diff --git a/mempalace/hooks_cli.py b/mempalace/hooks_cli.py
index 258f1e0..b8d07e0 100644
--- a/mempalace/hooks_cli.py
+++ b/mempalace/hooks_cli.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ Supported hooks: session-start, stop, precompact
 Supported harnesses: claude-code, codex (extensible to cursor, gemini, etc.)
 """
 
+import hashlib
 import json
 import os
 import re
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@ import subprocess
 import sys
 from datetime import datetime
 from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Optional
 
 SAVE_INTERVAL = 15
 STATE_DIR = Path.home() / ".mempalace" / "hook_state"
@@ -256,7 +258,45 @@ def _get_mine_targets() -> list[tuple[str, str]]:
     return targets
 
 
-_MINE_PID_FILE = STATE_DIR / "mine.pid"
+# Per-target PID guard.
+#
+# Hook fires ingest mines in the background. If a previous fire's child is
+# still running for the *same* target (same source dir, mode, wing), the new
+# fire should skip rather than pile up — multiple concurrent mines against the
+# same source corrupt the HNSW index and exhaust disk via duplicate upserts
+# (#1212, #1206). But mines targeting *different* sources / modes must remain
+# independent so the user can have e.g. project-mining and transcript-ingest
+# running in parallel.
+#
+# The single ``mine.pid`` global file used previously failed both ways: the
+# guard was rebuilt every spawn (so two near-simultaneous fires both passed
+# the check before either wrote), and the file was unconditionally overwritten
+# (so the second spawn lost the first PID, orphaning it). The replacement is
+# a directory of per-target slots, claimed via ``O_CREAT | O_EXCL`` so the
+# claim is atomic and per-target.
+_MINE_PID_DIR = STATE_DIR / "mine_pids"
+
+# The per-process PID file path is communicated to the mine subprocess via
+# this env var so the child's cleanup hook (in miner.py) can remove its
+# own slot on exit without scanning the whole directory.
+_MINE_PID_FILE_ENV = "MEMPALACE_MINE_PID_FILE"
+
+
+def _pid_file_for_cmd(cmd: list[str]) -> Path:
+    """Return the per-target PID file path for a mine subcommand.
+
+    The key is derived from the mine arguments (everything after ``mine``)
+    so different (dir, mode, wing) combinations get independent slots.
+    Two fires with the same arguments collapse to the same slot — which is
+    exactly the dedup we want.
+    """
+    try:
+        idx = cmd.index("mine")
+        key = " ".join(cmd[idx:])
+    except ValueError:
+        key = " ".join(cmd)
+    digest = hashlib.sha256(key.encode("utf-8")).hexdigest()[:16]
+    return _MINE_PID_DIR / f"mine_{digest}.pid"
 
 
 def _pid_alive(pid: int) -> bool:
@@ -292,22 +332,96 @@ def _pid_alive(pid: int) -> bool:
         return False
 
 
-def _mine_already_running() -> bool:
-    """Return True if a background mine process from a previous hook fire is still alive."""
+def _mine_already_running(cmd: list[str]) -> bool:
+    """Return True if a previous mine for ``cmd``'s target is still alive."""
+    pid_file = _pid_file_for_cmd(cmd)
     try:
-        pid = int(_MINE_PID_FILE.read_text().strip())
-    except (OSError, ValueError):
+        recorded = pid_file.read_text().strip()
+    except OSError:
         return False
-    return _pid_alive(pid)
+    if not recorded.isdigit():
+        return False
+    return _pid_alive(int(recorded))
+
+
+def _claim_mine_slot(cmd: list[str]) -> Optional[Path]:
+    """Atomically reserve the per-target PID slot for ``cmd``.
+
+    Returns the slot path on success, or ``None`` if the target is
+    already being mined by a live process. The reservation is done via
+    ``O_CREAT | O_EXCL`` so two simultaneous hook fires can never both
+    pass the check; one wins, the other returns None.
+
+    A stale slot (file exists but the recorded PID is dead) is reclaimed
+    transparently — orphan miners that crashed without cleanup do not
+    block future hook fires forever.
+    """
+    pid_file = _pid_file_for_cmd(cmd)
+    pid_file.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    try:
+        fd = os.open(str(pid_file), os.O_CREAT | os.O_EXCL | os.O_WRONLY, 0o600)
+        os.close(fd)
+        return pid_file
+    except FileExistsError:
+        pass
+    # Slot exists. If the holder is alive, defer.
+    if _mine_already_running(cmd):
+        return None
+    # Stale entry; reclaim. The unlink+create is racy against another hook
+    # firing right now, but the second create's O_EXCL will fail and that
+    # caller will see the live PID via the next round.
+    try:
+        pid_file.unlink()
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        pass
+    except OSError:
+        return None
+    try:
+        fd = os.open(str(pid_file), os.O_CREAT | os.O_EXCL | os.O_WRONLY, 0o600)
+        os.close(fd)
+        return pid_file
+    except FileExistsError:
+        return None
 
