diff --git a/bin/omarchy-update b/bin/omarchy-update
index a1ae5942..ccf0884b 100755
--- a/bin/omarchy-update
+++ b/bin/omarchy-update
@@ -12,66 +12,19 @@ if [[ -z ${OMARCHY_UPDATE_LOGGED:-} ]]; then
   exec env OMARCHY_UPDATE_LOGGED=1 script -qefc "$script_command" "/tmp/omarchy-update.log"
 fi
 
-acquire_update_lock() {
-  local lock_dir="${XDG_RUNTIME_DIR:-/tmp}"
-  local lock_path="$lock_dir/omarchy-update.lock"
-  local lock_fd_path=""
+if ! omarchy-update-lock held; then
+  exec omarchy-update-lock run "$0" "$@"
+fi
 
-  mkdir -p "$lock_dir" 2>/dev/null || true
+trap 'echo ""; echo -e "\033[0;31mSomething went wrong during the update!\n\nPlease review the output above carefully, correct the error, and retry the update.\n\nIf you need assistance, get help from the community at https://omarchy.org/discord\033[0m"' ERR
+trap 'omarchy-update-stay-awake stop' EXIT
 
-  if [[ -n ${OMARCHY_UPDATE_LOCK_FD:-} && -e /proc/$$/fd/$OMARCHY_UPDATE_LOCK_FD ]]; then
-    lock_fd_path=$(readlink -f "/proc/$$/fd/$OMARCHY_UPDATE_LOCK_FD" 2>/dev/null || true)
-    if [[ $lock_fd_path == "$(readlink -m "$lock_path")" ]] && flock -n "$OMARCHY_UPDATE_LOCK_FD"; then
-      return 0
-    fi
-  fi
+omarchy-update-requires-free-space
 
-  exec {OMARCHY_UPDATE_LOCK_FD}>"$lock_path"
-  if ! flock -n "$OMARCHY_UPDATE_LOCK_FD"; then
-    echo "An Omarchy update is already running."
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  export OMARCHY_UPDATE_LOCK_FD
-}
+if [[ ${1:-} == "-y" ]] || omarchy-update-confirm; then
+  omarchy-snapshot create || (($? == 127))
 
-update_disabled_idle=0
-sleep_inhibit_pid=""
-
-disable_sleep_for_update() {
-  omarchy-cmd-present systemd-inhibit || return 0
-
-  systemd-inhibit \
-    --what=sleep:idle \
-    --who=omarchy-update \
-    --why="Omarchy update in progress" \
-    --mode=block \
-    sleep infinity >/dev/null 2>&1 {OMARCHY_UPDATE_LOCK_FD}>&- &
-  sleep_inhibit_pid=$!
-}
-
-disable_idle_for_update() {
-  local stay_awake_state="$HOME/.local/state/omarchy/indicators/stay-awake"
-
-  if [[ ! -f $stay_awake_state ]]; then
-    omarchy-toggle-idle stay-awake >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-    update_disabled_idle=1
-  fi
-}
-
-restore_update_inhibitors() {
-  if (( update_disabled_idle )); then
-    omarchy-toggle-idle allow-idle >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-  fi
-
-  if [[ -n $sleep_inhibit_pid ]]; then
-    kill "$sleep_inhibit_pid" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-    wait "$sleep_inhibit_pid" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-  fi
-}
-
-run_update_pipeline() {
-  disable_sleep_for_update
-  disable_idle_for_update
+  omarchy-update-stay-awake start
 
   omarchy-update-dev
   omarchy-update-keyring
@@ -83,31 +36,13 @@ run_update_pipeline() {
   omarchy-update-orphan-pkgs
 
   omarchy-update-analyze-logs
-
-  # Re-check after updates so the status bar reflects any remaining updates.
-  if omarchy-update-available >/dev/null; then
-    omarchy-shell -q omarchy.system-update refresh
-  else
-    omarchy-shell -q omarchy.system-update clear
-  fi
+  omarchy-update-status
 
