diff --git a/listenarr.infrastructure/FileSystem/PinnedDirectoryCreation.FilePublication.cs b/listenarr.infrastructure/FileSystem/PinnedDirectoryCreation.FilePublication.cs
index a681dd0f9..5c6070fea 100644
--- a/listenarr.infrastructure/FileSystem/PinnedDirectoryCreation.FilePublication.cs
+++ b/listenarr.infrastructure/FileSystem/PinnedDirectoryCreation.FilePublication.cs
@@ -23,13 +23,126 @@ private static int TryRenameRelativeEntryNoReplaceLinux(
                 "The non-throwing no-replace rename probe is Linux-specific.");
         }
 
-        var result = RenameAtNoReplaceLinux(
+        return RenameNoReplaceLinuxCore(
             sourceDirectoryHandle.DangerousGetHandle().ToInt32(),
             sourceName,
             destinationDirectoryHandle.DangerousGetHandle().ToInt32(),
             finalName,
-            RenameNoReplace);
-        return result == 0 ? 0 : Marshal.GetLastWin32Error();
+            NoReplaceRenamePrimitives.Native);
+    }
+
+    private const int UnixInvalidArgument = 22;
+    private const int UnixFunctionNotImplemented = 38;
+    private const int UnixOperationNotSupported = 95;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// The errno values under which <c>renameat2(RENAME_NOREPLACE)</c> means
+    /// "this filesystem cannot do that", not "the rename was refused": NFS
+    /// returns EINVAL for any rename flag, pre-3.15 kernels and some
+    /// FUSE/overlay stacks return ENOSYS or EOPNOTSUPP.
+    /// </summary>
+    internal static bool IsNoReplaceRenameUnsupportedError(int nativeErrorCode) =>
+        nativeErrorCode is UnixInvalidArgument
+            or UnixFunctionNotImplemented
+            or UnixOperationNotSupported;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Native primitives behind the Linux no-replace rename, as delegates so the
+    /// fallback sequencing is unit-testable without a filesystem that refuses
+    /// <c>RENAME_NOREPLACE</c>. Each call captures errno immediately.
+    /// </summary>
+    internal sealed record NoReplaceRenamePrimitives(
+        Func<int, string, int, string, (int Result, int Errno)> RenameNoReplace,
+        Func<int, string, int, string, (int Result, int Errno)> Link,
+        Func<int, string, (int Result, int Errno)> Unlink)
+    {
+        internal static readonly NoReplaceRenamePrimitives Native = new(
+            (sourceFd, source, destinationFd, destination) =>
+            {
+                var result = RenameAtNoReplaceLinux(
+                    sourceFd,
+                    source,
+                    destinationFd,
+                    destination,
+                    PinnedDirectoryCreation.RenameNoReplace);
+                return (result, result == 0 ? 0 : Marshal.GetLastWin32Error());
+            },
+            (sourceFd, source, destinationFd, destination) =>
+            {
+                var result = LinkAt(sourceFd, source, destinationFd, destination, 0);
+                return (result, result == 0 ? 0 : Marshal.GetLastWin32Error());
+            },
+            (directoryFd, name) =>
+            {
+                var result = UnlinkAt(directoryFd, name, 0);
+                return (result, result == 0 ? 0 : Marshal.GetLastWin32Error());
+            });
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Atomic no-replace rename on Linux with a fallback for filesystems that
+    /// reject <c>renameat2(RENAME_NOREPLACE)</c> outright (live case: a library
+    /// on NFS 4.2, where every same-volume file move — split, transfer,
+    /// organize — failed with EINVAL). The fallback keeps the no-replace
+    /// contract without a check-then-act race: <c>linkat</c> refuses to
+    /// overwrite an existing destination (EEXIST) and gives the destination the
+    /// SAME inode, so pinned identity proofs still hold; the source name is then
+    /// unlinked. Returns 0 on success or the errno callers should reason about:
+    /// EEXIST when the destination already exists, the ORIGINAL unsupported
+    /// errno when the filesystem cannot hard-link either (so existing
+    /// "unsupported → verified copy" fallbacks still engage), or the unlink
+    /// errno when the source name could not be removed (the new link is rolled
+    /// back so the move is not half-applied).
