diff --git a/runtime/audren.c b/runtime/audren.c
index 104c058d..013c0b9f 100644
--- a/runtime/audren.c
+++ b/runtime/audren.c
@@ -717,8 +717,10 @@ void audren_manager_handler(IpcSession *s, const IpcRequest *rq, IpcResponse *rs
         AudrenParameter p = IPC_ARG(rq, AudrenParameter, 0);
         uint64_t work = IPC_ARG(rq, uint64_t, 0x38);
         need(rq->ncopy >= 1, "OpenAudioRenderer without a transfer memory handle");
-        IpcTransferMemory *tm = kern_handle_get(rq->copy[0], KERN_TMEM);
-        need(tm && tm->size >= work, "OpenAudioRenderer work buffer is not a transfer memory of the stated size");
+        // A copy made under the kernel lock: a CloseHandle of the transfer memory on another thread frees the object.
+        IpcTransferMemory tm;
+        int have_tm = kern_handle_copy(rq->copy[0], KERN_TMEM, &tm, sizeof tm);
+        need(have_tm && tm.size >= work, "OpenAudioRenderer work buffer is not a transfer memory of the stated size");
         AudioRenderer *r = renderer_new(&p);
         if (rt_knob("AUDIO_STATS", "0")) {
             r->stats = calloc(1, sizeof *r->stats);
@@ -743,7 +745,7 @@ void audren_manager_handler(IpcSession *s, const IpcRequest *rq, IpcResponse *rs
                "splitters %d/%d, REV%d, work buffer %#llx+%#llx",
                p.sample_rate, p.sample_count, p.mix_buffer_count, p.voice_count, p.effect_count, p.submix_count,
                p.sink_count, p.splitter_count, p.splitter_destination_count, revision_number(p.revision),
-               (unsigned long long)tm->addr, (unsigned long long)work);
+               (unsigned long long)tm.addr, (unsigned long long)work);
         rs->move[rs->nmove++] = ipc_session_new("IAudioRenderer", renderer_handler, r, renderer_close);
         return;
     }
diff --git a/runtime/host.h b/runtime/host.h
index 7bed58b7..ef94b596 100644
--- a/runtime/host.h
+++ b/runtime/host.h
@@ -344,7 +344,11 @@ void kern_core_diag_frame(uint64_t frame, uint64_t interval_ns);   // perf_prese
 void kern_sched_report(uint64_t frame);                    // NX2NAVI_TRACE=sched: per-thread time split, on present
 uint32_t kern_handle_new(int kind, void *obj);             // kind: KERN_SESSION or KERN_TMEM (ipc.c)
 void *kern_handle_get(uint32_t h, int kind);
-void kern_handle_close(uint32_t h);                        // CloseHandle from the host side, any thread; fatal on a
+void *kern_handle_hold(uint32_t h, int kind, void (*hold)(void *obj));   // kern_handle_get, hold(obj) run under the
+                                                                          // kernel lock (a reference the caller drops)
+int kern_handle_copy(uint32_t h, int kind, void *out, size_t n);         // a copy of the object, made under the
+                                                                          // kernel lock; 0 for a bad handle
+void kern_handle_close(uint32_t h);                       // CloseHandle from the host side, any thread; fatal on a
                                                            // bad handle
 enum { KERN_SESSION = 4, KERN_TMEM = 5 };
 uint32_t kern_event_new(void);                             // writable handle
diff --git a/runtime/ipc.c b/runtime/ipc.c
index 98c53693..c93b1d91 100644
--- a/runtime/ipc.c
+++ b/runtime/ipc.c
@@ -254,6 +254,9 @@ static uint32_t session_clone(IpcSession *s) {
     return kern_handle_new(KERN_SESSION, s);
 }
 
+// kern_handle_hold's callback: a request's reference, dropped through ipc_handle_closed once the request is answered.
+static void session_hold(void *o) { plat_inc32(&((IpcSession *)o)->refs); }
+
 void ipc_handle_closed(int kind, void *obj) {
     if (kind == KERN_TMEM) {
         free(obj);
@@ -529,7 +532,10 @@ int ipc_svc(Cpu *c, uint32_t imm) {
     }
     case 0x21: case 0x22: {   // SendSyncRequest(w0 handle) / WithUserBuffer(x0 buffer, x1 size, w2 handle)
         uint32_t h = (uint32_t)(imm == 0x21 ? x[0] : x[2]);
-        IpcSession *s = kern_handle_get(h, KERN_SESSION);
+        // The request holds a reference on the session until it is answered: a CloseHandle of the session on another
+        // thread meanwhile leaves the object, and its close callback (renderer_close frees the audio renderer the
+        // handler uses), to whichever drops the last reference.