   # Release update-owned inhibitors before offering a reboot. A confirmed
   # reboot can terminate this process before its EXIT trap gets a chance to
   # remove the persistent Stay Awake marker.
-  restore_update_inhibitors
+  omarchy-update-stay-awake stop
   trap - EXIT
 
   omarchy-update-restart
-}
-
-acquire_update_lock
-
-omarchy-update-requires-free-space
-
-trap restore_update_inhibitors EXIT
-trap 'echo ""; echo -e "\033[0;31mSomething went wrong during the update!\n\nPlease review the output above carefully, correct the error, and retry the update.\n\nIf you need assistance, get help from the community at https://omarchy.org/discord\033[0m"' ERR
-
-if [[ ${1:-} == "-y" ]] || omarchy-update-confirm; then
-  omarchy-snapshot create || (($? == 127))
-  run_update_pipeline
 fi
diff --git a/bin/omarchy-update-lock b/bin/omarchy-update-lock
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..ba3c97b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/omarchy-update-lock
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# omarchy:summary=Run a command while holding the Omarchy update lock
+# omarchy:args=<held|run> [command] [args...]
+# omarchy:hidden=true
+
+set -e
+
+lock_dir="${XDG_RUNTIME_DIR:-/tmp}"
+lock_path="$lock_dir/omarchy-update.lock"
+
+lock_is_held() {
+  local lock_fd_path=""
+
+  [[ -n ${OMARCHY_UPDATE_LOCK_FD:-} && -e /proc/$$/fd/$OMARCHY_UPDATE_LOCK_FD ]] || return 1
+
+  lock_fd_path=$(readlink -f "/proc/$$/fd/$OMARCHY_UPDATE_LOCK_FD" 2>/dev/null || true)
+  [[ $lock_fd_path == "$(readlink -m "$lock_path")" ]] &&
+    flock -n "$OMARCHY_UPDATE_LOCK_FD"
+}
+
+case "${1:-}" in
+  held)
+    lock_is_held
+    ;;
+  run)
+    shift
+    if (( $# == 0 )); then
+      echo "Usage: omarchy-update-lock run <command> [args...]" >&2
+      exit 2
+    fi
+
+    mkdir -p "$lock_dir" 2>/dev/null || true
+    exec {OMARCHY_UPDATE_LOCK_FD}>"$lock_path"
+    if ! flock -n "$OMARCHY_UPDATE_LOCK_FD"; then
+      echo "An Omarchy update is already running."
+      exit 1
+    fi
+
+    export OMARCHY_UPDATE_LOCK_FD
+    exec "$@"
+    ;;
+  *)
+    echo "Usage: omarchy-update-lock <held|run> [command] [args...]" >&2
+    exit 2
+    ;;
+esac
diff --git a/bin/omarchy-update-status b/bin/omarchy-update-status
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..1ff5ea8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/omarchy-update-status
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# omarchy:summary=Refresh the shell update status
+# omarchy:hidden=true
+
+set -e
+
+if omarchy-update-available >/dev/null; then
+  omarchy-shell -q omarchy.system-update refresh
+else
+  omarchy-shell -q omarchy.system-update clear
+fi
diff --git a/bin/omarchy-update-stay-awake b/bin/omarchy-update-stay-awake
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..c78872c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/omarchy-update-stay-awake
@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# omarchy:summary=Manage sleep and idle inhibition during an update
+# omarchy:args=<start|stop>
+# omarchy:hidden=true
+
+set -e
+
+state_dir="${XDG_RUNTIME_DIR:-/tmp/omarchy-$UID}/omarchy-update-stay-awake"
+idle_owner_file="$state_dir/idle-owner"
+inhibit_pid_file="$state_dir/inhibit-pid"
+stay_awake_state="$HOME/.local/state/omarchy/indicators/stay-awake"
+
+process_start_time() {
+  local process_pid="$1"
+  local process_stat=""
+  local stat_fields=()
+
+  [[ -r /proc/$process_pid/stat ]] || return 1
+  process_stat=$(</proc/"$process_pid"/stat)
+  process_stat="${process_stat##*) }"
+  read -r -a stat_fields <<<"$process_stat"
+  (( ${#stat_fields[@]} > 19 )) || return 1
+  printf '%s\n' "${stat_fields[19]}"
+}
+
+process_state() {
+  local process_pid="$1"
+  local process_stat=""
+
+  [[ -r /proc/$process_pid/stat ]] || return 1
+  process_stat=$(</proc/"$process_pid"/stat)
+  process_stat="${process_stat##*) }"
+  printf '%s\n' "${process_stat%% *}"
+}
+
+stop() {
+  local inhibit_pid=""
+  local recorded_start_time=""
+  local current_start_time=""
+  local idle_owner=""
+  local current_idle_owner=""
+
+  if [[ -s $idle_owner_file ]]; then
+    idle_owner=$(<"$idle_owner_file")
+    if [[ -f $stay_awake_state ]]; then
+      current_idle_owner=$(<"$stay_awake_state")
+    fi
+    if [[ -n $idle_owner && $current_idle_owner == "$idle_owner" ]]; then
+      omarchy-toggle-idle allow-idle >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+    fi
+    rm -f "$idle_owner_file"
+  fi
+
+  if [[ -s $inhibit_pid_file ]]; then
+    read -r inhibit_pid recorded_start_time <"$inhibit_pid_file" || true
+    if [[ $inhibit_pid =~ ^[0-9]+$ ]]; then
+      current_start_time=$(process_start_time "$inhibit_pid" 2>/dev/null || true)
+    fi
+    if [[ -n $recorded_start_time && $current_start_time == "$recorded_start_time" ]]; then
+      kill "$inhibit_pid" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+
+      for (( attempt = 0; attempt < 50; attempt++ )); do
+        current_start_time=$(process_start_time "$inhibit_pid" 2>/dev/null || true)
+        [[ $current_start_time == "$recorded_start_time" ]] || break
+        [[ $(process_state "$inhibit_pid" 2>/dev/null || true) != "Z" ]] || break
+        sleep 0.02
+      done
+
+      current_start_time=$(process_start_time "$inhibit_pid" 2>/dev/null || true)
+      if [[ $current_start_time == "$recorded_start_time" ]] &&
+        [[ $(process_state "$inhibit_pid" 2>/dev/null || true) != "Z" ]]; then
+        echo "Failed to stop the Omarchy update sleep inhibitor." >&2
+        return 1
+      fi
+    fi
+    rm -f "$inhibit_pid_file"
+  fi
+
+  rmdir "$state_dir" 2>/dev/null || true
+}
+
+start() {
+  local inhibit_pid=""
+  local inhibit_start_time=""
+  local idle_owner="$$:$RANDOM:$RANDOM"
+
+  stop
+  mkdir -p "$state_dir"
+
+  if omarchy-cmd-present systemd-inhibit; then
+    if [[ -n ${OMARCHY_UPDATE_LOCK_FD:-} ]]; then
+      systemd-inhibit \
+        --what=sleep:idle \
+        --who=omarchy-update \
+        --why="Omarchy update in progress" \
+        --mode=block \
+        sleep infinity >/dev/null 2>&1 {OMARCHY_UPDATE_LOCK_FD}>&- &
+    else
+      systemd-inhibit \
+        --what=sleep:idle \
+        --who=omarchy-update \
+        --why="Omarchy update in progress" \
+        --mode=block \
+        sleep infinity >/dev/null 2>&1 &
+    fi
+    inhibit_pid=$!
+    inhibit_start_time=$(process_start_time "$inhibit_pid" 2>/dev/null || true)
+    if [[ -n $inhibit_start_time ]]; then
+      printf '%s %s\n' "$inhibit_pid" "$inhibit_start_time" >"$inhibit_pid_file"
+    fi
+  fi
+
+  if [[ ! -f $stay_awake_state ]]; then
+    printf '%s\n' "$idle_owner" >"$idle_owner_file"
+    mkdir -p "$(dirname "$stay_awake_state")"
+    if omarchy-toggle-idle stay-awake >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+      printf '%s\n' "$idle_owner" >"$stay_awake_state"
+    else
+      rm -f "$idle_owner_file"
+    fi
+  fi
+}
+
+case "${1:-}" in
+  start)
+    start
+    ;;
+  stop)
+    stop
+    ;;
+  *)
+    echo "Usage: omarchy-update-stay-awake <start|stop>" >&2
+    exit 2
+    ;;
+esac
diff --git a/docs/update-process.md b/docs/update-process.md
index 9a0825c8..80520acc 100644
--- a/docs/update-process.md
+++ b/docs/update-process.md
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ The design goal is:
 
