diff --git a/PROTOCOL.md b/PROTOCOL.md
index e9e6b6b..d7dfaf6 100644
--- a/PROTOCOL.md
+++ b/PROTOCOL.md
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ Rust plugins use the SDK `sausage-plugin`. Its source is at
 | call | A JSON-RPC request. `notes.add` calls the method `add` of the plugin `notes`. |
 | interface | A set of methods. A plugin has one main interface. It can also declare endpoint interfaces. |
 | endpoint | An interface that a running process serves on a TCP port. An endpoint file tells others where it is. |
-| service | A call in `/config/boot.yaml`. The core starts it at boot and again after an upgrade of its plugin. |
+| service | A call in `/config/boot.yaml`. The core starts it at boot, restarts it after a crash, and starts it again after an upgrade of its plugin. |
 | import | An interface of another plugin that a plugin uses. |
 | provider, consumer | The plugin that has an interface, and a plugin that imports it. |
 | journal | The central log of the world. |
@@ -322,10 +322,29 @@ At start, the core starts each service in `/config/boot.yaml`, in order:
 - A service is a detached call with the parent `core`. The core waits for
   its result before it starts the next one. The result shows that the
   service is ready.
-- If a service fails, the core writes the error to the journal and continues.
-- After an upgrade of the plugin of a service, the core starts the service
-  again with the new version (section 3.7).
-- The core does not restart other detached processes.
+- If a service fails before answering, the core writes the error to the
+  journal and continues booting. A failure to admit a process (for example,
+  a missing plugin or invalid parameters) is logged, not retried in a loop.
+- The core supervises the process lifetime, not its readiness response. A
+  nonzero exit, trap or failed host task restarts the same service with its
+  original method and parameters, including a crash before readiness. A
+  readiness response alone never triggers a restart; a clean exit does not
+  count as a crash or trigger an immediate restart.
+- More than 5 crashes within 10 seconds gives up on that service and writes
+  `service gave up` to the journal. Each service has an independent sliding
+  window; crashes exactly 10 seconds old expire. There is no retry delay or
+  periodic liveness check. Giving up is latched for this host lifetime:
+  neither elapsed time nor an upgrade re-arms it.
+- After an upgrade of the plugin of a service, the same supervisor starts
+  it again with the current version after its old process ends (section
+  3.7). Superseded exits are retirement, not crashes. Admission and cleanup
+  reserve a single owner/attempt, so an upgrade racing a crash cannot start
+  two owners. A matching boot-service start from `rpc.retired` is ignored
+  (returns `null`), even while restart is pending or after giving up; older
+  plugins' fallback starts do not bypass supervision.
+- An explicit `core.stop` or `core.kill` disables automatic attempts for
+  that service, including during an upgrade. Host shutdown starts no new
+  processes. The core does not restart other detached processes.
 - A singleton is a service with a fixed endpoint in `/run`. Only the core
   starts it, so two instances cannot start at the same time.
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f623eaa..5337d93 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -93,10 +93,16 @@ plugins/<name>/plugin.wasm   the current version of a plugin
 plugins/<name>/source/       its source
 state/<plugin>/              the state of a plugin, by convention
 state/core/journal.sqlite    the journal: stderr of all processes, and core events
-config/boot.yaml             the services that start with the world
+config/boot.yaml             ordered boot services, supervised for crashes (PROTOCOL §8)
 config/agent.yaml            the configuration of the agent
 ```
 
+Boot services restart on process crashes, not on readiness responses. More
+than 5 crashes within 10 seconds stops automatic attempts for that service
+and journals `service gave up`; an upgrade does not reset that decision.
+Explicitly stopping or killing a service also leaves it stopped for this
+host lifetime. See [Boot and services](PROTOCOL.md#8-boot-and-services).
+
 Rust builds use the SDK in `plugins/cargo/sdk/` directly. The host seeds this
 folder only when it is missing; restarts and host upgrades preserve existing
 files. SDK edits take effect on the next `cargo.build`, without a restart.
diff --git a/cli/src/process.rs b/cli/src/process.rs
index 2ce92e1..bae0dcb 100644
--- a/cli/src/process.rs
+++ b/cli/src/process.rs
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ pub(crate) struct Process {
     pub(crate) id: Option<Value>,
     pub(crate) answer: Option<oneshot::Sender<RpcResult>>,
     pub(crate) ended: watch::Sender<bool>,
+    pub(crate) stopped: bool,
+    pub(crate) superseded: bool,
 }
 impl Host {
     /// Called only after the execution task ends. Wait for the store and file operations before releasing locks.
