diff --git a/.serena/memories/backend/storage.md b/.serena/memories/backend/storage.md
index 49bc3a46b3..ea2d78c996 100644
--- a/.serena/memories/backend/storage.md
+++ b/.serena/memories/backend/storage.md
@@ -24,9 +24,13 @@
 - The reserved `:default` target is implicit and built from `PENPOT_OBJECTS_STORAGE_S3_*`; declared targets inherit missing region/endpoint/prefix from it.
 - Without a routes file, `::sto/bucket->target` is nil and every object uses `:default` (unchanged behavior).
 - The chosen target id is stored in object metadata as `:storage-target` (plain string) by `put-object!`.
-- `app.storage.s3/resolve-target` reads the object metadata; missing/unknown ids fall back to `:default`.
-- One S3 client/presigner is built per distinct `[region endpoint]` and shared by targets.
-- Target ids are logged in metadata, so they must stay stable; removing one makes its old rows unreadable/unGC-able.
+- `app.storage.s3/resolve-target` reads the object metadata; `nil` (legacy) and `"default"` use the default target, an unknown non-nil id raises `:invalid-storage-target` (no fallback) on reads/serving/deletes.
+- `impl/target-resolvable?` (wrapped as `sto/target-resolvable?`) reports whether a target id is configured; `:fs` is always true.
+- GC-deleted and pending-gc refuse to delete rows whose target is not resolvable: they log `:err`, park the row (`deleted_at = now()+1d`, no attempts, no give-up) and never remove it until the target is configured again.
+- `deleted_at` doubles as the pending-gc park marker; the pending selection skips rows whose `deleted_at` is in the future.
+- One S3 client/presigner is built per distinct `[region endpoint]` and shared by targets; a failed init closes the already-built pairs.
+- Target ids are stored in metadata, so they must stay stable; removing one makes its old rows unreadable and unGC-able by design.
+- `:storage-target` metadata is load-bearing: `pending-gc` passes it via `with-meta` so `del-object` resolves the right target.
 
 ## Object Lifecycle
 
diff --git a/backend/src/app/storage.clj b/backend/src/app/storage.clj
index 8f8f2b83a0..4777ad0650 100644
--- a/backend/src/app/storage.clj
+++ b/backend/src/app/storage.clj
@@ -329,6 +329,16 @@
                    (ct/is-after? (:expired-at object) (ct/now))))
       (-> (impl/get-object-url backend object nil) file-url->path))))
 
+(defn target-resolvable?
+  "Returns true when the backend referenced by `backend-id` can resolve
+  `target` to a real destination. GC callers must refuse to delete objects
+  whose target is not resolvable, so a misconfigured target never removes
+  the database row while orphaning the blob."
+  [storage backend-id target]
+  (assert (valid-storage? storage))
+  (-> (impl/resolve-backend storage backend-id)
+      (impl/target-resolvable? target)))
+
 (defn del-object!
   [storage object-or-id]
   (assert (valid-storage? storage))
diff --git a/backend/src/app/storage/config.clj b/backend/src/app/storage/config.clj
index b6e77e05f6..22c4f72eb6 100644
--- a/backend/src/app/storage/config.clj
+++ b/backend/src/app/storage/config.clj
@@ -30,15 +30,18 @@
    [app.common.uri :as u]
    [app.config :as cf]
    [app.storage :as sto]
+   [app.storage.s3 :as sto.s3]
    [clojure.edn :as edn]
    [clojure.java.io :as io]))
 
 (def ^:private schema:target
-  [:map {:title "s3-target"}
-   [:bucket :string]
-   [:region {:optional true} :keyword]
-   [:endpoint {:optional true} [:or :string ::sm/uri]]
-   [:prefix {:optional true} :string]])
+  "The EDN declares targets with the same shape as the S3 backend, except
+  the endpoint is accepted as a plain string and normalized to a URI by
+  `normalize-target`."
+  [:merge
+   sto.s3/schema:target
+   [:map
+    [:endpoint {:optional true} [:or :string ::sm/uri]]]])
 
 (def ^:private schema:file
   [:map {:title "storage-routes"}
diff --git a/backend/src/app/storage/fs.clj b/backend/src/app/storage/fs.clj
index f26bf99ce3..00a4a7518f 100644
--- a/backend/src/app/storage/fs.clj
+++ b/backend/src/app/storage/fs.clj
@@ -153,3 +153,7 @@
                     (conj fail-ids id)))))
             #{} ids)))
 
