diff --git a/mempalace/backends/chroma.py b/mempalace/backends/chroma.py
index 01ac627..d9b99a4 100644
--- a/mempalace/backends/chroma.py
+++ b/mempalace/backends/chroma.py
@@ -993,7 +993,7 @@ class ChromaBackend(BaseBackend):
         )
 
         if cached is None or inode_changed or mtime_changed or mtime_appeared:
-            _fix_blob_seq_ids(palace_path)
+            ChromaBackend._prepare_palace_for_open(palace_path)
             cached = chromadb.PersistentClient(path=palace_path)
             self._clients[palace_path] = cached
             # Re-stat after the client constructor runs: chromadb creates
@@ -1028,6 +1028,31 @@ class ChromaBackend(BaseBackend):
     # safety property; locking would add cost without correctness gain.
     _quarantined_paths: set[str] = set()
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _prepare_palace_for_open(palace_path: str) -> None:
+        """Run the pre-open safety pass shared by :meth:`make_client` and
+        :meth:`_client`.
+
+        Two steps, both required before constructing a ``PersistentClient``:
+
+        1. ``_fix_blob_seq_ids`` — repairs the BLOB seq_id quirk that bites
+           certain chromadb migrations.
+        2. ``quarantine_stale_hnsw`` — gated by :attr:`_quarantined_paths` so
+           it fires once per palace per process. This is the SIGSEGV
+           prevention path for stale HNSW segments (see #1121, #1132, #1263);
+           wiring it through this helper means CLI mining, search, repair,
+           and status all benefit, not just the legacy ``make_client``
+           callers.
+
+        Idempotent: safe to call from any code path that is about to open or
+        re-open a palace. The ``_quarantined_paths`` gate prevents thrash on
+        hot paths (e.g. ``_client()`` is called on every backend operation).
+        """
+        _fix_blob_seq_ids(palace_path)
+        if palace_path not in ChromaBackend._quarantined_paths:
+            quarantine_stale_hnsw(palace_path)
+            ChromaBackend._quarantined_paths.add(palace_path)
+
     @staticmethod
     def make_client(palace_path: str):
         """Create a fresh ``PersistentClient`` (fixes BLOB seq_ids first).
@@ -1040,10 +1065,7 @@ class ChromaBackend(BaseBackend):
         :attr:`_quarantined_paths` for the rationale (cold-start protection
         vs. runtime thrash on steady-write daemons).
         """
-        _fix_blob_seq_ids(palace_path)
-        if palace_path not in ChromaBackend._quarantined_paths:
-            quarantine_stale_hnsw(palace_path)
-            ChromaBackend._quarantined_paths.add(palace_path)
+        ChromaBackend._prepare_palace_for_open(palace_path)
         return chromadb.PersistentClient(path=palace_path)
 
     @staticmethod
diff --git a/tests/test_backends.py b/tests/test_backends.py
index 5efa71b..4ddfe12 100644
--- a/tests/test_backends.py
+++ b/tests/test_backends.py
@@ -764,6 +764,67 @@ def test_make_client_quarantines_each_palace_independently(tmp_path, monkeypatch
     assert calls == [palace_a, palace_b]
 
 
+# ── _client() cold-start gate (#1121, #1132, #1263) ──────────────────────
+
+
+def test_client_quarantines_corrupt_segment_on_first_open(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """The instance ``_client()`` path must run ``quarantine_stale_hnsw``
+    on first open, mirroring the ``make_client()`` static helper. Before
+    PR #1173's wiring was extended here, CLI mining / search / repair /
+    status all skipped the quarantine pass and would SIGSEGV on a stale
+    HNSW segment (#1121, #1132, #1263)."""
+    now = 1_700_000_000.0
+    palace, seg = _make_palace_with_segment(
+        tmp_path,
+        hnsw_mtime=now - 7200,
+        sqlite_mtime=now,
+        meta_bytes=_CORRUPT_META,
+    )
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ChromaBackend, "_quarantined_paths", set())
+
+    backend = ChromaBackend()
+    try:
+        backend._client(str(palace))
+    finally:
+        backend.close()
+
+    assert not seg.exists(), "_client() should have quarantined the corrupt segment"
+    drift_dirs = [p for p in palace.iterdir() if ".drift-" in p.name]
+    assert len(drift_dirs) == 1
+
+
+def test_client_quarantines_only_on_first_call_per_palace(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """Repeated ``_client()`` calls for the same palace re-run quarantine
+    at most once — the ``_quarantined_paths`` gate prevents runtime
+    thrash on hot paths (``_client()`` is hit on every backend op)."""
+    palace_path = str(tmp_path / "palace")
+    os.makedirs(palace_path, exist_ok=True)
+    (Path(palace_path) / "chroma.sqlite3").write_text("")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ChromaBackend, "_quarantined_paths", set())
+
+    calls: list[str] = []
+
+    def _spy(path, stale_seconds=300.0):
+        calls.append(path)
+        return []
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("mempalace.backends.chroma.quarantine_stale_hnsw", _spy)
+
+    backend = ChromaBackend()
+    try:
+        backend._client(palace_path)
+        backend._client(palace_path)
+        backend._client(palace_path)
+    finally:
+        backend.close()
+
+    assert (
+        calls == [palace_path]
+    ), "quarantine_stale_hnsw should fire once per palace per process from _client(), not on every call"
+
+
 # ── _pin_hnsw_threads (per-process retrofit, separate from this PR's gate) ──