diff --git a/src/lnurlcash/nwc/pay.ts b/src/lnurlcash/nwc/pay.ts
index c03cbda..d05ea4e 100644
--- a/src/lnurlcash/nwc/pay.ts
+++ b/src/lnurlcash/nwc/pay.ts
@@ -23,18 +23,19 @@ import {errResult, okResult} from './protocol'
 
 // maps a PayResult onto the store delta, mirroring PayInvoiceDialog's
 // semantics: carve inputs lock spent, change is tracked, returned funds
-// are tracked UNMARKED, rescued secrets are tracked unverified. One
+// are tracked UNMARKED, rescued secrets are tracked unverified. The
+// returned funds live in `rotatedNote` when the classification rotate
+// re-secured them (burning the carved note in the process); one
 // deliberate divergence: in the exact-match + funds-returned case the
-// original bearer (old k1, burned server-side by the classification
-// rotate) is left for the next refresh to reconcile, exactly as the UI
-// leaves it - the money itself sits in the re-secured note, which IS
-// tracked.
+// original bearer (old k1, burned server-side by that rotate) is left for
+// the next refresh to reconcile, exactly as the UI leaves it - the money
+// itself sits in the re-secured note, which IS tracked.
 export const payChangeset = (bearers: Bearer[], result: PayResult): NwcChangeset => {
   const add: NewBearer[] = []
   const markSpent: string[] = result.carve.consumed.map((b) => b.id)
   if (result.carve.change) add.push(result.carve.change)
   if (result.outcome === 'failed-funds-returned') {
-    add.push(result.carve.note)
+    add.push(result.rotatedNote ?? result.carve.note)
   } else {
     // settled / still-pending / already-spent: the carved note is gone or
     // locked. When it was one of the wallet's own bearers (an exact-match
diff --git a/src/lnurlcash/ops.carve.cases.ts b/src/lnurlcash/ops.carve.cases.ts
index bef3e74..c9a8327 100644
--- a/src/lnurlcash/ops.carve.cases.ts
+++ b/src/lnurlcash/ops.carve.cases.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import {describe, expect, it} from 'vitest'
 import {fetchNoteInfo, noteK1} from 'lnurlcash-kit'
 
 import type {Bearer} from './types'
+import type {CarveResult} from './ops'
 import {UncertainOutcomeError, ensureExactAmount} from './ops'
 import {requiredValue} from './test-utils'
 import {makeBearer, mint, noteUrl, secret} from './ops.testHarness'
@@ -119,4 +120,44 @@ describe('ensureExactAmount', () => {
       (await fetchNoteInfo(noteUrl(instance, requiredValue(noteK1(second.url))))).maxWithdrawable,
     ).toBe(16_000)
   })
+
+  it('reports a mutation-bearing carve through onCarve before returning', async () => {
+    const instance = await mint()
+    const bearer = await makeBearer(instance, secret('12'), 21_000)
+    const seen: CarveResult[] = []
+    const result = await ensureExactAmount([bearer], 5_000, {
+      onCarve: (carve) => {
+        seen.push(carve)
+      },
+    })
+    // the hook saw exactly the returned result, once
+    expect(seen).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(seen[0]).toBe(result)
+    expect(result.consumed).toHaveLength(1)
+  })
+
+  it('never fires onCarve for an already-exact note - nothing was burned', async () => {
+    const instance = await mint()
+    const bearer = await makeBearer(instance, secret('13'), 21_000)
+    let called = false
+    const result = await ensureExactAmount([bearer], 21_000, {
+      onCarve: () => {
+        called = true
+      },
+    })
+    expect(called).toBe(false)
+    expect(result.consumed).toEqual([])
+  })
+
+  it('propagates an onCarve failure - the carve landed, the caller must surface it', async () => {
+    const instance = await mint()
+    const bearer = await makeBearer(instance, secret('14'), 21_000)
+    await expect(
+      ensureExactAmount([bearer], 5_000, {
+        onCarve: () => {
+          throw new Error('commit failed')
+        },
+      }),
+    ).rejects.toThrow(/commit failed/)
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/lnurlcash/ops.pay.cases.ts b/src/lnurlcash/ops.pay.cases.ts
index 5c27833..08b1e7c 100644
--- a/src/lnurlcash/ops.pay.cases.ts
+++ b/src/lnurlcash/ops.pay.cases.ts
@@ -51,9 +51,14 @@ describe('payWithBearers', () => {
     })
     expect(result.outcome).toBe('failed-funds-returned')
     expect(instance.state.noteState(secret('33'))).toBe('burned')
-    const returnedK1 = requiredValue(noteK1(result.carve.note.url))
+    // the returned funds come back re-secured at the classification
+    // rotate's fresh secret - carried as rotatedNote, NOT folded into the
+    // carve (which an onCarve checkpoint may already have committed)
+    const rotatedNote = requiredValue(result.rotatedNote)
+    expect(rotatedNote.verified).toBe(true)
+    const returnedK1 = requiredValue(noteK1(rotatedNote.url))
     expect(instance.state.noteState(returnedK1)).toBe('outstanding')
-    expect(result.carve.note.amount).toBe(21_000)
+    expect(rotatedNote.amount).toBe(21_000)
   })
 
