diff --git a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
index 38f9809..7134d0a 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
@@ -2887,7 +2887,7 @@ async fn pause_download(
     log::info!("pause_download called for id: {}", id);
 
     let active_kind = state.queue_manager.active_kind(&id).await;
-    state.queue_manager.remove_from_pending(&id).await;
+    let removed_pending = state.queue_manager.remove_from_pending(&id).await;
 
     let gid = state.queue_manager.aria2_gid_for_download(&id);
     if let Some(gid) = gid.as_deref().filter(|gid| !gid.starts_with("native:")) {
@@ -2933,6 +2933,10 @@ async fn pause_download(
         return Ok(());
     }
 
+    if matches!(active_kind, Some(crate::queue::TaskKind::Aria2)) {
+        state.queue_manager.cancel_aria2_retries(&id).await;
+    }
+
     let (tx, rx) = tokio::sync::oneshot::channel();
     if matches!(active_kind, Some(crate::queue::TaskKind::Media)) {
         state
@@ -2953,6 +2957,9 @@ async fn pause_download(
     if !matches!(active_kind, Some(crate::queue::TaskKind::Media)) {
         state.queue_manager.release_permit(&id).await;
     }
+    if removed_pending || matches!(active_kind, Some(crate::queue::TaskKind::Aria2)) {
+        state.queue_manager.release_registered_id(&id).await;
+    }
     use tauri::Emitter;
     let _ = app_handle.emit(
         "download-state",
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/queue.rs b/src-tauri/src/queue.rs
index 6b5364d..2a5b62e 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/queue.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/queue.rs
@@ -168,6 +168,10 @@ impl<R: tauri::Runtime> QueueManager<R> {
         self.registered_ids.lock().await.remove(id);
     }
 
+    async fn is_registered(&self, id: &str) -> bool {
+        self.registered_ids.lock().await.contains(id)
+    }
+
     /// Enqueue a task. Checks the centralized `registered_ids` for deduplication.
     pub async fn push(&self, task: QueuedTask) -> Result<(), String> {
         let id = task.id.clone();
@@ -390,7 +394,30 @@ impl<R: tauri::Runtime> QueueManager<R> {
                     .insert(id.clone(), task.payload.clone());
                 self.aria2_retry_strikes.lock().await.remove(&id);
                 match self.spawner.add_uri(&id, &task.payload).await {
-                    Ok(gid) => self.remember_gid(id.clone(), gid).await,
+                    Ok(gid) => {
+                        let cancelled = self.aria2_retry_cancelled.lock().await.contains(&id);
+                        if cancelled || !self.is_registered(&id).await {
+                            log::info!(
+                                "aria2 dispatch cancellation [{}]: removing late gid {}",
+                                id,
+                                gid
+                            );
+                            if !gid.starts_with("native:") {
+                                if let Err(error) = self.spawner.remove_uri(&gid).await {
+                                    log::warn!(
+                                        "aria2 dispatch cancellation [{}]: failed to remove late gid {}: {}",
+                                        id,
+                                        gid,
+                                        error
+                                    );
+                                }
+                            }
+                            self.clear_aria2_retry_state(&id).await;
+                            self.release_permit(&id).await;
+                            return;
+                        }
+                        self.remember_gid(id.clone(), gid).await;
+                    }
                     Err(error) => {
                         self.clear_aria2_retry_state(&id).await;
                         self.emit_failed(&id, error);
@@ -488,7 +515,9 @@ impl<R: tauri::Runtime> QueueManager<R> {
             PendingOutcome::Error(error) => {
                 if error.to_ascii_lowercase().contains("checksum") {
                     log::warn!("Checksum error detected for {}, cleaning up assets", id);
-                    if let Ok(primary_path) = crate::download_ownership::primary_path_for_id(&self.app_handle, id) {
+                    if let Ok(primary_path) =
+                        crate::download_ownership::primary_path_for_id(&self.app_handle, id)
+                    {
                         if let Some(path) = primary_path.as_deref() {
                             let _ = crate::remove_download_assets(path, &self.app_handle).await;
                         }
@@ -957,7 +986,12 @@ async fn probe_bounded_range_support(
         .redirect(reqwest::redirect::Policy::limited(5))
         .timeout(std::time::Duration::from_secs(10));
 
