fix(notes): the edit lock excludes other processes; pin OpenLock and the rollback (#192)

Review round 1 on PR #194:
- The edit lock did not exclude other processes (also on main): unlock
  removes the lock file, so a waiter could wake holding a flock on the
  orphaned inode while the next caller locked a fresh file. flockFile now
  re-checks after flock that the locked file is still the one at the path
  (brainfs LockIsCurrent) and retries otherwise; OpenLock reports a lock
  replaced mid-open as ErrLockChanged, which is retried instead of
  failing the edit. New cross-process test (3 re-executed processes x 400
  rounds, O_EXCL marker under the lock): 0 overlaps; red without the
  re-check.
- OpenLock unit test: relative dangling link (only the Lstat pre-check
  stops it; os.Root refuses absolute links on its own), live link, FIFO,
  directory, behind a symlinked dir, unclean path, positive control.
- Rollback test: a symlink swapped in for the note before the rollback
  (test seam beforeStampHook) is refused, target untouched in and outside
  the brain.
- The in-brain dangling-lock case uses a relative link and asserts the
  refusal names the lock. OpenLock reuses #189's RealParent; RemoveLock is
  dropped for brainfs.Remove. The doc comment names the swap residual.

Rebased onto main after #189.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

ingestion/cmd/server/main.go

@@ -179,9 +179,12 @@ func alertingWarnings(getenv func(string) string) []string {
 	return out
 }
 
-func buildNotifier() audit.Notifier {
-	if n := audit.NewNtfyNotifier(os.Getenv("BRAIN_NTFY_URL"), os.Getenv("BRAIN_NTFY_TOKEN")); n != nil {
-		return n
+// buildNotifier returns the ntfy notifier for one alert source, titled so
+// the source is recognisable (hyperguild#163), or nil when ntfy is not
+// configured.
+func buildNotifier(getenv func(string) string, title string) audit.Notifier {
+	if n := audit.NewNtfyNotifier(getenv("BRAIN_NTFY_URL"), getenv("BRAIN_NTFY_TOKEN")); n != nil {
+		return n.WithTitle(title)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -203,7 +206,7 @@ func buildAuditSink(ctx context.Context, brainDir string, logger *slog.Logger) c
 		logger.Error("capture audit buffer init", "err", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
-	notifier := buildNotifier()
+	notifier := buildNotifier(os.Getenv, "brain-capture audit degraded")
 	reconcileInterval := time.Duration(envInt("BRAIN_AUDIT_RECONCILE_INTERVAL", 60)) * time.Second
 	audit.StartReconcile(ctx, central, buffer, notifier, reconcileInterval)
 	logger.Info("capture audit: loki+buffer sink", "loki", lokiURL, "reconcile_s", int(reconcileInterval.Seconds()))
@@ -366,7 +369,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	// hyperguild#157: report a symlink that appears in the brain while running.
-	go symlinkguard.Watch(ctx, brainDir, symlinkScanInterval(os.Getenv), buildNotifier())
+	go symlinkguard.Watch(ctx, brainDir, symlinkScanInterval(os.Getenv), buildNotifier(os.Getenv, "brain symlink tripwire"))
 
 	// Never fatal on an unreachable issuer (#83): on a cold cluster boot this
 	// pod can beat dex to serving and get a 502 from ingress, and exiting meant
@@ -546,7 +549,7 @@ func main() {
 		// capture already gets, plus an out-of-band alert. Wired here because
 		// brain_edit_root needs the capture plumbing anyway — that is what
 		// re-derives the static principal its gate checks.
-		mcpSrv.WithGovernanceObserver(auditSink, buildNotifier())
+		mcpSrv.WithGovernanceObserver(auditSink, buildNotifier(os.Getenv, "brain governance edit"))
 		logger.Info("capture enabled (REST + MCP tool)", "sovereign_principals", len(sovereign),
 			"governance_observer", true)
 	} else {

ingestion/cmd/server/symlink_check_test.go

@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"context"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
+	"syscall"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -63,3 +67,26 @@ func TestStartupSymlinkCheckRefusesAnUnlistableBrainRoot(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = os.Chmod(brain, 0o755) })
 	assert.Error(t, startupSymlinkCheck(brain))
 }
+
+// hyperguild#179: a FIFO in the brain is refused at startup with a clear
+// message, instead of hanging or exiting later in a reader.
+func TestStartupSymlinkCheckRefusesABrainWithAFIFO(t *testing.T) {
+	brain := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(filepath.Join(brain, "classification.yaml"), 0o644))
+	err := startupSymlinkCheck(brain)
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "classification.yaml")
+}
+
+// hyperguild#163: each alert source gets its own ntfy title.
+func TestBuildNotifierUsesTheGivenTitle(t *testing.T) {
+	var got string
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) { got = r.Header.Get("Title") }))
+	defer srv.Close()
+	env := map[string]string{"BRAIN_NTFY_URL": srv.URL}
+	n := buildNotifier(func(k string) string { return env[k] }, "brain symlink tripwire")
+	require.NotNil(t, n)
+	require.NoError(t, n.Notify(context.Background(), "m"))
+	assert.Equal(t, "brain symlink tripwire", got)
+	assert.Nil(t, buildNotifier(func(string) string { return "" }, "x"), "no ntfy URL, no notifier")
+}

