diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/BulkDeleteChannelsHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/BulkDeleteChannelsHandler.cs
index 58dff8705..9cd4369eb 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/BulkDeleteChannelsHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/BulkDeleteChannelsHandler.cs
@@ -55,7 +55,9 @@ public class BulkDeleteChannelsHandler(
             }
         }
 
-        await workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelList(), cancellationToken);
+        // post-commit side effect runs on CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation
+        // can't abort it after the commit landed (#254)
+        await workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelList(), CancellationToken.None);
 
         return Right<BaseError, Unit>(Unit.Default);
     }
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/BulkMoveChannelsToGroupHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/BulkMoveChannelsToGroupHandler.cs
index ede6c4506..1e78ae609 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/BulkMoveChannelsToGroupHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/BulkMoveChannelsToGroupHandler.cs
@@ -54,7 +54,10 @@ public class BulkMoveChannelsToGroupHandler(
         await transaction.CommitAsync(cancellationToken);
 
         searchTargets.SearchTargetsChanged();
-        await workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelList(), cancellationToken);
+
+        // post-commit side effect runs on CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation
+        // can't abort it after the commit landed (#254)
+        await workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelList(), CancellationToken.None);
 
         return Right<BaseError, Unit>(Unit.Default);
     }
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/CreateChannelFromLineupHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/CreateChannelFromLineupHandler.cs
index fd8773482..4127dc10f 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/CreateChannelFromLineupHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/CreateChannelFromLineupHandler.cs
@@ -68,19 +68,22 @@ public class CreateChannelFromLineupHandler(
         }
 
         searchTargets.SearchTargetsChanged();
+
+        // post-commit side effect runs on CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation
+        // can't abort it after the commit landed (#254)
         await workerChannel.WriteAsync(
             new BuildPlayout(prepared.Playout.Id, PlayoutBuildMode.Reset),
-            cancellationToken);
+            CancellationToken.None);
 
         // Mirror CreateClassicPlayoutHandler: on-demand playouts must be time-shifted to "now" after build.
         if (prepared.Channel.PlayoutMode is ChannelPlayoutMode.OnDemand)
         {
             await workerChannel.WriteAsync(
                 new TimeShiftOnDemandPlayout(prepared.Playout.Id, DateTimeOffset.Now, false),
-                cancellationToken);
+                CancellationToken.None);
         }
 
-        await workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelList(), cancellationToken);
+        await workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelList(), CancellationToken.None);
 
         return new CreateChannelFromLineupResponseModel(
             prepared.Channel.Id,
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/DeleteChannelHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/DeleteChannelHandler.cs
index 0363cecab..bd673ef22 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/DeleteChannelHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/DeleteChannelHandler.cs
@@ -47,20 +47,24 @@ public class DeleteChannelHandler : IRequestHandler<DeleteChannel, Either<BaseEr
 
     private async Task<Unit> DoDeletion(TvContext dbContext, Channel channel, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
     {
+        // Delete the guide cache file through the filesystem abstraction (so it's observable under a
+        // MockFileSystem) and BEFORE the commit: deleting after commit orphans {number}.xml if the
+        // process crashes in between (nothing reaps it, and GetChannelGuideHandler serves everything
+        // in the cache folder). The guide xml is regenerable on demand, so losing it pre-commit is safe (#254).
+        string cacheFile = Path.Combine(FileSystemLayout.ChannelGuideCacheFolder, $"{channel.Number}.xml");
+        if (_fileSystem.File.Exists(cacheFile))
+        {
+            _fileSystem.File.Delete(cacheFile);
+        }
+
         dbContext.Channels.Remove(channel);
         await dbContext.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken);
 
         _searchTargets.SearchTargetsChanged();
 
-        // delete channel data from channel guide cache
-        string cacheFile = Path.Combine(FileSystemLayout.ChannelGuideCacheFolder, $"{channel.Number}.xml");
-        if (_fileSystem.File.Exists(cacheFile))
-        {
-            File.Delete(cacheFile);
-        }
-
-        // refresh channel list to remove channel that has no playout
-        await _workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelList(), cancellationToken);
+        // refresh channel list to remove channel that has no playout — post-commit side effect runs on
+        // CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation can't abort it after the delete committed (#254)
+        await _workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelList(), CancellationToken.None);
 
         return Unit.Default;
     }
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/UpdateChannelHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/UpdateChannelHandler.cs
index bf3039a4e..39dfc1ad8 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/UpdateChannelHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/UpdateChannelHandler.cs
@@ -157,21 +157,23 @@ public class UpdateChannelHandler(
 
         searchTargets.SearchTargetsChanged();
 