 
 def _spawn_mine(cmd: list) -> None:
-    """Spawn a mine subprocess, write its PID to the lock file, log to hook.log."""
+    """Spawn a mine subprocess if no live mine is already targeting it.
+
+    The PID slot is claimed atomically *before* the spawn, so two near-
+    simultaneous hook fires can't both proceed — the second sees the
+    claimed slot and silently skips. The spawned process inherits a
+    ``MEMPALACE_MINE_PID_FILE`` env var so its cleanup hook can remove
+    the slot on exit without scanning the directory.
+    """
     STATE_DIR.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
     log_path = STATE_DIR / "hook.log"
+    pid_file = _claim_mine_slot(cmd)
+    if pid_file is None:
+        _log(f"Skipping mine: target already running ({' '.join(cmd[-3:])})")
+        return
+    child_env = os.environ.copy()
+    child_env[_MINE_PID_FILE_ENV] = str(pid_file)
     with open(log_path, "a") as log_f:
-        proc = subprocess.Popen(cmd, stdout=log_f, stderr=log_f, **_detached_popen_kwargs())
-    _MINE_PID_FILE.write_text(str(proc.pid))
+        try:
+            proc = subprocess.Popen(
+                cmd,
+                stdout=log_f,
+                stderr=log_f,
+                env=child_env,
+                **_detached_popen_kwargs(),
+            )
+        except OSError:
+            # Spawn failed; release the slot we just claimed so the next
+            # hook fire can try again rather than skipping forever.
+            try:
+                pid_file.unlink()
+            except OSError:
+                pass
+            raise
+    try:
+        pid_file.write_text(str(proc.pid))
+    except OSError:
+        pass
 
 
 def _maybe_auto_ingest():
@@ -317,13 +431,15 @@ def _maybe_auto_ingest():
     in the hook handlers — this function does not handle them, to avoid
     asymmetric interpreter handling and PID-file overwrite when both
     targets fire from a single hook call (#1231 review).
+
+    Per-target dedup is done by ``_spawn_mine`` itself: each (dir, mode)
+    target gets its own PID slot, so distinct targets never block each
+    other but a re-fire of the same target while the previous one is
+    still running is silently skipped.
     """
     targets = _get_mine_targets()
     if not targets:
         return
-    if _mine_already_running():
-        _log("Skipping auto-ingest: mine already running")
-        return
     for mine_dir, mode in targets:
         try:
             _spawn_mine([_mempalace_python(), "-m", "mempalace", "mine", mine_dir, "--mode", mode])
@@ -518,25 +634,22 @@ def _ingest_transcript(transcript_path: str):
         return
 
     try:
-        log_path = STATE_DIR / "hook.log"
-        STATE_DIR.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-        with open(log_path, "a") as log_f:
-            subprocess.Popen(
-                [
-                    _mempalace_python(),
-                    "-m",
-                    "mempalace",
-                    "mine",
-                    str(path.parent),
-                    "--mode",
-                    "convos",
-                    "--wing",
-                    "sessions",
-                ],
-                stdout=log_f,
-                stderr=log_f,
-                **_detached_popen_kwargs(),
-            )
+        # Route through ``_spawn_mine`` so the per-target PID guard kicks
+        # in here too — repeated Stop/PreCompact fires for the same
+        # transcript should not stack up parallel ingest mines.
+        _spawn_mine(
+            [
+                _mempalace_python(),
+                "-m",
+                "mempalace",
+                "mine",
+                str(path.parent),
+                "--mode",
+                "convos",
+                "--wing",
+                "sessions",
+            ]
+        )
         _log(f"Transcript ingest started: {path.name}")
     except OSError:
         pass
diff --git a/mempalace/miner.py b/mempalace/miner.py
index 09cc517..e919c58 100644
--- a/mempalace/miner.py
+++ b/mempalace/miner.py
@@ -1206,30 +1206,29 @@ def _mine_impl(
 
