show"})
+	yield(commandIDEntry{id: generatedCommandID204, wire: "session-release-name"})
 }
diff --git a/internal/productmetrics/event_test.go b/internal/productmetrics/event_test.go
index 4f93992d27..5296118352 100644
--- a/internal/productmetrics/event_test.go
+++ b/internal/productmetrics/event_test.go
@@ -350,8 +350,8 @@ func TestInjectedImmutableCommandCatalogRoundTripsWithoutExpandingProduction(t *
 
 	generatedCount := 0
 	generatedCommandIDCatalog(func(commandIDEntry) { generatedCount++ })
-	if generatedCount != 199 {
-		t.Fatalf("generated production catalog has %d entries, want 199", generatedCount)
+	if generatedCount != 200 {
+		t.Fatalf("generated production catalog has %d entries, want 200", generatedCount)
 	}
 
 	injected := func(yield func(commandIDEntry)) {
diff --git a/internal/session/manager_test.go b/internal/session/manager_test.go
index d09483b93e..6ed60d813e 100644
--- a/internal/session/manager_test.go
+++ b/internal/session/manager_test.go
@@ -5336,3 +5336,64 @@ func TestPersistInvocationUsageCursor(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("cursor metadata after no-ops = %q, want u2", got)
 	}
 }
+
+// TestCreateSessionBeadOnlyReclaimsNameFromClosedLegacyHolder is the
+// end-to-end regression guard for gc-5fdrr, at the layer that actually vetoed
+// the spawn.
+//
+// The named-session start path pre-clears the name through the cfg-aware
+// EnsureSessionNameAvailableWithConfigForOwner, whose legacy bypass handles
+// exactly this closed-phantom shape — and then CreateSession re-checks the same
+// name through the cfg-less helper. When that inner check recognized a closed
+// configured-named holder only by flag/identity, the phantom below (identity
+// carried solely by alias/agent_name) made the inner check reject what the
+// outer check had just allowed, permanently bricking an on_demand agent.
+func TestCreateSessionBeadOnlyReclaimsNameFromClosedLegacyHolder(t *testing.T) {
+	const (
+		sessionName = "shutupandlisten--gc-toolkit__refinery"
+		identity    = "shutupandlisten/gc-toolkit.refinery"
+	)
+	store := beads.NewMemStore()
+	holder, err := store.Create(beads.Bead{
+		Type:   BeadType,
+		Labels: []string{LabelSession},
+		Metadata: map[string]string{
+			"alias":                       identity,
+			"agent_name":                  identity,
+			CanonicalInstanceNameMetadata: identity,
+		},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Create(holder): %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := store.Update(holder.ID, beads.UpdateOpts{Metadata: map[string]string{"session_name": sessionName}}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Update(session_name): %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := store.Close(holder.ID); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Close(holder): %v", err)
+	}
+
+	mgr := NewManagerWithOptions(store, runtime.NewFake())
+	info, err := mgr.CreateSession(context.Background(), CreateOptions{
+		BeadOnly:     true,
+		Alias:        identity,
+		ExplicitName: sessionName,
+		Template:     "refinery",
+		Command:      "claude",
+		WorkDir:      "/tmp",
+		Provider:     "claude",
+		ExtraMeta: map[string]string{
+			NamedSessionMetadataKey:      "true",
+			NamedSessionIdentityMetadata: identity,
+		},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("CreateSession over closed legacy holder: %v", err)
+	}
+	if info.ID == holder.ID {
+		t.Fatalf("CreateSession reused the closed holder %s instead of creating a fresh bead", holder.ID)
+	}
+	if info.SessionName != sessionName {
+		t.Fatalf("SessionName = %q, want %q", info.SessionName, sessionName)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/session/name_release.go b/internal/session/name_release.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..387ab24e5c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/session/name_release.go
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+package session
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/gastownhall/gascity/internal/beads"
+)
+
+// ErrSessionNameClaimLive reports that a session name cannot be released
+// because a live session bead still owns it.
+var ErrSessionNameClaimLive = errors.New("session name is held by a live session")
+
+// ReleasedNameClaim records the runtime identifiers cleared from one closed
+// session bead, so callers can report exactly what was freed.