+        // post-commit side effect runs on CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation
+        // can't abort it after the commit landed (#254)
         if (c.SubtitleMode != ChannelSubtitleMode.None)
         {
             Option<Playout> maybePlayout = await dbContext.Playouts
-                .SelectOneAsync(p => p.ChannelId, p => p.ChannelId == c.Id, cancellationToken);
+                .SelectOneAsync(p => p.ChannelId, p => p.ChannelId == c.Id, CancellationToken.None);
 
             foreach (Playout playout in maybePlayout)
             {
-                await workerChannel.WriteAsync(new ExtractEmbeddedSubtitles(playout.Id), cancellationToken);
+                await workerChannel.WriteAsync(new ExtractEmbeddedSubtitles(playout.Id), CancellationToken.None);
             }
         }
 
-        await workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelList(), cancellationToken);
+        await workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelList(), CancellationToken.None);
         if (hasEpgChange)
         {
-            await workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelData(c.Number), cancellationToken);
+            await workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelData(c.Number), CancellationToken.None);
         }
 
         return ProjectToViewModel(c, c.Playouts?.Count ?? 0);
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/UpdateChannelNumbersHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/UpdateChannelNumbersHandler.cs
index c1873c15f..3fdc321b8 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/UpdateChannelNumbersHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/Channels/Commands/UpdateChannelNumbersHandler.cs
@@ -81,10 +81,12 @@ public class UpdateChannelNumbersHandler(
             await transaction.CommitAsync(cancellationToken);
 
             // update channel list and xmltv
-            await workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelList(), cancellationToken);
+            // post-commit side effect runs on CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation
+            // can't abort it after the commit landed (#254)
+            await workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelList(), CancellationToken.None);
             foreach (var channel in channelsToUpdate)
             {
-                await workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelData(channel.Number), cancellationToken);
+                await workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelData(channel.Number), CancellationToken.None);
             }
 
             return Option<BaseError>.None;
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/AddItemsToCollectionHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/AddItemsToCollectionHandler.cs
index b21ce9f6f..475a1494d 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/AddItemsToCollectionHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/AddItemsToCollectionHandler.cs
@@ -81,13 +81,15 @@ public class AddItemsToCollectionHandler :
 
         if (await dbContext.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken) > 0)
         {
-            await _searchChannel.WriteAsync(new ReindexMediaItems(toAddIds.ToArray()), cancellationToken);
+            // post-commit side effect runs on CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation
+            // can't abort it after the commit landed (#254)
+            await _searchChannel.WriteAsync(new ReindexMediaItems(toAddIds.ToArray()), CancellationToken.None);
 
             // refresh all playouts that use this collection
             foreach (int playoutId in await _mediaCollectionRepository
                          .PlayoutIdsUsingCollection(request.CollectionId))
             {
-                await _channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(playoutId, PlayoutBuildMode.Refresh), cancellationToken);
+                await _channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(playoutId, PlayoutBuildMode.Refresh), CancellationToken.None);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/CreateSmartCollectionHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/CreateSmartCollectionHandler.cs
index 5a9783c45..33ed35131 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/CreateSmartCollectionHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/CreateSmartCollectionHandler.cs
@@ -42,7 +42,10 @@ public class CreateSmartCollectionHandler :
         await dbContext.SmartCollections.AddAsync(smartCollection, cancellationToken);
         await dbContext.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken);
         _searchTargets.SearchTargetsChanged();
-        await _smartCollectionCache.Refresh(cancellationToken);
+
+        // post-commit side effect runs on CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation
+        // can't abort it after the commit landed (#254)
+        await _smartCollectionCache.Refresh(CancellationToken.None);
         return ProjectToViewModel(smartCollection);
     }
 
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/DeleteSmartCollectionHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/DeleteSmartCollectionHandler.cs
index 7fdea22d6..2b6e849a8 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/DeleteSmartCollectionHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/DeleteSmartCollectionHandler.cs
@@ -48,7 +48,10 @@ public class DeleteSmartCollectionHandler : IRequestHandler<DeleteSmartCollectio
         dbContext.SmartCollections.Remove(smartCollection);
         await dbContext.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken);
         _searchTargets.SearchTargetsChanged();
-        await _smartCollectionCache.Refresh(cancellationToken);
+
+        // post-commit side effect runs on CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation
+        // can't abort it after the commit landed (#254)
+        await _smartCollectionCache.Refresh(CancellationToken.None);
         return Unit.Default;
     }
 
