diff --git a/src/cache-refresh-lock.ts b/src/cache-refresh-lock.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a0120098
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cache-refresh-lock.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,344 @@
+import { randomBytes } from 'crypto'
+import { existsSync } from 'fs'
+import { mkdir, open, readFile, stat, unlink, utimes, writeFile } from 'fs/promises'
+import { homedir } from 'os'
+import { join } from 'path'
+
+const LOCK_FILE = 'session-refresh.lock'
+const TAKEOVER_FILE = `${LOCK_FILE}.takeover`
+const DEFAULT_HEARTBEAT_MS = 10_000
+const DEFAULT_STALE_MS = 90_000
+const DEFAULT_WAIT_MS = 30_000
+const DEFAULT_POLL_MS = 100
+const WINDOWS_RETRIES = 3
+
+type LockRecord = { pid: number; token: string; at: number }
+
+export type RefreshLockClock = {
+  monotonicNow: () => number
+  wallNow: () => number
+}
+
+export type RefreshLockOptions = {
+  cacheDir?: string
+  clock?: RefreshLockClock
+  heartbeatMs?: number
+  staleMs?: number
+  waitMs?: number
+  pollMs?: number
+  sleep?: (ms: number) => Promise<void>
+}
+
+export type RefreshLockHandle = {
+  token: string
+  release: () => Promise<void>
+  verifyStillOwner: () => Promise<boolean>
+}
+
+export type RefreshLockOutcome =
+  | { outcome: 'acquired'; handle: RefreshLockHandle }
+  | { outcome: 'completed-by-other' }
+  | { outcome: 'timed-out' }
+  | { outcome: 'unavailable' }
+
+const defaultClock: RefreshLockClock = {
+  monotonicNow: () => Number(process.hrtime.bigint()) / 1_000_000,
+  wallNow: () => Date.now(),
+}
+
+function defaultCacheDir(): string {
+  return process.env['CODEBURN_CACHE_DIR'] ?? join(homedir(), '.cache', 'codeburn')
+}
+
+function delay(ms: number): Promise<void> {
+  return new Promise(resolve => { setTimeout(resolve, ms) })
+}
+
+function isBusyError(err: unknown): boolean {
+  const code = (err as NodeJS.ErrnoException | undefined)?.code
+  return code === 'EPERM' || code === 'EBUSY'
+}
+
+function isExistsError(err: unknown): boolean {
+  return (err as NodeJS.ErrnoException | undefined)?.code === 'EEXIST'
+}
+
+function isMissingError(err: unknown): boolean {
+  return (err as NodeJS.ErrnoException | undefined)?.code === 'ENOENT'
+}
+
+async function retryWindowsMutation(operation: () => Promise<void>, sleep: (ms: number) => Promise<void>): Promise<boolean> {
+  for (let attempt = 0; attempt < WINDOWS_RETRIES; attempt++) {
+    try {
+      await operation()
+      return true
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (isMissingError(err)) return true
+      if (!isBusyError(err) || attempt === WINDOWS_RETRIES - 1) return false
+      await sleep(10 * (attempt + 1))
+    }
+  }
+  return false
+}
+
+async function createExclusive(path: string, body: string): Promise<'created' | 'exists' | 'unavailable'> {
+  try {
+    const handle = await open(path, 'wx', 0o600)
+    try { await handle.writeFile(body, { encoding: 'utf-8' }) }
+    finally { await handle.close() }
+    return 'created'
+  } catch (err) {
+    return isExistsError(err) ? 'exists' : 'unavailable'
+  }
+}
+
+type Observation = { record: LockRecord; mtimeMs: number }
+type ObservationResult = Observation | 'missing' | 'changing' | 'unavailable'
+
+async function observe(path: string): Promise<ObservationResult> {
+  // Exclusive create exposes the directory entry just before its small body is
+  // written, and heartbeat rewrites briefly truncate it. Treat that bounded
+  // transition as contention, not broken infrastructure.
+  let sawChange = false
+  for (let attempt = 0; attempt < 3; attempt++) {
+    try {
+      const before = await stat(path)
+      const raw = await readFile(path, 'utf-8')
+      const after = await stat(path)
+      if (before.mtimeMs !== after.mtimeMs || before.size !== after.size) {
+        sawChange = true
+        await delay(1)
+        continue
+      }
+      const parsed = JSON.parse(raw) as Partial<LockRecord>
+      if (typeof parsed.pid === 'number' && typeof parsed.token === 'string' && typeof parsed.at === 'number') {
+        return { record: { pid: parsed.pid, token: parsed.token, at: parsed.at }, mtimeMs: after.mtimeMs }
+      }
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (isMissingError(err)) return 'missing'
+      const code = (err as NodeJS.ErrnoException | undefined)?.code
+      if (code === 'EACCES' || code === 'EPERM') return 'unavailable'
+    }
+    await delay(1)
+  }
+  return sawChange ? 'changing' : 'unavailable'
+}
+
+function sameObservation(a: Observation, b: Observation): boolean {
+  return a.record.token === b.record.token && a.mtimeMs === b.mtimeMs
+}
+
+let singleFlightTail: Promise<void> = Promise.resolve()
+
+async function enterSingleFlight(): Promise<() => void> {
+  const previous = singleFlightTail
+  let leave!: () => void
+  singleFlightTail = new Promise<void>(resolve => { leave = resolve })
+  await previous
+  return leave
+}
+
+/**
+ * Strict gate for the warm session-cache read/reconcile/parse/save transaction.
+ * Lock ordering, when the daily-cache follow-up lands, is daily → session.
+ */
+export async function acquireCacheRefreshLock(options: RefreshLockOptions = {}): Promise<RefreshLockOutcome> {
+  const leaveSingleFlight = await enterSingleFlight()
+  let ownsSingleFlight = true
+  const leave = (): void => {
+    if (!ownsSingleFlight) return
+    ownsSingleFlight = false
+    leaveSingleFlight()
+  }
+
+  const cacheDir = options.cacheDir ?? defaultCacheDir()
+  const clock = options.clock ?? defaultClock
+  const heartbeatMs = options.heartbeatMs ?? DEFAULT_HEARTBEAT_MS
+  const staleMs = options.staleMs ?? DEFAULT_STALE_MS
+  const waitMs = options.waitMs ?? DEFAULT_WAIT_MS
+  const pollMs = options.pollMs ?? DEFAULT_POLL_MS
+  const sleep = options.sleep ?? delay
+  const lockPath = join(cacheDir, LOCK_FILE)
+  const takeoverPath = join(cacheDir, TAKEOVER_FILE)
+  const token = randomBytes(16).toString('hex')
+  const body = (): string => JSON.stringify({ pid: process.pid, token, at: clock.wallNow() })
+
+  // In-process serializer for every operation that takes the takeover guard on
+  // behalf of THIS owner (heartbeat tick, publication fence). Without it the
+  // fence can observe its own heartbeat's guard file and read "guard held" as
+  // "displaced", aborting a legitimate publication — fail-safe but it throws
+  // away the parse the lock exists to protect. Cross-process semantics are
+  // untouched: the guard file still arbitrates between processes.
+  let ownerOpTail: Promise<unknown> = Promise.resolve()
+  const serializeOwnerOp = <T>(fn: () => Promise<T>): Promise<T> => {
+    const next = ownerOpTail.then(fn)
+    ownerOpTail = next.catch(() => undefined)
+    return next
+  }
+
+  const acquireTakeoverGuard = async (): Promise<'created' | 'exists' | 'unavailable'> => {
+    const created = await createExclusive(takeoverPath, body())
+    if (created !== 'exists') return created
+    const staleGuard = await observe(takeoverPath)
+    if (staleGuard === 'missing') return createExclusive(takeoverPath, body())
+    if (staleGuard === 'changing') return 'exists'
+    if (staleGuard === 'unavailable') return 'unavailable'
+    if (Math.max(0, clock.wallNow() - staleGuard.mtimeMs) <= staleMs) return 'exists'
+    const reverified = await observe(takeoverPath)
+    if (reverified === 'missing') return createExclusive(takeoverPath, body())
+    if (reverified === 'changing') return 'exists'
+    if (reverified === 'unavailable') return 'unavailable'
