diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 5e180832..c0d66e98 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -146,7 +146,6 @@ and adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 ### Fixes
 
 - The Claude Code prompt hook no longer runs on the task-notification messages Claude Code injects when a background agent finishes, removing a multi-second stall on every such turn. (#1832)
-- Projects queried through `projectPath` (a repository other than the server's default, such as an indexed child of an un-indexed workspace) now stay in sync like the default project does: the first call catches up edits made while no server was running, and a file watcher keeps the index current for as long as the project stays open in that session. Up to 8 such projects are kept open per server, the least recently used one is closed when a ninth is opened, and all are closed when the server stops. A project another live server already syncs is left to that server. (#1835)
 
 - Rust calls on `self` now stay with the enclosing type instead of linking to an unrelated type’s same-named method. Thanks @L4XB. (#1861)
 
diff --git a/__tests__/mcp-catchup-gate.test.ts b/__tests__/mcp-catchup-gate.test.ts
index 15f42ec0..dddbaf3f 100644
--- a/__tests__/mcp-catchup-gate.test.ts
+++ b/__tests__/mcp-catchup-gate.test.ts
@@ -63,6 +63,20 @@ describe('MCP catch-up gate', () => {
     expect(res.content[0].text).toMatch(/survivor/);
   });
 
+  it('keeps concurrent calls behind the same unfinished gate', async () => {
+    let release!: () => void;
+    const gate = new Promise<void>((resolve) => { release = resolve; });
+    handler.setCatchUpGate(gate);
+    let completed = 0;
+    const calls = [1, 2].map(() => handler.execute('codegraph_search', { query: 'survivor' })
+      .then((result) => { completed++; return result; }));
+    try {
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 50));
+      expect(completed).toBe(0);
+    } finally { release(); }
+    expect((await Promise.all(calls)).every((result) => !result.isError)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
   it('drops the gate after first await — second call does not re-wait', async () => {
     let awaitCount = 0;
     const gate = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
diff --git a/__tests__/mcp-projectpath-lifecycle.test.ts b/__tests__/mcp-projectpath-lifecycle.test.ts
index dd702aef..4f319099 100644
--- a/__tests__/mcp-projectpath-lifecycle.test.ts
+++ b/__tests__/mcp-projectpath-lifecycle.test.ts
@@ -9,20 +9,23 @@
  * lifecycle the default project gets — a catch-up sync the first call waits
  * for, a watcher while it stays cached — bounded (LRU) and released on stop().
  */
-import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach, afterEach, vi } from 'vitest';
 import * as fs from 'fs';
+import { spawn, ChildProcess } from 'child_process';
 import * as path from 'path';
 import * as os from 'os';
 import CodeGraph from '../src/index';
 import { MCPEngine } from '../src/mcp/engine';
-import { __setLoadCodeGraphForTests } from '../src/mcp/tools';
+import { MAX_CACHED_PROJECTS, __setLoadCodeGraphForTests } from '../src/mcp/tools';
 
 const opened: CodeGraph[] = [];
+let onOpen: ((cg: CodeGraph) => void) | undefined;
 /** CodeGraph that records every instance the ToolHandler opens. */
 class RecordingCodeGraph extends CodeGraph {
   static openSync(projectRoot: string): CodeGraph {
     const cg = CodeGraph.openSync(projectRoot);
     opened.push(cg);
+    onOpen?.(cg);
     return cg;
   }
 }
@@ -49,6 +52,8 @@ describe('MCP explicit projectPath lifecycle (#1835)', () => {
   let serviceA: string;
   let serviceB: string;
   let engine: MCPEngine;
+  const engines: MCPEngine[] = [];
+  const children: ChildProcess[] = [];
   const prevDebounce = process.env.CODEGRAPH_WATCH_DEBOUNCE_MS;
 
   beforeEach(async () => {
@@ -59,20 +64,81 @@ describe('MCP explicit projectPath lifecycle (#1835)', () => {
     await makeProject(serviceB, 'betaOriginal');
     process.env.CODEGRAPH_WATCH_DEBOUNCE_MS = '100';
     opened.length = 0;
+    onOpen = undefined;
     __setLoadCodeGraphForTests(RecordingCodeGraph as unknown as typeof CodeGraph);
     engine = new MCPEngine({ watch: true });
+    engines.push(engine);
     // Two indexed children, none at the root: no default project (#1607).
     await engine.ensureInitialized(workspace);
   });
 
-  afterEach(() => {
-    engine.stop();
+  afterEach(async () => {
+    await Promise.all(engines.splice(0).map((e) => e.stop()));
+    for (const child of children.splice(0)) {
+      if (child.exitCode === null && child.signalCode === null) {
+        const exited = new Promise((resolve) => child.once('exit', resolve));
+        child.kill('SIGTERM');
+        await exited;
+      }
+    }
+    vi.restoreAllMocks();
     __setLoadCodeGraphForTests(null);
     if (prevDebounce === undefined) delete process.env.CODEGRAPH_WATCH_DEBOUNCE_MS;
     else process.env.CODEGRAPH_WATCH_DEBOUNCE_MS = prevDebounce;
     fs.rmSync(workspace, { recursive: true, force: true });
   });
 