+(defmethod impl/target-resolvable? :fs
+  [_backend _target]
+  true)
+
diff --git a/backend/src/app/storage/gc_deleted.clj b/backend/src/app/storage/gc_deleted.clj
index 3b3b28de34..141e964c4c 100644
--- a/backend/src/app/storage/gc_deleted.clj
+++ b/backend/src/app/storage/gc_deleted.clj
@@ -78,6 +78,29 @@
   (let [ids (db/create-array conn "uuid" ids)]
     (db/exec-one! conn [sql:delete-give-up ids max-attempts])))
 
+(defn- log-refusal!
+  "Indirection over the error log so tests can capture the refusal payload."
+  [backend-id target ids]
+  (l/err :hint "storage target is not configured, deletion refused"
+         :backend (name backend-id)
+         :target target
+         :ids (mapv str ids)))
+
+(def ^:private sql:defer-unresolvable
+  "UPDATE storage_object
+      SET deleted_at = NOW() + INTERVAL '1 day'
+    WHERE id = ANY(?::uuid[])")
+
+(defn- park-unresolvable!
+  "Refuses to delete rows whose target id is not configured: logs the
+  misconfiguration and pushes `deleted_at` forward so the rows leave the
+  selection window without being deleted and without counting a deletion
+  attempt (they are therefore never subject to the give-up window)."
+  [conn backend-id target ids]
+  (log-refusal! backend-id target ids)
+  (let [ids (db/create-array conn "uuid" ids)]
+    (db/exec-one! conn [sql:defer-unresolvable ids])))
+
 (defn- process-chunk
   "Attempt to delete a chunk of storage objects from a specific backend.
 
@@ -142,19 +165,27 @@
 
 (defn- clean-deleted!
   [cfg]
-  (loop [total 0]
-    (let [deleted (db/tx-run! cfg
-                              (fn [{:keys [::db/conn ::sto/storage]}]
-                                (let [chunk (get-deleted-chunk conn chunk-size)]
-                                  (when (seq chunk)
-                                    (let [by-route (group-by-route chunk)]
-                                      (reduce-kv (fn [acc [backend-id target] ids]
-                                                   (+ acc (process-chunk conn storage backend-id target ids)))
-                                                 0
-                                                 by-route))))))]
-      (if deleted
-        (recur (+ total deleted))
-        total))))
+  (loop [deleted 0
+         parked  0]
+    (let [result (db/tx-run! cfg
+                             (fn [{:keys [::db/conn ::sto/storage]}]
+                               (let [chunk (get-deleted-chunk conn chunk-size)]
+                                 (when (seq chunk)
+                                   (let [by-route (group-by-route chunk)]
+                                     (reduce-kv
+                                      (fn [acc [backend-id target] ids]
+                                        (if (sto/target-resolvable? storage backend-id target)
+                                          (update acc :deleted + (process-chunk conn storage backend-id target ids))
+                                          (do
+                                            (park-unresolvable! conn backend-id target ids)
+                                            (update acc :parked + (count ids)))))
+                                      {:deleted 0 :parked 0}
+                                      by-route))))))]
+      (if result
+        (recur (+ deleted (:deleted result))
+               (+ parked (:parked result)))
+        {:deleted deleted
+         :parked  parked}))))
 
 (defmethod ig/assert-key ::handler
   [_ params]
@@ -164,6 +195,7 @@
 (defmethod ig/init-key ::handler
   [_ cfg]
   (fn [_]
-    (let [total (clean-deleted! cfg)]
-      (l/inf :hint "task finished" :total total)
-      {:deleted total})))
+    (let [{:keys [deleted parked]} (clean-deleted! cfg)]
+      (l/inf :hint "task finished" :total deleted :parked parked)
+      {:deleted deleted
+       :parked  parked})))
diff --git a/backend/src/app/storage/impl.clj b/backend/src/app/storage/impl.clj
index 2d3c8569fd..f73b58b05a 100644
--- a/backend/src/app/storage/impl.clj
+++ b/backend/src/app/storage/impl.clj
@@ -92,6 +92,17 @@
             :code :invalid-storage-backend
             :context cfg))
 
+(defmulti target-resolvable?
+  "Returns true when the backend can resolve `target` to a real destination.
+  GC callers must refuse deletion (and keep the row) when this is false."
+  (fn [cfg _] (::sto/type cfg)))
+
+(defmethod target-resolvable? :default
+  [cfg _]
+  (ex/raise :type :internal
+            :code :invalid-storage-backend
+            :context cfg))
+
 ;; --- HELPERS
 
 (defn uuid->hex
diff --git a/backend/src/app/storage/pending_gc.clj b/backend/src/app/storage/pending_gc.clj
index 31d0402606..3e2f8b9ca2 100644
--- a/backend/src/app/storage/pending_gc.clj
+++ b/backend/src/app/storage/pending_gc.clj
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
      FROM storage_object
     WHERE status = 'pending'
       AND created_at <= now() - interval '24 hours'
+      AND (deleted_at IS NULL OR deleted_at <= now())
     ORDER BY created_at ASC
     LIMIT ?
       FOR UPDATE
@@ -37,25 +38,71 @@
 (def ^:private sql:delete-pending-sobject
   "DELETE FROM storage_object WHERE id = ? AND status = 'pending'")
 