+    if (!sameObservation(staleGuard, reverified)) return 'exists'
+    if (!await retryWindowsMutation(() => unlink(takeoverPath), sleep)) return 'unavailable'
+    return createExclusive(takeoverPath, body())
+  }
+
+  const removeIfOwned = async (): Promise<boolean> => {
+    // A contender holds the takeover guard only for milliseconds at a time;
+    // retry briefly rather than abandoning our lock to 90s stale-timeout,
+    // which would stall every waiting process for that long.
+    let guard: 'created' | 'exists' | 'unavailable' = 'exists'
+    for (let attempt = 0; attempt < 20 && guard !== 'created'; attempt++) {
+      guard = await acquireTakeoverGuard()
+      if (guard === 'unavailable') return false
+      if (guard !== 'created') await sleep(pollMs)
+    }
+    if (guard !== 'created') return false
+    try {
+      const current = await observe(lockPath)
+      if (current === 'missing') return true
+      if (current === 'changing') return false
+      if (current === 'unavailable') return false
+      if (current.record.token !== token) return true
+      return retryWindowsMutation(() => unlink(lockPath), sleep)
+    } finally {
+      await retryWindowsMutation(() => unlink(takeoverPath), sleep)
+    }
+  }
+
+  const verifyStillOwner = (): Promise<boolean> => serializeOwnerOp(async () => {
+    const guard = await acquireTakeoverGuard()
+    if (guard !== 'created') return false
+    try {
+      const current = await observe(lockPath)
+      return current !== 'missing' && current !== 'changing' && current !== 'unavailable' && current.record.token === token
+    } finally {
+      await retryWindowsMutation(() => unlink(takeoverPath), sleep)
+    }
+  })
+
+  const makeHandle = (): RefreshLockHandle => {
+    let released = false
+    let heartbeatRunning = false
+    const heartbeat = setInterval(() => {
+      void serializeOwnerOp(async () => {
+        if (released || heartbeatRunning) return
+        heartbeatRunning = true
+        const guard = await acquireTakeoverGuard()
+        if (guard !== 'created') { heartbeatRunning = false; return }
+        try {
+          const current = await observe(lockPath)
+          if (current === 'missing' || current === 'changing' || current === 'unavailable' || current.record.token !== token) return
+          await writeFile(lockPath, body(), { encoding: 'utf-8' })
+          const now = new Date(clock.wallNow())
+          await utimes(lockPath, now, now)
+        } catch { /* verify/release will turn displacement or I/O failure into a closed gate */ }
+        finally {
+          await retryWindowsMutation(() => unlink(takeoverPath), sleep)
+          heartbeatRunning = false
+        }
+      })
+    }, heartbeatMs)
+    heartbeat.unref()
+
+    return {
+      token,
+      verifyStillOwner,
+      release: async () => {
+        if (released) return
+        released = true
+        clearInterval(heartbeat)
+        while (heartbeatRunning) await sleep(1)
+        await removeIfOwned()
+        leave()
+      },
+    }
+  }
+
+  const tryCreateOwner = async (): Promise<RefreshLockOutcome | null> => {
+    const result = await createExclusive(lockPath, body())
+    if (result === 'created') return { outcome: 'acquired', handle: makeHandle() }
+    if (result === 'unavailable') return { outcome: 'unavailable' }
+    return null
+  }
+
+  const tryTakeover = async (stale: Observation): Promise<RefreshLockOutcome | null> => {
+    const guard = await acquireTakeoverGuard()
+    if (guard === 'unavailable') return { outcome: 'unavailable' }
+    if (guard === 'exists') return null
+    try {
+      const current = await observe(lockPath)
+      if (current === 'unavailable') return { outcome: 'unavailable' }
+      if (current === 'changing') return null
+      if (current === 'missing' || !sameObservation(stale, current)) return null
+      if (Math.max(0, clock.wallNow() - current.mtimeMs) <= staleMs) return null
+      if (!await retryWindowsMutation(() => unlink(lockPath), sleep)) return { outcome: 'unavailable' }
+      // Publish the successor while the takeover guard is still canonical.
+      // Otherwise a waiter can observe neither file and misclassify the narrow
+      // unlink/create gap as a clean completion by the stale owner.
+      const successor = await createExclusive(lockPath, body())
+      if (successor === 'created') return { outcome: 'acquired', handle: makeHandle() }
+      if (successor === 'unavailable') return { outcome: 'unavailable' }
+      return null
+    } finally {
+      // Never override the try-block's outcome from here: returning
+      // 'unavailable' after 'acquired' would abandon a live heartbeating
+      // handle that then blocks every other process until this one exits.
+      // A guard file we fail to remove reads as contention to others and is
+      // replaced once stale.
+      await retryWindowsMutation(() => unlink(takeoverPath), sleep)
+    }
+  }
+
+  try {
+    if (!existsSync(cacheDir)) await mkdir(cacheDir, { recursive: true })
+    const immediate = await tryCreateOwner()
+    if (immediate) {
+      if (immediate.outcome !== 'acquired') leave()
+      return immediate
+    }
+
+    const deadline = clock.monotonicNow() + waitMs
+    while (clock.monotonicNow() < deadline) {
+      const observation = await observe(lockPath)
+      if (observation === 'unavailable') { leave(); return { outcome: 'unavailable' } }
+      if (observation === 'changing') { await sleep(pollMs); continue }
+      if (observation === 'missing') {
+        // A stale taker removes the primary while holding the guard, then
+        // exclusively creates its successor. Do not misreport that narrow gap
+        // as a clean completion by the previous owner.
+        const guard = await observe(takeoverPath)
+        if (guard === 'unavailable') { leave(); return { outcome: 'unavailable' } }
+        if (guard === 'changing') { await sleep(pollMs); continue }
+        if (guard === 'missing') { leave(); return { outcome: 'completed-by-other' } }
+        await sleep(pollMs)
+        continue
+      }
+
+      const age = Math.max(0, clock.wallNow() - observation.mtimeMs)
+      if (age > staleMs) {
+        const takeover = await tryTakeover(observation)
+        if (takeover) {
+          if (takeover.outcome !== 'acquired') leave()
+          return takeover
+        }
+      }
+      await sleep(pollMs)
+    }
+    leave()
+    return { outcome: 'timed-out' }
+  } catch {
+    leave()
+    return { outcome: 'unavailable' }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/parser.ts b/src/parser.ts
index bd6aaf68..5abd0c51 100644
--- a/src/parser.ts
+++ b/src/parser.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import {
   reconcileFile,
   saveCache,
 } from './session-cache.js'
+import { acquireCacheRefreshLock, type RefreshLockHandle } from './cache-refresh-lock.js'
 import type { ParsedProviderCall, SessionSource } from './providers/types.js'
 import type {
   ApiUsageIteration,
@@ -1801,6 +1802,7 @@ async function scanProjectDirs(
   // caller (parseAllSessions) can persist partial progress. A run killed
   // mid-scan then resumes from a warm cache instead of re-parsing from zero.
   onFileParsed?: () => Promise<void>,
+  readOnly = false,
 ): Promise<ProjectSummary[]> {
   const section = getOrCreateProviderSection(diskCache, 'claude')
   const allDiscoveredFiles = new Set<string>()
@@ -1818,16 +1820,19 @@ async function scanProjectDirs(
       const fp = await fingerprintFile(filePath)
       if (!fp) continue
 