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/RemoveItemsFromCollectionHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/RemoveItemsFromCollectionHandler.cs
index 58e267ae6..24af4aaae 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/RemoveItemsFromCollectionHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/RemoveItemsFromCollectionHandler.cs
@@ -63,14 +63,16 @@ public class RemoveItemsFromCollectionHandler : IRequestHandler<RemoveItemsFromC
 
         if (itemsToRemove.Count != 0 && await dbContext.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken) > 0)
         {
+            // post-commit side effect runs on CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation
+            // can't abort it after the commit landed (#254)
             await _searchChannel.WriteAsync(
                 new ReindexMediaItems(itemsToRemove.Select(mi => mi.Id).ToArray()),
-                cancellationToken);
+                CancellationToken.None);
 
             // refresh all playouts that use this collection
             foreach (int playoutId in await _mediaCollectionRepository.PlayoutIdsUsingCollection(collection.Id))
             {
-                await _channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(playoutId, PlayoutBuildMode.Refresh), cancellationToken);
+                await _channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(playoutId, PlayoutBuildMode.Refresh), CancellationToken.None);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/UpdateCollectionHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/UpdateCollectionHandler.cs
index 15010dbe6..73ca500dd 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/UpdateCollectionHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/UpdateCollectionHandler.cs
@@ -61,11 +61,13 @@ public class UpdateCollectionHandler : IRequestHandler<UpdateCollection, Either<
 
         if (await dbContext.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken) > 0 && request.UseCustomPlaybackOrder.IsSome)
         {
+            // post-commit side effect runs on CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation
+            // can't abort it after the commit landed (#254)
             // refresh all playouts that use this collection
             foreach (int playoutId in await _mediaCollectionRepository.PlayoutIdsUsingCollection(
                          request.CollectionId))
             {
-                await _channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(playoutId, PlayoutBuildMode.Refresh), cancellationToken);
+                await _channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(playoutId, PlayoutBuildMode.Refresh), CancellationToken.None);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/UpdateMultiCollectionHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/UpdateMultiCollectionHandler.cs
index d29987398..f4af1f30a 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/UpdateMultiCollectionHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/UpdateMultiCollectionHandler.cs
@@ -124,10 +124,12 @@ public class UpdateMultiCollectionHandler : IRequestHandler<UpdateMultiCollectio
             _searchTargets.SearchTargetsChanged();
 
             // refresh all playouts that use this collection
+            // post-commit side effect runs on CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation
+            // can't abort it after the commit landed (#254)
             foreach (int playoutId in await _mediaCollectionRepository.PlayoutIdsUsingMultiCollection(
                          request.MultiCollectionId))
             {
-                await _channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(playoutId, PlayoutBuildMode.Refresh), cancellationToken);
+                await _channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(playoutId, PlayoutBuildMode.Refresh), CancellationToken.None);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/UpdateRerunCollectionHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/UpdateRerunCollectionHandler.cs
index 201d9e88d..3f2c3620f 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/UpdateRerunCollectionHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/UpdateRerunCollectionHandler.cs
@@ -43,11 +43,13 @@ public class UpdateRerunCollectionHandler(
         // rebuild playouts
         if (await dbContext.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken) > 0)
         {
+            // post-commit side effect runs on CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation
+            // can't abort it after the commit landed (#254)
             // refresh all playouts that use this rerun collection
             foreach (int playoutId in await mediaCollectionRepository.PlayoutIdsUsingRerunCollection(
                          request.RerunCollectionId))
             {
-                await channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(playoutId, PlayoutBuildMode.Refresh), cancellationToken);
+                await channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(playoutId, PlayoutBuildMode.Refresh), CancellationToken.None);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/UpdateSmartCollectionHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/UpdateSmartCollectionHandler.cs
index e1cfbdc9d..df7e06246 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/UpdateSmartCollectionHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/UpdateSmartCollectionHandler.cs
@@ -69,12 +69,15 @@ public class
         if (await dbContext.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken) > 0)
         {
             _searchTargets.SearchTargetsChanged();
-            await _smartCollectionCache.Refresh(cancellationToken);
+
+            // post-commit side effects run on CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation
+            // can't abort them after the commit landed (#254)
+            await _smartCollectionCache.Refresh(CancellationToken.None);
 