+(defn- log-refusal!
+  "Indirection over the error log so tests can capture the refusal payload."
+  [backend-id target ids]
+  (l/err :hint "storage target is not configured, deletion refused"
+         :backend (name backend-id)
+         :target target
+         :ids (mapv str ids)))
+
+(def ^:private sql:park-unresolvable
+  "UPDATE storage_object
+      SET deleted_at = NOW() + INTERVAL '1 day'
+    WHERE id = ANY(?::uuid[])
+      AND status = 'pending'")
+
+(defn- park-unresolvable!
+  "Refuses to delete rows whose target id is not configured: logs the
+  misconfiguration and pushes `deleted_at` forward so the rows are excluded
+  from the next selection without being deleted."
+  [conn backend-id target ids]
+  (log-refusal! backend-id target ids)
+  (let [ids (db/create-array conn "uuid" ids)]
+    (db/exec-one! conn [sql:park-unresolvable ids])))
+
 (def ^:private chunk-size
   100)
 
+(defn- group-by-route
+  [rows]
+  (group-by (fn [{:keys [backend target]}]
+              [(keyword backend) target])
+            rows))
+
 (defn- delete-pending-rows!
   "Select, lock and delete a chunk of pending rows in a single transaction.
-  Returns the deleted rows or nil when there is nothing left to reclaim."
+  Rows whose target id is not configured are never deleted: they are parked
+  (error logged, `deleted_at` pushed forward) so the loop terminates and the
+  rows survive.
+
+  Returns a map `{:deleted rows :parked count}`, or nil when there is nothing
+  left to reclaim."
   [cfg]
   (db/tx-run! cfg
-              (fn [{:keys [::db/conn]}]
+              (fn [{:keys [::db/conn ::sto/storage]}]
                 ;; NOTE: db/exec! returns an empty vector when there are no
                 ;; rows left; use not-empty to detect it.
                 (when-let [chunk (not-empty (get-pending-chunk conn chunk-size))]
-                  (doseq [{:keys [id]} chunk]
-                    (db/exec-one! conn [sql:delete-pending-sobject id]))
-                  chunk))))
+                  (reduce-kv
+                   (fn [acc [backend-id target] rows]
+                     (if (sto/target-resolvable? storage backend-id target)
+                       (do
+                         (doseq [{:keys [id]} rows]
+                           (db/exec-one! conn [sql:delete-pending-sobject id]))
+                         (update acc :deleted into rows))
+                       (do
+                         (park-unresolvable! conn backend-id target (mapv :id rows))
+                         (update acc :parked + (count rows)))))
+                   {:deleted [] :parked 0}
+                   (group-by-route chunk))))))
 
 (defn- delete-blobs!
   "Best-effort removal of the orphaned blobs. Runs after the pending rows
-  have been committed so a failure here never blocks their reclamation."
+  have been committed so a failure here never blocks their reclamation.
+
+  The `:storage-target` metadata is load-bearing: the S3 backend reads it
+  (`s3/target-id`) to resolve the bucket/prefix/client for `del-object`."
   [storage rows]
   (doseq [{:keys [id backend target]} rows]
     (try
@@ -69,12 +116,16 @@
 
 (defn- process!
   [{::sto/keys [storage] :as cfg}]
-  (loop [total 0]
-    (if-let [rows (delete-pending-rows! cfg)]
-      (do
-        (delete-blobs! storage rows)
-        (recur (long (+ total (count rows)))))
-      total)))
+  (loop [total-deleted 0
+         total-parked  0]
+    (if-let [result (delete-pending-rows! cfg)]
+      (let [removed (:deleted result)
+            parked  (:parked result)]
+        (delete-blobs! storage removed)
+        (recur (long (+ total-deleted (count removed)))
+               (long (+ total-parked parked))))
+      {:processed total-deleted
+       :parked    total-parked})))
 
 (defmethod ig/assert-key ::handler
   [_ params]
@@ -84,6 +135,7 @@
 (defmethod ig/init-key ::handler
   [_ cfg]
   (fn [_]
-    (let [total (process! cfg)]
-      (l/inf :hint "task finished" :total total)
-      {:processed total})))
+    (let [{:keys [processed parked]} (process! cfg)]
+      (l/inf :hint "task finished" :total processed :parked parked)
+      {:processed processed
+       :parked    parked})))
diff --git a/backend/src/app/storage/s3.clj b/backend/src/app/storage/s3.clj
index d8d6eb5f80..9e350a0641 100644
--- a/backend/src/app/storage/s3.clj
+++ b/backend/src/app/storage/s3.clj
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@
 
