diff --git a/cmd/server/tests/podcast_test.go b/cmd/server/tests/podcast_test.go
index 6e4dc700..32001f00 100644
--- a/cmd/server/tests/podcast_test.go
+++ b/cmd/server/tests/podcast_test.go
@@ -423,6 +423,54 @@ func TestPodcastEditSegregation(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
+// ---- invariant 2, absolute form: the generic DELETE never touches
+// episode rows (only whole-feed removal does) ----
+
+func TestDeleteMediaItemPodcastGuard(t *testing.T) {
+	setup := setupTestServer(t)
+	lib, _ := createPodcastsLibrary(t, setup, "test DeleteGuard Podcasts")
+	feed, err := setup.DB.CreatePodcastFeed(adminSeedCtx(t, setup), database.CreatePodcastFeedParams{
+		LibraryID: lib.ID,
+		FeedUrl:   "https://feed.invalid/delete-guard.xml",
+		Title:     "DeleteGuard Feed",
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	ep := upsertTestEpisode(t, setup, feed, "delguard-1", "Delete Guard Episode", 1)
+	epID := uuid.UUID(ep.ID.Bytes).String()
+
+	t.Run("admin_delete_of_episode_refused", func(t *testing.T) {
+		code, body := podcastAuthed(t, setup, setup.Token, "DELETE", "/api/media-items/"+epID, "")
+		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusConflict, code,
+			"PIN (invariant 2, 2026-10-30): episode rows are removed ONLY by whole-feed removal — the generic delete must 409: %s", string(body))
+		_, err := setup.DB.GetMediaItem(adminSeedCtx(t, setup), ep.ID)
+		require.NoError(t, err, "episode row must survive the refused delete")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("book_delete_still_works", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Control: the rejection is podcast-specific, not a broken route.
+		libType, err := setup.DB.GetLibraryTypeByName(seedCtx(), "audiobooks")
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		book, err := setup.DB.CreateMediaItem(seedCtx(), database.CreateMediaItemParams{
+			LibraryID: func() pgtype.UUID {
+				lib2, cerr := setup.DB.CreateLibrary(seedCtx(), database.CreateLibraryParams{
+					Name:          "test DeleteGuard Books",
+					LibraryTypeID: libType.ID,
+				})
+				require.NoError(t, cerr)
+				t.Cleanup(func() { _ = setup.DB.DeleteLibrary(seedCtx(), lib2.ID) })
+				return lib2.ID
+			}(),
+			Title:    "Delete Control Book",
+			FilePath: "control-" + uuid.New().String() + ".m4b",
+		})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		code, body := podcastAuthed(t, setup, setup.Token, "DELETE",
+			"/api/media-items/"+uuid.UUID(book.ID.Bytes).String(), "")
+		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusNoContent, code,
+			"generic delete must stay intact for scanned media: %d %s", code, string(body))
+	})
+}
+
 // ---- download worker: state machine, idempotency, file layout ----
 
 func TestPodcastDownloadWorker(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/internal/handlers/media.go b/internal/handlers/media.go
index cf8606d2..bb65040a 100644
--- a/internal/handlers/media.go
+++ b/internal/handlers/media.go
@@ -1881,6 +1881,17 @@ func (mh *MediaHandler) DeleteMediaItem(c *echo.Context) error {
 		return c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, map[string]string{"error": err.Error()})
 	}
 
+	// Invariant 2 (podcast plan §10, absolute form): episode rows are
+	// removed ONLY when the whole feed is removed — the feed must match
+	// its XML until then. Same segregation as the edit path (D9/D10):
+	// episodes are fetcher-owned; delete FILES via the podcast surfaces
+	// (feed page / admin podcast view) instead.
+	if media.Source == "podcast_episode" {
+		return c.JSON(http.StatusConflict, map[string]string{
+			"error": "podcast episodes are removed only by removing the whole feed — delete the episode's files instead (feed page or admin podcast view)",
+		})
+	}
+
 	// Storage-down guard (see HandleBulkDelete): refuse while the library
 	// storage is unreachable so the cascade can't destroy annotations for
 	// a file that will re-import on the next scan.