-      const action = reconcileFile(fp, section.files[filePath])
-      if (action.action === 'unchanged') {
+      const cached = section.files[filePath]
+      const action = reconcileFile(fp, cached)
+      if (cached && (readOnly || action.action === 'unchanged')) {
         unchangedFiles.push({ filePath, dirName, source, cached: section.files[filePath]! })
-      } else if (action.action === 'appended') {
-        changedFiles.push({
-          filePath,
-          info: { dirName, fp, source },
-          append: { cached: section.files[filePath]!, readFromOffset: action.readFromOffset },
-        })
-      } else {
+      } else if (!readOnly) {
+        if (action.action === 'appended') {
+          changedFiles.push({
+            filePath,
+            info: { dirName, fp, source },
+            append: { cached: section.files[filePath]!, readFromOffset: action.readFromOffset },
+          })
+          continue
+        }
         changedFiles.push({ filePath, info: { dirName, fp, source } })
       }
     }
@@ -1836,6 +1841,16 @@ async function scanProjectDirs(
   }
   discoverProgress.finish()
 
+  if (readOnly) {
+    for (const [filePath, cached] of Object.entries(section.files)) {
+      if (allDiscoveredFiles.has(filePath)) continue
+      const dirName = cached.canonicalProjectName
+        ?? cached.turns[0]?.calls[0]?.project
+        ?? basename(dirname(filePath))
+      unchangedFiles.push({ filePath, dirName, cached })
+    }
+  }
+
   // Pre-seed dedup set from cached (unchanged) files
   for (const { cached } of unchangedFiles) {
     for (const turn of cached.turns) {
@@ -1975,7 +1990,7 @@ async function scanProjectDirs(
   }
   parseProgress.finish()
 
-  if (dirs.length > 0) {
+  if (!readOnly && dirs.length > 0) {
     for (const cachedPath of Object.keys(section.files)) {
       if (!allDiscoveredFiles.has(cachedPath)) {
         delete section.files[cachedPath]
@@ -2523,12 +2538,14 @@ async function parseProviderSources(
   seenKeys: Set<string>,
   diskCache: SessionCache,
   dateRange?: DateRange,
+  readOnly = false,
 ): Promise<ProjectSummary[]> {
   const provider = await getProvider(providerName)
   if (!provider) return []
 
   const section = getOrCreateProviderSection(diskCache, providerName)
   const allDiscoveredFiles = new Set<string>()
+  const servedSources = [...sources]
 
   type SourceInfo = { source: SessionSource; fp: NonNullable<Awaited<ReturnType<typeof fingerprintFile>>> }
   const unchangedSources: Array<{ source: SessionSource; cached: CachedFile }> = []
@@ -2541,7 +2558,7 @@ async function parseProviderSources(
     // comes from a live API fetch in createSessionParser. There's nothing to
     // fingerprint or incrementally cache, so re-fetch every run with a synthetic
     // fingerprint (mtime=now so the date-range filter below never excludes it).
-    if (provider.network) {
+    if (provider.network && !readOnly) {
       changedSources.push({ source, fp: { dev: 0, ino: 0, mtimeMs: Date.now(), sizeBytes: 0 } })
       continue
     }
@@ -2554,13 +2571,26 @@ async function parseProviderSources(
     // A cached parse failure at this same fingerprint stays skipped — don't
     // re-read a file that already threw and hasn't changed. It re-parses only
     // when the file changes (then `reconcileFile` reports non-'unchanged').
-    if (action.action === 'unchanged' && cached && (cached.failed || !cachedFileNeedsProviderReparse(providerName, source.path, cached))) {
+    if (cached && (readOnly || (action.action === 'unchanged' && (cached.failed || !cachedFileNeedsProviderReparse(providerName, source.path, cached))))) {
       unchangedSources.push({ source, cached })
-    } else {
+    } else if (!readOnly) {
       changedSources.push({ source, fp })
     }
   }
 
+  if (readOnly) {
+    for (const [path, cached] of Object.entries(section.files)) {
+      if (allDiscoveredFiles.has(path)) continue
+      servedSources.push({
+        provider: providerName,
+        path,
+        project: cached.turns[0]?.calls[0]?.project ?? providerName,
+      })
+      allDiscoveredFiles.add(path)
+      unchangedSources.push({ source: servedSources[servedSources.length - 1]!, cached })
+    }
+  }
+
   // Parser dedup: cross-provider keys + cached file keys.
   // Separate from seenKeys so parsing doesn't suppress query-time output.
   const parserDedup = new Set(seenKeys)
@@ -2664,12 +2694,12 @@ async function parseProviderSources(
 