             // refresh all playouts that use this smart collection
             foreach (int playoutId in await _mediaCollectionRepository.PlayoutIdsUsingSmartCollection(request.Id))
             {
-                await _channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(playoutId, PlayoutBuildMode.Refresh), cancellationToken);
+                await _channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(playoutId, PlayoutBuildMode.Refresh), CancellationToken.None);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/UpdateTraktListHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/UpdateTraktListHandler.cs
index 772d5ed62..f24e2805a 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/UpdateTraktListHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/MediaCollections/Commands/UpdateTraktListHandler.cs
@@ -57,7 +57,9 @@ public class UpdateTraktListHandler(
                     {
                         try
                         {
-                            await workerChannel.WriteAsync(new MatchTraktListItems(traktList.Id), cancellationToken);
+                            // post-commit side effect runs on CancellationToken.None so a late request
+                            // cancellation can't abort it after the commit landed (#254)
+                            await workerChannel.WriteAsync(new MatchTraktListItems(traktList.Id), CancellationToken.None);
                         }
                         catch
                         {
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/CreateScriptedPlayoutHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/CreateScriptedPlayoutHandler.cs
index 88dc41e20..8af0f2606 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/CreateScriptedPlayoutHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/CreateScriptedPlayoutHandler.cs
@@ -35,15 +35,18 @@ public class CreateScriptedPlayoutHandler(
     {
         await dbContext.Playouts.AddAsync(playout, cancellationToken);
         await dbContext.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken);
-        await channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(playout.Id, PlayoutBuildMode.Reset), cancellationToken);
+
+        // post-commit side effect runs on CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation
+        // can't abort it after the commit landed (#254)
+        await channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(playout.Id, PlayoutBuildMode.Reset), CancellationToken.None);
         if (playout.Channel.PlayoutMode is ChannelPlayoutMode.OnDemand)
         {
             await channel.WriteAsync(
                 new TimeShiftOnDemandPlayout(playout.Id, DateTimeOffset.Now, false),
-                cancellationToken);
+                CancellationToken.None);
         }
 
-        await channel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelList(), cancellationToken);
+        await channel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelList(), CancellationToken.None);
         return new CreatePlayoutResponse(playout.Id);
     }
 
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/CreateSequentialPlayoutHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/CreateSequentialPlayoutHandler.cs
index 267a22098..c0ce15b2e 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/CreateSequentialPlayoutHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/CreateSequentialPlayoutHandler.cs
@@ -33,15 +33,18 @@ public class CreateSequentialPlayoutHandler(
     {
         await dbContext.Playouts.AddAsync(playout, cancellationToken);
         await dbContext.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken);
-        await channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(playout.Id, PlayoutBuildMode.Reset), cancellationToken);
+
+        // post-commit side effect runs on CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation
+        // can't abort it after the commit landed (#254)
+        await channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(playout.Id, PlayoutBuildMode.Reset), CancellationToken.None);
         if (playout.Channel.PlayoutMode is ChannelPlayoutMode.OnDemand)
         {
             await channel.WriteAsync(
                 new TimeShiftOnDemandPlayout(playout.Id, DateTimeOffset.Now, false),
-                cancellationToken);
+                CancellationToken.None);
         }
 
-        await channel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelList(), cancellationToken);
+        await channel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelList(), CancellationToken.None);
         return new CreatePlayoutResponse(playout.Id);
     }
 
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/DeletePlayoutHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/DeletePlayoutHandler.cs
index c6434eaff..4831de8ce 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/DeletePlayoutHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/DeletePlayoutHandler.cs
@@ -28,20 +28,25 @@ public class DeletePlayoutHandler(
 
         foreach (Playout playout in maybePlayout)
         {
-            dbContext.Playouts.Remove(playout);
-            await dbContext.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken);
-
-            // delete channel data from channel guide cache
+            // Delete the guide cache file through the filesystem abstraction (observable under a
+            // MockFileSystem) and BEFORE the commit: deleting after commit orphans {number}.xml if the
+            // process crashes in between. The guide xml is regenerable on demand, so losing it pre-commit
+            // is safe (#254).
             string cacheFile = Path.Combine(FileSystemLayout.ChannelGuideCacheFolder, $"{playout.Channel.Number}.xml");
             if (fileSystem.File.Exists(cacheFile))
             {
-                File.Delete(cacheFile);
+                fileSystem.File.Delete(cacheFile);
             }
 
-            // refresh channel list to remove channel that has no playout
-            await workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelList(), cancellationToken);
+            dbContext.Playouts.Remove(playout);
+            await dbContext.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken);
 
