diff --git a/docs/guides/javascript/javascript-application-workflows.md b/docs/guides/javascript/javascript-application-workflows.md
index 483239b8e4..e1968273b3 100644
--- a/docs/guides/javascript/javascript-application-workflows.md
+++ b/docs/guides/javascript/javascript-application-workflows.md
@@ -226,6 +226,12 @@ registrations/removals and dispatch, Node timers and cancellation handles, async
 `node:child_process` creation and ownership, configuration sources and direct
 defaults, request construction and response consumers, parse/coercion/
 validation boundaries, and built-in resource acquisition/release.
+For `fs/promises.open`, a binding receiving the Promise is distinct from one
+receiving the awaited FileHandle. Awaiting the Promise later does not replace
+the original binding, but `h = await h` can replace it with the FileHandle.
+Receiver writes can therefore retain a candidate release and its ownership
+ambiguity; a still-known Promise has no direct FileHandle release. Acquisitions
+remain retained, and unknown loader authority keeps its existing candidate tag.
 Reassignments connect retained right-hand reads to the binding or property
 write. Compound assignments also retain the previous-value input; logical
 assignments keep conditional inputs as candidates. These edges describe
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptBuiltinResourceMethods.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptBuiltinResourceMethods.ts
index 95f66f250b..791bb254f3 100644
--- a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptBuiltinResourceMethods.ts
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptBuiltinResourceMethods.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,11 @@ export const BUILTIN_RESOURCE_METHODS = {
 } as const;
 
 /**
- * Release methods the value Node returns from each acquisition actually has.
+ * Release methods the resource handle from each acquisition actually has.
+ *
+ * `fs/promises.open` returns a Promise; the resource owner admits FileHandle
+ * methods when receiver writes can supply its fulfilled value, retaining
+ * ambiguity and the existing qualifier for conditional built-in identity.
  *
  * `fs.openSync` returns a numeric descriptor and `fs.open` in its callback form
  * returns `undefined`, so neither has a release method at all; the descriptor is
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticAnalysis.builtin_defaults.test.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticAnalysis.builtin_defaults.test.ts
index 38741665e0..d18f80d26f 100644
--- a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticAnalysis.builtin_defaults.test.ts
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticAnalysis.builtin_defaults.test.ts
@@ -562,7 +562,9 @@ it.each([
 it("preserves a saved promises object after deleting its parent export", () => {
   const ir =
     analyzeCommonJsSemanticFixture(`const fs = require('fs'); const fsp = fs.promises;
-    delete fs.promises; const handle = fsp.open('kept'); handle.close();`);
+    delete fs.promises;
+    async function useHandle() { const handle = await fsp.open('kept'); handle.close(); }
+    useHandle();`);
   expect(
     ir.resourceOperations.map(({ kind, method }) => ({ kind, method })),
   ).toEqual([
@@ -591,7 +593,9 @@ it("recognizes nested ESM namespace receivers as original built-ins", () => {
 it("keeps intact fs/promises identity after deleting the fs.promises slot", () => {
   const ir =
     analyzeCommonJsSemanticFixture(`const fs=require('fs'); delete fs.promises;
-    const fsp=require('fs/promises'); const handle=fsp.open('kept'); handle.close();`);
+    const fsp=require('fs/promises');
+    async function useHandle() { const handle=await fsp.open('kept'); handle.close(); }
+    useHandle();`);
   expect(
     ir.resourceOperations.map(({ kind, method }) => ({ kind, method })),
   ).toEqual([
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticAnalysis.resource_handles.test.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticAnalysis.resource_handles.test.ts
index 2b0d5ea098..6cb01c4a4e 100644
--- a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticAnalysis.resource_handles.test.ts
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticAnalysis.resource_handles.test.ts
@@ -1,16 +1,46 @@
 import { expect, it } from "vitest";
 
-import { analyzeJavaScriptSemantics } from "./javascriptSemanticAnalysis.js";