@@ -57,6 +59,7 @@ impl Host {
                 .map(|_| self.0.journal.query_later(json!({"pid":pid,"limit":20})));
             self.0.journal.forget(pid);
             Self::release_locks(&mut state, pid);
+            self.service_ended(&mut state, pid, status, p.stopped, p.superseded);
             let status = status.to_string();
             tokio::spawn(async move {
                 if let Some(answer) = p.answer {
@@ -84,13 +87,24 @@ impl Host {
     }
     /// Close stdin and start the same five-second deadline for each attached child.
     pub(crate) fn begin_stop(&self, pid: &str) -> Option<watch::Receiver<bool>> {
+        self.stop_process(pid, false)
+    }
+    /// Grace expiry is retirement, not an operator stopping the service.
+    pub(crate) fn begin_retire(&self, pid: &str) -> Option<watch::Receiver<bool>> {
+        self.stop_process(pid, true)
+    }
+    fn stop_process(&self, pid: &str, retirement: bool) -> Option<watch::Receiver<bool>> {
         let mut state = self.0.state.lock().unwrap();
         let p = state.processes.get_mut(pid)?;
+        if !retirement {
+            p.superseded = false;
+        }
         let ended = p.ended.subscribe();
         if p.info.state == "stopping" {
             return Some(ended);
         }
         p.info.state = "stopping".into();
+        p.stopped = true;
         p.input.take();
         self.0.journal.write(pid, &p.info.plugin, "core", "stop");
         for lock in state.locks.values_mut() {
@@ -110,17 +124,24 @@ impl Host {
         let pid = pid.to_string();
         tokio::spawn(async move {
             tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_secs(5)).await;
-            h.kill(&pid);
+            h.kill_process(&pid, retirement);
         });
         Some(ended)
     }
     /// Abort a process task and perform its ended-state cleanup.
     pub(crate) fn kill(&self, pid: &str) {
+        self.kill_process(pid, false);
+    }
+    fn kill_process(&self, pid: &str, retirement: bool) {
         let mut state = self.0.state.lock().unwrap();
         for lock in state.locks.values_mut() {
             lock.queue.retain(|(queued, _)| queued != pid);
         }
         if let Some(p) = state.processes.get_mut(pid) {
+            if !retirement {
+                p.superseded = false;
+            }
+            p.stopped = true;
             p.info.state = "stopping".into();
             p.input.take();
             self.0.journal.write(pid, &p.info.plugin, "core", "kill");
diff --git a/cli/src/routing.rs b/cli/src/routing.rs
index 4650c85..15a7a89 100644
--- a/cli/src/routing.rs
+++ b/cli/src/routing.rs
@@ -166,6 +166,33 @@ impl Host {
                 {
                     return Err(error(-32600, "caller stopped or ended"));
                 }
+                // Older plugins may still try to start their boot service from
+                // rpc.retired. The supervisor owns it even while a restart is
+                // pending, or after it has given up. Do not create a second owner.
+                if state
+                    .processes
+                    .get(&caller)
+                    .is_some_and(|p| p.info.method == "rpc.retired")
+                    && state
+                        .services
+                        .iter()
+                        .any(|s| s.method == format!("{plugin}.{method}") && s.params == params)
+                {
+                    return Ok(Value::Null);
+                }
+                if caller == "core"
+                    && let Some(service) = state
+                        .services
+                        .iter_mut()
+                        .find(|s| Some(&s.request) == id.as_ref())
+                {
+                    if !service.enabled || service.owner.is_some() {
+                        return Err(error(-32600, "service attempt is no longer current"));
+                    }
+                    service.owner = Some(pid.clone());
+                    service.pending = false;
+                    service.version = Some(info.version.clone());
+                }
                 host.0
                     .journal
                     .write(&pid, plugin, "core", &format!("start {method} {params}"));
@@ -182,6 +209,8 @@ impl Host {
                         id: id.clone(),
                         answer: if id.is_some() { Some(tx) } else { None },
                         ended: watch::channel(false).0,
+                        stopped: false,
+                        superseded: false,
                     },
                 );
             }
diff --git a/cli/src/services.rs b/cli/src/services.rs
index f9e6bc2..9a7a684 100644
--- a/cli/src/services.rs
+++ b/cli/src/services.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,36 @@
-//! Ordered boot services and their identities for upgrade restarts (PROTOCOL.md section 8).