-            await mediator.Publish(new PlayoutUpdatedNotification(playout.Id, false), cancellationToken);
+            // post-commit side effects run on CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation can't
+            // abort them after the delete committed (#254)
+            // refresh channel list to remove channel that has no playout
+            await workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelList(), CancellationToken.None);
+
+            await mediator.Publish(new PlayoutUpdatedNotification(playout.Id, false), CancellationToken.None);
         }
 
         return maybePlayout
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/ReplacePlayoutAlternateScheduleItemsHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/ReplacePlayoutAlternateScheduleItemsHandler.cs
index 0cf6490a6..434a0e439 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/ReplacePlayoutAlternateScheduleItemsHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/ReplacePlayoutAlternateScheduleItemsHandler.cs
@@ -20,7 +20,13 @@ public class ReplacePlayoutAlternateScheduleItemsHandler(
         ReplacePlayoutAlternateScheduleItems request,
         CancellationToken cancellationToken)
     {
-        // TODO: validate that items is not empty
+        // The handler reads the highest-index item as the default schedule (Max() below), so an empty
+        // list is invalid — reject it here rather than letting Max() throw. The controller pre-guards
+        // too, but a direct handler caller (MCP, test, reuse) must get a clean 422, not a raw crash (#254).
+        if (request.Items.Count == 0)
+        {
+            return BaseError.New("Playout alternate schedule items must not be empty");
+        }
 
         try
         {
@@ -152,9 +158,11 @@ public class ReplacePlayoutAlternateScheduleItemsHandler(
                                 existingValue.Name,
                                 schedule.Name);
 
+                            // post-commit enqueue runs on CancellationToken.None: the schedule change is
+                            // already committed, so a late cancellation must not drop the rebuild (#254)
                             await channel.WriteAsync(
                                 new BuildPlayout(request.PlayoutId, PlayoutBuildMode.Refresh),
-                                cancellationToken);
+                                CancellationToken.None);
 
                             break;
                         }
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/UpdateExternalJsonPlayoutHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/UpdateExternalJsonPlayoutHandler.cs
index 81eea96fd..c94770f57 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/UpdateExternalJsonPlayoutHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/UpdateExternalJsonPlayoutHandler.cs
@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@ public class
 
         if (await dbContext.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken) > 0)
         {
-            await _workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelData(playout.Channel.Number), cancellationToken);
+            // post-commit side effect runs on CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation
+            // can't abort it after the commit landed (#254)
+            await _workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelData(playout.Channel.Number), CancellationToken.None);
         }
 
         return new PlayoutNameViewModel(
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/UpdateScriptedPlayoutHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/UpdateScriptedPlayoutHandler.cs
index 329fc33b3..9ef7c1c58 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/UpdateScriptedPlayoutHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/UpdateScriptedPlayoutHandler.cs
@@ -37,7 +37,9 @@ public class
 
         if (await dbContext.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken) > 0)
         {
-            await workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelData(playout.Channel.Number), cancellationToken);
+            // post-commit side effect runs on CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation
+            // can't abort it after the commit landed (#254)
+            await workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelData(playout.Channel.Number), CancellationToken.None);
         }
 
         return new PlayoutNameViewModel(
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/UpdateSequentialPlayoutHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/UpdateSequentialPlayoutHandler.cs
index 1f50282ab..e81cb6ab9 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/UpdateSequentialPlayoutHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/Playouts/Commands/UpdateSequentialPlayoutHandler.cs
@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@ public class
 
         if (await dbContext.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken) > 0)
         {
-            await _workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelData(playout.Channel.Number), cancellationToken);
+            // post-commit side effect runs on CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation
+            // can't abort it after the commit landed (#254)
+            await _workerChannel.WriteAsync(new RefreshChannelData(playout.Channel.Number), CancellationToken.None);
         }
 
         return new PlayoutNameViewModel(
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/ProgramSchedules/Commands/AddProgramScheduleItemHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/ProgramSchedules/Commands/AddProgramScheduleItemHandler.cs
index 1ec7ceb71..b8656406a 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/ProgramSchedules/Commands/AddProgramScheduleItemHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/ProgramSchedules/Commands/AddProgramScheduleItemHandler.cs
@@ -55,9 +55,11 @@ public class AddProgramScheduleItemHandler : ProgramScheduleItemCommandBase,
         await dbContext.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken);
 
         // refresh any playouts that use this schedule
+        // post-commit side effect runs on CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation
+        // can't abort it after the commit landed (#254)
         foreach (Playout playout in programSchedule.Playouts)
         {
-            await _channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(playout.Id, PlayoutBuildMode.Refresh), cancellationToken);
+            await _channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(playout.Id, PlayoutBuildMode.Refresh), CancellationToken.None);
         }
 
         // reload with the full navigation graph before projecting: BuildItem creates the watermark/graphics
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/ProgramSchedules/Commands/DeleteProgramScheduleItemHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/ProgramSchedules/Commands/DeleteProgramScheduleItemHandler.cs
index f54ccdd5f..017f64ac5 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/ProgramSchedules/Commands/DeleteProgramScheduleItemHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/ProgramSchedules/Commands/DeleteProgramScheduleItemHandler.cs
@@ -36,9 +36,11 @@ public class DeleteProgramScheduleItemHandler(
         dbContext.ProgramScheduleItems.Remove(item);
         await dbContext.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken);
 