+  function names(root: string): string[] {
+    const reader = CodeGraph.openSync(root);
+    try { return reader.getNodesByKind('function').map((n) => n.name); }
+    finally { reader.close(); }
+  }
+
+  async function startOwner(mode: 'direct' | 'daemon', slowCatchUp = false): Promise<ChildProcess> {
+    const modulePath = path.resolve(__dirname, '../dist/mcp');
+    const ownerScript = mode === 'daemon' ? `
+      const { Daemon, tryAcquireDaemonLock } = require(process.argv[1] + '/daemon');
+      const root = process.argv[2];
+      tryAcquireDaemonLock(root);
+      const daemon = new Daemon(root, { idleTimeoutMs: 500 });
+      daemon.start().then(() => { if (!process.env.CG_TEST_HOLD_CATCHUP) process.send('ready'); });
+    ` : `
+      const { MCPEngine } = require(process.argv[1] + '/engine');
+      const engine = new MCPEngine();
+      process.on('SIGTERM', async () => { await engine.stop(); process.exit(0); });
+      engine.ensureInitialized(process.argv[2]).then(async () => {
+        await engine.getToolHandler().execute('codegraph_status', {});
+        if (!process.env.CG_TEST_HOLD_CATCHUP) process.send('ready');
+      });
+    `;
+    const script = `
+      if (process.env.CG_TEST_HOLD_CATCHUP) {
+        const CodeGraph = require(process.argv[1] + '/../index').default;
+        const sync = CodeGraph.prototype.sync;
+        CodeGraph.prototype.sync = async function (...args) {
+          process.send('ready');
+          await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 300));
+          return sync.apply(this, args);
+        };
+      }
+    ` + ownerScript;
+    const child = spawn(process.execPath, ['-e', script, modulePath, serviceA], {
+      stdio: ['ignore', 'pipe', 'pipe', 'ipc'],
+      env: { ...process.env, CODEGRAPH_NO_DAEMON: mode === 'daemon' ? '0' : '1', CODEGRAPH_QUERY_POOL_SIZE: '0', CG_TEST_HOLD_CATCHUP: slowCatchUp ? '1' : '' },
+    });
+    children.push(child);
+    let stderr = '';
+    child.stderr!.on('data', (chunk) => { stderr += String(chunk); });
+    child.stdout!.resume();
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
+      const timer = setTimeout(() => reject(new Error(`Owner did not start: ${stderr}`)), 10000);
+      child.once('message', () => { clearTimeout(timer); resolve(); });
+      child.once('error', (err) => { clearTimeout(timer); reject(err); });
+      child.once('exit', () => { clearTimeout(timer); reject(new Error(`Owner exited: ${stderr}`)); });
+    });
+    return child;
+  }
+
   async function search(projectPath: string, symbol: string): Promise<string> {
     const res = await engine.getToolHandler().execute('codegraph_search', { query: symbol, projectPath });
     expect(res.isError).toBeFalsy();
@@ -84,6 +150,8 @@ describe('MCP explicit projectPath lifecycle (#1835)', () => {
     fs.writeFileSync(path.join(serviceA, 'src', 'sample.ts'), 'export function alphaRenamed() { return 1; }\n');
     const first = await search(serviceA, 'alphaRenamed');
     expect(first).toContain('alphaRenamed');
+    expect(names(serviceA)).toContain('alphaRenamed');
+    expect(names(serviceA)).not.toContain('alphaOriginal');
     expect(first).not.toContain('alphaOriginal');
     expect(opened).toHaveLength(1);
     expect(opened[0].isWatching()).toBe(true);
@@ -91,11 +159,11 @@ describe('MCP explicit projectPath lifecycle (#1835)', () => {
 
     // Edited while the project stays cached — the watcher path.
     fs.writeFileSync(path.join(serviceA, 'src', 'sample.ts'), 'export function alphaWatched() { return 1; }\n');
-    const seen = await waitFor(async () => (await search(serviceA, 'alphaWatched')).includes('alphaWatched'), 10000);
+    const seen = await waitFor(async () => names(serviceA).includes('alphaWatched'), 10000);
     expect(seen).toBe(true);
   });
 
-  it('keeps one watched instance per canonical root and closes it on stop()', async () => {
+  it.runIf(process.platform !== 'win32')('keeps one watched instance per canonical root and closes it on stop()', async () => {
     const link = path.join(workspace, 'link-to-b');
     fs.symlinkSync(serviceB, link, 'dir');
     expect(await search(serviceB, 'betaOriginal')).toContain('betaOriginal');
@@ -105,7 +173,7 @@ describe('MCP explicit projectPath lifecycle (#1835)', () => {
     expect(opened[0].isWatching()).toBe(true);
     expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(serviceB, '.codegraph', 'writer.pid'))).toBe(true);
 
