diff --git a/crates/ecstore/src/runtime/sources.rs b/crates/ecstore/src/runtime/sources.rs
index 54150d6ae..f121cffe5 100644
--- a/crates/ecstore/src/runtime/sources.rs
+++ b/crates/ecstore/src/runtime/sources.rs
@@ -602,9 +602,18 @@ pub(crate) async fn initialize_local_disk_maps(
 }
 
 pub(crate) async fn init_tier_config_mgr(store: Arc<ECStore>) -> Result<()> {
-    let handle = get_global_tier_config_mgr();
-    TierConfigMgr::reload_handle(&handle, store.clone()).await?;
-    tokio::spawn(TierConfigMgr::refresh_tier_config_handle(handle, store));
+    init_tier_config_mgr_handle(get_global_tier_config_mgr(), store).await
+}
+
+pub(crate) async fn init_tier_config_mgr_handle(handle: Arc<RwLock<TierConfigMgr>>, store: Arc<ECStore>) -> Result<()> {
+    let initial_reload = TierConfigMgr::reload_handle(&handle, store.clone()).await;
+    // Startup may continue after a transient recovery failure. Its retained
+    // mutation fences still need a worker to consume later commit notifications.
+    tokio::spawn(TierConfigMgr::refresh_tier_config_handle(handle.clone(), store));
+    if initial_reload.is_err() {
+        TierConfigMgr::request_committed_mutation_refresh(&handle).await;
+    }
+    initial_reload?;
     Ok(())
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/ecstore/src/store/init.rs b/crates/ecstore/src/store/init.rs
index 166a90138..e7d1f5b76 100644
--- a/crates/ecstore/src/store/init.rs
+++ b/crates/ecstore/src/store/init.rs
@@ -20362,6 +20362,89 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
+    #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
+    #[tokio::test]
+    #[serial_test::serial(storage_class_env)]
+    async fn tier_config_initial_reload_lock_failure_keeps_recovery_worker() {
+        use crate::storage_api_contracts::namespace::NamespaceLocking as _;
+
+        let temp_dir = tempfile::tempdir().expect("create contended tier startup store dir");
+        let (ctx, store, shutdown) =
+            without_storage_class_env(build_isolated_test_store(temp_dir.path(), "tier-startup-contention", &[4])).await;
+        let manager = ctx.tier_config_mgr();
+        register_mock_tier(&manager, "COLD-A").await;
+        let candidate = TierConfigMgr::new();
+        let candidate = candidate.read().await;
+        let candidate_digest = tier_config_candidate_digest(&candidate).expect("empty candidate digest should resolve");
+        candidate
+            .save_tiering_config(store.clone())
+            .await
+            .expect("committed removal config should persist");
+        let config_info = store
+            .get_object_info(
+                RUSTFS_META_BUCKET,
+                &format!("{}/{TIER_CONFIG_FILE}", com::CONFIG_PREFIX),
+                &ObjectOptions::default(),
+            )
+            .await
+            .expect("committed removal config metadata should load");
+        let mutation_id = uuid::Uuid::new_v4();
+        let mut intent = tier_mutation_peer_test_intent(mutation_id, "COLD-A", candidate_digest);
+        intent.kind = TierMutationIntentKind::Remove;
+        intent.affected_targets[0].new_backend_identity = None;
+        intent
+            .advance(
+                TierMutationIntentState::Committed,
+                Some(config_info.etag.expect("committed config should have an ETag")),
+            )
+            .expect("removal intent should commit");
+        save_tier_mutation_intent_record(store.clone(), &intent)
+            .await
+            .expect("committed removal intent should persist");
+
+        let config_lock = format!("{}/{TIER_CONFIG_FILE}.lock", com::CONFIG_PREFIX);
+        let namespace = store
+            .new_ns_lock(RUSTFS_META_BUCKET, &config_lock)
+            .await
+            .expect("tier config namespace should resolve");
+        let owner = namespace
+            .get_write_lock(crate::set_disk::get_lock_acquire_timeout())
+            .await
+            .expect("competing recovery should hold the config lock");
+        let initial_error = runtime_sources::init_tier_config_mgr_handle(manager.clone(), store.clone())
+            .await
+            .expect_err("startup must still report the initial recovery lock failure");
+        assert!(initial_error.to_string().contains(&config_lock));
+        match TierConfigMgr::acquire_operation_lease(&manager, "COLD-A").await {
+            Err(err) => assert_eq!(err.message, "Remote tier configuration is being replaced"),
+            Ok(_) => panic!("failed initial recovery must retain its mutation fence"),
+        }
+        drop(owner);
+
+        tokio::time::timeout(Duration::from_secs(30), async {
+            loop {
+                if manager.read().await.tiers.is_empty()
+                    && matches!(
+                        TierConfigMgr::acquire_operation_lease(&manager, "COLD-A").await,
+                        Err(err) if err.code == crate::services::tier::tier_handlers::ERR_TIER_NOT_FOUND.code
+                    )
+                {
+                    break;
+                }
+                tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_millis(10)).await;
+            }
+        })
+        .await
+        .expect("recovery worker must publish and clear its fence without another admin mutation");
+        assert_eq!(
+            load_tier_mutation_intent_record(store.clone(), mutation_id)
+                .await
+                .expect("unexpired committed tombstone must remain durable"),
+            intent
+        );
+        shutdown.cancel();
+    }
+
     #[cfg(feature = "test-util")]
     #[tokio::test]
     #[serial_test::serial(storage_class_env)]