diff --git a/crates/ecstore/src/core/pools.rs b/crates/ecstore/src/core/pools.rs
index 4ca460c20..97edf02e5 100644
--- a/crates/ecstore/src/core/pools.rs
+++ b/crates/ecstore/src/core/pools.rs
@@ -1120,6 +1120,48 @@ fn rollback_decommission_pool_meta(pool_meta: &mut PoolMeta, previous_pool_meta:
     *pool_meta = previous_pool_meta;
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug)]
+struct DecommissionCancelCommit {
+    previous_start_time: Option<OffsetDateTime>,
+    previous_queued: bool,
+    previous_last_update: OffsetDateTime,
+    canceled_pool: PoolStatus,
+}
+
+fn commit_decommission_cancel(pool_meta: &mut PoolMeta, idx: usize, commit: DecommissionCancelCommit) -> Result<()> {
+    let pool_count = pool_meta.pools.len();
+    let Some(current) = pool_meta.pools.get(idx) else {
+        return Err(invalid_decommission_pool_index_error(pool_count, idx));
+    };
+    // A peer reload can install the saved cancel while runtime-only fields are reconstructed.
+    let cancel_already_published = commit
+        .canceled_pool
+        .decommission
+        .as_ref()
+        .is_some_and(|info| info.canceled && !info.complete && !info.failed && info.start_time.is_none())
+        && PersistedPoolStatus::from(current) == PersistedPoolStatus::from(&commit.canceled_pool);
+    if cancel_already_published {
+        return Ok(());
+    }
+
+    let matches_generation = current.id == commit.canceled_pool.id
+        && current.cmd_line == commit.canceled_pool.cmd_line
+        && current.decommission.as_ref().is_some_and(|info| {
+            info.start_time == commit.previous_start_time
+                && info.queued == commit.previous_queued
+                && is_decommission_active(info.complete, info.failed, info.canceled)
+                && (commit.previous_start_time.is_some() || current.last_update == commit.previous_last_update)
+        });
+    if !matches_generation {
+        return Err(Error::other(format!(
+            "failed to publish decommission cancel for pool {idx}: operation generation changed"
+        )));
+    }
+
+    pool_meta.pools[idx] = commit.canceled_pool;
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 fn rollback_start_decommission_pool_meta(pool_meta: &mut PoolMeta, previous_pool_meta: PoolMeta) {
     rollback_decommission_pool_meta(pool_meta, previous_pool_meta);
 }
@@ -1570,7 +1612,7 @@ struct PersistedPoolMeta {
     pub pools: Vec<PersistedPoolStatus>,
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
 struct PersistedPoolStatus {
     #[serde(rename = "id")]
@@ -1583,7 +1625,7 @@ struct PersistedPoolStatus {
     pub decommission: Option<PersistedPoolDecommissionInfo>,
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
 struct PersistedPoolDecommissionInfo {
     #[serde(rename = "startTime", with = "time::serde::rfc3339::option")]
@@ -3004,14 +3046,156 @@ impl ECStore {
     }
 
     #[tracing::instrument(skip(self))]
-    pub async fn decommission_cancel(&self, idx: usize) -> Result<()> {
+    pub async fn decommission_cancel(self: &Arc<Self>, idx: usize) -> Result<()> {
         self.decommission_cancel_with_owner(idx, None).await
     }
 
-    async fn decommission_cancel_for_operation(&self, idx: usize, owner: &DecommissionCanceler) -> Result<()> {
+    async fn decommission_cancel_for_operation(self: &Arc<Self>, idx: usize, owner: &DecommissionCanceler) -> Result<()> {
         self.decommission_cancel_with_owner(idx, Some(owner)).await
     }
 
+    async fn decommission_cancel_with_owner_and_save<Save, SaveFuture>(
+        self: &Arc<Self>,
+        idx: usize,
+        owner: Option<&DecommissionCanceler>,
+        save_pool_meta: Save,
+    ) -> Result<()>
+    where
+        Save: FnOnce(PoolMeta) -> SaveFuture + Send + 'static,
+        SaveFuture: Future<Output = Result<()>> + Send + 'static,
+    {
+        let store = self.clone();
+        let owner = owner.cloned();
+        // Dropping the RPC waiter detaches this task; the transaction retains
+        // the store and exact owner until persistence is resolved.