   it('classifies a never-settling melt as unknown-still-pending', async () => {
@@ -72,4 +77,22 @@ describe('payWithBearers', () => {
     await expect(payWithBearers([bearer], 'lnbc1pjqrstuvwxyz')).rejects.toThrow(/amount/)
     await expect(payWithBearers([bearer], 'not-an-invoice')).rejects.toThrow(/not a valid/i)
   })
+
+  it('aborts before the melt when the carve commit hook fails', async () => {
+    const instance = await mint()
+    const bearer = await makeBearer(instance, secret('36'), 21_000)
+    // paying 10_500 off a 21_000 note forces a split, which must commit
+    // through the hook before the melt may start
+    await expect(
+      payWithBearers([bearer], 'lnbc105n1pjqrstuvwxyz', {
+        onCarve: () => {
+          throw new Error('commit failed')
+        },
+      }),
+    ).rejects.toThrow(/commit failed/)
+    // the split landed (the input is burned) but the melt never happened:
+    // nothing sits pending at the mint
+    expect(instance.state.noteState(secret('36'))).toBe('burned')
+    expect([...instance.state.notes.values()].every((note) => note.state !== 'pending')).toBe(true)
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/lnurlcash/ops.transfer.cases.ts b/src/lnurlcash/ops.transfer.cases.ts
index 131f1b4..7ef3767 100644
--- a/src/lnurlcash/ops.transfer.cases.ts
+++ b/src/lnurlcash/ops.transfer.cases.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import {createMockMint} from 'lnurlcash-conformance/mock-mint'
 import {hashK1, noteK1} from 'lnurlcash-kit'
 
 import {transferBetweenMints} from './ops'
+import type {CarveResult} from './ops'
 import {requiredValue} from './test-utils'
 import {expectBurned, makeBearer, mint, secret, settleWhenRequested} from './ops.testHarness'
 
@@ -128,10 +129,15 @@ describe('transferBetweenMints', () => {
     expect(result.outcome).toBe('failed-funds-returned')
     expect(result.mintedAtTarget).toBeUndefined()
     expect(source.state.noteState(k1)).toBe('burned')
-    const returnedK1 = requiredValue(noteK1(result.carve.note.url))
+    // the returned funds come back re-secured at the source-probe rotate's
+    // fresh secret - carried as rotatedNote, NOT folded into the carve
+    // (which an onCarve checkpoint may already have committed)
+    const rotatedNote = requiredValue(result.rotatedNote)
+    expect(rotatedNote.verified).toBe(true)
+    const returnedK1 = requiredValue(noteK1(rotatedNote.url))
     expect(returnedK1).not.toBe(k1)
     expect(source.state.noteState(returnedK1)).toBe('outstanding')
-    expect(result.carve.note.amount).toBe(21_000)
+    expect(rotatedNote.amount).toBe(21_000)
   })
 
