diff --git a/src/features/run/Run.module.css b/src/features/run/Run.module.css
index aff76271c..be2541b50 100644
--- a/src/features/run/Run.module.css
+++ b/src/features/run/Run.module.css
@@ -256,6 +256,11 @@
   height: 30px;
   border-radius: 6px;
 }
+.widgetLoading {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+}
 .widgetConfigIcon {
   position: relative;
   display: inline-flex;
diff --git a/src/features/run/RunWidget.test.tsx b/src/features/run/RunWidget.test.tsx
index 8fe01e078..cab613355 100644
--- a/src/features/run/RunWidget.test.tsx
+++ b/src/features/run/RunWidget.test.tsx
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
-import { cleanup, fireEvent, render, screen } from "@testing-library/react";
-import { executeAction } from "@/platform/actions";
+import { act, cleanup, fireEvent, render, screen } from "@testing-library/react";
+import { executeAction, executeActionFrom, getAction, registerAction } from "@/platform/actions";
 import { setContext } from "@/platform/context";
 import type { RunConfig } from "@/platform/ipc";
-import { registerMenuGroup, useDebugRunSessions, type DebugRunSession } from "@/workbench/contributions";
+import {
+  registerMenuGroup,
+  registerRunConfigType,
+  useDebugRunSessions,
+  type DebugRunSession,
+} from "@/workbench/contributions";
 import { useContextMenuStore } from "@/ui";
 import { applicationConfig } from "./application";
 import { activate } from "./index";
@@ -93,6 +98,7 @@ it("targets the selected debug session while npm runs, through buttons and short
   await vi.waitFor(() => expect(session.rerun).toHaveBeenCalledOnce());
   await executeAction("run.run");
   expect(session.rerun).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+  await vi.waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: `Stop '${app.name}'` })).toBeEnabled());
   fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: `Stop '${app.name}'` }));
   await vi.waitFor(() => expect(session.stop).toHaveBeenCalledOnce());
   expect(useRun.getState().sessions[0]?.stopped).toBeUndefined();
@@ -156,3 +162,170 @@ it("matches a detected Spring configuration after its object and id are regenera
   expect(regenerated.id).toBe(original.id);
   expect(selectedTarget(regenerated.id, [run(original), run(npm)], [])?.name).toBe(original.name);
 });
+
+it("keeps Stop available during startup and restores Rerun immediately when running", () => {
+  useRun.setState({ sessions: [{ ...run(app), status: "starting" }] });
+  render(<RunWidget />);
+  expect(screen.getByRole("status", { name: "Starting…" })).toBeTruthy();
+  expect(screen.queryByRole("button", { name: `Rerun '${app.name}'` })).toBeNull();
+  expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: `Stop '${app.name}'` })).toBeEnabled();
+  act(() => useRun.setState({ sessions: [run(app)] }));
+  expect(screen.queryByRole("status", { name: "Starting…" })).toBeNull();
+  expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: `Stop '${app.name}'` })).toBeEnabled();
+  expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: `Rerun '${app.name}'` })).toBeEnabled();
+});
+
+it("stops the selected starting debugger", async () => {
+  const session = { ...debug(app), status: "starting" as const };
+  useDebugRunSessions.setState({ sessions: [session] });
+  render(<RunWidget />);
+  expect(screen.getByRole("status", { name: "Starting…" })).toBeTruthy();
+  expect(screen.queryByRole("button", { name: `Rerun '${app.name}'` })).toBeNull();
+  fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: `Stop '${app.name}'` }));
+  await vi.waitFor(() => expect(session.stop).toHaveBeenCalledOnce());
+});
+
+it("does not replay startup feedback when selecting an already running configuration", () => {
+  useRun.setState({ sessions: [run(app), run(npm)] });
+  render(<RunWidget />);
+  act(() => useRun.setState({ selectedId: npm.id }));
+  expect(screen.queryByRole("status", { name: "Starting…" })).toBeNull();
+  expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: `Rerun '${npm.name}'` })).toBeEnabled();
+  act(() => useRun.setState({ selectedId: app.id }));
+  expect(screen.queryByRole("status", { name: "Starting…" })).toBeNull();
+});
+
+it("does not replay startup feedback when selecting an already running debugger", () => {
+  useRun.setState({ sessions: [run(app)] });
+  useDebugRunSessions.setState({ sessions: [debug(npm)] });
+  render(<RunWidget />);
+  act(() => useRun.setState({ selectedId: npm.id }));