+    /// </summary>
+    internal static int RenameNoReplaceLinuxCore(
+        int sourceDirectoryFileDescriptor,
+        string sourceName,
+        int destinationDirectoryFileDescriptor,
+        string finalName,
+        NoReplaceRenamePrimitives primitives)
+    {
+        ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(primitives);
+
+        var rename = primitives.RenameNoReplace(
+            sourceDirectoryFileDescriptor,
+            sourceName,
+            destinationDirectoryFileDescriptor,
+            finalName);
+        if (rename.Result == 0)
+        {
+            return 0;
+        }
+        if (!IsNoReplaceRenameUnsupportedError(rename.Errno))
+        {
+            return rename.Errno;
+        }
+
+        var link = primitives.Link(
+            sourceDirectoryFileDescriptor,
+            sourceName,
+            destinationDirectoryFileDescriptor,
+            finalName);
+        if (link.Result != 0)
+        {
+            // EEXIST is the no-replace refusal callers expect; anything else
+            // (EPERM/EXDEV/EMLINK/EOPNOTSUPP: no hard links here) means the
+            // filesystem supports neither primitive — report the original
+            // unsupported errno so the caller's copy fallback can take over.
+            return link.Errno == UnixAlreadyExists ? link.Errno : rename.Errno;
+        }
+
+        var unlink = primitives.Unlink(sourceDirectoryFileDescriptor, sourceName);
+        if (unlink.Result == 0 || unlink.Errno == UnixNoEntry)
+        {
+            // ENOENT: the source name vanished underneath us but the inode now
+            // lives at the destination — the move is complete.
+            return 0;
+        }
+
+        // The source name could not be removed: undo the new link so the file
+        // is not left published under two names, then surface the real error.
+        primitives.Unlink(destinationDirectoryFileDescriptor, finalName);
+        return unlink.Errno;
     }
 
     private static void RenameRelativeEntry(
@@ -56,29 +169,41 @@ private static void RenameRelativeEntry(
         var destinationDirectoryFileDescriptor = destinationDirectoryHandle
             .DangerousGetHandle()
             .ToInt32();
-        var result = replaceExisting
-            ? RenameAtUnix(
+        int nativeError;
+        if (replaceExisting)
+        {
+            var result = RenameAtUnix(
                 sourceDirectoryFileDescriptor,
                 sourceName,
                 destinationDirectoryFileDescriptor,
-                finalName)
-            : OperatingSystem.IsMacOS()
-            ? RenameAtExclusiveMac(
+                finalName);
+            nativeError = result == 0 ? 0 : Marshal.GetLastWin32Error();
+        }
+        else if (OperatingSystem.IsMacOS())
+        {
+            var result = RenameAtExclusiveMac(
                 sourceDirectoryFileDescriptor,
                 sourceName,
                 destinationDirectoryFileDescriptor,
                 finalName,
-                RenameExclusiveMac)
-            : RenameAtNoReplaceLinux(
+                RenameExclusiveMac);
+            nativeError = result == 0 ? 0 : Marshal.GetLastWin32Error();
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            // Same no-replace contract as the probing variant, including the
+            // hard-link fallback for filesystems that reject RENAME_NOREPLACE.
+            nativeError = RenameNoReplaceLinuxCore(
                 sourceDirectoryFileDescriptor,
                 sourceName,
                 destinationDirectoryFileDescriptor,
                 finalName,
-                RenameNoReplace);
-        if (result != 0)
+                NoReplaceRenamePrimitives.Native);
+        }
+        if (nativeError != 0)
         {
             throw new Win32Exception(
-                Marshal.GetLastWin32Error(),
+                nativeError,
                 "Could not publish a pinned filesystem entry relative to its owned directory.");
         }
     }
diff --git a/tests/Features/Infrastructure/FileSystem/NoReplaceRenameFallbackTests.cs b/tests/Features/Infrastructure/FileSystem/NoReplaceRenameFallbackTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..14f03a38b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Features/Infrastructure/FileSystem/NoReplaceRenameFallbackTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+/*
+ * Listenarr - Audiobook Management System
+ * Copyright (C) 2024-2026 Listenarr Contributors
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published
+ * by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+using Listenarr.Infrastructure.FileSystem;
+using Listenarr.Tests.Common;
+
+namespace Listenarr.Tests.Features.Infrastructure.FileSystem;
+
+[Trait("Name", "NoReplaceRenameFallbackTests")]
+[Trait("Category", "Infrastructure")]
