diff --git a/modules/diary/daily.go b/modules/diary/daily.go
index 20f73019..550177e6 100644
--- a/modules/diary/daily.go
+++ b/modules/diary/daily.go
@@ -40,6 +40,10 @@ type dailyWriter struct {
 	retryAt    time.Time
 	// warnedDate is the last date a failure was reported for.
 	warnedDate string
+	// retired is set when a new setup replaced the writer's channels: a
+	// late record is still appended, but the file is closed again after
+	// every write, so the writer keeps no descriptor.
+	retired bool
 }
 
 func newDailyWriter(path string, days int, now func() time.Time, warn func(string, error)) *dailyWriter {
@@ -88,6 +92,10 @@ func (d *dailyWriter) Write(p []byte) (int, error) {
 		d.failedDate = ""
 	}
 	n, err := d.file.Write(p)
+	if d.retired {
+		_ = d.file.Close()
+		d.file, d.date = nil, ""
+	}
 	d.mu.Unlock()
 	return n, err
 }
@@ -155,6 +163,16 @@ func (d *dailyWriter) prune(today string) {
 	}
 }
 
+// retire closes the open file for good: later writes, from goroutines that
+// still hold the replaced channels, open the day's file, append and close
+// it again.
+func (d *dailyWriter) retire() error {
+	d.mu.Lock()
+	d.retired = true
+	d.mu.Unlock()
+	return d.Close()
+}
+
 // Close closes the open file. A later write opens it again.
 func (d *dailyWriter) Close() error {
 	d.mu.Lock()
diff --git a/modules/diary/diary.go b/modules/diary/diary.go
index 938e1996..4fdbbbb3 100644
--- a/modules/diary/diary.go
+++ b/modules/diary/diary.go
@@ -156,6 +156,12 @@ func Setup(cfg *compass.Config, opts Options) error {
 func install(conf Config, ch *channels, opts Options) {
 	mu.Lock()
 	defer mu.Unlock()
+	installLocked(conf, ch, opts)
+}
+
+// installLocked makes ch the installed setup and retires the channels it
+// replaces; the caller holds mu.
+func installLocked(conf Config, ch *channels, opts Options) {
 	if saved == nil {
 		saved = &savedDefault{logger: slog.Default(), writer: log.Writer(), flags: log.Flags()}
 	}
@@ -174,7 +180,7 @@ func install(conf Config, ch *channels, opts Options) {
 	old := current.Swap(st)
 	slog.SetDefault(slog.New(newComponentHandler("")))
 	if old != nil {
-		closeChannels(old.channels)
+		retireChannels(old.channels)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -186,6 +192,11 @@ func install(conf Config, ch *channels, opts Options) {
 func SetVerbosity(v int, quiet bool) {
 	mu.Lock()
 	defer mu.Unlock()
+	setVerbosityLocked(v, quiet)
+}
+
+// setVerbosityLocked is SetVerbosity for a caller that holds mu.
+func setVerbosityLocked(v int, quiet bool) {
 	verbosity.Store(int64(v))
 	st := current.Load()
 	if st == nil {
@@ -212,18 +223,21 @@ func FromGlobals(g bonfire.Globals) Options {
 // the verbosity and quiet switch (SetVerbosity) and, when it differs from
 // the one the channels were built with, the console color mode, which
 // rebuilds the channels from the same configuration. The generated main
-// registers it with bonfire.OnGlobals.
+// registers it with bonfire.OnGlobals. It holds the setup lock for its
+// whole run, so concurrent calls rebuild the channels once.
 func ApplyGlobals(g bonfire.Globals) {
+	mu.Lock()
+	defer mu.Unlock()
 	st := current.Load()
 	if st != nil && st.opts.Color != g.Color {
 		opts := st.opts
 		opts.Color, opts.Verbosity, opts.Quiet = g.Color, g.Verbosity, g.Quiet
 		if ch, err := buildChannels(st.conf, opts); err == nil {
-			install(st.conf, ch, opts)
+			installLocked(st.conf, ch, opts)
 			return
 		}
 	}
-	SetVerbosity(g.Verbosity, g.Quiet)
+	setVerbosityLocked(g.Verbosity, g.Quiet)
 }
 
 type hideOnTTYKey struct{}
@@ -264,6 +278,22 @@ func Close() error {
 	return closeChannels(st.channels)
 }
 
+// retireChannels closes the files of channels a new setup replaced, for
+// good: a goroutine that still holds the old state appends its record and
+// the file is closed again, so no descriptor stays open.
+func retireChannels(ch *channels) {
+	if ch == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	for _, c := range ch.closers {
+		if r, ok := c.(interface{ retire() error }); ok {
+			_ = r.retire()
+			continue
+		}
+		_ = c.Close()
+	}
+}
+
 func closeChannels(ch *channels) error {
 	if ch == nil {
 		return nil
@@ -275,9 +305,9 @@ func closeChannels(ch *channels) error {
 	return errors.Join(errs...)
 }
 