+        tokio::spawn(async move { store.decommission_cancel_transaction(idx, owner, save_pool_meta).await })
+            .await
+            .map_err(|err| Error::other(format!("decommission cancel transaction task join error: {err}")))?
+    }
+
+    async fn decommission_cancel_transaction<Save, SaveFuture>(
+        &self,
+        idx: usize,
+        owner: Option<DecommissionCanceler>,
+        save_pool_meta: Save,
+    ) -> Result<()>
+    where
+        Save: FnOnce(PoolMeta) -> SaveFuture,
+        SaveFuture: Future<Output = Result<()>>,
+    {
+        let owner = owner.as_ref();
+        ensure_decommission_terminal_operation_supported(self.single_pool(), "cancel decommission")?;
+        let _start_guard = self.start_gate.lock().await;
+        let operation_gate = self.ctx.decommission_operation_gate();
+        let operation_guard = operation_gate.write().await;
+        let save_guard = self.pool_meta_save_gate.lock().await;
+
+        // Lock order: start gate, operation gate, save gate,
+        // decommission_cancelers, then pool_meta. The state guards stay held
+        // across persistence so publication and owner termination are
+        // synchronous once the save reports success.
+        let mut cancelers = self.decommission_cancelers.write().await;
+        let mut pool_meta = self.pool_meta.write().await;
+        let (pending, should_reload_pool_meta, already_canceled, terminal_canceler) = {
+            let mut already_canceled = false;
+            let (pool_present, decommission_present, terminal) = if let Some(pool) = pool_meta.pools.get(idx) {
+                if let Some(info) = pool.decommission.as_ref() {
+                    already_canceled = info.canceled;
+                    (
+                        true,
+                        info.has_decommission_state(),
+                        should_reject_decommission_cancel_as_terminal(info.complete, info.failed),
+                    )
+                } else {
+                    (true, false, false)
+                }
+            } else {
+                (false, false, false)
+            };
+
+            ensure_decommission_cancel_allowed(pool_present, decommission_present, terminal)?;
+            let previous_pool = pool_meta
+                .pools
+                .get(idx)
+                .cloned()
+                .ok_or_else(|| invalid_decommission_pool_index_error(pool_meta.pools.len(), idx))?;
+            let previous_decommission = previous_pool
+                .decommission
+                .as_ref()
+                .ok_or_else(|| decommission_metadata_not_initialized_error("cancel decommission"))?;
+            let mut snapshot = pool_meta.clone();
+            let Some(changed) = update_decommission_for_operation(cancelers.as_slice(), &mut snapshot, idx, owner, |pool_meta| {
+                pool_meta.decommission_cancel(idx)
+            }) else {
+                return Ok(());
+            };
+            let pending = if changed {
+                let canceled_pool = snapshot
+                    .pools
+                    .get(idx)
+                    .cloned()
+                    .ok_or_else(|| invalid_decommission_pool_index_error(pool_meta.pools.len(), idx))?;
+                Some((
+                    snapshot,
+                    DecommissionCancelCommit {
+                        previous_start_time: previous_decommission.start_time,
+                        previous_queued: previous_decommission.queued,
+                        previous_last_update: previous_pool.last_update,
+                        canceled_pool,
+                    },
+                ))
+            } else {
+                None
+            };
+            let terminal_canceler = if let Some(owner) = owner {
+                Some(owner.clone())
+            } else {
+                cancelers.get(idx).and_then(Option::as_ref).cloned()
+            };
+            (
+                pending,
+                should_retry_decommission_cancel_reload(changed, already_canceled),
+                already_canceled,
+                terminal_canceler,
+            )
+        };
+        let active_worker = terminal_canceler.as_ref().is_some_and(DecommissionCanceler::is_active);
+        if !active_worker && !already_canceled {
+            warn!(
+                event = EVENT_DECOMMISSION_STATE,
+                component = LOG_COMPONENT_ECSTORE,
+                subsystem = LOG_SUBSYSTEM_POOLS,
+                pool_index = idx,
+                state = "cancel_skipped",
+                reason = "no_active_canceler",
+                "Decommission cancel skipped"
+            );
+        }
+
+        let commit_result = if let Some((snapshot, commit)) = pending {
+            save_pool_meta(snapshot).await?;
