diff --git a/lib/instances/admission_allocations.go b/lib/instances/admission_allocations.go
index e07cc71b..36a9f58a 100644
--- a/lib/instances/admission_allocations.go
+++ b/lib/instances/admission_allocations.go
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ func (m *manager) rollbackAdmissionAllocationActive(stored *StoredMetadata) {
 	// allocation marked active. Clear the in-memory PID first so any later sync
 	// from this metadata view also treats the instance as inactive.
 	stored.HypervisorPID = nil
+	stored.HypervisorStartTime = 0
 	m.setAdmissionAllocationActive(stored, false)
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/instances/create.go b/lib/instances/create.go
index 36f67b0f..5cb89db6 100644
--- a/lib/instances/create.go
+++ b/lib/instances/create.go
@@ -849,6 +849,7 @@ func (m *manager) startAndBootVM(
 
 	// Store the PID for later cleanup
 	stored.HypervisorPID = &pid
+	stored.HypervisorStartTime = processStartTime(pid)
 	log.DebugContext(ctx, "VM started", "instance_id", stored.Id, "pid", pid)
 
 	// Optional: Expand memory to max if hotplug configured
diff --git a/lib/instances/delete.go b/lib/instances/delete.go
index 5d1b3168..c63ddf4a 100644
--- a/lib/instances/delete.go
+++ b/lib/instances/delete.go
@@ -209,14 +209,14 @@ func (m *manager) deleteInstanceWithOptions(
 // killHypervisor force kills the hypervisor process without graceful shutdown
 // Used only for delete operations where we're removing all data anyway.
 // For operations that need graceful shutdown (like standby), use the hypervisor API directly.
-// It returns an error when the hypervisor may still be running: socket
-// ownership cannot be confirmed, SIGKILL fails with an error other than ESRCH,
-// or the process does not exit after SIGKILL. Callers must not tear down
-// instance resources in that case.
+// It returns an error when the hypervisor may still be running: neither process
+// identity nor socket ownership can be confirmed, SIGKILL fails with an error
+// other than ESRCH, or the process does not exit after SIGKILL. Callers must not
+// tear down instance resources in that case.
 func (m *manager) killHypervisor(ctx context.Context, inst *Instance) error {
 	log := logger.FromContext(ctx)
 
-	pid, err := resolveLiveHypervisorPID(inst.HypervisorPID, inst.SocketPath)
+	pid, err := resolveLiveHypervisorPID(inst.HypervisorPID, inst.HypervisorStartTime, inst.SocketPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/lib/instances/fork.go b/lib/instances/fork.go
index 7354b3ed..65436d7d 100644
--- a/lib/instances/fork.go
+++ b/lib/instances/fork.go
@@ -281,6 +281,7 @@ func (m *manager) forkInstanceFromStoppedOrStandby(ctx context.Context, id strin
 	forkMeta.StartedAt = nil
 	forkMeta.StoppedAt = nil
 	forkMeta.HypervisorPID = nil
+	forkMeta.HypervisorStartTime = 0
 	forkMeta.SocketPath = m.paths.InstanceSocket(forkID, starter.SocketName())
 	forkMeta.DataDir = dstDir
 	forkMeta.VsockSocket = m.paths.InstanceSocket(forkID, hypervisor.VsockSocketNameForType(forkMeta.HypervisorType))
diff --git a/lib/instances/process_identity_linux_test.go b/lib/instances/process_identity_linux_test.go
index 324f9dfc..838aa599 100644
--- a/lib/instances/process_identity_linux_test.go
+++ b/lib/instances/process_identity_linux_test.go
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import (
 
 func TestResolveLiveHypervisorPIDWithoutStoredPID(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("missing socket", func(t *testing.T) {
-		pid, err := resolveLiveHypervisorPID(nil, filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "missing.sock"))
+		pid, err := resolveLiveHypervisorPID(nil, 0, filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "missing.sock"))
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.Zero(t, pid)
 	})
@@ -33,12 +33,91 @@ func TestResolveLiveHypervisorPIDWithoutStoredPID(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		defer listener.Close()
 
