diff --git a/docs/boundary.md b/docs/boundary.md
index fe93de85..dc47a117 100644
--- a/docs/boundary.md
+++ b/docs/boundary.md
@@ -59,3 +59,19 @@ The `area:ops` issues followed this sequencing:
    runs as the unprivileged `hive-core` user and delegates root
    operations to `hive-priv`, a narrow socket-activated helper. See
    [`docs/security.md`](security.md) for the privilege boundary table.
+
+### hive-priv socket activation
+
+`hive-priv` is **always** socket-activated by the `hive-priv.socket`
+systemd unit. The unit binds `/run/hive/priv.sock` with
+`SocketGroup=hive-core` and mode `0660` and passes the ready listener
+to the helper as fd 3 (`LISTEN_FDS`). The helper requires this and
+bails if it isn't socket-activated — there is intentionally no
+self-bind fallback.
+
+Dropping the old fallback removed a dev/prod divergence: when
+`hive-priv` bound the socket itself it created the file owned by
+root's primary group rather than `hive-core`, so a `hive-core` client
+couldn't connect the way the socket unit's `SocketGroup` grant
+intends. Requiring socket activation everywhere means dev and prod
+take the exact same path and the group grant always holds.
diff --git a/docs/persistence.md b/docs/persistence.md
index 0a7dff4b..d1f297b2 100644
--- a/docs/persistence.md
+++ b/docs/persistence.md
@@ -220,6 +220,20 @@ Under `/var/lib/hyperhive/agents/<name>/`:
   - `hyperhive-turn-stats.sqlite` — per-turn timing stats.
   - `hyperhive-model` — single-line model name override file.
 
+### Parent access to child state
+
+A parent agent gets each direct child's `state`, `harness`, and
+`config` dirs bind-mounted **read-write** (`bind_child_agent_dirs` in
+`lifecycle.rs`). The RW on `state` is deliberate, not an oversight: a
+parent manages its children, which includes writing into a child's
+state for recovery (e.g. seeding notes, clearing a stuck sentinel) as
+well as reading it. `config` is RW because the parent authors proposed
+config changes for the child (the approval flow commits into the
+child's config repo), and `harness` is RW for the same management
+reasons. Per-child isolation still holds: a container only ever has
+its *own* dirs plus its direct children's bind-mounted, never a
+sibling's.
+
 Under `/var/lib/hyperhive/applied/<name>/` — the hive-c0re-only
 applied repo. Tracks `flake.nix` (module-only boilerplate; never
 edited after first spawn) + `agent.nix` (the actual config; the
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/lifecycle.rs b/hive-c0re/src/lifecycle.rs
index e3edb85a..0816ec4d 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/lifecycle.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/lifecycle.rs
@@ -1100,9 +1100,10 @@ const HOST_META_ROOT: &str = "/var/lib/hyperhive/meta";
 const HOST_SHARED_ROOT: &str = "/var/lib/hyperhive/shared";
 
 /// Append bind flags for `child`'s state, harness, and config dirs into
-/// `binds`. All three are RW so the parent can read/write state and
-/// submit config-change requests. Creates missing host-side directories
-/// so nspawn doesn't refuse to start; missing dirs are non-fatal.
+/// `binds`, all read-write. The RW on `state` is deliberate (recovery),
+/// not an oversight; see docs/persistence.md ("Parent access to child
+/// state") for the rationale. Creates missing host-side directories so
+/// nspawn doesn't refuse to start; missing dirs are non-fatal.
 fn bind_child_agent_dirs(child: &str, binds: &mut Vec<BindMount>) {
     let state_dir = format!("{HOST_AGENTS_ROOT}/{child}/state");
     let harness_dir = format!("{HOST_AGENTS_ROOT}/{child}/harness");
@@ -1220,8 +1221,9 @@ async fn set_nspawn_flags(
     });
 