 
 def _cleanup_mine_pid_file() -> None:
-    """Remove the global mine PID file if it currently points at us.
+    """Remove this process's per-target PID slot on exit.
 
-    The PID file (``~/.mempalace/hook_state/mine.pid``, written by the
-    hook in :func:`mempalace.hooks_cli._spawn_mine`) tracks the PID of
-    the most recently spawned mine subprocess so the hook can dedup
-    concurrent auto-ingest fires. When that subprocess exits — cleanly,
-    on error, or via Ctrl-C — it should remove its own entry so the
-    next hook fire isn't briefly fooled by a stale PID before
-    ``_pid_alive`` returns False.
+    Hook-spawned mines receive ``MEMPALACE_MINE_PID_FILE`` in their env
+    pointing at the slot the hook claimed for them
+    (``~/.mempalace/hook_state/mine_pids/mine_<sha>.pid``). When the
+    subprocess exits — cleanly, on error, or via Ctrl-C — it removes its
+    own slot so the next hook fire isn't briefly fooled by a stale PID
+    before ``_pid_alive`` returns False.
 
-    We only delete the file if it claims our own PID; any other PID is
-    left alone (could be an unrelated mine running concurrently from
-    a different worktree / session).
+    Only delete the slot if it claims our own PID; any other PID is left
+    alone (it could belong to an unrelated mine that just claimed the
+    same slot via a stale-reclaim race).
     """
-    try:
-        from .hooks_cli import _MINE_PID_FILE
-    except Exception:
+    pid_file_env = os.environ.get("MEMPALACE_MINE_PID_FILE", "")
+    if not pid_file_env:
         return
     try:
-        if not _MINE_PID_FILE.exists():
+        pid_file = Path(pid_file_env)
+        if not pid_file.exists():
             return
-        recorded = _MINE_PID_FILE.read_text().strip()
+        recorded = pid_file.read_text().strip()
         if recorded and recorded.isdigit() and int(recorded) == os.getpid():
-            _MINE_PID_FILE.unlink()
+            pid_file.unlink()
     except OSError:
         # Best-effort cleanup; never fail the mine over PID bookkeeping.
         pass
diff --git a/tests/test_hooks_cli.py b/tests/test_hooks_cli.py
index c4763c9..0918255 100644
--- a/tests/test_hooks_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_hooks_cli.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import io
 import json
 import os
 import subprocess
+import sys
 from pathlib import Path
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
 
@@ -441,7 +442,7 @@ def test_maybe_auto_ingest_with_env(tmp_path):
     mempal_dir.mkdir()
     with patch.dict("os.environ", {"MEMPAL_DIR": str(mempal_dir)}):
         with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.STATE_DIR", tmp_path):
-            with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_FILE", tmp_path / "mine.pid"):
+            with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_DIR", tmp_path / "mine_pids"):
                 with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.subprocess.Popen") as mock_popen:
                     _maybe_auto_ingest()
                     mock_popen.assert_called_once()
@@ -463,7 +464,7 @@ def test_maybe_auto_ingest_uses_mempalace_python(tmp_path):
     mempal_dir.mkdir()
     with patch.dict("os.environ", {"MEMPAL_DIR": str(mempal_dir)}):
         with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.STATE_DIR", tmp_path):
-            with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_FILE", tmp_path / "mine.pid"):
+            with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_DIR", tmp_path / "mine_pids"):
                 with patch(
                     "mempalace.hooks_cli._mempalace_python", return_value="/fake/venv/python"
                 ):
@@ -513,7 +514,7 @@ def test_maybe_auto_ingest_ignores_transcript_arg_path(tmp_path):
     transcript.write_text("")
     with patch.dict("os.environ", {}, clear=True):
         with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.STATE_DIR", tmp_path):
-            with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_FILE", tmp_path / "mine.pid"):
+            with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_DIR", tmp_path / "mine_pids"):
                 with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.subprocess.Popen") as mock_popen:
                     _maybe_auto_ingest()
                     mock_popen.assert_not_called()
@@ -543,21 +544,38 @@ def test_maybe_auto_ingest_oserror(tmp_path):
     mempal_dir.mkdir()
     with patch.dict("os.environ", {"MEMPAL_DIR": str(mempal_dir)}):
         with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.STATE_DIR", tmp_path):
-            with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_FILE", tmp_path / "mine.pid"):
+            with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_DIR", tmp_path / "mine_pids"):
                 with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.subprocess.Popen", side_effect=OSError("fail")):
                     _maybe_auto_ingest()  # should not raise
 