+            commit_decommission_cancel(&mut pool_meta, idx, commit)
+        } else {
+            Ok(())
+        };
+
+        if let Some(canceler) = terminal_canceler.as_ref() {
+            take_and_cancel_decommission_canceler_for_operation(cancelers.as_mut_slice(), idx, canceler);
+        }
+        commit_result?;
+        drop(pool_meta);
+        drop(cancelers);
+        drop(save_guard);
+        drop(operation_guard);
+
+        if should_reload_pool_meta && let Some(notification_sys) = runtime_sources::notification_sys() {
+            let stage = format!("decommission_cancel for pool {idx}");
+            resolve_decommission_pool_meta_reload_result(notification_sys.reload_pool_meta().await, stage.as_str())?;
+        }
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     async fn release_decommission_canceler_slot(&self, idx: usize, owner: &DecommissionCanceler) {
         let mut cancelers = self.decommission_cancelers.write().await;
         take_and_cancel_decommission_canceler_for_operation(cancelers.as_mut_slice(), idx, owner);
@@ -3039,7 +3223,11 @@ impl ECStore {
         retryable
     }
 
-    async fn retry_decommission_cancel_for_operation(&self, idx: usize, owner: &DecommissionCanceler) {
+    async fn retry_decommission_cancel_for_operation(self: &Arc<Self>, idx: usize, owner: &DecommissionCanceler) {
+        if !self.decommission_terminal_retryable_for_operation(idx, owner).await {
+            return;
+        }
+
         let mut attempt = 0usize;
         loop {
             let Err(err) = self.decommission_cancel_for_operation(idx, owner).await else {
@@ -3089,87 +3277,10 @@ impl ECStore {
         }
     }
 
-    async fn decommission_cancel_with_owner(&self, idx: usize, owner: Option<&DecommissionCanceler>) -> Result<()> {
-        ensure_decommission_terminal_operation_supported(self.single_pool(), "cancel decommission")?;
-        let _start_guard = self.start_gate.lock().await;
-
-        // Lock order: decommission_cancelers before pool_meta. Holding both makes
-        // owner validation and the terminal transition one atomic operation.
-        let (should_save_pool_meta, should_reload_pool_meta, already_canceled, previous_pool_meta, terminal_canceler) = {
-            let cancelers = self.decommission_cancelers.read().await;
-            let mut lock = self.pool_meta.write().await;
-            let mut already_canceled = false;
-            let (pool_present, decommission_present, terminal) = if let Some(pool) = lock.pools.get(idx) {
-                if let Some(info) = pool.decommission.as_ref() {
-                    already_canceled = info.canceled;
-                    (
-                        true,
-                        info.has_decommission_state(),
-                        should_reject_decommission_cancel_as_terminal(info.complete, info.failed),
-                    )
-                } else {
-                    (true, false, false)
-                }
-            } else {
-                (false, false, false)
-            };
-
-            ensure_decommission_cancel_allowed(pool_present, decommission_present, terminal)?;
-            let previous_pool_meta = lock.clone();
-            let Some(changed) = update_decommission_for_operation(cancelers.as_slice(), &mut lock, idx, owner, |pool_meta| {
-                pool_meta.decommission_cancel(idx)
-            }) else {
-                return Ok(());
-            };
-            let terminal_canceler = if let Some(owner) = owner {
-                Some(owner.clone())
-            } else {
-                cancelers.get(idx).and_then(Option::as_ref).cloned()
-            };
-            if let Some(canceler) = terminal_canceler.as_ref() {
-                canceler.cancel();
-            }
-            (
-                changed,
-                should_retry_decommission_cancel_reload(changed, already_canceled),
-                already_canceled,
-                changed.then_some(previous_pool_meta),
-                terminal_canceler,
-            )
-        };
-        let canceled_worker = terminal_canceler.as_ref().is_some_and(DecommissionCanceler::is_active);
-        if !canceled_worker && !already_canceled {
-            warn!(
-                event = EVENT_DECOMMISSION_STATE,
-                component = LOG_COMPONENT_ECSTORE,
-                subsystem = LOG_SUBSYSTEM_POOLS,
-                pool_index = idx,
-                state = "cancel_skipped",
-                reason = "no_active_canceler",
-                "Decommission cancel skipped"
-            );
-        }
-
-        self.wait_for_decommission_side_effects().await;
-
-        if should_save_pool_meta && let Err(err) = self.save_current_pool_meta().await {
-            if let Some(previous_pool_meta) = previous_pool_meta {
-                let mut pool_meta = self.pool_meta.write().await;
