diff --git a/.changeset/fn-8468-plugin-single-onload.md b/.changeset/fn-8468-plugin-single-onload.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..73ddef0209
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/fn-8468-plugin-single-onload.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+"@runfusion/fusion": patch
+---
+
+summary: Load each enabled plugin once per process startup (no duplicate onLoad).
+category: fix
+dev: Host CLI and InProcessRuntime share a single-load authority with concurrency-safe single-flight so path-registered plugins no longer double-fire onLoad on fn dashboard/serve/daemon startup.
diff --git a/docs/PLUGIN_AUTHORING.md b/docs/PLUGIN_AUTHORING.md
index 5c24a079dc..749cdfe176 100644
--- a/docs/PLUGIN_AUTHORING.md
+++ b/docs/PLUGIN_AUTHORING.md
@@ -353,6 +353,7 @@ const plugin: FusionPlugin = {
 
 ### Hook Behavior
 
+- **Single-load lifecycle**: For one project in one Fusion process, Fusion invokes `onLoad` exactly once for each intentional load lifecycle, including when the host and engine bootstrap concurrently. Plugin authors do not need process-local locking to defend against an accidental second host/engine startup load. Explicit enable→load and `reloadPlugin` are new lifecycles and can invoke `onLoad` again after unload; request-scoped temporary loaders for *another* project root may also load and then stop a plugin while discovering skills. Keep registration idempotent where inexpensive so these intentional lifecycles remain safe.
 - **Context parity**: `onUnload` receives the same `PluginContext` shape as `onLoad`.
 - **Timeout**: 5 seconds per invocation (logged and skipped if exceeded)
 - **Error Isolation**: Hook failures never block other hooks or abort startup
diff --git a/packages/core/src/__tests__/plugin-loader-single-load.test.ts b/packages/core/src/__tests__/plugin-loader-single-load.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5ae1a1b839
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/__tests__/plugin-loader-single-load.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { EventEmitter } from "node:events";
+import { mkdtemp, rm, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { PluginLoader } from "../plugin-loader.js";
+import type { PluginInstallation } from "../plugin-types.js";
+
+async function createFixture(onLoadSource: string, onUnloadSource?: string) {
+  const root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "fusion-plugin-single-load-"));
+  const entry = join(root, "plugin.mjs");
+  await writeFile(entry, `
+export default {
+  manifest: { id: "single-load", name: "Single load", version: "1.0.0", description: "fixture" },
+  state: "installed",
+  hooks: { onLoad: ${onLoadSource}${onUnloadSource ? `, onUnload: ${onUnloadSource}` : ""} },
+};
+`);
+  return { root, entry };
+}
+
+function createStore(root: string, entry: string) {
+  const installation: PluginInstallation = {
+    id: "single-load", name: "Single load", version: "1.0.0", description: "fixture",
+    path: entry, enabled: true, state: "installed", settings: {}, dependencies: [],
+    createdAt: new Date().toISOString(), updatedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+  };
+  const events = new EventEmitter();
+  const pluginStore = {
+    getPlugin: vi.fn(async () => ({ ...installation })),
+    listPlugins: vi.fn(async () => [{ ...installation }]),
+    updatePluginState: vi.fn(async (_id: string, state: PluginInstallation["state"]) => ({ ...installation, state })),
+    on: events.on.bind(events), off: events.off.bind(events),
+  };
+  const taskStore = {
+    getRootDir: () => root,
+    preflightPluginSchema: vi.fn(() => null),
+    runPluginSchemaInits: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
+  };
+  return { pluginStore, taskStore };
+}
+
+describe("PluginLoader process single-load lifecycle", () => {
+  const roots: string[] = [];
+  afterEach(async () => {
+    await Promise.all(roots.splice(0).map((root) => rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true })));
+    delete (globalThis as Record<string, unknown>).__fusionPluginOnLoadCount;
+    delete (globalThis as Record<string, unknown>).__fusionPluginFailOnce;
+    delete (globalThis as Record<string, unknown>).__fusionPluginOnUnloadCount;
+  });
+
+  it("coalesces concurrent host and engine-style loaders for one project", async () => {
+    const fixture = await createFixture("async () => { globalThis.__fusionPluginOnLoadCount = (globalThis.__fusionPluginOnLoadCount || 0) + 1; await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 20)); }");
+    roots.push(fixture.root);
+    const host = createStore(fixture.root, fixture.entry);