 | Path | Owner | Purpose |
 | --- | --- | --- |
-| `${XDG_RUNTIME_DIR:-/tmp}/omarchy-update.lock` | user | Prevent overlapping update runs. Owned by `omarchy-update`; compatibility wrappers inherit/respect it. |
+| `${XDG_RUNTIME_DIR:-/tmp}/omarchy-update.lock` | user | Prevent overlapping update runs. Owned by `omarchy-update-lock`; compatibility wrappers inherit/respect it. |
 | `/tmp/omarchy-update.log` | user | Transcript of `omarchy update`, used by `omarchy-update-analyze-logs`. |
 | `~/.local/state/omarchy/current/` | user | Generated active theme, selected theme name, and current background symlink. |
 | `~/.local/state/omarchy/migrations/` | user | Per-user migration markers. |
@@ -113,25 +113,19 @@ High-level flow:
 ```text
 omarchy-update
   ├─ ensure transcript logging through script(1) → /tmp/omarchy-update.log
-  ├─ acquire update lock
+  ├─ omarchy-update-lock
+  │    └─ acquire the update lock and run omarchy-update inside it
   ├─ omarchy-update-requires-free-space
   │    └─ check free space on / and warn below the configured threshold
   ├─ confirm unless -y
   ├─ create snapper snapshot, if snapper is installed
-  └─ run update pipeline
-       ├─ block system sleep and temporarily enable shell stay-awake mode
-       ├─ omarchy-update-dev
-       ├─ omarchy-update-keyring
-       ├─ omarchy-update-system-pkgs
-       ├─ omarchy-migrate
-       ├─ omarchy-hook post-update
-       ├─ omarchy-update-aur-pkgs
-       ├─ omarchy-update-mise
-       ├─ omarchy-update-orphan-pkgs
-       ├─ omarchy-update-analyze-logs
-       ├─ omarchy-update-available, then refresh/clear shell indicator
-       ├─ omarchy-update-restart
-       └─ release sleep inhibitor and restore shell idle state, if changed
+  ├─ omarchy-update-stay-awake start
+  ├─ run package updates, migrations, hooks, and log analysis
+  ├─ omarchy-update-status
+  │    └─ refresh or clear the shell update indicator
+  ├─ omarchy-update-stay-awake stop
+  │    └─ release the sleep inhibitor and restore shell idle state, if changed
+  └─ omarchy-update-restart
 ```
 
