diff --git a/internal/ambient/sentinel.go b/internal/ambient/sentinel.go
index af4eaf8..a1cdee6 100644
--- a/internal/ambient/sentinel.go
+++ b/internal/ambient/sentinel.go
@@ -236,6 +236,16 @@ func (s *Sentinel) evaluate(ctx context.Context) {
 	cancel()
 
 	s.mu.Lock()
+	// A mode may have activated during the (off-lock) brain call; re-check so a
+	// result computed while idle is not surfaced over an now-active mode.
+	if s.activeModeLocked() != "" {
+		changed := s.clearLocked()
+		s.mu.Unlock()
+		if changed {
+			s.fireOnChange()
+		}
+		return
+	}
 	s.lastEvalTitles = joined
 	if err != nil {
 		s.mu.Unlock()
diff --git a/internal/ambient/sentinel_test.go b/internal/ambient/sentinel_test.go
index c623819..4f1d292 100644
--- a/internal/ambient/sentinel_test.go
+++ b/internal/ambient/sentinel_test.go
@@ -228,6 +228,42 @@ func TestEvaluateCheapGateSkipsUnchangedOnTrack(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// flippingJudge simulates a harness mode activating DURING the brain call: it
+// returns a drift verdict but flips the active-mode flag as a side effect, so by
+// the time evaluate re-acquires the lock a mode is active.
+type flippingJudge struct{ active *string }
+
+func (f *flippingJudge) AmbientDrift(_ context.Context, _ string, _ []string) (string, error) {
+	*f.active = "focus"
+	return "deep in YouTube", nil
+}
+
+// A mode activating mid-evaluation must suppress the surface: no line, no toast,
+// no memory record (coexistence rule holds across the unlock-for-I/O window).
+func TestEvaluateModeActivatingDuringJudgeStaysSilent(t *testing.T) {
+	active := ""
+	n := &fakeNotifier{}
+	mem := &memoryFake{}
+	s := New(Deps{
+		AI:         &flippingJudge{active: &active},
+		Notifier:   n,
+		Memory:     mem,
+		Clock:      func() time.Time { return time.Unix(1_700_000_000, 0) },
+		ActiveMode: func() string { return active },
+	}, time.Minute, modeNotify)
+	s.OnWindow(snap("YouTube - Brave", "Brave"))
+	s.evaluate(context.Background())
+	if s.Line() != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("mode active after judge must leave line empty, got %q", s.Line())
+	}
+	if n.calls != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("mode active after judge must not toast, got %d", n.calls)
+	}
+	if len(mem.events) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("mode active after judge must not record memory, got %d", len(mem.events))
+	}
+}
+
 func TestSnoozeMutesAndClears(t *testing.T) {
 	j := &fakeJudge{out: []string{"drift", "drift"}}
 	active := ""