ingestion/internal/api/write_keeps_learning_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+package api_test
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/api"
+)
+
+// hyperguild#178: an unreadable directory under wiki/ made the link check
+// fail and brain_write refuse the note, losing the learning. The note is now
+// written with its links as given.
+func TestWriteNoteKeepsTheLearningWhenTheLinkCheckCannotIndex(t *testing.T) {
+	if os.Geteuid() == 0 {
+		t.Skip("root ignores directory permissions")
+	}
+	brain := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w", "facts"), 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w", "facts", "real.md"), []byte("x"), 0o644))
+	locked := filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "other", "locked")
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(locked, 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Chmod(locked, 0o000))
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = os.Chmod(locked, 0o755) })
+
+	rel, err := api.WriteNote(brain, api.WriteNoteOptions{Wing: "w", Hall: "facts", Filename: "n", Content: "learning [[real]] and [[gone]]"})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	got, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(brain, filepath.FromSlash(rel)))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, string(got), "[[gone]]", "links kept as given when the index is partial")
+}

ingestion/internal/audit/ntfy.go

@@ -13,9 +13,14 @@ import (
 type NtfyNotifier struct {
 	topicURL string
 	token    string
+	title    string
 	http     *http.Client
 }
 
+// defaultNtfyTitle is the title of a notifier built without WithTitle: the
+// capture audit's degraded-state alert, its first user.
+const defaultNtfyTitle = "brain-capture audit degraded"
+
 // NewNtfyNotifier constructs a notifier for the given ntfy topic URL
 // (e.g. https://ntfy.sh/my-topic). token is an optional bearer for
 // protected ntfy instances; it is held here and only sent in the
@@ -27,17 +32,31 @@ func NewNtfyNotifier(topicURL, token string) *NtfyNotifier {
 	return &NtfyNotifier{
 		topicURL: strings.TrimRight(topicURL, "/"),
 		token:    token,
+		title:    defaultNtfyTitle,
 		http:     &http.Client{Timeout: 10 * time.Second},
 	}
 }
 
+// WithTitle returns a copy that sends title as the ntfy Title header, so each
+// alert source (the capture audit, the symlink tripwire, governance edits)
+// is recognisable on the phone (hyperguild#163). A nil notifier (ntfy not
+// configured) stays nil.
+func (n *NtfyNotifier) WithTitle(title string) *NtfyNotifier {
+	if n == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	c := *n
+	c.title = title
+	return &c
+}
+
 // Notify posts a message to the ntfy topic.
 func (n *NtfyNotifier) Notify(ctx context.Context, msg string) error {
 	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, http.MethodPost, n.topicURL, strings.NewReader(msg))
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	req.Header.Set("Title", "brain-capture audit degraded")
+	req.Header.Set("Title", n.title)
 	req.Header.Set("Priority", "high")
 	req.Header.Set("Tags", "warning,brain")
 	if n.token != "" {

ingestion/internal/audit/ntfy_title_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+package audit
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// hyperguild#163: every alert went out titled "brain-capture audit
+// degraded", including the symlink tripwire's and governance alerts.
+func TestNtfyNotifierSendsItsOwnTitle(t *testing.T) {
+	var got []string
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		got = append(got, r.Header.Get("Title"))
+	}))
+	defer srv.Close()
+	base := NewNtfyNotifier(srv.URL, "")
+	require.NoError(t, base.Notify(context.Background(), "m"))
+	require.NoError(t, base.WithTitle("brain symlink tripwire").Notify(context.Background(), "m"))
+	require.NoError(t, base.Notify(context.Background(), "m"))
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"brain-capture audit degraded", "brain symlink tripwire", "brain-capture audit degraded"}, got,
+		"WithTitle returns a copy; the base keeps its default title")
+	var nilN *NtfyNotifier
+	assert.Nil(t, nilN.WithTitle("x"), "nil (ntfy not configured) stays nil")
+}

ingestion/internal/brain/linkcheck.go

@@ -47,7 +47,12 @@ var (
 func StripUnresolvedLinks(brainDir, content string) (string, []string, error) {
 	index, err := entryIndex(brainDir)
 	if err != nil {
-		return "", nil, err
+		// A partial index cannot tell an invented link from one into the
+		// part it could not read, so unwrap nothing, and do not refuse the
+		// write either: this runs before every brain_write, and a refused
+		// write is a lost learning (hyperguild#178).
+		slog.Warn("link check skipped: cannot index the brain", "err", err)
+		return content, nil, nil
 	}
 	if len(index) == 0 {
 		return content, nil, nil

ingestion/internal/brain/linkcheck_fallback_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+package brain_test
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brain"
+)
+
+// hyperguild#178: StripUnresolvedLinks runs before every brain_write and
+// brain_update. An unreadable directory under knowledge/ or wiki/ made it
+// error, the write was refused and the learning lost. When the link index
+// cannot be built, the content is now returned unchanged (no link is
+// unwrapped, none is invented) and no error stops the write.
+func TestStripUnresolvedLinksKeepsContentWhenTheIndexCannotBeBuilt(t *testing.T) {
+	if os.Geteuid() == 0 {
+		t.Skip("root ignores directory permissions")
+	}
+	b := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "w", "facts"), 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "w", "facts", "real.md"), []byte("x"), 0o644))
+	locked := filepath.Join(b, "wiki", "other", "locked")
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(locked, 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Chmod(locked, 0o000))
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = os.Chmod(locked, 0o755) })
+
+	in := "learning [[real]] and [[gone]]"
+	out, unlinked, err := brain.StripUnresolvedLinks(b, in)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, in, out, "content unchanged: no link unwrapped on a partial index")
+	assert.Empty(t, unlinked)
+
+	require.NoError(t, os.Chmod(locked, 0o755))
+	out, _, err = brain.StripUnresolvedLinks(b, in)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.NotContains(t, out, "[[gone]]", "positive control: with a readable tree the strip runs")
+}

ingestion/internal/brainfs/brainfs.go

@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ import (
 // ErrNotRegular is returned for an entry that is not a regular file.
 var ErrNotRegular = errors.New("not a regular file")
 
+// ErrLockChanged is returned by OpenLock when the lock file was replaced
+// while it was being opened.
+var ErrLockChanged = errors.New("lock file replaced while opening")
+
 // ErrTooLarge is returned by ReadRegularMax for a file over the limit.
 var ErrTooLarge = errors.New("file too large")
 
@@ -270,6 +274,54 @@ func (b *Brain) mkdirReal(rel string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// OpenLock opens (creating if absent) a regular lock file at a clean
+// brain-relative path for flock, through the root (hyperguild#192): every
+// directory above it must be real, an existing lock must be a regular file,
+// and the opened handle must be the file at the path (os.Root follows an
+// in-root final symlink even with O_NOFOLLOW, so the Lstat pre-check is
+// what refuses a dangling in-brain link). A link swapped in between the
+// pre-check and the open can still have an empty file created at an in-brain
+// target before the refusal: the #167 residual. ErrLockChanged reports a
+// lock replaced while opening (a peer removed and recreated it); callers
+// retry.
+func (b *Brain) OpenLock(rel string) (*os.File, error) {
+	if err := b.RealParent(rel); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if fi, err := b.root.Lstat(rel); err == nil && !fi.Mode().IsRegular() {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", rel, ErrNotRegular)
+	} else if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	f, err := b.root.OpenFile(rel, os.O_RDWR|os.O_CREATE|syscall.O_NOFOLLOW|syscall.O_NONBLOCK, 0o644)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	hfi, herr := f.Stat()
+	lfi, lerr := b.root.Lstat(rel)
+	if herr != nil || !hfi.Mode().IsRegular() {
+		_ = f.Close()
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", rel, ErrNotRegular)
+	}
+	if lerr != nil || !os.SameFile(lfi, hfi) {
+		_ = f.Close()
+		if lerr == nil && !lfi.Mode().IsRegular() {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", rel, ErrNotRegular)
+		}
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", rel, ErrLockChanged)
+	}
+	return f, nil
+}
+
+// LockIsCurrent reports whether f is still the file at rel: after taking a
+// flock, a lock file removed and recreated by a peer means the flock is on
+// an orphaned inode and does not exclude anyone (hyperguild#192).
+func (b *Brain) LockIsCurrent(rel string, f *os.File) bool {
+	hfi, herr := f.Stat()
+	lfi, lerr := b.root.Lstat(rel)
+	return herr == nil && lerr == nil && os.SameFile(lfi, hfi)
+}
+
 // ReadRegular reads a brain-relative path, refusing anything that is not a
 // regular file, both before the open and on the opened handle.
 func (b *Brain) ReadRegular(rel string) ([]byte, error) {

ingestion/internal/brainfs/brainfs_test.go

@@ -529,3 +529,49 @@ func TestCreateRegularCreatesOnlyNewFilesThroughRealDirectories(t *testing.T) {
 	got, _ = os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "new", "facts", "n.md"))
 	assert.Equal(t, "one", string(got))
 }
+
+// hyperguild#192: OpenLock creates or reuses a regular lock file through the
+// root and refuses every other shape without creating anything at a link's
+// target or hanging.
+func TestOpenLockOpensOnlyARegularLockThroughRealDirectories(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "raw"), 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "w"), 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "v.md"), []byte("untouched"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "raw", "created"), filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "w", "dangling.lock")))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "..", "raw", "v.md"), filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "w", "live.lock")))
+	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "w", "fifo.lock"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "w", "dir.lock"), 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(filepath.Join("..", "raw"), filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "alias")))
+	b, err := Open(dir)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer func() { _ = b.Close() }()
+
+	for _, rel := range []string{"wiki/w/dangling.lock", "wiki/w/live.lock", "wiki/w/fifo.lock", "wiki/w/dir.lock", "wiki/alias/x.lock", "wiki/w/../w/x.lock"} {
+		done := make(chan error, 1)
+		go func() {
+			f, err := b.OpenLock(rel)
+			if f != nil {
+				_ = f.Close()
+			}
+			done <- err
+		}()
+		select {
+		case err := <-done:
+			assert.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrNotRegular, rel)
+		case <-time.After(3 * time.Second):
+			t.Fatalf("OpenLock hung on %s", rel)
+		}
+	}
+	_, err = os.Lstat(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "created"))
+	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(err), "nothing created at the dangling link's target")
+	got, _ := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "v.md"))
+	assert.Equal(t, "untouched", string(got))
+
+	f, err := b.OpenLock("wiki/w/n.md.lock")
+	require.NoError(t, err, "positive control: creates a lock")
+	assert.True(t, b.LockIsCurrent("wiki/w/n.md.lock", f))
+	require.NoError(t, b.Remove("wiki/w/n.md.lock"))
+	assert.False(t, b.LockIsCurrent("wiki/w/n.md.lock", f), "a removed lock is no longer current")
+	_ = f.Close()
+}