-// Reset drops the installed setup, closes its files and restores the process
-// default logger (and the standard log package's output) captured at the
-// first Bootstrap or Setup. Tests call it in t.Cleanup.
+// Reset drops the installed setup, closes its files for good and restores
+// the process default logger (and the standard log package's output)
+// captured at the first Bootstrap or Setup. Tests call it in t.Cleanup.
 func Reset() {
 	mu.Lock()
 	defer mu.Unlock()
@@ -290,6 +320,6 @@ func Reset() {
 		saved = nil
 	}
 	if old != nil {
-		closeChannels(old.channels)
+		retireChannels(old.channels)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/modules/diary/retire_internal_test.go b/modules/diary/retire_internal_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bdafa2c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/diary/retire_internal_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+package diary
+
+import (
+	"io"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"git.golem15.com/golem15/summercms/modules/bonfire"
+)
+
+// installDefault builds the default configuration (console and daily) on
+// root and installs it, as Setup does.
+func installDefault(t *testing.T, root string, color bonfire.ColorMode) *channels {
+	t.Helper()
+	opts := Options{
+		Root:    root,
+		Stderr:  io.Discard,
+		Environ: []string{},
+		Color:   color,
+		Now:     func() time.Time { return time.Date(2026, 10, 21, 12, 0, 0, 0, time.Local) },
+	}.normalize()
+	conf := DefaultConfig()
+	ch, err := buildChannels(conf, opts)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	install(conf, ch, opts)
+	return ch
+}
+
+// dailyOf returns the daily writer of built channels.
+func dailyOf(t *testing.T, ch *channels) *dailyWriter {
+	t.Helper()
+	for _, c := range ch.closers {
+		if d, ok := c.(*dailyWriter); ok {
+			return d
+		}
+	}
+	t.Fatal("no daily writer in the channels")
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (d *dailyWriter) hasFile() bool {
+	d.mu.Lock()
+	defer d.mu.Unlock()
+	return d.file != nil
+}
+
+// TestRetiredDailyWriterKeepsNoFile (WR-06): a daily writer replaced by a
+// new setup is retired: a late record through it (from a goroutine that
+// still holds the old state) is appended to the day's file and the file is
+// closed again. diary.Close keeps letting the installed writers reopen.
+func TestRetiredDailyWriterKeepsNoFile(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Cleanup(Reset)
+	root := t.TempDir()
+	file := filepath.Join(root, "storage", "logs", "summer-2026-10-21.log")
+
+	old := dailyOf(t, installDefault(t, root, bonfire.ColorNever))
+	if _, err := old.Write([]byte("first\n")); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	installed := dailyOf(t, installDefault(t, root, bonfire.ColorNever))
+	if old.hasFile() {
+		t.Fatal("the replaced writer still holds its file")
+	}
+	if _, err := old.Write([]byte("late\n")); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if old.hasFile() {
+		t.Error("a late record through the replaced writer left its file open")
+	}
+
+	if _, err := installed.Write([]byte("current\n")); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := Close(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, err := installed.Write([]byte("reopened\n")); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if !installed.hasFile() {
+		t.Error("the installed writer did not reopen its file after diary.Close")
+	}
+	raw, err := os.ReadFile(file)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if got := string(raw); got != "first\nlate\ncurrent\nreopened\n" {
+		t.Errorf("daily file = %q", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestApplyGlobalsRebuildsOnce (WR-06): concurrent ApplyGlobals calls with
+// a new color mode rebuild the channels once, and every call's verbosity
+// is applied.
+func TestApplyGlobalsRebuildsOnce(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Cleanup(Reset)
+	installDefault(t, t.TempDir(), bonfire.ColorAuto)
+	before := gens.Load()
+	var start, done sync.WaitGroup
+	start.Add(1)
+	for range 50 {
+		done.Add(1)
+		go func() {
+			defer done.Done()
+			start.Wait()
+			ApplyGlobals(bonfire.Globals{Color: bonfire.ColorNever, Verbosity: 2})
+		}()
+	}
+	start.Done()
+	done.Wait()
+	if n := gens.Load() - before; n != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("the channels were rebuilt %d times, want 1", n)
+	}
+	st := current.Load()
+	if st.opts.Color != bonfire.ColorNever || st.verbosity != 2 || Verbosity() != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("state after ApplyGlobals: color %v, verbosity %d (Verbosity %d)", st.opts.Color, st.verbosity, Verbosity())
+	}
+}