-		pid, err := resolveLiveHypervisorPID(nil, socketPath)
+		pid, err := resolveLiveHypervisorPID(nil, 0, socketPath)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.Equal(t, os.Getpid(), pid)
 	})
 }
 
+func TestProcessStartTime(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.NotZero(t, processStartTime(os.Getpid()))
+	assert.Zero(t, processStartTime(0))
+	assert.Zero(t, processStartTime(-1))
+
+	const nonexistentPID = 1<<22 - 1
+	require.False(t, ProcessExists(nonexistentPID))
+	assert.Zero(t, processStartTime(nonexistentPID))
+}
+
+func TestResolveLiveHypervisorPIDUsesMatchingStartTime(t *testing.T) {
+	process := exec.Command("sleep", "30")
+	require.NoError(t, process.Start())
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		_ = process.Process.Kill()
+		_ = process.Wait()
+	})
+
+	pid := process.Process.Pid
+	startTime := processStartTime(pid)
+	require.NotZero(t, startTime)
+
+	resolved, err := resolveLiveHypervisorPID(&pid, startTime, filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "missing.sock"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, pid, resolved)
+}
+
+func TestKillHypervisorUsesMatchingStartTimeWhenSocketIsGone(t *testing.T) {
+	process := exec.Command("sleep", "30")
+	require.NoError(t, process.Start())
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		_ = process.Process.Kill()
+		_ = process.Wait()
+	})
+
+	pid := process.Process.Pid
+	startTime := processStartTime(pid)
+	require.NotZero(t, startTime)
+	socketPath := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "missing.sock")
+
+	m := &manager{}
+	require.NoError(t, m.killHypervisor(context.Background(), &Instance{
+		StoredMetadata: StoredMetadata{
+			Id:                  "kill-test",
+			HypervisorPID:       &pid,
+			HypervisorStartTime: startTime,
+			SocketPath:          socketPath,
+		},
+	}))
+
+	assert.ErrorIs(t, syscall.Kill(pid, 0), syscall.ESRCH)
+	_, statErr := os.Stat(socketPath)
+	assert.True(t, os.IsNotExist(statErr), "instance socket should be removed")
+}
+
+func TestKillHypervisorFailsOnMismatchedStartTime(t *testing.T) {
+	process := exec.Command("sleep", "30")
+	require.NoError(t, process.Start())
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		_ = process.Process.Kill()
+		_ = process.Wait()
+	})
+
+	pid := process.Process.Pid
+	startTime := processStartTime(pid)
+	require.NotZero(t, startTime)
+
+	m := &manager{}
+	require.Error(t, m.killHypervisor(context.Background(), &Instance{
+		StoredMetadata: StoredMetadata{
+			Id:                  "kill-test",
+			HypervisorPID:       &pid,
+			HypervisorStartTime: startTime + 1,
+			SocketPath:          filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "missing.sock"),
+		},
+	}))
+	assert.NoError(t, syscall.Kill(pid, 0), "process with a mismatched identity token must not be killed")
+}
+
 func TestHypervisorProcessExistsTreatsUnresolvedSocketAsAlive(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
diff --git a/lib/instances/query.go b/lib/instances/query.go
index 2dd2a99f..d6471677 100644
--- a/lib/instances/query.go
+++ b/lib/instances/query.go
@@ -576,17 +576,21 @@ func refreshHypervisorPID(stored *StoredMetadata, state State) {
 	if !state.RequiresVMM() && state != StateUnknown {
 		return
 	}
-	if pid, err := resolveLiveHypervisorPID(stored.HypervisorPID, stored.SocketPath); err == nil && pid > 0 {
+	if pid, err := resolveLiveHypervisorPID(stored.HypervisorPID, stored.HypervisorStartTime, stored.SocketPath); err == nil && pid > 0 {
+		if stored.HypervisorPID == nil || pid != *stored.HypervisorPID {
+			stored.HypervisorStartTime = processStartTime(pid)
+		}
 		stored.HypervisorPID = &pid
 	}
 }
 