+type ReleasedNameClaim struct {
+	// BeadID is the closed session bead that held the reservation.
+	BeadID string
+	// SessionName is the runtime session name the bead reserved, if any.
+	SessionName string
+	// Alias is the human-facing alias the bead reserved, if any.
+	Alias string
+}
+
+// ReleaseSessionNameClaim frees the runtime identifiers reserved by CLOSED
+// session beads matching target, which may be either a runtime session name or
+// an alias. It returns one entry per bead released.
+//
+// A closed session bead retains session_name, alias, and its canonical-identity
+// record, and name resolution consults those records. Where the automatic
+// releases in ensureSessionNameAvailableForSelfAndOwner do not apply — an
+// ad-hoc explicit name, or a holder whose identity signals do not resolve to
+// the claimant — the reservation outlives every runtime it described while no
+// lifecycle command will touch it: nudge, wake, kill, and prune all reject a
+// closed bead, and prune does not accept the closed state at all. This is the
+// operator lever for that state (gc-5fdrr), replacing hand metadata surgery.
+//
+// agent_name is deliberately preserved: it is historical attribution, not a
+// runtime reservation, and nothing resolves a name through it on a closed bead.
+//
+// A live holder is refused rather than released. Clearing a running session's
+// identifiers would let a second session claim the same name, so the remedy
+// there is to stop that session first. The refusal is all-or-nothing: no bead
+// is modified when any holder is live, so a partial release cannot leave the
+// name half-owned.
+func ReleaseSessionNameClaim(store beads.Store, target string) ([]ReleasedNameClaim, error) {
+	target = strings.TrimSpace(target)
+	if target == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("releasing session name claim: target must not be empty")
+	}
+	if store == nil {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+
+	candidates, err := ExactMetadataSessionCandidates(store, true,
+		map[string]string{"session_name": target},
+		map[string]string{"alias": target},
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("listing sessions holding %q: %w", target, err)
+	}
+
+	holders := make([]beads.Bead, 0, len(candidates))
+	for _, b := range candidates {
+		if !IsSessionBeadOrRepairable(b) {
+			continue
+		}
+		if strings.TrimSpace(b.Metadata["session_name"]) != target &&
+			strings.TrimSpace(b.Metadata["alias"]) != target {
+			continue
+		}
+		if b.Status != "closed" {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %q is held by %s (status %s) — stop that session first",
+				ErrSessionNameClaimLive, target, b.ID, b.Status)
+		}
+		holders = append(holders, b)
+	}
+	// Candidate order follows the per-filter query order, so sort by bead ID
+	// for a stable report across the session_name and alias lookups.
+	sort.Slice(holders, func(i, j int) bool { return holders[i].ID < holders[j].ID })
+
+	released := make([]ReleasedNameClaim, 0, len(holders))
+	for _, b := range holders {
+		meta := map[string]string{"session_name": "", "alias": ""}
+		freeCanonicalIdentityMetadata(meta)
+		if err := store.Update(b.ID, beads.UpdateOpts{Metadata: meta}); err != nil {
+			return released, fmt.Errorf("releasing session name claim on %s: %w", b.ID, err)
+		}
+		released = append(released, ReleasedNameClaim{
+			BeadID:      b.ID,
+			SessionName: strings.TrimSpace(b.Metadata["session_name"]),
+			Alias:       strings.TrimSpace(b.Metadata["alias"]),
+		})
+	}
+	return released, nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/session/name_release_test.go b/internal/session/name_release_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..63ab6f3bdc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/session/name_release_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,150 @@
+package session
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/gastownhall/gascity/internal/beads"
+)
+
+// closedNameHolder stores a CLOSED session bead holding the given runtime
+// identifiers, in the shape the live outage left behind: session_name, alias,
+// and the canonical-identity record all retained past close.
+func closedNameHolder(t *testing.T, store beads.Store, sessionName, identity string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	bead, err := store.Create(beads.Bead{
+		Type:   BeadType,
+		Labels: []string{LabelSession},
+		Metadata: map[string]string{
+			"alias":                       identity,
+			"agent_name":                  identity,
+			CanonicalInstanceNameMetadata: identity,
+			CanonicalPoolSlotMetadata:     "2",
+		},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Create: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := store.Update(bead.ID, beads.UpdateOpts{Metadata: map[string]string{"session_name": sessionName}}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Update(session_name): %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := store.Close(bead.ID); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Close: %v", err)
+	}
+	return bead.ID
+}
+
+// TestReleaseSessionNameClaim_ClearsClosedHolderReservations is the operator
+// lever the outage lacked: a CLOSED session bead reserving a runtime name has
+// its reservations cleared by name, without metadata surgery.
