diff --git a/docs/openapi.yaml b/docs/openapi.yaml
index b8c1c77..61cbcd5 100644
--- a/docs/openapi.yaml
+++ b/docs/openapi.yaml
@@ -1276,7 +1276,9 @@ paths:
             start failed and its automatic retries are spent (ServerInfo.startGaveUp);
             the server stays down until a person starts it from the panel.
             server_retiring: the owner gave the server up or an admin is deleting it;
-            it stays down until the reaper archives it.
+            it stays down until the reaper archives it. world_reclaiming: the idle
+            reaper is archiving the world; afterwards the server is released with an
+            empty world.
           content:
             application/json:
               schema: { $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error' }
diff --git a/docs/troubleshooting.md b/docs/troubleshooting.md
index efad008..04daa86 100644
--- a/docs/troubleshooting.md
+++ b/docs/troubleshooting.md
@@ -221,6 +221,7 @@ per-server cooldown → global running cap**. Map the API result:
 |---|---|---|---|
 | `403` | `forbidden` | `autostartPolicy=allowlist` and UUID not allowlisted, or `ownerOnly` and caller is not owner | Add the UUID / claim the server / set `autostartPolicy=public` |
 | `409` | `maintenance_in_progress` | A restore, backup or file write holds the server's world volume (§3b) | Wait for the Job to finish |
+| `409` | `world_reclaiming` | The idle reaper is archiving the world (§3b item 3); afterwards the server is released with an empty world | Nothing to wait for; the old world stays in the archive |
 | `429` | (cooldown) | Wake retried within the 30s per-server `WakeCooldown` | Wait out the cooldown |
 | `503` | `at_capacity` | Global `MaxRunningServers` cap reached | Stop another server or raise the cap |
 
@@ -231,7 +232,8 @@ teleports when `ready=true`.
 
 The Velocity-side consumption of these codes (`403` → "You're not allowed to
 start «server»"; `409 maintenance_in_progress` → "«server» is under
-maintenance", not queued; `429` → re-queue; other → "Couldn't start … Try again
+maintenance", not queued; `409 world_reclaiming` → "«server» sat idle too
+long and its world is being archived", not queued; `429` → re-queue; other → "Couldn't start … Try again
 shortly.") lives in the Java plugin and is **[CODE-ONLY]** — the codes it reacts
 to are produced by the Go-tested `authorizeWakeByUUID` / cooldown limiter, so
 grade the two halves separately.
diff --git a/internal/api/handlers_internal.go b/internal/api/handlers_internal.go
index 1423763..e0954fd 100644
--- a/internal/api/handlers_internal.go
+++ b/internal/api/handlers_internal.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 
 	"felis.lolicon.best/internal/apis/felis/v1alpha1"
+	"felis.lolicon.best/internal/maintenance"
 	"felis.lolicon.best/internal/naming"
 )
 
@@ -192,8 +193,16 @@ func (a *API) handleInternalWake(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	}
 
 	// A 409 maintenance_in_progress tells velocity nothing is coming up until the
-	// restore/backup/file write finishes, so it does not enqueue the player.
+	// restore/backup/file write finishes, so it does not enqueue the player. The
+	// idle reaper gets its own code: when it lets go, the world is archived and the
+	// server released, so "try again shortly" would send the player back to a server
+	// that is no longer the one they knew.
 	if err := a.Cluster.SetDesiredState(r.Context(), name, v1alpha1.DesiredRunning); err != nil {
+		var busy *MaintenanceBusyError
+		if errors.As(err, &busy) && busy.Kind == maintenance.KindReap {
+			writeError(w, r, errWorldReclaiming)
+			return
+		}
 		a.writeLookupError(w, r, err)
 		return
 	}
@@ -210,6 +219,12 @@ func (a *API) handleInternalWake(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	})
 }
 
+// errWorldReclaiming refuses a join-driven wake while the idle reaper archives the
+// server's world. Once it is done the server is released with an empty world and
+// the old one stays in the archive.
+var errWorldReclaiming = newError(http.StatusConflict, "world_reclaiming",
+	"this server sat idle too long and its world is being archived; afterwards it is released with an empty world")
+
 // internalClaimRequest is the velocity `Claim & Start` body: the verified
 // online-mode UUID of the player claiming an ownerless server (spec §9.3, §12).
 type internalClaimRequest struct {
diff --git a/internal/api/handlers_maintenance_test.go b/internal/api/handlers_maintenance_test.go
index 31e688d..2a84133 100644
--- a/internal/api/handlers_maintenance_test.go
+++ b/internal/api/handlers_maintenance_test.go
@@ -58,6 +58,20 @@ func TestWakeRefusedDuringMaintenance(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatalf("wake after maintenance: code = %d body %s", w.Code, w.Body.String())
 		}
 	})
+
+	// The idle reaper is no wait-and-retry: when it lets go the world is archived
+	// and the server released, so velocity must be able to tell the player that.
+	t.Run("internal wake during an idle reap -> 409 world_reclaiming", func(t *testing.T) {
+		api, cl := newInternalWakeAPI("public")
+		cl.wakeErr["survival"] = &MaintenanceBusyError{Kind: maintenance.KindReap}
+		w := internalWake(api, `{"mc_uuid":"`+wakeUUID+`"}`)
+		if w.Code != http.StatusConflict || decodeErr(t, w) != "world_reclaiming" {
+			t.Fatalf("code = %d body %s, want 409 world_reclaiming", w.Code, w.Body.String())
+		}
+		if _, set := cl.desired["survival"]; set {
+			t.Fatal("a refused wake must not flip desiredState")
+		}
+	})
 }
 