 
 def test_maybe_auto_ingest_skips_when_mine_running(tmp_path):
-    """Does not spawn a new mine process if one is already running."""
+    """Does not spawn a new mine process if a mine for the same target is alive."""
     mempal_dir = tmp_path / "project"
     mempal_dir.mkdir()
+    pid_dir = tmp_path / "mine_pids"
     with patch.dict("os.environ", {"MEMPAL_DIR": str(mempal_dir)}):
         with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.STATE_DIR", tmp_path):
-            with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._mine_already_running", return_value=True):
-                with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.subprocess.Popen") as mock_popen:
-                    _maybe_auto_ingest()
-                    mock_popen.assert_not_called()
+            with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_DIR", pid_dir):
+                # Pre-populate the per-target slot with a live PID (our own).
+                from mempalace.hooks_cli import _pid_file_for_cmd
+
+                cmd = [
+                    sys.executable,
+                    "-m",
+                    "mempalace",
+                    "mine",
+                    str(mempal_dir.resolve()),
+                    "--mode",
+                    "projects",
+                ]
+                pid_file = _pid_file_for_cmd(cmd)
+                pid_file.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+                pid_file.write_text(str(os.getpid()))
+                with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._mempalace_python", return_value=sys.executable):
+                    with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.subprocess.Popen") as mock_popen:
+                        _maybe_auto_ingest()
+                        mock_popen.assert_not_called()
 
 
 # --- _detached_popen_kwargs ---
@@ -604,7 +622,7 @@ def test_detached_popen_kwargs_windows(monkeypatch):
 def test_spawn_mine_uses_detached_kwargs(tmp_path):
     """_spawn_mine forwards detached kwargs so the hook can exit cleanly."""
     with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.STATE_DIR", tmp_path):
-        with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_FILE", tmp_path / "mine.pid"):
+        with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_DIR", tmp_path / "mine_pids"):
             with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.subprocess.Popen") as mock_popen:
                 mock_popen.return_value.pid = 9999
                 from mempalace.hooks_cli import _spawn_mine
@@ -617,52 +635,195 @@ def test_spawn_mine_uses_detached_kwargs(tmp_path):
                 assert kwargs.get("close_fds") is True
 
