diff --git a/docs/PROTOCOL.md b/docs/PROTOCOL.md
index 229f69a..69dbc60 100644
--- a/docs/PROTOCOL.md
+++ b/docs/PROTOCOL.md
@@ -558,9 +558,11 @@ non-seeking state for `EPISODE_SYNC_V2_STABILITY_MS`.
 Any timeout, failed player action, participant departure, manual media command,
 room/target change, or explicit cancellation produces `cancel`; v2 never
 executes after a timeout. Peers resume only when that transaction paused a
-previously playing player and no newer local user action superseded it. Peers
-joining after `start` are excluded from the frozen barrier and receive no v2
-frames for that transaction.
+previously playing player and no newer local or room action superseded it. A
+superseding room command defines the next state without racing a restoration.
+Peers joining after `start` are excluded from the frozen barrier and receive no
+v2 frames for that transaction. Clients revalidate the complete prepared state
+again immediately before applying `execute`.
 
 Legacy episode events remain accepted. A new relay binds their PREPARE, EXECUTE,
 and CANCEL to the accepted lobby initiator, limiting duplicate old-client wire
diff --git a/extension/background.js b/extension/background.js
index 632fc7b..7f3b075 100644
--- a/extension/background.js
+++ b/extension/background.js
@@ -1185,11 +1185,9 @@ async function clearTargetSelectionForLifecycle({
     }
 
     resetUserSelectionState();
-    const cleanupTasks = [clearPendingTarget()];
-    if (previousTabId !== null) {
-        cleanupTasks.push(deactivateTargetTab(previousTabId, previousContentTarget));
-    }
-    await Promise.all(cleanupTasks);
+    // Persist the terminal selection state before any frame messaging or host
+    // permission cleanup can yield. A worker stop or a concurrent new target
+    // must never resurrect the selection this lifecycle transition removed.
     await chrome.storage.session.set({
         currentTabId,
         currentTabTitle,
@@ -1203,6 +1201,12 @@ async function clearTargetSelectionForLifecycle({
         selectionErrorTabId: null,
         selectionErrorMessage: null
     });
+
+    const cleanupTasks = [clearPendingTarget()];
+    if (previousTabId !== null) {
+        cleanupTasks.push(deactivateTargetTab(previousTabId, previousContentTarget));
+    }
+    await Promise.all(cleanupTasks);
     updateBadgeStatus();
     chrome.runtime.sendMessage({ type: 'TARGET_TAB_CLEARED', tabId: clearedTabId }).catch(() => {});
     return true;
diff --git a/extension/content.js b/extension/content.js
index c8b2a15..9acff60 100644
--- a/extension/content.js
+++ b/extension/content.js
@@ -1983,20 +1983,33 @@
                 if (episodeSyncV2State?.transactionId === transaction.transactionId) {
                     const state = episodeSyncV2State;
                     const video = state.video || findVideo();
+                    const current = video ? getSyncCurrentTime(video) : null;
                     const canExecute = video
+                        && state.phase === 'prepare'
                         && video === findVideo()
-                        && sameEpisodeStrict(getMediaTitle(), state.expectedTitle);
+                        && video.isConnected !== false
+                        && sameEpisodeStrict(getMediaTitle(), state.expectedTitle)
+                        && video.paused
+                        && !video.seeking
+                        && video.readyState >= 3
+                        && current !== null
+                        && Math.abs(current) < 1;
                     clearEpisodeSyncV2Content({ resume: false }).catch(() => {});
                     if (canExecute) {
                         Promise.resolve(tryMediaAction(EVENTS.PLAY)).then(applied => {
                             if (applied) scheduleProactiveHeartbeat();
                             else reportLog('Episode Sync v2 execute could not start playback', 'warn');
                         }).catch(() => {});
+                    } else {
+                        reportLog('Episode Sync v2 execute ignored: prepared player state changed', 'warn');
                     }
                 }
             } else if (transaction.phase === 'cancel') {
                 if (episodeSyncV2State?.transactionId === transaction.transactionId) {
-                    clearEpisodeSyncV2Content({ resume: true }).catch(() => {});
+                    // A superseding room command follows this cancellation on
+                    // the same ordered socket. Do not race it with restoration
+                    // of the pre-transaction play state.
+                    clearEpisodeSyncV2Content({ resume: transaction.reason !== 'superseded' }).catch(() => {});
                 }
             }
             sendResponse({ status: 'ok' });
diff --git a/extension/episode-sync-v2.test.mjs b/extension/episode-sync-v2.test.mjs
index b2e3444..f0d7537 100644
--- a/extension/episode-sync-v2.test.mjs
+++ b/extension/episode-sync-v2.test.mjs
@@ -98,6 +98,30 @@ describe('Episode Sync v2 extension contract', () => {
         expect(contentSource).toContain('failEpisodeSyncV2ForManualAction(action)');
     });
 
+    it('does not restore playback ahead of a superseding room command', () => {
+        const handler = between(
+            contentSource,
+            "message.type === 'EPISODE_SYNC_V2'",
+            '// Episode Auto-Sync: Legacy lobby notification from background'
+        );
+        expect(handler).toContain("resume: transaction.reason !== 'superseded'");
+    });
+
+    it('revalidates the complete prepared state immediately before execute', () => {
+        const handler = between(
+            contentSource,
+            "transaction.phase === 'execute'",
+            "transaction.phase === 'cancel'"
+        );
+        expect(handler).toContain("state.phase === 'prepare'");
+        expect(handler).toContain('video === findVideo()');
+        expect(handler).toContain('video.isConnected !== false');
+        expect(handler).toContain('video.paused');
+        expect(handler).toContain('!video.seeking');
+        expect(handler).toContain('video.readyState >= 3');
+        expect(handler).toContain('Math.abs(current) < 1');
+    });
+
     it('injects the shared stability window into packaged content scripts', () => {
         expect(buildSource).toContain('EPISODE_SYNC_V2_STABILITY_MS');
         expect(buildSource).toContain('episodeSyncStabilityVal');
diff --git a/extension/target-tab-lifecycle.test.mjs b/extension/target-tab-lifecycle.test.mjs
index ef967e0..a5b0a6d 100644
--- a/extension/target-tab-lifecycle.test.mjs
+++ b/extension/target-tab-lifecycle.test.mjs
@@ -118,6 +118,8 @@ describe('target tab lifecycle', () => {
         expect(clearSource).toContain('resetUserSelectionState()');
         expect(clearSource).toContain('deactivateTargetTab(previousTabId, previousContentTarget)');
         expect(clearSource).toContain('selectedTabId: null');
+        expect(clearSource.indexOf('selectedTabId: null'))
+            .toBeLessThan(clearSource.indexOf('await Promise.all(cleanupTasks)'));
         expect(clearSource).toContain("type: 'TARGET_TAB_CLEARED'");
         expect(popupSource).toContain("refreshTargetAccessState({ autoSelectMatch: false })");
         expect(popupSource).toContain('if (autoSelectMatch && matchOpt && elements.targetTab.options.length > 1)');