 // maintenanceOp is one world-volume operation as the external face serves it.
diff --git a/panel/src/lib/openapi.gen.ts b/panel/src/lib/openapi.gen.ts
index 9112c8f..8302216 100644
--- a/panel/src/lib/openapi.gen.ts
+++ b/panel/src/lib/openapi.gen.ts
@@ -3280,7 +3280,7 @@ export interface operations {
             401: components["responses"]["Unauthorized"];
             403: components["responses"]["Forbidden"];
             404: components["responses"]["NotFound"];
-            /** @description Nothing was started. maintenance_in_progress: a restore, backup or file write holds the server's world volume. start_failed: the last start failed and its automatic retries are spent (ServerInfo.startGaveUp); the server stays down until a person starts it from the panel. server_retiring: the owner gave the server up or an admin is deleting it; it stays down until the reaper archives it. */
+            /** @description Nothing was started. maintenance_in_progress: a restore, backup or file write holds the server's world volume. start_failed: the last start failed and its automatic retries are spent (ServerInfo.startGaveUp); the server stays down until a person starts it from the panel. server_retiring: the owner gave the server up or an admin is deleting it; it stays down until the reaper archives it. world_reclaiming: the idle reaper is archiving the world; afterwards the server is released with an empty world. */
             409: {
                 headers: {
                     [name: string]: unknown;
diff --git a/plugins/shared/src/main/java/best/lolicon/felis/link/FelisApiClient.java b/plugins/shared/src/main/java/best/lolicon/felis/link/FelisApiClient.java
index 8d4d011..22a6e91 100644
--- a/plugins/shared/src/main/java/best/lolicon/felis/link/FelisApiClient.java
+++ b/plugins/shared/src/main/java/best/lolicon/felis/link/FelisApiClient.java
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ public final class FelisApiClient {
      * joining player (spec §9.1, §14). The reply (202) carries the current phase
      * and ready flag so the caller can decide whether to wait. A 403 (policy gate),
      * 409 {@code maintenance_in_progress} (a restore, backup or file write holds the
-     * world), 429 (cooldown), or 503 {@code at_capacity} (running cap) arrives as a
+     * world) or {@code world_reclaiming} (the idle reaper is archiving it), 429 (cooldown), or 503 {@code at_capacity} (running cap) arrives as a
      * LinkException the caller branches on.
      */
     public ServerView wake(String name, UUID mcUuid) throws LinkException {
diff --git a/plugins/velocity/src/main/java/best/lolicon/felis/velocity/MotdResponder.java b/plugins/velocity/src/main/java/best/lolicon/felis/velocity/MotdResponder.java
index e2732c2..bc56b39 100644
--- a/plugins/velocity/src/main/java/best/lolicon/felis/velocity/MotdResponder.java
+++ b/plugins/velocity/src/main/java/best/lolicon/felis/velocity/MotdResponder.java
@@ -74,7 +74,16 @@ public final class MotdResponder {
         if ("Running".equals(v.desiredState())) {
             return "启动中… / starting…";
         }
-        return "休眠中，加入即唤醒 / sleeping — join to wake";
+        // The ping carries no identity either, so a sleeping server says who can wake
+        // it, by the same autostartPolicy gate the join runs into: ownerOnly or unset
+        // admits the owner alone.
+        if ("public".equals(v.autostartPolicy())) {
+            return "休眠中，加入即唤醒 / sleeping — join to wake";
+        }
+        if ("allowlist".equals(v.autostartPolicy())) {
+            return "休眠中，名单内玩家加入即唤醒 / sleeping — allowlisted players can wake it";
+        }
+        return "休眠中，仅服主可唤醒 / sleeping — only the owner can wake it";
     }
 