-use crate::Host;
+//! Ordered boot calls and the single restart owner for each service (PROTOCOL.md section 8).
+use crate::{Host, host::State};
 use serde_json::{Value, json};
-#[derive(Clone)]
+use std::{collections::VecDeque, sync::atomic::Ordering, time::Duration};
+use tokio::time::Instant;
+
+// Agreed systemd-derived values: /docs/design/plugin-handover/design.md,
+// https://www.man7.org/linux/man-pages/man5/systemd-system.conf.5.html.
+const CRASH_LIMIT: usize = 5;
+const CRASH_WINDOW: Duration = Duration::from_secs(10);
+
 pub(crate) struct Service {
     pub(crate) method: String,
     pub(crate) params: Value,
     pub(crate) request: Value,
-    pub(crate) starting: std::sync::Arc<std::sync::atomic::AtomicBool>,
+    pub(crate) owner: Option<String>,
+    pub(crate) pending: bool,
+    pub(crate) version: Option<String>,
+    pub(crate) enabled: bool,
+    crashes: VecDeque<Instant>,
+}
+impl Service {
+    fn crashed(&mut self, now: Instant) -> bool {
+        while self
+            .crashes
+            .front()
+            .is_some_and(|t| now.duration_since(*t) >= CRASH_WINDOW)
+        {
+            self.crashes.pop_front();
+        }
+        self.crashes.push_back(now);
+        self.crashes.len() <= CRASH_LIMIT
+    }
 }
 impl Host {
     /// Starts discovery in the background, then waits for each boot service in order.
@@ -24,30 +48,119 @@ impl Host {
         }
         Ok(())
     }
-    /// Records a unique request identity before the service can answer or exit.
+    /// Register once, before admission or readiness. Restarts reuse this registration.
     pub(crate) async fn start_service(&self, method: String, params: Value) {
-        if self.0.shutdown.load(std::sync::atomic::Ordering::SeqCst) {
-            return;
-        }
         let request = json!(uuid::Uuid::now_v7().to_string());
-        let starting = std::sync::Arc::new(std::sync::atomic::AtomicBool::new(true));
-        self.0.state.lock().unwrap().services.push(Service {
-            method: method.clone(),
-            params: params.clone(),
-            request: request.clone(),
-            starting: starting.clone(),
-        });
+        {
+            let mut state = self.0.state.lock().unwrap();
+            if self.0.shutdown.load(Ordering::SeqCst) {
+                return;
+            }
+            state.services.push(Service {
+                method,
+                params,
+                request: request.clone(),
+                owner: None,
+                enabled: true,
+                pending: true,
+                version: None,
+                crashes: VecDeque::new(),
+            });
+        }
+        self.run_service(request).await;
+    }
+    /// Await readiness only; process cleanup, not this response, decides whether to restart.
+    async fn run_service(&self, request: Value) {
+        let (method, params) = {
+            let state = self.0.state.lock().unwrap();
+            if self.0.shutdown.load(Ordering::SeqCst) {
+                return;
+            }
+            let Some(service) = state
+                .services
+                .iter()
+                .find(|s| s.request == request && s.enabled)
+            else {
+                return;
+            };
+            (service.method.clone(), service.params.clone())
+        };
         self.0
             .journal
             .write("core", "core", "core", &format!("service start {method}"));
-        if let Err(error) = self
-            .route("core".into(), Some(request), method, params, true)
-            .await
+        let result = self
+            .route("core".into(), Some(request.clone()), method, params, true)
+            .await;
         {
+            let mut state = self.0.state.lock().unwrap();
+            if let Some(service) = state.services.iter_mut().find(|s| s.request == request) {
+                service.pending = false;
+            }
+        }
+        if let Err(error) = result {
+            // Admission failures have no process lifetime to supervise. A process crash
+            // before readiness is handled by finish just like one after readiness.
             self.0
                 .journal
                 .write("core", "core", "core", &format!("service failed {error}"));
         }
-        starting.store(false, std::sync::atomic::Ordering::SeqCst);
+    }
+    /// Called under the state lock after the old owner and its files/locks are gone.