+import {
+  analyzeJavaScriptSemantics,
+  analyzeParsedJavaScriptSemantics,
+} from "./javascriptSemanticAnalysis.js";
+import { parseJavaScriptSource } from "./javascriptSourceParser.js";
+import { analyzeCommonJsSemanticFixture } from "../../../tests/fixtures/javascriptCommonJsAnalysis.js";
+
+const operations = (source: string) => {
+  const result = analyzeJavaScriptSemantics(source);
+  expect(result.coverage.status).toBe("complete");
+  return result.resourceOperations;
+};
 
 const releases = (source: string) =>
-  analyzeJavaScriptSemantics(source)
-    .resourceOperations.filter(({ kind }) => kind === "release")
+  operations(source)
+    .filter(({ kind }) => kind === "release")
     .map(({ method, linkedResourceIds, resolution }) => ({
       method,
       linked: linkedResourceIds.length,
       resolution,
     }));
 
+const commonJsPromise = `const { open } = require("node:fs/promises"); const h = open("input.txt"); h.close();`;
+
+it("keeps conditional release facts when the loader is unknown", () => {
+  expect(
+    operations(commonJsPromise).filter(({ kind }) => kind === "release"),
+  ).toEqual([expect.objectContaining({ builtinAuthority: "candidate" })]);
+});
+
+it("does not close a Promise through a proven CommonJS builtin", () => {
+  const result = analyzeCommonJsSemanticFixture(commonJsPromise);
+  expect(result.coverage.status).toBe("complete");
+  expect(
+    result.resourceOperations.filter(({ kind }) => kind === "acquire"),
+  ).toHaveLength(1);
+  expect(
+    result.resourceOperations.filter(({ kind }) => kind === "release"),
+  ).toEqual([]);
+});
+
 it.each([
   [
     "a declaration",
@@ -57,3 +87,114 @@ it.each([
     `),
   ).toEqual([{ method: "destroy", linked: 1, resolution: "partial" }]);
 });
+
+it.each([
+  'const h = open("input.txt"); h.close();',
+  'let h; h = open("input.txt"); h.close();',
+  'const h = open("input.txt"); await h; h.close();',
+  'const h = open("input.txt"); await h.close();',
+  'const h = open("input.txt"); h["close"]();',
+  'const h = open("input.txt"); const later = () => h.close();',
+])("does not release a FileHandle through its Promise: %s", (body) => {
+  const result = operations(`import { open } from "node:fs/promises"; ${body}`);
+  expect(result.filter(({ kind }) => kind === "acquire")).toHaveLength(1);
+  expect(result.filter(({ kind }) => kind === "release")).toEqual([]);
+});
+
+it.each([
+  'const stream = await await open("input.txt");',
+  'const stream = (await (open("input.txt")));',
+])("retains the directly awaited FileHandle through %s", (acquire) => {
+  expect(
+    releases(
+      `import { open } from "node:fs/promises"; ${acquire} stream.close();`,
+    ),
+  ).toEqual([{ method: "close", linked: 1, resolution: "complete" }]);
+});
+
+it("keeps the awaited candidate partial when a Promise can replace it", () => {
+  const result = operations(`
+    import { open } from "node:fs/promises";
+    let h = await open("input.txt");
+    if (replace) h = open("other.txt");
+    h.close();
+  `);
+  expect(result.filter(({ kind }) => kind === "acquire")).toHaveLength(2);
+  expect(
+    result
+      .filter(({ kind }) => kind === "release")
+      .map(({ linkedResourceIds, resolution }) => ({
+        linked: linkedResourceIds.length,
+        resolution,
+      })),
+  ).toEqual([{ linked: 1, resolution: "partial" }]);
+});
+
+it.each([
+  "h = await h;",
+  "if (settle) h = await h;",
+  "h = await (await h);",
+  "h = await transform(h);",
+  'const ready = await h; eval("h = ready");',
+])("keeps a candidate FileHandle after receiver write %s", (write) => {
+  const result = operations(`
+    import { open } from "node:fs/promises";
+    let h = open("input.txt");
+    ${write}
+    h.close();
+  `);
+  const acquired = result.filter(({ kind }) => kind === "acquire");
+  expect(acquired).toHaveLength(1);
+  expect(result.filter(({ kind }) => kind === "release")).toEqual([
+    expect.objectContaining({
+      linkedResourceIds: [acquired[0]?.resourceId],
+      resolution: "partial",
+    }),
+  ]);
+});
+
+it.each([
+  'h = open("other.txt"); h.close();',
+  "h = null; h.close();",
+  "h.close(); h = await h;",
+])("does not invent a fulfilled receiver for %s", (after) => {
+  expect(
+    releases(
+      `import { open } from "node:fs/promises"; let h = open("input.txt"); ${after}`,
+    ),
+  ).toEqual([]);