ingestion/internal/mcp/edit_pathio_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+package mcp_test
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"syscall"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/audit"
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brainstore"
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/capture"
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/capturehttp"
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/classification"
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/mcp"
+)
+
+// hyperguild#192: brain_edit snapshotted the note with os.ReadFile by path,
+// which blocks on a FIFO held open by a writer, and hung the call.
+func TestBrainEditReturnsPromptlyOnAFIFONoteWithAWriter(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := newBrainRepo(t)
+	fifo := filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "homelab", "facts", "f.md")
+	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(fifo, 0o644))
+	w, err := os.OpenFile(fifo, os.O_RDWR, 0)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = w.Close() })
+	srv := mcp.NewServer(dir, nil, nil, nil)
+
+	done := make(chan map[string]any, 1)
+	go func() {
+		done <- call(t, srv, "brain_edit", map[string]any{"path": "wiki/homelab/facts/f.md", "old_str": "a", "new_str": "b"})
+	}()
+	select {
+	case resp := <-done:
+		assert.Contains(t, resp, "error", "a FIFO note is refused")
+	case <-time.After(3 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("brain_edit hung on a FIFO note")
+	}
+
+	resp := call(t, srv, "brain_edit", map[string]any{"path": "wiki/homelab/facts/n.md", "old_str": "beta", "new_str": "BETA"})
+	require.NotContains(t, resp, "error", "positive control: a regular note is edited: %v", resp["error"])
+}
+
+// hyperguild#192: the edit lock "<note>.lock" was opened by path with
+// O_CREATE, so a planted dangling .lock symlink made a successful edit create
+// a file at the link's target, outside the brain or elsewhere in it.
+func TestBrainEditDoesNotCreateAFileThroughADanglingLockSymlink(t *testing.T) {
+	for name, target := range map[string]func(t *testing.T, dir string) string{
+		"outside":  func(t *testing.T, _ string) string { return filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "created") },
+		// Relative, as Syncthing carries it: os.Root refuses an absolute
+		// link on its own, so only OpenLock's pre-check stops this one.
+		"in-brain": func(t *testing.T, dir string) string { return filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "created") },
+	} {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			dir := newBrainRepo(t)
+			require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "raw"), 0o755))
+			tgt := target(t, dir)
+			lock := filepath.Join(dir, "wiki", "homelab", "facts", "n.md.lock")
+			linkTo := tgt
+			if name == "in-brain" {
+				rel, err := filepath.Rel(filepath.Dir(lock), tgt)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				linkTo = rel
+			}
+			require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(linkTo, lock))
+			srv := mcp.NewServer(dir, nil, nil, nil)
+			resp := call(t, srv, "brain_edit", map[string]any{"path": "wiki/homelab/facts/n.md", "old_str": "beta", "new_str": "BETA"})
+			require.NotNil(t, resp["error"], "the edit is refused")
+			assert.Contains(t, resp["error"].(map[string]any)["message"], "lock", "refused because of the lock file")
+			_, err := os.Lstat(tgt)
+			assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(err), "a file was created at the lock symlink's target")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// The rollback (when the stamp cannot be verified) writes the prior bytes
+// through the brain root: a symlink swapped in for the note before the
+// rollback is refused, and its target, in the brain or outside, is
+// untouched.
+func TestBrainEditRollbackDoesNotWriteThroughASymlinkSwappedInForTheNote(t *testing.T) {
+	for name, mk := range map[string]func(t *testing.T, dir string) (link, victim string){
+		"outside": func(t *testing.T, _ string) (string, string) {
+			v := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "victim.md")
+			return v, v
+		},
+		"in-brain": func(t *testing.T, dir string) (string, string) {
+			return filepath.Join("..", "..", "..", "raw", "victim.md"), filepath.Join(dir, "raw", "victim.md")
+		},
+	} {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			dir := newBrainRepo(t)
+			require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(dir, "raw"), 0o755))
+			cfg, err := classification.Load(dir)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			svc := capture.NewService(brainstore.New(dir), capFakeTracker{}, cfg, audit.NewSlogSink(nil))
+			srv := mcp.NewServer(dir, nil, nil, nil)
+			srv.WithCapture(svc, capFakeValidator{subject: "bad\xff"}, capStaticTok, "local-cli", capturehttp.NewOriginResolver(nil))
+			out := resultText(t, authCall(t, srv, "Bearer "+capStaticTok, "brain_write", map[string]any{
+				"content": "# R\n\nstatic body", "wing": "testing", "hall": "facts", "filename": "rb",
+			}))
+			path := out["path"].(string)
+			note := filepath.Join(dir, path)
+			link, victim := mk(t, dir)
+			require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(victim, []byte("untouched"), 0o644))
+			defer mcp.SetBeforeStampHook(func() {
+				require.NoError(t, os.Remove(note))
+				require.NoError(t, os.Symlink(link, note))
+			})()
+			resp := authCall(t, srv, jwtAuthz, "brain_edit", map[string]any{"path": path, "old_str": "static body", "new_str": "injected"})
+			require.NotNil(t, resp["error"])
+			got, _ := os.ReadFile(victim)
+			assert.Equal(t, "untouched", string(got), "the rollback wrote through the swapped-in symlink")
+		})
+	}
+}

ingestion/internal/mcp/export_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+package mcp
+
+// SetBeforeStampHook installs beforeStampHook for a test and returns a
+// restore func.
+func SetBeforeStampHook(f func()) func() {
+	old := beforeStampHook
+	beforeStampHook = f
+	return func() { beforeStampHook = old }
+}