+        IpcSession *s = kern_handle_hold(h, KERN_SESSION, session_hold);
         if (!s) {
             rt_log("ipc: svc %#x on %#x, not a session handle", imm, h);
             x[0] = IPC_R_BAD_HANDLE;
@@ -542,6 +548,7 @@ int ipc_svc(Cpu *c, uint32_t imm) {
         t_req = c;
         dispatch(s, m);
         t_req = outer;
+        ipc_handle_closed(KERN_SESSION, s);   // the request's reference
         x[0] = 0;
         return 1;
     }
diff --git a/runtime/kernel.c b/runtime/kernel.c
index 41b946e0..8c17ea89 100644
--- a/runtime/kernel.c
+++ b/runtime/kernel.c
@@ -2090,6 +2090,26 @@ void *kern_handle_get(uint32_t h, int kind) {
     return o;
 }
 
+// kern_handle_get that also runs hold(obj) holding G, so the caller can take a reference before a CloseHandle on
+// another thread drops the handle's own: handle_close clears the slot holding G and only then calls ipc_handle_closed.
+void *kern_handle_hold(uint32_t h, int kind, void (*hold)(void *obj)) {
+    lock();
+    void *o = h_peek(h, kind);
+    if (o) hold(o);
+    unlock();
+    return o;
+}
+
+// Copies n bytes of a handle's object holding G, for objects without a reference count (KERN_TMEM, freed by its
+// CloseHandle): 1 when h is a handle of that kind, else 0 and nothing copied.
+int kern_handle_copy(uint32_t h, int kind, void *out, size_t n) {
+    lock();
+    const void *o = h_peek(h, kind);
+    if (o) memcpy(out, o, n);
+    unlock();
+    return o != NULL;
+}
+
 uint32_t kern_event_new(void) {
     Event *e = calloc(1, sizeof *e);
     if (!e) rt_fatal("kernel: event allocation");
diff --git a/tests/ipc_session_check.c b/tests/ipc_session_check.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..79e0cf22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ipc_session_check.c
@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+// runtime/ipc.c with runtime/kernel.c linked: what a CloseHandle racing a request does to the session and the
+// transfer memory the request uses, with the platform layer linked and the rest of the runtime stubbed. Built and run
+// by tests/ipc_session_check.py; prints each failed check and exits 1 on any.
+//   session  a request whose handler blocks while another thread closes the session's only handle: the session's
+//            close callback runs once, after the handler returned, never while it runs
+//   tmem     kern_handle_copy hands out the transfer memory's fields while the handle is open, and 0 after its close
+#include "ipc.c"
+
+#include <stdarg.h>
+
+static int fails;
+#define T_CHECK(c, ...) do { if (!(c)) { fails++; printf("FAIL line %d: ", __LINE__); printf(__VA_ARGS__); printf("\n"); } } while (0)
+
+// ---- the runtime ipc.c and kernel.c reach
+unsigned rt_trace;
+uint64_t rt_guest_start_ns;
+volatile uint32_t prof_replay_tid, prof_main_tid;
+const int rt_game_version = 111;
+int mem_readable(uint64_t a, uint64_t n) { (void)a, (void)n; return 0; }
+int mem_host_readable(uint64_t a, uint64_t n) { (void)a, (void)n; return 0; }
+const char *cfg_get(const char *name) { (void)name; return NULL; }
+const char *cfg_value(const char *name) { (void)name; return "0"; }
+int cfg_bool(const char *name) { (void)name; return 0; }
+int rt_ab(void) { return 0; }
+int rt_knob(const char *name, const char *def) { (void)name; return strcmp(def, "0") != 0; }
+int64_t frame_step_world_us(void) { return -1; }
+const char *ldr_describe(uint64_t a, char *buf, int n) { snprintf(buf, (size_t)n, "%#llx", (unsigned long long)a); return buf; }
+uint64_t ldr_symbol(const char *name) { (void)name; return 0; }
+void ldr_load(const char *exefs_dir) { (void)exefs_dir; }
+const RtLoaded *ldr_module(int i) { (void)i; return NULL; }
+uint64_t ldr_plt_stub(const char *module, const char *name) { (void)module, (void)name; return 0; }
+void perf_main_thread(void) {}
+void perf_size(PerfSizes *s, const char *name, uint64_t count, uint64_t limit, uint64_t bytes) {
+    (void)s, (void)name, (void)count, (void)limit, (void)bytes;
+}
+int rt_linked_modules(RtModule *out, int max) { (void)out, (void)max; return 0; }
+const RtGuestLayout *mem_layout(void) { return NULL; }
+const RtConfig *rt_config(void) { return NULL; }
+RtStats rt_stats(void) { return (RtStats){0, 0, 0}; }