   // Stamp the durable flag into the cache section so the orphan-bootstrap in
   // parseAllSessions can fast-check without a getProvider() round-trip.
-  if (provider.durableSources && !section.durable) {
+  if (!readOnly && provider.durableSources && !section.durable) {
     section.durable = true
     ;(diskCache as { _dirty?: boolean })._dirty = true
   }
 
-  if (sources.length > 0 && !provider.durableSources) {
+  if (!readOnly && sources.length > 0 && !provider.durableSources) {
     for (const cachedPath of Object.keys(section.files)) {
       if (!allDiscoveredFiles.has(cachedPath)) {
         delete section.files[cachedPath]
@@ -2680,7 +2710,7 @@ async function parseProviderSources(
 
   // 90-day age-out for durable providers: remove entries whose newest call is
   // older than 90 days so the cache doesn't grow unboundedly over time.
-  if (provider.durableSources) {
+  if (!readOnly && provider.durableSources) {
     const cutoffMs = Date.now() - 90 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000
     for (const [cachedPath, cachedFile] of Object.entries(section.files)) {
       const newestTs = cachedFile.turns
@@ -2699,7 +2729,7 @@ async function parseProviderSources(
   // Uses seenKeys (shared across providers) for cross-provider dedup.
   const sessionMap = new Map<string, { project: string; projectPath?: string; turns: ClassifiedTurn[] }>()
 
-  for (const source of sources) {
+  for (const source of servedSources) {
     const cachedFile = section.files[source.path]
     if (!cachedFile) continue
 
@@ -2967,21 +2997,59 @@ export async function parseAllSessions(dateRange?: DateRange, providerFilter?: s
   // If another live process is already hydrating, wait for it, then reload the
   // now-warm cache instead of double-parsing. Never a correctness gate: on any
   // doubt it proceeds unlocked.
-  const hydration = await beginColdHydration(!isCacheComplete(diskCache))
-  if (hydration.waited) diskCache = await loadCache()
+  if (!isCacheComplete(diskCache)) {
+    const hydration = await beginColdHydration(true)
+    if (hydration.waited) diskCache = await loadCache()
+    const isCold = !isCacheComplete(diskCache)
+    try {
+      return await runParse(key, diskCache, dateRange, providerFilter, { isCold })
+    } finally {
+      await hydration.release()
+    }
+  }
+
+  // A complete cache refresh is a strict read/reconcile/parse/save transaction.
+  // Keep the snapshot loaded before acquisition: timeout/unavailable paths serve
+  // exactly this complete snapshot and never mutate or invalidate the holder.
+  const priorSnapshot = diskCache
+  const refresh = await acquireCacheRefreshLock()
+  if (refresh.outcome === 'timed-out' || refresh.outcome === 'unavailable') {
+    return runParse(key, priorSnapshot, dateRange, providerFilter, { readOnly: true })
+  }
+  if (refresh.outcome === 'completed-by-other') {
+    return runParse(key, await loadCache(), dateRange, providerFilter, { readOnly: true })
+  }
 
-  // Cold = this run finishes a genuine (possibly resumed) full parse. A warm run
-  // reconciles an already-complete corpus. Drives the splash's cold-only reveal
-  // and the daily backfill's "don't finalize partial history" guard.
-  const isCold = !isCacheComplete(diskCache)
   try {
-    return await runParse(key, diskCache, dateRange, providerFilter, isCold)
+    // Reload only after ownership is canonical; this closes the lost-update
+    // window between the pre-gate read and the holder's completed publication.
+    diskCache = await loadCache()
+    return await runParse(key, diskCache, dateRange, providerFilter, { refreshLock: refresh.handle })
+  } catch (err) {
+    if (!(err instanceof RefreshFenceLostError) && !(err instanceof RefreshPublicationUnavailableError)) throw err
+    return runParse(key, await loadCache(), dateRange, providerFilter, { readOnly: true })
   } finally {
-    await hydration.release()
+    await refresh.handle.release()
   }
 }
 
-async function runParse(key: string, diskCache: SessionCache, dateRange?: DateRange, providerFilter?: string, isCold = false): Promise<ProjectSummary[]> {
+class RefreshFenceLostError extends Error {}
+class RefreshPublicationUnavailableError extends Error {}
+
+type RunParseOptions = {
+  isCold?: boolean
+  readOnly?: boolean
+  refreshLock?: RefreshLockHandle
+}
+
+async function runParse(
+  key: string,
+  diskCache: SessionCache,
+  dateRange?: DateRange,
+  providerFilter?: string,
+  options: RunParseOptions = {},
+): Promise<ProjectSummary[]> {
+  const { isCold = false, readOnly = false, refreshLock } = options
   const seenMsgIds = new Set<string>()
   const seenKeys = new Set<string>()
   const allSources = await discoverAllSessions(providerFilter)
@@ -3002,6 +3070,7 @@ async function runParse(key: string, diskCache: SessionCache, dateRange?: DateRa
   // never races the final save below.
   let lastSaveAt = Date.now()
   const saveProgress = async (): Promise<void> => {
+    if (!isCold || readOnly) return
     if (!(diskCache as { _dirty?: boolean })._dirty) return
     if (Date.now() - lastSaveAt < PROGRESS_SAVE_THROTTLE_MS) return
     lastSaveAt = Date.now()
@@ -3023,7 +3092,7 @@ async function runParse(key: string, diskCache: SessionCache, dateRange?: DateRa
   if (claudeSources.length > 0) emitScanProgress({ kind: 'provider', provider: 'claude', state: 'start' })
   let claudeProjects: ProjectSummary[] = []
   try {
-    claudeProjects = await scanProjectDirs(claudeDirs, seenMsgIds, diskCache, dateRange, saveProgress)
+    claudeProjects = await scanProjectDirs(claudeDirs, seenMsgIds, diskCache, dateRange, saveProgress, readOnly)
     if (claudeSources.length > 0) emitScanProgress({ kind: 'provider', provider: 'claude', state: 'done', files: claudeSources.length })
   } catch (err) {
     if (!isPermissionError(err)) throw err
@@ -3035,7 +3104,7 @@ async function runParse(key: string, diskCache: SessionCache, dateRange?: DateRa
   for (const [providerName, sources] of providerGroups) {
     emitScanProgress({ kind: 'provider', provider: providerName, state: 'start' })
     try {
-      const projects = await parseProviderSources(providerName, sources, seenKeys, diskCache, dateRange)
+      const projects = await parseProviderSources(providerName, sources, seenKeys, diskCache, dateRange, readOnly)
       emitScanProgress({ kind: 'provider', provider: providerName, state: 'done', files: sources.length })
       otherProjects.push(...projects)
     } catch (err) {
@@ -3064,7 +3133,7 @@ async function runParse(key: string, diskCache: SessionCache, dateRange?: DateRa
     // constant — both checks are O(1) and avoid a getProvider() dynamic-import
     // round-trip for every unprocessed provider in the disk cache.
     if (!section.durable && !DURABLE_PROVIDER_NAMES.has(providerName)) continue
-    const projects = await parseProviderSources(providerName, [], seenKeys, diskCache, dateRange)
+    const projects = await parseProviderSources(providerName, [], seenKeys, diskCache, dateRange, readOnly)
     otherProjects.push(...projects)
   }
 