 ;; --- BACKEND INIT
 
-(def ^:private schema:target
+(def schema:target
   [:map {:title "s3-target"}
    [:bucket ::sm/text]
    [:region {:optional true} :keyword]
@@ -123,6 +123,17 @@
      :presigner presigner
      :close-fn  #(.close ^java.lang.AutoCloseable client)}))
 
+(defn- build-client-pair-or-cleanup
+  "Builds a client pair, closing the pairs already built when the build
+  fails so a failed backend init does not leak clients."
+  [acc params region endpoint]
+  (try
+    (build-client-pair params region endpoint)
+    (catch Throwable cause
+      (doseq [f (:close-fns acc)]
+        (ex/ignoring (f)))
+      (throw cause))))
+
 (defn- build-targets
   "Resolves the implicit `:default` target plus the declared targets, sharing
   one S3 client/presigner pair per distinct `[region endpoint]`."
@@ -140,7 +151,7 @@
                 (fn [acc id {:keys [region endpoint bucket prefix]}]
                   (let [k    [region endpoint]
                         pair (or (get-in acc [:pairs k])
-                                 (build-client-pair params region endpoint))
+                                 (build-client-pair-or-cleanup acc params region endpoint))
                         acc  (cond-> acc
                                (nil? (get-in acc [:pairs k]))
                                (-> (assoc-in [:pairs k] pair)
@@ -209,10 +220,9 @@
               (keyword? target-id) target-id
               :else                (keyword target-id))]
     (or (get (::targets backend) tid)
-        (get (::targets backend) (::default-target backend))
         (ex/raise :type :internal
                   :code :invalid-storage-target
-                  :hint "storage target not configured"
+                  :hint "storage target is not configured"
                   :target target-id
                   :available (vec (keys (::targets backend)))))))
 
@@ -220,6 +230,14 @@
   [backend object]
   (resolve-target-by-id backend (target-id backend object)))
 
+(defmethod impl/target-resolvable? :s3
+  [backend target-id]
+  (let [tid (cond
+              (nil? target-id)     (::default-target backend)
+              (keyword? target-id) target-id
+              :else                (keyword target-id))]
+    (contains? (::targets backend) tid)))
+
 ;; --- API IMPL
 
 (defmethod impl/put-object :s3
diff --git a/backend/test/backend_tests/storage_config_test.clj b/backend/test/backend_tests/storage_config_test.clj
index 7d140c77b7..3a1b490c69 100644
--- a/backend/test/backend_tests/storage_config_test.clj
+++ b/backend/test/backend_tests/storage_config_test.clj
@@ -79,3 +79,19 @@
   (t/is (some? (load-error
                 "{:targets {:temp {:bucket \"x\"}} :routes {\"tempfile\" :temp}}"
                 {:objects-storage-backend :fs}))))
+
+(t/deftest rejects-route-pointing-to-default
+  (let [err (load-error
+             "{:targets {:temp {:bucket \"x\"}} :routes {\"tempfile\" :default}}"
+             {})]
+    (t/is (some? err))
+    (t/is (= :unknown-storage-target (:code (ex-data err))))))
+
+(t/deftest loads-empty-targets-map
+  (let [file (write-routes! "{:targets {}}")]
+    (try
+      (let [result (load-with {:objects-storage-s3-routes-file (.getAbsolutePath file)})]
+        (t/is (= {} (:targets result)))
+        (t/is (nil? (:routes result))))
+      (finally
+        (delete! file)))))
diff --git a/backend/test/backend_tests/storage_test.clj b/backend/test/backend_tests/storage_test.clj
index c4b7a91588..1bf3d1ce45 100644
--- a/backend/test/backend_tests/storage_test.clj
+++ b/backend/test/backend_tests/storage_test.clj
@@ -879,15 +879,40 @@
       (t/is (= "temp" (::sto.s3/bucket @captured)))
       (t/is (= "tmp/" (::sto.s3/prefix @captured))))))
 