+    pub(crate) fn service_ended(
+        &self,
+        state: &mut State,
+        pid: &str,
+        status: &str,
+        stopped: bool,
+        superseded: bool,
+    ) {
+        let Some(service) = state
+            .services
+            .iter_mut()
+            .find(|s| s.owner.as_deref() == Some(pid))
+        else {
+            return;
+        };
+        service.owner = None;
+        if self.0.shutdown.load(Ordering::SeqCst) || !service.enabled {
+            return;
+        }
+        if !superseded {
+            if stopped {
+                service.enabled = false;
+                return;
+            }
+            if status == "exit 0" {
+                return;
+            }
+            if !service.crashed(Instant::now()) {
+                service.enabled = false;
+                self.0.journal.write(
+                    "core",
+                    "core",
+                    "core",
+                    &format!(
+                        "service gave up {}: more than {CRASH_LIMIT} crashes within {} seconds",
+                        service.method,
+                        CRASH_WINDOW.as_secs(),
+                    ),
+                );
+                return;
+            }
+        }
+        self.queue_service(service);
+    }
+    /// Reserve the next attempt before spawning it; upgrades and crashes share this owner.
+    pub(crate) fn queue_service(&self, service: &mut Service) {
+        service.request = json!(uuid::Uuid::now_v7().to_string());
+        service.pending = true;
+        let request = service.request.clone();
+        let host = self.clone();
+        tokio::spawn(async move {
+            host.run_service(request).await;
+        });
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests;
diff --git a/cli/src/services/tests.rs b/cli/src/services/tests.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..88bdad3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/src/services/tests.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,362 @@
+//! Deterministic service supervision tests: native tasks stand in for guest lifetimes.
+use super::*;
+use crate::{NativePlugin, runtime::Runtime};
+use std::sync::Arc;
+use tokio::sync::{mpsc, oneshot, watch};
+
+struct Rig {
+    host: Host,
+    starts: mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<(String, oneshot::Sender<()>)>,
+    _world: tempfile::TempDir,
+}
+impl Rig {
+    async fn new() -> Self {
+        let world = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let runtime = Runtime::new(world.path()).unwrap();
+        let host = Host::test_world(world.path(), runtime).await.unwrap();
+        let (tx, starts) = mpsc::unbounded_channel();
+        let plugin: NativePlugin = Arc::new(move |ctx, method, _| {
+            let tx = tx.clone();
+            Box::pin(async move {
+                if method != "serve" {
+                    return Ok(Value::Null);
+                }
+                let (end, ended) = oneshot::channel();
+                tx.send((ctx.pid, end)).unwrap();
+                let _ = ended.await;
+                Ok(Value::Null)
+            })
+        });
+        host.register_native("demo", plugin.clone());
+        host.register_native("other", plugin);
+        Self {
+            host,
+            starts,
+            _world: world,
+        }
+    }
+    async fn start(&mut self, method: &str) -> (String, oneshot::Sender<()>) {
+        let host = self.host.clone();
+        let method = method.to_string();
+        tokio::spawn(async move {
+            host.start_service(method, json!({"kept":true})).await;
+        });
+        self.next().await
+    }
+    async fn next(&mut self) -> (String, oneshot::Sender<()>) {
+        // Reuse the host integration call bound (activation.rs::call).
+        tokio::time::timeout(Duration::from_secs(60), self.starts.recv())
+            .await
+            .unwrap()
+            .unwrap()
+    }
+    fn ended(&self, pid: &str) -> watch::Receiver<bool> {
+        self.host.0.state.lock().unwrap().processes[pid]
+            .ended
+            .subscribe()
+    }
+    async fn crash(&self, pid: &str) {
+        let mut ended = self.ended(pid);
+        // Abort execution without asking the supervisor for an intentional stop.