-                rollback_decommission_pool_meta(&mut pool_meta, previous_pool_meta);
-            }
-            return Err(err);
-        }
-
-        if let Some(canceler) = terminal_canceler.as_ref() {
-            self.release_decommission_canceler_slot(idx, canceler).await;
-        }
-
-        if should_reload_pool_meta && let Some(notification_sys) = runtime_sources::notification_sys() {
-            let stage = format!("decommission_cancel for pool {idx}");
-            resolve_decommission_pool_meta_reload_result(notification_sys.reload_pool_meta().await, stage.as_str())?;
-        }
-
-        Ok(())
+    async fn decommission_cancel_with_owner(self: &Arc<Self>, idx: usize, owner: Option<&DecommissionCanceler>) -> Result<()> {
+        let pools = self.pools.clone();
+        self.decommission_cancel_with_owner_and_save(idx, owner, move |snapshot| async move { snapshot.save(pools).await })
+            .await
     }
 
     #[tracing::instrument(skip(self))]
@@ -9645,6 +9756,525 @@ mod pools_tests {
         assert!(store.decommission_cancelers.read().await.iter().all(Option::is_none));
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_decommission_cancel_save_failure_preserves_generation_and_token_until_retry() {
+        let generation = OffsetDateTime::UNIX_EPOCH;
+        let canceler = DecommissionCanceler::new(CancellationToken::new());
+        let pool_meta = PoolMeta {
+            version: super::POOL_META_VERSION,
+            pools: vec![decommission_test_pool_status(
+                0,
+                Some(PoolDecommissionInfo {
+                    start_time: Some(generation),
+                    ..Default::default()
+                }),
+            )],
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        let store = decommission_worker_test_store(pool_meta, vec![Some(canceler.clone())]);
+
+        let err = store
+            .decommission_cancel_with_owner_and_save(0, Some(&canceler), |_| async { Err(Error::Timeout) })
+            .await
+            .expect_err("injected pool metadata timeout should fail cancel");
+        assert!(matches!(err, Error::Timeout));
+
+        {
+            let pool_meta = store.pool_meta.read().await;
+            let info = pool_meta.pools[0]
+                .decommission
+                .as_ref()
+                .expect("failed cancel must retain decommission metadata");
+            assert_eq!(info.start_time, Some(generation));
+            assert!(!info.canceled);
+            assert!(!info.complete);
+            assert!(!info.failed);
+            assert!(ensure_decommission_generation(&pool_meta, 0, generation).is_ok());
+        }
+        {
+            let cancelers = store.decommission_cancelers.read().await;
+            let current = cancelers[0].as_ref().expect("failed cancel must retain the worker owner");
+            assert!(current.owns_same_operation(&canceler));
+            assert!(current.is_active());
+        }
+        assert!(!canceler.is_cancelled());
+        assert!(store.decommission_terminal_retryable_for_operation(0, &canceler).await);
+
+        let persisted = Arc::new(std::sync::Mutex::new(None));
+        let persisted_for_save = persisted.clone();
+        store
+            .decommission_cancel_with_owner_and_save(0, Some(&canceler), move |snapshot| async move {
+                let data = snapshot.encode_config_data()?;
+                *persisted_for_save
+                    .lock()
+                    .expect("persisted snapshot lock should not be poisoned") = Some(data);
+                Ok(())
+            })
+            .await
+            .expect("cancel retry should commit");
+
+        {
+            let pool_meta = store.pool_meta.read().await;
+            let info = pool_meta.pools[0]
+                .decommission
+                .as_ref()
+                .expect("committed cancel metadata should remain present");
+            assert!(info.canceled);
+            assert!(!info.complete);
+            assert!(!info.failed);
+            assert!(info.start_time.is_none());
+        }
+        assert!(store.decommission_cancelers.read().await[0].is_none());
+        assert!(!canceler.is_active());
+        assert!(canceler.is_cancelled());
+
+        let repeated_save_called = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
+        let repeated_save_called_by_closure = repeated_save_called.clone();
+        store
+            .decommission_cancel_with_owner_and_save(0, None, move |_| async move {
+                repeated_save_called_by_closure.store(true, Ordering::SeqCst);
+                Ok(())
+            })
+            .await
+            .expect("repeated cancel should be idempotent");
+        assert!(!repeated_save_called.load(Ordering::SeqCst));
+
