diff --git a/movie_editor/backend/timeline.py b/movie_editor/backend/timeline.py
index 49117532..28b8022e 100644
--- a/movie_editor/backend/timeline.py
+++ b/movie_editor/backend/timeline.py
@@ -325,24 +325,38 @@ def build_auto_continuity_guides(full: Project, target: Project) -> Optional[dic
 
 
 def continuity_media_refs(full: Project, target: Project) -> list[str]:
-    """Extra media-bin ids to copy for auto continuity (pin + prior anchors)."""
+    """Media-bin ids that must exist for the active continuity/guide path."""
     cs = continuity_settings_for_run(full)
     char_map = _load_character_map()
-    refs: list[str] = list(character_media_refs_for_project(full, char_map))
-    if cs["auto_enabled"] and cs["identity_pin_ref"]:
-        refs.append(cs["identity_pin_ref"])
-    for sc in full.scenes:
-        if sc.excluded:
-            continue
-        pin = resolve_scene_identity_pin(sc, char_map, cs)
-        if pin:
-            refs.append(pin)
-    payload = build_auto_continuity_guides(full, target)
-    if payload:
-        for scene_list in payload.get("scenes") or []:
-            for g in scene_list or []:
-                if g.get("source") == "image" and g.get("media_ref"):
-                    refs.append(g["media_ref"])
+    refs: list[str] = []
+
+    if cs["auto_enabled"]:
+        refs.extend(character_media_refs_for_project(full, char_map))
+        if cs["identity_pin_ref"]:
+            refs.append(cs["identity_pin_ref"])
+        for sc in full.scenes:
+            if sc.excluded:
+                continue
+            pin = resolve_scene_identity_pin(sc, char_map, cs)
+            if pin:
+                refs.append(pin)
+        payload = build_auto_continuity_guides(full, target)
+        if payload:
+            for scene_list in payload.get("scenes") or []:
+                for g in scene_list or []:
+                    if g.get("source") == "image" and g.get("media_ref"):
+                        refs.append(g["media_ref"])
+
+    gs = normalize_guide_settings(full.guide_settings)
+    if gs["stack_enabled"]:
+        for sc in full.scenes:
+            if sc.excluded:
+                continue
+            for raw in (sc.guides or []):
+                g = GuideEntry.from_dict(raw if isinstance(raw, dict) else {})
+                if g.enabled and g.source == "image" and g.media_ref:
+                    refs.append(g.media_ref)
+
     return list(dict.fromkeys(refs))
 
 
diff --git a/movie_editor/server.py b/movie_editor/server.py
index 0b46b64a..d087eba8 100644
--- a/movie_editor/server.py
+++ b/movie_editor/server.py
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ def _scene_media_ref_map(media_pack: Optional[dict]) -> dict[str, str]:
 
 
 def _missing_continuity_media(full: Project, target: Project) -> list[str]:
-    """Media-bin ids referenced by continuity guides/pins that are missing on disk."""
+    """Media-bin ids referenced by active continuity or manual guide stacks."""
     from .backend.timeline import continuity_media_refs
 
     missing: list[str] = []
@@ -1171,7 +1171,7 @@ if web is not None and PromptServer is not None:
         if missing_media:
             ids = ", ".join(missing_media)
             return web.json_response(
-                {"detail": f"Missing media for identity pin or continuity guides ({ids}). Re-upload or pick another image."},
+                {"detail": f"Missing media for continuity or guide stack ({ids}). Re-upload or clear the reference in Engine settings / Scene inspector."},
                 status=400,
             )
         # V1 uniform chain: if trimmed scenes all agree on a frame count, use it.
diff --git a/movie_editor/tests/test_timeline.py b/movie_editor/tests/test_timeline.py
index dc9747cb..45ed0b48 100644
--- a/movie_editor/tests/test_timeline.py
+++ b/movie_editor/tests/test_timeline.py
@@ -368,6 +368,16 @@ def test_character_bible_refs_in_continuity_media():
     )
     refs = continuity_media_refs(p, p)
     assert refs == ["f1", "b1", "d1"]
+    p.continuity_settings = {"auto_enabled": False}
+    assert continuity_media_refs(p, p) == []
+
+
+def test_stale_identity_pin_ignored_when_auto_off():
+    p = _project(
+        continuity_settings={"auto_enabled": False, "identity_pin_ref": "stale_pin"},
+        scenes=[{"text": "a"}, {"text": "b", "source": {"type": "carry"}}],
+    )
+    assert continuity_media_refs(p, p) == []
 
 
 def test_scene_character_media_refs(monkeypatch):