+});
+
+it("preserves ambiguity through a write from an unknown loader", () => {
+  const parsed = parseJavaScriptSource(
+    `
+    import { open } from "node:fs/promises";
+    const other = require("node:fs/promises");
+    let h = open("input.txt");
+    h = other.open("other.txt");
+    h.close();
+  `,
+    "entry.MJS",
+  );
+  if (parsed === null) throw new Error("Expected an unknown-loader fixture");
+  const ir = analyzeParsedJavaScriptSemantics(parsed);
+  expect(ir.coverage.status).toBe("complete");
+  const result = ir.resourceOperations;
+  const acquired = result.filter(({ kind }) => kind === "acquire");
+  expect(acquired).toHaveLength(2);
+  expect(result.filter(({ kind }) => kind === "release")).toEqual([
+    expect.objectContaining({
+      linkedResourceIds: acquired.map(({ resourceId }) => resourceId).sort(),
+      resolution: "partial",
+      builtinAuthority: "candidate",
+    }),
+  ]);
+});
+
+it("keeps an awaited handle release uncertain after an opaque receiver write", () => {
+  expect(
+    releases(
+      `import {open} from "node:fs/promises";let h=await open("input.txt");eval("h = other");h.close();`,
+    ),
+  ).toEqual([{ method: "close", linked: 1, resolution: "partial" }]);
+});
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticResources.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticResources.ts
index 2ac936911a..f4f72a4ba9 100644
--- a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticResources.ts
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticResources.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ import {
   unwrapJavaScriptExpression,
 } from "./javascriptAstValues.js";
 import { isUnmodifiedGlobalReference } from "./javascriptSemanticAmbientWrites.js";
+import { semanticOpaqueBindingReadMayHaveChanged } from "./javascriptSemanticOpaqueEffects.js";
+import { semanticBindingAtRead } from "./javascriptSemanticMutationInitializers.js";
 import {
   resolveSemanticBindingState,
   type JavaScriptSemanticAnalysisState,
@@ -51,6 +53,8 @@ interface ResourceCandidate {
   readonly method: JavaScriptSemanticResourceOperation["method"];
   readonly ownerCallableId: string | null;
   readonly resultBindingId: string | null;
+  /** The initial result is the opening Promise; later writes may replace it. */
+  readonly resultIsPromise: boolean;
 }
 
 /** Recover built-in filesystem/network acquisition and local release handles. */
@@ -345,6 +349,15 @@ const collectAcquisitions = (
         : { builtinAuthority: reference.builtinAuthority }),
       ownerCallableId: context.callableStack.at(-1) ?? null,
       resultBindingId: outerDataEffectBinding(node, context),
+      resultIsPromise:
+        reference.builtinAuthority === undefined &&
+        reference.specifier === "fs/promises" &&
+        reference.method === "open" &&
+        !context.ancestors.some(
+          (parent) =>
+            t.isAwaitExpression(parent) &&
+            unwrapJavaScriptExpression(parent.argument).node === node,
+        ),
     });
   });
   return output;
@@ -381,8 +394,30 @@ const collectReleases = (
     const candidates =
       binding === undefined ? [] : (byBinding.get(binding.bindingId) ?? []);
     if (binding === undefined || candidates.length === 0) return;
-    const linked = candidates.filter((acquisition) =>
-      releaseMethodsFor(acquisition).includes(method),
+    const opaqueReceiver = semanticOpaqueBindingReadMayHaveChanged(
+      binding,
+      member.object,
+      context.state,
+    );
+    const receiver = candidates.some(({ resultIsPromise }) => resultIsPromise)
+      ? semanticBindingAtRead(binding, member.object, context.state).binding
+      : binding;
+    const knownAcquisitions = new Set<t.Node>(
+      candidates
+        .filter(({ builtinAuthority }) => builtinAuthority === undefined)
+        .map(({ node }) => node),
+    );
+    const linked = candidates.filter(
+      (acquisition) =>
+        releaseMethodsFor(acquisition).includes(method) &&
+        (!acquisition.resultIsPromise ||
+          opaqueReceiver ||
+          mayReceiveFulfilledHandle(
+            receiver,
+            acquisition,
+            knownAcquisitions,
+            context.state,
+          )),
     );
     // No linked acquisition exposes this release method, so the call is not a
     // release of it at all: Node throws at the call site instead.