-    engine.stop();
+    await engine.stop();
     expect(opened[0].isWatching()).toBe(false);
     expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(serviceB, '.codegraph', 'writer.pid'))).toBe(false);
     expect(() => opened[0].getStats()).toThrow();
@@ -119,9 +187,197 @@ describe('MCP explicit projectPath lifecycle (#1835)', () => {
     expect(await search(serviceB, 'betaOriginal')).toContain('betaOriginal');
     expect(opened).toHaveLength(1);
     expect(opened[0].isWatching()).toBe(false);
-    engine.stop();
+    await engine.stop();
     // Not ours — left in place.
     expect(fs.readFileSync(path.join(serviceB, '.codegraph', 'writer.pid'), 'utf8')).toContain(String(process.ppid));
     fs.unlinkSync(path.join(serviceB, '.codegraph', 'writer.pid'));
   });
+
+  it('catches up both children without selecting a default', async () => {
+    for (const [root, symbol] of [[serviceA, 'alphaNew'], [serviceB, 'betaNew']]) {
+      fs.writeFileSync(path.join(root!, 'src/sample.ts'), `export function ${symbol}() {}\n`);
+      await search(root!, symbol!);
+      expect(names(root!)).toEqual([symbol]);
+    }
+    expect(engine.hasDefaultCodeGraph()).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('shares the catch-up gate across concurrent calls and engines', async () => {
+    let release!: () => void;
+    const held = new Promise<void>((resolve) => { release = resolve; });
+    onOpen = (cg) => {
+      const sync = cg.sync.bind(cg);
+      vi.spyOn(cg, 'sync').mockImplementation(async (...args) => { await held; return sync(...args); });
+    };
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(serviceA, 'src/sample.ts'), 'export function concurrentNew() {}\n');
+    const second = new MCPEngine();
+    engines.push(second);
+    let completed = 0;
+    const calls = [
+      search(serviceA, 'concurrentNew'),
+      search(path.join(serviceA, 'src'), 'concurrentNew'),
+      second.getToolHandler().execute('codegraph_search', { projectPath: serviceA, query: 'concurrentNew' }),
+    ].map((p) => p.then((r) => { completed++; return r; }));
+    try {
+      await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 100));
+      expect(completed).toBe(0);
+      expect(opened).toHaveLength(1);
+    } finally { release(); }
+    await Promise.all(calls);
+    expect(names(serviceA)).toEqual(['concurrentNew']);
+    expect(opened[0]!.sync).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
+  it('keeps watching after one of two engines releases its lease', async () => {
+    const second = new MCPEngine();
+    engines.push(second);
+    await search(serviceA, 'alphaOriginal');
+    await second.getToolHandler().execute('codegraph_search', { projectPath: serviceA, query: 'alphaOriginal' });
+    await opened[0]!.waitUntilWatcherReady(5000);
+    await engine.stop();
+    expect(opened[0]!.isWatching()).toBe(true);
+    expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(serviceA, '.codegraph/writer.pid'))).toBe(true);
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(serviceA, 'src/sample.ts'), 'export function survivingSession() {}\n');
+    expect(await waitFor(async () => names(serviceA).includes('survivingSession'), 10000)).toBe(true);
+    await second.stop();
+    expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(serviceA, '.codegraph/writer.pid'))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('retries a foreign writer and catches up after its ownership ends', async () => {
+    const lock = path.join(serviceA, '.codegraph/writer.pid');
+    fs.writeFileSync(lock, JSON.stringify({ pid: process.ppid, mode: 'direct', startedAt: Date.now() }));
+    await search(serviceA, 'alphaOriginal');
+    expect(opened[0]!.isWatching()).toBe(false);
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(serviceA, 'src/sample.ts'), 'export function afterOwnerExit() {}\n');
+    fs.unlinkSync(lock);
+    // No further query should be necessary to activate the surviving session.
+    expect(await waitFor(async () => names(serviceA).includes('afterOwnerExit'), 10000)).toBe(true);
+    expect(opened[0]!.isWatching()).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('honors no-watch for explicit projects', async () => {
+    await engine.stop();
+    engine = new MCPEngine({ watch: false });
+    engines.push(engine);
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(serviceA, 'src/sample.ts'), 'export function noWatchEdit() {}\n');
+    await search(serviceA, 'noWatchEdit');
+    expect(names(serviceA)).toEqual(['alphaOriginal']);
+    expect(opened[0]!.isWatching()).toBe(false);
+    expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(serviceA, '.codegraph/writer.pid'))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('honors the CLI no-watch policy while still catching up on access', async () => {
+    const prev = process.env.CODEGRAPH_NO_WATCH;
+    process.env.CODEGRAPH_NO_WATCH = '1';
+    try {
+      fs.writeFileSync(path.join(serviceA, 'src/sample.ts'), 'export function policyCatchUp() {}\n');
+      await search(serviceA, 'policyCatchUp');
+      expect(names(serviceA)).toEqual(['policyCatchUp']);
+      expect(opened[0]!.isWatching()).toBe(false);
+      fs.writeFileSync(path.join(serviceA, 'src/sample.ts'), 'export function policyUnwatched() {}\n');
+      await search(serviceA, 'policyUnwatched');
+      expect(names(serviceA)).toEqual(['policyCatchUp']);
+    } finally {
+      if (prev === undefined) delete process.env.CODEGRAPH_NO_WATCH;
+      else process.env.CODEGRAPH_NO_WATCH = prev;
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('defers eviction and shutdown until an active catch-up finishes', async () => {
+    const roots = [serviceA, serviceB];
+    for (let i = roots.length; i <= MAX_CACHED_PROJECTS; i++) {
+      const root = path.join(workspace, `extra-${i}`);
+      await makeProject(root, `symbol${i}`);
+      roots.push(root);
+    }
+    let release!: () => void;
+    const held = new Promise<void>((resolve) => { release = resolve; });
+    onOpen = (cg) => {
+      if (cg.getProjectRoot() !== serviceA) return;
+      const sync = cg.sync.bind(cg);
+      vi.spyOn(cg, 'sync').mockImplementation(async (...args) => { await held; return sync(...args); });
+    };
+    const prev = process.env.CODEGRAPH_CATCHUP_GATE_TIMEOUT_MS;
+    process.env.CODEGRAPH_CATCHUP_GATE_TIMEOUT_MS = '10';
+    try {
+      fs.writeFileSync(path.join(serviceA, 'src/sample.ts'), 'export function evictionCatchUp() {}\n');
+      await search(serviceA, 'evictionCatchUp');
+      for (const root of roots.slice(1)) await search(root, 'symbol');
+      expect(() => opened[0]!.getStats()).not.toThrow();
+      expect(() => opened[1]!.getStats()).toThrow();
+      let stopped = false;
+      const stop = engine.stop().then(() => { stopped = true; });
+      await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 50));
+      expect(stopped).toBe(false);
+      expect(() => opened[0]!.getStats()).not.toThrow();
+      release();
+      await stop;
+      expect(names(serviceA)).toEqual(['evictionCatchUp']);
+      expect(() => opened[0]!.getStats()).toThrow();
+      expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(serviceA, '.codegraph/writer.pid'))).toBe(false);
+    } finally {
+      release();
+      if (prev === undefined) delete process.env.CODEGRAPH_CATCHUP_GATE_TIMEOUT_MS;
+      else process.env.CODEGRAPH_CATCHUP_GATE_TIMEOUT_MS = prev;
+    }
+  });
+
+
+  it('drains a tool operation before closing its cached graph', async () => {
+    await search(serviceA, 'alphaOriginal');
+    const handler = engine.getToolHandler();
+    const dispatch = handler.executeReadTool.bind(handler);
+    let release!: () => void;
+    const held = new Promise<void>((resolve) => { release = resolve; });
+    vi.spyOn(handler, 'executeReadTool').mockImplementation(async (...args) => {
+      await held;
+      return dispatch(...args);
+    });
+    const call = search(serviceA, 'alphaOriginal');
+    let stopped = false;
+    const stop = engine.stop().then(() => { stopped = true; });
+    try {
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 50));
+      expect(stopped).toBe(false);
+      expect(opened[0]!.getStats().fileCount).toBe(1);
+    } finally { release(); }
+    await call;
+    await stop;
+    expect(() => opened[0]!.getStats()).toThrow();
+  });
+
+  it.each(['direct', 'daemon'] as const)('takes over when a real %s owner exits', async (mode) => {
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(serviceA, 'src/sample.ts'), 'export function ownerCatchUp() {}\n');
+    const owner = await startOwner(mode, true);
+    await search(serviceA, 'ownerCatchUp');
+    expect(names(serviceA)).toEqual(['ownerCatchUp']);
+    expect(opened[0]!.isWatching()).toBe(false);
+    const lock = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(serviceA, '.codegraph/writer.pid'), 'utf8'));
+    expect(lock.pid).toBe(owner.pid);
+    const exited = new Promise((resolve) => owner.once('exit', resolve));
+    owner.kill('SIGTERM');
+    await exited;
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(serviceA, 'src/sample.ts'), 'export function realOwnerExit() {}\n');
+    expect(await waitFor(async () => names(serviceA).includes('realOwnerExit'), 10000)).toBe(true);
+    expect(opened[0]!.isWatching()).toBe(true);
+  }, 20000);
+
+  it('retains a daemon while either accessing engine remains connected', async () => {
+    const owner = await startOwner('daemon');
+    await search(serviceA, 'alphaOriginal');
+    const second = new MCPEngine();
+    engines.push(second);
+    await second.getToolHandler().execute('codegraph_search', { projectPath: serviceA, query: 'alphaOriginal' });
+    await engine.stop();
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 1000));
+    expect(owner.exitCode).toBeNull();
+    expect(owner.signalCode).toBeNull();
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(serviceA, 'src/sample.ts'), 'export function retainedDaemon() {}\n');
+    expect(await waitFor(async () => names(serviceA).includes('retainedDaemon'), 10000)).toBe(true);
+    const exited = new Promise((resolve) => owner.once('exit', resolve));
+    await second.stop();
+    await exited;
+    expect(owner.exitCode).toBe(0);
+  }, 20000);
+
 });
diff --git a/__tests__/writer-lock.test.ts b/__tests__/writer-lock.test.ts
index 3dd1e1b8..f3c18a64 100644
--- a/__tests__/writer-lock.test.ts
+++ b/__tests__/writer-lock.test.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ import { MCPEngine } from '../src/mcp/engine';
 import {
   decodeWriterLockInfo,
   getWriterPidPath,
+  markWriterReady,
+  readWriterLock,
   releaseWriterLock,
   tryAcquireWriterLock,
   writerLockHeldMessage,
@@ -90,6 +92,18 @@ describe('writer lock (#1740)', () => {
     releaseWriterLock(root);
   });
 