+void *mem_kernel_alloc(uint64_t size, uint64_t align) {
+    void *p = plat_aligned_alloc(size, align < 64 ? 64 : align);
+    if (!p) rt_fatal("out of memory");
+    memset(p, 0, size);
+    return p;
+}
+void mem_kernel_free(void *p, uint64_t size) { (void)size; plat_aligned_free(p); }
+void rt_log(const char *fmt, ...) { (void)fmt; }
+void rt_logf(const char *fmt, ...) { (void)fmt; }
+void rt_log_raw(const char *p, size_t n) { (void)p, (void)n; }
+void rt_fatal(const char *fmt, ...) {
+    va_list ap;
+    va_start(ap, fmt);
+    printf("FATAL: ");
+    vprintf(fmt, ap);
+    printf("\n");
+    va_end(ap);
+    fflush(stdout);
+    _Exit(3);
+}
+void rt_dispatch(Cpu *c) { (void)c; rt_fatal("rt_dispatch in the test"); }
+void rt_svc(Cpu *c, uint32_t imm, uint64_t pc) {
+    (void)pc;
+    if (!ipc_svc(c, imm)) kern_svc(c, imm);
+}
+uint64_t rt_call(Cpu *c, uint64_t fn, int n, ...) { (void)c, (void)fn, (void)n; rt_fatal("rt_call in the test"); }
+int ov_handheld(void) { return 0; }
+long audren_renderers_live(void) { return 0; }
+void audren_manager_handler(IpcSession *s, const IpcRequest *rq, IpcResponse *rs) { (void)s, (void)rq, (void)rs; }
+void audio_dmg_handler(IpcSession *s, const IpcRequest *rq, IpcResponse *rs) { (void)s, (void)rq, (void)rs; }
+void audio_sysmix_handler(IpcSession *s, const IpcRequest *rq, IpcResponse *rs) { (void)s, (void)rq, (void)rs; }
+void nfp_user_manager_handler(IpcSession *s, const IpcRequest *rq, IpcResponse *rs) { (void)s, (void)rq, (void)rs; }
+
+// ---- a service whose command 7 blocks until released, and whose state its close callback frees
+typedef struct { volatile int alive, entered, release, done, closes, closed_while_running; } Svc;
+
+static void blocking_handler(IpcSession *s, const IpcRequest *rq, IpcResponse *rs) {
+    Svc *v = s->state;
+    if (rq->cmd == 7) {
+        __atomic_store_n(&v->entered, 1, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST);
+        while (!__atomic_load_n(&v->release, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST)) plat_wait_ns(200000);
+        T_CHECK(v->alive, "the service's state is still alive when the handler resumes");
+    }
+    __atomic_store_n(&v->done, 1, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST);
+    rs->result = 0;
+}
+
+static void svc_close(void *state) {
+    Svc *v = state;
+    if (!__atomic_load_n(&v->done, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST)) v->closed_while_running = 1;
+    v->alive = 0;
+    v->closes++;
+}
+
+typedef struct { Cpu cpu; uint32_t msg[IPC_MSG_BYTES / 4]; uint32_t h, result, kernel; } Client;
+
+static void client_main(void *arg) {
+    Client *cl = arg;
+    cl->cpu.tpidrro = (uint64_t)(uintptr_t)cl->msg;
+    Reply r;
+    cl->kernel = cmd(&cl->cpu, cl->h, 7, NULL, 0, &r);
+    cl->result = r.result;
+}
+
+static void session_check(void) {
+    long live0 = ipc_sessions_live();
+    static Svc v;
+    v.alive = 1;
+    static Client cl;
+    cl.h = ipc_session_new("blocking", blocking_handler, &v, svc_close);
+    void *t = plat_thread_new(client_main, &cl, "client");
+    while (!__atomic_load_n(&v.entered, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST)) plat_wait_ns(200000);
+    kern_handle_close(cl.h);   // the session's only handle, closed while its request runs
+    plat_wait_ns(50000000);
+    T_CHECK(v.closes == 0, "the close callback waits for the running request (ran %d times)", v.closes);
+    T_CHECK(v.alive, "the service's state outlives the CloseHandle while a request runs");
+    __atomic_store_n(&v.release, 1, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST);
+    plat_thread_join(t);
+    T_CHECK(cl.kernel == 0 && cl.result == 0, "the request is answered (kernel %#x, result %#x)", cl.kernel, cl.result);
+    T_CHECK(v.closes == 1, "the close callback runs once after the request (ran %d times)", v.closes);
+    T_CHECK(!v.closed_while_running, "the close callback never runs while the handler does");
+    T_CHECK(ipc_sessions_live() == live0, "the session is freed (%ld live, %ld before)", ipc_sessions_live(), live0);
+    // A request on an open session leaves it open; the CloseHandle afterwards frees it.