+        let persisted = persisted
+            .lock()
+            .expect("persisted snapshot lock should not be poisoned")
+            .take()
+            .expect("successful retry should capture persisted bytes");
+        let mut restarted = PoolMeta::default();
+        restarted
+            .load_from_config_data(persisted)
+            .expect("a restarted process should decode the committed cancel");
+        assert!(
+            restarted.pools[0]
+                .decommission
+                .as_ref()
+                .is_some_and(|info| info.canceled && info.start_time.is_none())
+        );
+        assert!(first_resumable_decommission_queue_indices(&restarted).is_empty());
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_decommission_cancel_serializes_reload_until_local_commit() {
+        let generation = OffsetDateTime::UNIX_EPOCH;
+        let canceler = DecommissionCanceler::new(CancellationToken::new());
+        let pool_meta = PoolMeta {
+            version: super::POOL_META_VERSION,
+            pools: vec![decommission_test_pool_status(
+                0,
+                Some(PoolDecommissionInfo {
+                    start_time: Some(generation),
+                    stage: "migrate_object".to_string(),
+                    ..Default::default()
+                }),
+            )],
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        let store = decommission_worker_test_store(pool_meta, vec![Some(canceler.clone())]);
+        let (persisted_tx, persisted_rx) = tokio::sync::oneshot::channel();
+        let save_release = Arc::new(tokio::sync::Notify::new());
+
+        let cancel = tokio::spawn({
+            let store = store.clone();
+            let canceler = canceler.clone();
+            let save_release = save_release.clone();
+            async move {
+                store
+                    .decommission_cancel_with_owner_and_save(0, Some(&canceler), move |snapshot| async move {
+                        persisted_tx
+                            .send(snapshot.encode_config_data()?)
+                            .map_err(|_| Error::other("failed to expose saved cancel snapshot"))?;
+                        save_release.notified().await;
+                        Ok(())
+                    })
+                    .await
+            }
+        });
+        let persisted = persisted_rx.await.expect("save should expose the canceled snapshot");
+        let reload_started = Arc::new(tokio::sync::Notify::new());
+        let reload = tokio::spawn({
+            let store = store.clone();
+            let reload_started = reload_started.clone();
+            async move {
+                let mut reloaded = PoolMeta::default();
+                reloaded.load_from_config_data(persisted)?;
+                reload_started.notify_one();
+                *store.pool_meta.write().await = reloaded;
+                Ok::<(), Error>(())
+            }
+        });
+        reload_started.notified().await;
+        assert!(!reload.is_finished(), "peer reload must wait for cancel publication");
+
+        save_release.notify_one();
+        cancel
+            .await
+            .expect("cancel task should not panic")
+            .expect("cancel should commit before releasing the reload");
+        reload
+            .await
+            .expect("reload task should not panic")
+            .expect("reload should install the saved cancel after publication");
+
+        let pool_meta = store.pool_meta.read().await;
+        let info = pool_meta.pools[0]
+            .decommission
+            .as_ref()
+            .expect("reloaded cancel metadata should remain present");
+        assert!(info.canceled);
+        assert!(!info.complete);
+        assert!(!info.failed);
+        assert!(info.start_time.is_none());
+        assert!(info.stage.is_empty(), "the persisted snapshot should have been decoded before commit");
+        drop(pool_meta);
+        assert!(store.decommission_cancelers.read().await[0].is_none());
+        assert!(!canceler.is_active());
+        assert!(canceler.is_cancelled());
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_decommission_cancel_transaction_survives_caller_abort_after_durable_save() {
+        let generation = OffsetDateTime::UNIX_EPOCH;
+        let canceler = DecommissionCanceler::new(CancellationToken::new());
+        let pool_meta = PoolMeta {
+            pools: vec![decommission_test_pool_status(
+                0,
+                Some(PoolDecommissionInfo {
+                    start_time: Some(generation),
+                    ..Default::default()
+                }),
+            )],
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        let store = decommission_worker_test_store(pool_meta, vec![Some(canceler.clone())]);