+  expect(screen.queryByRole("status", { name: "Starting…" })).toBeNull();
+  expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: `Rerun '${npm.name}'` })).toBeEnabled();
+});
+
+it("stops the selected starting process while other Run and Debug sessions remain live", () => {
+  const session = debug(npm);
+  useRun.setState({ sessions: [{ ...run(app), status: "starting" }, run(npm)] });
+  useDebugRunSessions.setState({ sessions: [session] });
+  render(<RunWidget />);
+  fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: `Stop '${app.name}'` }));
+  expect(useRun.getState().sessions.map((s) => !!s.stopped)).toEqual([true, false]);
+  expect(session.stop).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+});
+
+it("stops every child of a starting compound, including its starting debugger", async () => {
+  const compound = { ...config("compound"), kind: "compound", compound: [app.id, npm.id] };
+  const session = { ...debug(npm), status: "starting" as const };
+  useRun.setState({
+    configs: [app, npm, compound],
+    selectedId: compound.id,
+    sessions: [{ ...run(app), status: "starting" }],
+  });
+  useDebugRunSessions.setState({ sessions: [session] });
+  render(<RunWidget />);
+  expect(screen.getByRole("status", { name: "Starting…" })).toBeTruthy();
+  fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: `Stop '${compound.name}'` }));
+  await vi.waitFor(() => expect(session.stop).toHaveBeenCalledOnce());
+  expect(useRun.getState().sessions[0]?.stopped).toBe(true);
+});
+
+it("keeps the selected starting session stoppable after switching configurations", () => {
+  useRun.setState({ sessions: [{ ...run(app), status: "starting" }, run(npm)] });
+  render(<RunWidget />);
+  act(() => useRun.setState({ selectedId: npm.id }));
+  expect(screen.queryByRole("status", { name: "Starting…" })).toBeNull();
+  expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: `Rerun '${npm.name}'` })).toBeEnabled();
+  act(() => useRun.setState({ selectedId: app.id }));
+  expect(screen.getByRole("status", { name: "Starting…" })).toBeTruthy();
+  fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: `Stop '${app.name}'` }));
+  expect(useRun.getState().sessions.map((s) => !!s.stopped)).toEqual([true, false]);
+});
+
+it.each(["failed", "finished"] as const)("clears startup feedback when the launch is %s", (status) => {
+  useRun.setState({ sessions: [{ ...run(app), status: "starting" }] });
+  render(<RunWidget />);
+  act(() => useRun.setState({ sessions: [{ ...run(app), status, endedAt: Date.now() }] }));
+  expect(screen.queryByRole("status", { name: "Starting…" })).toBeNull();
+  expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: `Run '${app.name}'` })).toBeEnabled();
+});
+
+it.each(["keyboard", "menu"] as const)("shows feedback for a %s launch and clears it on failure", async (source) => {
+  const original = getAction("run.run")!;
+  registerAction({ ...original, run: () => useRun.setState({ sessions: [{ ...run(app), status: "starting" }] }) });
+  try {
+    render(<RunWidget />);
+    await act(() => executeActionFrom(source, "run.run"));
+    expect(screen.getByRole("status", { name: "Starting…" })).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: `Stop '${app.name}'` })).toBeEnabled();
+    act(() => useRun.setState({ sessions: [] }));
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("status", { name: "Starting…" })).toBeNull();
+  } finally {
+    registerAction(original);
+  }
+});
+
+it.each(["run.run", "run.debug"] as const)("clears feedback when %s returns without a session", async (action) => {
+  const original = getAction(action)!;
+  let finish!: () => void;
+  registerAction({
+    ...original,
+    run: () =>
+      new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+        finish = resolve;
+      }),
+  });
+  try {
+    render(<RunWidget />);
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: `${action === "run.run" ? "Run" : "Debug"} '${app.name}'` }));
+    expect(screen.getByRole("status", { name: "Starting…" })).toBeTruthy();
+    await act(async () => finish());
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("status", { name: "Starting…" })).toBeNull();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: `Run '${app.name}'` })).toBeEnabled();
+  } finally {
+    registerAction(original);
+  }
+});
+
+it("keeps a debug-only configuration stoppable during attachment", () => {
+  const unregister = registerRunConfigType({
+    id: "test-remote",
+    commandLine: () => null,
+    label: "Remote",
