diff --git a/apps/figcraft-server/src/public_tests.rs b/apps/figcraft-server/src/public_tests.rs
index 978d9e8e..a77502bf 100644
--- a/apps/figcraft-server/src/public_tests.rs
+++ b/apps/figcraft-server/src/public_tests.rs
@@ -196,6 +196,22 @@ fn idle_files_published_without_the_key_expire() {
     assert!(store.listing(&|_| None).iter().all(|r| r.info.id != fresh.id));
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn offline_commands_do_not_sweep_idle_files() {
+    let dir = TempDir::new("offline-sweep");
+    let mut c = open(dir.path());
+    c.idle_days = 30.0;
+    let mut store = Store::open(dir.path(), c.store()).unwrap();
+    let (public, ..) = store.publish_open(ip("203.0.113.9"), "Public", &snapshot("Public")).unwrap();
+    store.age(&public.id, 31 * 86_400);
+    drop(store);
+    let store = Store::try_open(dir.path(), c.store()).unwrap().unwrap();
+    drop(store);
+    assert!(dir.path().join("files").join(&public.id).exists(), "a command deleted an idle file");
+    let _serving = Store::open(dir.path(), c.store()).unwrap();
+    assert!(!dir.path().join("files").join(&public.id).exists());
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn rate_limits_and_blocks_refuse_with_a_reason() {
     let dir = TempDir::new("limits");
diff --git a/apps/figcraft-server/src/store.rs b/apps/figcraft-server/src/store.rs
index c6d62462..3196eafc 100644
--- a/apps/figcraft-server/src/store.rs
+++ b/apps/figcraft-server/src/store.rs
@@ -338,10 +338,13 @@ impl Store {
     /// Use the data directory `root` (made if missing). Fails when another server or command holds
     /// it. Files that can't be read are skipped and listed in [`problems`](Self::problems).
     pub fn open(root: &Path, cfg: StoreConfig) -> Result<Store, String> {
-        Self::try_open(root, cfg)?.ok_or_else(|| format!("another figcraft-server (or a command) is using {}", root.display()))
+        let mut store = Self::try_open(root, cfg)?.ok_or_else(|| format!("another figcraft-server (or a command) is using {}", root.display()))?;
+        store.sweep();
+        Ok(store)
     }
 
-    /// [`open`](Self::open), or `None` when someone else holds the directory.
+    /// [`open`](Self::open) without the expiry sweep (for commands that only look or edit), or
+    /// `None` when someone else holds the directory.
     pub fn try_open(root: &Path, cfg: StoreConfig) -> Result<Option<Store>, String> {
         let Some(lock) = lock(root)? else { return Ok(None) };
         let key = load_key(root)?;
@@ -374,7 +377,6 @@ impl Store {
         store.scan(&dir);
         store.blocked = store.read_list::<String>(BLOCKED).iter().filter_map(|s| s.parse().ok()).map(ip_key).collect();
         store.reports = store.read_list(REPORTS);
-        store.sweep();
         Ok(Some(store))
     }