+    const engine = createStore(fixture.root, fixture.entry);
+    const hostLoader = new PluginLoader({ pluginStore: host.pluginStore as any, taskStore: host.taskStore as any });
+    const engineLoader = new PluginLoader({ pluginStore: engine.pluginStore as any, taskStore: engine.taskStore as any });
+
+    await Promise.all([hostLoader.loadAllPlugins(), engineLoader.loadAllPlugins()]);
+
+    expect((globalThis as Record<string, unknown>).__fusionPluginOnLoadCount).toBe(1);
+    expect(hostLoader.isPluginLoaded("single-load")).toBe(true);
+    expect(engineLoader.isPluginLoaded("single-load")).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("coalesces concurrent calls on the same loader", async () => {
+    const fixture = await createFixture("async () => { globalThis.__fusionPluginOnLoadCount = (globalThis.__fusionPluginOnLoadCount || 0) + 1; await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 20)); }");
+    roots.push(fixture.root);
+    const store = createStore(fixture.root, fixture.entry);
+    const loader = new PluginLoader({ pluginStore: store.pluginStore as any, taskStore: store.taskStore as any });
+
+    await Promise.all([loader.loadPlugin("single-load"), loader.loadAllPlugins()]);
+
+    expect((globalThis as Record<string, unknown>).__fusionPluginOnLoadCount).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  it("coordinates cross-loader reload and stop after dual bootstrap", async () => {
+    const fixture = await createFixture(
+      "async () => { globalThis.__fusionPluginOnLoadCount = (globalThis.__fusionPluginOnLoadCount || 0) + 1; }",
+      "async () => { globalThis.__fusionPluginOnUnloadCount = (globalThis.__fusionPluginOnUnloadCount || 0) + 1; }",
+    );
+    roots.push(fixture.root);
+    const host = createStore(fixture.root, fixture.entry);
+    const engine = createStore(fixture.root, fixture.entry);
+    const hostLoader = new PluginLoader({ pluginStore: host.pluginStore as any, taskStore: host.taskStore as any });
+    const engineLoader = new PluginLoader({ pluginStore: engine.pluginStore as any, taskStore: engine.taskStore as any });
+
+    await Promise.all([hostLoader.loadAllPlugins(), engineLoader.loadAllPlugins()]);
+    await engineLoader.reloadPlugin("single-load");
+
+    expect((globalThis as Record<string, unknown>).__fusionPluginOnLoadCount).toBe(2);
+    expect((globalThis as Record<string, unknown>).__fusionPluginOnUnloadCount).toBe(1);
+    expect(hostLoader.getPlugin("single-load")).toBe(engineLoader.getPlugin("single-load"));
+
+    await hostLoader.stopPlugin("single-load");
+
+    expect((globalThis as Record<string, unknown>).__fusionPluginOnUnloadCount).toBe(2);
+    expect(hostLoader.isPluginLoaded("single-load")).toBe(false);
+    expect(engineLoader.isPluginLoaded("single-load")).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("starts one fresh lifecycle after explicit reload", async () => {
+    const fixture = await createFixture("async () => { globalThis.__fusionPluginOnLoadCount = (globalThis.__fusionPluginOnLoadCount || 0) + 1; }");
+    roots.push(fixture.root);
+    const store = createStore(fixture.root, fixture.entry);
+    const loader = new PluginLoader({ pluginStore: store.pluginStore as any, taskStore: store.taskStore as any });
+
+    await loader.loadPlugin("single-load");
+    await loader.reloadPlugin("single-load");
+
+    expect((globalThis as Record<string, unknown>).__fusionPluginOnLoadCount).toBe(2);
+  });
+
+  it("clears a rejected lifecycle so a later intentional load can retry", async () => {
+    const fixture = await createFixture("async () => { if (!globalThis.__fusionPluginFailOnce) { globalThis.__fusionPluginFailOnce = true; throw new Error('first load fails'); } globalThis.__fusionPluginOnLoadCount = (globalThis.__fusionPluginOnLoadCount || 0) + 1; }");
+    roots.push(fixture.root);
+    const store = createStore(fixture.root, fixture.entry);
+    const loader = new PluginLoader({ pluginStore: store.pluginStore as any, taskStore: store.taskStore as any });
+
+    await expect(loader.loadPlugin("single-load")).rejects.toThrow("first load fails");
+    await expect(loader.loadPlugin("single-load")).resolves.toMatchObject({ manifest: { id: "single-load" } });
+
+    expect((globalThis as Record<string, unknown>).__fusionPluginOnLoadCount).toBe(1);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/core/src/plugin-loader.ts b/packages/core/src/plugin-loader.ts
index 26d5692c20..8632d58962 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/plugin-loader.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/plugin-loader.ts
@@ -193,6 +193,12 @@ export interface PluginErrorEvent {
   error: Error;
 }
 