+        // post-commit side effect runs on CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation
+        // can't abort it after the commit landed (#254)
         foreach (Playout playout in playouts)
         {
-            await channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(playout.Id, PlayoutBuildMode.Refresh), cancellationToken);
+            await channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(playout.Id, PlayoutBuildMode.Refresh), CancellationToken.None);
         }
 
         return Unit.Default;
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Application/ProgramSchedules/Commands/ReplaceProgramScheduleItemsHandler.cs b/ErsatzTV.Application/ProgramSchedules/Commands/ReplaceProgramScheduleItemsHandler.cs
index 0ffc63e05..f68ac5e73 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Application/ProgramSchedules/Commands/ReplaceProgramScheduleItemsHandler.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Application/ProgramSchedules/Commands/ReplaceProgramScheduleItemsHandler.cs
@@ -95,9 +95,11 @@ public class ReplaceProgramScheduleItemsHandler(
         await dbContext.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken);
 
         // refresh any playouts that use this schedule
+        // post-commit side effect runs on CancellationToken.None so a late request cancellation
+        // can't abort it after the commit landed (#254)
         foreach (Playout playout in programSchedule.Playouts)
         {
-            await channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(playout.Id, PlayoutBuildMode.Refresh), cancellationToken);
+            await channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(playout.Id, PlayoutBuildMode.Refresh), CancellationToken.None);
         }
 
         // reload with the full navigation graph before projecting: BuildItem creates the watermark/graphics
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Tests/Application/Channels/DeleteChannelHandlerTests.cs b/ErsatzTV.Tests/Application/Channels/DeleteChannelHandlerTests.cs
index 3fbb057dc..9b7142af0 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Tests/Application/Channels/DeleteChannelHandlerTests.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Tests/Application/Channels/DeleteChannelHandlerTests.cs
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ namespace ErsatzTV.Tests.Application.Channels;
 [TestFixture]
 public class DeleteChannelHandlerTests : ChannelHandlerTestBase
 {
-    private DeleteChannelHandler MakeHandler() => new(Worker, Db.Factory, new MockFileSystem(), SearchTargets);
+    private DeleteChannelHandler MakeHandler(MockFileSystem? fileSystem = null) =>
+        new(Worker, Db.Factory, fileSystem ?? new MockFileSystem(), SearchTargets);
 
     [Test]
     public async Task Should_Return_NotFoundError_When_Channel_Missing()
@@ -39,6 +40,25 @@ public class DeleteChannelHandlerTests : ChannelHandlerTestBase
         exists.ShouldBeFalse();
     }
 
+    [Test]
+    public async Task Should_Delete_Guide_Cache_File_Through_FileSystem_Abstraction()
+    {
+        await SeedChannel(1, "5");
+
+        var fileSystem = new MockFileSystem();
+        string cacheFile = fileSystem.Path.Combine(FileSystemLayout.ChannelGuideCacheFolder, "5.xml");
+        fileSystem.Directory.CreateDirectory(FileSystemLayout.ChannelGuideCacheFolder);
+        await fileSystem.File.WriteAllTextAsync(cacheFile, "<tv/>");
+        fileSystem.File.Exists(cacheFile).ShouldBeTrue();
+
+        Either<BaseError, Unit> result =
+            await MakeHandler(fileSystem).Handle(new DeleteChannel(1), CancellationToken.None);
+
+        result.IsRight.ShouldBeTrue();
+        // routed through the abstraction (not static File.Delete), so the MockFileSystem observes the removal
+        fileSystem.File.Exists(cacheFile).ShouldBeFalse();
+    }
+
     private static BaseError LeftOf<TR>(Either<BaseError, TR> either) =>
         either.Match(Left: e => e, Right: _ => throw new AssertionException("Expected a Left result"));
 }
diff --git a/ErsatzTV.Tests/Application/Playouts/PlayoutHandlerTests.cs b/ErsatzTV.Tests/Application/Playouts/PlayoutHandlerTests.cs
index 5377658e5..76a6fd8cc 100644
--- a/ErsatzTV.Tests/Application/Playouts/PlayoutHandlerTests.cs
+++ b/ErsatzTV.Tests/Application/Playouts/PlayoutHandlerTests.cs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ using ErsatzTV.Infrastructure.Data;
 using ErsatzTV.Tests.Support;
 using LanguageExt;
 using MediatR;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Abstractions;
 using NSubstitute;
 using NUnit.Framework;
 using Shouldly;
@@ -71,6 +72,52 @@ public class PlayoutHandlerTests
         LeftOf(result).ShouldBeOfType<NotFoundError>();
     }
 