@@ -399,6 +434,7 @@ const collectReleases = (
         ? { builtinAuthority: "candidate" as const }
         : {}),
       resolution:
+        !opaqueReceiver &&
         linked.length === 1 &&
         holdsOnlyAcquisitions(binding, linked, context.state)
           ? "complete"
@@ -408,6 +444,34 @@ const collectReleases = (
   return output;
 };
 
+/** Unwrap only direct awaits; a standalone await does not write its operand. */
+const resourceInitializer = (node: t.Node) => {
+  let value = unwrapJavaScriptExpression(node).node;
+  let awaited = false;
+  while (t.isAwaitExpression(value)) {
+    awaited = true;
+    value = unwrapJavaScriptExpression(value.argument).node;
+  }
+  return { value, awaited };
+};
+
+/** Unknown receiver writes retain a candidate; known other acquisitions do not alias it. */
+const mayReceiveFulfilledHandle = (
+  binding: JavaScriptSemanticBindingState,
+  acquisition: ResourceCandidate,
+  knownAcquisitions: ReadonlySet<t.Node>,
+  state: JavaScriptSemanticAnalysisState,
+): boolean =>
+  [...binding.initializers, ...binding.referenceInitializers].some(
+    ({ node, projection }) => {
+      if (projection.length > 0) return true;
+      const { value, awaited } = resourceInitializer(node);
+      if (value === acquisition.node) return awaited;
+      if (isNullishPlaceholder(value, state)) return false;
+      return !knownAcquisitions.has(value);
+    },
+  );
+
 /**
  * A lexical handle identifies its acquisition only while every value written
  * to the binding is that acquisition itself. Any replacement, even a
@@ -423,9 +487,7 @@ const holdsOnlyAcquisitions = (
   [...binding.initializers, ...binding.referenceInitializers].every(
     ({ node, projection }) => {
       if (projection.length > 0) return false;
-      let value = unwrapJavaScriptExpression(node).node;
-      if (t.isAwaitExpression(value))
-        value = unwrapJavaScriptExpression(value.argument).node;
+      const { value } = resourceInitializer(node);
       return (
         isNullishPlaceholder(value, state) ||
         linked.some((acquisition) => acquisition.node === value)
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/applications/applicationPromiseHandleCliMcp.test.ts b/tests/acceptance/applications/applicationPromiseHandleCliMcp.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6e4d110028
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/acceptance/applications/applicationPromiseHandleCliMcp.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+import { Ajv2020 } from "ajv/dist/2020.js";
+import { createHash } from "node:crypto";
+import { writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { expect } from "vitest";
+import { javascriptApplicationAnalysisResultSchema } from "../../../src/domain/javascript/javascriptApplicationAnalysis.js";
+import { parseEvidence } from "../../../src/domain/evidence.js";
+import { connectLocalToolsMcp } from "../../fixtures/localToolsMcp.js";
+import { createTestTempDirectory } from "../../fixtures/temporaryDirectory.js";
+import { cliTest } from "../../support/cli/cliFixture.js";
+
+cliTest.for(["promise", "awaited", "reassigned", "opaque"] as const)(
+  "distinguishes the FileHandle carrier %s through CLI and MCP",
+  async (mode, { cli }) => {
+    const { client, call } = await connectLocalToolsMcp({
+      REA_MCP_TOOL_FAMILIES: "electron",
+      REA_MCP_INPUT_SCHEMA_PROFILE: "full",
+      REA_MCP_OUTPUT_SCHEMA_PROFILE: "full",
+    });
