diff --git a/compositor/src/handlers/layer_shell.rs b/compositor/src/handlers/layer_shell.rs
index ce8848e..2296573 100644
--- a/compositor/src/handlers/layer_shell.rs
+++ b/compositor/src/handlers/layer_shell.rs
@@ -15,18 +15,32 @@ impl WlrLayerShellHandler for Ferese {
     }
 
     fn new_layer_surface(&mut self, surface: LayerSurface, output: Option<WlOutput>, _layer: Layer, namespace: String) {
-        let output = output
-            .as_ref()
-            .and_then(Output::from_resource)
-            .or_else(|| self.space.outputs().next().cloned());
+        // A wl_output resource can outlive its registered desktop output.
+        // Explicit requests retain their identity; only unspecified requests
+        // may use the focused/default output policy.
+        let usable = |output: &Output| {
+            self.output_id(output).is_some()
+                && output.current_mode().is_some()
+                && self.space.outputs().any(|candidate| candidate == output)
+        };
+        let output = match output {
+            Some(resource) => Output::from_resource(&resource).filter(usable),
+            None => self
+                .focused_output()
+                .filter(|output| usable(output))
+                .cloned()
+                .or_else(|| self.space.outputs().find(|output| usable(output)).cloned()),
+        };
         let Some(output) = output else {
             tracing::warn!(%namespace, "layer surface has no available output");
+            surface.send_close();
             return;
         };
         let layer = DesktopLayerSurface::new(surface, namespace.clone());
 
         if let Err(error) = layer_map_for_output(&output).map_layer(&layer) {
             tracing::warn!(%namespace, %error, "failed to map layer surface");
+            layer.layer_surface().send_close();
             return;
         }
 
@@ -311,3 +325,6 @@ mod tests {
         assert_ne!(original, LayoutState::from_policy(policy, Rectangle::default()));
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod output_tests;
diff --git a/compositor/src/handlers/layer_shell/output_tests.rs b/compositor/src/handlers/layer_shell/output_tests.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..21d2db9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compositor/src/handlers/layer_shell/output_tests.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,303 @@
+use super::*;
+use crate::state::{ClientState, dispatch_test_client as dispatch, test_client_request as request};
+use smithay::output::{Mode, PhysicalProperties, Subpixel};
+use smithay::reexports::calloop::EventLoop;
+use smithay::reexports::wayland_protocols_wlr::layer_shell::v1::server::zwlr_layer_shell_v1::ZwlrLayerShellV1;
+use smithay::reexports::wayland_server::Resource;
+use smithay::reexports::wayland_server::protocol::wl_compositor::WlCompositor;
+use std::io::Read;
+use std::os::unix::net::UnixStream;
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+fn fixture() -> (Ferese, EventLoop<'static, Ferese>) {
+    let mut events = EventLoop::try_new().unwrap();
+    let state = crate::startup_tests::state(&mut events);
+    (state, events)
+}
+
+fn output(state: &mut Ferese, name: &str, x: i32) -> Output {
+    let output = Output::new(
+        name.into(),
+        PhysicalProperties {
+            size: (0, 0).into(),
+            subpixel: Subpixel::Unknown,
+            make: "test".into(),
+            model: "test".into(),
+        },
+    );
+    output.change_current_state(
+        Some(Mode {
+            size: (800, 600).into(),
+            refresh: 60_000,
+        }),
+        None,
+        None,
+        None,
+    );
+    state.space.map_output(&output, (x, 0));
+    state.register_output(&output, name.into());
+    output
+}
+
+fn read(wire: &mut UnixStream) -> Vec<Vec<u32>> {
+    wire.set_nonblocking(true).unwrap();
+    let mut bytes = Vec::new();
+    assert_eq!(
+        wire.read_to_end(&mut bytes).unwrap_err().kind(),
+        std::io::ErrorKind::WouldBlock
+    );
+    wire.set_nonblocking(false).unwrap();
+    let mut messages = Vec::new();
+    let mut offset = 0;
+    while offset < bytes.len() {
+        let header = u32::from_ne_bytes(bytes[offset + 4..offset + 8].try_into().unwrap());
+        let len = (header >> 16) as usize;
+        messages.push(
+            bytes[offset..offset + len]
+                .chunks_exact(4)
+                .map(|word| u32::from_ne_bytes(word.try_into().unwrap()))
+                .collect(),
+        );
+        offset += len;
+    }
+    messages
+}
+
+struct Client {
+    client: smithay::reexports::wayland_server::Client,
+    wire: UnixStream,
+    compositor: WlCompositor,
+    shell: ZwlrLayerShellV1,
+}
+
+impl Client {
+    fn new(state: &mut Ferese) -> Self {
+        let (server, mut wire) = UnixStream::pair().unwrap();
+        let client = state
+            .display_handle
+            .insert_client(server, Arc::new(ClientState::default()))
+            .unwrap();
+        let compositor = client
+            .create_resource::<WlCompositor, (), Ferese>(&state.display_handle, 6, ())
+            .unwrap();
+        let shell = client
+            .create_resource::<ZwlrLayerShellV1, (), Ferese>(&state.display_handle, 4, ())
+            .unwrap();
+        request(&mut wire, 1, 1, &[2], None); // Registry.