+    [Test]
+    public async Task Delete_Should_Remove_Guide_Cache_File_Through_FileSystem_Abstraction()
+    {
+        int channelId = await SeedChannel();
+        int playoutId;
+        await using (TvContext context = _db.CreateContext())
+        {
+            var playout = new Playout { ChannelId = channelId, Items = [] };
+            context.Playouts.Add(playout);
+            await context.SaveChangesAsync();
+            playoutId = playout.Id;
+        }
+
+        var fileSystem = new MockFileSystem();
+        string cacheFile = fileSystem.Path.Combine(FileSystemLayout.ChannelGuideCacheFolder, "101.xml");
+        fileSystem.Directory.CreateDirectory(FileSystemLayout.ChannelGuideCacheFolder);
+        await fileSystem.File.WriteAllTextAsync(cacheFile, "<tv/>");
+
+        var handler = new DeletePlayoutHandler(
+            _worker,
+            _db.Factory,
+            fileSystem,
+            Substitute.For<IMediator>());
+
+        Either<BaseError, Unit> result = await handler.Handle(new DeletePlayout(playoutId), CancellationToken.None);
+
+        result.IsRight.ShouldBeTrue();
+        // routed through the abstraction (not static File.Delete), so the MockFileSystem observes the removal
+        fileSystem.File.Exists(cacheFile).ShouldBeFalse();
+    }
+
+    [Test]
+    public async Task ReplaceAlternateScheduleItems_Should_Reject_Empty_List()
+    {
+        var handler = new ReplacePlayoutAlternateScheduleItemsHandler(
+            _db.Factory,
+            _worker,
+            NullLogger<ReplacePlayoutAlternateScheduleItemsHandler>.Instance);
+
+        Either<BaseError, Unit> result = await handler.Handle(
+            new ReplacePlayoutAlternateScheduleItems(1, []),
+            CancellationToken.None);
+
+        LeftOf(result).Value.ShouldContain("must not be empty");
+    }
+
     private static BaseError LeftOf<TR>(Either<BaseError, TR> either) =>
         either.Match(Left: e => e, Right: _ => throw new AssertionException("Expected a Left result"));
 
diff --git a/docs/api-conventions.md b/docs/api-conventions.md
index eceef1ecd..715e14cfa 100644
--- a/docs/api-conventions.md
+++ b/docs/api-conventions.md
@@ -343,6 +343,38 @@ save → 412 (prove it non-vacuous by dropping `.IsConcurrencyToken()` and watch
 Phase 2 (a later PR) flips a missing `If-Match` from force-write to **428 Precondition Required** once
 every editor echoes and one release soaks.
 
+## 7b. Post-commit side effects run on `CancellationToken.None`
+
+Once a command handler's `await dbContext.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken)` (or repository upsert)
+has **committed**, everything that runs afterwards to complete that mutation's side effect —
+`channel.WriteAsync(new BuildPlayout(...))` / other worker-channel enqueues, `mediator.Publish(...)`,
+`ISearchIndex`/reindex enqueues, a cache `Refresh(...)`, and any post-commit **lookup that gates one
+of those enqueues** — must be passed **`CancellationToken.None`**, not the request `cancellationToken`.
+
+Rationale (audit #22, issues #251 → #254): the request token is cancelled when the HTTP client
+disconnects. If it's threaded into a post-commit enqueue, a late disconnect turns an *already-durable*
+commit into a thrown request **and drops the side effect** (e.g. the rebuild is never queued → the
+persisted change silently never takes visible effect). The commit is the point of no return: past it,
+the compensating side effect must not be half-abortable. Exemplar idiom:
+`ErsatzTV.Application/Scheduling/Commands/UpdateDecoHandler.cs` (the affected-playout queries **and** the
+`WriteAsync(BuildPlayout..., CancellationToken.None)` enqueue all use `None`).
+
+Two boundaries:
+- **Response projection is NOT a side effect.** The post-commit reload that builds the *returned* view
+  model (§7 above) legitimately keeps the request `cancellationToken` — if the client disconnected, we
+  don't need to compute a response nobody will read, and the durable work (commit + `None`-enqueue) has
+  already happened. Only the *side effect* chain gets `None`.
+- **Background-job handlers keep their token.** `BuildPlayoutHandler` and other handlers invoked by the
+  worker (not by an HTTP request) receive the *worker's* shutdown token, not a client-disconnect token —
+  their downstream enqueues correctly stay on that token so a shutdown stops enqueuing more work.
+
+Pre-commit reads/validation and the `SaveChangesAsync` call itself keep the request token (cancelling
+*before* the commit safely aborts with nothing persisted). A handler that passes **no** token to a
+post-commit `WriteAsync()` is already behaviorally correct (`default` == `CancellationToken.None`);
+making it explicit is optional cleanup, not required. Config handlers that commit via several sequential
+`IConfigElementRepository.Upsert` calls are a distinct partial-commit-under-cancellation case not covered
+by this rule (tracked separately).
+
 ## 8. Known API warts (don't "fix" without discussion — they're deliberate synthesized rows)
 