+  it('publishes catch-up completion for readers without changing writer identity', () => {
+    const root = makeProject();
+    const acquired = tryAcquireWriterLock(root, 'direct');
+    expect(acquired.kind).toBe('acquired');
+    const before = readWriterLock(root);
+    expect(before?.ready).toBe(false);
+    markWriterReady(root);
+    expect(readWriterLock(root)).toEqual({ ...before, ready: true });
+    tryAcquireWriterLock(root, 'fallback');
+    expect(readWriterLock(root)).toEqual({ ...before, ready: true });
+  });
+
   it('lets a fallback engine atomically claim and release writer ownership', () => {
     const root = makeProject();
     const engine = new MCPEngine({ writerLockRoot: root });
diff --git a/src/mcp/daemon.ts b/src/mcp/daemon.ts
index d80dad5b..18a7f036 100644
--- a/src/mcp/daemon.ts
+++ b/src/mcp/daemon.ts
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ export class Daemon {
       await new Promise<void>((resolve) => this.server!.close(() => resolve()));
       this.server = null;
     }
-    this.engine.stop();
+    await this.engine.stop();
     this.cleanupLockfile();
     deregisterDaemon(this.projectRoot);
     if (process.platform !== 'win32') {
diff --git a/src/mcp/engine.ts b/src/mcp/engine.ts
index d1671b40..f7b98d3b 100644
--- a/src/mcp/engine.ts
+++ b/src/mcp/engine.ts
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ import * as os from 'os';
 import * as path from 'path';
 import type CodeGraph from '../index';
 import { resolveServerRoot } from '../directory';
-import { watchDisabledReason } from '../sync';
 import { ToolHandler } from './tools';
 import { releaseWriterLock, tryAcquireWriterLock, writerLockHeldMessage } from './writer-lock';
 import { QueryPool, resolvePoolSize } from './query-pool';
+import { acquireProject, ProjectLease } from './project-lifecycle';
 
 // Lazy-load the heavy CodeGraph chain (sqlite + query/graph/context layers) OFF
 // the MCP startup path. It's only needed once a tool actually opens a project —
@@ -79,11 +79,12 @@ export class MCPEngine {
   private watcherStarted = false;
   /** Set when this engine holds writer.pid (#1740). */
   private writerLockRoot: string | null = null;
-  // Roots of explicit-`projectPath` projects whose writer.pid this engine holds
-  // (#1835) — released when the ToolHandler closes the project or on stop().
-  private explicitWriterLocks: Set<string> = new Set();
+  // Retained synchronization ownership for each cached explicit project.
+  private explicitProjects = new Map<CodeGraph, ProjectLease>();
+  private defaultLease: ProjectLease | null = null;
   private opts: Required<Omit<MCPEngineOptions, 'writerLockRoot' | 'queryPoolDefaultMax'>> & Pick<MCPEngineOptions, 'queryPoolDefaultMax'>;
   private closed = false;
+  private stopPromise: Promise<void> | null = null;
   // Off-loop read-tool pool. Workers each hold their own WAL read connections;
   // sessions without a default index open projects lazily via projectPath.
   private queryPool: QueryPool | null = null;
@@ -92,7 +93,13 @@ export class MCPEngine {
     this.opts = { watch: opts.watch ?? true, queryPool: opts.queryPool ?? false, queryPoolDefaultMax: opts.queryPoolDefaultMax };
     this.toolHandler = new ToolHandler(null);
     this.toolHandler.setProjectLifecycle({
-      activate: (cg) => this.activateExplicitProject(cg),
+      open: (root, open) => {
+        if (!this.opts.watch) return open();
+        const lease = acquireProject(root, open, this.watchOptions());
+        this.explicitProjects.set(lease.cg, lease);
+        return lease.cg;
+      },
+      activate: (cg) => this.explicitProjects.get(cg)?.ready() ?? Promise.resolve(),
       release: (cg) => this.releaseExplicitProject(cg),
     });
     if (opts.writerLockRoot) {
@@ -230,13 +237,14 @@ export class MCPEngine {
    * Close everything. Used on graceful daemon shutdown (SIGTERM/idle timeout)
    * and on direct-mode stop. Idempotent.
    */
-  stop(): void {
-    if (this.closed) return;
+  stop(): Promise<void> {
+    if (this.stopPromise) return this.stopPromise;
     this.closed = true;
-    if (this.writerLockRoot) {
+    if (!this.cg && !this.initPromise && this.explicitProjects.size === 0 && this.writerLockRoot) {
       releaseWriterLock(this.writerLockRoot);
       this.writerLockRoot = null;
     }
+
     // Detach + terminate the worker pool first so no tool call routes to a
     // worker mid-teardown; outstanding pool calls resolve with graceful guidance.
     this.toolHandler.setQueryPool(null);
@@ -244,61 +252,30 @@ export class MCPEngine {
       void this.queryPool.destroy();
       this.queryPool = null;
     }
-    this.toolHandler.closeAll();
-    for (const root of this.explicitWriterLocks) releaseWriterLock(root);
-    this.explicitWriterLocks.clear();
-    if (this.cg) {
-      try { this.cg.close(); } catch { /* ignore */ }
+    const drained = this.toolHandler.closeAll();
+    this.stopPromise = drained.then(async () => {
+      if (this.initPromise) await this.initPromise;
+      if (this.defaultLease) {
+        await this.defaultLease.release();
+        this.defaultLease = null;
+        this.writerLockRoot = null;
+      } else if (this.cg) {
+        this.cg.unwatch();
+        while (this.cg.isIndexing()) await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 25));
+        this.cg.close();
+      }
       this.cg = null;
-    }
+      if (this.writerLockRoot) releaseWriterLock(this.writerLockRoot);
+      this.writerLockRoot = null;
+    });
+    return this.stopPromise;
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Give a project opened for an explicit `projectPath` the default project's
-   * lifecycle (#1835): a file watcher while the ToolHandler keeps it cached and
-   * a catch-up sync now, whose promise the handler awaits before the first call
-   * against it. Only when this engine wins the project's writer lock — if another
-   * live process (its own daemon, say) holds it, that process already syncs the
-   * index and we must not contend for codegraph.lock (#1740). Never throws.
-   */
-  private activateExplicitProject(cg: CodeGraph): Promise<void> {
-    if (this.closed || !this.opts.watch) return Promise.resolve();
-    const root = cg.getProjectRoot();
-    const writer = tryAcquireWriterLock(root, 'fallback');
-    if (writer.kind === 'taken') {
-      process.stderr.write(
-        `[CodeGraph MCP] Not syncing ${root} from this session — ${writerLockHeldMessage(writer.existing, writer.pidPath)}\n`
-      );
-      return Promise.resolve();
-    }
-    this.explicitWriterLocks.add(root);
-
-    const disabledReason = watchDisabledReason(root);
-    if (disabledReason) {
-      process.stderr.write(`[CodeGraph MCP] File watcher disabled for ${root} — ${disabledReason}.\n`);
-    } else if (cg.watch(this.watchOptions())) {
-      process.stderr.write(`[CodeGraph MCP] File watcher active for ${root} (opened via projectPath)\n`);
-    }
-
-    return cg
-      .sync()
-      .then((result) => {
-        const changed = result.filesAdded + result.filesModified + result.filesRemoved;
-        if (changed > 0) {
-          process.stderr.write(`[CodeGraph MCP] Caught up ${changed} file(s) changed in ${root}\n`);
-        }
-      })
-      .catch((err) => {
-        const msg = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
-        process.stderr.write(`[CodeGraph MCP] Catch-up sync failed for ${root}: ${msg}\n`);
-      });
-  }
-
-  /** Drop the writer lock of an explicit project the ToolHandler is closing (#1835). */
-  private releaseExplicitProject(cg: CodeGraph): void {
-    const root = cg.getProjectRoot();
-    if (!this.explicitWriterLocks.delete(root)) return;
-    releaseWriterLock(root);
+  private releaseExplicitProject(cg: CodeGraph): void | Promise<void> {
+    const lease = this.explicitProjects.get(cg);
+    this.explicitProjects.delete(cg);
+    if (lease) return lease.release();
+    else cg.close();
   }
 