 // resolveLiveHypervisorPID returns the PID of the live hypervisor that owns
-// the instance socket, or 0 when no live hypervisor is found. It returns an
-// error when socket ownership cannot be confirmed: a live process matches the
-// socket path by command line only, or a live stored PID's ownership cannot be
-// verified.
-func resolveLiveHypervisorPID(storedPID *int, socketPath string) (int, error) {
+// the instance socket, or 0 when no live hypervisor is found. A live stored PID
+// whose recorded start time matches is returned without socket confirmation. It
+// returns an error when socket ownership cannot be confirmed: a live process
+// matches the socket path by command line only, or a live stored PID's ownership
+// cannot be verified.
+func resolveLiveHypervisorPID(storedPID *int, storedStartTime uint64, socketPath string) (int, error) {
 	stored := 0
 	if storedPID != nil && ProcessExists(*storedPID) {
 		stored = *storedPID
@@ -594,6 +598,9 @@ func resolveLiveHypervisorPID(storedPID *int, socketPath string) (int, error) {
 	if runtime.GOOS != "linux" || socketPath == "" {
 		return stored, nil
 	}
+	if stored != 0 && storedStartTime != 0 && processStartTime(stored) == storedStartTime {
+		return stored, nil
+	}
 	resolved, confirmed, err := hypervisor.ResolveProcessPID(socketPath)
 	switch {
 	case err == nil && confirmed && ProcessExists(resolved):
@@ -671,6 +678,31 @@ func readLinuxProcessState(pid int) (string, error) {
 	return "", fmt.Errorf("process state missing from %s", statusPath)
 }
 
+// processStartTime returns the start time (field 22 of /proc/<pid>/stat, clock
+// ticks since boot) of pid, or 0 when it cannot be read.
+func processStartTime(pid int) uint64 {
+	if runtime.GOOS != "linux" || pid <= 0 {
+		return 0
+	}
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join("/proc", strconv.Itoa(pid), "stat"))
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0
+	}
+	closingParen := strings.LastIndexByte(string(data), ')')
+	if closingParen == -1 {
+		return 0
+	}
+	fields := strings.Fields(string(data[closingParen+1:]))
+	if len(fields) <= 19 {
+		return 0
+	}
+	startTime, err := strconv.ParseUint(fields[19], 10, 64)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return startTime
+}
+
 // parseExitSentinel reads the last lines of the serial console log to find the
 // HYPEMAN-EXIT sentinel written by init before shutdown.
 // Returns the exit code, message, and whether a sentinel was found.
diff --git a/lib/instances/restore.go b/lib/instances/restore.go
index dfe5e6f5..102f1b81 100644
--- a/lib/instances/restore.go
+++ b/lib/instances/restore.go
@@ -310,6 +310,7 @@ func (m *manager) restoreInstance(
 
 	// Store the PID for later cleanup
 	stored.HypervisorPID = &pid
+	stored.HypervisorStartTime = processStartTime(pid)
 