@@ -3075,9 +3144,15 @@ async function runParse(key: string, diskCache: SessionCache, dateRange?: DateRa
   // on is durable. A run killed before here never reaches this, so its throttled
   // partial saves keep `complete: false` and the next launch resumes cold.
   const wasComplete = isCacheComplete(diskCache)
-  if (!wasComplete) diskCache.complete = true
-  if ((diskCache as { _dirty?: boolean })._dirty || !wasComplete) {
-    try { await saveCache(diskCache) } catch {}
+  if (!readOnly && !wasComplete) diskCache.complete = true
+  if (!readOnly && ((diskCache as { _dirty?: boolean })._dirty || !wasComplete)) {
+    try {
+      const published = await saveCache(diskCache, refreshLock?.verifyStillOwner)
+      if (!published) throw new RefreshFenceLostError()
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (err instanceof RefreshFenceLostError) throw err
+      if (refreshLock) throw new RefreshPublicationUnavailableError()
+    }
   }
   sessionHydrationComplete = true
 
diff --git a/src/session-cache.ts b/src/session-cache.ts
index c876b31c..99bb31df 100644
--- a/src/session-cache.ts
+++ b/src/session-cache.ts
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ async function adoptLegacyCache(): Promise<SessionCache> {
   }
 }
 
-export async function saveCache(cache: SessionCache): Promise<void> {
+export async function saveCache(cache: SessionCache, verifyStillOwner?: () => Promise<boolean>): Promise<boolean> {
   const dir = getCacheDir()
   if (!existsSync(dir)) await mkdir(dir, { recursive: true })
 
@@ -401,13 +401,48 @@ export async function saveCache(cache: SessionCache): Promise<void> {
   }
 
   try {
-    await rename(tempPath, finalPath)
+    // The warm refresh transaction passes an ownership fence. It must be the
+    // final operation before publication so a displaced writer cannot replace
+    // the canonical cache with its stale snapshot.
+    if (verifyStillOwner && !await verifyStillOwner()) {
+      await retryCacheFileMutation(() => unlink(tempPath))
+      return false
+    }
+    let renamed = false
+    for (let attempt = 0; attempt < 3; attempt++) {
+      try {
+        await rename(tempPath, finalPath)
+        renamed = true
+        break
+      } catch (err) {
+        const code = (err as NodeJS.ErrnoException).code
+        if ((code !== 'EPERM' && code !== 'EBUSY') || attempt === 2) throw err
+        await new Promise(resolve => { setTimeout(resolve, 10 * (attempt + 1)) })
+      }
+    }
+    if (!renamed) throw new Error('session cache rename failed')
+    return true
   } catch (err) {
-    try { await unlink(tempPath) } catch {}
+    await retryCacheFileMutation(() => unlink(tempPath))
     throw err
   }
 }
 
