diff --git a/hermes_cli/checkpoints.py b/hermes_cli/checkpoints.py
index 4c0c448478ec..5e9cbe1bdc9c 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/checkpoints.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/checkpoints.py
@@ -148,12 +148,15 @@ def cmd_prune(args: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
             if not _confirm("Delete these orphan projects?"):
                 print("Aborted.")
                 return 1
-            # Bind the deletion to exactly what was just displayed and
-            # confirmed — a project that becomes orphaned only *after* this
-            # preview (e.g. its workdir disappears while waiting on input())
-            # must not be swept up under this same confirmation.
-            orphan_allowlist = {p["hash"] for p in orphans}
-            orphan_allowlist.update(p["path"] for p in pre_v2_orphans)
+        # Bind the deletion to exactly what was just displayed (and, when
+        # non-empty, confirmed) — a project that becomes orphaned only
+        # *after* this preview (e.g. its workdir disappears while waiting on
+        # input()) must not be swept up under this same run. This is set
+        # unconditionally for every non-force run: an EMPTY preview binds to
+        # an EMPTY allowlist, so a zero-orphan preview can never authorize
+        # deletion of orphans discovered by the later rescan.
+        orphan_allowlist = {p["hash"] for p in orphans}
+        orphan_allowlist.update(p["path"] for p in pre_v2_orphans)
 
     print("Pruning checkpoint store…")
     print(f"  retention_days:    {retention_days}")
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_checkpoints_prune.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_checkpoints_prune.py
index d597bc86f9c2..d253594066d8 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_checkpoints_prune.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_checkpoints_prune.py
@@ -206,3 +206,57 @@ def test_no_orphans_skips_prompt(monkeypatch, capsys):
 
     assert rc == 0
     assert len(prune_calls) == 1
+
+
+# ─── allowlist binding: preview set == deletion set, even when empty ───────
+
+
+def test_empty_preview_binds_empty_allowlist(monkeypatch, capsys):
+    """Zero-orphan-preview timing regression (PR #69141 review).
+
+    When the non-force preview shows zero orphans, no prompt runs — but the
+    later rescan inside prune_checkpoints() may discover a project that
+    became orphaned *after* the preview. That undisplayed, unconfirmed orphan
+    must not be deletable: the allowlist passed down must be the exact
+    (empty) displayed set, never the unrestricted None sentinel.
+    """
+    import hermes_cli.checkpoints as checkpoints_cli
+
+    prune_calls: list = []
+    _patch_checkpoint_manager(monkeypatch, _V2_ORPHAN_ONLY_STATUS, prune_calls)
+
+    rc = checkpoints_cli.cmd_prune(_ns())
+
+    assert rc == 0
+    assert len(prune_calls) == 1
+    assert prune_calls[0]["orphan_allowlist"] == set()
+
+
+def test_nonempty_preview_allowlist_matches_displayed_set(monkeypatch, capsys):
+    import hermes_cli.checkpoints as checkpoints_cli
+
+    prune_calls: list = []
+    _patch_checkpoint_manager(monkeypatch, _MIXED_STATUS, prune_calls)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("builtins.input", lambda _prompt: "y")
+
+    rc = checkpoints_cli.cmd_prune(_ns())
+
+    assert rc == 0
+    assert len(prune_calls) == 1
+    assert prune_calls[0]["orphan_allowlist"] == {
+        "abc123",
+        "/home/user/.hermes/checkpoints/deadbeefcafebabe",
+    }
+
+
+def test_force_leaves_allowlist_unrestricted(monkeypatch, capsys):
+    import hermes_cli.checkpoints as checkpoints_cli
+
+    prune_calls: list = []
+    _patch_checkpoint_manager(monkeypatch, _MIXED_STATUS, prune_calls)
+
+    rc = checkpoints_cli.cmd_prune(_ns(force=True))
+
+    assert rc == 0
+    assert len(prune_calls) == 1
+    assert prune_calls[0]["orphan_allowlist"] is None