 	// 6. Transition: Paused → Running (resume)
 	resumeCtx, resumeSpanEnd := m.startLifecycleStep(ctx, "resume_vm",
diff --git a/lib/instances/snapshot.go b/lib/instances/snapshot.go
index 0276e821..683fec83 100644
--- a/lib/instances/snapshot.go
+++ b/lib/instances/snapshot.go
@@ -298,6 +298,7 @@ func (m *manager) restoreSnapshot(ctx context.Context, id string, snapshotID str
 	restored.Name = sourceMeta.Name
 	restored.DataDir = m.paths.InstanceDir(id)
 	restored.HypervisorPID = nil
+	restored.HypervisorStartTime = 0
 	restored.StartedAt = nil
 	restored.StoppedAt = nil
 	restored.ExitCode = nil
@@ -441,6 +442,7 @@ func (m *manager) forkSnapshot(ctx context.Context, snapshotID string, req ForkS
 	forkMeta.StartedAt = nil
 	forkMeta.StoppedAt = nil
 	forkMeta.HypervisorPID = nil
+	forkMeta.HypervisorStartTime = 0
 	forkMeta.DataDir = dstDir
 	forkMeta.HypervisorType = targetHypervisor
 	if targetHypervisor != rec.StoredMetadata.HypervisorType {
diff --git a/lib/instances/standby.go b/lib/instances/standby.go
index 6913a989..ce81a4df 100644
--- a/lib/instances/standby.go
+++ b/lib/instances/standby.go
@@ -230,6 +230,7 @@ func (m *manager) standbyInstance(
 	now := time.Now().UTC()
 	stored.StoppedAt = &now
 	stored.HypervisorPID = nil
+	stored.HypervisorStartTime = 0
 	stored.PendingStandbyCompression = nil
 	clearFirecrackerUFFDRestoreState(stored)
 	if err := m.refreshFirecrackerSnapshotCacheKey(stored, snapshotDir); err != nil {
diff --git a/lib/instances/stop.go b/lib/instances/stop.go
index 35e69822..fd3c1255 100644
--- a/lib/instances/stop.go
+++ b/lib/instances/stop.go
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ func (m *manager) forceKillHypervisorProcess(ctx context.Context, inst *Instance
 	if inst.HypervisorPID == nil && inst.SocketPath == "" {
 		return nil
 	}
-	pid, err := resolveLiveHypervisorPID(inst.HypervisorPID, inst.SocketPath)
+	pid, err := resolveLiveHypervisorPID(inst.HypervisorPID, inst.HypervisorStartTime, inst.SocketPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -280,6 +280,7 @@ func (m *manager) stopInstance(
 	now := time.Now().UTC()
 	stored.StoppedAt = &now
 	stored.HypervisorPID = nil
+	stored.HypervisorStartTime = 0
 	// Boot markers are per-boot-run and must not carry across stop/restore/start.
 	stored.ProgramStartedAt = nil
 	stored.GuestAgentReadyAt = nil
diff --git a/lib/instances/types.go b/lib/instances/types.go
index 27aa492e..fc7ed0f6 100644
--- a/lib/instances/types.go
+++ b/lib/instances/types.go
@@ -127,9 +127,10 @@ type StoredMetadata struct {
 	KernelVersion string // Kernel version (e.g., "ch-v6.12.9")
 
 	// Hypervisor configuration
-	HypervisorType    hypervisor.Type // Hypervisor type (e.g., "cloud-hypervisor")
-	HypervisorVersion string          // Hypervisor version (e.g., "v51.1")
-	HypervisorPID     *int            // Hypervisor process ID (may be stale after host restart)
+	HypervisorType      hypervisor.Type // Hypervisor type (e.g., "cloud-hypervisor")
+	HypervisorVersion   string          // Hypervisor version (e.g., "v51.1")
+	HypervisorPID       *int            // Hypervisor process ID (may be stale after host restart)
+	HypervisorStartTime uint64          // Start time of HypervisorPID from /proc/<pid>/stat (clock ticks since boot); confirms process identity across PID reuse. 0 = unknown.
 
 	// Firecracker UFFD snapshot restore metadata.
 	FirecrackerSnapshotCacheKey     string
diff --git a/lib/instances/vgpu.go b/lib/instances/vgpu.go
index 81d03222..322e76f3 100644
--- a/lib/instances/vgpu.go
+++ b/lib/instances/vgpu.go
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ func (m *manager) vgpuAssignmentClaimedByLiveInstance(ctx context.Context, exclu
 		if stored.HypervisorPID == nil {
 			return true, nil
 		}
-		pid, err := resolveLiveHypervisorPID(stored.HypervisorPID, stored.SocketPath)
+		pid, err := resolveLiveHypervisorPID(stored.HypervisorPID, stored.HypervisorStartTime, stored.SocketPath)
 		if err != nil || pid > 0 {
 			return true, nil
 		}