ingestion/internal/mcp/tools_notes.go

@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/api"
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brainfs"
 	"log/slog"
-	"os"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -118,7 +118,14 @@ func (s *Server) brainEdit(ctx context.Context, args json.RawMessage) (json.RawM
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	// No snapshot, no edit: without one a failed stamp could not be undone.
-	prior, err := os.ReadFile(target.Abs)
+	// Read through the brain root, regular files only (hyperguild#192): a
+	// FIFO held open by a writer hung os.ReadFile.
+	bfs, err := brainfs.Open(s.brainDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("snapshot before edit: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = bfs.Close() }()
+	prior, err := bfs.ReadRegular(target.Rel)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("snapshot before edit: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -130,8 +137,11 @@ func (s *Server) brainEdit(ctx context.Context, args json.RawMessage) (json.RawM
 	// whoever edits a note is the author of what a reader now sees: re-stamp
 	// to the editor after every edit (PR #147 review, escape E1).
 	origin, writtenBy := provenanceFrom(ctx)
+	if beforeStampHook != nil {
+		beforeStampHook()
+	}
 	if serr := api.StampProvenanceFile(s.brainDir, res.Path, origin, writtenBy); serr != nil {
-		if werr := os.WriteFile(target.Abs, prior, 0o644); werr != nil {
+		if werr := bfs.WriteRegular(target.Rel, prior); werr != nil {
 			// Say exactly what state the note is in: edited, unverified.
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("stamp provenance failed (%v) AND the edit could NOT be rolled back: %w; "+
 				"%s carries the edit under its previous attribution", serr, werr, res.Path)
@@ -141,6 +151,11 @@ func (s *Server) brainEdit(ctx context.Context, args json.RawMessage) (json.RawM
 	return out, nil
 }
 
+// beforeStampHook is a test seam (nil in production): it runs between the
+// edit and the provenance stamp, so a test can swap the note before the
+// rollback path runs.
+var beforeStampHook func()
+
 // brainEditRoot edits a governance file (CLAUDE.md). De-surfaced AND gated on
 // the authenticated principal: only the static local-CLI token may call it, so
 // a claude.ai-origin session — the one that may have just read an untrusted

ingestion/internal/notes/edit.go

@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ func Edit(brainDir, path, oldStr, newStr string, scope Scope) (Result, error) {
 	mu.Lock()
 	defer mu.Unlock()
 
-	unlock, err := flockFile(t.Abs)
+	unlock, err := flockFile(t)
 	if err != nil {
 		return Result{}, err
 	}
@@ -220,21 +220,49 @@ func lockFor(abs string) *sync.Mutex {
 }
 
 // flockFile takes an advisory lock covering other processes sharing the
-// hostPath — during a RollingUpdate two ingestion pods do.
-func flockFile(abs string) (func(), error) {
-	f, err := os.OpenFile(abs+".lock", os.O_CREATE|os.O_RDWR, 0o644)
+// hostPath — during a RollingUpdate two ingestion pods do. The lock file is
+// opened and removed through the brain root, never through a symlink
+// (hyperguild#192): a planted dangling "<note>.lock" link made a successful
+// edit create a file at its target.
+//
+// Unlock removes the lock file while still holding the flock, so a waiter
+// can wake holding a lock on an orphaned inode while the next caller locks a
+// fresh file: two editors at once (measured on main). After taking the
+// flock, the file must still be the one at the path; otherwise retry.
+func flockFile(t Target) (func(), error) {
+	lockRel := t.Rel + ".lock"
+	bfs, err := brainfs.Open(t.Brain)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("notes: lock %s: %w", filepath.Base(abs), err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("notes: lock %s: %w", lockRel, err)
 	}
-	if err := syscall.Flock(int(f.Fd()), syscall.LOCK_EX); err != nil {
-		_ = f.Close()
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("notes: flock %s: %w", filepath.Base(abs), err)
+	for attempt := 0; attempt < 1000; attempt++ {
+		f, err := bfs.OpenLock(lockRel)
+		if errors.Is(err, brainfs.ErrLockChanged) {
+			continue
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			_ = bfs.Close()
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("notes: lock %s: %w", lockRel, err)
+		}
+		if err := syscall.Flock(int(f.Fd()), syscall.LOCK_EX); err != nil {
+			_ = f.Close()
+			_ = bfs.Close()
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("notes: flock %s: %w", lockRel, err)
+		}
+		if !bfs.LockIsCurrent(lockRel, f) {
+			_ = syscall.Flock(int(f.Fd()), syscall.LOCK_UN)
+			_ = f.Close()
+			continue
+		}
+		return func() {
+			_ = bfs.Remove(lockRel)
+			_ = syscall.Flock(int(f.Fd()), syscall.LOCK_UN)
+			_ = f.Close()
+			_ = bfs.Close()
+		}, nil
 	}
-	return func() {
-		_ = syscall.Flock(int(f.Fd()), syscall.LOCK_UN)
-		_ = f.Close()
-		_ = os.Remove(abs + ".lock")
-	}, nil
+	_ = bfs.Close()
+	return nil, fmt.Errorf("notes: lock %s: kept changing while locking", lockRel)
 }
 
