diff --git a/crates/workspace-server/src/server.rs b/crates/workspace-server/src/server.rs
index 5bc654a2a..4e1f1b0cd 100644
--- a/crates/workspace-server/src/server.rs
+++ b/crates/workspace-server/src/server.rs
@@ -17775,9 +17775,15 @@ async fn scoped_attach_current_worker_workdir(
             code: "working_directory_not_found".to_string(),
             message: format!("unknown Workdir `{workdir_id}`"),
         })?;
-    if workdir.materialization_status != "present" {
+    // A failed removal must not prevent its owner from attaching a still usable
+    // repository checkout to resolve current blockers. Runtime binding validates
+    // the actual checkout; durable pending-removal reservations still fence this
+    // mutation. Other sources and missing/corrupted materializations stay denied.
+    let repository_retry = workdir.materialization_status == "pending"
+        && matches!(workdir.source, WorkdirRegistrySource::Repository { .. });
+    if workdir.materialization_status != "present" && !repository_retry {
         return Err(Error::WorkdirAttachmentConflict(format!(
-            "Workdir `{workdir_id}` is not active ({})",
+            "Workdir `{workdir_id}` is not available for attachment ({})",
             workdir.materialization_status
         ))
         .into());
@@ -53649,6 +53655,91 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(response.status(), StatusCode::FORBIDDEN);
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn current_worker_can_reattach_usable_pending_checkout_after_failed_removal_but_not_during_attempt()
+     {
+        let mut fixture = manual_worker_assignment_fixture().await;
+        let identity =
+            worker_runtime::auth::RuntimeIdentityMaterial::generate(&fixture.worker.runtime_id)
+                .unwrap();
+        configure_runtime_request_auth(&mut fixture.api, &identity, &fixture.worker.runtime_id);
+        let api = &fixture.api;
+        api.store
+            .detach_worker_workdir(
+                TEST_WORKSPACE_ID,
+                &fixture.worker,
+                Some(&fixture.docs_workdir_id),
+                "release for removal",
+            )
+            .unwrap();
+        let mut record = api
+            .store
+            .get_workdir_registry(TEST_WORKSPACE_ID, &fixture.docs_workdir_id)
+            .unwrap()
+            .unwrap();
+        record.materialization_status = "pending".into();
+        api.store.upsert_workdir_registry(&record).unwrap();
+        let intent =
+            workdir_removal_intent(&record, "account:owner", "remove docs checkout").unwrap();
+        let pending = api
+            .config_store
+            .reserve_workdir_removal_operation(&intent)
+            .unwrap();
+        let path = format!("/api/w/{TEST_WORKSPACE_ID}/workers/self/workdir-attachments");
+        let request = || {
+            runtime_source_request(
+                &identity,
+                Some(&fixture.worker.worker_id),
+                "POST",
+                &path,
+                serde_json::to_vec(
+                    &json!({ "alias": "docs", "working_directory_id": fixture.docs_workdir_id }),
+                )
+                .unwrap(),
+            )
+        };
+        let blocked = build_router(api.clone()).oneshot(request()).await.unwrap();
+        let blocked_status = blocked.status();
+        let blocked_body = to_bytes(blocked.into_body(), usize::MAX).await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            blocked_status,
+            StatusCode::CONFLICT,
+            "{}",
+            String::from_utf8_lossy(&blocked_body)
+        );
+        api.config_store
+            .fail_workdir_removal_operation(&pending, "provider_unavailable", true)
+            .unwrap();
+        let attached = build_router(api.clone()).oneshot(request()).await.unwrap();
+        let attached_status = attached.status();
+        let attached_body = to_bytes(attached.into_body(), usize::MAX).await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            attached_status,
+            StatusCode::OK,
+            "{}",
+            String::from_utf8_lossy(&attached_body)
+        );
+        let attached: server_api::CurrentWorkerWorkdirAttachmentResponse =
+            serde_json::from_slice(&attached_body).unwrap();
+        assert!(attached.attached);
+        assert_eq!(attached.working_directory_id, fixture.docs_workdir_id);
+        assert_eq!(
+            api.store
+                .get_workdir_registry(TEST_WORKSPACE_ID, &fixture.docs_workdir_id)
+                .unwrap()
+                .unwrap()
+                .materialization_status,
+            "pending"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            api.config_store
+                .workdir_removal_guards(&pending)
+                .unwrap()
+                .iter()
+                .any(|guard| guard.category == "active_attachment")
+        );
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn current_worker_attachment_list_and_stale_detach_use_signed_identity() {
         let mut fixture = manual_worker_assignment_fixture().await;
diff --git a/crates/workspace-server/src/store.rs b/crates/workspace-server/src/store.rs
index 9d78665a7..2388611c3 100644
--- a/crates/workspace-server/src/store.rs
+++ b/crates/workspace-server/src/store.rs
@@ -10254,6 +10254,19 @@ impl ControlPlaneStore for SqliteWorkspaceStore {
                     record.workdir_id, active.worker.runtime_id, active.worker.worker_id
                 )));
             }
+            // Direct attachments (including ordinary recovery/reconnection)
+            // must share the same atomic removal fence as reserved attachments.
+            let removal_pending: bool = tx.query_row(
+                "SELECT EXISTS(SELECT 1 FROM workdir_removal_operations WHERE workspace_id=?1 AND workdir_id=?2 AND state='pending')",
+                params![record.workspace_id, record.workdir_id],
+                |row| row.get(0),
+            )?;
+            if removal_pending {
+                return Err(Error::WorkdirAttachmentConflict(format!(
+                    "Workdir {} has a pending durable removal operation",
+                    record.workdir_id
+                )));
+            }
             let write = tx.execute(
                 r#"INSERT INTO worker_workdir_links (
                     workspace_id, runtime_id, worker_id, workdir_id, alias, capabilities, linked_at, unlinked_at, connection_id
diff --git a/docs/development/workdir-removal.md b/docs/development/workdir-removal.md
index 097efb0a2..1adf5cdf0 100644
--- a/docs/development/workdir-removal.md
+++ b/docs/development/workdir-removal.md
@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@ reported cause. Each attempt rechecks current attachments, attachment
 reservations, retention holds, materialization identity and current file changes.
 A previous clean observation is not permission to discard new changes. A dirty
 Workdir must be preserved or its changes resolved by its owner before deletion.
+When the same repository checkout is still usable, an authorized Worker may
+reattach it through normal `WorkdirAttach` to preserve or resolve changes, then
+detach and retry removal. An executing removal fences new attachments; a failed
+attempt does not permanently prevent reconnection. Missing or replaced checkout
+identity is not made usable by this permission.
 
 ## Interpreting a retained Workdir