diff --git a/internal/api/handlers_files.go b/internal/api/handlers_files.go
index 1ed6770..d5a1095 100644
--- a/internal/api/handlers_files.go
+++ b/internal/api/handlers_files.go
@@ -210,6 +210,19 @@ func (a *API) authorizeFileOp(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) (string, b
 		return "", false
 	}
 
+	// World-volume gate, matching the backup/restore faces: the Job mounts the
+	// world PVC by claim name, so a server that has never started (or was already
+	// reaped) has no claim to mount and its Pod sits Pending until the executor's
+	// wait expires — a knowably impossible request answered by a 90s hang and a
+	// misleading 504. Refuse up front with the same specific 409.
+	if exists, err := a.Cluster.WorldVolumeExists(r.Context(), name); err != nil {
+		writeError(w, r, err)
+		return "", false
+	} else if !exists {
+		writeError(w, r, errNoWorldVolume())
+		return "", false
+	}
+
 	// Files is optional: when unwired the endpoints report 503 rather than
 	// panicking, so the authorization boundary above is exercised even before the
 	// file-Job executor is wired (see FileEditor).
diff --git a/internal/api/handlers_files_test.go b/internal/api/handlers_files_test.go
index 0d82900..986185d 100644
--- a/internal/api/handlers_files_test.go
+++ b/internal/api/handlers_files_test.go
@@ -119,6 +119,47 @@ func TestFileEditorStoppedGate(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestFileEditorWorldVolumeGate pins the second physical gate: a server with no
+// world PVC (never started, or already reaped) has no claim for the Job to mount,
+// so its Pod would sit Pending until the executor's wait timed out — a 90s hang
+// and a misleading 504 files_timeout for a request that is knowably impossible.
+// All three routes must refuse BEFORE creating a Job, with the same specific 409
+// the backup/restore faces use.
+func TestFileEditorWorldVolumeGate(t *testing.T) {
+	owner := &Principal{UserID: "owner1", Email: "owner1@example.net", Role: "user"}
+
+	routes := []struct {
+		name   string
+		method string
+		path   string
+		body   string
+	}{
+		{"list", "GET", "/api/v1/servers/survival/files?path=config", ""},
+		{"read", "GET", "/api/v1/servers/survival/file?path=server.properties", ""},
+		{"write", "PUT", "/api/v1/servers/survival/file?path=server.properties", `{"content":"aGk="}`},
+	}
+
+	for _, rt := range routes {
+		t.Run(rt.name+" without a world volume -> 409 no_world_volume", func(t *testing.T) {
+			api, _, cl, files := mkFiles()
+			cl.noWorld["survival"] = true
+			api.External = staticExternal{p: owner}
+
+			var hdr map[string]string
+			if rt.body != "" {
+				hdr = jsonHeader
+			}
+			w := do(api.ExternalHandler(), rt.method, rt.path, rt.body, hdr)
+			if w.Code != http.StatusConflict || decodeErr(t, w) != "no_world_volume" {
+				t.Fatalf("code = %d body %s", w.Code, w.Body.String())
+			}
+			if files.calls != 0 {
+				t.Fatal("no claim to mount — the file Job must never be created")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 // TestFileEditorAuthorization pins who may touch a world's files. It is the same
 // owner-or-admin rule the backup routes enforce, and it must hold on all three
 // routes — a read-only route leaking another owner's config (an RCON password
diff --git a/panel/src/i18n/resources/en-US/errors.json b/panel/src/i18n/resources/en-US/errors.json
index 94e21de..e68a87b 100644
--- a/panel/src/i18n/resources/en-US/errors.json
+++ b/panel/src/i18n/resources/en-US/errors.json
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
   "console_unavailable": "Can't reach the server console right now — try again shortly.",
   "no_backup": "There's no restorable backup for this server yet.",
   "not_stopped": "Stop the server completely before restoring — a restore overwrites the live world volume.",
+  "no_world_volume": "This server has no world volume yet — start it once so it is created, then retry.",
   "restore_unavailable": "Restore isn't available right now — try again later.",
   "session_expired": "Your session expired — please sign in again.",
   "forbidden": "You are not allowed to do that.",
diff --git a/panel/src/i18n/resources/zh-CN/errors.json b/panel/src/i18n/resources/zh-CN/errors.json
index 0a66ac2..1e0a772 100644
--- a/panel/src/i18n/resources/zh-CN/errors.json
+++ b/panel/src/i18n/resources/zh-CN/errors.json
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
   "console_unavailable": "暂时无法连接服务器控制台，请稍后重试。",
   "no_backup": "这台服务器暂时没有可回档的备份。",
   "not_stopped": "回档会覆盖世界的实时存储卷，请先把服务器完全停止再回档。",
+  "no_world_volume": "这台服务器还没有世界卷——先启动一次让它创建，然后再试。",
   "restore_unavailable": "回档功能当前不可用，请稍后再试。",
   "session_expired": "会话已过期——请重新登录。",
   "forbidden": "你无权执行此操作。",
diff --git a/panel/src/lib/api.ts b/panel/src/lib/api.ts
index 2ef0a5a..a4a30ab 100644
--- a/panel/src/lib/api.ts
+++ b/panel/src/lib/api.ts
@@ -678,6 +678,8 @@ export function humanizeError(e: unknown): string {
       return t("no_backup");
     case "not_stopped":
       return t("not_stopped");
+    case "no_world_volume":
+      return t("no_world_volume");
     case "restore_unavailable":
       return t("restore_unavailable");
     default: