diff --git a/src/audio/soundtrack-engine.ts b/src/audio/soundtrack-engine.ts
index d5f5383..f708f5c 100644
--- a/src/audio/soundtrack-engine.ts
+++ b/src/audio/soundtrack-engine.ts
@@ -387,7 +387,9 @@ export function createSoundtrackEngine(
       mainSource = main;
       mainSchedule = schedule;
       attachMainEnded(main);
-      for (const source of introSourceNodes) {
+      const committedIntroSources = introSourceNodes;
+      introSourceNodes = [];
+      for (const source of committedIntroSources) {
         source.stopAt(transitionTime + EXIT_CROSSFADE_SECONDS);
       }
       loadedIntroBuffer = null;
@@ -456,22 +458,24 @@ export function createSoundtrackEngine(
     void mainPromise.catch(() => undefined);
 
     if (activatedFromStart) {
-      loadedIntroBuffer = await dependencies.loadBuffer(context, sources.intro, signal);
+      const [introBuffer, mainBuffer] = await Promise.all([
+        dependencies.loadBuffer(context, sources.intro, signal),
+        mainPromise,
+      ]);
       if (closed || signal.aborted) throw abortError();
+      loadedIntroBuffer = introBuffer;
       if (latestChapter.atStart) {
         transportStarted = true;
         startIntro(loadedIntroBuffer, context.currentTime + SOURCE_LEAD_SECONDS);
         return;
       }
+      transportStarted = true;
+      startDirectMain(mainBuffer);
+      return;
     }
 
     const mainBuffer = await mainPromise;
     if (closed || signal.aborted) throw abortError();
-    if (activatedFromStart && latestChapter.atStart && loadedIntroBuffer !== null) {
-      transportStarted = true;
-      startIntro(loadedIntroBuffer, context.currentTime + SOURCE_LEAD_SECONDS);
-      return;
-    }
     transportStarted = true;
     startDirectMain(mainBuffer);
   };
@@ -514,6 +518,16 @@ export function createSoundtrackEngine(
       mixer.dispose();
       for (const source of [...ownedSources]) source.cancel();
       ownedSources.clear();
+      pendingIntroExit = null;
+      introSourceNodes = [];
+      introProgramGain = null;
+      mainSource = null;
+      driveLiftSource = null;
+      afterglowSource = null;
+      mainSchedule = null;
+      mainBufferPromise = null;
+      loadPromise = null;
+      exitLoadRequest = null;
       context.removeEventListener('statechange', onStateChange);
       stateListeners.clear();
       outputGain.disconnect();
diff --git a/tests/unit/soundtrack-engine.test.ts b/tests/unit/soundtrack-engine.test.ts
index b76a400..40426b6 100644
--- a/tests/unit/soundtrack-engine.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/soundtrack-engine.test.ts
@@ -306,14 +306,18 @@ describe('soundtrack engine', () => {
     expect(test.mixer.setDriveEnergy).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(sample);
   });
 
-  it('keeps dominant intro and direct-main load failures terminal', async () => {
+  it('keeps dominant intro and main load failures terminal on every activation path', async () => {
     const intro = createEngineHarness(initialState, { rejectIntro: true });
     await expect(intro.graph.resume()).rejects.toThrow('/intro.opus unavailable');
-    const main = createEngineHarness({
+    const startMain = createEngineHarness(initialState, { rejectMain: true });
+    await expect(startMain.graph.resume()).rejects.toThrow('/main.opus unavailable');
+    expect(startMain.sourcesFor('/intro.opus')).toHaveLength(0);
+
+    const directMain = createEngineHarness({
       chapter: resolveChapterIntent('profile'),
       drive: { energy: 0, source: 'idle' },
     }, { rejectMain: true });
-    await expect(main.graph.resume()).rejects.toThrow('/main.opus unavailable');
+    await expect(directMain.graph.resume()).rejects.toThrow('/main.opus unavailable');
   });
 
   it('stops and disconnects each owned source exactly once when closed twice', async () => {