 
+def test_spawn_mine_skips_when_target_running(tmp_path):
+    """A second spawn for the same cmd target while the first is alive must skip."""
+    pid_dir = tmp_path / "mine_pids"
+    with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.STATE_DIR", tmp_path):
+        with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_DIR", pid_dir):
+            from mempalace.hooks_cli import _pid_file_for_cmd, _spawn_mine
+
+            cmd = ["mempalace", "mine", "/tmp/proj", "--mode", "projects"]
+            pid_file = _pid_file_for_cmd(cmd)
+            pid_file.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+            pid_file.write_text(str(os.getpid()))  # live PID
+
+            with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.subprocess.Popen") as mock_popen:
+                _spawn_mine(cmd)
+                mock_popen.assert_not_called()
+
+
+def test_spawn_mine_distinct_targets_dont_block_each_other(tmp_path):
+    """Two spawn calls for *different* targets both proceed."""
+    pid_dir = tmp_path / "mine_pids"
+    with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.STATE_DIR", tmp_path):
+        with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_DIR", pid_dir):
+            with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.subprocess.Popen") as mock_popen:
+                from mempalace.hooks_cli import _spawn_mine
+
+                mock_popen.return_value.pid = 1111
+                _spawn_mine(["mempalace", "mine", "/tmp/a", "--mode", "projects"])
+                mock_popen.return_value.pid = 2222
+                _spawn_mine(["mempalace", "mine", "/tmp/b", "--mode", "projects"])
+                assert mock_popen.call_count == 2
+
+
+def test_spawn_mine_reclaims_stale_slot(tmp_path):
+    """A slot pointing at a dead PID is reclaimed silently."""
+    pid_dir = tmp_path / "mine_pids"
+    with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.STATE_DIR", tmp_path):
+        with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_DIR", pid_dir):
+            from mempalace.hooks_cli import _pid_file_for_cmd, _spawn_mine
+
+            cmd = ["mempalace", "mine", "/tmp/proj", "--mode", "projects"]
+            pid_file = _pid_file_for_cmd(cmd)
+            pid_file.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+            pid_file.write_text("999999999")  # dead PID
+
+            with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.subprocess.Popen") as mock_popen:
+                mock_popen.return_value.pid = 4242
+                _spawn_mine(cmd)
+                mock_popen.assert_called_once()
+                # New PID is recorded in the reclaimed slot.
+                assert pid_file.read_text().strip() == "4242"
+
+
+def test_spawn_mine_releases_slot_on_oserror(tmp_path):
+    """If Popen raises OSError, the claimed slot must be released."""
+    pid_dir = tmp_path / "mine_pids"
+    with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.STATE_DIR", tmp_path):
+        with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_DIR", pid_dir):
+            from mempalace.hooks_cli import _pid_file_for_cmd, _spawn_mine
+
+            cmd = ["mempalace", "mine", "/tmp/proj", "--mode", "projects"]
+            pid_file = _pid_file_for_cmd(cmd)
+
+            with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.subprocess.Popen", side_effect=OSError("spawn fail")):
+                with pytest.raises(OSError):
+                    _spawn_mine(cmd)
+                assert (
+                    not pid_file.exists()
+                ), "slot must be released so the next hook fire isn't permanently blocked"
+
+
+def test_spawn_mine_passes_pid_file_env_var(tmp_path):
+    """The child inherits MEMPALACE_MINE_PID_FILE so its cleanup hook can find the slot."""
+    pid_dir = tmp_path / "mine_pids"
+    with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.STATE_DIR", tmp_path):
+        with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_DIR", pid_dir):
+            with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.subprocess.Popen") as mock_popen:
+                mock_popen.return_value.pid = 5555
+                from mempalace.hooks_cli import _pid_file_for_cmd, _spawn_mine
+
+                cmd = ["mempalace", "mine", "/tmp/x", "--mode", "projects"]
+                _spawn_mine(cmd)
+                child_env = mock_popen.call_args.kwargs.get("env", {})
+                expected = str(_pid_file_for_cmd(cmd))
+                assert child_env.get("MEMPALACE_MINE_PID_FILE") == expected
+
+
 def test_ingest_transcript_uses_detached_kwargs(tmp_path):
     """_ingest_transcript spawns the convos mine with detach kwargs."""
     transcript = tmp_path / "session.jsonl"
     transcript.write_text("x" * 200)  # > 100 byte gate
     with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.STATE_DIR", tmp_path):
-        with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.subprocess.Popen") as mock_popen:
-            from mempalace.hooks_cli import _ingest_transcript
+        with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_DIR", tmp_path / "mine_pids"):
+            with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.subprocess.Popen") as mock_popen:
+                from mempalace.hooks_cli import _ingest_transcript
 