   /** Watch options shared by the default project and explicit projects. */
@@ -335,7 +312,6 @@ export class MCPEngine {
     };
   }
 
-
   private async doInitialize(searchFrom: string): Promise<void> {
     this.toolHandler.setDefaultProjectHint(searchFrom);
 
@@ -354,7 +330,7 @@ export class MCPEngine {
       this.projectPath = searchFrom;
       this.toolHandler.setKnownSubprojects(res.candidates, searchFrom);
       process.stderr.write(
-        `[CodeGraph MCP] No .codegraph/ at or above ${searchFrom}: no default project, live sync disabled.\n`
+        `[CodeGraph MCP] No .codegraph/ at or above ${searchFrom}: no default project, live sync disabled until an indexed project is accessed via projectPath.\n`
       );
       if (res.candidates.length > 0) {
         const rels = res.candidates.map((c) => path.relative(searchFrom, c) || '.');
@@ -369,7 +345,9 @@ export class MCPEngine {
 
     this.projectPath = resolvedRoot;
     try {
-      this.cg = await loadCodeGraph().open(resolvedRoot);
+      const opened = await loadCodeGraph().open(resolvedRoot);
+      if (this.closed) { opened.close(); return; }
+      this.cg = opened;
       this.toolHandler.setDefaultCodeGraph(this.cg);
       this.startWatching();
       this.catchUpSync();
@@ -398,44 +376,12 @@ export class MCPEngine {
   private startWatching(): void {
     if (!this.cg || this.watcherStarted || !this.opts.watch) return;
 
-    // #1740: only one live watcher/writer per project. Daemon and startDirect
-    // usually already hold writer.pid (re-entrant for this pid). Proxy
-    // in-process fallback acquires here; if another writer holds it, skip the
-    // watcher so we never contend on codegraph.lock until auto-sync degrades.
-    const lockRoot = this.projectPath;
-    if (lockRoot) {
-      const writer = tryAcquireWriterLock(lockRoot, 'fallback');
-      if (writer.kind === 'taken') {
-        const msg = writerLockHeldMessage(writer.existing, writer.pidPath);
-        process.stderr.write(
-          `[CodeGraph MCP] File watcher not started — ${msg}\n`
-        );
-        this.watcherStarted = true;
-        return;
-      }
-      this.writerLockRoot = lockRoot;
-    }
-
-    const disabledReason = watchDisabledReason(this.projectPath ?? process.cwd());
-    if (disabledReason) {
-      process.stderr.write(
-        `[CodeGraph MCP] File watcher disabled — ${disabledReason}. ` +
-        `The graph will not auto-update; run \`codegraph sync\` (or install the git sync hooks via \`codegraph init\`) to refresh.\n`
-      );
-      this.watcherStarted = true;
-      return;
-    }
-
-    const started = this.cg.watch(this.watchOptions());
-
+    const opened = this.cg;
+    this.defaultLease = acquireProject(opened.getProjectRoot(), () => opened, this.watchOptions());
+    this.cg = this.defaultLease.cg;
+    if (this.cg !== opened) opened.close();
+    this.toolHandler.setDefaultCodeGraph(this.cg);
     this.watcherStarted = true;
-    if (started) {
-      process.stderr.write('[CodeGraph MCP] File watcher active — graph will auto-sync on changes\n');
-    } else {
-      process.stderr.write(
-        '[CodeGraph MCP] File watcher unavailable on this platform — run `codegraph sync` to refresh the graph after changes.\n'
-      );
-    }
   }
 
   /**
@@ -451,6 +397,10 @@ export class MCPEngine {
   private catchUpSync(): void {
     const cg = this.cg;
     if (!cg) return;
+    if (this.defaultLease) {
+      this.toolHandler.setCatchUpGate(this.defaultLease.ready());
+      return;
+    }
     const p = cg
       .sync()
       .then((result) => {
diff --git a/src/mcp/index.ts b/src/mcp/index.ts
index 242cc5ba..e14b6219 100644
--- a/src/mcp/index.ts
+++ b/src/mcp/index.ts
@@ -381,13 +381,9 @@ export class MCPServer {
    * connected session; in direct mode it mirrors the pre-#411 behavior (close
    * cg, exit). Proxy mode never routes through here — the proxy exits itself.
    */
-  stop(): void {
+  async stop(): Promise<void> {
     if (this.stopped) return;
     this.stopped = true;
-    if (this.writerLockRoot) {
-      releaseWriterLock(this.writerLockRoot);
-      this.writerLockRoot = null;
-    }
     if (this.ppidWatchdog) {
       clearInterval(this.ppidWatchdog);
       this.ppidWatchdog = null;
@@ -406,9 +402,13 @@ export class MCPServer {
       this.session = null;
     }
     if (this.engine) {
-      this.engine.stop();
+      await this.engine.stop();
       this.engine = null;
     }
+    if (this.writerLockRoot) {
+      releaseWriterLock(this.writerLockRoot);
+      this.writerLockRoot = null;
+    }
     process.exit(0);
   }
 
@@ -432,7 +432,7 @@ export class MCPServer {
     }
 
     this.engine = new MCPEngine({ queryPool: true, queryPoolDefaultMax: DIRECT_QUERY_POOL_MAX });
-    const transport = new StdioTransport();
+    const transport = new StdioTransport({ exitOnClose: false, onClose: () => { void this.stop(); } });
     this.session = new MCPSession(transport, this.engine, {
       explicitProjectPath: this.projectPath,
     });
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ export class MCPServer {
     this.session.start();
 
