diff --git a/Assets/Tests/Editor/DynamicCodeToolTests/SharedRoslynCompilerWorkerHostTests.cs b/Assets/Tests/Editor/DynamicCodeToolTests/SharedRoslynCompilerWorkerHostTests.cs
index 0eef762da5..e8355b815e 100644
--- a/Assets/Tests/Editor/DynamicCodeToolTests/SharedRoslynCompilerWorkerHostTests.cs
+++ b/Assets/Tests/Editor/DynamicCodeToolTests/SharedRoslynCompilerWorkerHostTests.cs
@@ -44,6 +44,41 @@ public void Shutdown_WhenWorkerWasNeverStarted_ShouldRemainIdempotent()
             Assert.DoesNotThrow(() => session.Shutdown(unusedWorkerDirectoryPath));
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Verifies replacing the cached worker releases the previously owned process handle.
+        /// </summary>
+        [Test]
+        public void StartProcessLocked_WhenReplacingCachedProcess_ShouldDisposePreviousHandle()
+        {
+            SharedRoslynCompilerWorkerSession session = new();
+            Process previousProcess = new();
+            bool previousProcessDisposed = false;
+            int startAttempt = 0;
+            previousProcess.Disposed += (sender, args) => previousProcessDisposed = true;
+            session.SwapProcessStarterForTests(startInfo =>
+            {
+                startAttempt++;
+                return startAttempt == 1 ? previousProcess : null;
+            });
+            ProcessStartInfo ignoredStartInfo = new();
+
+            try
+            {
+                bool firstStartSucceeded = session.ExecuteLocked(
+                    () => session.StartProcessLocked(ignoredStartInfo));
+                bool secondStartSucceeded = session.ExecuteLocked(
+                    () => session.StartProcessLocked(ignoredStartInfo));
+
+                Assert.That(firstStartSucceeded, Is.True);
+                Assert.That(secondStartSucceeded, Is.False);
+                Assert.That(previousProcessDisposed, Is.True);
+            }
+            finally
+            {
+                previousProcess.Dispose();
+            }
+        }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Verifies a pending compiler stream does not keep the bounded drain waiting.
         /// </summary>
diff --git a/Packages/src/Editor/FirstPartyTools/ExecuteDynamicCode/DynamicCompilation/SharedRoslynCompilerWorkerSession.cs b/Packages/src/Editor/FirstPartyTools/ExecuteDynamicCode/DynamicCompilation/SharedRoslynCompilerWorkerSession.cs
index 0d9e4e6966..88a28b942e 100644
--- a/Packages/src/Editor/FirstPartyTools/ExecuteDynamicCode/DynamicCompilation/SharedRoslynCompilerWorkerSession.cs
+++ b/Packages/src/Editor/FirstPartyTools/ExecuteDynamicCode/DynamicCompilation/SharedRoslynCompilerWorkerSession.cs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ internal sealed class SharedRoslynCompilerWorkerSession
     {
         private readonly object _syncRoot = new();
         private Action<string> _deleteWorkerDirectory = path => Directory.Delete(path, true);
+        private Func<ProcessStartInfo, Process> _startProcess = ProcessStartHelper.TryStart;
         private Action<Process, string> _sendCompileRequest = SendCompileRequestCore;
         private Func<ExternalCompilerPaths, string, string, string, CompilerMessage[]>
             _compileWorkerAssemblyForTests;
@@ -41,7 +42,13 @@ internal bool HasLiveProcessLocked()
         internal bool StartProcessLocked(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
         {
             AssertLockHeld();
-            _workerProcess = ProcessStartHelper.TryStart(startInfo);
+            // EnsureWorkerReady reaches this method only after the same lock observed no live process,
+            // so replacement releases the stale handle without retrying graceful shutdown.
+            Process previousProcess = _workerProcess;
+            _workerProcess = null;
+            previousProcess?.Dispose();
+
+            _workerProcess = _startProcess(startInfo);
             return _workerProcess != null;
         }
 
@@ -149,6 +156,16 @@ internal Action<string> SwapWorkerDirectoryDeleterForTests(Action<string> delete
             return previous;
         }
 
+        internal Func<ProcessStartInfo, Process> SwapProcessStarterForTests(
+            Func<ProcessStartInfo, Process> starter)
+        {
+            Debug.Assert(starter != null, "starter must not be null");
+
+            Func<ProcessStartInfo, Process> previous = _startProcess;
+            _startProcess = starter;
+            return previous;
+        }
+
         internal Action<Process, string> SwapCompileRequestSenderForTests(Action<Process, string> sender)
         {
             Debug.Assert(sender != null, "sender must not be null");