+async function retryCacheFileMutation(operation: () => Promise<void>): Promise<boolean> {
+  for (let attempt = 0; attempt < 3; attempt++) {
+    try {
+      await operation()
+      return true
+    } catch (err) {
+      const code = (err as NodeJS.ErrnoException).code
+      if (code === 'ENOENT') return true
+      if ((code !== 'EPERM' && code !== 'EBUSY') || attempt === 2) return false
+      await new Promise(resolve => { setTimeout(resolve, 10 * (attempt + 1)) })
+    }
+  }
+  return false
+}
+
 // ── File Fingerprinting ────────────────────────────────────────────────
 //
 // Fingerprints cover the source's transcript file only. Providers that keep
diff --git a/tests/cache-refresh-lock-process.test.ts b/tests/cache-refresh-lock-process.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cf907c31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cache-refresh-lock-process.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import { spawn, type ChildProcess } from 'child_process'
+import { existsSync } from 'fs'
+import { mkdir, mkdtemp, readdir, rm, stat, utimes, writeFile } from 'fs/promises'
+import { tmpdir } from 'os'
+import { join } from 'path'
+
+import { emptyCache, loadCache, saveCache } from '../src/session-cache.js'
+
+const roots: string[] = []
+
+async function waitFor(path: string, timeoutMs = 5_000): Promise<void> {
+  const deadline = Date.now() + timeoutMs
+  while (!existsSync(path)) {
+    if (Date.now() >= deadline) throw new Error(`timed out waiting for ${path}`)
+    await new Promise(resolve => { setTimeout(resolve, 5) })
+  }
+}
+
+async function waitForAny(dir: string, names: string[], timeoutMs = 5_000): Promise<string> {
+  const deadline = Date.now() + timeoutMs
+  while (Date.now() < deadline) {
+    for (const name of names) if (existsSync(join(dir, name))) return name
+    await new Promise(resolve => { setTimeout(resolve, 5) })
+  }
+  throw new Error(`timed out waiting for ${names.join(', ')}; saw ${(await readdir(dir)).join(', ')}`)
+}
+
+function waitForExit(child: ChildProcess): Promise<void> {
+  if (child.exitCode !== null) return child.exitCode === 0 ? Promise.resolve() : Promise.reject(new Error(`worker exited ${child.exitCode}`))
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    let stderr = ''
+    child.stderr?.on('data', chunk => { stderr += String(chunk) })
+    child.once('error', reject)
+    child.once('exit', code => code === 0 ? resolve() : reject(new Error(`worker exited ${code}: ${stderr}`)))
+  })
+}
+
+function worker(cacheDir: string, barriers: string, id: string, source: string, bypass = false): ChildProcess {
+  return spawn(process.execPath, ['--import', 'tsx', join(process.cwd(), 'tests/fixtures/cache-refresh-worker.ts'), cacheDir, barriers, id, source, String(bypass)], {
+    cwd: process.cwd(),
+    stdio: ['ignore', 'ignore', 'pipe'],
+  })
+}
+
+afterEach(async () => {
+  delete process.env['CODEBURN_CACHE_DIR']
+  await Promise.all(roots.splice(0).map(root => rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true })))
+})
+
+describe('warm refresh child-process regression', () => {
+  it('gives exactly one contender ownership of a stale lock', async () => {
+    const root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'cb-refresh-stale-'))
+    roots.push(root)
+    const cacheDir = join(root, 'cache')
+    const barriers = join(root, 'barriers')
+    await mkdir(cacheDir, { recursive: true })
+    await mkdir(barriers, { recursive: true })
+    process.env['CODEBURN_CACHE_DIR'] = cacheDir
+    const initial = emptyCache()
+    initial.complete = true
+    await saveCache(initial)
+    const stalePath = join(cacheDir, 'session-refresh.lock')
+    await writeFile(stalePath, JSON.stringify({ pid: 1, token: 'abandoned', at: 1 }))
+    await utimes(stalePath, new Date(1), new Date(1))
+    const source = join(root, 'changed.json')
+    await writeFile(source, JSON.stringify({ output: 303 }))
+
+    const a = worker(cacheDir, barriers, 'a', source)
+    const b = worker(cacheDir, barriers, 'b', source)
+    const winner = await Promise.race([
+      waitFor(join(barriers, 'a.parsed')).then(() => 'a'),
+      waitFor(join(barriers, 'b.parsed')).then(() => 'b'),
+    ])
+    const loser = winner === 'a' ? 'b' : 'a'
+    expect(Number(existsSync(join(barriers, 'a.parsed'))) + Number(existsSync(join(barriers, 'b.parsed')))).toBe(1)
+    // Keep the winner alive through the loser's full waiter budget: a second
+    // stale contender must never publish or steal a heartbeating successor.
+    const loserOutcome = await waitForAny(barriers, [
+      `${loser}.timed-out`, `${loser}.parsed`, `${loser}.completed-by-other`, `${loser}.unavailable`,
+    ])
+    expect(loserOutcome, (await readdir(barriers)).join(',')).toBe(`${loser}.timed-out`)
+    await writeFile(join(barriers, `${winner}.save`), '')
+    await Promise.all([waitForExit(a), waitForExit(b)])
+    await expect(stat(join(cacheDir, 'session-refresh.lock.takeover'))).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: 'ENOENT' })
+  })
+
+  it('serializes disjoint parsed updates so the later publication cannot drop the first', async () => {
+    const root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'cb-refresh-process-'))
+    roots.push(root)
+    const cacheDir = join(root, 'cache')
+    const barriers = join(root, 'barriers')
+    await mkdir(cacheDir, { recursive: true })
+    await mkdir(barriers, { recursive: true })
+    process.env['CODEBURN_CACHE_DIR'] = cacheDir
+    const initial = emptyCache()
+    initial.complete = true
+    await saveCache(initial)
+
+    const sourceA = join(root, 'changed-a.json')
+    const sourceB = join(root, 'changed-b.json')
+    await writeFile(sourceA, JSON.stringify({ output: 101 }))
+    await writeFile(sourceB, JSON.stringify({ output: 202 }))
+
+    const a = worker(cacheDir, barriers, 'a', sourceA)
+    const b = worker(cacheDir, barriers, 'b', sourceB)
+
+    // Exactly one child can cross the acquisition barrier. Let it publish and
+    // release; only then can the other reload the first child's update.
+    let retry: ChildProcess | undefined
+    await Promise.race([
+      waitFor(join(barriers, 'a.parsed')).then(() => 'a'),
+      waitFor(join(barriers, 'b.parsed')).then(() => 'b'),
+    ]).then(async first => {
+      const second = first === 'a' ? 'b' : 'a'
+      const secondSource = second === 'a' ? sourceA : sourceB
+      await writeFile(join(barriers, `${first}.save`), '')
+      await waitFor(join(barriers, `${first}.published`))
+      // A waiter that observes the clean release correctly serves the holder's
+      // fresh snapshot instead of mutating. A subsequent refresh of that
+      // process then acquires normally and applies its independently visible
+      // source change on top of the holder's publication.
+      const outcome = await waitForAny(barriers, [`${second}.completed-by-other`, `${second}.parsed`])
+      if (outcome === `${second}.parsed`) {
+        await writeFile(join(barriers, `${second}.save`), '')
+      } else {
+        await waitForExit(second === 'a' ? a : b)
+        retry = worker(cacheDir, barriers, `${second}-retry`, secondSource)
+        await waitFor(join(barriers, `${second}-retry.parsed`))
+        await writeFile(join(barriers, `${second}-retry.save`), '')
+      }
+    })
+
+    await Promise.all([waitForExit(a), waitForExit(b), ...(retry ? [waitForExit(retry)] : [])])
+    const files = (await loadCache()).providers['regression']?.files ?? {}
+    expect(Object.keys(files).sort()).toEqual([sourceA, sourceB].sort())
+  })
+
+  it('proves the barrier reproducer loses one update when the transaction gate is bypassed', async () => {