+func TestReleaseSessionNameClaim_ClearsClosedHolderReservations(t *testing.T) {
+	store := beads.NewMemStore()
+	const (
+		sessionName = "shutupandlisten--gc-toolkit__refinery"
+		identity    = "shutupandlisten/gc-toolkit.refinery"
+	)
+	id := closedNameHolder(t, store, sessionName, identity)
+
+	released, err := ReleaseSessionNameClaim(store, sessionName)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ReleaseSessionNameClaim: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(released) != 1 || released[0].BeadID != id {
+		t.Fatalf("released = %+v, want one entry for %s", released, id)
+	}
+	if released[0].SessionName != sessionName || released[0].Alias != identity {
+		t.Fatalf("released[0] = %+v, want session_name %q and alias %q", released[0], sessionName, identity)
+	}
+
+	got, err := store.Get(id)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("store.Get: %v", err)
+	}
+	for _, key := range []string{"session_name", "alias", CanonicalInstanceNameMetadata, CanonicalPoolSlotMetadata} {
+		if v := got.Metadata[key]; v != "" {
+			t.Fatalf("metadata[%q] = %q, want empty after release", key, v)
+		}
+	}
+	// agent_name is history, not a runtime reservation — it survives.
+	if got.Metadata["agent_name"] != identity {
+		t.Fatalf("agent_name = %q, want %q preserved as history", got.Metadata["agent_name"], identity)
+	}
+
+	// The released name is available again.
+	if err := ensureSessionNameAvailable(store, sessionName); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ensureSessionNameAvailable after release = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestReleaseSessionNameClaim_ResolvesByAlias confirms the lever accepts the
+// human-facing alias as well as the sanitized runtime session name — the
+// operator hitting this deadlock knows the alias, not the tmux-safe form.
+func TestReleaseSessionNameClaim_ResolvesByAlias(t *testing.T) {
+	store := beads.NewMemStore()
+	const (
+		sessionName = "shutupandlisten--gc-toolkit__refinery"
+		identity    = "shutupandlisten/gc-toolkit.refinery"
+	)
+	id := closedNameHolder(t, store, sessionName, identity)
+
+	released, err := ReleaseSessionNameClaim(store, identity)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ReleaseSessionNameClaim(alias): %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(released) != 1 || released[0].BeadID != id {
+		t.Fatalf("released = %+v, want one entry for %s", released, id)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestReleaseSessionNameClaim_RefusesLiveHolder is the safety gate: releasing a
+// name a running session still owns would let a second session claim it. The
+// operator stops that session instead.
+func TestReleaseSessionNameClaim_RefusesLiveHolder(t *testing.T) {
+	store := beads.NewMemStore()
+	const sessionName = "shutupandlisten--gc-toolkit__refinery"
+	live, err := store.Create(beads.Bead{
+		Type:     BeadType,
+		Labels:   []string{LabelSession},
+		Metadata: map[string]string{"session_name": sessionName},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Create: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	released, err := ReleaseSessionNameClaim(store, sessionName)
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrSessionNameClaimLive) {
+		t.Fatalf("ReleaseSessionNameClaim(live holder) = %v, want %v", err, ErrSessionNameClaimLive)
+	}
+	if len(released) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("released = %+v, want none when a live holder blocks", released)
+	}
+	if got, getErr := store.Get(live.ID); getErr != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("store.Get: %v", getErr)
+	} else if got.Metadata["session_name"] != sessionName {
+		t.Fatalf("session_name = %q, want %q left intact", got.Metadata["session_name"], sessionName)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestReleaseSessionNameClaim_NoHolder reports a clean no-op rather than an
+// error, so the lever is safe to run speculatively while diagnosing.
