diff --git a/tests/browser/workspace-library-delete.spec.mjs b/tests/browser/workspace-library-delete.spec.mjs
index 154992f5..0891c057 100644
--- a/tests/browser/workspace-library-delete.spec.mjs
+++ b/tests/browser/workspace-library-delete.spec.mjs
@@ -197,6 +197,7 @@ test('Delete prompt… on a prompt\'s page archives it by default, and deletes i
     await expect(toast(page)).toHaveText('Archived 1 prompt.');
     // The page stays and shows its Archived notice.
     await expect(page.locator('.library-archived-notice h2')).toHaveText('Archived');
+    await expect(page.locator('#workspace-main h1')).toBeFocused();
     await page.locator('.library-archived-notice').getByRole('button',{name:'Restore this prompt to the Prompt library'}).click();
     await expect(toast(page)).toHaveText('Restored 1 prompt to the Prompt library.');
     // Delete permanently: back to the Prompt library, the prompt gone.
@@ -226,14 +227,16 @@ test('the page\'s delete holds one review at a time, Escape returns focus, and a
     await page.route(`**${PREVIEW}`,async item=>{await held;await item.fallback();});
     await page.goto(`/prompt_manager/workspace#/library/${dual.id}`);
     await editMetadata(page).click();await editor(page).getByRole('button',{name:'Delete prompt…',exact:true}).click();
-    // A second Delete prompt… while the first preview is held starts nothing.
-    await editMetadata(page).click();await editor(page).getByRole('button',{name:'Delete prompt…',exact:true}).click();
+    // While the preview is held, Edit metadata is held too: no second review and no save can race the delete.
+    await expect(editMetadata(page)).toHaveAttribute('aria-disabled','true');
+    await editMetadata(page).click({force:true});await expect(editor(page)).toHaveCount(0);
     release();
     await expect(review(page)).toBeVisible();
     expect(previews).toHaveLength(1);
     expect(previews[0].expected_epoch).toMatch(/\S/);
     await page.keyboard.press('Escape');
     await expect(review(page)).toHaveCount(0);await expect(editMetadata(page)).toBeFocused();
+    await expect(editMetadata(page)).not.toHaveAttribute('aria-disabled');
     await page.unroute(`**${PREVIEW}`);
     // Archived: its review has nothing to change and only closes.
     await editMetadata(page).click();await editor(page).getByRole('button',{name:'Delete prompt…',exact:true}).click();
@@ -244,6 +247,38 @@ test('the page\'s delete holds one review at a time, Escape returns focus, and a
     await expect(review(page).getByRole('button',{name:/^(Delete|Archive)/})).toHaveCount(0);
 });
 
+test('a failed review on the prompt\'s page says so, changes nothing and releases Edit metadata (#481)',async({page,request})=>{
+    const dual=byText(await items(request),'Dual role portrait');
+    const writes=recordPosts(page,DELETE);
+    await page.route(`**${PREVIEW}`,item=>item.fulfill({status:500,contentType:'application/json',body:JSON.stringify({success:false,code:'review-failed',error:'x'})}),{times:1});
+    await page.goto(`/prompt_manager/workspace#/library/${dual.id}`);
+    await editMetadata(page).click();await editor(page).getByRole('button',{name:'Delete prompt…',exact:true}).click();
+    await expect(toast(page)).toHaveText('The selected prompts could not be reviewed. Try again.');
+    await expect(review(page)).toHaveCount(0);await expect(editMetadata(page)).not.toHaveAttribute('aria-disabled');
+    expect(writes).toEqual([]);
+    await editMetadata(page).click();await expect(editor(page)).toBeVisible();
+});
+
+test('a delete answered after the page was left invalidates the shelf without a toast or a jump (#481)',async({page,request})=>{
+    const dual=byText(await items(request),'Dual role portrait');
+    let release;const held=new Promise(resolve=>{release=resolve;});
+    let answered;const done=new Promise(resolve=>{answered=resolve;});
+    await page.route(`**${DELETE}`,async item=>{await held;const response=await item.fetch();await item.fulfill({response});answered();});
+    await deleteFromPage(page,dual.id);
+    await review(page).getByRole('button',{name:'Archive 1 prompt',exact:true}).click();
+    await page.evaluate(()=>{window.location.hash='#/overview';});
+    await expect(page.locator('#workspace-main h1')).toHaveText('Overview');
+    // Every toast text shown from here on is recorded, so one shown and hidden again still counts.