-    if let Some(proxy) = payload.proxy.as_deref().map(str::trim).filter(|value| !value.is_empty()) {
+    if let Some(proxy) = payload
+        .proxy
+        .as_deref()
+        .map(str::trim)
+        .filter(|value| !value.is_empty())
+    {
         if proxy.eq_ignore_ascii_case("none") {
             builder = builder.no_proxy();
         } else {
@@ -1131,7 +1165,12 @@ impl SidecarSpawner for ProductionSpawner {
         if !header_list.is_empty() {
             options.insert("header".to_string(), serde_json::json!(header_list));
         }
-        if let Some(prox) = payload.proxy.as_deref().map(str::trim).filter(|s| !s.is_empty()) {
+        if let Some(prox) = payload
+            .proxy
+            .as_deref()
+            .map(str::trim)
+            .filter(|s| !s.is_empty())
+        {
             if prox.eq_ignore_ascii_case("none") {
                 options.insert("all-proxy".to_string(), serde_json::json!(""));
             } else {
diff --git a/src-tauri/tests/queue_manager.rs b/src-tauri/tests/queue_manager.rs
index d0fd46f..59ca49a 100644
--- a/src-tauri/tests/queue_manager.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/tests/queue_manager.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,44 @@ struct CountingSpawner {
     native_calls: AtomicUsize,
 }
 
+struct DelayedAria2Spawner {
+    gid_tx: tokio::sync::Mutex<Option<tokio::sync::oneshot::Sender<()>>>,
+    remove_uri_calls: AtomicUsize,
+}
+
+impl DelayedAria2Spawner {
+    fn new(gid_tx: tokio::sync::oneshot::Sender<()>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            gid_tx: tokio::sync::Mutex::new(Some(gid_tx)),
+            remove_uri_calls: AtomicUsize::new(0),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[async_trait::async_trait]
+impl SidecarSpawner for DelayedAria2Spawner {
+    async fn add_uri(&self, _id: &str, _payload: &SpawnPayload) -> Result<String, String> {
+        let tx = self.gid_tx.lock().await.take().expect("gid release sender");
+        let _ = tx.send(());
+        tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_millis(50)).await;
+        Ok("late-gid".to_string())
+    }
+
+    async fn remove_uri(&self, gid: &str) -> Result<(), String> {
+        assert_eq!(gid, "late-gid");
+        self.remove_uri_calls.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    async fn run_media(&self, _id: &str, _payload: &SpawnPayload) -> Result<(), String> {
+        unreachable!("media is not used by delayed aria2 tests")
+    }
+
+    async fn run_native(&self, _id: &str, _payload: &SpawnPayload) -> Result<(), String> {
+        unreachable!("native is not used by delayed aria2 tests")
+    }
+}
+
 impl CountingSpawner {
     fn new() -> Self {
         Self {
@@ -476,6 +514,39 @@ async fn aria2_completion_forgets_gid_and_releases_permit() {
     assert_eq!(mgr.available_permits(), 1);
 }
 