+func TestReleaseSessionNameClaim_NoHolder(t *testing.T) {
+	store := beads.NewMemStore()
+
+	released, err := ReleaseSessionNameClaim(store, "nobody-holds-this")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ReleaseSessionNameClaim(no holder) = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+	if len(released) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("released = %+v, want none", released)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestReleaseSessionNameClaim_RejectsEmptyTarget guards against an empty
+// target matching every bead with an unset identifier.
+func TestReleaseSessionNameClaim_RejectsEmptyTarget(t *testing.T) {
+	store := beads.NewMemStore()
+
+	if _, err := ReleaseSessionNameClaim(store, "  "); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("ReleaseSessionNameClaim(empty target) = nil, want error")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/session/names.go b/internal/session/names.go
index 3ac5bb891e..80331032e9 100644
--- a/internal/session/names.go
+++ b/internal/session/names.go
@@ -365,6 +365,29 @@ func ensureSessionNameAvailableForSelfAndOwner(store beads.Store, name, selfID,
 			if b.Status == "closed" && wasConfiguredNamedSession(b) {
 				continue
 			}
+			// Owner-scoped counterpart of the release above, for the pre-ga841
+			// phantom shape whose identity survives only as an alias /
+			// agent_name / template label (ga-n2d Gap C). The named-session
+			// start path clears its cfg-aware pre-check
+			// (EnsureSessionNameAvailableWithConfigForOwner's legacy bypass)
+			// and then Manager.CreateSession re-checks the same name here
+			// without a cfg. Recognizing only the flag/identity made this
+			// inner check veto what the outer check had just allowed, so a
+			// closed phantom bricked its configured identity's runtime name
+			// permanently — and every documented lever (nudge, wake, kill,
+			// prune, new) rejects the holder for being closed, leaving no CLI
+			// escape (gc-5fdrr; a live 40h on_demand-agent outage).
+			//
+			// configuredNamedIdentitySignalsMatch is the owner-SCOPED
+			// recognizer already used for this same trap in name_claim_sweep.go
+			// and the alias-availability check: it requires a non-empty owner
+			// and matches the bead's recorded identity, alias, agent_name, or
+			// template/role label against THAT owner. So only the configured
+			// identity that owns the reserved name reclaims it — never an
+			// unrelated claimant, and never a live holder.
+			if b.Status == "closed" && configuredNamedIdentitySignalsMatch(b, selfOwner) {
+				continue
+			}
 			// A retired ephemeral pool slot must not permanently reserve the
 			// name either. The reconciler closes the slot bead without
 			// clearing session_name, and a configured named session that was
@@ -378,7 +401,7 @@ func ensureSessionNameAvailableForSelfAndOwner(store beads.Store, name, selfID,
 				strings.TrimSpace(b.Metadata["session_origin"]) == "ephemeral" {
 				continue
 			}
-			return fmt.Errorf("%w: %q already belongs to %s", ErrSessionNameExists, name, b.ID)
+			return sessionNameHolderError(name, b)
 		}
 		if b.Status == "closed" {
 			continue
@@ -410,6 +433,22 @@ func ensureSessionNameAvailableForSelfAndOwner(store beads.Store, name, selfID,
 	return nil
 }
 
+// sessionNameHolderError reports that a session name is reserved by another
+// session bead, naming both the holder and the remedy.
+//
+// A CLOSED holder is the dangerous shape: it has no runtime to stop, so an
+// operator reading only "already belongs to <id>" has no way to tell the name
+// is held by a dead record rather than a live session, and no lever to try.
+// That ambiguity is what turned gc-5fdrr into a ~40h outage resolved by hand
+// metadata surgery. Say the holder is closed and name the release lever.
+func sessionNameHolderError(name string, b beads.Bead) error {
+	if b.Status == "closed" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %q already belongs to %s (closed); release it with: gc session release-name %q",
+			ErrSessionNameExists, name, b.ID, name)
+	}
+	return fmt.Errorf("%w: %q already belongs to %s", ErrSessionNameExists, name, b.ID)
+}
+
 func failedCreateIdentityReleased(b beads.Bead) bool {
 	return strings.TrimSpace(b.Metadata["state"]) == string(StateFailedCreate)
 }
diff --git a/internal/session/names_test.go b/internal/session/names_test.go
index fc8aa194d6..00fdf20c4a 100644
--- a/internal/session/names_test.go
+++ b/internal/session/names_test.go
@@ -366,6 +366,151 @@ func TestEnsureSessionNameAvailable_RejectsLiveNamedSessionByIdentity(t *testing
 	}
 }
 
+// legacyClosedNameClaim stores a CLOSED session bead in the pre-ga841 phantom
+// shape from the live 40h refinery outage: it reserves a configured named
+// session's runtime name while recording its identity only through the
+// alias / agent_name / canonical-identity mirrors — no configured_named_session
+// flag and no configured_named_identity.