 // writeAtomic replaces the file via a same-directory temp + rename, then

ingestion/internal/notes/lock_xproc_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+package notes
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// lockChild runs inside a re-executed test binary: it takes the note's edit
+// lock N times and, while holding it, creates an O_EXCL marker. Finding the
+// marker already there means another process holds the "same" lock: mutual
+// exclusion failed. It prints the overlap count.
+func lockChild(brainDir string, rounds int) {
+	t, err := Resolve(brainDir, "wiki/w/facts/n.md", ScopeNotes)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println("resolve:", err)
+		os.Exit(2)
+	}
+	marker := filepath.Join(brainDir, "marker")
+	overlaps := 0
+	for i := 0; i < rounds; i++ {
+		unlock, err := flockFile(t)
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Println("lock:", err)
+			os.Exit(2)
+		}
+		f, err := os.OpenFile(marker, os.O_CREATE|os.O_EXCL|os.O_WRONLY, 0o644)
+		if errors.Is(err, os.ErrExist) {
+			overlaps++
+		} else if err == nil {
+			_ = f.Close()
+			_ = os.Remove(marker)
+		}
+		unlock()
+	}
+	fmt.Println(overlaps)
+	os.Exit(0)
+}
+
+func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
+	if dir := os.Getenv("NOTES_LOCK_CHILD"); dir != "" {
+		n, _ := strconv.Atoi(os.Getenv("NOTES_LOCK_ROUNDS"))
+		lockChild(dir, n)
+	}
+	os.Exit(m.Run())
+}
+
+// hyperguild#192: the edit lock must exclude other processes (two ingestion
+// pods share the hostPath brain during a RollingUpdate). Unlock removes the
+// lock file, so without re-checking that the locked file is still the one at
+// the path, a waiter and the next caller each held a lock (measured on main:
+// hundreds of overlaps in 2000 rounds).
+func TestEditLockExcludesOtherProcesses(t *testing.T) {
+	brain := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w", "facts"), 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w", "facts", "n.md"), []byte("x"), 0o644))
+	const procs, rounds = 3, 400
+	cmds := make([]*exec.Cmd, procs)
+	outs := make([]*strings.Builder, procs)
+	for i := range cmds {
+		outs[i] = &strings.Builder{}
+		cmds[i] = exec.Command(os.Args[0], "-test.run=^$")
+		cmds[i].Env = append(os.Environ(), "NOTES_LOCK_CHILD="+brain, "NOTES_LOCK_ROUNDS="+strconv.Itoa(rounds))
+		cmds[i].Stdout, cmds[i].Stderr = outs[i], outs[i]
+		require.NoError(t, cmds[i].Start())
+	}
+	total := 0
+	for i, c := range cmds {
+		require.NoError(t, c.Wait(), "child %d: %s", i, outs[i].String())
+		n, err := strconv.Atoi(strings.TrimSpace(outs[i].String()))
+		require.NoError(t, err, "child %d output: %q", i, outs[i].String())
+		total += n
+	}
+	require.Zero(t, total, "processes held the edit lock at the same time")
+}

ingestion/internal/symlinkguard/special_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+package symlinkguard
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"net"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"syscall"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// hyperguild#179: the tripwire looked only for symlinks, so a FIFO (or
+// socket) in the brain passed it. A FIFO at classification.yaml then made
+// startup exit; at a note path it could hang readers that skip the handle
+// check.
+func TestScanReportsFIFOsAndSocketsAsSpecialFiles(t *testing.T) {
+	brain := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w"), 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(filepath.Join(brain, "classification.yaml"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w", "f.md"), 0o644))
+	l, err := net.Listen("unix", filepath.Join(brain, "s.sock"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer func() { _ = l.Close() }()
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(brain, "wiki", "w", "n.md"), []byte("n"), 0o644))
+
+	r, err := Scan(brain)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"classification.yaml", "s.sock", "wiki/w/f.md"}, r.Special)
+	assert.False(t, r.Clean())
+	assert.Contains(t, r.String(), "special file")
+}
+
+// Watch removes a FIFO as it removes symlinks, and leaves a regular file
+// (which Scan never reports) alone.
+func TestWatchRemovesAFIFOAndLeavesAnUnreportedRegularFile(t *testing.T) {
+	brain := t.TempDir()
+	fifo := filepath.Join(brain, "f.md")
+	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(fifo, 0o644))
+	regular := filepath.Join(brain, "n.md")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(regular, []byte("n"), 0o644))
+	n := &recNotifier{}
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+	go Watch(ctx, brain, 10*time.Millisecond, n)
+	require.Eventually(t, func() bool {
+		_, err := os.Lstat(fifo)
+		return os.IsNotExist(err)
+	}, 2*time.Second, 10*time.Millisecond, "the FIFO is removed")
+	require.Eventually(t, func() bool { return n.count() >= 1 }, 2*time.Second, 10*time.Millisecond)
+	b, err := os.ReadFile(regular)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "n", string(b))
+	n.mu.Lock()
+	defer n.mu.Unlock()
+	assert.Contains(t, n.msgs[0], "f.md")
+}
+
+// removeSpecial re-checks the type: a path that is a regular file or a
+// directory at the re-check is not removed. (A swap between the re-check and
+// the unlink can still remove one; Linux has no conditional unlink. The same
+// window exists in removeSymlinks.)
+func TestRemoveSpecialRefusesRegularFilesAndDirectories(t *testing.T) {
+	brain := t.TempDir()
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(brain, "n.md"), []byte("n"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(brain, "d"), 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(filepath.Join(brain, "f.md"), 0o644))
+	removed, failed := removeSpecial(brain, []string{"n.md", "d", "f.md"})
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"f.md"}, removed)
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"n.md", "d"}, failed)
+	_, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(brain, "n.md"))
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+}
+
+// A special file Watch cannot remove (its directory is read-only) stays
+// reported: the persistent-finding alert names it.
+func TestWatchReportsASpecialFileItCannotRemove(t *testing.T) {
+	if os.Geteuid() == 0 {
+		t.Skip("root ignores directory permissions")
+	}
+	brain := t.TempDir()
+	ro := filepath.Join(brain, "ro")
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(ro, 0o755))
+	require.NoError(t, syscall.Mkfifo(filepath.Join(ro, "f.md"), 0o644))
+	require.NoError(t, os.Chmod(ro, 0o555))
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = os.Chmod(ro, 0o755) })
+	n := &recNotifier{}
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+	go Watch(ctx, brain, 10*time.Millisecond, n)
+	require.Eventually(t, func() bool { return n.count() >= 1 }, 2*time.Second, 10*time.Millisecond)
+	_, err := os.Lstat(filepath.Join(ro, "f.md"))
+	require.NoError(t, err, "the FIFO could not be removed")
+	n.mu.Lock()
+	defer n.mu.Unlock()
+	assert.Contains(t, n.msgs[0], "ro/f.md")
+	assert.Contains(t, n.msgs[0], "special file")
+	for _, m := range n.msgs {
+		assert.NotContains(t, m, "removed", "a file it could not remove was reported as removed")
+	}
+}