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn late_aria2_gid_after_cancellation_is_removed_without_leaking_permit() {
+    let app = mock_builder()
+        .build(mock_context(noop_assets()))
+        .expect("mock app");
+    let (gid_started_tx, gid_started_rx) = tokio::sync::oneshot::channel();
+    let spawner = Arc::new(DelayedAria2Spawner::new(gid_started_tx));
+    let manager = Arc::new(QueueManager::test_new(
+        app.handle().clone(),
+        1,
+        spawner.clone(),
+    ));
+    manager.push(aria2_task("late")).await.unwrap();
+
+    let dispatcher = {
+        let manager = Arc::clone(&manager);
+        tokio::spawn(async move { manager.run_dispatcher().await })
+    };
+
+    gid_started_rx.await.expect("add_uri should start");
+    manager.cancel_aria2_retries("late").await;
+    manager.release_registered_id("late").await;
+    manager.release_permit("late").await;
+
+    tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_millis(100)).await;
+
+    assert!(manager.aria2_gid_for_download("late").is_none());
+    assert_eq!(manager.available_permits(), 1);
+    assert_eq!(spawner.remove_uri_calls.load(Ordering::SeqCst), 1);
+
+    dispatcher.abort();
+}
+
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn move_up_down_reorders_pending() {
     use firelink_lib::ipc::QueueDirection;
diff --git a/src/store/useDownloadStore.test.ts b/src/store/useDownloadStore.test.ts
index 3f92fa8..14cb4ab 100644
--- a/src/store/useDownloadStore.test.ts
+++ b/src/store/useDownloadStore.test.ts
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ describe('useDownloadStore', () => {
         { id: '2', url: 'http://test2', fileName: 'f2', destination: '/tmp', status: 'queued', category: 'Other', dateAdded: '', queueId: 'MAIN', hasBeenDispatched: false },
       ] as any[],
       backendRegisteredIds: new Set(['1']), // 1 is already registered, so it skips dispatch
+      pendingOrder: ['1'],
     });
 
     vi.mocked(ipc.invokeCommand).mockImplementation(async (cmd: string) => {
@@ -134,6 +135,28 @@ describe('useDownloadStore', () => {
     expect((enqueues[0] as any)[1].item.id).toBe('2');
   });
 
+  it('repairs stale queued backend registrations before accepting a queue start', async () => {
+    useDownloadStore.setState({
+      downloads: [
+        { id: 'stale', url: 'http://test', fileName: 'f', destination: '/tmp', status: 'queued', category: 'Other', dateAdded: '', queueId: 'MAIN', hasBeenDispatched: true },
+      ] as any[],
+      backendRegisteredIds: new Set(['stale']),
+      pendingOrder: [],
+    });
+
+    vi.mocked(ipc.invokeCommand).mockImplementation(async (cmd: string) => {
+      if (cmd === 'resume_download') return false;
+      if (cmd === 'get_pending_order') return ['stale'];
+      return undefined;
+    });
+
+    expect(await useDownloadStore.getState().startQueue('MAIN')).toEqual(['stale']);
+
+    const calls = vi.mocked(ipc.invokeCommand).mock.calls;
+    expect(calls.some(call => call[0] === 'resume_download')).toBe(true);
+    expect(calls.some(call => call[0] === 'enqueue_download')).toBe(true);
+  });
+
   it('does not overwrite a downloading event received while starting a queue', async () => {
     useDownloadStore.setState({
       downloads: [
diff --git a/src/store/useDownloadStore.ts b/src/store/useDownloadStore.ts
index 81c70ee..429eace 100644
--- a/src/store/useDownloadStore.ts
+++ b/src/store/useDownloadStore.ts
@@ -625,12 +625,22 @@ export const useDownloadStore = create<DownloadState>((set, get) => ({
 
     const acceptedIds: string[] = [];
     for (const item of runnable) {
+      const backendRegistered = get().backendRegisteredIds.has(item.id);
+      const backendPending = get().pendingOrder.includes(item.id);
+
+      if (item.status === 'queued' && backendRegistered && !backendPending) {
+        if (await get().resumeDownload(item.id)) {
+          acceptedIds.push(item.id);
+        }
+        continue;
+      }
+
       if (
         item.status === 'ready' ||
         item.status === 'staged' ||
         item.status === 'failed' ||
         !item.hasBeenDispatched ||
-        !get().backendRegisteredIds.has(item.id)
+        !backendRegistered
       ) {
         if (await dispatchItem(item.id)) {
           const current = get().downloads.find(download => download.id === item.id);