+func legacyClosedNameClaim(t *testing.T, store beads.Store, runtimeName, identity string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	bead, err := store.Create(beads.Bead{
+		Type:   BeadType,
+		Labels: []string{LabelSession},
+		Metadata: map[string]string{
+			"session_name":                "runtime-name-placeholder",
+			"alias":                       identity,
+			"agent_name":                  identity,
+			CanonicalInstanceNameMetadata: identity,
+		},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Create: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := store.Update(bead.ID, beads.UpdateOpts{Metadata: map[string]string{"session_name": runtimeName}}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Update(session_name): %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := store.Close(bead.ID); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Close: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestEnsureSessionNameAvailableForOwner_ReleasesClosedLegacyIdentityClaim
+// reproduces the outage where a CLOSED session bead permanently bricked an
+// on_demand agent's alias, so the agent could never be spawned again.
+//
+// The named-session start path already clears its cfg-aware pre-check
+// (EnsureSessionNameAvailableWithConfigForOwner's legacy bypass), then
+// Manager.CreateSession re-checks the same name through this cfg-less helper.
+// Recognition here was owner-AGNOSTIC (wasConfiguredNamedSession), so the
+// pre-ga841 phantom shape — identity carried only by alias/agent_name — fell
+// through to ErrSessionNameExists and the inner check vetoed what the outer
+// check had just allowed. Every documented lever (nudge, wake, kill, prune,
+// new) then rejected the bead for being closed, leaving no CLI escape.
+func TestEnsureSessionNameAvailableForOwner_ReleasesClosedLegacyIdentityClaim(t *testing.T) {
+	store := beads.NewMemStore()
+	const (
+		runtimeName = "shutupandlisten--gc-toolkit__refinery"
+		identity    = "shutupandlisten/gc-toolkit.refinery"
+	)
+	legacyClosedNameClaim(t, store, runtimeName, identity)
+
+	if err := ensureSessionNameAvailableForSelfAndOwner(store, runtimeName, "", identity); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ensureSessionNameAvailableForSelfAndOwner(closed legacy claim, owning identity) = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestEnsureSessionNameAvailableForOwner_RejectsClosedLegacyClaimForOtherOwner
+// is the ownership guard: the release above is scoped to the configured
+// identity that OWNS the reserved name. A different identity claiming the same
+// runtime name is still rejected, so the fix cannot hand one agent's name to
+// another.
+func TestEnsureSessionNameAvailableForOwner_RejectsClosedLegacyClaimForOtherOwner(t *testing.T) {
+	store := beads.NewMemStore()
+	const runtimeName = "shutupandlisten--gc-toolkit__refinery"
+	legacyClosedNameClaim(t, store, runtimeName, "shutupandlisten/gc-toolkit.refinery")
+
+	err := ensureSessionNameAvailableForSelfAndOwner(store, runtimeName, "", "signal-loom/gc-toolkit.refinery")
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrSessionNameExists) {
+		t.Fatalf("ensureSessionNameAvailableForSelfAndOwner(closed legacy claim, other identity) = %v, want %v", err, ErrSessionNameExists)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestEnsureSessionNameAvailableForOwner_RejectsClosedLegacyClaimWithoutOwner
+// pins the ownerless case: a caller that asserts no configured identity cannot
+// attribute the closed holder to itself, so the permanent-identity rule for
+// ad-hoc explicit session names still holds.