+    await page.evaluate(()=>{window.seenToasts=[];new MutationObserver(()=>{for(const node of document.querySelectorAll('.toast'))
+        if(node.textContent.trim())window.seenToasts.push(node.textContent.trim());}).observe(document.body,{subtree:true,childList:true,characterData:true});});
+    release();await done;
+    // The answer lands on Overview: no navigation; the shelf reads again when opened; and no toast was ever shown.
+    await page.evaluate(()=>{window.location.hash='#/library';});
+    await expect(card(page,dual.id)).toHaveCount(0);
+    expect((await items(request,'archived')).map(item=>item.id)).toEqual([dual.id]);
+    expect(await page.evaluate(()=>window.seenToasts)).toEqual([]);
+});
+
 test('a restore since the prompt\'s page loaded is refused and the page reads the Library again (#481)',async({page,request})=>{
     const dual=byText(await items(request),'Dual role portrait');
     await armUnseenRestores(page);
diff --git a/web/js/workspace/library.mjs b/web/js/workspace/library.mjs
index 4dae613e..f9190deb 100644
--- a/web/js/workspace/library.mjs
+++ b/web/js/workspace/library.mjs
@@ -500,14 +500,20 @@ export function mountLibrary(main,api,parentScope,{positiveId,savedState=null,on
             onDeletePrompt:()=>deletePrompt()});
         /** #481: this prompt through the Library's Delete… review; a delete returns to the shelf, an archive shows its notice. */
         let deleting=false;
+        // While the review or its write runs, Edit metadata is held (as the selection bar holds its actions), so no save
+        // can race the delete; aria-disabled keeps it focusable for the return.
+        function holdEdit(held) {
+            deleting=held;
+            if(held) edit.setAttribute('aria-disabled','true');else edit.removeAttribute('aria-disabled');
+        }
         function deletePrompt() {
             const shown=detail;if(deleting || !shown?.positive) return;
             // One review at a time, as the selection bar holds itself (a second press during the preview starts nothing).
-            deleting=true;
+            holdEdit(true);
             reviewPromptDelete({api,scope,trigger:edit,ids:[shown.positive.id],epoch:shown.library_epoch,
-                titleOf:()=>displayTitle(shown.positive),onDismiss:()=>{deleting=false;if(edit.isConnected) edit.focus({preventScroll:true});},
+                titleOf:()=>displayTitle(shown.positive),onDismiss:()=>{holdEdit(false);if(edit.isConnected) edit.focus({preventScroll:true});},
                 onSettled:(outcome,result,failure)=>{
-                    deleting=false;
+                    holdEdit(false);
                     if(outcome.committed) invalidateLibraryAfterWrite({kind:'bulk-delete',receipt:result ?? {phase:'unconfirmed'}});
                     // A left page still invalidates what it cached, but says nothing (as the bar's write).
                     if(scope.signal.aborted) return;
@@ -520,6 +526,7 @@ export function mountLibrary(main,api,parentScope,{positiveId,savedState=null,on
         }
         scope.listen(back,'click',()=>{window.location.hash='#/library';});
         scope.listen(edit,'click',()=>{
+            if(deleting) return;
             const draft=metadataDrafts.get(positiveId);metadataDrafts.delete(positiveId);
             editor.open({mode:'metadata',positiveId,pairId:current?.activePairId() ?? null,trigger:edit,draft:draft || null});
         });