-(t/deftest s3-bulk-delete-falls-back-to-default-target
+(t/deftest s3-bulk-delete-rejects-unknown-target
   (let [backend  (fake-s3-backend-with-targets)
         captured (atom nil)]
     (with-mocks [_mock {:target 'app.storage.s3/del-object-in-bulk
                         :return (fn [target _ids]
                                   (reset! captured target)
                                   (p/resolved nil))}]
-      (impl/del-objects-in-bulk backend :missing #{(uuid/next)})
-      (t/is (= "default" (::sto.s3/bucket @captured))))))
+      (let [ex (try
+                 (impl/del-objects-in-bulk backend :missing #{(uuid/next)})
+                 nil
+                 (catch Throwable cause cause))]
+        (t/is (some? ex))
+        (t/is (= :invalid-storage-target (:code (ex-data ex))))
+        (t/is (nil? @captured))))))
+
+(t/deftest s3-get-object-url-rejects-unknown-target
+  (let [backend (fake-s3-backend-with-targets)
+        ex      (try
+                  (impl/get-object-url backend {:id (uuid/next)
+                                                :storage-target "ghost"} {})
+                  nil
+                  (catch Throwable cause cause))]
+    (t/is (some? ex))
+    (t/is (= :invalid-storage-target (:code (ex-data ex))))))
+
+(t/deftest s3-target-resolvable-checks-configured-targets
+  (let [backend (fake-s3-backend-with-targets)]
+    (t/is (true? (impl/target-resolvable? backend nil)))
+    (t/is (true? (impl/target-resolvable? backend "default")))
+    (t/is (true? (impl/target-resolvable? backend :temp)))
+    (t/is (false? (impl/target-resolvable? backend "ghost")))))
+
+(t/deftest fs-target-is-always-resolvable
+  (t/is (true? (impl/target-resolvable? {::sto/type :fs} "anything"))))
 
 (t/deftest s3-build-targets-shares-clients-and-closes-them
   (let [clients     (atom [])
@@ -923,6 +948,34 @@
         (ig/halt-key! :app.storage.s3/backend backend)
         (t/is (= 2 @close-count))))))
 
+(t/deftest s3-build-targets-closes-clients-on-failure
+  (let [close-count (atom 0)
+        mk-client   (fn [params]
+                      (when (= :us-east-1 (:app.storage.s3/region params))
+                        (throw (RuntimeException. "boom")))
+                      (reify
+                        clojure.lang.IDeref
+                        (deref [_] (Object.))
+                        java.lang.AutoCloseable
+                        (close [_] (swap! close-count inc))))]
+    (with-mocks [_c {:target 'app.storage.s3/build-s3-client
+                     :return mk-client}
+                 _p {:target 'app.storage.s3/build-s3-presigner
+                     :return (fn [_] (reify S3Presigner))}]
+      (let [ex (try
+                 (ig/init-key :app.storage.s3/backend
+                              {:app.storage.s3/region :eu-central-1
+                               :app.storage.s3/bucket "main"
+                               :app.worker/netty-io-executor :executor
+                               :app.storage.s3/targets
+                               {:same  {:bucket "same"}
+                                :other {:bucket "other" :region :us-east-1}}})
+                 nil
+                 (catch Throwable cause cause))]
+        (t/is (some? ex))
+        ;; the pair built before the failing one is closed
+        (t/is (= 1 @close-count))))))
+
 (t/deftest s3-exists-object-returns-true-on-found
   (with-mocks [mock {:target 'app.storage.s3/head-object
                      :return (p/resolved {})}]
@@ -1000,20 +1053,43 @@
     (t/is (nil? (:target row)))))
 
 (t/deftest dedup-is-isolated-per-storage-target
+  (let [routed   (configure-s3-storage {"file-data" :temp})
+        unrouted (configure-s3-storage {})
+        content  (-> (sto/content "content")
+                     (sto/wrap-with-hash "same-hash"))]
+    (with-mocks [_mock {:target 'app.storage.impl/put-object
+                        :return (fn [_ object _] object)}]
+      (let [object1 (sto/put-object! routed {::sto/content content
+                                             ::sto/deduplicate? true
+                                             :bucket "file-data"
+                                             :content-type "text/plain"})
+            object2 (sto/put-object! unrouted {::sto/content content
+                                               ::sto/deduplicate? true
+                                               :bucket "file-data"
+                                               :content-type "text/plain"})
+            row     (th/db-exec-one! ["select count(*) from storage_object"])]
+        ;; same semantic bucket, different target: no dedup hit, two rows
+        (t/is (not= (:id object1) (:id object2)))
+        (t/is (= 2 (:count row)))))))
+
+(t/deftest dedup-reuses-object-within-same-storage-target
   (let [storage (configure-s3-storage {"file-data" :temp})
         content (-> (sto/content "content")
                     (sto/wrap-with-hash "same-hash"))]
-    (with-mocks [_mock {:target 'app.storage.impl/put-object
-                        :return (fn [_ object _] object)}]
+    (with-mocks [_p {:target 'app.storage.impl/put-object
+                     :return (fn [_ object _] object)}
+                 _e {:target 'app.storage.impl/exists-object?
+                     :return (fn [_ _] true)}]
       (let [object1 (sto/put-object! storage {::sto/content content
                                               ::sto/deduplicate? true
                                               :bucket "file-data"
                                               :content-type "text/plain"})
             object2 (sto/put-object! storage {::sto/content content
                                               ::sto/deduplicate? true
-                                              :bucket "file-media-object"
+                                              :bucket "file-data"
                                               :content-type "text/plain"})]
-        (t/is (not= (:id object1) (:id object2)))))))
+        ;; same semantic bucket and target: dedup reuses the object
+        (t/is (= (:id object1) (:id object2)))))))
 
