diff --git a/lib/startup-renderer.js b/lib/startup-renderer.js
index ac901ae..c4d95df 100644
--- a/lib/startup-renderer.js
+++ b/lib/startup-renderer.js
@@ -75,29 +75,95 @@ function createStartupRevealGate(window, { onBlock } = {}) {
   return { block, navigate, request, reveal };
 }
 
-function createStartupExternalRevealBindings({ getWindow, getRevealGate, sendDroppedFiles }) {
+function createStartupExternalRevealBindings({
+  getWindow,
+  getRevealGate,
+  sendDroppedFiles,
+  maxPendingDropPayloads = 32
+}) {
+  const pendingDropPayloads = [];
+  const pendingDropLimit = Number.isSafeInteger(maxPendingDropPayloads) && maxPendingDropPayloads > 0
+    ? maxPendingDropPayloads
+    : 32;
+  let pendingWindow = null;
+  let readyWindow = null;
+
+  function clearPendingDropPayloads(window) {
+    if (window && pendingWindow !== window) return false;
+    pendingDropPayloads.length = 0;
+    pendingWindow = null;
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  function clearWindowState(window) {
+    clearPendingDropPayloads(window);
+    if (!window || readyWindow === window) readyWindow = null;
+  }
+
   function getActiveWindow() {
     const window = getWindow();
-    if (!window || (typeof window.isDestroyed === 'function' && window.isDestroyed())) return null;
+    if (!window || (typeof window.isDestroyed === 'function' && window.isDestroyed())) {
+      clearWindowState();
+      return null;
+    }
+    if (pendingWindow && pendingWindow !== window) clearPendingDropPayloads();
+    if (readyWindow && readyWindow !== window) readyWindow = null;
     return window;
   }
 
   function requestReveal() {
-    if (!getActiveWindow()) return false;
+    const activeWindow = getActiveWindow();
+    if (!activeWindow) return false;
     const revealGate = getRevealGate();
     if (!revealGate || typeof revealGate.request !== 'function') return false;
     revealGate.request();
     return true;
   }
 
+  function queueDropPayload(window, paths) {
+    if (pendingWindow && pendingWindow !== window) clearPendingDropPayloads();
+    pendingWindow = window;
+    if (pendingDropPayloads.length >= pendingDropLimit) pendingDropPayloads.shift();
+    pendingDropPayloads.push(paths);
+  }
+
   function handleDropTargetFiles(_event, paths) {
     const window = getActiveWindow();
     if (!window) return false;
     if (!window.isVisible() || window.isMinimized()) requestReveal();
-    sendDroppedFiles(paths);
+    if (readyWindow === window) sendDroppedFiles(paths);
+    else queueDropPayload(window, paths);
     return true;
   }
 
+  function rendererBlocked(window) {
+    const activeWindow = getActiveWindow();
+    if (!activeWindow || activeWindow !== window) {
+      clearWindowState(window);
+      return false;
+    }
+    readyWindow = null;
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  function rendererReady(window) {
+    const activeWindow = getActiveWindow();
+    if (!activeWindow || activeWindow !== window) {
+      clearWindowState(window);
+      return false;
+    }
+    readyWindow = window;
+    if (pendingWindow !== window) return true;
+    const payloads = pendingDropPayloads.splice(0);
+    pendingWindow = null;
+    for (const paths of payloads) sendDroppedFiles(paths);
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  function windowClosed(window) {
+    clearWindowState(window);
+  }
+
   return {
     bindSecondInstance(app) {
       app.on('second-instance', requestReveal);
@@ -110,7 +176,10 @@ function createStartupExternalRevealBindings({ getWindow, getRevealGate, sendDro
     },
     bindDropTargetFiles(ipcMain) {
       ipcMain.on('drop-target:files', handleDropTargetFiles);
-    }
+    },
+    rendererBlocked,
+    rendererReady,
+    windowClosed
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/main.js b/main.js
index 69f0386..60e95a4 100644
--- a/main.js
+++ b/main.js
@@ -1458,6 +1458,7 @@ function createWindow() {
   clearCloseFlushTimer();
   const currentStartupRevealGate = createStartupRevealGate(mainWindow, {
     onBlock: () => {
+      startupExternalRevealBindings.rendererBlocked(startupWindow.window);
       closeHandshakeReady = false;
       restoreClosePreparation(closePreparationAttempt);
     }
@@ -1525,6 +1526,7 @@ function createWindow() {
       debugLog(`RENDER PROCESS GONE: reason=${details.reason} exitCode=${details.exitCode}`);
     },
     onReady: () => {
+      startupExternalRevealBindings.rendererReady(startupWindow.window);
       closeHandshakeReady = true;
     },
     onInitializationFailed: (details) => {
@@ -1536,6 +1538,7 @@ function createWindow() {
   const currentStartupRendererHandlers = startupRendererHandlers;
   const currentStartupRecoveryCoordinator = startupRecoveryCoordinator;
   mainWindow.once('closed', () => {
+    startupExternalRevealBindings.windowClosed(startupWindow.window);
     currentStartupRendererHandlers.dispose();
     if (startupRevealGate === currentStartupRevealGate) startupRevealGate = null;
     if (startupRendererHandlers === currentStartupRendererHandlers) startupRendererHandlers = null;
diff --git a/tests/startup-renderer.test.js b/tests/startup-renderer.test.js
index 40cd3ad..d8fc7b1 100644
--- a/tests/startup-renderer.test.js
+++ b/tests/startup-renderer.test.js
@@ -214,14 +214,141 @@ test('all production external reveal paths wait for an authorized startup surfac
     invoke(bindings);
 