+    const root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'cb-refresh-control-'))
+    roots.push(root)
+    const cacheDir = join(root, 'cache')
+    const barriers = join(root, 'barriers')
+    await mkdir(cacheDir, { recursive: true })
+    await mkdir(barriers, { recursive: true })
+    process.env['CODEBURN_CACHE_DIR'] = cacheDir
+    const initial = emptyCache()
+    initial.complete = true
+    await saveCache(initial)
+
+    const sourceA = join(root, 'changed-a.json')
+    const sourceB = join(root, 'changed-b.json')
+    await writeFile(sourceA, JSON.stringify({ output: 101 }))
+    await writeFile(sourceB, JSON.stringify({ output: 202 }))
+    const a = worker(cacheDir, barriers, 'a', sourceA, true)
+    const b = worker(cacheDir, barriers, 'b', sourceB, true)
+    await Promise.all([waitFor(join(barriers, 'a.parsed')), waitFor(join(barriers, 'b.parsed'))])
+
+    await writeFile(join(barriers, 'a.save'), '')
+    await waitFor(join(barriers, 'a.published'))
+    await writeFile(join(barriers, 'b.save'), '')
+    await Promise.all([waitForExit(a), waitForExit(b)])
+
+    const files = (await loadCache()).providers['regression']?.files ?? {}
+    expect(Object.keys(files)).toEqual([sourceB])
+  })
+})
diff --git a/tests/cache-refresh-lock.test.ts b/tests/cache-refresh-lock.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..aac8b50a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cache-refresh-lock.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,221 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import { mkdir, mkdtemp, readFile, rm, stat, unlink, utimes, writeFile } from 'fs/promises'
+import { tmpdir } from 'os'
+import { join } from 'path'
+
+import {
+  acquireCacheRefreshLock,
+  type RefreshLockClock,
+} from '../src/cache-refresh-lock.js'
+import { emptyCache, loadCache, saveCache, sessionCachePath } from '../src/session-cache.js'
+
+const dirs: string[] = []
+
+async function tempDir(): Promise<string> {
+  const dir = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'cb-refresh-lock-'))
+  dirs.push(dir)
+  return dir
+}
+
+function lockPath(dir: string): string {
+  return join(dir, 'session-refresh.lock')
+}
+
+function fakeClock(start = 1_000): RefreshLockClock & { advance: (ms: number) => void } {
+  let wall = start
+  let monotonic = start
+  return {
+    wallNow: () => wall,
+    monotonicNow: () => monotonic,
+    advance: ms => { wall += ms; monotonic += ms },
+  }
+}
+
+afterEach(async () => {
+  delete process.env['CODEBURN_CACHE_DIR']
+  await Promise.all(dirs.splice(0).map(dir => rm(dir, { recursive: true, force: true })))
+})
+
+describe('warm session-cache refresh lock', () => {
+  it('returns acquired and releases its own token', async () => {
+    const dir = await tempDir()
+    const result = await acquireCacheRefreshLock({ cacheDir: dir })
+    expect(result.outcome).toBe('acquired')
+    if (result.outcome !== 'acquired') return
+
+    const record = JSON.parse(await readFile(lockPath(dir), 'utf-8'))
+    expect(record).toMatchObject({ pid: process.pid, token: result.handle.token })
+    expect(typeof record.at).toBe('number')
+    await result.handle.release()
+    await expect(stat(lockPath(dir))).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: 'ENOENT' })
+  })
+
+  it('reports completed-by-other after a clean release', async () => {
+    const dir = await tempDir()
+    const path = lockPath(dir)
+    await writeFile(path, JSON.stringify({ pid: 1, token: 'holder', at: Date.now() }))
+    let polls = 0
+    const result = await acquireCacheRefreshLock({
+      cacheDir: dir,
+      waitMs: 100,
+      pollMs: 1,
+      sleep: async () => {
+        if (++polls === 1) await unlink(path)
+      },
+    })
+    expect(result).toEqual({ outcome: 'completed-by-other' })
+  })
+
+  it('uses a monotonic deadline and times out without invalidating the holder', async () => {
+    const dir = await tempDir()
+    const clock = fakeClock()
+    const path = lockPath(dir)
+    await writeFile(path, JSON.stringify({ pid: 1, token: 'holder', at: clock.wallNow() }))
+    const now = new Date(clock.wallNow())
+    await utimes(path, now, now)
+
+    const result = await acquireCacheRefreshLock({
+      cacheDir: dir,
+      clock,
+      waitMs: 30,
+      staleMs: 90,
+      pollMs: 10,
+      sleep: async ms => { clock.advance(ms) },
+    })
+    expect(result).toEqual({ outcome: 'timed-out' })
+    expect(JSON.parse(await readFile(path, 'utf-8')).token).toBe('holder')
+  })
+
+  it('reports unavailable when lock infrastructure is unusable', async () => {
+    const dir = await tempDir()
+    const notDirectory = join(dir, 'file')
+    await writeFile(notDirectory, 'x')
+    expect(await acquireCacheRefreshLock({ cacheDir: notDirectory })).toEqual({ outcome: 'unavailable' })
+  })
+
+  it('serializes same-process acquisitions before touching the filesystem lock', async () => {
+    const dir = await tempDir()
+    const first = await acquireCacheRefreshLock({ cacheDir: dir })
+    expect(first.outcome).toBe('acquired')
+    if (first.outcome !== 'acquired') return
+
+    let settled = false
+    const secondPromise = acquireCacheRefreshLock({ cacheDir: dir }).then(result => {
+      settled = true
+      return result
+    })
+    await new Promise(resolve => { setTimeout(resolve, 20) })
+    expect(settled).toBe(false)
+
+    await first.handle.release()
+    const second = await secondPromise
+    expect(second.outcome).toBe('acquired')
+    if (second.outcome === 'acquired') {
+      expect(second.handle.token).not.toBe(first.handle.token)
+      await second.handle.release()
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('does not take over a heartbeating owner', async () => {
+    const dir = await tempDir()
+    const path = lockPath(dir)
+    await writeFile(path, JSON.stringify({ pid: 1, token: 'holder', at: Date.now() }))
+    const heartbeat = setInterval(() => {
+      const now = new Date()
+      void utimes(path, now, now)
+    }, 5)
+    try {
+      const result = await acquireCacheRefreshLock({ cacheDir: dir, staleMs: 20, waitMs: 60, pollMs: 5 })
+      expect(result).toEqual({ outcome: 'timed-out' })
+      expect(JSON.parse(await readFile(path, 'utf-8')).token).toBe('holder')
+    } finally {
+      clearInterval(heartbeat)
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('heartbeats its own lock body and mtime with the injected clock', async () => {
+    const dir = await tempDir()
+    const clock = fakeClock(10_000)
+    const result = await acquireCacheRefreshLock({ cacheDir: dir, clock, heartbeatMs: 5 })
+    expect(result.outcome).toBe('acquired')
+    if (result.outcome !== 'acquired') return
+    try {
+      const before = (await stat(lockPath(dir))).mtimeMs
+      clock.advance(1_000)
+      await new Promise(resolve => { setTimeout(resolve, 100) })
+      const record = JSON.parse(await readFile(lockPath(dir), 'utf-8'))
+      expect(record.at).toBe(clock.wallNow())
+      expect((await stat(lockPath(dir))).mtimeMs).not.toBe(before)
+    } finally {
+      await result.handle.release()
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('takes over only after re-verifying a stale token and mtime', async () => {
+    const dir = await tempDir()
+    const clock = fakeClock(100_000)
+    const path = lockPath(dir)
+    await writeFile(path, JSON.stringify({ pid: 1, token: 'stale', at: 1 }))
+    const old = new Date(1)
+    await utimes(path, old, old)
+
+    const result = await acquireCacheRefreshLock({ cacheDir: dir, clock, staleMs: 90, waitMs: 100 })
+    expect(result.outcome).toBe('acquired')
+    if (result.outcome !== 'acquired') return