+interface ProcessPluginLifecycle {
+  promise: Promise<FusionPlugin>;
+  owner: PluginLoader;
+  participants: Set<PluginLoader>;
+}
+
 export class PluginLoader extends EventEmitter<{
   "plugin:loaded": [PluginLoadedEvent];
   "plugin:unloaded": [PluginUnloadedEvent];
@@ -210,6 +216,18 @@ export class PluginLoader extends EventEmitter<{
   private pluginRoots: Map<string, string> = new Map();
   private pluginSchemaContracts: Map<string, LoadedPluginSchemaContract> = new Map();
 
+  /*
+  FNXC:PluginLoader 2026-07-22-10:15:
+  Dashboard/serve/daemon boot a host PluginLoader while InProcessRuntime boots a
+  second loader for the same project. `plugins.has()` only protects one loader
+  after publication, so this process-wide lifecycle registry coalesces the
+  import and onLoad work before either loader can publish. Successful entries
+  intentionally persist until stop/reload begins a fresh lifecycle; rejected
+  entries are removed so an intentional retry is never poisoned.
+  */
+  private static readonly processPluginLifecycles = new Map<string, ProcessPluginLifecycle>();
+  private static readonly processPluginLifecycleTails = new Map<string, Promise<void>>();
+
   private readonly log = createLogger("plugin-loader");
 
   constructor(private options: PluginLoaderOptions) {
@@ -226,7 +244,9 @@ export class PluginLoader extends EventEmitter<{
   }
 
   private getProjectRoot(): string {
-    return this.options.taskStore.getRootDir();
+    // Lightweight loader harnesses historically omit this TaskStore accessor.
+    // Production stores always provide it; cwd preserves their single-project semantics.
+    return this.options.taskStore.getRootDir?.() ?? process.cwd();
   }
 
   // ── Context Creation ───────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -345,7 +365,49 @@ export class PluginLoader extends EventEmitter<{
 
     // Resolve plugin path
     const pluginPath = this.resolvePluginPath(installation.path);
+    const lifecycleKey = this.getProcessLifecycleKey(pluginId, pluginPath);
+    const existingLifecycle = PluginLoader.processPluginLifecycles.get(lifecycleKey);
+    if (existingLifecycle) {
+      existingLifecycle.participants.add(this);
+      const plugin = await existingLifecycle.promise;
+      return this.adoptProcessLoadedPlugin(pluginId, pluginPath, plugin);
+    }
 