   it('moves value to a NAMED target: the note lands at the wallet secret, no rotate', async () => {
@@ -212,4 +218,43 @@ describe('transferBetweenMints', () => {
     expect(newK1).not.toBe(preimage)
     expect(target.state.noteState(newK1)).toBe('outstanding')
   })
+
+  it('fires onCarve after the carve landed and before the melt starts', async () => {
+    const source = await mint()
+    const target = await mint({testHooks: true})
+    const bearer = await makeBearer(source, secret('51'), 21_000)
+    const seen: CarveResult[] = []
+    const pending = transferBetweenMints([bearer], 10_000, `mint@127.0.0.1:${target.port}`, {
+      poll: fastPoll,
+      onCarve: (carve) => {
+        seen.push(carve)
+        // at hook time the melt must NOT have started: the carved note is
+        // still outstanding (a melt would leave it pending)
+        expect(source.state.noteState(requiredValue(noteK1(carve.note.url)))).toBe('outstanding')
+      },
+    })
+    await settleWhenRequested(target)
+    const result = await pending
+    expect(result.outcome).toBe('settled')
+    expect(seen).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(seen[0]?.consumed.map((entry) => entry.id)).toEqual([bearer.id])
+  })
+
+  it('aborts before the melt when the carve commit hook fails', async () => {
+    const source = await mint()
+    const target = await mint({testHooks: true})
+    const k1 = secret('52')
+    const bearer = await makeBearer(source, k1, 21_000)
+    await expect(
+      transferBetweenMints([bearer], 10_000, `mint@127.0.0.1:${target.port}`, {
+        onCarve: () => {
+          throw new Error('commit failed')
+        },
+      }),
+    ).rejects.toThrow(/commit failed/)
+    // the split landed (the input is burned) but the melt never happened:
+    // nothing sits pending at the source, nothing was ever paid
+    expect(source.state.noteState(k1)).toBe('burned')
+    expect([...source.state.notes.values()].every((note) => note.state !== 'pending')).toBe(true)
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/lnurlcash/ops/carve.ts b/src/lnurlcash/ops/carve.ts
index 265eed2..b8b65c2 100644
--- a/src/lnurlcash/ops/carve.ts
+++ b/src/lnurlcash/ops/carve.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 // ensureExactAmount: carve an exact amount out of the held notes, merging
 // and/or splitting as needed, into a single fresh note worth exactly the
 // target - the operation every send and every melt starts from.
+//
+// A carve whose mutation landed reports itself through options.onCarve
+// BEFORE returning, so a caller about to do something slow (a settlement
+// wait) can durably commit first - a flow aborted mid-wait must never
+// leave burned inputs looking spendable or strand the fresh outputs.
 
 import {
   AmbiguousMutationError,
@@ -81,6 +86,14 @@ export const ensureExactAmount = async (
   const total = pick.reduce((sum, b) => sum + b.amount, 0)
   const k1s = pick.map((b) => requireNoteK1(b.url))
 
+  // a carve that burned inputs reports itself the moment its outcome is
+  // known, before the caller's flow moves on to anything slow or
+  // uncertain - see FundOperationOptions.onCarve
+  const checkpoint = async (result: CarveResult): Promise<CarveResult> => {
+    await options.onCarve?.(result)
+    return result
+  }
+
   if (pick.length === 1 && total === amountMsat) {
     // already exact - hand over the note itself, untouched
     return {
@@ -113,10 +126,10 @@ export const ensureExactAmount = async (
     // inside settleNote) at it, whose own ambiguous failure would strand
     // the rescued secret. Don't compound: return unverified and let a
     // refresh repair.
-    if (merged.rescued) return {note: unverified, consumed: pick}
+    if (merged.rescued) return checkpoint({note: unverified, consumed: pick})
     try {
       const settled = await settleNote(base.url, merged.k1, total, merged.signature, options)
-      return {
+      return checkpoint({
         note: {
           url: withNewK1(base.url, settled.k1, settled.amountMsat, settled.signature),
           callback: settled.callback,
@@ -125,9 +138,9 @@ export const ensureExactAmount = async (
           mintPubkey: base.mintPubkey,
         },
         consumed: pick,
-      }
+      })
     } catch {
-      return {note: unverified, consumed: pick}
+      return checkpoint({note: unverified, consumed: pick})
     }
   }
 
@@ -264,7 +277,7 @@ export const ensureExactAmount = async (
       if (!(error instanceof Error)) throw error
     }
   }
-  return {note, change, consumed: pick}
+  return checkpoint({note, change, consumed: pick})
 }
 