 `GET /api/blocks` and `GET /api/templates` (via `GetAllBlocksHandler` / `GetAllTemplatesHandler` in
diff --git a/docs/decisions.md b/docs/decisions.md
index 40513f80d..e980eb8c7 100644
--- a/docs/decisions.md
+++ b/docs/decisions.md
@@ -682,3 +682,44 @@ the mechanics live in `api-conventions.md` §7a. Decisions frozen here:
   concern on the positional reconcile) — root-anchored versioning is orthogonal to it; split to **#259**.
 - **If-Match status semantics** (non-canonical/weak/list → 400) are fail-safe; the stricter RFC 7232
   "valid-but-non-matching → 412" refinement is deferred to #197 (**#265**).
+
+## 2026-07-11 — Post-commit side effects run on `CancellationToken.None` (generalized from #251 to #254)
+
+Audit #22 (adversarial-reviewer) found ~20 command handlers threading the request `cancellationToken`
+into work that runs **after** `SaveChangesAsync` commits — the post-commit `WriteAsync` enqueue that
+rebuilds/refreshes the affected entity, `mediator.Publish`, search-index reindex, cache refresh. A late
+HTTP-client disconnect cancels that token, so the *already-committed* mutation throws on the way out
+**and silently drops its side effect** (the playout rebuild is never queued → the persisted edit never
+takes visible effect until a manual Reset). #251 fixed this for the deco handlers; #254 generalizes the
+policy across the codebase.
+
+**Decision.** Once a mutation has committed, the *entire* compensating side effect — enqueues, publishes,
+reindexes, cache refreshes, and any post-commit lookup that **gates** one of those enqueues — runs on
+`CancellationToken.None`. The commit is the point of no return; past it the side effect must not be
+half-abortable. Full convention + the two boundaries in `docs/api-conventions.md` §7b.
+
+**Scope of the #254 sweep (this PR).** Swept the single-`SaveChanges` handlers under `MediaCollections/`,
+`ProgramSchedules/`, `Playouts/`, `Channels/` (20 handlers). Deliberately **excluded**:
+- **`BuildPlayoutHandler`** — a background/worker handler; its token is the worker shutdown token, not a
+  client-disconnect token, so its downstream enqueues *correctly* honor cancellation.
+- **`UpdateFFmpegSettingsHandler` + the two `Configuration/` settings handlers** — they commit via several
+  sequential `IConfigElementRepository.Upsert` calls with an interleaved enqueue; "when is it committed"
+  is a partial-commit-under-cancellation question broader than the clean single-`SaveChanges` F4 pattern.
+  Left for a separate follow-up.
+- **Response-projection reloads** (`ReplaceProgramScheduleItemsHandler` / `AddProgramScheduleItemHandler`
+  post-commit graph reload that builds the *returned* view model) keep the request token — a cancelled
+  response after a durable commit + `None`-enqueue loses nothing.
+- Handlers a no-token `WriteAsync()` already makes behaviorally correct (`default` == `None`) were left
+  alone (explicit-`None` there is cosmetic).
+
+Also folded in the two other #254 items on the same handlers: the channel-guide `{number}.xml` delete in
+`DeleteChannelHandler`/`DeletePlayoutHandler` now routes through `IFileSystem.File.Delete` (observable
+under `MockFileSystem`) **before** the commit (a post-commit delete orphans the xml on a crash; the guide
+xml is regenerable on demand, so a pre-commit delete is the safe ordering), and
+`ReplacePlayoutAlternateScheduleItemsHandler` now rejects an empty item list in the handler (not only at
+the controller pre-guard) so a direct caller can't trip the `Max()`-on-empty crash.
+
+**Coordination note for #253 PR2–PR4.** Those PRs add `Version++` (pre-commit) to the mutating handlers of
+the versioned aggregates — several of which this sweep also touched (post-commit token, a different line
+region). Low git-conflict risk, but merge `main` in and expect to see the `CancellationToken.None`
+convention already present on the post-commit enqueues.