+        let persisted = Arc::new(std::sync::Mutex::new(None));
+        let (durable_tx, durable_rx) = tokio::sync::oneshot::channel();
+        let save_release = Arc::new(tokio::sync::Notify::new());
+        let cancel = tokio::spawn({
+            let store = store.clone();
+            let canceler = canceler.clone();
+            let persisted = persisted.clone();
+            let save_release = save_release.clone();
+            async move {
+                store
+                    .decommission_cancel_with_owner_and_save(0, Some(&canceler), move |snapshot| async move {
+                        assert!(
+                            snapshot.pools[0]
+                                .decommission
+                                .as_ref()
+                                .is_some_and(|info| info.canceled && info.start_time.is_none())
+                        );
+                        *persisted.lock().expect("persisted cancel lock should not be poisoned") =
+                            Some(snapshot.encode_config_data()?);
+                        durable_tx
+                            .send(())
+                            .map_err(|_| Error::other("failed to report durable cancel snapshot"))?;
+                        save_release.notified().await;
+                        Ok(())
+                    })
+                    .await
+            }
+        });
+        durable_rx.await.expect("save hook should report the durable cancel snapshot");
+        cancel.abort();
+        let join_err = cancel.await.expect_err("caller cancel future should be aborted");
+        assert!(join_err.is_cancelled());
+        assert!(
+            store.pool_meta.try_read().is_err(),
+            "the detached transaction must retain its state guard"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            store.decommission_cancelers.try_read().is_err(),
+            "the detached transaction must retain its owner guard"
+        );
+
+        save_release.notify_one();
+        tokio::time::timeout(StdDuration::from_secs(1), canceler.token().cancelled())
+            .await
+            .expect("detached cancel transaction should terminate the old token");
+
+        let persisted = persisted
+            .lock()
+            .expect("persisted cancel lock should not be poisoned")
+            .take()
+            .expect("save should capture the durable cancel snapshot");
+        let mut durable = PoolMeta::default();
+        durable
+            .load_from_config_data(persisted)
+            .expect("durable cancel snapshot should decode");
+        assert!(
+            durable.pools[0]
+                .decommission
+                .as_ref()
+                .is_some_and(|info| info.canceled && info.start_time.is_none())
+        );
+        assert!(store.decommission_cancelers.read().await[0].is_none());
+        assert!(!canceler.is_active());
+        assert!(canceler.is_cancelled());
+
+        let side_effect_ran = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
+        let operation_gate = store.ctx.decommission_operation_gate();
+        let result = run_decommission_side_effect(canceler.token(), &operation_gate, {
+            let side_effect_ran = side_effect_ran.clone();
+            move || async move {
+                side_effect_ran.store(true, Ordering::SeqCst);
+                Ok(())
+            }
+        })
+        .await;
+        assert!(matches!(result, Err(Error::OperationCanceled)));
+        assert!(!side_effect_ran.load(Ordering::SeqCst));
+        assert!(
+            store.pool_meta.read().await.pools[0]
+                .decommission
+                .as_ref()
+                .is_some_and(|info| info.canceled && !info.failed)
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_decommission_cancel_quiesces_and_publishes_only_after_save() {
+        let generation = OffsetDateTime::UNIX_EPOCH;
+        let canceler = DecommissionCanceler::new(CancellationToken::new());
+        let pool_meta = PoolMeta {
+            pools: vec![decommission_test_pool_status(
+                0,
+                Some(PoolDecommissionInfo {
+                    start_time: Some(generation),
+                    ..Default::default()
+                }),
+            )],
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        let store = decommission_worker_test_store(pool_meta, vec![Some(canceler.clone())]);
+        let operation_gate = store.ctx.decommission_operation_gate();
+        let side_effect = operation_gate.read().await;
+        let save_started = Arc::new(tokio::sync::Notify::new());
+        let save_release = Arc::new(tokio::sync::Notify::new());
+        let save_entered = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
+
+        let mut cancel = tokio::spawn({
+            let store = store.clone();
+            let canceler = canceler.clone();
+            let save_started = save_started.clone();
+            let save_release = save_release.clone();
+            let save_entered = save_entered.clone();
+            async move {
+                store
+                    .decommission_cancel_with_owner_and_save(0, Some(&canceler), move |_| async move {
+                        save_entered.store(true, Ordering::SeqCst);
+                        save_started.notify_one();
+                        save_release.notified().await;
+                        Ok(())
+                    })
+                    .await
+            }
+        });
+
+        let mut cancel_holds_start_gate = false;
+        for _ in 0..100 {
+            if store.start_gate.try_lock().is_err() {
+                cancel_holds_start_gate = true;
+                break;
+            }
+            tokio::task::yield_now().await;
+        }
+        assert!(cancel_holds_start_gate, "cancel should reach the operation-gate wait");
+        assert!(!cancel.is_finished(), "cancel must wait for the in-flight side effect");
+        assert!(!save_entered.load(Ordering::SeqCst), "cancel must quiesce side effects before saving");
+        {
+            let pool_meta = store.pool_meta.read().await;
+            assert!(ensure_decommission_generation(&pool_meta, 0, generation).is_ok());
+        }
+        assert!(!canceler.is_cancelled());
+
+        drop(side_effect);
+        tokio::time::timeout(StdDuration::from_secs(1), save_started.notified())
+            .await
+            .expect("cancel should reach the injected save after side effects quiesce");
+        assert!(
+            store.pool_meta_save_gate.try_lock().is_err(),
+            "the cancel save must exclude stale full-document saves until publication"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            store.pool_meta.try_read().is_err(),
+            "the active generation must stay write-locked through persistence"
+        );
+        assert!(!canceler.is_cancelled(), "the token must remain live until persistence commits");
+
+        let mut complete = tokio::spawn({
+            let store = store.clone();
+            async move { store.complete_decommission(0).await }
+        });
+        let mut fail = tokio::spawn({
+            let store = store.clone();
+            async move { store.decommission_failed(0).await }
+        });
+        tokio::task::yield_now().await;
+        assert!(!complete.is_finished(), "complete must serialize behind the pending cancel");
+        assert!(!fail.is_finished(), "fail must serialize behind the pending cancel");
+
+        save_release.notify_one();
+        tokio::time::timeout(StdDuration::from_secs(1), &mut cancel)
+            .await
+            .expect("cancel should finish after persistence commits")
+            .expect("cancel task should not panic")
+            .expect("cancel should commit");
+        tokio::time::timeout(StdDuration::from_secs(1), &mut complete)
+            .await
+            .expect("complete should finish after cancel commits")
+            .expect("complete task should not panic")
+            .expect("stale complete should be a no-op");
+        tokio::time::timeout(StdDuration::from_secs(1), &mut fail)
+            .await
+            .expect("fail should finish after cancel commits")
+            .expect("fail task should not panic")
+            .expect("stale fail should be a no-op");
+
+        let pool_meta = store.pool_meta.read().await;
+        let info = pool_meta.pools[0]
+            .decommission
+            .as_ref()
+            .expect("cancel metadata should remain present");
+        assert!(info.canceled);
+        assert!(!info.complete);
+        assert!(!info.failed);
+        assert!(info.start_time.is_none());
+        drop(pool_meta);
+        assert!(canceler.is_cancelled());
+        assert!(!canceler.is_active());
+        assert!(store.decommission_cancelers.read().await[0].is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_decommission_cancel_commit_rejects_a_replaced_generation() {
+        let old_generation = OffsetDateTime::UNIX_EPOCH;
+        let new_generation = old_generation + Duration::seconds(1);
+        let mut canceled = PoolMeta {
+            pools: vec![decommission_test_pool_status(
+                0,
+                Some(PoolDecommissionInfo {
+                    start_time: Some(old_generation),
+                    ..Default::default()
+                }),
+            )],
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        let previous_last_update = canceled.pools[0].last_update;
+        assert!(canceled.decommission_cancel(0));
+        let canceled_pool = canceled.pools.remove(0);
+        let commit = super::DecommissionCancelCommit {