 (t/deftest dedup-hit-carries-storage-target-metadata
   (let [storage  (configure-s3-storage {"file-data" :temp})
@@ -1037,6 +1113,37 @@
       (t/is (some? @captured))
       (t/is (= "temp" (:storage-target (meta @captured)))))))
 
+(t/deftest dedup-repair-carries-storage-target-metadata
+  (let [storage  (configure-s3-storage {"file-data" :temp})
+        content  (-> (sto/content "content")
+                     (sto/wrap-with-hash "same-hash"))
+        calls    (atom [])]
+    (with-mocks [_p {:target 'app.storage.impl/put-object
+                     :return (fn [_ object _]
+                               (swap! calls conj object)
+                               object)}
+                 _h {:target 'app.storage.s3/head-object
+                     :return (p/rejected (-> (NoSuchKeyException/builder)
+                                             (.message "no key")
+                                             (.build)))}]
+      (let [object1 (sto/put-object! storage {::sto/content content
+                                              ::sto/deduplicate? true
+                                              :bucket "file-data"
+                                              :content-type "text/plain"})
+            ;; second put finds the row but the real exists-object? sees a
+            ;; missing blob and repairs it in place
+            object2 (sto/put-object! storage {::sto/content content
+                                              ::sto/deduplicate? true
+                                              :bucket "file-data"
+                                              :content-type "text/plain"})
+            row     (th/db-exec-one!
+                     ["select status from storage_object where id = ?" (:id object1)])
+            count   (th/db-exec-one! ["select count(*) from storage_object"])]
+        (t/is (= (:id object1) (:id object2)))
+        (t/is (= "valid" (:status row)))
+        (t/is (= 1 (:count count)))
+        (t/is (= "temp" (:storage-target (meta (last @calls)))))))))
+
 ;; --- GC target routing
 
 (defn- storage-with-s3-targets
@@ -1059,11 +1166,85 @@
                         :return (fn [_ target _ids]
                                   (reset! captured target)
                                   #{})}]
-      (t/is (= 1 (#'sto.gc-deleted/clean-deleted! cfg)))
+      (t/is (= 1 (:deleted (#'sto.gc-deleted/clean-deleted! cfg))))
       (t/is (= "temp" @captured)))))
 