+        self.host.0.state.lock().unwrap().processes[pid]
+            .abort
+            .as_ref()
+            .unwrap()
+            .abort();
+        ended.wait_for(|done| *done).await.unwrap();
+    }
+    async fn clean(&self, pid: &str, end: oneshot::Sender<()>) {
+        let mut ended = self.ended(pid);
+        end.send(()).unwrap();
+        ended.wait_for(|done| *done).await.unwrap();
+    }
+    fn assert_single(&self, pid: &str, registrations: usize) {
+        let state = self.host.0.state.lock().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(state.services.len(), registrations);
+        let p = &state.processes[pid];
+        assert_eq!(p.info.params, json!({"kept":true}));
+        assert!(p.info.detached);
+        assert_eq!(p.caller, "core");
+        assert_eq!(
+            state
+                .services
+                .iter()
+                .filter(|s| s.owner.as_deref() == Some(pid))
+                .count(),
+            1
+        );
+    }
+    fn no_start(&mut self) {
+        assert!(self.starts.try_recv().is_err());
+    }
+}
+
+#[tokio::test(start_paused = true)]
+async fn crash_before_and_after_readiness_observes_process_not_response() {
+    let mut rig = Rig::new().await;
+    let (pid, _end) = rig.start("demo.serve").await;
+    rig.assert_single(&pid, 1);
+    rig.crash(&pid).await; // No ready RPC response was sent.
+    let (pid, end) = rig.next().await;
+    rig.assert_single(&pid, 1);
+    rig.host.answer(&pid, Ok(json!({"ready":true})));
+    tokio::task::yield_now().await;
+    rig.no_start(); // Ready does not end the service lifetime.
+    rig.crash(&pid).await;
+    drop(end);
+    let (pid, end) = rig.next().await;
+    rig.assert_single(&pid, 1);
+    rig.clean(&pid, end).await;
+    rig.no_start(); // A clean, intentional return is not a crash.
+    rig.host.stop().await;
+}
+
+#[tokio::test(start_paused = true)]
+async fn fifth_restarts_sixth_gives_up_and_journals_once() {
+    let mut rig = Rig::new().await;
+    let (mut pid, mut end) = rig.start("demo.serve").await;
+    for crash in 1..=CRASH_LIMIT {
+        rig.crash(&pid).await;
+        drop(end);
+        (pid, end) = rig.next().await;
+        rig.assert_single(&pid, 1);
+        assert_eq!(
+            rig.host.0.state.lock().unwrap().services[0].crashes.len(),
+            crash
+        );
+    }
+    rig.crash(&pid).await;
+    drop(end);
+    rig.no_start();
+    let logs = rig
+        .host
+        .call("core.log", json!({"grep":"service gave up"}))
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(logs.as_array().unwrap().len(), 1);
+    assert!(
+        logs[0]["line"]
+            .as_str()
+            .unwrap()
+            .contains("more than 5 crashes within 10 seconds")
+    );
+    assert!(!rig.host.0.state.lock().unwrap().services[0].enabled);
+    // A retired hook cannot bypass give-up while its supervisor has no owner.
+    rig.host.register_native(
+        "fallback",
+        Arc::new(move |ctx, _, _| {
+            Box::pin(async move {
+                ctx.call(
+                    "core.call",
+                    json!({"method":"demo.serve","params":{"kept":true},"detach":true}),
+                )
+                .await
+            })
+        }),
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        rig.host
+            .call("fallback.rpc.retired", json!({}))
+            .await
+            .unwrap(),
+        Value::Null
+    );
+    rig.no_start();
+    // Neither time passing nor an upgrade re-arms a given-up service.
+    tokio::time::advance(CRASH_WINDOW).await;
+    let upgrade = rig.host.snapshot_upgrade("demo", "old".into(), "new", 0.0);
+    rig.host.begin_upgrade(upgrade);
+    tokio::task::yield_now().await;
+    rig.no_start();
+    rig.host.stop().await;
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn sliding_window_boundary_and_progress() {
+    let now = Instant::now();
+    let service = || Service {
+        method: "demo.serve".into(),
+        params: json!({}),
+        request: json!("request"),
+        owner: None,
+        enabled: true,
+        pending: false,
+        version: None,
+        crashes: VecDeque::new(),
+    };
+    let mut before = service();
+    let mut exact = service();
+    let mut after = service();
+    for _ in 0..CRASH_LIMIT {
+        assert!(before.crashed(now));
+        assert!(exact.crashed(now));
+        assert!(after.crashed(now));
+    }
+    assert!(!before.crashed(now + CRASH_WINDOW - Duration::from_nanos(1)));
+    assert!(exact.crashed(now + CRASH_WINDOW));
+    assert_eq!(exact.crashes.len(), 1);
+    assert!(after.crashed(now + CRASH_WINDOW + Duration::from_nanos(1)));
+    // Repeated progress beyond the window never accumulates old failures.