+            previous_start_time: Some(old_generation),
+            previous_queued: false,
+            previous_last_update,
+            canceled_pool,
+        };
+        let mut current = PoolMeta {
+            pools: vec![decommission_test_pool_status(
+                0,
+                Some(PoolDecommissionInfo {
+                    start_time: Some(new_generation),
+                    ..Default::default()
+                }),
+            )],
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+
+        let err = super::commit_decommission_cancel(&mut current, 0, commit)
+            .expect_err("an old cancel must not publish over a replacement generation");
+        assert!(err.to_string().contains("operation generation changed"));
+        let info = current.pools[0]
+            .decommission
+            .as_ref()
+            .expect("replacement generation should remain present");
+        assert_eq!(info.start_time, Some(new_generation));
+        assert!(!info.canceled);
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_decommission_cancel_rejects_stale_retry_after_queued_replacement() {
+        let old_generation = OffsetDateTime::UNIX_EPOCH;
+        let canceler = DecommissionCanceler::new(CancellationToken::new());
+        let pool_meta = PoolMeta {
+            pools: vec![decommission_test_pool_status(
+                0,
+                Some(PoolDecommissionInfo {
+                    start_time: Some(old_generation),
+                    ..Default::default()
+                }),
+            )],
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        let store = decommission_worker_test_store(pool_meta, vec![Some(canceler.clone())]);
+        let queued_replacement = Arc::new(std::sync::Mutex::new(None));
+        let queued_replacement_for_save = queued_replacement.clone();
+
+        store
+            .decommission_cancel_with_owner_and_save(0, Some(&canceler), move |snapshot| async move {
+                let saved_cancel = snapshot.pools[0]
+                    .decommission
+                    .as_ref()
+                    .expect("saved snapshot should contain decommission metadata");
+                assert!(saved_cancel.canceled);
+                assert!(saved_cancel.start_time.is_none());
+                let mut queued_replacement = snapshot.clone();
+                let replacement = queued_replacement
+                    .pools
+                    .get_mut(0)
+                    .expect("cancel snapshot should contain the pool");
+                replacement.last_update += Duration::seconds(1);
+                let info = replacement
+                    .decommission
+                    .as_mut()
+                    .expect("cancel snapshot should contain decommission metadata");
+                info.canceled = false;
+                info.queued = true;
+                *queued_replacement_for_save
+                    .lock()
+                    .expect("queued replacement lock should not be poisoned") = Some(queued_replacement);
+                Ok(())
+            })
+            .await
+            .expect("cancel should commit before a queued replacement is installed");
+        assert!(store.decommission_cancelers.read().await[0].is_none());
+        assert!(!canceler.is_active());
+        assert!(canceler.is_cancelled());
+
+        let queued_replacement = queued_replacement
+            .lock()
+            .expect("queued replacement lock should not be poisoned")
+            .take()
+            .expect("save should prepare the queued replacement");
+        *store.pool_meta.write().await = queued_replacement;
+
+        let replacement_revision = {
+            let pool_meta = store.pool_meta.read().await;
+            let info = pool_meta.pools[0]
+                .decommission
+                .as_ref()
+                .expect("queued replacement should remain present");
+            assert!(info.queued);
+            assert!(!info.canceled);
+            assert!(info.start_time.is_none());
+            pool_meta.pools[0].last_update
+        };
+
+        store.retry_decommission_cancel_for_operation(0, &canceler).await;
+
+        let pool_meta = store.pool_meta.read().await;
+        let info = pool_meta.pools[0]
+            .decommission
+            .as_ref()
+            .expect("stale retry must preserve the queued replacement");
+        assert_eq!(pool_meta.pools[0].last_update, replacement_revision);
+        assert!(info.queued);
+        assert!(!info.canceled);
+        assert!(info.start_time.is_none());
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_decommission_failed_save_failure_preserves_owner_until_retry_succeeds() {
         let canceler = DecommissionCanceler::new(CancellationToken::new());