+    const definition = (await client.listTools()).tools.find(
+      ({ name }) => name === "analyze_javascript_application",
+    );
+    if (definition === undefined)
+      throw new Error("Missing JavaScript analysis definition");
+    const validate = new Ajv2020({
+      strict: false,
+      validateFormats: false,
+    }).compile(definition.inputSchema);
+    const root = await createTestTempDirectory("rea-promise-handle-");
+    const bodies = {
+      promise: 'const handle = open("input.txt", "r");',
+      awaited: 'const handle = await open("input.txt", "r");',
+      reassigned: 'let handle = open("input.txt", "r"); handle = await handle;',
+      opaque:
+        'let handle = open("input.txt", "r"); const ready = await handle; eval("handle = ready");',
+    };
+    const source = `import {open} from "node:fs/promises";\n${bodies[mode]}\nhandle.close();\n`;
+    const sha = createHash("sha256").update(source).digest("hex");
+    await Promise.all([
+      writeFile(
+        join(root, "package.json"),
+        JSON.stringify({
+          name: "promise-handle",
+          type: "module",
+          main: "main.js",
+        }),
+      ),
+      writeFile(join(root, "main.js"), source),
+    ]);
+    const response = await cli.run({
+      arguments: ["analyze-javascript-application", root, "--json"],
+    });
+    expect(response.exitCode, response.stdout).toBe(0);
+    const args = { input_path: root };
+    expect(validate(args), JSON.stringify(validate.errors)).toBe(true);
+    const mcp = await call(definition.name, args);
+    expect(mcp.isError, JSON.stringify(mcp)).not.toBe(true);
+    for (const evidence of [response.json, mcp.structuredContent]) {
+      const result = javascriptApplicationAnalysisResultSchema.parse(
+        parseEvidence(evidence).normalized_result,
+      );
+      expect(result.statistics.parsed_javascript_files).toBe(1);
+      expect(result.statistics.parse_failures).toBe(0);
+      const graph = result.semantic_graph;
+      if (graph === undefined) throw new Error("Missing semantic graph");
+      expect(
+        graph.nodes.filter(({ kind }) => kind === "resource"),
+      ).toHaveLength(1);
+      expect(
+        graph.relations.filter(({ relation }) => relation === "acquires"),
+      ).toHaveLength(1);
+      expect
+        .soft(graph.relations.filter(({ relation }) => relation === "releases"))
+        .toHaveLength(mode === "promise" ? 0 : 1);
+      if (mode === "reassigned" || mode === "opaque") {
+        const resource = graph.nodes.find(({ kind }) => kind === "resource");
+        expect
+          .soft(
+            graph.relations.filter(({ relation }) => relation === "releases"),
+          )
+          .toEqual([
+            expect.objectContaining({
+              resolution: "candidate",
+              target_node_id: resource?.node_id,
+            }),
+          ]);
+        expect.soft(graph.unknowns).toEqual(
+          expect.arrayContaining([
+            expect.objectContaining({
+              family: "resource-lifecycle",
+              reason: "ambiguous-target",
+              relation_kinds: ["releases"],
+              candidate_node_ids: [resource?.node_id],
+            }),
+          ]),
+        );
+      }
+      expect(
+        graph.nodes.some(
+          ({ identity }) =>
+            identity.artifact_sha256 === sha &&
+            identity.module_path === "main.js",
+        ),
+      ).toBe(true);
+    }
+  },
+);