     assert.deepEqual(window.events, [], name);
-    assert.deepEqual(droppedFiles, name === 'drop target files' ? [['queued.mkv']] : [], name);
+    assert.deepEqual(droppedFiles, [], name);
 
     revealGate.reveal();
 
     assert.deepEqual(window.events, ['restore', 'show', 'focus'], name);
+    assert.deepEqual(droppedFiles, [], name);
+
+    bindings.rendererReady(window);
+
+    assert.deepEqual(droppedFiles, name === 'drop target files' ? [['queued.mkv']] : [], name);
   }
 });
 
+test('drop payloads wait through recovery and a safe failure reveal until renderer Ready', () => {
+  const window = createRevealWindow({ minimized: false, visible: true });
+  const droppedFiles = [];
+  let bindings;
+  const revealGate = createStartupRevealGate(window, {
+    onBlock() {
+      bindings.rendererBlocked(window);
+    }
+  });
+  bindings = createStartupExternalRevealBindings({
+    getWindow: () => window,
+    getRevealGate: () => revealGate,
+    sendDroppedFiles: paths => droppedFiles.push(paths)
+  });
+  const ipcMain = new EventEmitter();
+  bindings.bindDropTargetFiles(ipcMain);
+  bindings.rendererReady(window);
+
+  ipcMain.emit('drop-target:files', {}, ['ready.mkv']);
+  revealGate.navigate(() => {});
+  ipcMain.emit('drop-target:files', {}, ['recovering.mkv']);
+  revealGate.reveal();
+
+  assert.deepEqual(droppedFiles, [['ready.mkv']]);
+
+  bindings.rendererReady(window);
+
+  assert.deepEqual(droppedFiles, [['ready.mkv'], ['recovering.mkv']]);
+});
+
+test('multiple pending drop payloads flush once in order and ready drops stay immediate', () => {
+  const window = createRevealWindow();
+  const revealGate = createStartupRevealGate(window);
+  const droppedFiles = [];
+  const bindings = createStartupExternalRevealBindings({
+    getWindow: () => window,
+    getRevealGate: () => revealGate,
+    sendDroppedFiles: paths => droppedFiles.push(paths)
+  });
+  const ipcMain = new EventEmitter();
+  bindings.bindDropTargetFiles(ipcMain);
+
+  ipcMain.emit('drop-target:files', {}, ['first.mkv']);
+  ipcMain.emit('drop-target:files', {}, ['second.mkv']);
+  ipcMain.emit('drop-target:files', {}, ['third.mkv']);
+
+  assert.deepEqual(droppedFiles, []);
+
+  revealGate.reveal();
+  bindings.rendererReady(window);
+  bindings.rendererReady(window);
+
+  assert.deepEqual(droppedFiles, [
+    ['first.mkv'],
+    ['second.mkv'],
+    ['third.mkv']
+  ]);
+
+  ipcMain.emit('drop-target:files', {}, ['fourth.mkv']);
+
+  assert.deepEqual(droppedFiles, [
+    ['first.mkv'],
+    ['second.mkv'],
+    ['third.mkv'],
+    ['fourth.mkv']
+  ]);
+});
+
+test('pending drop payloads stay bounded while retaining delivery order', () => {
+  const window = createRevealWindow();
+  const revealGate = createStartupRevealGate(window);
+  const droppedFiles = [];
+  const bindings = createStartupExternalRevealBindings({
+    getWindow: () => window,
+    getRevealGate: () => revealGate,
+    sendDroppedFiles: paths => droppedFiles.push(paths),
+    maxPendingDropPayloads: 2
+  });
+  const ipcMain = new EventEmitter();
+  bindings.bindDropTargetFiles(ipcMain);
+
+  ipcMain.emit('drop-target:files', {}, ['first.mkv']);
+  ipcMain.emit('drop-target:files', {}, ['second.mkv']);
+  ipcMain.emit('drop-target:files', {}, ['third.mkv']);
+  bindings.rendererReady(window);
+
+  assert.deepEqual(droppedFiles, [
+    ['second.mkv'],
+    ['third.mkv']
+  ]);
+});
+
+test('pending drop payloads are cleared for destroyed and replaced windows', () => {
+  const firstWindow = createRevealWindow();
+  let activeWindow = firstWindow;
+  const droppedFiles = [];
+  const bindings = createStartupExternalRevealBindings({
+    getWindow: () => activeWindow,
+    getRevealGate: () => ({ request() {} }),
+    sendDroppedFiles: paths => droppedFiles.push(paths)
+  });
+  const ipcMain = new EventEmitter();
+  bindings.bindDropTargetFiles(ipcMain);
+
+  ipcMain.emit('drop-target:files', {}, ['replaced.mkv']);
+  activeWindow = createRevealWindow();
+  bindings.rendererReady(firstWindow);
+  bindings.rendererReady(activeWindow);
+
+  assert.deepEqual(droppedFiles, []);
+
+  ipcMain.emit('drop-target:files', {}, ['ready.mkv']);
+  bindings.rendererBlocked(activeWindow);
+  ipcMain.emit('drop-target:files', {}, ['destroyed.mkv']);
+  activeWindow.isDestroyed = () => true;
+  bindings.rendererReady(activeWindow);
+  activeWindow = createRevealWindow();
+  bindings.rendererReady(activeWindow);
+
+  assert.deepEqual(droppedFiles, [['ready.mkv']]);
+});
+
 test('renderer Ready and the safe failure surface can authorize the gated window', async () => {
   const readyWindow = createRevealWindow({ minimized: false });
   const readyGate = createStartupRevealGate(readyWindow);
@@ -894,6 +1021,94 @@ test('production event wiring rejects an old document Ready and exposes the fail
   handlers.dispose();
 });
 
