diff --git a/crates/openshell-server/src/compute/mod.rs b/crates/openshell-server/src/compute/mod.rs
index 2b168f26df..24874dd3aa 100644
--- a/crates/openshell-server/src/compute/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/openshell-server/src/compute/mod.rs
@@ -6563,12 +6563,32 @@ impl ComputeRuntime {
         self.sandbox_watch_bus.remove(sandbox_id);
     }
 
+    /// Lifecycle gate for a sweep that observes a `Starting` sandbox.
+    ///
+    /// `StartSandbox` holds the gate for the whole driver call, during which
+    /// the workload can still show its previous exit. The sweep skips the
+    /// sandbox (`Err`) instead of waiting, and the next tick or watch event
+    /// reports the settled state. The sweep holds the gate while it polls.
+    fn sweep_start_gate(
+        &self,
+        record: &ObjectRecord,
+    ) -> Result<Option<SandboxLifecycleGuard>, String> {
+        let sandbox = decode_sandbox_record(record)?;
+        if sandbox.phase() != SandboxPhase::Starting as i32 {
+            return Ok(None);
+        }
+        self.lifecycle_gates
+            .try_lock_for(sandbox.object_id())
+            .map(Some)
+            .ok_or_else(|| "start in progress".to_string())
+    }
+
     async fn reconcile_snapshot_sandbox(
         &self,
         snapshot: DriverSandbox,
         sweep_started_at_ms: i64,
     ) -> Result<(), String> {
-        let expected_resource_version = {
+        let (expected_resource_version, _start_gate) = {
             let _guard = self.lock_sandbox_local(&snapshot.id).await;
             let Some(existing) = self
                 .store
@@ -6582,7 +6602,10 @@ impl ComputeRuntime {
             if existing.updated_at_ms > sweep_started_at_ms {
                 return Ok(());
             }
-            existing.resource_version
+            let Ok(start_gate) = self.sweep_start_gate(&existing) else {
+                return Ok(());
+            };
+            (existing.resource_version, start_gate)
         };
 
         let Some(current) = self
@@ -6617,7 +6640,7 @@ impl ComputeRuntime {
         sweep_started_at_ms: i64,
         grace_ms: i64,
     ) -> Result<(), String> {
-        let (sandbox_id, sandbox_name, expected_resource_version, age_ms) = {
+        let (sandbox_id, sandbox_name, expected_resource_version, age_ms, _start_gate) = {
             let _guard = self.lock_sandbox_local(&record.id).await;
             let Some(current_record) = self
                 .store
@@ -6645,12 +6668,16 @@ impl ComputeRuntime {
             if age_ms < grace_ms {
                 return Ok(());
             }
+            let Ok(start_gate) = self.sweep_start_gate(&current_record) else {
+                return Ok(());
+            };
 
             (
                 sandbox.object_id().to_string(),
                 sandbox.object_name().to_string(),
                 current_record.resource_version,
                 age_ms,
+                start_gate,
             )
         };
 
@@ -14068,6 +14095,58 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    // Regression for #5258. The reconcile sweep polls the driver without
+    // waiting for a start, and a restarting workload still shows its previous
+    // exit until the driver starts it. The sweep skips a sandbox whose start
+    // holds the lifecycle gate; the settled state is reported afterwards.
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn reconcile_sweep_skips_a_sandbox_while_its_start_is_in_progress() {
+        let driver = ControlledDriver::new();
+        driver.block_start();
+        let sandbox = sandbox_record(
+            "sb-start-reconcile",
+            "sandbox-start-reconcile",
+            SandboxPhase::Stopped,
+        );
+        let mut polled = ready_driver_sandbox(sandbox.object_id(), sandbox.object_name());
+        polled.status = Some(make_driver_status(make_driver_condition(
+            "ContainerExited",
+            "Container exited with code 0",
+        )));
+        driver.set_get_outcome(ControlledGetOutcome::Sandbox(Box::new(polled.clone())));
+        let runtime = test_runtime(driver.clone()).await;
+        runtime.store.put_message(&sandbox).await.unwrap();
+
+        let start_runtime = runtime.clone();
+        let sandbox_name = sandbox.object_name().to_string();
+        let start =
+            tokio::spawn(
+                async move { start_runtime.start_sandbox("default", &sandbox_name).await },
+            );
+        tokio::time::timeout(Duration::from_secs(1), driver.start_started.notified())
+            .await
+            .expect("start did not reach the driver");
+
+        tokio::time::timeout(
+            Duration::from_secs(1),
+            runtime.reconcile_snapshot_sandbox(polled, i64::MAX),
+        )
+        .await
+        .expect("reconciliation must not wait for the start")
+        .unwrap();
+        let phase_during_start = runtime
+            .store
+            .get_message::<Sandbox>(sandbox.object_id())
+            .await
+            .unwrap()
+            .unwrap()
+            .phase();
+        assert_eq!(phase_during_start, SandboxPhase::Starting as i32);
+
+        driver.release_start();
+        start.await.unwrap().unwrap();
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn live_container_exit_during_start_still_transitions_to_error() {
         for reason in [