+    for step in 2..=CRASH_LIMIT as u32 + 1 {
+        assert!(exact.crashed(now + CRASH_WINDOW * step));
+        assert_eq!(exact.crashes.len(), 1);
+    }
+}
+
+#[tokio::test(start_paused = true)]
+async fn services_have_independent_crash_budgets() {
+    let mut rig = Rig::new().await;
+    let (mut a, mut a_end) = rig.start("demo.serve").await;
+    let (b, b_end) = rig.start("other.serve").await;
+    for _ in 0..CRASH_LIMIT {
+        rig.crash(&a).await;
+        drop(a_end);
+        (a, a_end) = rig.next().await;
+    }
+    rig.crash(&a).await;
+    drop(a_end);
+    rig.crash(&b).await;
+    drop(b_end);
+    let (b, b_end) = rig.next().await;
+    rig.assert_single(&b, 2);
+    rig.clean(&b, b_end).await;
+    rig.no_start();
+    rig.host.stop().await;
+}
+
+#[tokio::test(start_paused = true)]
+async fn upgrade_crash_race_has_one_restart_and_retired_fallback_cannot_duplicate_it() {
+    let mut rig = Rig::new().await;
+    let (pid, end) = rig.start("demo.serve").await;
+    let upgrade = rig.host.snapshot_upgrade("demo", "old".into(), "new", 0.0);
+    rig.crash(&pid).await; // Exits between snapshot and begin_upgrade.
+    drop(end);
+    rig.host.begin_upgrade(upgrade);
+    let (pid, end) = rig.next().await;
+    rig.assert_single(&pid, 1);
+    assert!(
+        rig.host.0.state.lock().unwrap().services[0]
+            .crashes
+            .is_empty()
+    );
+    // A native retired hook exercises the same routing path as a guest fallback.
+    rig.host.register_native(
+        "fallback",
+        Arc::new(move |ctx, _, _| {
+            Box::pin(async move {
+                ctx.call(
+                    "core.call",
+                    json!({"method":"demo.serve","params":{"kept":true},"detach":true}),
+                )
+                .await
+            })
+        }),
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        rig.host
+            .call("fallback.rpc.retired", json!({}))
+            .await
+            .unwrap(),
+        Value::Null
+    );
+    rig.no_start();
+    rig.clean(&pid, end).await;
+    rig.host.stop().await;
+}
+
+#[tokio::test(start_paused = true)]
+async fn crash_before_upgrade_snapshot_also_has_one_restart() {
+    let mut rig = Rig::new().await;
+    let (pid, end) = rig.start("demo.serve").await;
+    rig.crash(&pid).await;
+    drop(end);
+    // Restart may be pending admission or already admitted: snapshot handles both.
+    let upgrade = rig
+        .host
+        .snapshot_upgrade("demo", "old".into(), "native", 0.0);
+    rig.host.begin_upgrade(upgrade);
+    let (pid, end) = rig.next().await;
+    rig.assert_single(&pid, 1);
+    rig.no_start();
+    rig.clean(&pid, end).await;
+    rig.host.stop().await;
+}
+
+#[tokio::test(start_paused = true)]
+async fn pending_admission_is_single_owned_across_upgrade() {
+    let mut rig = Rig::new().await;
+    let (pid, end) = rig.start("demo.serve").await;
+    let host = rig.host.clone();
+    let admission = host.0.admission.write().await;
+    rig.crash(&pid).await;
+    drop(end);
+    let upgrade = rig
+        .host
+        .snapshot_upgrade("demo", "old".into(), "native", 0.0);
+    rig.host.begin_upgrade(upgrade);
+    assert!(rig.host.0.state.lock().unwrap().services[0].pending);
+    drop(admission);
+    let (pid, end) = rig.next().await;
+    rig.assert_single(&pid, 1);
+    rig.no_start();
+    rig.clean(&pid, end).await;
+    rig.host.stop().await;
+}
+
+#[tokio::test(start_paused = true)]
+async fn shutdown_rejects_restart_already_waiting_for_admission() {
+    let mut rig = Rig::new().await;
+    let (pid, end) = rig.start("demo.serve").await;
+    let host = rig.host.clone();
+    let admission = host.0.admission.write().await;
+    rig.crash(&pid).await;
+    drop(end);
+    rig.host.stop().await;
+    drop(admission);
+    tokio::task::yield_now().await;
+    rig.no_start();
+    assert!(rig.host.processes().is_empty());
+}
+
+#[tokio::test(start_paused = true)]
+async fn clean_service_stays_dormant_until_upgrade_and_explicit_stop_stays_disabled() {
+    let mut rig = Rig::new().await;
+    let (pid, end) = rig.start("demo.serve").await;
+    rig.clean(&pid, end).await;
+    rig.no_start();
+    let upgrade = rig.host.snapshot_upgrade("demo", "old".into(), "new", 0.0);
+    rig.host.begin_upgrade(upgrade);
+    let (pid, end) = rig.next().await;
+    rig.assert_single(&pid, 1);
+    // An explicit stop stays disabled even if the task subsequently exits cleanly.