-(t/deftest pending-gc-deletes-from-routed-target
+(t/deftest gc-deleted-refuses-unknown-target-and-keeps-row
   (let [storage  (storage-with-s3-targets)
+        cfg      {::db/pool th/*pool* ::sto/storage storage}
+        id       (uuid/next)
+        logged   (atom nil)]
+    (th/db-exec! ["insert into storage_object (id, size, backend, metadata, deleted_at, status)
+                   values (?, 1, 's3', ?, ?, 'valid')"
+                  id
+                  (db/tjson {:bucket "file-data" :storage-target "ghost"})
+                  (ct/in-past {:minutes 1})])
+    (with-mocks [mock {:target 'app.storage.impl/del-objects-in-bulk
+                       :return (fn [_ _ _] #{})}]
+      (with-redefs [app.storage.gc-deleted/log-refusal!
+                    (fn [backend-id target ids]
+                      (reset! logged [backend-id target (vec ids)]))]
+        (let [result (#'sto.gc-deleted/clean-deleted! cfg)
+              row    (th/db-exec-one!
+                      ["select status, deleted_at, deletion_attempts
+                          from storage_object where id = ?" id])]
+          (t/is (= 0 (:deleted result)))
+          (t/is (= 1 (:parked result)))
+          (t/is (= 0 (:call-count @mock)))
+          (t/is (= "valid" (:status row)))
+          (t/is (ct/is-after? (:deleted-at row) (ct/now)))
+          (t/is (= 0 (:deletion-attempts row)))
+          (t/is (= [:s3 "ghost" [id]] @logged)))))))
+
+(t/deftest gc-deleted-give-up-not-applied-to-unknown-target
+  (let [storage (storage-with-s3-targets)
+        cfg     {::db/pool th/*pool* ::sto/storage storage}
+        id      (uuid/next)]
+    (th/db-exec! ["insert into storage_object (id, size, backend, metadata, deleted_at, status, deletion_attempts)
+                   values (?, 1, 's3', ?, ?, 'valid', 10)"
+                  id
+                  (db/tjson {:bucket "file-data" :storage-target "ghost"})
+                  (ct/in-past {:minutes 1})])
+    (with-mocks [_mock {:target 'app.storage.impl/del-objects-in-bulk
+                        :return (fn [_ _ _] #{})}]
+      (with-redefs [app.storage.gc-deleted/log-refusal! (fn [& _] nil)]
+        (#'sto.gc-deleted/clean-deleted! cfg)))
+    (let [row (th/db-exec-one! ["select count(*) from storage_object where id = ?" id])]
+      (t/is (= 1 (:count row))))))
+
+(t/deftest gc-deleted-normal-failure-defers-and-gives-up
+  (let [storage (storage-with-s3-targets)
+        cfg     {::db/pool th/*pool* ::sto/storage storage}
+        id      (uuid/next)]
+    (th/db-exec! ["insert into storage_object (id, size, backend, metadata, deleted_at, status)
+                   values (?, 1, 's3', ?, ?, 'valid')"
+                  id
+                  (db/tjson {:bucket "file-data" :storage-target "temp"})
+                  (ct/in-past {:minutes 1})])
+    (with-mocks [_mock {:target 'app.storage.impl/del-objects-in-bulk
+                        :return (fn [_ _ ids] (set ids))}]
+      (let [result (#'sto.gc-deleted/clean-deleted! cfg)
+            row    (th/db-exec-one!
+                    ["select deleted_at, deletion_attempts
+                        from storage_object where id = ?" id])]
+        (t/is (= 0 (:deleted result)))
+        (t/is (= 0 (:parked result)))
+        (t/is (ct/is-after? (:deleted-at row) (ct/now)))
+        (t/is (= 1 (:deletion-attempts row))))
+
+      ;; force the give-up threshold and let the next pass remove the row
+      (th/db-update! :storage-object
+                     {:deletion-attempts 7
+                      :deleted-at (ct/in-past {:minutes 1})}
+                     {:id id})
+      (let [result (#'sto.gc-deleted/clean-deleted! cfg)]
+        (t/is (= 0 (:deleted result)))
+        (let [row (th/db-exec-one! ["select count(*) from storage_object where id = ?" id])]
+          (t/is (= 0 (:count row))))))))
+
+(t/deftest pending-gc-deletes-resolvable-target
+  (let [storage  (storage-with-s3-targets)
+        cfg      {::db/pool th/*pool* ::sto/storage storage}
         id       (uuid/next)
         captured (atom nil)]
     (th/db-exec! ["insert into storage_object (id, size, backend, metadata, created_at, status)
@@ -1071,13 +1252,84 @@
                   id
                   (db/tjson {:storage-target "temp"})
                   (ct/in-past {:days 2})])
-    (let [rows (th/db-exec!
-                ["select id, backend,
-                         coalesce(metadata->>'~:storage-target','default') as target
-                    from storage_object where id = ?" id])]
-      (with-mocks [_mock {:target 'app.storage.impl/del-object
-                          :return (fn [_ object]
-                                    (reset! captured object)
-                                    nil)}]
-        (#'sto.pending-gc/delete-blobs! storage rows)
-        (t/is (= "temp" (:storage-target (meta @captured))))))))
+    (with-mocks [_mock {:target 'app.storage.impl/del-object
+                        :return (fn [_ object]
+                                  (reset! captured object)
+                                  nil)}]
+      (let [result (#'sto.pending-gc/process! cfg)]
+        (t/is (= 1 (:processed result)))
+        (t/is (= 0 (:parked result)))
+        (t/is (= "temp" (:storage-target (meta @captured))))
+        (let [row (th/db-exec-one! ["select count(*) from storage_object where id = ?" id])]
+          (t/is (= 0 (:count row))))))))
+
+(t/deftest pending-gc-refuses-unknown-target-and-keeps-row
+  (let [storage  (storage-with-s3-targets)
+        cfg      {::db/pool th/*pool* ::sto/storage storage}
+        id       (uuid/next)
+        logged   (atom nil)
+        captured (atom nil)]
+    (th/db-exec! ["insert into storage_object (id, size, backend, metadata, created_at, status)
+                   values (?, 1, 's3', ?, ?, 'pending')"
+                  id
+                  (db/tjson {:storage-target "ghost"})
+                  (ct/in-past {:days 2})])
+    (with-mocks [mock {:target 'app.storage.impl/del-object
+                       :return (fn [_ object]
+                                 (reset! captured object)
+                                 nil)}]
+      (with-redefs [app.storage.pending-gc/log-refusal!
+                    (fn [backend-id target ids]
+                      (reset! logged [backend-id target (vec ids)]))]
+        (let [result (#'sto.pending-gc/process! cfg)
+              row    (th/db-exec-one!
+                      ["select status, deleted_at from storage_object where id = ?" id])]
+          (t/is (= 0 (:processed result)))
+          (t/is (= 1 (:parked result)))
+          (t/is (= 0 (:call-count @mock)))
+          (t/is (nil? @captured))
+          (t/is (= "pending" (:status row)))
+          (t/is (ct/is-after? (:deleted-at row) (ct/now)))
+          (t/is (= [:s3 "ghost" [id]] @logged)))))))
+
+(t/deftest gc-deleted-legacy-rows-delete-from-default-target
+  (let [storage  (storage-with-s3-targets)
+        cfg      {::db/pool th/*pool* ::sto/storage storage}
+        id       (uuid/next)
+        captured (atom nil)]
+    (th/db-exec! ["insert into storage_object (id, size, backend, metadata, deleted_at, status)
+                   values (?, 1, 's3', ?, ?, 'valid')"
+                  id
+                  (db/tjson {:bucket "file-data"})
+                  (ct/in-past {:minutes 1})])
+    (with-mocks [_mock {:target 'app.storage.impl/del-objects-in-bulk
+                        :return (fn [_ target _ids]
+                                  (reset! captured target)
+                                  #{})}]
+      (let [result (#'sto.gc-deleted/clean-deleted! cfg)]
+        (t/is (= 1 (:deleted result)))
+        (t/is (= 0 (:parked result)))
+        (t/is (= "default" @captured))
+        (let [row (th/db-exec-one! ["select count(*) from storage_object where id = ?" id])]
+          (t/is (= 0 (:count row))))))))
+
+(t/deftest pending-gc-legacy-rows-delete-from-default-target
+  (let [storage  (storage-with-s3-targets)
+        cfg      {::db/pool th/*pool* ::sto/storage storage}
+        id       (uuid/next)
+        captured (atom nil)]
+    (th/db-exec! ["insert into storage_object (id, size, backend, metadata, created_at, status)
+                   values (?, 1, 's3', ?, ?, 'pending')"
+                  id
+                  (db/tjson {:bucket "file-data"})
+                  (ct/in-past {:days 2})])
+    (with-mocks [_mock {:target 'app.storage.impl/del-object
+                        :return (fn [_ object]
+                                  (reset! captured object)
+                                  nil)}]
+      (let [result (#'sto.pending-gc/process! cfg)]
+        (t/is (= 1 (:processed result)))
+        (t/is (= 0 (:parked result)))
+        (t/is (= "default" (:storage-target (meta @captured))))
+        (let [row (th/db-exec-one! ["select count(*) from storage_object where id = ?" id])]
+          (t/is (= 0 (:count row))))))))
diff --git a/docs/technical-guide/configuration.md b/docs/technical-guide/configuration.md
index 6ba59cb95e..51d7c043d9 100644
--- a/docs/technical-guide/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/technical-guide/configuration.md
@@ -584,8 +584,15 @@ Targets and routing are declared in an external EDN file referenced by the
   objects use the default bucket and the behavior is unchanged.
 