 // smallest-first accumulation until the target is covered; null when the
diff --git a/src/lnurlcash/ops/pay.ts b/src/lnurlcash/ops/pay.ts
index c1fd878..f5d397b 100644
--- a/src/lnurlcash/ops/pay.ts
+++ b/src/lnurlcash/ops/pay.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,13 @@ export type PayResult = {
   invoice: string
   amountMsat: number
   verifyUrl: string | null
+  // on failed-funds-returned, when the classification rotate succeeded:
+  // the returned funds re-secured at a fresh secret. Kept OUT of `carve`
+  // (which always describes the carve as committed by the onCarve
+  // checkpoint) so an early-committed carve and a post-wait rotation can
+  // both be persisted - the carved note the rotate burned must be marked
+  // spent, this note added
+  rotatedNote?: NewBearer
   // a fresh secret rescued from an ambiguous rotate during outcome
   // classification - the caller must track it unverified; if the rotate
   // landed, this is the only copy of the (returned) funds
@@ -56,6 +63,10 @@ export type PayOptions = {
   // kit transport overrides (fetch injection, timeouts)
   kit?: LnurlcashOptions
   assertOwner?: () => void
+  // carve checkpoint - committed before the melt and the settlement wait,
+  // so an abort mid-wait never strands the carve (see
+  // FundOperationOptions.onCarve)
+  onCarve?: FundOperationOptions['onCarve']
 }
 
 // A melt's resolved promise only means the payment is in flight; the
@@ -71,9 +82,13 @@ export type PayOptions = {
 export const payWithBearers = async (
   bearers: Bearer[],
   input: string,
-  {amountMsat, poll = {}, kit = {}, assertOwner}: PayOptions = {},
+  {amountMsat, poll = {}, kit = {}, assertOwner, onCarve}: PayOptions = {},
 ): Promise<PayResult> => {
-  const options: FundOperationOptions = assertOwner ? {...kit, assertOwner} : kit
+  const options: FundOperationOptions = {
+    ...kit,
+    ...(assertOwner ? {assertOwner} : {}),
+    ...(onCarve ? {onCarve} : {}),
+  }
   let invoice: string
   let amount: number
   const trimmed = input.trim()
@@ -150,15 +165,18 @@ export const payWithBearers = async (
       const rotated = await rotateNote(carve.note.callback, k1, options)
       // the rotate succeeded, so the mint restored the note - and k1 had
       // been on the wire since the melt, so the rotation doubles as the
-      // required re-securing of the returned funds
+      // required re-securing of the returned funds. Reported separately
+      // from `carve` (see PayResult.rotatedNote): the carve may already be
+      // committed, and its note is what this rotate burned
       return {
         outcome: 'failed-funds-returned',
-        carve: {
-          ...carve,
-          note: {
-            ...carve.note,
-            url: withNewK1(carve.note.url, rotated.k1, amount, rotated.signature),
-          },
+        carve,
+        rotatedNote: {
+          url: withNewK1(carve.note.url, rotated.k1, amount, rotated.signature),
+          callback: carve.note.callback,
+          amount,
+          verified: true,
+          ...(carve.note.mintPubkey ? {mintPubkey: carve.note.mintPubkey} : {}),
         },
         invoice,
         amountMsat: amount,
diff --git a/src/lnurlcash/ops/shared.ts b/src/lnurlcash/ops/shared.ts
index 62f989a..68573d2 100644
--- a/src/lnurlcash/ops/shared.ts
+++ b/src/lnurlcash/ops/shared.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {fetchInvoiceVerification, fetchNoteInfo, withNewK1} from 'lnurlcash-kit'
 import type {LnurlcashOptions, VerifyResult} from 'lnurlcash-kit'
 import {NoteSpentError, NoteUnknownError, noteDeclaredAmount} from 'lnurlcash-kit'
 import type {NewBearer} from '../types'
+import type {CarveResult} from './carve'
 