ingestion/internal/symlinkguard/symlinkguard.go

@@ -46,10 +46,16 @@ type Notifier interface {
 type Result struct {
 	Symlinks   []string
 	Unreadable []string
+	// Special holds FIFOs, sockets and devices (hyperguild#179): a reader
+	// that opens one by path can hang, and a FIFO at classification.yaml
+	// stops startup.
+	Special []string
 }
 
 // Clean reports whether the scan found nothing to act on.
-func (r Result) Clean() bool { return len(r.Symlinks) == 0 && len(r.Unreadable) == 0 }
+func (r Result) Clean() bool {
+	return len(r.Symlinks) == 0 && len(r.Unreadable) == 0 && len(r.Special) == 0
+}
 
 // String describes the findings for a log line or alert. Paths are quoted, so
 // a name containing a newline cannot blur two findings together.
@@ -59,6 +65,9 @@ func (r Result) String() string {
 	if len(r.Symlinks) > 0 {
 		parts = append(parts, fmt.Sprintf("%d symlink(s): %s", len(r.Symlinks), q(r.Symlinks)))
 	}
+	if len(r.Special) > 0 {
+		parts = append(parts, fmt.Sprintf("%d special file(s) (FIFO, socket or device; delete them): %s", len(r.Special), q(r.Special)))
+	}
 	if len(r.Unreadable) > 0 {
 		parts = append(parts, fmt.Sprintf("%d unreadable dir(s): %s", len(r.Unreadable), q(r.Unreadable)))
 	}
@@ -113,12 +122,16 @@ func Scan(brainDir string) (Result, error) {
 		if d.IsDir() && p == rootGit {
 			return filepath.SkipDir
 		}
-		if d.Type()&os.ModeSymlink != 0 {
+		switch {
+		case d.Type()&os.ModeSymlink != 0:
 			r.Symlinks = append(r.Symlinks, rel)
+		case !d.IsDir() && !d.Type().IsRegular():
+			r.Special = append(r.Special, rel)
 		}
 		return nil
 	})
 	sort.Strings(r.Symlinks)
+	sort.Strings(r.Special)
 	sort.Strings(r.Unreadable)
 	if walkErr != nil {
 		// Only the root's own error reaches here (deeper errors are recorded
@@ -182,14 +195,20 @@ func Watch(ctx context.Context, brainDir string, interval time.Duration, n Notif
 				q.push(fmt.Sprintf("brain symlink tripwire (hyperguild#157): removed %d symlink(s) from the brain dir: %s",
 					len(removed), Result{}.quoted(removed)))
 			}
-			key = Result{Symlinks: failed, Unreadable: r.Unreadable}.String()
+			sRemoved, sFailed := removeSpecial(brainDir, r.Special)
+			if len(sRemoved) > 0 {
+				slog.Error("brain symlink tripwire removed special files", "count", len(sRemoved))
+				q.push(fmt.Sprintf("brain symlink tripwire (hyperguild#179): removed %d special file(s) (FIFO, socket or device) from the brain dir: %s",
+					len(sRemoved), Result{}.quoted(sRemoved)))
+			}
+			key = Result{Symlinks: failed, Unreadable: r.Unreadable, Special: sFailed}.String()
 		}
 		if key != reported {
 			reported = key
 			if key != "" {
 				slog.Error("brain symlink tripwire", "finding", key)
-				q.push("brain symlink tripwire (hyperguild#157): " + key +
-					". Readers may follow symlinks out of the brain; fix them.")
+				q.push("brain symlink tripwire (hyperguild#157, #179): " + key +
+					". Symlinks can lead readers out of the brain and special files can hang them; remove them.")
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -322,6 +341,40 @@ func permanent(err error) bool {
 	return errors.As(err, &p) && p.Permanent()
 }
 
+// removeSpecial unlinks each brain-relative FIFO, socket or device through
+// an os.Root on the brain dir, after re-checking that it is still one: a
+// path that is a regular file, a directory or a symlink at the re-check is
+// left alone and reported as failed. The re-check narrows, but cannot close,
+// the window before the unlink (Linux has no conditional unlink); the same
+// window exists in removeSymlinks, and only a local writer can use it.
+func removeSpecial(brainDir string, rels []string) (removed, failed []string) {
+	if len(rels) == 0 {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	resolved, err := filepath.EvalSymlinks(brainDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, rels
+	}
+	root, err := os.OpenRoot(resolved)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, rels
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = root.Close() }()
+	for _, rel := range rels {
+		fi, err := root.Lstat(rel)
+		if err != nil || fi.IsDir() || fi.Mode().IsRegular() || fi.Mode()&os.ModeSymlink != 0 {
+			failed = append(failed, rel)
+			continue
+		}
+		if err := root.Remove(rel); err != nil {
+			failed = append(failed, rel)
+			continue
+		}
+		removed = append(removed, rel)
+	}
+	return removed, failed
+}
+
 // removeSymlinks unlinks each brain-relative symlink through an os.Root on
 // the brain dir, after re-checking it is still a symlink. Removing a symlink
 // never touches its target. It returns what was removed and what was not.