+public sealed class NoReplaceRenameFallbackTests : BaseTests
+{
+    private const int EPERM = 1;
+    private const int ENOENT = 2;
+    private const int EACCES = 13;
+    private const int EEXIST = 17;
+    private const int EXDEV = 18;
+    private const int EINVAL = 22;
+    private const int ENOSYS = 38;
+    private const int EOPNOTSUPP = 95;
+
+    private sealed class Script
+    {
+        public readonly List<string> Calls = new();
+        public int RenameErrno;
+        public int LinkErrno;
+        public int UnlinkSourceErrno;
+
+        public PinnedDirectoryCreation.NoReplaceRenamePrimitives Primitives => new(
+            (sfd, s, dfd, d) =>
+            {
+                Calls.Add($"rename2 {sfd}/{s} -> {dfd}/{d}");
+                return RenameErrno == 0 ? (0, 0) : (-1, RenameErrno);
+            },
+            (sfd, s, dfd, d) =>
+            {
+                Calls.Add($"link {sfd}/{s} -> {dfd}/{d}");
+                return LinkErrno == 0 ? (0, 0) : (-1, LinkErrno);
+            },
+            (fd, name) =>
+            {
+                Calls.Add($"unlink {fd}/{name}");
+                if (fd == 10 && UnlinkSourceErrno != 0) return (-1, UnlinkSourceErrno);
+                return (0, 0);
+            });
+    }
+
+    private static int Run(Script script) =>
+        PinnedDirectoryCreation.RenameNoReplaceLinuxCore(10, "a.m4b", 20, "b.m4b", script.Primitives);
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void RenameSupported_UsesRenameOnly()
+    {
+        var script = new Script();
+        Assert.Equal(0, Run(script));
+        Assert.Equal(new[] { "rename2 10/a.m4b -> 20/b.m4b" }, script.Calls);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void RenameRefusedBecauseDestinationExists_ReportsEexistWithoutFallback()
+    {
+        var script = new Script { RenameErrno = EEXIST };
+        Assert.Equal(EEXIST, Run(script));
+        Assert.Single(script.Calls);
+    }
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData(EINVAL)]
+    [InlineData(ENOSYS)]
+    [InlineData(EOPNOTSUPP)]
+    public void RenameUnsupported_FallsBackToLinkThenUnlinkSource(int unsupported)
+    {
+        // NFS (EINVAL), old kernels (ENOSYS), some FUSE stacks (EOPNOTSUPP):
+        // link the inode under the new name, then drop the old name.
+        var script = new Script { RenameErrno = unsupported };
+        Assert.Equal(0, Run(script));
+        Assert.Equal(
+            new[] { "rename2 10/a.m4b -> 20/b.m4b", "link 10/a.m4b -> 20/b.m4b", "unlink 10/a.m4b" },
+            script.Calls);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void RenameUnsupported_DestinationExists_LinkRefusesAndNothingIsUnlinked()
+    {
+        // The no-replace contract survives the fallback: linkat refuses to
+        // overwrite, and the source is left exactly where it was.
+        var script = new Script { RenameErrno = EINVAL, LinkErrno = EEXIST };
+        Assert.Equal(EEXIST, Run(script));
+        Assert.DoesNotContain(script.Calls, c => c.StartsWith("unlink"));
+    }
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData(EPERM)]
+    [InlineData(EXDEV)]
+    [InlineData(EOPNOTSUPP)]
+    public void RenameUnsupported_HardLinksUnsupportedToo_ReportsOriginalUnsupportedErrno(int linkErrno)
+    {
+        // Callers classify 22/38/95 as "native rename unsupported" and switch to
+        // their verified-copy fallback — that classification must still fire.
+        var script = new Script { RenameErrno = EINVAL, LinkErrno = linkErrno };
+        Assert.Equal(EINVAL, Run(script));
+        Assert.DoesNotContain(script.Calls, c => c.StartsWith("unlink"));
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void RenameUnsupported_SourceUnlinkFails_RollsBackTheNewLink()
+    {
+        var script = new Script { RenameErrno = EINVAL, UnlinkSourceErrno = EACCES };
+        Assert.Equal(EACCES, Run(script));
+        Assert.Equal("unlink 10/a.m4b", script.Calls[2]);
+        Assert.Equal("unlink 20/b.m4b", script.Calls[3]);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void RenameUnsupported_SourceAlreadyGoneAfterLink_IsSuccess()
+    {
+        // The inode now lives at the destination; a vanished source name is a
+        // completed move, not a failure.
+        var script = new Script { RenameErrno = EINVAL, UnlinkSourceErrno = ENOENT };
+        Assert.Equal(0, Run(script));
+        Assert.Equal(3, script.Calls.Count);
+    }
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData(EINVAL, true)]
+    [InlineData(ENOSYS, true)]
+    [InlineData(EOPNOTSUPP, true)]
+    [InlineData(EEXIST, false)]
+    [InlineData(EXDEV, false)]
+    [InlineData(EACCES, false)]
+    public void IsNoReplaceRenameUnsupportedError_ClassifiesErrno(int errno, bool unsupported)
+    {
+        Assert.Equal(unsupported, PinnedDirectoryCreation.IsNoReplaceRenameUnsupportedError(errno));
+    }
+}