     // Detect parent-process death — same logic as pre-refactor. When stdin
-    // closes we go through StdioTransport's `process.exit(0)` already, but
+    // closes the transport drains the engine through stop(), but
     // SIGKILL of the parent doesn't reliably close stdin on Linux (#277).
     // Also treat a stdin `'error'` (a socket-backed stdin can fail with
     // ECONNRESET/hangup instead of a clean close) as shutdown, and destroy the
diff --git a/src/mcp/project-lifecycle.ts b/src/mcp/project-lifecycle.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9775052a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mcp/project-lifecycle.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,185 @@
+/** Shared synchronization ownership for projects accessed by MCP engines (#1835). */
+import { realpathSync } from 'fs';
+import type { Socket } from 'net';
+import type CodeGraph from '../index';
+import { isInitialized } from '../directory';
+import { watchDisabledReason } from '../sync';
+import { getDaemonSocketCandidates } from './daemon-paths';
+import { connectWithHello } from './proxy';
+import { markWriterReady, readWriterLock, releaseWriterLock, tryAcquireWriterLock } from './writer-lock';
+
+interface Project {
+  cg: CodeGraph;
+  refs: number;
+  owner: boolean;
+  caughtUp: boolean;
+  retirement: Promise<void> | null;
+  gate: Promise<void> | null;
+  socket: Socket | null;
+  timer: NodeJS.Timeout;
+  options: Parameters<CodeGraph['watch']>[0];
+}
+
+export interface ProjectLease {
+  cg: CodeGraph;
+  ready(): Promise<void>;
+  release(): Promise<void>;
+}
+
+const projects = new Map<string, Project>();
+
+/** Engines in one process share a graph; other processes share the writer slot. */
+export function acquireProject(
+  root: string,
+  open: () => CodeGraph,
+  options: Parameters<CodeGraph['watch']>[0],
+): ProjectLease {
+  root = realpathSync(root);
+  let project = projects.get(root);
+  if (!project) {
+    const cg = open();
+    project = { cg, refs: 0, owner: false, caughtUp: false, retirement: null, gate: null, socket: null, options,
+      timer: setInterval(() => { void ready(root, project!); }, 1000) };
+    project.timer.unref();
+    projects.set(root, project);
+  }
+  const entry = project;
+  entry.refs++;
+  let released = false;
+  return {
+    cg: entry.cg,
+    ready: () => ready(root, entry),
+    release: () => {
+      if (released) return Promise.resolve();
+      released = true;
+      if (--entry.refs === 0) return retire(root, entry);
+      return Promise.resolve();
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+function retire(root: string, project: Project): Promise<void> {
+  if (project.retirement) return project.retirement;
+  let resolve!: () => void;
+  const retirement = new Promise<void>((done) => { resolve = done; });
+  project.retirement = retirement;
+  clearInterval(project.timer);
+  project.socket?.destroy();
+  project.socket = null;
+  // A timed-out gate or an already-running watcher sync still owns this DB.
+  // Leave the entry discoverable so a new lease can reuse it while it drains.
+  const finish = (): void => {
+    if (project.refs > 0) {
+      project.retirement = null;
+      project.timer = setInterval(() => { void ready(root, project); }, 1000);
+      project.timer.unref();
+      resolve();
+      return;
+    }
+    if (project.gate || project.cg.isIndexing()) {
+      setTimeout(finish, 25);
+      return;
+    }
+    projects.delete(root);
+    project.cg.close();
+    if (project.owner) releaseWriterLock(root);
+    resolve();
+  };
+  finish();
+  return retirement;
+}
+
+function ready(root: string, project: Project): Promise<void> {
+  if (project.gate) return project.gate;
+  if (project.refs === 0 || (project.owner && project.caughtUp) || (project.socket && !project.socket.destroyed)) {
+    return Promise.resolve();
+  }
+  const gate = activate(root, project).catch((err) => {
+    process.stderr.write(`[CodeGraph MCP] Catch-up sync failed for ${root}: ${err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err)}\n`);
+  }).finally(() => {
+    if (project.gate === gate) project.gate = null;
+  });
+  project.gate = gate;
+  return gate;
+}
+
+async function activate(root: string, project: Project): Promise<void> {
+  if (!isInitialized(root)) return;
+  const writer = tryAcquireWriterLock(root, 'fallback');
+  if (writer.kind === 'taken') {
+    // Keep a real daemon session, so its idle timeout cannot strand this reader.
+    // Direct writers have no socket; the periodic retry takes over on their exit.
+    if (writer.existing?.mode === 'daemon') {
+      for (const candidate of getDaemonSocketCandidates(root)) {
+        const socket = await connectWithHello(candidate);
+        if (!socket || socket === 'version-mismatch') continue;
+        if (project.refs === 0) { socket.destroy(); return; }
+        project.socket = socket;
+        socket.once('close', () => {
+          if (project.socket === socket) project.socket = null;
+        });
+        await daemonCatchUp(socket);
+        return;
+      }
+    }
+    // A direct owner cannot accept RPC, but advertises completion in writer.pid.
+    // Wait for its startup reconcile too; legacy writers have no readiness flag.
+    const deadline = Date.now() + 30_000;
+    while (project.refs > 0 && writer.existing?.ready === false && Date.now() < deadline) {
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 25));
+      const current = readWriterLock(root);
+      if (!current || current.pid !== writer.existing.pid) return activate(root, project);
+      if (current.ready !== false) break;
+      try { process.kill(current.pid, 0); } catch (err) {
+        if ((err as NodeJS.ErrnoException).code === 'ESRCH') return activate(root, project);
+      }
+    }
+    return;
+  }
+  project.owner = true;
+  const disabled = watchDisabledReason(root);
+  if (disabled) {
+    process.stderr.write(`[CodeGraph MCP] File watcher disabled for ${root} — ${disabled}.\n`);
+  } else {
+    if (project.cg.watch(project.options)) {
+      process.stderr.write(`[CodeGraph MCP] File watcher active for ${root} — graph will auto-sync on changes\n`);
+    }
+  }
+  const result = await project.cg.sync();
+  if (result.filesChecked === 0 && result.durationMs === 0) {
+    throw new Error('Another indexing operation is still running; retrying catch-up.');
+  }
+  project.caughtUp = true;
+  markWriterReady(root);
+}
+
+/** A tool request passes through the daemon's own first-query catch-up gate. */
+function daemonCatchUp(socket: Socket): Promise<void> {
+  return new Promise((resolve) => {
+    let buffer = '';
+    const finish = (): void => {
+      clearTimeout(timer);
+      socket.removeListener('data', onData);
+      socket.removeListener('close', finish);
+      resolve();
+    };
+    const onData = (chunk: string | Buffer): void => {
+      buffer += String(chunk);
+      let newline: number;
+      while ((newline = buffer.indexOf('\n')) >= 0) {
+        const line = buffer.slice(0, newline);
+        buffer = buffer.slice(newline + 1);
+        try {
+          const message = JSON.parse(line);
+          if (message.id === 'project-catchup') finish();
+        } catch { /* ignore non-response lines */ }
+      }
+    };
+    const timer = setTimeout(() => { socket.destroy(); finish(); }, 30_000);
+    timer.unref();
+    socket.on('data', onData);
+    socket.once('close', finish);
+    socket.write(JSON.stringify({ jsonrpc: '2.0', id: 'project-catchup', method: 'tools/call',
+      params: { name: 'codegraph_status', arguments: {} } }) + '\n');
+  });
+}
diff --git a/src/mcp/tools.ts b/src/mcp/tools.ts
index 163e7a80..33a2003a 100644
--- a/src/mcp/tools.ts
+++ b/src/mcp/tools.ts
@@ -1496,12 +1496,6 @@ export function getStaticTools(): ToolDefinition[] {
  */
 const DEFAULT_MCP_TOOLS = new Set(['explore']);
 