ingestion/internal/symlinkguard/symlinkguard_test.go

@@ -381,18 +381,19 @@ func TestWatchQueueIsBoundedDuringAnOutage(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Eventually(t, func() bool { _, err := os.Lstat(link); return os.IsNotExist(err) }, 2*time.Second, 2*time.Millisecond)
 	}
 	n.down.Store(false)
-	require.Eventually(t, func() bool { return n.count() >= 1 }, 2*time.Second, 5*time.Millisecond)
-	time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
-	assert.LessOrEqual(t, n.count(), maxPending+1, "queued alerts plus at most one suppression summary")
-	n.mu.Lock()
-	defer n.mu.Unlock()
-	found := false
-	for _, m := range n.msgs {
-		if strings.Contains(m, "suppressed") {
-			found = true
+	// Synchronise on the summary being delivered (hyperguild#193: a fixed
+	// sleep flaked under load); once it is, the queue has been flushed.
+	require.Eventually(t, func() bool {
+		n.mu.Lock()
+		defer n.mu.Unlock()
+		for _, m := range n.msgs {
+			if strings.Contains(m, "suppressed") {
+				return true
+			}
 		}
-	}
-	assert.True(t, found, "suppressed alerts are counted in a summary")
+		return false
+	}, 10*time.Second, 5*time.Millisecond, "suppressed alerts are counted in a summary")
+	assert.LessOrEqual(t, n.count(), maxPending+1, "queued alerts plus at most one suppression summary")
 }
 
 // Within the bound, every alert queued during an outage is delivered after
@@ -411,11 +412,21 @@ func TestWatchDeliversEveryQueuedAlertAfterAShortOutage(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Eventually(t, func() bool { _, err := os.Lstat(link); return os.IsNotExist(err) }, 2*time.Second, 2*time.Millisecond)
 	}
 	n.down.Store(false)
-	require.Eventually(t, func() bool { return n.count() == 3 }, 2*time.Second, 5*time.Millisecond)
+	require.Eventually(t, func() bool { return n.count() >= 3 }, 10*time.Second, 5*time.Millisecond)
 	n.mu.Lock()
 	defer n.mu.Unlock()
-	for i, name := range []string{"qa", "qb", "qc"} {
-		assert.Contains(t, n.msgs[i], strconv.Quote(name))
+	// Each removal delivered exactly once, in any order: the outage ends
+	// asynchronously, possibly mid-flush, so a later item can send before an
+	// earlier one (hyperguild#193). Order is not what this test is about.
+	assert.Len(t, n.msgs, 3)
+	for _, name := range []string{"qa", "qb", "qc"} {
+		hits := 0
+		for _, m := range n.msgs {
+			if strings.Contains(m, strconv.Quote(name)) {
+				hits++
+			}
+		}
+		assert.Equal(t, 1, hits, "%s delivered exactly once", name)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -457,29 +468,30 @@ func TestWatchAccountsForEveryRemovalDuringAnOutage(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Eventually(t, func() bool { _, err := os.Lstat(link); return os.IsNotExist(err) }, 2*time.Second, 1*time.Millisecond)
 	}
 	n.down.Store(false)
-	require.Eventually(t, func() bool {
+	// Synchronise on the record being complete, not on a fixed sleep after
+	// the first summary (hyperguild#193): sum every "removed N" alert and
+	// every suppression count until they account for all plants.
+	account := func() (delivered, counted int) {
 		n.mu.Lock()
 		defer n.mu.Unlock()
 		for _, m := range n.msgs {
-			if strings.Contains(m, "suppressed") {
-				return true
+			var k int
+			if i := strings.Index(m, "removed "); i >= 0 && strings.Contains(m, "symlink(s)") {
+				if _, err := fmt.Sscanf(m[i+len("removed "):], "%d", &k); err == nil {
+					delivered += k
+				}
+			}
+			if i := strings.Index(m, "): "); i >= 0 && strings.Contains(m, "suppressed") {
+				if _, err := fmt.Sscanf(m[i+3:], "%d", &k); err == nil {
+					counted += k
+				}
 			}
 		}
-		return false
-	}, 2*time.Second, 5*time.Millisecond)
-	time.Sleep(50 * time.Millisecond)
-	n.mu.Lock()
-	defer n.mu.Unlock()
-	delivered, counted := 0, 0
-	for _, m := range n.msgs {
-		if strings.Contains(m, "removed 1 symlink(s)") {
-			delivered++
-		}
-		if i := strings.Index(m, "): "); i >= 0 && strings.Contains(m, "suppressed") {
-			_, _ = fmt.Sscanf(m[i+3:], "%d", &counted)
-		}
+		return delivered, counted
 	}
-	assert.Equal(t, plants, delivered+counted, "delivered %d + counted %d must equal %d removals", delivered, counted, plants)
+	require.Eventually(t, func() bool { d, c := account(); return d+c >= plants }, 10*time.Second, 5*time.Millisecond)
+	d, c := account()
+	assert.Equal(t, plants, d+c, "delivered %d + counted %d must equal %d removals", d, c, plants)
 }
 
 // A poison message is still dropped (others send while it fails), and the