     static NamedTextColor statusColor(ServerView v) {
diff --git a/plugins/velocity/src/main/java/best/lolicon/felis/velocity/WaitingRouter.java b/plugins/velocity/src/main/java/best/lolicon/felis/velocity/WaitingRouter.java
index 582bd57..7ba0e98 100644
--- a/plugins/velocity/src/main/java/best/lolicon/felis/velocity/WaitingRouter.java
+++ b/plugins/velocity/src/main/java/best/lolicon/felis/velocity/WaitingRouter.java
@@ -727,6 +727,18 @@ public final class WaitingRouter {
                                 NamedTextColor.YELLOW));
                         return;
                     }
+                    if ("world_reclaiming".equals(e.errorCode())) {
+                        // The idle reaper is archiving the world. When it is done the
+                        // server is released with an empty world, so there is nothing
+                        // to wait for, and "try again shortly" would mislead.
+                        player.sendMessage(Component.text(
+                                zh ? "「" + serverName + "」闲置太久，世界正在归档回收，现在不能启动。"
+                                     + "回收后它会变成可认领的空服，旧世界留在归档里。"
+                                   : "« " + serverName + " » sat idle too long and its world is being archived, so it can't start."
+                                     + " Afterwards it becomes a claimable empty server; the old world stays in the archive.",
+                                NamedTextColor.YELLOW));
+                        return;
+                    }
                     if ("server_retiring".equals(e.errorCode())) {
                         // The owner gave the server up or an admin is deleting it: it
                         // stays down until the reaper archives it, unless that is
diff --git a/plugins/velocity/test/best/lolicon/felis/velocity/ServerRegistryTest.java b/plugins/velocity/test/best/lolicon/felis/velocity/ServerRegistryTest.java
index 6f873a1..6eb7d7a 100644
--- a/plugins/velocity/test/best/lolicon/felis/velocity/ServerRegistryTest.java
+++ b/plugins/velocity/test/best/lolicon/felis/velocity/ServerRegistryTest.java
@@ -156,8 +156,16 @@ public final class ServerRegistryTest {
         assertEq("motd: retries spent", "启动失败，等服主处理 / failed to start — the owner has to restart it",
                 MotdResponder.statusLine(gaveUp));
         assertEq("motd: retries spent is red", NamedTextColor.RED, MotdResponder.statusColor(gaveUp));
-        assertEq("motd: sleeping", "休眠中，加入即唤醒 / sleeping — join to wake",
+        // A sleeping server says who can wake it: a stranger reading "join to wake" on
+        // an ownerOnly server joined only to be refused.
+        assertEq("motd: sleeping, ownerOnly", "休眠中，仅服主可唤醒 / sleeping — only the owner can wake it",
                 MotdResponder.statusLine(down("a", "a")));
+        assertEq("motd: sleeping, public", "休眠中，加入即唤醒 / sleeping — join to wake",
+                MotdResponder.statusLine(sleeping("public")));
+        assertEq("motd: sleeping, allowlist", "休眠中，名单内玩家加入即唤醒 / sleeping — allowlisted players can wake it",
+                MotdResponder.statusLine(sleeping("allowlist")));
+        assertEq("motd: sleeping, no policy", "休眠中，仅服主可唤醒 / sleeping — only the owner can wake it",
+                MotdResponder.statusLine(sleeping(null)));
 
         System.out.println("ServerRegistryTest OK (" + checks + " checks)");
     }
@@ -170,6 +178,10 @@ public final class ServerRegistryTest {
         return new ServerView(name, sub, "Stopped", false, "ownerOnly", "Stopped", "fallback", "login", 0, 0);
     }
 
+    private static ServerView sleeping(String policy) {
+        return new ServerView("a", "a", "Stopped", false, policy, "Stopped", "fallback", "login", 0, 0);
+    }
+
     private static ServerView unstarted(String name, String sub) {
         return new ServerView(name, sub, "", false, "ownerOnly", "Stopped", null, null, 0, 0);
     }
diff --git a/plugins/velocity/test/best/lolicon/felis/velocity/WaitingRouterTest.java b/plugins/velocity/test/best/lolicon/felis/velocity/WaitingRouterTest.java
index 3779798..6fed806 100644
--- a/plugins/velocity/test/best/lolicon/felis/velocity/WaitingRouterTest.java
+++ b/plugins/velocity/test/best/lolicon/felis/velocity/WaitingRouterTest.java
@@ -234,6 +234,7 @@ public final class WaitingRouterTest {
                 {"retries spent", "« gamma » failed to start and its automatic retries are spent", null},
                 {"409 maintenance_in_progress", "« gamma » is under maintenance", null},
                 {"409 server_retiring", "« gamma » has been given up or is being deleted", null},
+                {"409 world_reclaiming", "« gamma » sat idle too long and its world is being archived", null},
                 {"409 conflict", "Couldn't start « gamma » right now", "wake gamma failed (status=409)"},
                 {"503 at_capacity", "The cluster is at capacity right now", null},
                 {"503 unavailable", "Couldn't start « gamma » right now", "wake gamma failed (status=503)"},
@@ -259,6 +260,8 @@ public final class WaitingRouterTest {
             assertEq(c[0] + ": no promise of a start", false, p.said("Starting « gamma »"));
             if (c[2] != null) {
                 assertEq(c[0] + ": logged", warned + 1, log.count("WARN", c[2]));
+            } else {
+                assertEq(c[0] + ": no generic failure on top", false, p.said("Couldn't start « gamma » right now"));
             }
             api.policy.remove("gamma");
             api.phase.remove("gamma");