+    const lifecycle = this.loadPluginFresh(pluginId, installation, pluginPath);
+    const processLifecycle: ProcessPluginLifecycle = {
+      promise: lifecycle,
+      owner: this,
+      participants: new Set([this]),
+    };
+    PluginLoader.processPluginLifecycles.set(lifecycleKey, processLifecycle);
+    try {
+      return await lifecycle;
+    } catch (error) {
+      // Only remove our own rejected promise; a later retry may already own this key.
+      if (PluginLoader.processPluginLifecycles.get(lifecycleKey) === processLifecycle) {
+        PluginLoader.processPluginLifecycles.delete(lifecycleKey);
+      }
+      throw error;
+    }
+  }
+
+  private getProcessLifecycleKey(pluginId: string, pluginPath: string): string {
+    return `${resolve(this.getProjectRoot())}\u0000${pluginId}\u0000${resolve(pluginPath)}`;
+  }
+
+  private adoptProcessLoadedPlugin(pluginId: string, pluginPath: string, plugin: FusionPlugin): FusionPlugin {
+    plugin.state = "started";
+    this.plugins.set(pluginId, plugin);
+    this.pluginRoots.set(pluginId, resolvePluginRootFromEntryPath(pluginPath));
+    this.emit("plugin:loaded", { pluginId, plugin });
+    return plugin;
+  }
+
+  private async loadPluginFresh(
+    pluginId: string,
+    installation: PluginInstallation,
+    pluginPath: string,
+  ): Promise<FusionPlugin> {
     try {
       if (installation.aiScanOnLoad) {
         const scanResult = await scanPluginSecurity({ pluginId, pluginPath });
@@ -577,10 +639,85 @@ export class PluginLoader extends EventEmitter<{
   async reloadPlugin(
     pluginId: string,
     options?: { timeoutMs?: number },
+  ): Promise<FusionPlugin> {
+    const installation = await this.options.pluginStore.getPlugin(pluginId);
+    const pluginPath = this.resolvePluginPath(installation.path);
+    const lifecycleKey = this.getProcessLifecycleKey(pluginId, pluginPath);
+    const processLifecycle = PluginLoader.processPluginLifecycles.get(lifecycleKey);
+    const precedingLifecycle = processLifecycle?.promise;
+
+    const reload = this.enqueueProcessLifecycleOperation(lifecycleKey, async () => {
+      await precedingLifecycle;
+      const owner = processLifecycle?.owner ?? this;
+      const plugin = await owner.reloadPluginFresh(pluginId, installation, pluginPath, options);
+      if (processLifecycle) {
+        this.synchronizeProcessPlugin(processLifecycle, pluginId, pluginPath, plugin);
+      }
+      return plugin;
+    });
+    if (processLifecycle) processLifecycle.promise = reload;
+    try {
+      return await reload;
+    } catch (error) {
+      if (processLifecycle && PluginLoader.processPluginLifecycles.get(lifecycleKey) === processLifecycle) {
+        // reloadPluginFresh restores the canonical owner when rollback succeeds.
+        const restored = processLifecycle.owner.plugins.get(pluginId);
+        if (restored) {
+          processLifecycle.promise = Promise.resolve(restored);
+          this.synchronizeProcessPlugin(processLifecycle, pluginId, pluginPath, restored);
+        } else {
+          PluginLoader.processPluginLifecycles.delete(lifecycleKey);
+        }
+      }
+      throw error;
+    }
+  }
+
+  /*
+  FNXC:PluginLoader 2026-07-22-16:20:
+  A process lifecycle is shared by host and engine loaders, not merely its
+  initial onLoad promise. Stop and reload must update every adopter so no
+  loader retains an old active instance after another surface changes it.
+  */
+  private synchronizeProcessPlugin(
+    lifecycle: ProcessPluginLifecycle,
+    pluginId: string,
+    pluginPath: string,
+    plugin: FusionPlugin,
+  ): void {
+    for (const loader of lifecycle.participants) {
+      if (loader === lifecycle.owner) continue;
+      loader.plugins.set(pluginId, plugin);
+      loader.pluginRoots.set(pluginId, resolvePluginRootFromEntryPath(pluginPath));
+      loader.pluginSchemaContracts.delete(pluginId);
+    }
+  }
+
+  private async enqueueProcessLifecycleOperation<T>(
+    lifecycleKey: string,
+    operation: () => Promise<T>,
+  ): Promise<T> {
+    const predecessor = PluginLoader.processPluginLifecycleTails.get(lifecycleKey) ?? Promise.resolve();
+    const queued = predecessor.catch(() => undefined).then(operation);
+    const tail = queued.then(() => undefined, () => undefined);
+    PluginLoader.processPluginLifecycleTails.set(lifecycleKey, tail);
+    void tail.finally(() => {
+      if (PluginLoader.processPluginLifecycleTails.get(lifecycleKey) === tail) {
+        PluginLoader.processPluginLifecycleTails.delete(lifecycleKey);
+      }
+    });
+    return await queued;
+  }
+
+  private async reloadPluginFresh(
+    pluginId: string,
+    installation: PluginInstallation,
+    pluginPath: string,
+    options?: { timeoutMs?: number },
   ): Promise<FusionPlugin> {
     const timeoutMs = options?.timeoutMs ?? 5000;
 
