diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index e4a2766..824a54a 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -7,3 +7,6 @@ logs/
 config.yaml
 config.local.yaml
 config.pilot.yaml
+
+.claude/
+.workbuddy/
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/sql/02_sync_apply.sql b/sql/02_sync_apply.sql
index 740fe1b..1d332cf 100644
--- a/sql/02_sync_apply.sql
+++ b/sql/02_sync_apply.sql
@@ -3,6 +3,13 @@
 -- (excluding the ID key, computed, identity and rowversion columns) and runs a
 -- dynamic-SQL MERGE (last-write-wins by SourceLogID DESC) for Insert/Update and a
 -- DELETE for the last op = Delete. SET IDENTITY_INSERT ON preserves Access PKs.
+--
+-- CORRECTNESS NOTE: a SINGLE ranked CTE (rn=1 per RecordID, over ALL pending ops
+-- regardless of OperateType) is read by BOTH the upsert and delete branches.
+-- Earlier this was two independent ranked CTEs (one over Insert/Update, one over
+-- Delete), which let a stale Delete outrank a newer Insert for the same RecordID
+-- and silently drop a row whose true last op was an Insert. Routing off the one
+-- winning row's OperateType guarantees only the genuine last op wins.
 
 CREATE OR ALTER PROCEDURE dbo.usp_SyncApply
     @MaxRetries INT = 5
@@ -54,16 +61,22 @@ BEGIN
 
             IF @cols IS NOT NULL
             BEGIN
-                -- Upsert: last write wins (ROW_NUMBER over SourceLogID DESC).
+                -- Upsert: winners (rn=1) whose winning OperateType is
+                -- Insert/Update and carry RowData. The ranked CTE covers ALL
+                -- pending ops so the rn=1 row is the true last op for that
+                -- RecordID; an earlier Delete can no longer outrank a newer
+                -- Insert for the same RecordID.
                 SET @sql = N'SET IDENTITY_INSERT ' + @FullName + N' ON;'
+                         + N';WITH ranked AS ('
+                         + N'  SELECT RecordID, OperateType, RowData,'
+                         + N'         ROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY RecordID ORDER BY SourceLogID DESC) rn'
+                         + N'    FROM dbo.SyncQueue'
+                         + N'   WHERE TargetSchema=@sch AND TargetTable=@tbl AND Status=''pending'''
+                         + N')'
                          + N'MERGE ' + @FullName + N' WITH (HOLDLOCK) AS tgt'
                          + N' USING ('
-                         + N'  SELECT RecordID, RowData FROM ('
-                         + N'    SELECT *, ROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY RecordID ORDER BY SourceLogID DESC) rn'
-                         + N'      FROM dbo.SyncQueue'
-                         + N'     WHERE TargetSchema=@sch AND TargetTable=@tbl AND Status=''pending'''
-                         + N'       AND OperateType IN (''Insert'',''Update'') AND RowData IS NOT NULL'
-                         + N'  ) x WHERE rn=1'
+                         + N'  SELECT RecordID, RowData FROM ranked'
+                         + N'   WHERE rn=1 AND OperateType IN (''Insert'',''Update'') AND RowData IS NOT NULL'
                          + N') AS src ON tgt.ID = TRY_CAST(src.RecordID AS int)'
                          + N' WHEN MATCHED THEN UPDATE SET ' + @upd
                          + N' WHEN NOT MATCHED THEN INSERT (ID,' + @cols + N')'
@@ -72,16 +85,17 @@ BEGIN
                 EXEC sp_executesql @sql,
                      N'@sch NVARCHAR(128),@tbl NVARCHAR(255)', @sch, @tbl;
 
-                -- Delete: last op = Delete wins.
-                SET @sql = N'DELETE t FROM ' + @FullName + N' t'
-                         + N' JOIN ('
-                         + N'  SELECT RecordID FROM ('
-                         + N'    SELECT *, ROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY RecordID ORDER BY SourceLogID DESC) rn'
-                         + N'      FROM dbo.SyncQueue'
-                         + N'     WHERE TargetSchema=@sch AND TargetTable=@tbl AND Status=''pending'''
-                         + N'       AND OperateType=''Delete'''
-                         + N'  ) x WHERE rn=1'
-                         + N') d ON t.ID = TRY_CAST(d.RecordID AS int);';
+                -- Delete: winners (rn=1) whose winning OperateType is Delete.
+                -- Same ranked CTE — only the genuine last op can be a delete.
+                SET @sql = N';WITH ranked AS ('
+                         + N'  SELECT RecordID, OperateType,'
+                         + N'         ROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY RecordID ORDER BY SourceLogID DESC) rn'
+                         + N'    FROM dbo.SyncQueue'
+                         + N'   WHERE TargetSchema=@sch AND TargetTable=@tbl AND Status=''pending'''
+                         + N')'
+                         + N'DELETE t FROM ' + @FullName + N' t'
+                         + N' JOIN (SELECT RecordID FROM ranked WHERE rn=1 AND OperateType=''Delete'') d'
+                         + N'   ON t.ID = TRY_CAST(d.RecordID AS int);';
                 EXEC sp_executesql @sql,
                      N'@sch NVARCHAR(128),@tbl NVARCHAR(255)', @sch, @tbl;
             END