-            _ingest_transcript(str(transcript))
-            assert mock_popen.called
-            kwargs = mock_popen.call_args.kwargs
-            assert kwargs.get("stdin") is subprocess.DEVNULL
-            assert kwargs.get("close_fds") is True
+                _ingest_transcript(str(transcript))
+                assert mock_popen.called
+                kwargs = mock_popen.call_args.kwargs
+                assert kwargs.get("stdin") is subprocess.DEVNULL
+                assert kwargs.get("close_fds") is True
+
+
+def test_ingest_transcript_skips_when_target_running(tmp_path):
+    """Repeated transcript ingests for the same transcript should dedup."""
+    transcript = tmp_path / "session.jsonl"
+    transcript.write_text("x" * 200)
+    pid_dir = tmp_path / "mine_pids"
+    with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.STATE_DIR", tmp_path):
+        with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_DIR", pid_dir):
+            with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._mempalace_python", return_value=sys.executable):
+                from mempalace.hooks_cli import _ingest_transcript, _pid_file_for_cmd
+
+                expected_cmd = [
+                    sys.executable,
+                    "-m",
+                    "mempalace",
+                    "mine",
+                    str(transcript.parent),
+                    "--mode",
+                    "convos",
+                    "--wing",
+                    "sessions",
+                ]
+                pid_file = _pid_file_for_cmd(expected_cmd)
+                pid_file.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+                pid_file.write_text(str(os.getpid()))  # live target
+
+                with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli.subprocess.Popen") as mock_popen:
+                    _ingest_transcript(str(transcript))
+                    mock_popen.assert_not_called()
 
 
 # --- _mine_already_running ---
 
 
+def _seed_slot(pid_dir, cmd, body: str):
+    """Write ``body`` into the per-target slot for ``cmd`` under ``pid_dir``."""
+    from mempalace.hooks_cli import _pid_file_for_cmd
+
+    with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_DIR", pid_dir):
+        slot = _pid_file_for_cmd(cmd)
+    slot.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    slot.write_text(body)
+    return slot
+
+
 def test_mine_already_running_no_file(tmp_path):
-    """Returns False when no PID file exists."""
-    with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_FILE", tmp_path / "mine.pid"):
-        assert _mine_already_running() is False
+    """Returns False when no per-target slot exists."""
+    cmd = ["mempalace", "mine", "/tmp/x", "--mode", "projects"]
+    with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_DIR", tmp_path / "mine_pids"):
+        assert _mine_already_running(cmd) is False
 
 
 def test_mine_already_running_dead_pid(tmp_path):
-    """Returns False when PID file contains a PID that no longer exists."""
-    pid_file = tmp_path / "mine.pid"
-    pid_file.write_text("999999999")  # almost certainly not a real PID
-    with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_FILE", pid_file):
-        assert _mine_already_running() is False
+    """Returns False when the slot's recorded PID is no longer alive."""
+    pid_dir = tmp_path / "mine_pids"
+    cmd = ["mempalace", "mine", "/tmp/x", "--mode", "projects"]
+    _seed_slot(pid_dir, cmd, "999999999")  # almost certainly not a real PID
+    with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_DIR", pid_dir):
+        assert _mine_already_running(cmd) is False
 
 
 def test_mine_already_running_live_pid(tmp_path):
-    """Returns True when PID file contains the current process's own PID."""
-    pid_file = tmp_path / "mine.pid"
-    pid_file.write_text(str(os.getpid()))  # current process is definitely alive
-    with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_FILE", pid_file):
-        assert _mine_already_running() is True
+    """Returns True when the slot's recorded PID is alive."""
+    pid_dir = tmp_path / "mine_pids"
+    cmd = ["mempalace", "mine", "/tmp/x", "--mode", "projects"]
+    _seed_slot(pid_dir, cmd, str(os.getpid()))  # current process is alive
+    with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_DIR", pid_dir):
+        assert _mine_already_running(cmd) is True
 
 
 def test_mine_already_running_corrupt_file(tmp_path):
-    """Returns False when PID file contains non-integer content."""
-    pid_file = tmp_path / "mine.pid"
-    pid_file.write_text("not-a-pid")
-    with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_FILE", pid_file):
-        assert _mine_already_running() is False
+    """Returns False when the slot contains non-integer content."""
+    pid_dir = tmp_path / "mine_pids"
+    cmd = ["mempalace", "mine", "/tmp/x", "--mode", "projects"]
+    _seed_slot(pid_dir, cmd, "not-a-pid")
+    with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_DIR", pid_dir):
+        assert _mine_already_running(cmd) is False
+
+
+def test_mine_already_running_distinct_cmds_independent(tmp_path):
+    """Slots are keyed per cmd; an alive entry for cmd A doesn't shadow cmd B."""
+    pid_dir = tmp_path / "mine_pids"
+    cmd_a = ["mempalace", "mine", "/tmp/a", "--mode", "projects"]
+    cmd_b = ["mempalace", "mine", "/tmp/b", "--mode", "projects"]
+    _seed_slot(pid_dir, cmd_a, str(os.getpid()))
+    with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_DIR", pid_dir):
+        assert _mine_already_running(cmd_a) is True
+        assert _mine_already_running(cmd_b) is False
 