+    expect(JSON.parse(await readFile(path, 'utf-8')).token).toBe(result.handle.token)
+    await result.handle.release()
+    await expect(stat(join(dir, 'session-refresh.lock.takeover'))).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: 'ENOENT' })
+  })
+
+  it('reclaims an abandoned stale takeover guard', async () => {
+    const dir = await tempDir()
+    const clock = fakeClock(100_000)
+    await writeFile(lockPath(dir), JSON.stringify({ pid: 1, token: 'stale', at: 1 }))
+    await writeFile(join(dir, 'session-refresh.lock.takeover'), JSON.stringify({ pid: 2, token: 'stale-guard', at: 1 }))
+    const old = new Date(1)
+    await utimes(lockPath(dir), old, old)
+    await utimes(join(dir, 'session-refresh.lock.takeover'), old, old)
+
+    const result = await acquireCacheRefreshLock({ cacheDir: dir, clock, staleMs: 90, waitMs: 100 })
+    expect(result.outcome).toBe('acquired')
+    if (result.outcome === 'acquired') await result.handle.release()
+  })
+
+  it('fences publication and release removes only its own token', async () => {
+    const dir = await tempDir()
+    process.env['CODEBURN_CACHE_DIR'] = dir
+    const original = emptyCache()
+    original.complete = true
+    await saveCache(original)
+
+    const result = await acquireCacheRefreshLock({ cacheDir: dir, heartbeatMs: 60_000 })
+    expect(result.outcome).toBe('acquired')
+    if (result.outcome !== 'acquired') return
+
+    await writeFile(lockPath(dir), JSON.stringify({ pid: 999, token: 'successor', at: Date.now() }))
+    const changed = emptyCache()
+    changed.complete = true
+    changed.providers['claude'] = { parseVersion: 'test', envFingerprint: 'test', files: {} }
+    expect(await saveCache(changed, result.handle.verifyStillOwner)).toBe(false)
+    expect((await loadCache()).providers['claude']).toBeUndefined()
+
+    await result.handle.release()
+    expect(JSON.parse(await readFile(lockPath(dir), 'utf-8')).token).toBe('successor')
+    expect(sessionCachePath()).toContain(dir)
+  })
+
+  it('the fence never loses to its own heartbeat (in-process serialization)', async () => {
+    // Regression: verifyStillOwner and the heartbeat tick both take the
+    // takeover guard; without in-process serialization the fence could observe
+    // its own heartbeat's guard file and abort a legitimate publication.
+    // At a 1ms heartbeat this raced ~6% of the time before the fix.
+    const dir = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'refresh-lock-'))
+    const result = await acquireCacheRefreshLock({ cacheDir: dir, heartbeatMs: 1 })
+    if (result.outcome !== 'acquired') throw new Error(`expected acquired, got ${result.outcome}`)
+    for (let i = 0; i < 300; i++) {
+      expect(await result.handle.verifyStillOwner()).toBe(true)
+    }
+    await result.handle.release()
+    await rm(dir, { recursive: true, force: true })
+  })
+})
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/cache-refresh-worker.ts b/tests/fixtures/cache-refresh-worker.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a2807df1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/cache-refresh-worker.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+import { existsSync } from 'fs'
+import { mkdir, readFile, writeFile } from 'fs/promises'
+import { join } from 'path'
+
+import { acquireCacheRefreshLock } from '../../src/cache-refresh-lock.js'
+import { loadCache, saveCache } from '../../src/session-cache.js'
+
+const [cacheDir, barrierDir, id, sourcePath, bypass = 'false'] = process.argv.slice(2)
+if (!cacheDir || !barrierDir || !id || !sourcePath) throw new Error('missing worker argument')
+
+async function waitFor(name: string): Promise<void> {
+  const path = join(barrierDir!, name)
+  while (!existsSync(path)) await new Promise(resolve => { setTimeout(resolve, 5) })
+}
+
+process.env['CODEBURN_CACHE_DIR'] = cacheDir
+await mkdir(barrierDir, { recursive: true })
+
+const refresh = bypass === 'true' ? null : await acquireCacheRefreshLock({ cacheDir, waitMs: 2_000, pollMs: 5 })
+if (refresh && refresh.outcome !== 'acquired') {
+  await writeFile(join(barrierDir, `${id}.${refresh.outcome}`), '')
+  process.exit(0)
+}
+
+try {
+  const cache = await loadCache()
+  // Parsing is deliberately tiny; the files and barrier make the transaction
+  // interleaving deterministic rather than relying on parser runtime variance.
+  const parsed = JSON.parse(await readFile(sourcePath, 'utf-8')) as { output: number }
+  cache.providers['regression'] ??= { parseVersion: 'test', envFingerprint: 'test', files: {} }
+  cache.providers['regression'].files[sourcePath] = {
+    fingerprint: { dev: 1, ino: parsed.output, mtimeMs: parsed.output, sizeBytes: parsed.output },
+    mcpInventory: [],
+    turns: [],
+  }
+  ;(cache as { _dirty?: boolean })._dirty = true
+  await writeFile(join(barrierDir, `${id}.parsed`), '')
+  await waitFor(`${id}.save`)
+  const published = await saveCache(cache, refresh?.handle.verifyStillOwner)
+  await writeFile(join(barrierDir, `${id}.${published ? 'published' : 'fenced'}`), '')
+} finally {
+  await refresh?.handle.release()
+}
diff --git a/tests/parser-cache-refresh-timeout.test.ts b/tests/parser-cache-refresh-timeout.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..92415775
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parser-cache-refresh-timeout.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { mkdir, mkdtemp, readFile, rm, writeFile } from 'fs/promises'
+import { tmpdir } from 'os'
+import { join } from 'path'
+
+vi.mock('../src/cache-refresh-lock.js', () => ({
+  acquireCacheRefreshLock: async () => ({ outcome: 'timed-out' as const }),
+}))
+
+import { clearSessionCache, parseAllSessions } from '../src/parser.js'
+import { sessionCachePath } from '../src/session-cache.js'
+
+let root: string
+let sessionPath: string
+
+function output(projects: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof parseAllSessions>>): number {
+  return projects.flatMap(p => p.sessions).flatMap(s => s.turns)
+    .flatMap(t => t.assistantCalls).reduce((sum, call) => sum + call.usage.outputTokens, 0)
+}
+
+async function writeSession(value: number): Promise<void> {
+  await writeFile(sessionPath, JSON.stringify({
+    type: 'assistant',
+    sessionId: 'sess',
+    timestamp: '2026-05-15T10:00:00Z',
+    cwd: '/tmp/proj',
+    message: {
+      id: `msg-${value}`, type: 'message', role: 'assistant', model: 'claude-sonnet-4-5',
+      content: [], usage: { input_tokens: 100, output_tokens: value },
+    },
+  }) + '\n')
+}
+
+beforeEach(async () => {
+  clearSessionCache()
+  root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'cb-refresh-timeout-'))
+  const home = join(root, 'home')
+  const project = join(home, 'projects', 'proj')
+  await mkdir(project, { recursive: true })
+  sessionPath = join(project, 'sess.jsonl')
+  process.env['CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR'] = home
+  process.env['CODEBURN_CACHE_DIR'] = join(root, 'cache')
+  process.env['CODEBURN_DESKTOP_SESSIONS_DIR'] = join(home, 'desktop-sessions')
+})
+
+afterEach(async () => {
+  clearSessionCache()
+  await rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true })
+})
+
+describe('parseAllSessions warm refresh timeout', () => {
+  it('serves the prior complete snapshot and leaves the holder cache untouched', async () => {
+    await writeSession(50)
+    expect(output(await parseAllSessions(undefined, 'claude'))).toBe(50)
+    const before = await readFile(sessionCachePath(), 'utf-8')
+
+    await writeSession(5000)
+    clearSessionCache()
+    expect(output(await parseAllSessions(undefined, 'claude'))).toBe(50)
+    expect(await readFile(sessionCachePath(), 'utf-8')).toBe(before)
+  })
+})