diff --git a/shelfmark/main.py b/shelfmark/main.py
index f8076627..6d3e3ea4 100644
--- a/shelfmark/main.py
+++ b/shelfmark/main.py
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ if user_db is not None and download_history_service is not None:
                 _reconciled["marked"],
                 _reconciled["reopened"],
             )
-    except (ImportError, OSError, RuntimeError, ValueError, sqlite3.Error) as exc:
+    except _IMPORT_OPERATIONAL_ERRORS as exc:
         logger.warning("Could not reconcile interrupted downloads at startup: %s", exc)
 
 # Start download coordinator
diff --git a/tests/core/test_startup_reconcile_guard.py b/tests/core/test_startup_reconcile_guard.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..96efa680
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/core/test_startup_reconcile_guard.py
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+"""A reconcile that cannot run must never stop the app from starting."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import importlib
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+import pytest
+
+from shelfmark.core.logger import CustomLogger
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("error", [TypeError("unexpected row shape"), OSError("disk went away")])
+def test_a_failing_startup_reconcile_only_logs_a_warning(error):
+    """The module-level guard in main.py runs before the coordinator starts.
+
+    An error it does not catch fails the import of shelfmark.main, and the worker then
+    fails to boot on every restart.
+    """
+    # Patch the class, not main.logger: reloading main builds a new logger object.
+    with (
+        patch("shelfmark.download.orchestrator.start"),
+        patch("shelfmark.download.warmup.start"),
+        patch(
+            "shelfmark.core.startup_reconcile.reconcile_interrupted_downloads",
+            side_effect=error,
+        ) as reconcile,
+        patch.object(CustomLogger, "warning") as warning,
+    ):
+        import shelfmark.main as main
+
+        importlib.reload(main)
+
+    # Importing and then reloading runs the module body twice, so only check it was reached.
+    assert reconcile.called
+    assert any(
+        "Could not reconcile interrupted downloads at startup" in str(call.args[0])
+        for call in warning.call_args_list
+    )