 // a mutation's answer was lost AND the probe could not tell whether it
 // landed - the possible outputs the fresh secrets would control, for the
@@ -31,6 +32,16 @@ export class PollAbortedError extends Error {
 
 export type FundOperationOptions = LnurlcashOptions & {
   readonly assertOwner?: () => void
+  // called by a carve the moment its mutation has LANDED server-side (the
+  // inputs are burned, the outputs are known), before the flow moves on to
+  // anything slow or uncertain - the caller's one chance to durably commit
+  // the changeset so an abort during a long settlement wait can never
+  // strand the outputs or leave burned inputs looking spendable. If it
+  // rejects, the flow stops BEFORE anything further is spent and the
+  // rejection propagates: the carve state is then landed-but-maybe-
+  // uncommitted, which the caller must surface loudly. Never called for a
+  // carve that mutated nothing.
+  readonly onCarve?: (carve: CarveResult) => void | Promise<void>
 }
 
 export const assertFundOwner = (options: FundOperationOptions): void => {
diff --git a/src/lnurlcash/ops/transfer.ts b/src/lnurlcash/ops/transfer.ts
index 6141214..c41a344 100644
--- a/src/lnurlcash/ops/transfer.ts
+++ b/src/lnurlcash/ops/transfer.ts
@@ -108,6 +108,13 @@ export type TransferResult = {
   targetServer: string
   // the fresh target note, on 'settled'
   mintedAtTarget?: ClaimedNote
+  // on failed-funds-returned, when the source-probe rotate succeeded: the
+  // returned funds re-secured at a fresh secret. Kept OUT of `carve`
+  // (which always describes the carve as committed by the onCarve
+  // checkpoint) so an early-committed carve and a post-wait rotation can
+  // both be persisted - the carved note the rotate burned must be marked
+  // spent, this note added
+  rotatedNote?: NewBearer
   // present whenever the claim could still complete later
   claimMaterial?: TransferClaimMaterial
   // a fresh secret rescued from an ambiguous rotate while classifying the
@@ -121,6 +128,10 @@ export type TransferOptions = {
   // kit transport overrides (fetch injection, timeouts)
   kit?: LnurlcashOptions
   assertOwner?: () => void
+  // carve checkpoint - committed before the melt and the target
+  // settlement wait, so an abort mid-wait never strands the carve (see
+  // FundOperationOptions.onCarve)
+  onCarve?: FundOperationOptions['onCarve']
 }
 
 // the claim retry material for a named target: the note at the wallet's
@@ -140,9 +151,13 @@ export const transferBetweenMints = async (
   bearers: Bearer[],
   amountMsat: number,
   targetMint: string,
-  {poll = {}, kit = {}, assertOwner}: TransferOptions = {},
+  {poll = {}, kit = {}, assertOwner, onCarve}: TransferOptions = {},
 ): Promise<TransferResult> => {
-  const options: FundOperationOptions = assertOwner ? {...kit, assertOwner} : kit
+  const options: FundOperationOptions = {
+    ...kit,
+    ...(assertOwner ? {assertOwner} : {}),
+    ...(onCarve ? {onCarve} : {}),
+  }
   if (!Number.isInteger(amountMsat) || amountMsat <= 0) {
     throw new Error('Amount must be a positive whole number of msat.')
   }
@@ -331,15 +346,20 @@ export const transferBetweenMints = async (
     // as the way back to the money if the invoice settles later
     try {
       const rotated = await rotateNote(carve.note.callback, k1, options)
+      // the rotate succeeded: the melt provably never landed, and the
+      // funds are back - re-secured, since the melt attempt put k1 on the
+      // wire. Reported separately from `carve` (see rotatedNote): the
+      // carve may already be committed, and its note is what this rotate
+      // burned
       return {
         ...base,
         outcome: 'failed-funds-returned',
-        carve: {
-          ...carve,
-          note: {
-            ...carve.note,
-            url: withNewK1(carve.note.url, rotated.k1, carve.note.amount, rotated.signature),
-          },
+        rotatedNote: {
+          url: withNewK1(carve.note.url, rotated.k1, carve.note.amount, rotated.signature),
+          callback: carve.note.callback,
+          amount: carve.note.amount,
+          verified: true,
+          ...(carve.note.mintPubkey ? {mintPubkey: carve.note.mintPubkey} : {}),
         },
       }
     } catch (err) {