diff --git a/crates/maestro-daemon/src/session.rs b/crates/maestro-daemon/src/session.rs
index 9ea3942..7861155 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-daemon/src/session.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-daemon/src/session.rs
@@ -62,6 +62,11 @@ pub struct SessionRecord {
     /// resumes and [`Session::activity_detail`] is cleared with it. This
     /// field is daemon-local bookkeeping only — it never rides the wire.
     pub reported_activity: Option<crate::activity::ReportedActivity>,
+    /// Flipped once the natural-exit settle step (#82) has been applied or
+    /// refused for this session. `Dead` is observable before settling ends
+    /// (#115), so this is the observable that says its outcomes are safe to
+    /// assert on. Daemon-local bookkeeping; never rides the wire.
+    pub settled: bool,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, thiserror::Error)]
@@ -294,6 +299,17 @@ impl SessionManager {
         sessions.get(&id).map(|r| r.session.status)
     }
 
+    /// Whether the natural-exit settle step (#82) has finished for this
+    /// session: `Some(true)` once applied or refused, `Some(false)` while
+    /// still pending, `None` if the session is unknown. `Dead` is observable
+    /// before settling ends (#115), so anything asserting on a dead
+    /// session's worktree waits on this rather than inferring settle
+    /// completion from its side effects.
+    pub async fn is_settled(&self, id: Uuid) -> Option<bool> {
+        let sessions = self.inner.sessions.lock().await;
+        sessions.get(&id).map(|r| r.settled)
+    }
+
     /// Spawn a new session. On success returns the freshly-created `Session`.
     pub async fn create(&self, req: CreateSessionRequest) -> Result<Session, SessionError> {
         let (effective_cwd, worktree_path, worktree_base_repo) = match &req.worktree {
@@ -429,6 +445,7 @@ impl SessionManager {
                     worktree_branch: req.worktree.as_ref().map(|w| w.branch.clone()),
                     bridge,
                     reported_activity: None,
+                    settled: false,
                 },
             );
         }
@@ -657,6 +674,7 @@ impl SessionManager {
                     worktree_branch: None,
                     bridge,
                     reported_activity: None,
+                    settled: false,
                 },
             );
             let _ = self
@@ -1069,6 +1087,14 @@ async fn mark_session_dead(inner: &Arc<Inner>, id: Uuid) {
             }
         }
     }
+    // Settle has now been applied or refused either way (#115): from here on
+    // its outcomes are safe to observe.
+    {
+        let mut sessions = inner.sessions.lock().await;
+        if let Some(record) = sessions.get_mut(&id) {
+            record.settled = true;
+        }
+    }
 
     let _ = inner.sidecar.write(&session);
     let _ = inner.events.send(CatalogEvent::SessionUpdated { session });
diff --git a/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/session_manager.rs b/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/session_manager.rs
index 1ecc734..9bcc963 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/session_manager.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/session_manager.rs
@@ -946,6 +946,14 @@ async fn natural_exit_without_a_retained_store_destroys_nothing() {
     })
     .await;
 
+    // The settle step has been applied or refused either way — here refused,
+    // since there is no store to record the tree into. Only from this point
+    // is "the tree survived" a settled fact rather than a race (#115).
+    wait_for_async(Duration::from_secs(3), || async {
+        manager.is_settled(s.id).await == Some(true)
+    })
+    .await;
+
     assert!(
         wt_path.exists(),
         "nothing may be destroyed when it cannot be recorded"