diff --git a/AppImage/scripts/flask_server.py b/AppImage/scripts/flask_server.py
index 12ac5703..ec9d029e 100644
--- a/AppImage/scripts/flask_server.py
+++ b/AppImage/scripts/flask_server.py
@@ -22772,6 +22772,15 @@ def _run_scheduled_update(vmid: int, sched: dict) -> dict:
     if requested_targets == ['oci_image']:
         # A container installed by OCI manager Apps is updated by replacing
         # its image, through the same flow as the OCI menu, unattended.
+        # OCI updates have their own runner rather than apply_updates.sh.
+        # Check once more immediately before handing control to it: a user
+        # may have intentionally stopped the CT after the scheduler's first
+        # observation, and the OCI transaction can start a replacement CT
+        # while validating its new image.
+        if _fast_guest_status(vmid, 'lxc') != 'running':
+            reason_code = 'stopped_container'
+            reasons.append('container was stopped before scheduled update could begin')
+            return finish('skipped', 'oci_image', [])
         command = ['bash', '/usr/local/share/proxmenux/scripts/oci/oci_manager_apps.sh',
                    'manage', str(vmid), '--action', 'update', '--unattended']
         storage = (sched.get('backup_storage') or '').strip()
diff --git a/tests/lxc_updates/test_update_contract.py b/tests/lxc_updates/test_update_contract.py
index f06894c7..b3d0672d 100644
--- a/tests/lxc_updates/test_update_contract.py
+++ b/tests/lxc_updates/test_update_contract.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import ast
 import json
 import os
+import re
 import sys
 import subprocess
 import tempfile
@@ -429,6 +430,43 @@ class ScheduledStoppedContainerTests(unittest.TestCase):
         stopped_marker.assert_called_once()
         reboot_probe.assert_called_once()
 
+    def test_oci_race_to_stopped_skips_before_the_oci_engine_runs(self):
+        runner = MagicMock(return_value=SimpleNamespace(returncode=0, stdout="", stderr=""))
+        finalizer = MagicMock(return_value={"recorded": True})
+        status = MagicMock(side_effect=["running", "stopped"])
+        scope = {
+            "time": SimpleNamespace(monotonic=MagicMock(return_value=10.0)),
+            "uuid": SimpleNamespace(uuid4=lambda: SimpleNamespace(hex="c" * 32)),
+            "datetime": __import__("datetime").datetime,
+            "subprocess": SimpleNamespace(
+                run=runner,
+                STDOUT=object(),
+                DEVNULL=object(),
+                TimeoutExpired=subprocess.TimeoutExpired,
+            ),
+            "os": os,
+            "re": re,
+            "_create_lxc_update_log": lambda _vmid, _run_id: (None, None),
+            "_fast_guest_status": status,
+            "_normalise_schedule_targets": lambda _sched: ["oci_image"],
+            "_lxc_update_snapshot": lambda _vmid: {"ct_name": "fixture"},
+            "_lxc_update_target_labels": lambda *_: ["OCI image"],
+            "_append_lxc_update_log": MagicMock(),
+            "_prune_lxc_update_logs": MagicMock(),
+            "_finalize_lxc_update": finalizer,
+        }
+
+        outcome = self._worker(scope)(101, {"targets": ["oci_image"]})
+
+        self.assertEqual(outcome["status"], "skipped")
+        self.assertEqual(outcome["target"], "oci_image")
+        self.assertEqual(outcome["executed_targets"], [])
+        self.assertEqual(outcome["reason_code"], "stopped_container")
+        self.assertIn("before scheduled update could begin", outcome["reason"])
+        self.assertEqual(status.call_count, 2)
+        runner.assert_not_called()
+        self.assertEqual(finalizer.call_args.kwargs["status"], "skipped")
+
 
 class DockerStackNotificationTests(unittest.TestCase):
     def _docker_app(self):