diff --git a/src/session.rs b/src/session.rs
index 8ed8df1..70678e3 100644
--- a/src/session.rs
+++ b/src/session.rs
@@ -294,6 +294,18 @@ fn hydrate_session(
                     parse_payload(&record, "commitment created")?;
                 ensure_schema_version(payload.schema_version, record.sequence)?;
                 ensure_record_commitment(&record, &payload.commitment_id)?;
+                if record.runtime_state != RuntimeState::Active {
+                    return Err(anyhow!(
+                        "commitment activation runtime mismatch at sequence {}",
+                        record.sequence
+                    ));
+                }
+                if payload.state != CommitmentState::Active {
+                    return Err(anyhow!(
+                        "commitment activation state mismatch at sequence {}",
+                        record.sequence
+                    ));
+                }
                 let commitment = Commitment {
                     id: payload.commitment_id,
                     created_at_unix_secs: record.timestamp_unix_secs,
@@ -328,6 +340,12 @@ fn hydrate_session(
                         record.sequence
                     ));
                 }
+                if commitment.state != CommitmentState::Active {
+                    return Err(anyhow!(
+                        "policy requires active commitment at sequence {}",
+                        record.sequence
+                    ));
+                }
                 let next = transition_runtime(
                     runtime_state,
                     RuntimeAction::Activate {
@@ -408,6 +426,12 @@ fn hydrate_session(
         }
     }
 
+    if active_commitment.is_some() && active_policy.is_none() {
+        return Err(anyhow!(
+            "session replay ended with active commitment but no active policy"
+        ));
+    }
+
     Ok((runtime_state, active_commitment, active_policy))
 }
 
@@ -447,9 +471,14 @@ fn ensure_record_commitment(record: &EventRecord, commitment_id: &str) -> Result
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
-    use crate::domain::{EnforcementLevel, RuntimeState};
-    use crate::event_log::{EventRecord, EventType};
+    use super::{CommitmentCreatedPayload, PolicyAppliedPayload};
+    use crate::domain::{
+        AllowedContext, CommitmentSource, CommitmentState, EnforcementLevel, RuntimeState,
+        POLICY_SCHEMA_VERSION,
+    };
+    use crate::event_log::{EventLog, EventRecord, EventType, PendingEventRecord};
     use crate::session::SessionController;
+    use serde_json::json;
     use std::fs;
     use std::path::PathBuf;
     use std::time::{Duration, SystemTime, UNIX_EPOCH};
@@ -473,6 +502,36 @@ mod tests {
             .collect()
     }
 
+    fn commitment_payload(commitment_id: &str, state: CommitmentState) -> serde_json::Value {
+        serde_json::to_value(CommitmentCreatedPayload {
+            schema_version: POLICY_SCHEMA_VERSION,
+            commitment_id: commitment_id.to_string(),
+            source: CommitmentSource::Manual,
+            next_action: "Implement session controller".to_string(),
+            success_condition: "session tests pass".to_string(),
+            timebox_secs: 1500,
+            state,
+        })
+        .unwrap()
+    }
+
+    fn policy_payload(commitment_id: &str) -> serde_json::Value {
+        serde_json::to_value(PolicyAppliedPayload {
+            schema_version: POLICY_SCHEMA_VERSION,
+            policy_id: "policy-test".to_string(),
+            commitment_id: commitment_id.to_string(),
+            runtime_state: RuntimeState::Active,
+            enforcement_level: EnforcementLevel::Warn,
+            allowed_context: AllowedContext::default(),
+        })
+        .unwrap()
+    }
+
+    fn error_chain_contains(err: &anyhow::Error, expected: &str) -> bool {
+        err.chain()
+            .any(|cause| cause.to_string().contains(expected))
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn starts_commitment_and_emits_policy() {
         let path = temp_log_path("start");
@@ -590,6 +649,69 @@ mod tests {
         fs::remove_file(path).unwrap();
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn rejects_standalone_commitment_created_on_replay() {
+        let path = temp_log_path("standalone-commitment");
+        let commitment_id = "commitment-test";
+        {
+            let mut log = EventLog::open(&path).unwrap();
+            log.append(
+                EventType::CommitmentCreated,
+                RuntimeState::Active,
+                Some(commitment_id.to_string()),
+                commitment_payload(commitment_id, CommitmentState::Active),
+            )
+            .unwrap();
+        }
+
+        let err = SessionController::new(&path)
+            .expect_err("standalone commitment without policy must be rejected");
+
+        assert!(error_chain_contains(&err, "active policy"));
+        fs::remove_file(path).unwrap();
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn rejects_draft_commitment_before_policy_on_replay() {
+        let path = temp_log_path("draft-commitment-policy");
+        let commitment_id = "commitment-test";
+        {
+            let mut log = EventLog::open(&path).unwrap();
+            log.append_batch([
+                PendingEventRecord {
+                    event_type: EventType::RuntimeTransition,
+                    runtime_state: RuntimeState::Planning,
+                    commitment_id: None,
+                    payload_json: json!({
+                        "schema_version": POLICY_SCHEMA_VERSION,
+                        "action": "enter_planning",
+                        "from": "locked",
+                        "to": "planning",
+                    }),
+                },
+                PendingEventRecord {
+                    event_type: EventType::CommitmentCreated,
+                    runtime_state: RuntimeState::Active,
+                    commitment_id: Some(commitment_id.to_string()),
+                    payload_json: commitment_payload(commitment_id, CommitmentState::Draft),
+                },
+                PendingEventRecord {
+                    event_type: EventType::PolicyApplied,
+                    runtime_state: RuntimeState::Active,
+                    commitment_id: Some(commitment_id.to_string()),
+                    payload_json: policy_payload(commitment_id),
+                },
+            ])
+            .unwrap();
+        }
+
+        let err = SessionController::new(&path)
+            .expect_err("draft commitment cannot be activated by policy replay");
+
+        assert!(error_chain_contains(&err, "commitment activation"));
+        fs::remove_file(path).unwrap();
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn transition_started_payload_has_stable_schema() {
         let path = temp_log_path("transition-payload");