diff --git a/docs/plans/2026-06-04-058-feat-documents-scrape-lock-salvage-before-plan.md b/docs/plans/2026-06-04-058-feat-documents-scrape-lock-salvage-before-plan.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cb77093e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/plans/2026-06-04-058-feat-documents-scrape-lock-salvage-before-plan.md
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+---
+title: "feat: Documents scrape lock gate and salvage-before"
+type: feat
+status: active
+date: 2026-06-04
+origin: /lfg — validation/handoff expose salvage; direct run-documents-scrape.sh still lacks lock gate and --salvage-before-scrape
+---
+
+# feat: Documents scrape lock gate and salvage-before
+
+## Summary
+
+Add scrape lock preflight and `--salvage-before-scrape` to `run-documents-scrape.sh` so direct document scrapes match operator-validation safety and KotOR catch-up workflow.
+
+## Problem Frame
+
+Operators often invoke documents scrape directly:
+
+```bash
+./scripts/run-documents-scrape.sh --target KotOR_discord_msgs --channel 221726893064454144
+```
+
+This bypasses `run-operator-validation.sh` lock gate. Salvage-before requires two commands today.
+
+## Requirements
+
+| ID | Requirement |
+|----|-------------|
+| R1 | `run-documents-scrape.sh` checks archive-root lock before salvage or Discord scrape |
+| R2 | Lock gate skipped when `DCE_SKIP_SCRAPE_LOCK=1` |
+| R3 | `--salvage-before-scrape` runs salvage then preflight/scrape |
+| R4 | `--salvage-only`, `--salvage-before-scrape`, and `--dry-run` are mutually exclusive |
+| R5 | Smokes cover lock block and salvage-before; `run-all-smokes.sh` passes |
+
+## Implementation Units
+
+### U1. Documents scrape lock + salvage-before
+
+**Files:** `scripts/run-documents-scrape.sh`
+
+### U2. Smoke coverage
+
+**Files:** `scripts/tests/documents-scrape-smoke.sh`
+
+## Scope Boundaries
+
+### Deferred
+
+- Operator checklist doc refresh
+- Live KotOR catch-up on host
diff --git a/scripts/run-documents-scrape.sh b/scripts/run-documents-scrape.sh
index 512a45cd..cab01d69 100755
--- a/scripts/run-documents-scrape.sh
+++ b/scripts/run-documents-scrape.sh
@@ -11,13 +11,14 @@ DISCOVER_TOKEN="$REPO_ROOT/scripts/discover-discord-token.sh"
 VERIFY_SCRIPT="$REPO_ROOT/scripts/verify-documents-archives.sh"
 VERIFY_READY="$REPO_ROOT/scripts/verify-operator-ready.sh"
 SETUP_AUTH="$REPO_ROOT/scripts/setup-scrape-auth.sh"
+LOCK_STATUS="$REPO_ROOT/scripts/scrape-lock-status.sh"
 # shellcheck source=lib/scrape-run-plan.sh
 source "$SCRIPT_DIR/lib/scrape-run-plan.sh"
 
 usage() {
   cat <<EOF
 Usage:
-  $(basename "$0") [--dry-run] [--salvage-only] [--target NAME] [--config PATH]
+  $(basename "$0") [--dry-run] [--salvage-only] [--salvage-before-scrape] [--target NAME] [--config PATH]
 
 End-to-end Documents scrape workflow:
   1. Verify enabled targets have seeded archives under ~/Documents/<server>/
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ End-to-end Documents scrape workflow:
 Options:
   --dry-run       Verify archives only; do not call Discord
   --salvage-only  Merge quiescent stale .dce-temp exports only (no Discord export)
+  --salvage-before-scrape  Run salvage-only pass before preflight and incremental scrape
   --target NAME Limit preflight/scrape to one configured target
   --channel ID  With exactly one --target, limit scrape to channel ID (repeatable)
   --config PATH Scrape target config (default: config/scrape-targets.json)
@@ -39,9 +41,37 @@ die() {
   exit 1
 }
 
+ensure_scrape_lock_available() {
+  if [[ "${DCE_SKIP_SCRAPE_LOCK:-0}" == "1" ]]; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+  [[ -x "$LOCK_STATUS" ]] || return 0
+  if ! "$LOCK_STATUS" --config "$CONFIG_PATH"; then
+    die "Scrape lock is held; another scrape may be running. Inspect: $LOCK_STATUS --config $CONFIG_PATH"
+  fi
+}
+
+run_local_salvage() {
+  local -a salvage_args=(--config "$CONFIG_PATH")
+  local skip_next=0 arg
+  for arg in "$@"; do
+    if (( skip_next )); then
+      skip_next=0
+      continue
+    fi
+    if [[ "$arg" == "--config" ]]; then
+      skip_next=1
+      continue
+    fi
+    salvage_args+=("$arg")
+  done
+  "$HOST_RUNNER" salvage "${salvage_args[@]}"
+}
+
 main() {
   local dry_run=0
   local salvage_only=0
+  local salvage_before=0
   local target=""
   local -a passthrough=()
 
