diff --git a/docs/PLAN.md b/docs/PLAN.md
index 97e4636..8d198f6 100644
--- a/docs/PLAN.md
+++ b/docs/PLAN.md
@@ -254,8 +254,15 @@ Replaces the legacy Google-Sheet → `.data` → GIMP → Script-Fu pipeline
   generates + applies the wallpaper on profile activation when
   `AppConfig.OverlayTemplatePath` is set (best-effort, off by default, never breaks
   activation). The live `SystemParametersInfo` apply changes a user setting, so it
-  is gated behind config and not exercised by tests. ⏳ Optional: restore the prior
-  wallpaper when going dormant.
+  is gated behind config and not exercised by tests. **Restore-on-dormant — done ✅:**
+  `RioCoordinator` captures the user's own wallpaper (`WallpaperApplier.GetCurrent`)
+  the first time it overrides it, and puts it back (`WallpaperApplier.Restore`) on
+  every `GoDormant` and on `Dispose` — so idle/native-game/exit return the desktop
+  to what the user had. Capture is once-per-override (switching between cockpit
+  profiles never records a cockpit wallpaper as the "previous"); only engages when
+  `OverlayTemplatePath` is set. Known gap: a hard crash between apply and restore
+  leaves the cockpit wallpaper (SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE persists it) — a future
+  crash-recovery could persist the saved path to config.
 - **Wallpaper maker — done ✅.** `RioJoy.Tray/Editor/WallpaperMakerForm` (tray →
   "Wallpaper maker") is the interactive replacement for the Sheet → GIMP pipeline:
   it renders the profile's wallpaper live on the template base image, outlines all
diff --git a/src/RioJoy.Tray/RioCoordinator.cs b/src/RioJoy.Tray/RioCoordinator.cs
index 9d4eedd..16effc1 100644
--- a/src/RioJoy.Tray/RioCoordinator.cs
+++ b/src/RioJoy.Tray/RioCoordinator.cs
@@ -44,6 +44,11 @@ public sealed class RioCoordinator : IDisposable
     private IDisposable? _joystick;
     private string? _activeProfileName;
 
+    // The user's own desktop wallpaper, captured the first time we override it with
+    // a cockpit wallpaper. null = we are not currently overriding (nothing to
+    // restore). "" is a valid captured value (the user had no wallpaper).
+    private string? _savedWallpaper;
+
     public RioCoordinator(Func<AppConfig> config, Func<string, IRioTransport>? transportFactory = null)
     {
         _config = config ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(config));
@@ -257,6 +262,7 @@ public sealed class RioCoordinator : IDisposable
             return;
         try
         {
+            CaptureWallpaperOnce();
             WallpaperApplier.Apply(profile.WallpaperPath!);
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
@@ -280,6 +286,7 @@ public sealed class RioCoordinator : IDisposable
 
             new ProfileWallpaperGenerator().Generate(template, templateDir, profile.OverlayLabels, outPath);
             profile.WallpaperPath = outPath;
+            CaptureWallpaperOnce();
             WallpaperApplier.Apply(outPath);
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
@@ -289,6 +296,32 @@ public sealed class RioCoordinator : IDisposable
 #endif
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Remember the user's current desktop wallpaper the first time we override it,
+    /// so it can be restored when we go dormant. No-op once captured (so switching
+    /// between cockpit profiles never records a cockpit wallpaper as the "previous").
+    /// </summary>
+    private void CaptureWallpaperOnce()
+    {
+        if (_savedWallpaper != null)
+            return;
+        try { _savedWallpaper = WallpaperApplier.GetCurrent(); }
+        catch { _savedWallpaper = string.Empty; } // best-effort; empty just clears on restore
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Put the user's pre-activation wallpaper back, if we overrode it. Called when
+    /// going dormant and on shutdown; best-effort and idempotent.
+    /// </summary>
+    private void RestoreWallpaper()
+    {
+        if (_savedWallpaper == null)
+            return; // never overrode — leave the desktop alone
+        try { WallpaperApplier.Restore(_savedWallpaper); }
+        catch { /* best-effort — never block going dormant */ }
+        _savedWallpaper = null;
+    }
+
     private static string SafeFileName(string name)
     {
         foreach (char c in Path.GetInvalidFileNameChars())
@@ -299,6 +332,7 @@ public sealed class RioCoordinator : IDisposable
     private void GoDormant(string status)
     {
         Teardown();
+        RestoreWallpaper(); // put the user's own desktop back
         SetStatus(status);
     }
 
@@ -330,5 +364,9 @@ public sealed class RioCoordinator : IDisposable
         StatusChanged?.Invoke(status);
     }
 
-    public void Dispose() => Teardown();
+    public void Dispose()
+    {
+        Teardown();
+        RestoreWallpaper(); // clean exit shouldn't leave a cockpit wallpaper behind
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/RioJoy.Tray/WallpaperApplier.cs b/src/RioJoy.Tray/WallpaperApplier.cs
index 29d995e..797689e 100644
--- a/src/RioJoy.Tray/WallpaperApplier.cs
+++ b/src/RioJoy.Tray/WallpaperApplier.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+using System.Text;
 
 namespace RioJoy.Tray;
 
@@ -16,8 +17,10 @@ namespace RioJoy.Tray;
 public static class WallpaperApplier
 {
     private const int SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER = 0x0014;
+    private const int SPI_GETDESKWALLPAPER = 0x0073;
     private const int SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE = 0x01; // persist across logon
     private const int SPIF_SENDCHANGE = 0x02;    // broadcast WM_SETTINGCHANGE
+    private const int MaxPath = 260;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Apply <paramref name="imagePath"/> as the desktop wallpaper. Returns true on
@@ -50,7 +53,36 @@ public static class WallpaperApplier
             SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER, 0, full, SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE | SPIF_SENDCHANGE);
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Read the desktop wallpaper Windows currently has set (empty string when none
+    /// is set — a solid-color desktop). Capture this before <see cref="Apply"/>
+    /// overrides it, so <see cref="Restore"/> can put it back when going dormant.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static string GetCurrent()
+    {
+        var buffer = new StringBuilder(MaxPath);
+        bool ok = SystemParametersInfo(SPI_GETDESKWALLPAPER, buffer.Capacity, buffer, 0);
+        return ok ? buffer.ToString() : string.Empty;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Restore a wallpaper previously read by <see cref="GetCurrent"/>. Unlike
+    /// <see cref="Apply"/> this does not require the file to exist and accepts an
+    /// empty path (which clears the wallpaper to the solid desktop color) — the
+    /// value came straight from Windows, so it is passed back verbatim. Returns the
+    /// API result; callers treat it as best-effort.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static bool Restore(string? previous)
+    {
+        return SystemParametersInfo(
+            SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER, 0, previous ?? string.Empty, SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE | SPIF_SENDCHANGE);
+    }
+
     [DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true, CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
     [return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
     private static extern bool SystemParametersInfo(int uAction, int uParam, string lpvParam, int fuWinIni);
+
+    [DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true, CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
+    [return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
+    private static extern bool SystemParametersInfo(int uAction, int uParam, StringBuilder lpvParam, int fuWinIni);
 }