 
 # --- _get_mine_targets ---
diff --git a/tests/test_miner.py b/tests/test_miner.py
index 10dd33d..f9c4722 100644
--- a/tests/test_miner.py
+++ b/tests/test_miner.py
@@ -777,7 +777,7 @@ def test_mine_arbitrary_exception_prints_summary_and_reraises(tmp_path, capsys):
 
 
 def test_mine_cleans_up_pid_file_on_interrupt(tmp_path):
-    """Our own PID entry in mine.pid is removed in the finally clause."""
+    """Our own per-target PID slot is removed in the finally clause."""
     import pytest
     from unittest.mock import patch
 
@@ -786,14 +786,16 @@ def test_mine_cleans_up_pid_file_on_interrupt(tmp_path):
     _make_minable_project(project_root, n_files=2)
     palace_path = project_root / "palace"
 
-    pid_file = tmp_path / "mine.pid"
+    pid_file = tmp_path / "mine_abc.pid"
     pid_file.write_text(str(os.getpid()))
 
     def fake_process_file(*args, **kwargs):
         raise KeyboardInterrupt
 
+    # The mine subprocess receives its slot path via env var; the cleanup
+    # hook in miner.py reads that var and removes the slot if it matches.
     with (
-        patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_FILE", pid_file),
+        patch.dict(os.environ, {"MEMPALACE_MINE_PID_FILE": str(pid_file)}),
         patch("mempalace.miner.process_file", side_effect=fake_process_file),
     ):
         with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
@@ -803,7 +805,7 @@ def test_mine_cleans_up_pid_file_on_interrupt(tmp_path):
 
 
 def test_mine_cleans_up_pid_file_on_clean_exit(tmp_path):
-    """Successful mine also removes its own PID entry in the finally clause."""
+    """Successful mine also removes its own per-target PID slot."""
     from unittest.mock import patch
 
     project_root = tmp_path / "proj"
@@ -811,17 +813,17 @@ def test_mine_cleans_up_pid_file_on_clean_exit(tmp_path):
     _make_minable_project(project_root, n_files=1)
     palace_path = project_root / "palace"
 
-    pid_file = tmp_path / "mine.pid"
+    pid_file = tmp_path / "mine_abc.pid"
     pid_file.write_text(str(os.getpid()))
 
-    with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_FILE", pid_file):
+    with patch.dict(os.environ, {"MEMPALACE_MINE_PID_FILE": str(pid_file)}):
         mine(str(project_root), str(palace_path))
 
     assert not pid_file.exists()
 
 
 def test_mine_does_not_remove_other_processes_pid_file(tmp_path):
-    """A PID file pointing at someone else's PID is left untouched."""
+    """A PID slot pointing at someone else's PID is left untouched."""
     from unittest.mock import patch
 
     project_root = tmp_path / "proj"
@@ -830,10 +832,10 @@ def test_mine_does_not_remove_other_processes_pid_file(tmp_path):
     palace_path = project_root / "palace"
 
     other_pid = os.getpid() + 999_999  # a PID that isn't us
-    pid_file = tmp_path / "mine.pid"
+    pid_file = tmp_path / "mine_abc.pid"
     pid_file.write_text(str(other_pid))
 
-    with patch("mempalace.hooks_cli._MINE_PID_FILE", pid_file):
+    with patch.dict(os.environ, {"MEMPALACE_MINE_PID_FILE": str(pid_file)}):
         mine(str(project_root), str(palace_path))
 
     assert pid_file.exists(), "Foreign PID entries must not be removed"