+func TestEnsureSessionNameAvailableForOwner_RejectsClosedLegacyClaimWithoutOwner(t *testing.T) {
+	store := beads.NewMemStore()
+	const runtimeName = "shutupandlisten--gc-toolkit__refinery"
+	legacyClosedNameClaim(t, store, runtimeName, "shutupandlisten/gc-toolkit.refinery")
+
+	err := ensureSessionNameAvailableForSelfAndOwner(store, runtimeName, "", "")
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrSessionNameExists) {
+		t.Fatalf("ensureSessionNameAvailableForSelfAndOwner(closed legacy claim, no owner) = %v, want %v", err, ErrSessionNameExists)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestEnsureSessionNameAvailableForOwner_RejectsLiveLegacyClaimForOwner is the
+// liveness guard: only CLOSED holders release. An open bead for the same
+// identity still owns its runtime name so two live sessions cannot collide.
+func TestEnsureSessionNameAvailableForOwner_RejectsLiveLegacyClaimForOwner(t *testing.T) {
+	store := beads.NewMemStore()
+	const (
+		runtimeName = "shutupandlisten--gc-toolkit__refinery"
+		identity    = "shutupandlisten/gc-toolkit.refinery"
+	)
+	if _, err := store.Create(beads.Bead{
+		Type:   BeadType,
+		Labels: []string{LabelSession},
+		Metadata: map[string]string{
+			"session_name":                runtimeName,
+			"alias":                       identity,
+			"agent_name":                  identity,
+			CanonicalInstanceNameMetadata: identity,
+		},
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Create: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	err := ensureSessionNameAvailableForSelfAndOwner(store, runtimeName, "", identity)
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrSessionNameExists) {
+		t.Fatalf("ensureSessionNameAvailableForSelfAndOwner(live legacy claim) = %v, want %v", err, ErrSessionNameExists)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestEnsureSessionNameAvailable_NameExistsErrorIsActionable pins the
+// diagnostic half of the outage: the operator saw only "already belongs to
+// <id>" with no hint that the holder was CLOSED and no remedy, so the deadlock
+// took ~40h and metadata surgery to break. The message must name the holder's
+// terminal status and point at the release lever.
+func TestEnsureSessionNameAvailable_NameExistsErrorIsActionable(t *testing.T) {
+	store := beads.NewMemStore()
+	bead, err := store.Create(beads.Bead{
+		Type:   BeadType,
+		Labels: []string{LabelSession},
+		Metadata: map[string]string{
+			"session_name": "my-custom-session",
+		},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Create: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := store.Close(bead.ID); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Close: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	err = ensureSessionNameAvailable(store, "my-custom-session")
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrSessionNameExists) {
+		t.Fatalf("ensureSessionNameAvailable(closed ad-hoc) = %v, want %v", err, ErrSessionNameExists)
+	}
+	msg := err.Error()
+	for _, want := range []string{bead.ID, "closed", "gc session release-name"} {
+		if !strings.Contains(msg, want) {
+			t.Fatalf("error %q does not mention %q", msg, want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestEnsureAliasAvailableWithConfig_AllowsLiveAliasHistoryReuse(t *testing.T) {
 	store := beads.NewMemStore()
 	_, err := store.Create(beads.Bead{
diff --git a/schemas/metrics/example/result.schema.json b/schemas/metrics/example/result.schema.json
index 071374c907..be5c1ca22a 100644
--- a/schemas/metrics/example/result.schema.json
+++ b/schemas/metrics/example/result.schema.json
@@ -213,7 +213,8 @@
               "ready",
               "storage-recover-stranded",
               "beads-metadata-cas",
-              "nudge-show"
+              "nudge-show",
+              "session-release-name"
             ]
           },
           "event_id": {
diff --git a/schemas/session/release-name/result.schema.json b/schemas/session/release-name/result.schema.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0b4e8c47a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/schemas/session/release-name/result.schema.json
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+{
+  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
+  "x-gc-jsonl": {},
+  "type": "object",
+  "properties": {
+    "schema_version": { "const": "1" },
+    "ok": { "const": true },
+    "command": { "const": "session release-name" },
+    "action": { "const": "release-name" },
+    "identity": { "type": "string", "minLength": 1 },
+    "count": { "type": "integer", "minimum": 0 },
+    "session_id": { "type": "string", "minLength": 1 }
+  },
+  "required": ["schema_version", "ok", "command", "action", "identity", "count"],
+  "additionalProperties": true
+}