-/**
- * Tool handler that executes tools against a CodeGraph instance
- *
- * Supports cross-project queries via the projectPath parameter.
- * Other projects are opened on-demand and cached for performance.
- */
 /** realpath when the path exists, the path itself otherwise — never throws. */
 function canonicalPath(p: string): string {
   try {
@@ -1525,14 +1519,21 @@ export const MAX_CACHED_PROJECTS = 8;
  * `projectPath` (#1835). `activate` gives it the same treatment the default
  * project gets — a file watcher while it stays open and a catch-up sync — and
  * returns the catch-up promise, which the handler awaits (time-boxed) before
- * the first call against that project. `release` runs when the handler closes
- * the project (LRU eviction or shutdown) so the engine can drop its writer lock.
+ * calls against that project. `release` runs after active calls drain, so the
+ * engine can release shared ownership safely on LRU eviction or shutdown.
  */
 export interface ProjectLifecycle {
+  open(root: string, open: () => CodeGraph): CodeGraph;
   activate(cg: CodeGraph): Promise<void>;
-  release(cg: CodeGraph): void;
+  release(cg: CodeGraph): void | Promise<void>;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Tool handler that executes tools against a CodeGraph instance
+ *
+ * Supports cross-project queries via the projectPath parameter.
+ * Other projects are opened on-demand and cached for performance.
+ */
 export class ToolHandler {
   // Cache of opened CodeGraph instances for cross-project queries, keyed by the
   // CANONICAL (realpath) index root. Map insertion order doubles as LRU order:
@@ -1541,9 +1542,12 @@ export class ToolHandler {
   // Engine hook that watches + catches up an explicit project (null for the
   // CLI and worker-thread handlers, which never own a watcher).
   private projectLifecycle: ProjectLifecycle | null = null;
-  // Per explicit project: its catch-up sync, awaited once by the first call
-  // that targets it (same time-box as the default project's gate).
+  // Every concurrent call shares its project's pending catch-up promise.
   private projectGates: Map<CodeGraph, Promise<void>> = new Map();
+  private activeCalls = 0;
+  private closing = false;
+  private pendingCloses = 0;
+  private closeWaiters: Array<() => void> = [];
   // The directory the server last searched for a default project. Surfaced in
   // the "not initialized" error so users can see why detection missed.
   private defaultProjectHint: string | null = null;
@@ -1567,8 +1571,7 @@ export class ToolHandler {
   // per-file staleness banner can't help, because `getPendingFiles()` is
   // populated by the watcher, not by catch-up. The wait is time-boxed
   // (see {@link resolveCatchUpGateTimeoutMs}) so a minutes-long reconcile on a
-  // huge repo can't hang the first call (#905); cleared on first await so
-  // subsequent calls don't pay any cost.
+  // huge repo can't hang a call (#905); cleared when the reconcile settles.
   private catchUpGate: Promise<void> | null = null;
   // Optional worker-thread pool for off-loop read-tool dispatch. When ready +
   // healthy, heavy reads leave the main loop free for the MCP transport.
@@ -1610,6 +1613,11 @@ export class ToolHandler {
    */
   setCatchUpGate(p: Promise<void> | null): void {
     this.catchUpGate = p;
+    void p?.then(() => {
+      if (this.catchUpGate === p) this.catchUpGate = null;
+    }, () => {
+      if (this.catchUpGate === p) this.catchUpGate = null;
+    });
   }
 
   /**
@@ -1839,10 +1847,8 @@ export class ToolHandler {
     // (#926). The DB connection itself is still cached (by resolved root,
     // below), so re-resolving costs only the stat walk, never a reopen.
     const resolvedRoot = findNearestCodeGraphRoot(projectPath);
-    // Canonicalize for the identity checks below only: two spellings of one
-    // root (a symlinked checkout, `/tmp` vs `/private/tmp`) must share one
-    // connection and one watcher (#1835). The instance itself is still opened
-    // at the root as found, so nothing user-visible changes spelling.
+    // Two spellings of one root (a symlinked checkout, `/tmp` vs
+    // `/private/tmp`) must share one connection and one watcher (#1835).
     const canonicalRoot = resolvedRoot ? canonicalPath(resolvedRoot) : null;
 
     if (!resolvedRoot || !canonicalRoot) {
@@ -1881,61 +1887,52 @@ export class ToolHandler {
     // may have been retargeted or recreated since the last call (#1057).
     for (const [root, open] of this.projectCache) {
       if (isSameIndexRoot(root, resolvedRoot)) {
+        this.projectCache.delete(root);
+        this.projectCache.set(root, open);
         return this.freshen(open);
       }
     }
 