@@ -55,6 +85,10 @@ main() {
         salvage_only=1
         shift
         ;;
+      --salvage-before-scrape)
+        salvage_before=1
+        shift
+        ;;
       --target)
         [[ $# -ge 2 ]] || die "Missing value for --target."
         target=$2
@@ -82,6 +116,14 @@ main() {
     esac
   done
 
+  local exclusive=0
+  (( dry_run == 1 )) && exclusive=$((exclusive + 1))
+  (( salvage_only == 1 )) && exclusive=$((exclusive + 1))
+  (( salvage_before == 1 )) && exclusive=$((exclusive + 1))
+  if (( exclusive > 1 )); then
+    die "Use only one of --dry-run, --salvage-only, or --salvage-before-scrape."
+  fi
+
   "$VERIFY_SCRIPT" --config "$CONFIG_PATH"
 
   local -a plan_targets=()
@@ -97,24 +139,17 @@ main() {
 
   "$VERIFY_READY" --disk-only --config "$CONFIG_PATH"
 
+  ensure_scrape_lock_available
+
   if (( salvage_only == 1 )); then
-    local -a salvage_args=(--config "$CONFIG_PATH")
-    local skip_next=0 arg
-    for arg in "${passthrough[@]}"; do
-      if (( skip_next )); then
-        skip_next=0
-        continue
-      fi
-      if [[ "$arg" == "--config" ]]; then
-        skip_next=1
-        continue
-      fi
-      salvage_args+=("$arg")
-    done
-    "$HOST_RUNNER" salvage "${salvage_args[@]}"
+    run_local_salvage "${passthrough[@]}"
     exit 0
   fi
 
+  if (( salvage_before == 1 )); then
+    run_local_salvage "${passthrough[@]}"
+  fi
+
   local -a container_args=("${passthrough[@]}")
   local has_config=0 idx=0
 
diff --git a/scripts/tests/documents-scrape-smoke.sh b/scripts/tests/documents-scrape-smoke.sh
index c7070266..419d7d83 100755
--- a/scripts/tests/documents-scrape-smoke.sh
+++ b/scripts/tests/documents-scrape-smoke.sh
@@ -128,6 +128,60 @@ grep -q 'salvage completed' "$SALVAGE_DOC_LOG" || {
   exit 1
 }
 
+SALVAGE_BEFORE_LOG="$TMP_DIR/salvage-before.log"
+: >"$ARGS_LOG"
+DCE_MIN_FREE_MB=0 \
+  DCE_SKIP_SCRAPE_LOCK=1 \
+  DCE_DOCKER_BIN="$FAKE_DOCKER" \
+  FAKE_DOCKER_ARGS_LOG="$ARGS_LOG" \
+  DCE_ENV_FILE="$TMP_DIR/scrape.env" \
+  "$REPO_ROOT/scripts/run-documents-scrape.sh" \
+  --salvage-before-scrape --config "$TMP_DIR/config.json" --target demo >"$SALVAGE_BEFORE_LOG" 2>&1 || {
+  echo "salvage-before-scrape documents scrape failed" >&2
+  cat "$SALVAGE_BEFORE_LOG" >&2
+  exit 1
+}
+grep -q 'salvage completed' "$SALVAGE_BEFORE_LOG" || {
+  echo "expected --salvage-before-scrape to run local salvage first" >&2
+  cat "$SALVAGE_BEFORE_LOG" >&2
+  exit 1
+}
+grep -q 'compose' "$ARGS_LOG" || {
+  echo "expected --salvage-before-scrape to continue into container scrape" >&2
+  cat "$ARGS_LOG" >&2
+  exit 1
+}
+
+command -v flock >/dev/null 2>&1 && {
+  LOCK_FILE="$TMP_DIR/.dce-scrape.lock"
+  HOLDER_PID=""
+  (
+    exec {lock_fd}>>"$LOCK_FILE"
+    flock -n "$lock_fd" || exit 1
+    sleep 120
+  ) &
+  HOLDER_PID=$!
+  sleep 0.2
+
+  set +e
+  blocked_output=$(
+    DCE_MIN_FREE_MB=0 \
+      "$REPO_ROOT/scripts/run-documents-scrape.sh" \
+      --salvage-only --config "$TMP_DIR/config.json" --target demo 2>&1
+  )
+  blocked_status=$?
+  set -e
+
+  kill "$HOLDER_PID" 2>/dev/null || true
+  wait "$HOLDER_PID" 2>/dev/null || true
+
+  if [[ "$blocked_status" -eq 0 ]] || ! grep -q 'Scrape lock is held' <<<"$blocked_output"; then
+    echo "expected documents scrape to fail when archive lock held" >&2
+    printf '%s\n' "$blocked_output" >&2
+    exit 1
+  fi
+}
+
 DCE_MIN_FREE_MB=0 DCE_CONFIG_FILE="$TMP_DIR/config.json" \
   "$REPO_ROOT/scripts/verify-operator-ready.sh" --disk-only --config "$TMP_DIR/config.json" \
   | grep -q 'disk-only: ok'