+test('production recovery wiring flushes pending drops only for the current document Ready', async () => {
+  const ipcMain = new EventEmitter();
+  const webContents = new EventEmitter();
+  const initialFrame = createRendererFrame('drop-initial');
+  const recoveryFrame = createRendererFrame('drop-recovery');
+  const window = createRevealWindow({ minimized: false, visible: true });
+  window.webContents = webContents;
+  const droppedFiles = [];
+  let bindings;
+  const revealGate = createStartupRevealGate(window, {
+    onBlock() {
+      bindings.rendererBlocked(window);
+    }
+  });
+  bindings = createStartupExternalRevealBindings({
+    getWindow: () => window,
+    getRevealGate: () => revealGate,
+    sendDroppedFiles: paths => droppedFiles.push(paths)
+  });
+  bindings.bindDropTargetFiles(ipcMain);
+  const coordinator = createStartupRecoveryCoordinator({
+    load() {},
+    async reload() {
+      webContents.mainFrame = recoveryFrame;
+      webContents.emit('did-start-navigation', {
+        isMainFrame: true,
+        isSameDocument: false,
+        url: recoveryFrame.url,
+        frame: recoveryFrame
+      });
+      webContents.emit('did-finish-load');
+    },
+    reveal: revealGate.reveal,
+    close() {}
+  });
+  const handlers = createStartupRendererHandlers({
+    window,
+    ipcMain,
+    coordinator,
+    onDocumentLoadStarted: revealGate.block,
+    onReady() {
+      bindings.rendererReady(window);
+    },
+    onInitializationFailed() {}
+  });
+
+  webContents.mainFrame = initialFrame;
+  webContents.emit('did-start-navigation', {
+    isMainFrame: true,
+    isSameDocument: false,
+    url: initialFrame.url,
+    frame: initialFrame
+  });
+  webContents.emit('did-finish-load');
+  ipcMain.emit('app:close-handshake-ready', {
+    sender: webContents,
+    senderFrame: initialFrame
+  });
+  ipcMain.emit('drop-target:files', {}, ['ready.mkv']);
+  webContents.emit('render-process-gone', {}, { reason: 'crashed' });
+  await new Promise(resolve => setImmediate(resolve));
+
+  ipcMain.emit('drop-target:files', {}, ['first-recovery.mkv']);
+  ipcMain.emit('drop-target:files', {}, ['second-recovery.mkv']);
+  ipcMain.emit('app:close-handshake-ready', {
+    sender: webContents,
+    senderFrame: initialFrame
+  });
+
+  assert.deepEqual(droppedFiles, [['ready.mkv']]);
+
+  ipcMain.emit('app:close-handshake-ready', {
+    sender: webContents,
+    senderFrame: recoveryFrame
+  });
+  ipcMain.emit('app:close-handshake-ready', {
+    sender: webContents,
+    senderFrame: recoveryFrame
+  });
+
+  assert.deepEqual(droppedFiles, [
+    ['ready.mkv'],
+    ['first-recovery.mkv'],
+    ['second-recovery.mkv']
+  ]);
+  handlers.dispose();
+});
+
 test('production startup handlers cancel the Ready deadline after a valid Ready signal', async () => {
   const scheduler = createManualScheduler();
   let reloadCalls = 0;