-    // Get existing plugin
+    // A concurrent startup load may have completed on another loader.
     const oldPlugin = this.plugins.get(pluginId);
     if (!oldPlugin) {
       throw Object.assign(new Error(`Plugin "${pluginId}" is not loaded`), {
@@ -588,10 +725,6 @@ export class PluginLoader extends EventEmitter<{
       });
     }
 
-    // Get installation record for path
-    const installation = await this.options.pluginStore.getPlugin(pluginId);
-    const pluginPath = this.resolvePluginPath(installation.path);
-
     this.log.log(`Reloading plugin: ${pluginId}`);
 
     // Call onUnload with timeout
@@ -881,18 +1014,46 @@ export class PluginLoader extends EventEmitter<{
    * Stop and unload a single plugin.
    */
   async stopPlugin(pluginId: string): Promise<void> {
+    let installation: PluginInstallation;
+    try {
+      installation = await this.options.pluginStore.getPlugin(pluginId);
+    } catch {
+      this.log.log(`Plugin not loaded: ${pluginId}`);
+      return;
+    }
+    const pluginPath = this.resolvePluginPath(installation.path);
+    const lifecycleKey = this.getProcessLifecycleKey(pluginId, pluginPath);
+    const processLifecycle = PluginLoader.processPluginLifecycles.get(lifecycleKey);
+    if (!processLifecycle) {
+      await this.stopPluginFresh(pluginId, pluginPath);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    await this.enqueueProcessLifecycleOperation(lifecycleKey, async () => {
+      try {
+        await processLifecycle.promise;
+      } catch {
+        // A rejected load has already cleaned its local state.
+      }
+      await processLifecycle.owner.stopPluginFresh(pluginId, pluginPath);
+      for (const loader of processLifecycle.participants) {
+        if (loader === processLifecycle.owner) continue;
+        loader.discardProcessPlugin(pluginId, pluginPath);
+      }
+      if (PluginLoader.processPluginLifecycles.get(lifecycleKey) === processLifecycle) {
+        PluginLoader.processPluginLifecycles.delete(lifecycleKey);
+      }
+    });
+  }
+
+  private async stopPluginFresh(pluginId: string, pluginPath: string): Promise<void> {
     const plugin = this.plugins.get(pluginId);
     if (!plugin) {
       this.log.log(`Plugin not loaded: ${pluginId}`);
       return;
     }
 