 Important behavior:
@@ -184,11 +178,11 @@ file belongs to whoever created it first, so honouring it would let one user
 silence another user's notification. Missing an update and showing a redundant
 toast is the better failure.
 
-Suppression is why `omarchy-update` starts its sleep inhibitor with the lock
-descriptor closed. That inhibitor outlives the step that starts it, so an update
-killed before `restore_update_inhibitors` would otherwise leave it holding the
-flock indefinitely — blocking later updates and, now that the notifier reads the
-same lock, silencing migration notifications at every login.
+Suppression is why `omarchy-update-stay-awake` starts its sleep inhibitor with
+the lock descriptor closed. That inhibitor outlives the step that starts it, so
+an update killed before cleanup would otherwise leave it holding the flock
+indefinitely — blocking later updates and, now that the notifier reads the same
+lock, silencing migration notifications at every login.
 
 Fallbacks:
 
@@ -249,7 +243,10 @@ scripts.
 
 | Binary | Current purpose | Keep? / Question |
 | --- | --- | --- |
-| `omarchy-update` | Public user command. Adds transcript logging, lock, confirmation, snapshot, sleep/idle inhibitors, package updates, migrations, hooks, update-state refresh, and restart checks. | **Keep.** This is the blessed entry point and owns the update pipeline. |
+| `omarchy-update` | Public user command. Adds transcript logging, confirmation, snapshot, and restart checks around the locked, sleep-inhibited update pipeline. | **Keep.** This is the blessed entry point and orchestrates the update pipeline. |
+| `omarchy-update-lock` | Hidden command wrapper that holds the per-user update lock while its child runs. | **Keep internal/hidden.** Isolates update concurrency and lock descriptor handling. |
+| `omarchy-update-stay-awake` | Hidden helper that starts or stops update-owned sleep and idle inhibition, restoring only the state it changed. | **Keep internal/hidden.** Keeps inhibitor ownership and cleanup together. |
+| `omarchy-update-status` | Hidden helper that refreshes or clears the shell update indicator after rechecking available updates. | **Keep internal/hidden.** Keeps shell status synchronization out of the main pipeline. |
 | `omarchy-update-perform` | Hidden compatibility wrapper for `omarchy-update -y`. | **Temporary.** Keep only for old callers; new code should call `omarchy-update` directly. |
 | `omarchy-update-confirm` | Gum confirmation copy for `omarchy update`. | **Question.** Could be inlined into `omarchy-update`; separate file only helps keep copy isolated. |
 | `omarchy-update-dev` | Fast-forwards the active dev-linked checkout from its configured upstream; no-ops for package-backed installs. | **Keep.** Runs before package updates so a checkout conflict stops the update before system mutation. |
diff --git a/test/shell.d/update-lock-test.sh b/test/shell.d/update-lock-test.sh
index 4d333ec5..64699e1c 100644
--- a/test/shell.d/update-lock-test.sh
+++ b/test/shell.d/update-lock-test.sh
@@ -136,6 +136,10 @@ wait "$inhibit_update_pid"
 (( inhibitor_holds_lock == 0 )) || fail "update keeps the update lock out of the sleep inhibitor it leaves running"
 pass "omarchy-update keeps the update lock out of its sleep inhibitor"
 
