diff --git a/src/agent_runtime/process_resources.py b/src/agent_runtime/process_resources.py
index fd2cd05d8..9c4b9f053 100644
--- a/src/agent_runtime/process_resources.py
+++ b/src/agent_runtime/process_resources.py
@@ -452,8 +452,10 @@ def prune_foreground_publications():
 
     A dead/replaced manager cannot resume attachment. A missing receipt also
     makes attachment impossible; publication cannot reconstruct that receipt.
-    Its process tree still belongs to containment recovery; deleting a publication never signals or
-    asserts tree death. Live/unverifiable managers and background history stay.
+    Its process tree still belongs to containment recovery; deleting a
+    publication never signals or asserts tree death. Live/unverifiable managers
+    retain publication even after child teardown: attachment may still need it.
+    Background history stays intact.
     """
     from src import containment
     from src import process_ownership
@@ -471,13 +473,16 @@ def prune_foreground_publications():
             published = json.loads(path.read_text())
             launch = ProcessLaunchResource.from_dict(published["launch"])
             receipt = receipts.get(published["containment_id"])
-            abandoned = receipt is not None and process_ownership.verify(receipt.get("manager_pid"), receipt.get("manager_token")) in {
-                process_ownership.GONE, process_ownership.FOREIGN}
+            abandoned = (receipt is not None
+                and type(receipt.get("manager_pid")) is int and receipt["manager_pid"] > 0
+                and isinstance(receipt.get("manager_token"), str) and bool(receipt["manager_token"])
+                and process_ownership.verify(receipt["manager_pid"], receipt["manager_token"]) in {
+                    process_ownership.GONE, process_ownership.FOREIGN})
             if (published.get("job") is None and path == launch_path(launch.generation)
                     and (receipt is None or (
                         receipt.get("launch_generation") == launch.generation
                         and receipt.get("id") == published["containment_id"]
-                        and ((receipt.get("release") or {}).get("dead") is True or abandoned)))):
+                        and abandoned))):
                 # Already under the publication lock; no nested file lock.
                 path.unlink()
                 retired += 1
diff --git a/tests/test_wave3_launch_cost_lifecycle.py b/tests/test_wave3_launch_cost_lifecycle.py
index d7cb70b4e..acfb9bc43 100644
--- a/tests/test_wave3_launch_cost_lifecycle.py
+++ b/tests/test_wave3_launch_cost_lifecycle.py
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ def test_old_generation_retirement_cannot_delete_replacement(workspace):
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize('manager,release,retired', [
     (process_ownership.OWNED, False, False), (process_ownership.UNVERIFIABLE, False, False),
+    (process_ownership.OWNED, True, False), (process_ownership.UNVERIFIABLE, True, False),
     (process_ownership.GONE, False, True), (process_ownership.FOREIGN, False, True),
     (process_ownership.GONE, True, True),
 ])
@@ -178,3 +179,14 @@ def test_unreadable_receipts_cannot_retire_live_consumers(workspace, receipt_dat
     containment._store_path().write_text(receipt_data)
     assert resources.prune_foreground_publications() == 0
     assert resources.launch_path(launch.generation).is_file()
+
+
+def test_missing_manager_identity_cannot_retire_attachment(workspace, monkeypatch):
+    admitted = authority(workspace)
+    launch = resources.resolve_process_operation(admitted, ExactOperation.normalize('bash', 'printf pending'), NativeBackendResource('bash')).launch
+    resources.publish_launch(launch, admitted, 'receipt')
+    atomic_write_json(containment._store_path(), {'receipt': {'id': 'receipt',
+        'launch_generation': launch.generation, 'release': {'dead': True}}})
+    monkeypatch.setattr(process_ownership, 'verify', lambda *args: pytest.fail('Missing manager treated as observed'))
+    assert resources.prune_foreground_publications() == 0
+    assert resources.launch_path(launch.generation).is_file()