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 8a50d4fc9..3d40fae93 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
@@ -112,6 +112,25 @@ describe('createStalkerVodDetailActions openExternal', () => {
         );
     });
 
+    it('ignores a second launch while the first is still resolving', async () => {
+        const t = setup(() => 42);
+        const first = t.actions.openExternal({
+            item: MOVIE,
+            player: 'mpv',
+            positionSeconds: null,
+        });
+        await t.actions.openExternal({
+            item: MOVIE,
+            player: 'mpv',
+            positionSeconds: null,
+        });
+        t.resolveLink();
+        await first;
+
+        expect(t.beginPendingStart).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+        expect(t.openExternalPlayback).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    });
+
     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 35798d12e..2796f63c0 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
@@ -71,6 +71,9 @@ export function createStalkerVodDetailActions(
         deps.snackBar.open(deps.translate.instant(key), undefined, {
             duration: 3000,
         });
+    // A second "Open in external player" during a slow `create_link` would
+    // resolve beside the first and start a second player.
+    let externalLaunchInFlight = false;
 
     return {
         /** The inline player copied the stream URL. */
@@ -93,9 +96,10 @@ export function createStalkerVodDetailActions(
         },
 
         async openExternal(event: StalkerVodExternalPlayEvent): Promise<void> {
-            if (event.item.type !== 'stalker') {
+            if (event.item.type !== 'stalker' || externalLaunchInFlight) {
                 return;
             }
+            externalLaunchInFlight = true;
             // The `create_link` round trip may outlive the selection: a
             // stream resolved for a movie the user left is dropped, and its
             // failure is not reported over the new one.
@@ -137,6 +141,7 @@ export function createStalkerVodDetailActions(
                     notify('PORTALS.PLAYBACK_ERROR');
                 }
             } finally {
+                externalLaunchInFlight = false;
                 settlePendingStart?.();
             }
         },
diff --git a/libs/ui/playback/src/lib/vod-details/vod-details-hero.state.ts b/libs/ui/playback/src/lib/vod-details/vod-details-hero.state.ts
index a95d55ae1..9afaec367 100644
--- a/libs/ui/playback/src/lib/vod-details/vod-details-hero.state.ts
+++ b/libs/ui/playback/src/lib/vod-details/vod-details-hero.state.ts
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ export function createVodDetailsHeroState(deps: VodDetailsHeroStateDeps) {
                 playbackActive:
                     deps.externalState() !== 'idle' ||
                     deps.playbackStartPending(),
+                startPending: deps.playbackStartPending(),
             })
         ),
     };
diff --git a/libs/ui/playback/src/lib/vod-details/vod-details-presentation.spec.ts b/libs/ui/playback/src/lib/vod-details/vod-details-presentation.spec.ts
index ce0880ccd..1105f564c 100644
--- a/libs/ui/playback/src/lib/vod-details/vod-details-presentation.spec.ts
+++ b/libs/ui/playback/src/lib/vod-details/vod-details-presentation.spec.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ const BASE = {
     hasPlaybackPosition: true,
     hasStoredProgress: true,
     playbackActive: false,
+    startPending: false,
 };
 
 function rows(input: Partial<typeof BASE>) {
@@ -38,6 +39,18 @@ describe('buildVodMenuSections', () => {
         expect(reset?.disabled).toBeFalsy();
     });
 
+    it('disables the external launch while a start still resolves', () => {
+        const external = rows({ startPending: true }).find(
+            (row) => row.id === VOD_DETAILS_MENU_ACTION.ExternalPlayer
+        );
+        expect(external?.disabled).toBe(true);
+        expect(
+            rows({}).find(
+                (row) => row.id === VOD_DETAILS_MENU_ACTION.ExternalPlayer
+            )?.disabled
+        ).toBeFalsy();
+    });
+
     it('disables the progress reset while playback owns the position', () => {
         // A running player, or a start still resolving its stream, would
         // write the position right back.
diff --git a/libs/ui/playback/src/lib/vod-details/vod-details-presentation.ts b/libs/ui/playback/src/lib/vod-details/vod-details-presentation.ts
index 79cab76e0..48c6c2148 100644
--- a/libs/ui/playback/src/lib/vod-details/vod-details-presentation.ts
+++ b/libs/ui/playback/src/lib/vod-details/vod-details-presentation.ts
@@ -180,6 +180,8 @@ export function buildVodMenuSections(input: {
     hasStoredProgress: boolean;
     /** An external player owns the row: its next tick would undo a reset. */
     playbackActive: boolean;
+    /** A start still resolving its stream: a second launch would double it. */
+    startPending: boolean;
 }): VodMoreMenuSection[] {
     const sourceRows: VodMoreMenuSection['items'][number][] = [];
     if (input.externalPlayerAvailable) {
@@ -188,6 +190,7 @@ export function buildVodMenuSections(input: {
             labelKey: 'PORTALS.DETAIL.OPEN_IN_EXTERNAL_PLAYER',
             icon: 'open_in_new',
             hint: input.externalPlayerHint,
+            disabled: input.startPending,
             testId: 'vod-menu-external',
         });
     }