+        request(&mut wire, compositor.id().protocol_id(), 0, &[3], None);
+        // Keep client IDs contiguous: 5 is the optional wl_output, 6 the role.
+        request(&mut wire, compositor.id().protocol_id(), 0, &[4], None);
+        Self {
+            client,
+            wire,
+            compositor,
+            shell,
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn bind_output(
+        &mut self,
+        state: &mut Ferese,
+        events: &mut EventLoop<'static, Ferese>,
+        output: &Output,
+    ) -> smithay::reexports::wayland_server::backend::GlobalId {
+        let global = output.create_global::<Ferese>(&state.display_handle);
+        dispatch(events, state);
+        let names = read(&mut self.wire)
+            .into_iter()
+            .filter(|message| {
+                message[0] == 2
+                    && message[1] & 0xffff == 0
+                    && message[3] == 10
+                    && message.get(4) == Some(&u32::from_ne_bytes(*b"wl_o"))
+            })
+            .map(|message| message[2])
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        assert_eq!(names.len(), 1);
+        request(
+            &mut self.wire,
+            2,
+            0,
+            &[
+                names[0],
+                10,
+                u32::from_ne_bytes(*b"wl_o"),
+                u32::from_ne_bytes(*b"utpu"),
+                u32::from_ne_bytes([b't', 0, 0, 0]),
+                4,
+                5,
+            ],
+            None,
+        );
+        dispatch(events, state);
+        read(&mut self.wire);
+        global
+    }
+
+    fn create_layer(
+        &mut self,
+        state: &mut Ferese,
+        events: &mut EventLoop<'static, Ferese>,
+        output: u32,
+    ) -> Vec<Vec<u32>> {
+        if output == 0 {
+            // Reserve the output slot with a spare surface for unspecified requests.
+            request(&mut self.wire, self.compositor.id().protocol_id(), 0, &[5], None);
+        }
+        request(
+            &mut self.wire,
+            self.shell.id().protocol_id(),
+            0,
+            &[6, 3, output, 2, 4, u32::from_ne_bytes(*b"bar\0")],
+            None,
+        );
+        request(&mut self.wire, 6, 0, &[64, 48], None);
+        request(&mut self.wire, 3, 6, &[], None);
+        dispatch(events, state);
+        read(&mut self.wire)
+    }
+
+    fn mapped_on(&self, output: &Output) -> bool {
+        layer_map_for_output(output).layers().any(|layer| {
+            layer
+                .wl_surface()
+                .client()
+                .is_some_and(|client| client.id() == self.client.id())
+        })
+    }
+}
+
+fn assert_closed_without_configure(messages: &[Vec<u32>]) {
+    assert!(
+        messages
+            .iter()
+            .any(|message| message[0] == 6 && message[1] & 0xffff == 1),
+        "layer must receive closed"
+    );
+    assert!(
+        !messages
+            .iter()
+            .any(|message| message[0] == 6 && message[1] & 0xffff == 0),
+        "closed layers must not wait for configure"
+    );
+    assert!(
+        !messages
+            .iter()
+            .any(|message| message[0] == 1 && message[1] & 0xffff == 0),
+        "no client protocol error"
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn zero_outputs_close_new_layer_roles() {
+    if !crate::startup_tests::private_runtime("handlers::layer_shell::output_tests::zero_outputs_close_new_layer_roles")
+    {
+        return;
+    }
+    let (mut state, mut events) = fixture();
+    let mut client = Client::new(&mut state);
+    assert_closed_without_configure(&client.create_layer(&mut state, &mut events, 0));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn stale_explicit_output_closes_instead_of_retargeting() {
