diff --git a/libs/portal/stalker/feature/src/lib/stalker-vod-detail-actions.spec.ts b/libs/portal/stalker/feature/src/lib/stalker-vod-detail-actions.spec.ts
index b82a6549b..28752d8ab 100644
--- a/libs/portal/stalker/feature/src/lib/stalker-vod-detail-actions.spec.ts
+++ b/libs/portal/stalker/feature/src/lib/stalker-vod-detail-actions.spec.ts
@@ -24,9 +24,16 @@ const POSITION = {
 describe('createStalkerVodDetailActions openExternal', () => {
     function setup(selectedVodId: () => number | null) {
         let resolveLink: (playback: unknown) => void = () => undefined;
+        let rejectLink: (error: unknown) => void = () => undefined;
         const resolvePlayback = jest.fn(
-            () => new Promise((resolve) => (resolveLink = resolve))
+            () =>
+                new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+                    resolveLink = resolve;
+                    rejectLink = reject;
+                })
         );
+        const open = jest.fn();
+        const logError = jest.fn();
         const openExternalPlayback = jest.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined);
         const beforeExternalLaunch = jest.fn();
         const closeSession = jest.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined);
@@ -47,15 +54,18 @@ describe('createStalkerVodDetailActions openExternal', () => {
             selectedVodId,
             selectedVodPosition: signal(null),
             beforeExternalLaunch,
-            snackBar: { open: jest.fn() },
+            snackBar: { open },
             translate: { instant: (key: string) => key },
-            logError: jest.fn(),
+            logError,
         });
         return {
             actions,
             openExternalPlayback,
             beforeExternalLaunch,
             closeSession,
+            open,
+            logError,
+            rejectLink: (error: unknown) => rejectLink(error),
             beginPendingStart,
             settlePendingStart,
             supersede: () => (launchCurrent = false),
@@ -202,6 +212,21 @@ describe('createStalkerVodDetailActions openExternal', () => {
         expect(t.settlePendingStart).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     });
 
+    it('stays silent when a superseded launch fails', async () => {
+        const t = setup(() => 42);
+        const launch = t.actions.openExternal({
+            item: MOVIE,
+            player: 'mpv',
+            positionSeconds: null,
+        });
+        t.supersede();
+        t.rejectLink(new Error('create_link timed out'));
+        await launch;
+
+        expect(t.open).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+        expect(t.logError).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
     it('drops the stream once another movie was selected meanwhile', async () => {
         let selected = 42;
         const t = setup(() => selected);
diff --git a/libs/portal/stalker/feature/src/lib/stalker-vod-detail-actions.ts b/libs/portal/stalker/feature/src/lib/stalker-vod-detail-actions.ts
index c5b82cb18..8eaeed6be 100644
--- a/libs/portal/stalker/feature/src/lib/stalker-vod-detail-actions.ts
+++ b/libs/portal/stalker/feature/src/lib/stalker-vod-detail-actions.ts
@@ -168,10 +168,13 @@ export function createStalkerVodDetailActions(
                     event.player
                 );
             } catch (error) {
-                deps.logError('External VOD playback failed', error);
-                if (stillSelected()) {
-                    notify('PORTALS.PLAYBACK_ERROR');
+                // A launch a newer start superseded fails on its own; the
+                // newer one reports for the movie now.
+                if (!stillSelected() || superseded()) {
+                    return;
                 }
+                deps.logError('External VOD playback failed', error);
+                notify('PORTALS.PLAYBACK_ERROR');
             } finally {
                 externalLaunchesInFlight.delete(launchKey);
                 pending?.settle();
diff --git a/libs/portal/xtream/feature/src/lib/serial-details/serial-details-external-launch.spec.ts b/libs/portal/xtream/feature/src/lib/serial-details/serial-details-external-launch.spec.ts
index 6d612df56..8d7814c0b 100644
--- a/libs/portal/xtream/feature/src/lib/serial-details/serial-details-external-launch.spec.ts
+++ b/libs/portal/xtream/feature/src/lib/serial-details/serial-details-external-launch.spec.ts
@@ -92,6 +92,20 @@ describe('openEpisodeExternally', () => {
         expect(t.openExternalPlayback).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     });
 
+    it('ignores a repeat before the first launch settled', async () => {
+        const t = host(null);
+        let settleLaunch: () => void = () => undefined;
+        t.openExternalPlayback.mockImplementation(
+            () => new Promise<void>((resolve) => (settleLaunch = resolve))
+        );
+        const first = openEpisodeExternally(t.host, PLAYBACK, 'mpv');
+        await openEpisodeExternally(t.host, PLAYBACK, 'mpv');
+        settleLaunch();
+        await first;
+
+        expect(t.openExternalPlayback).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    });
+
     it('keeps the running player when closing it fails', async () => {
         const t = host(session());
         t.closeSession.mockRejectedValue(new Error('still busy'));
diff --git a/libs/portal/xtream/feature/src/lib/serial-details/serial-details-external-launch.ts b/libs/portal/xtream/feature/src/lib/serial-details/serial-details-external-launch.ts
index 4108a23c8..c6a664208 100644
--- a/libs/portal/xtream/feature/src/lib/serial-details/serial-details-external-launch.ts
+++ b/libs/portal/xtream/feature/src/lib/serial-details/serial-details-external-launch.ts
@@ -20,12 +20,16 @@ export interface SeriesExternalLaunchHost {
     launchOwner(): string | null;
 }
 
+/** Owners (`playlist:series`) whose launch has not settled yet. */
+const launchesInFlight = new Set<string>();
+
 /**
  * The "…" menu's MPV/VLC launch of an episode. An episode of this series
  * still running externally is closed first: with instance reuse off a
  * second detached player would start beside it. When that close fails, or
  * the user moved on while it ran, the running player stays and nothing new
- * launches.
+ * launches. A repeat before the first launch settled (Electron publishes
+ * the session only afterwards) is ignored.
  */
 export async function openEpisodeExternally(
     host: SeriesExternalLaunchHost,
@@ -33,9 +37,23 @@ export async function openEpisodeExternally(
     player: ExternalPlayerName
 ): Promise<ExternalPlayerSession | void> {
     const owner = host.launchOwner();
-    if (!owner) {
+    if (!owner || launchesInFlight.has(owner)) {
         return;
     }
+    launchesInFlight.add(owner);
+    try {
+        return await launchEpisode(host, owner, playback, player);
+    } finally {
+        launchesInFlight.delete(owner);
+    }
+}
+
+async function launchEpisode(
+    host: SeriesExternalLaunchHost,
+    owner: string,
+    playback: ResolvedPortalPlayback,
+    player: ExternalPlayerName
+): Promise<ExternalPlayerSession | void> {
     const session = host.externalPlayback.activeSession();
     const info = session?.contentInfo;
     const ownSession =