diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fceeb5e..ca173c0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -934,6 +934,10 @@ delegation is refused and `GetDelegation` answers `active: false`. Unlike a
 revoke, an expiry advances no revision. A newly issued capability's signed expiry
 is bounded by both `MaxTTL` and the delegation's remaining lifetime, including
 when issuing again near the end; signing that crosses the bound is refused.
+For finite module and client delegations, the remaining lifetime and root
+mint use one issuance instant: time spent reading revision/seal state cannot
+extend that signed window. Verification, child derivation and the post-signing
+grant checks still use the live clock, so an expired or shortened grant refuses.
 Core's verifier still applies its 30-second clock tolerance. Capabilities minted
 before this bound was introduced retain their original signed expiry. The edge
 requires a lifetime of a
diff --git a/libraries/authority-core/go/authority/client.go b/libraries/authority-core/go/authority/client.go
index a1b485d..bd5a923 100644
--- a/libraries/authority-core/go/authority/client.go
+++ b/libraries/authority-core/go/authority/client.go
@@ -148,15 +148,12 @@ func (s *Service) IssueForClientDelegation(ctx context.Context, id, clientID, re
 	if err != nil {
 		return Issued{}, err
 	}
-	ttl := min(clamp(r.TTL, s.cfg.MaxTTL), d.ExpiresAt.Sub(s.cfg.Clock()))
-	if ttl <= 0 {
-		return Issued{}, domain.Refuse("client delegation expired")
-	}
-	root, err := s.startFenced(ctx, f, workcontext.StartInput{
+	ttl := clamp(r.TTL, s.cfg.MaxTTL)
+	root, err := s.startFencedUntil(ctx, f, workcontext.StartInput{
 		TenantID: d.Organization, OrganizationID: d.Organization, OwnerPrincipalID: d.Grantor, OwnerPrincipalKind: "human",
 		TaskID: s.cfg.NewID(), Audience: audience.Principal, AuthorityScopes: scopes,
 		InstallationID: inst.ID, TTL: ttl, ReplayPolicy: workcontext.ReplayIdempotent,
-	})
+	}, d.ExpiresAt)
 	if err != nil {
 		return Issued{}, err
 	}
diff --git a/libraries/authority-core/go/authority/delegation.go b/libraries/authority-core/go/authority/delegation.go
index 74fd6b0..278bae9 100644
--- a/libraries/authority-core/go/authority/delegation.go
+++ b/libraries/authority-core/go/authority/delegation.go
@@ -223,23 +223,13 @@ func (s *Service) IssueForDelegation(ctx context.Context, id string, actor Workl
 	if err != nil {
 		return Issued{}, err
 	}
-	// Refreshing near a delegation's end must not buy another MaxTTL. Bound
-	// the signed capability itself, not just the OAuth response's expires_in.
+	// Bound the root's signed window at one instant; children cannot outlive it.
 	ttl := clamp(r.TTL, s.cfg.MaxTTL)
-	if !d.ExpiresAt.IsZero() {
-		remaining := d.ExpiresAt.Sub(s.cfg.Clock())
-		if remaining <= 0 {
-			return Issued{}, domain.Refuse("delegation %s expired", id)
-		}
-		if remaining < ttl {
-			ttl = remaining
-		}
-	}
-	root, err := s.startFenced(ctx, f, workcontext.StartInput{
+	root, err := s.startFencedUntil(ctx, f, workcontext.StartInput{
 		TenantID: d.Organization, OrganizationID: d.Organization, OwnerPrincipalID: d.Grantor, OwnerPrincipalKind: "human",
 		TaskID: s.cfg.NewID(), Audience: audience.Principal, AuthorityScopes: scope.Limits{}.Project(through, scopes),
 		InstallationID: sealTo, TTL: ttl, ReplayPolicy: workcontext.ReplayIdempotent,
-	})
+	}, d.ExpiresAt)
 	if err != nil {
 		return Issued{}, err
 	}
diff --git a/libraries/authority-core/go/authority/delegation_clock_test.go b/libraries/authority-core/go/authority/delegation_clock_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4e02a1e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/authority-core/go/authority/delegation_clock_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+package authority_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/codefly-dev/authority/libraries/authority-core/go/authority"
+	"github.com/codefly-dev/authority/libraries/authority-core/go/domain"
+)
+
+// A real store can take time reading the mint's revision and seal after the
+// delegation decision. Advance the injected clock there, without sleeps.