 The target id is stored in the object metadata, so it must stay stable. If you
-remove or rename a target id, objects already written with it can no longer be
-read or deleted.
+remove or rename a target id, objects already written with it cannot be located:
+reads and serving of those objects fail, and the garbage-collection tasks refuse
+to delete them. Those rows are parked for one day and retried on later runs,
+without counting deletion attempts and without ever reaching the give-up window,
+so the row is never removed until the routes file declares the target id again.
+
+All backend replicas must mount the same routes file with the same target ids. A
+replica with a stale file misroutes new writes and fails reads and garbage
+collection for the targets it does not declare.
 
 ### File Data Storage
 
diff --git a/docs/technical-guide/developer/subsystems/assets-storage.md b/docs/technical-guide/developer/subsystems/assets-storage.md
index 6ef91ab8a0..f7c79014cb 100644
--- a/docs/technical-guide/developer/subsystems/assets-storage.md
+++ b/docs/technical-guide/developer/subsystems/assets-storage.md
@@ -91,6 +91,10 @@ reads, URL signing, deduplication and garbage collection. Objects without a
 stored target use the default target. See the configuration guide for the
 routing file format.
 
+If an object references a target id that is not configured anymore, it cannot be
+located: reads and serving fail, and garbage collection refuses to delete the
+object, keeping the database row until the target is declared again.
+
 ## Sharing and deleting objects
 
 To save storage space, duplicated objects wre shared. So, if for example