diff --git a/apps/codex-plus-launcher/src/main.rs b/apps/codex-plus-launcher/src/main.rs
index cc12faef..845828e7 100644
--- a/apps/codex-plus-launcher/src/main.rs
+++ b/apps/codex-plus-launcher/src/main.rs
@@ -35,6 +35,19 @@ impl Default for LauncherHooks {
 
 #[tokio::main]
 async fn main() -> Result<()> {
+    if let Err(error) = launcher_main().await {
+        let _ = codex_plus_core::diagnostic_log::append_diagnostic_log(
+            "launcher.failed",
+            json!({
+                "message": error.to_string()
+            }),
+        );
+        return Err(error);
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+async fn launcher_main() -> Result<()> {
     let args = std::env::args().skip(1).collect::<Vec<_>>();
     let helper_only = args.iter().any(|arg| arg == "--helper-only");
     let options = parse_launch_options(args.iter());
@@ -135,6 +148,7 @@ fn should_recover_stale_launcher(debug_port: u16) -> bool {
 
 async fn activate_existing_codex_app(options: &LaunchOptions) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let hooks = LauncherHooks::default();
+    let helper_port = hooks.select_helper_port(options.helper_port);
     let settings = hooks.load_settings().await?;
     let app_dir = hooks.resolve_app_dir(options.app_dir.as_deref(), &settings)?;
     let launch_result = hooks
@@ -146,7 +160,7 @@ async fn activate_existing_codex_app(options: &LaunchOptions) -> anyhow::Result<
         )
         .await;
     if settings.enhancements_enabled {
-        hooks.start_helper(options.helper_port).await?;
+        hooks.start_helper(helper_port).await?;
     }
     let process_ids = codex_plus_core::watcher::find_codex_processes();
     let mut activated = false;
@@ -161,14 +175,14 @@ async fn activate_existing_codex_app(options: &LaunchOptions) -> anyhow::Result<
     }
     let injection_ready = if settings.enhancements_enabled {
         hooks
-            .ensure_injection(options.debug_port, options.helper_port, &app_dir)
+            .ensure_injection(options.debug_port, helper_port, &app_dir)
             .await
     } else {
         false
     };
     if injection_ready {
         hooks
-            .start_bridge_watchdog(options.debug_port, options.helper_port)
+            .start_bridge_watchdog(options.debug_port, helper_port)
             .await?;
         hooks.write_status("running").await;
     } else if settings.enhancements_enabled {
@@ -179,7 +193,8 @@ async fn activate_existing_codex_app(options: &LaunchOptions) -> anyhow::Result<
         json!({
             "app_dir": app_dir.to_string_lossy(),
             "debug_port": options.debug_port,
-            "helper_port": options.helper_port,
+            "helper_port": helper_port,
+            "requested_helper_port": options.helper_port,
             "process_ids": process_ids,
             "activated": activated,
             "injection_ready": injection_ready,
diff --git a/crates/codex-plus-core/src/launcher.rs b/crates/codex-plus-core/src/launcher.rs
index fcdeb046..c4d03d46 100644
--- a/crates/codex-plus-core/src/launcher.rs
+++ b/crates/codex-plus-core/src/launcher.rs
@@ -835,7 +835,15 @@ impl LaunchHooks for DefaultLaunchHooks {
             }
             CodexLaunch::PackagedActivation { process_id, .. } => {
                 if let Some(process_id) = process_id {
-                    wait_for_windows_process_id(*process_id).await?;
+                    if let Err(error) = wait_for_windows_process_id(*process_id).await {
+                        let _ = crate::diagnostic_log::append_diagnostic_log(
+                            "launcher.packaged_process_wait_failed_nonfatal",
+                            serde_json::json!({
+                                "process_id": process_id,
+                                "message": error.to_string()
+                            }),
+                        );
+                    }
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/crates/codex-plus-core/src/ports.rs b/crates/codex-plus-core/src/ports.rs
index 2263b21f..3e8cf6e9 100644
--- a/crates/codex-plus-core/src/ports.rs
+++ b/crates/codex-plus-core/src/ports.rs
@@ -208,13 +208,20 @@ fn acquire_resilient_loopback_port_guard_with(
         Err(error) if error.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::AddrInUse && can_connect(port) => {
             Err(error)
         }
-        Err(error) if error.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::AddrInUse => {
+        Err(error)
+            if error.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::AddrInUse || port_bind_forbidden(&error) =>
+        {
             Ok(LoopbackPortGuard::fallback_lock(file, path))
         }
         Err(error) => Err(error),
     }
 }
 
+fn port_bind_forbidden(error: &std::io::Error) -> bool {
+    error.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::PermissionDenied
+        || matches!(error.raw_os_error(), Some(10013))
+}
+
 fn acquire_lock_guard(port: u16, state_dir: &Path) -> std::io::Result<(File, PathBuf)> {
     let dir = state_dir.join("locks");
     std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir)?;
@@ -322,6 +329,21 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(second.kind(), std::io::ErrorKind::WouldBlock);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn resilient_guard_uses_lock_fallback_when_port_bind_is_forbidden() {
+        let temp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let guard = acquire_resilient_loopback_port_guard_with(
+            57319,
+            temp.path(),
+            |_| Err(std::io::Error::from_raw_os_error(10013)),
+            |_| false,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        assert!(guard._listener.is_none());
+        assert!(guard.fallback_path().is_some());
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn launcher_guard_port_returns_base_when_no_env_override() {
         let _guard = guard_port_env_lock();