+kill -0 "$inhibitor_pid" 2>/dev/null &&
+  fail "update waits for its sleep inhibitor to stop before continuing"
+pass "omarchy-update waits for its sleep inhibitor to stop"
+
 # Update-owned Stay Awake state must be cleared before the restart helper can
 # reboot the machine, rather than relying on an EXIT trap during shutdown.
 write_stub omarchy-snapshot 'exit 0'
@@ -168,3 +172,30 @@ touch "$test_home/.local/state/omarchy/indicators/stay-awake"
 OMARCHY_UPDATE_LOGGED=1 EXPECT_STAY_AWAKE=1 run_with_lock_env "$ROOT/bin/omarchy-update" -y
 [[ -f $test_home/.local/state/omarchy/indicators/stay-awake ]] || fail "update preserves pre-existing Stay Awake state"
 pass "omarchy-update restores only its own Stay Awake state before restart handling"
+
+# Stale cleanup state from a killed update must not override a Stay Awake choice
+# the user made afterward.
+stay_awake_helper_state="$runtime_dir/omarchy-update-stay-awake"
+stay_awake_state="$test_home/.local/state/omarchy/indicators/stay-awake"
+mkdir -p "$stay_awake_helper_state" "$(dirname "$stay_awake_state")"
+printf '%s\n' "old-update-owner" >"$stay_awake_helper_state/idle-owner"
+printf '%s\n' "user-choice" >"$stay_awake_state"
+
+run_with_lock_env "$ROOT/bin/omarchy-update-stay-awake" stop
+[[ $(<"$stay_awake_state") == "user-choice" ]] ||
+  fail "stale update ownership does not remove a newer Stay Awake choice"
+pass "stale update ownership preserves a newer Stay Awake choice"
+
+# A stale PID is safe even if it has been reused by another process.
+sleep 30 &
+unrelated_pid=$!
+unrelated_start_time=$(awk '{ print $22 }' "/proc/$unrelated_pid/stat")
+mkdir -p "$stay_awake_helper_state"
+printf '%s %s\n' "$unrelated_pid" "$((unrelated_start_time + 1))" >"$stay_awake_helper_state/inhibit-pid"
+
+run_with_lock_env "$ROOT/bin/omarchy-update-stay-awake" stop
+kill -0 "$unrelated_pid" 2>/dev/null ||
+  fail "stale inhibitor state does not terminate a reused PID"
+kill "$unrelated_pid"
+wait "$unrelated_pid" 2>/dev/null || true
+pass "stale inhibitor state does not terminate a reused PID"
diff --git a/test/shell.d/update-status-test.sh b/test/shell.d/update-status-test.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..95541fd1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/shell.d/update-status-test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+source "$(dirname "$0")/base-test.sh"
+
+test_tmp=$(mktemp -d)
+trap 'rm -rf "$test_tmp"' EXIT
+
+stub_bin="$test_tmp/bin"
+shell_calls="$test_tmp/shell-calls"
+mkdir -p "$stub_bin"
+
+cat >"$stub_bin/omarchy-update-available" <<'SH'
+#!/bin/bash
+
+exit "${UPDATE_AVAILABLE_STATUS:-0}"
+SH
+
+cat >"$stub_bin/omarchy-shell" <<'SH'
+#!/bin/bash
+
+printf '%s\n' "$*" >>"$SHELL_CALLS"
+SH
+
+chmod +x "$stub_bin/omarchy-update-available" "$stub_bin/omarchy-shell"
+
+PATH="$stub_bin:$PATH" SHELL_CALLS="$shell_calls" UPDATE_AVAILABLE_STATUS=0 \
+  "$ROOT/bin/omarchy-update-status"
+grep -Fx -- "-q omarchy.system-update refresh" "$shell_calls" >/dev/null ||
+  fail "update status refreshes the shell indicator when updates remain"
+pass "update status refreshes the shell indicator when updates remain"
+
+: >"$shell_calls"
+PATH="$stub_bin:$PATH" SHELL_CALLS="$shell_calls" UPDATE_AVAILABLE_STATUS=1 \
+  "$ROOT/bin/omarchy-update-status"
+grep -Fx -- "-q omarchy.system-update clear" "$shell_calls" >/dev/null ||
+  fail "update status clears the shell indicator when no updates remain"
+pass "update status clears the shell indicator when no updates remain"