diff --git a/docs/moving_bodies.md b/docs/moving_bodies.md
index 2b0f069..8930a53 100644
--- a/docs/moving_bodies.md
+++ b/docs/moving_bodies.md
@@ -374,9 +374,13 @@ recorded as not runnable rather than replaced by another test.
   `MovingCircleLinks` (`u_w = u + omega x r` at the hit point) → static curved →
   `OneStep` → swap → force region → sensors → synchronize → read `no_donor` →
   commit (`applied := pending.offset`) → upload the hold record
-  (`c_old = c_new = applied`, `u = 0`). Hold steps launch no M1 and are the
-  S2a path. Any failure from the upload on marks the circles and the
-  Simulation failed; nothing is committed.
+  (`c_old = c_new = applied`, `u = 0`) → synchronize. Hold steps launch no M1
+  and are the S2a path. Commit point: the advancing step-group sync plus a
+  zero `no_donor` count; a failure before it commits nothing. The hold-record
+  upload stages the next step after the commit: if it (or its sync) fails,
+  `applied` already matches the moved device geometry, but the Simulation is
+  still marked failed and refuses reuse. Any failure from the first upload on
+  marks the circles and the Simulation failed.
 - M1 classifies with the old/new predicates only (no flag reads). Covered
   cells add raw `sum c G` / `sum G` of `G^{n-1}` to `cover_*` and become
   `SOLID|OBSTACLE|BC_CURVED`. Uncovered cells: donors are fluid in both
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_moving_bodies.py b/tests/unit/test_moving_bodies.py
index 9f7a31d..5130928 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_moving_bodies.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_moving_bodies.py
@@ -254,7 +254,8 @@ class Tables:
     def upload_records(self, circles, stream):
         records = [m.record() for m, _ in circles]
         self.log.append(("upload", records))
-        if self.fail == "upload":
+        uploads = sum(1 for w in self.log if isinstance(w, tuple) and w[0] == "upload")
+        if self.fail == "upload" or (self.fail == "hold_upload" and uploads == 2):
             raise RuntimeError("upload failed")
         return any(r[0] != r[1] for r in records)
 
@@ -294,15 +295,18 @@ def test_run_one_advances_and_commits_after_sync(monkeypatch):
     assert ("step", 3, False) in writes and motion.applied == (0., .25)
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("failure", ("upload", "no_donor"))
-def test_failed_advance_commits_nothing_and_fails_simulation(monkeypatch, failure):
-    kwargs = dict(fail="upload") if failure == "upload" else dict(no_donor=1.)
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("failure", ("upload", "no_donor", "hold_upload"))
+def test_failed_advance_fails_simulation(monkeypatch, failure):
+    kwargs = dict(no_donor=1.) if failure == "no_donor" else dict(fail=failure)
     sim, writes, motion = advancing_simulation(monkeypatch, **kwargs)
     motion._on_failure = sim._fail_moving
     motion.set_target((0., .25), (0., .05))
     with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
         sim.run(1, stream=STREAM)
-    assert motion.applied == (0., 0.) and motion.failed and sim._failed is not None
+    # Before the step-group sync nothing is committed; a failed hold-record upload
+    # happens after the commit (applied already matches the moved device geometry).
+    assert motion.applied == ((0., .25) if failure == "hold_upload" else (0., 0.))
+    assert motion.failed and sim._failed is not None
     with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="Simulation failed"):
         sim.run(1, stream=STREAM)