     // Topology-driven child mounts: every direct child of this agent gets
-    // its state, harness, and config dirs bind-mounted RW so the parent
-    // can read state and manage config.
+    // its state, harness, and config dirs bind-mounted RW (parent reads +
+    // writes child state for recovery, and manages config). See
+    // `bind_child_agent_dirs`.
     let direct_children = crate::topology::children_of(agent_name);
     for child in &direct_children {
         bind_child_agent_dirs(child, &mut binds);
diff --git a/hive-priv/src/main.rs b/hive-priv/src/main.rs
index cdfcb3a4..a830c7da 100644
--- a/hive-priv/src/main.rs
+++ b/hive-priv/src/main.rs
@@ -57,9 +57,9 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
 }
 
 fn socket_listener() -> Result<UnixListener> {
-    use std::os::unix::fs::PermissionsExt as _;
-    // Socket activation: systemd passes the socket as fd 3 when
-    // LISTEN_FDS >= 1 and LISTEN_PID matches our pid.
+    // hive-priv is ALWAYS socket-activated by the `hive-priv.socket` unit
+    // (fd 3 via LISTEN_FDS). There is intentionally no self-bind fallback,
+    // so dev and prod take the same path; see docs/boundary.md.
     let listen_fds: Option<i32> = std::env::var("LISTEN_FDS")
         .ok()
         .and_then(|s| s.parse().ok());
@@ -67,35 +67,27 @@ fn socket_listener() -> Result<UnixListener> {
         .ok()
         .and_then(|s| s.parse().ok());
 
-    if let (Some(n), Some(p)) = (listen_fds, listen_pid)
-        && n >= 1
-        && p == std::process::id()
-    {
-        // SAFETY: systemd has passed us a ready UnixListener on fd 3.
-        let std_listener = unsafe {
-            use std::os::unix::io::FromRawFd;
-            std::os::unix::net::UnixListener::from_raw_fd(3)
-        };
-        std_listener
-            .set_nonblocking(true)
-            .context("set socket non-blocking")?;
-        let listener =
-            tokio::net::UnixListener::from_std(std_listener).context("wrap systemd socket")?;
-        tracing::info!("using systemd-activated socket");
-        return Ok(listener);
+    let activated =
+        matches!(listen_fds, Some(n) if n >= 1) && listen_pid == Some(std::process::id());
+    if !activated {
+        bail!(
+            "hive-priv requires systemd socket activation (expected LISTEN_FDS>=1 + \
+             LISTEN_PID=<self> for {PRIV_SOCK}); run it via the hive-priv.socket unit, \
+             not directly"
+        );
     }
 
-    // Fallback: bind the socket ourselves.
-    let path = Path::new(PRIV_SOCK);
-    if let Some(parent) = path.parent() {
-        std::fs::create_dir_all(parent).with_context(|| format!("create {}", parent.display()))?;
-    }
-    let _ = std::fs::remove_file(path);
-    let listener = UnixListener::bind(path).with_context(|| format!("bind {PRIV_SOCK}"))?;
-    // Mode 0660: only the hive-core group can connect.
-    std::fs::set_permissions(path, std::fs::Permissions::from_mode(0o660))
-        .context("chmod priv.sock")?;
-    tracing::info!(path = PRIV_SOCK, "bound priv socket");
+    // SAFETY: systemd has passed us a ready UnixListener on fd 3.
+    let std_listener = unsafe {
+        use std::os::unix::io::FromRawFd;
+        std::os::unix::net::UnixListener::from_raw_fd(3)
+    };
+    std_listener
+        .set_nonblocking(true)
+        .context("set socket non-blocking")?;
+    let listener =
+        tokio::net::UnixListener::from_std(std_listener).context("wrap systemd socket")?;
+    tracing::info!("using systemd-activated socket");
     Ok(listener)
 }
 
diff --git a/nix/modules/hive-c0re.nix b/nix/modules/hive-c0re.nix
index d6425ebf..b4ee2907 100644
--- a/nix/modules/hive-c0re.nix
+++ b/nix/modules/hive-c0re.nix
@@ -894,8 +894,6 @@ in
         # Why each entry is needed:
         #   /etc/nixos-containers  — writes <container>.conf (bind mounts,
         #                            network isolation, nspawn flags)
-        #   /run/hive              — fallback socket bind if LISTEN_FDS is
-        #                            absent (normal path: socket-activated)
         #   /run/hive-agent        — chown/chmod per-agent socket directories
         #   /run/systemd           — container@ unit drop-ins (resource limits)
         #                            + machinectl / systemd-machined state
@@ -914,7 +912,6 @@ in
         ProtectSystem = "strict";
         ReadWritePaths = [
           "/etc/nixos-containers"
-          "/run/hive"
           "/run/hive-agent"
           "/run/systemd"
           "/run/lock"