+    static Svc w;
+    w.alive = 1, w.release = 1;
+    static Client c2;
+    c2.h = ipc_session_new("open", blocking_handler, &w, svc_close);
+    client_main(&c2);
+    T_CHECK(c2.kernel == 0 && w.closes == 0, "a request leaves an open session open (closes %d)", w.closes);
+    kern_handle_close(c2.h);
+    T_CHECK(w.closes == 1 && ipc_sessions_live() == live0, "its CloseHandle frees it (closes %d)", w.closes);
+}
+
+static void tmem_check(void) {
+    IpcTransferMemory *t = malloc(sizeof *t);
+    *t = (IpcTransferMemory){0x80000000ull, 0x10000, 3};
+    uint32_t h = kern_handle_new(KERN_TMEM, t);
+    IpcTransferMemory copy = {0};
+    T_CHECK(kern_handle_copy(h, KERN_TMEM, &copy, sizeof copy) && copy.addr == 0x80000000ull && copy.size == 0x10000,
+            "the transfer memory is copied while its handle is open");
+    T_CHECK(!kern_handle_copy(h, KERN_SESSION, &copy, sizeof copy), "a handle of another kind copies nothing");
+    kern_handle_close(h);
+    T_CHECK(!kern_handle_copy(h, KERN_TMEM, &copy, sizeof copy), "a closed transfer memory handle copies nothing");
+}
+
+int main(void) {
+    setvbuf(stdout, NULL, _IONBF, 0);
+    session_check();
+    tmem_check();
+    printf(fails ? "ipc_session_check: %d failed\n" : "ipc_session_check: ok\n", fails);
+    return fails ? 1 : 0;
+}
diff --git a/tests/ipc_session_check.py b/tests/ipc_session_check.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..51f6bc16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ipc_session_check.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+"""Build and run tests/ipc_session_check.c: runtime/ipc.c with runtime/kernel.c linked, checking that a CloseHandle racing
+a request leaves the session (and its close callback) to the request's end and that a closed transfer memory handle is
+not read; with the platform layer linked and the rest of the runtime stubbed. No game files: the module layout the
+runtime includes is a stand-in written to the test's build folder.
+
+Usage: ipc_session_check.py
+"""
+import os
+import shutil
+import subprocess
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+MSYS_BIN = Path(r'C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin')
+
+
+def compiler():
+    if os.environ.get('CC'):
+        return os.environ['CC']
+    if os.name == 'nt' and (MSYS_BIN / 'clang.exe').exists():
+        return str(MSYS_BIN / 'clang.exe')
+    return shutil.which('clang') or 'clang'
+
+LAYOUT = '''// A stand-in for the generated layout.h (tests/ipc_session_check.py).
+#pragma once
+#define MOD_MAIN_BASE 0x7000000000ull
+#define MOD_MAIN_SIZE 0x4ea0000ull
+'''
+
+
+def main():
+    work = ROOT / 'build' / 'test' / 'ipc_session'
+    work.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    (work / 'layout.h').write_text(LAYOUT)
+    win = os.name == 'nt'
+    exe = work / ('ipc_session_check.exe' if win else 'ipc_session_check')
+    env = dict(os.environ)
+    if win and MSYS_BIN.exists():
+        env['PATH'] = str(MSYS_BIN) + os.pathsep + env.get('PATH', '')
+    rt = ROOT / 'runtime'
+    plat = [rt / 'platform' / ('win32.c' if win else 'linux.c'), rt / 'platform' / 'common.c']
+    libs = ['-lbcrypt', '-lws2_32', '-lpsapi', '-lwinmm', '-ldbghelp', '-lshell32', '-lole32', '-luser32', '-ladvapi32'] if win \
+        else ['-lpthread']
+    subprocess.check_call([compiler(), '-O1', '-g', '-Wall', '-Wno-unused-function', '-fno-strict-aliasing',
+                           '-march=x86-64-v3', '-I', str(rt), '-I', str(work),
+                           str(ROOT / 'tests' / 'ipc_session_check.c'), str(rt / 'kernel.c'), *map(str, plat),
+                           '-o', str(exe), '-lm', *libs],
+                          env=env)
+    return subprocess.run([str(exe)], env=env, timeout=300).returncode
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    sys.exit(main())