-    // Pin the owner to the symlink target, so retargeting the first spelling
-    // cannot move an existing connection onto another cached project.
-    const ownerRoot = realpathSync.native(resolvedRoot);
-    const cg = loadCodeGraph().openSync(ownerRoot);
-    this.projectCache.set(ownerRoot, cg);
-    // Bounded: evict the least recently used explicit project (#1835).
-    while (this.projectCache.size > MAX_CACHED_PROJECTS) {
-      const [oldestKey, oldest] = this.projectCache.entries().next().value as [string, CodeGraph];
-      this.projectCache.delete(oldestKey);
-      this.closeProject(oldest);
-    }
-    // Same lifecycle as the default project: watcher + catch-up sync, owned
-    // by the engine (#1835). The catch-up promise is the project's gate.
-    if (this.projectLifecycle) {
-      let gate: Promise<void>;
-      try {
-        gate = this.projectLifecycle.activate(cg);
-      } catch (err) {
-        gate = Promise.reject(err);
-      }
-      gate = gate.catch(() => { /* logged by the engine; serve best-effort */ });
-      this.projectGates.set(cg, gate);
-    }
+    const open = () => loadCodeGraph().openSync(canonicalRoot);
+    const cg = this.projectLifecycle?.open(canonicalRoot, open) ?? open();
+    this.projectCache.set(canonicalRoot, cg);
+    this.trimProjects();
     return cg;
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Before dispatching a call that names an explicit `projectPath`, wait
-   * (time-boxed, once) for that project's catch-up sync — the same guarantee the
-   * default project's gate gives the first call of a session (#1835). Resolution
-   * errors are left to the dispatch path, which already answers them with the
-   * success-shaped guidance.
-   */
   private async awaitProjectGate(projectPath: string): Promise<void> {
-    let cg: CodeGraph;
-    try {
-      cg = this.getCodeGraph(projectPath);
-    } catch {
-      return;
+    const cg = this.getCodeGraph(projectPath);
+    if (!this.projectLifecycle || cg === this.cg) return;
+    let gate = this.projectGates.get(cg);
+    if (!gate) {
+      gate = this.projectLifecycle.activate(cg).catch(() => { /* engine logs */ });
+      this.projectGates.set(cg, gate);
+      void gate.then(() => {
+        if (this.projectGates.get(cg) === gate) this.projectGates.delete(cg);
+        this.trimProjects();
+      });
     }
-    const gate = this.projectGates.get(cg);
-    if (!gate) return;
-    this.projectGates.delete(cg);
     await this.awaitCatchUpGate(gate);
   }
 
-  /** Close one explicit project: watcher, writer lock (via the engine), DB. */
-  private closeProject(cg: CodeGraph): void {
-    this.projectGates.delete(cg);
-    try { this.projectLifecycle?.release(cg); } catch { /* best-effort */ }
-    try { cg.close(); } catch { /* best-effort */ }
+  /** Never evict a graph while a tool call or its timed-out reconcile uses it. */
+  private trimProjects(): void {
+    if (this.activeCalls > 0) return;
+    for (const [root, cg] of this.projectCache) {
+      if (!this.closing && this.projectCache.size <= MAX_CACHED_PROJECTS) break;
+      if (this.projectGates.has(cg)) continue;
+      this.projectCache.delete(root);
+      if (this.projectLifecycle) {
+        this.pendingCloses++;
+        void Promise.resolve(this.projectLifecycle.release(cg)).finally(() => {
+          this.pendingCloses--;
+          this.trimProjects();
+        });
+      } else cg.close();
+    }
+    if (this.closing && this.projectCache.size === 0 && this.pendingCloses === 0) {
+      for (const resolve of this.closeWaiters.splice(0)) resolve();
+    }
   }
 
   /**
@@ -1966,15 +1963,12 @@ export class ToolHandler {
   /**
    * Close all cached project connections
    */
-  closeAll(): void {
-    // One key per instance by design; closing through a Set keeps a second
-    // close (which throws on node:sqlite) from ever stopping the loop.
-    for (const cg of new Set(this.projectCache.values())) {
-      this.closeProject(cg);
-    }
-    this.projectCache.clear();
-    this.projectGates.clear();
+  closeAll(): Promise<void> {
+    this.closing = true;
     this.worktreeMismatchCache.clear();
+    this.trimProjects();
+    if (this.projectCache.size === 0 && this.activeCalls === 0 && this.pendingCloses === 0) return Promise.resolve();
+    return new Promise((resolve) => this.closeWaiters.push(resolve));
   }
 
   /**
@@ -2258,18 +2252,19 @@ export class ToolHandler {
     args: Record<string, unknown>,
     sessionState?: ExploreSessionState,
   ): Promise<ToolResult> {
+    if (this.closing) return this.textResult('This MCP session is closing; retry with a connected session.');
+    this.activeCalls++;
     try {
       // Block the first tool call on the engine's post-open reconcile so we
       // never serve rows for files deleted/edited while no MCP server was
       // running. The wait is time-boxed (#905): a huge-repo reconcile takes
       // minutes, and blocking the first call on all of it reads as a hang, so
       // we wait briefly then serve and let it finish in the background. The
-      // gate is cleared after first await — subsequent calls pay nothing.
+      // gate stays installed until reconciliation settles, including on timeout.
       // Catch-up failures are logged by the engine; we proceed regardless so a
       // transient sync error never breaks tools.
       if (this.catchUpGate) {
         const gate = this.catchUpGate;
-        this.catchUpGate = null;
         await this.awaitCatchUpGate(gate);
       }
       // Honor the optional tool allowlist (CODEGRAPH_MCP_TOOLS): a trimmed
@@ -2363,6 +2358,9 @@ export class ToolHandler {
         'This is an internal codegraph error — retry the call once; if it persists, ' +
         'continue without codegraph for this task.'
       );
+    } finally {
+      this.activeCalls--;
+      this.trimProjects();
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/src/mcp/writer-lock.ts b/src/mcp/writer-lock.ts
index 919e630c..dcf72850 100644
--- a/src/mcp/writer-lock.ts
+++ b/src/mcp/writer-lock.ts
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ export interface WriterLockInfo {
   /** `direct` | `daemon` | `fallback` — for actionable error text only. */
   mode: string;
   startedAt: number;
+  /** False until the MCP owner has finished its initial catch-up. */
+  ready?: boolean;
 }
 
 export type WriterAcquireResult =
@@ -60,6 +62,7 @@ export function decodeWriterLockInfo(raw: string): WriterLockInfo | null {
       pid: parsed.pid,
       mode: parsed.mode,
       startedAt: typeof parsed.startedAt === 'number' ? parsed.startedAt : 0,
+      ...(typeof parsed.ready === 'boolean' ? { ready: parsed.ready } : {}),
     };
   } catch {
     return null;
@@ -81,6 +84,7 @@ export function tryAcquireWriterLock(
     pid: process.pid,
     mode,
     startedAt: Date.now(),
+    ready: false,
   };
 
   const attempt = (): WriterAcquireResult => {
@@ -146,6 +150,20 @@ export function tryAcquireWriterLock(
   return result;
 }
 
+/** Publish catch-up readiness without exposing a partially-written pidfile. */
+export function markWriterReady(projectRoot: string): void {
+  const pidPath = getWriterPidPath(projectRoot);
+  const info = readWriterLock(projectRoot);
+  if (!info || info.pid !== process.pid) return;
+  const tmp = `${pidPath}.${process.pid}.ready.tmp`;
+  try {
+    fs.writeFileSync(tmp, encode({ ...info, ready: true }), { mode: 0o600 });
+    fs.renameSync(tmp, pidPath);
+  } finally {
+    try { fs.unlinkSync(tmp); } catch { /* best-effort */ }
+  }
+}
+
 /** Release if we still own the lock (pid match). */
 export function releaseWriterLock(projectRoot: string): void {
   const pidPath = getWriterPidPath(projectRoot);