+    if !crate::startup_tests::private_runtime(
+        "handlers::layer_shell::output_tests::stale_explicit_output_closes_instead_of_retargeting",
+    ) {
+        return;
+    }
+    let (mut state, mut events) = fixture();
+    let stale = output(&mut state, "stale", 0);
+    let survivor = output(&mut state, "survivor", 800);
+    let mut client = Client::new(&mut state);
+    let global = client.bind_output(&mut state, &mut events, &stale);
+    state.unregister_output(&stale);
+    state.display_handle.remove_global::<Ferese>(global);
+    dispatch(&mut events, &mut state);
+    read(&mut client.wire);
+    let messages = client.create_layer(&mut state, &mut events, 5);
+    assert_closed_without_configure(&messages);
+    assert!(!client.mapped_on(&stale));
+    assert!(
+        !client.mapped_on(&survivor),
+        "explicit requests must not silently move to another output"
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn unspecified_output_uses_focused_registered_output() {
+    if !crate::startup_tests::private_runtime(
+        "handlers::layer_shell::output_tests::unspecified_output_uses_focused_registered_output",
+    ) {
+        return;
+    }
+    let (mut state, mut events) = fixture();
+    let first = output(&mut state, "first", 0);
+    let focused = output(&mut state, "focused", 800);
+    state.focus_output_at((820., 20.).into());
+    assert_eq!(state.focused_output(), Some(&focused));
+    let mut client = Client::new(&mut state);
+    let messages = client.create_layer(&mut state, &mut events, 0);
+    assert!(client.mapped_on(&focused));
+    assert!(!client.mapped_on(&first));
+    assert!(
+        messages
+            .iter()
+            .any(|message| message[0] == 6 && message[1] & 0xffff == 0),
+        "valid layer receives configure"
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn valid_explicit_output_is_preserved() {
+    if !crate::startup_tests::private_runtime("handlers::layer_shell::output_tests::valid_explicit_output_is_preserved")
+    {
+        return;
+    }
+    let (mut state, mut events) = fixture();
+    let explicit = output(&mut state, "explicit", 0);
+    let focused = output(&mut state, "focused", 800);
+    state.focus_output_at((820., 20.).into());
+    let mut client = Client::new(&mut state);
+    client.bind_output(&mut state, &mut events, &explicit);
+    let messages = client.create_layer(&mut state, &mut events, 5);
+    assert!(client.mapped_on(&explicit));
+    assert!(!client.mapped_on(&focused));
+    assert!(
+        messages
+            .iter()
+            .any(|message| message[0] == 6 && message[1] & 0xffff == 0)
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn unregistered_output_is_not_a_creation_fallback() {
+    if !crate::startup_tests::private_runtime(
+        "handlers::layer_shell::output_tests::unregistered_output_is_not_a_creation_fallback",
+    ) {
+        return;
+    }
+    let (mut state, mut events) = fixture();
+    let ghost = Output::new(
+        "ghost".into(),
+        PhysicalProperties {
+            size: (0, 0).into(),
+            subpixel: Subpixel::Unknown,
+            make: "test".into(),
+            model: "test".into(),
+        },
+    );
+    ghost.change_current_state(
+        Some(Mode {
+            size: (800, 600).into(),
+            refresh: 60_000,
+        }),
+        None,
+        None,
+        None,
+    );
+    state.space.map_output(&ghost, (0, 0));
+    let mut client = Client::new(&mut state);
+    assert_closed_without_configure(&client.create_layer(&mut state, &mut events, 0));
+    assert!(!client.mapped_on(&ghost));
+}