+    let mut ended = rig.host.begin_stop(&pid).unwrap();
+    end.send(()).unwrap();
+    ended.wait_for(|done| *done).await.unwrap();
+    let upgrade = rig
+        .host
+        .snapshot_upgrade("demo", "old".into(), "newer", 0.0);
+    rig.host.begin_upgrade(upgrade);
+    tokio::task::yield_now().await;
+    rig.no_start();
+    rig.host.stop().await;
+}
+
+#[tokio::test(start_paused = true)]
+async fn intentional_stop_and_shutdown_never_restart_even_during_upgrade() {
+    let mut rig = Rig::new().await;
+    let (pid, end) = rig.start("demo.serve").await;
+    let upgrade = rig.host.snapshot_upgrade("demo", "old".into(), "new", 0.0);
+    // An explicit kill after supersession overrides the automatic upgrade restart.
+    rig.host
+        .call("core.kill", json!({"pid":pid}))
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    drop(end);
+    rig.host.begin_upgrade(upgrade);
+    tokio::task::yield_now().await;
+    rig.no_start();
+    let (_pid, end) = rig.start("other.serve").await;
+    rig.host.stop().await;
+    drop(end);
+    rig.no_start();
+}
diff --git a/cli/src/upgrades.rs b/cli/src/upgrades.rs
index bfa1783..03b4cd0 100644
--- a/cli/src/upgrades.rs
+++ b/cli/src/upgrades.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //! Grace periods, service restarts, and retirement of replaced versions (PROTOCOL.md section 3.7).
-use crate::{Host, services::Service};
+use crate::Host;
 use serde_json::json;
 use std::{collections::BTreeMap, sync::atomic::Ordering, time::Duration};
 use tokio::sync::watch;
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ pub(crate) struct Upgrade {
     current: String,
     grace: Duration,
     processes: Vec<OldProcess>,
-    services: Vec<(Service, Option<watch::Receiver<bool>>)>,
 }
 impl Host {
     /// Snapshots old admissions while activation holds the admission write guard.
@@ -29,49 +28,45 @@ impl Host {
         let mut state = self.0.state.lock().unwrap();
         let processes = state
             .processes
-            .iter()
+            .iter_mut()
             .filter(|(_, process)| {
                 process.info.plugin == plugin
                     && process.info.version != current
                     && process.info.method != "rpc.discover"
             })
-            .map(|(pid, process)| OldProcess {
-                pid: pid.clone(),
-                version: process.info.version.clone(),
-                ended: process.ended.subscribe(),
+            .map(|(pid, process)| {
+                // The service supervisor owns the restart, including an exit on
+                // the superseded notice before the grace timer is installed.
+                process.superseded = !process.stopped;
+                OldProcess {
+                    pid: pid.clone(),
+                    version: process.info.version.clone(),
+                    ended: process.ended.subscribe(),
+                }
             })
             .collect();
-        let mut services = Vec::new();
-        let mut retained = Vec::new();
-        for service in std::mem::take(&mut state.services) {
-            if service
-                .method
-                .split_once('.')
-                .is_some_and(|(name, _)| name == plugin)
+        // A cleanly returned service is dormant until an upgrade. A pending
+        // admission will choose the current version itself. Disabled services
+        // (explicit stop or crash-limit give-up) must never be re-armed here.
+        for service in &mut state.services {
+            if service.enabled
+                && !service.pending
+                && service.owner.is_none()
+                && service.version.as_deref() != Some(current)
+                && service
+                    .method
+                    .split_once('.')