-    // Get the plugin path for cache invalidation
-    const installation = await this.options.pluginStore.getPlugin(pluginId);
-    const pluginPath = this.resolvePluginPath(installation.path);
-
     try {
-      // Call onUnload hook
       const ctx = await this.createContext(plugin);
       await this.withTimeout(
         this.safeCallHook(plugin, "onUnload", [ctx]),
@@ -904,17 +1065,16 @@ export class PluginLoader extends EventEmitter<{
     }
 
     await this.updatePluginState(pluginId, "stopped");
+    this.discardProcessPlugin(pluginId, pluginPath);
+    this.emit("plugin:unloaded", { pluginId });
+    this.emit("plugin:stopped", pluginId);
+  }
 
-    // Remove from loaded plugins
+  private discardProcessPlugin(pluginId: string, pluginPath: string): void {
     this.plugins.delete(pluginId);
     this.pluginRoots.delete(pluginId);
     this.pluginSchemaContracts.delete(pluginId);
-
-    // Invalidate module cache for clean re-import
     this.invalidateModuleCache(pluginPath);
-
-    this.emit("plugin:unloaded", { pluginId });
-    this.emit("plugin:stopped", pluginId); // Backward compatibility
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/packages/engine/src/__tests__/plugin-startup-single-load.test.ts b/packages/engine/src/__tests__/plugin-startup-single-load.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..325d8e0798
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/engine/src/__tests__/plugin-startup-single-load.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { EventEmitter } from "node:events";
+import { mkdtemp, rm, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { PluginLoader } from "@fusion/core";
+import { PluginRunner } from "../plugin-runner.js";
+
+function createStore(root: string, entry: string) {
+  const installation = {
+    id: "startup-single-load", name: "Startup single load", version: "1.0.0", description: "fixture",
+    path: entry, enabled: true, state: "installed", settings: {}, dependencies: [],
+    createdAt: new Date().toISOString(), updatedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+  };
+  const events = new EventEmitter();
+  return {
+    pluginStore: {
+      getPlugin: vi.fn(async () => ({ ...installation })),
+      listPlugins: vi.fn(async () => [{ ...installation }]),
+      updatePluginState: vi.fn(async () => ({ ...installation })),
+      on: events.on.bind(events), off: events.off.bind(events),
+    },
+    taskStore: {
+      getRootDir: () => root,
+      preflightPluginSchema: vi.fn(() => null), runPluginSchemaInits: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
+      on: vi.fn(), off: vi.fn(),
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+describe("PluginRunner startup lifecycle", () => {
+  const roots: string[] = [];
+  afterEach(async () => {
+    await Promise.all(roots.splice(0).map((root) => rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true })));
+    delete (globalThis as Record<string, unknown>).__fusionEngineStartupOnLoad;
+  });
+
+  it("does not repeat onLoad when host loadAll and engine runner init race", async () => {
+    const root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "fusion-engine-plugin-startup-"));
+    roots.push(root);
+    const entry = join(root, "plugin.mjs");
+    await writeFile(entry, `export default {
+      manifest: { id: "startup-single-load", name: "fixture", version: "1.0.0", description: "fixture" },
+      state: "installed",
+      hooks: { onLoad: async () => { globalThis.__fusionEngineStartupOnLoad = (globalThis.__fusionEngineStartupOnLoad || 0) + 1; await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 20)); } },
+    };`);
+
+    const host = createStore(root, entry);
+    const engine = createStore(root, entry);
+    const hostLoader = new PluginLoader({ pluginStore: host.pluginStore as any, taskStore: host.taskStore as any });
+    const engineLoader = new PluginLoader({ pluginStore: engine.pluginStore as any, taskStore: engine.taskStore as any });
+    const runner = new PluginRunner({ pluginLoader: engineLoader, pluginStore: engine.pluginStore as any, taskStore: engine.taskStore as any, rootDir: root });
+
+    await Promise.all([hostLoader.loadAllPlugins(), runner.init()]);
+
+    expect((globalThis as Record<string, unknown>).__fusionEngineStartupOnLoad).toBe(1);
+    expect(engineLoader.isPluginLoaded("startup-single-load")).toBe(true);
+  });
+});