+type mintDelayStore struct {
+	authority.Store
+	advance func()
+}
+
+type mintDelayTx struct {
+	authority.Tx
+	store *mintDelayStore
+}
+
+func (s *mintDelayStore) Read(ctx context.Context, fn func(authority.Tx) error) error {
+	return s.Store.Read(ctx, func(tx authority.Tx) error { return fn(mintDelayTx{tx, s}) })
+}
+
+func (tx mintDelayTx) AuthorizationRevision(org string) (uint64, error) {
+	if advance := tx.store.advance; advance != nil {
+		tx.store.advance = nil
+		advance()
+	}
+	return tx.Tx.AuthorizationRevision(org)
+}
+
+func TestDelegationDeadlineSurvivesMintReadLatency(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, client := range []bool{false, true} {
+		for _, delay := range []time.Duration{0, 100 * time.Millisecond, 1500 * time.Millisecond, 61 * time.Second} {
+			for _, requested := range []time.Duration{0, 10 * time.Second} {
+				t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("client=%t/delay=%s/ttl=%s", client, delay, requested), func(t *testing.T) {
+					h := newHarness(t)
+					h.now = h.now.Add(950 * time.Millisecond)
+					h.grant("a", "viewer", "maya")
+					scopes := authority.Scopes{owned(kind, h.principal(acme, "a"), read)}
+					var d domain.Delegation
+					var err error
+					if client {
+						c, err := h.svc.RegisterClient(h.ctx, "External client", []string{"https://client.invalid/callback"})
+						if err != nil {
+							t.Fatal(err)
+						}
+						d, err = h.svc.DelegateToClient(h.ctx, h.person("maya"), c.ID, "a", h.cfg.Issuer+"/mcp/a", scopes, "bounded run", 60)
+					} else {
+						d, err = h.svc.Delegate(h.ctx, h.person("maya"), "a", scopes, "bounded run", 60)
+					}
+					if err != nil {
+						t.Fatal(err)
+					}
+					started := h.now
+					store := &mintDelayStore{Store: h.store}
+					newID := h.cfg.NewID
+					advanced := false
+					// The task ID is requested after the grant decision and before
+					// Core.Start reads its revision. Earlier decision reads stay live.
+					h.cfg.NewID = func() string {
+						store.advance = func() { h.now = h.now.Add(delay); advanced = true }
+						return newID()
+					}
+					svc, err := authority.New(store, h.cfg)
+					if err != nil {
+						t.Fatal(err)
+					}
+					var out authority.Issued
+					if client {
+						out, err = svc.IssueForClientDelegation(h.ctx, d.ID, d.ClientID, d.Resource, authority.IssueRequest{TTL: requested})
+					} else {
+						out, err = svc.IssueForDelegation(h.ctx, d.ID, authority.Workload{Module: "a"}, authority.IssueRequest{Binding: "store", TTL: requested})
+					}
+					if !advanced {
+						t.Fatal("test did not reach the mint revision read")
+					}
+					if delay >= time.Minute {
+						if err == nil || out.Token != "" {
+							t.Fatal("issuance returned authority after the delegation expired during minting")
+						}
+						return
+					}
+					if err != nil {
+						t.Fatalf("a live delegation should issue despite mint read latency: %v", err)
+					}
+					want := d.ExpiresAt.Unix()
+					if requested > 0 {
+						want = started.Add(requested).Unix()
+					}
+					if got := out.Context.GetExpiresAtUnix(); got != want {
+						t.Fatalf("signed expiry = %d, want %d; mint latency must not extend the window", got, want)
+					}
+					if err := h.check(out); err != nil {
+						t.Fatal(err)
+					}
+				})
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/libraries/authority-core/go/authority/issue.go b/libraries/authority-core/go/authority/issue.go
index 30bc8b1..3a99e6f 100644
--- a/libraries/authority-core/go/authority/issue.go
+++ b/libraries/authority-core/go/authority/issue.go
@@ -166,7 +166,27 @@ func (s *Service) audienceOf(tx Tx, r *IssueRequest, actor string) error {
 // uninstall committed in between must not turn old scopes into fresh
 // authority.
 func (s *Service) startFenced(ctx context.Context, f fence, in workcontext.StartInput) (Issued, error) {
-	token, signed, err := s.authority.Start(ctx, in)
+	return s.startFencedUntil(ctx, f, in, time.Time{})
+}
+
+// startFencedUntil gives a bounded root one issuance instant. Core.Start reads
+// revision/seal state before its clock; adding an earlier remaining duration to
+// that later instant would move the deadline. Only this mint uses the snapshot:
+// verification, child derivation and post-signing grant checks keep the live clock.
+func (s *Service) startFencedUntil(ctx context.Context, f fence, in workcontext.StartInput, deadline time.Time) (Issued, error) {
+	minter := s.authority
+	if !deadline.IsZero() {
+		now := s.cfg.Clock()
+		remaining := deadline.Sub(now)
+		if remaining <= 0 {
+			return Issued{}, domain.Refuse("delegation expired")
+		}
+		in.TTL = min(in.TTL, remaining)
+		bounded := *s.authority
+		bounded.Now = func() time.Time { return now }
+		minter = &bounded
+	}
+	token, signed, err := minter.Start(ctx, in)
 	if err != nil {
 		return Issued{}, err
 	}