+                    .is_some_and(|(name, _)| name == plugin)
             {
-                let process = state
-                    .processes
-                    .values()
-                    .find(|process| process.id.as_ref() == Some(&service.request));
-                if process.is_some_and(|process| process.info.version == current)
-                    || (process.is_none() && service.starting.load(Ordering::SeqCst))
-                {
-                    retained.push(service);
-                } else {
-                    services.push((service, process.map(|process| process.ended.subscribe())));
-                }
-            } else {
-                retained.push(service);
+                self.queue_service(service);
             }
         }
-        state.services = retained;
         Upgrade {
             plugin: plugin.into(),
             previous,
             current: current.into(),
             grace: Duration::from_secs_f64(grace),
             processes,
-            services,
         }
     }
     /// Lets old calls finish, stops them after grace, and starts each lifecycle hook once.
@@ -107,18 +102,7 @@ impl Host {
                     let mut ended = process.ended;
                     tokio::select! {
                         _ = ended.wait_for(|ended|*ended) => (),
-                        _ = tokio::time::sleep(grace) => { host.begin_stop(&process.pid); }
-                    }
-                });
-            }
-            for (service, ended) in upgrade.services {
-                let host = host.clone();
-                tokio::spawn(async move {
-                    if let Some(mut ended) = ended {
-                        let _ = ended.wait_for(|ended| *ended).await;
-                    }
-                    if !host.0.shutdown.load(Ordering::SeqCst) {
-                        host.start_service(service.method, service.params).await;
+                        _ = tokio::time::sleep(grace) => { host.begin_retire(&process.pid); }
                     }
                 });
             }
diff --git a/cli/tests/host/activation.rs b/cli/tests/host/activation.rs
index dd20dab..1702b48 100644
--- a/cli/tests/host/activation.rs
+++ b/cli/tests/host/activation.rs
@@ -1117,6 +1117,36 @@ async fn old_consumer_can_call_removed_provider_method() {
     host.stop().await;
 }
 
+/// PROTOCOL 8: supervise actual WASI exits on either side of the readiness response.
+#[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread", worker_threads = 2)]
+async fn crashed_boot_service_restarts_before_and_after_ready() {
+    for when in ["before", "after"] {
+        let world = TestWorld::new();
+        world.plugin("notes", document("serve"), document("serve"));
+        std::fs::write(
+            world.0.join("config/boot.yaml"),
+            json!([{"method":"notes.serve","params":{"crash_once":when}}]).to_string(),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        let host = world.start().await;
+        marker(world.0.join("state/notes/service"), "1").await;
+        let entries = call(
+            &host,
+            "core.log",
+            json!({"grep":"service start notes.serve"}),
+        )
+        .await;
+        assert_eq!(entries.as_array().unwrap().len(), 2);
+        let processes = host.processes();
+        let services: Vec<_> = processes.values().filter(|p| p.method == "serve").collect();
+        assert_eq!(services.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(services[0].params, json!({"crash_once":when}));
+        let exits = call(&host, "core.log", json!({"plugin":"notes","grep":"exit 1"})).await;
+        assert_eq!(exits.as_array().unwrap().len(), 1);
+        host.stop().await;
+    }
+}
+
 /// PROTOCOL 10.2: activation and revert check interfaces but leave persistent state unchanged.
 #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread", worker_threads = 2)]
 async fn state_is_outside_interface_checks() {
diff --git a/cli/tests/plugins/activation/src/main.rs b/cli/tests/plugins/activation/src/main.rs
index 60c0c05..9f91ab5 100644
--- a/cli/tests/plugins/activation/src/main.rs
+++ b/cli/tests/plugins/activation/src/main.rs
@@ -85,7 +85,22 @@ fn main() {
             json!({"retired":version})
         }
         "serve" | "hold" => {
+            // One genuine process failure, followed by a healthy service, without
+            // timers or liveness polling in either the fixture or supervisor.
+            let crash = request["params"]["crash_once"].as_str();
+            let first = crash.is_some()
+                && std::fs::OpenOptions::new()
+                    .write(true)
+                    .create_new(true)
+                    .open(format!("/state/{plugin}/crashed-once"))
+                    .is_ok();
+            if first && crash == Some("before") {
+                std::process::exit(1);
+            }
             send(json!({"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":request["id"],"result":{"version":version}}));
+            if first && crash == Some("after") {
+                std::process::exit(1);
+            }
             if request["method"] == "serve" {
                 std::fs::write(format!("/state/{plugin}/service"), version).unwrap();
             }