+    icon: "debug",
+    debugOnly: true,
+    fields: [],
+  });
+  const remote = { ...app, kind: "test-remote" };
+  try {
+    useRun.setState({ configs: [remote], selectedId: remote.id });
+    render(<RunWidget />);
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: `'${remote.name}' can only be debugged` })).toBeDisabled();
+    act(() => useDebugRunSessions.setState({ sessions: [{ ...debug(remote), status: "starting" }] }));
+    expect(screen.getByRole("status", { name: "Starting…" })).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: `Stop '${remote.name}'` })).toBeEnabled();
+  } finally {
+    unregister();
+  }
+});
+
+it("allows another configuration to launch while the first launch is pending", async () => {
+  const original = getAction("run.run")!;
+  const finish: (() => void)[] = [];
+  registerAction({ ...original, run: () => new Promise<void>((resolve) => finish.push(resolve)) });
+  try {
+    render(<RunWidget />);
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: `Run '${app.name}'` }));
+    act(() => useRun.setState({ selectedId: npm.id }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: `Run '${npm.name}'` }));
+    expect(finish).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(screen.getByRole("status", { name: "Starting…" })).toBeTruthy();
+    await act(async () => finish[0]!());
+    expect(screen.getByRole("status", { name: "Starting…" })).toBeTruthy();
+    await act(async () => finish[1]!());
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("status", { name: "Starting…" })).toBeNull();
+  } finally {
+    await act(async () => finish.forEach((resolve) => resolve()));
+    registerAction(original);
+  }
+});
diff --git a/src/features/run/RunWidget.tsx b/src/features/run/RunWidget.tsx
index 83e4fe1e1..c87b18e00 100644
--- a/src/features/run/RunWidget.tsx
+++ b/src/features/run/RunWidget.tsx
@@ -28,10 +28,10 @@ export function RunWidget() {
   const debug = useDebugRunSessions((s) => s.sessions);
   const compoundRunning = compoundTargets(selected, running, debug);
   const target = selectedTarget(selectedId, running, debug);
-  const debugging = !!target?.debug;
-  const active = !!target || compoundRunning.length > 0;
+  const { active, debugging, showLoading, launch } = useLaunchFeedback(selectedId, target, compoundRunning);
   const count = running.length + debug.length;
   const stopping = running.some((s) => s.status === "stopping") || debug.some((s) => s.status === "stopping");
+  const stop = () => void executeAction("run.stop", "widget");
   const targetStopping =
     running.some((s) => s.status === "stopping" && s.config.id === selectedId) ||
     debug.some((s) => s.status === "stopping" && s.configId === selectedId);
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ export function RunWidget() {
           // IDEA: the configuration's type icon, with a status dot on its top-right corner while active.
           <span className={styles.widgetConfigIcon}>
             <Icon name={configIcon(selected)} size={16} />
-            {active && (
+            {active && !showLoading && (
               <span className={styles.widgetStatusDot} aria-label={debugging ? "Debugging" : "Running"} role="img" />
             )}
           </span>
@@ -84,7 +84,33 @@ export function RunWidget() {
         <Icon name="chevron-down" size={14} className={styles.widgetChevron} />
       </BarButton>
       <span className={styles.widgetButtons}>
-        {active ? (
+        {showLoading ? (
+          <>
+            {debugging && (
+              <IconButton
+                icon="run"
+                size="large"
+                iconSize={18}
+                className={clsx(styles.widgetButton, styles.widgetRun)}
+                title="Run"
+                disabled
+              />
+            )}
+            <span className={clsx(styles.widgetButton, styles.widgetLoading)}>
+              <Spinner variant="spokes" size={18} label={tx("Starting…")} />
+            </span>
+            {!debugging && (
+              <IconButton
+                icon="debug"
+                size="large"
+                iconSize={18}
+                className={styles.widgetButton}
+                title="Debug"
+                disabled
+              />
+            )}
+          </>
+        ) : active ? (
           <>
             {target?.paused && (
               <IconButton
@@ -105,7 +131,7 @@ export function RunWidget() {
               title={tx`Rerun '${selected?.name ?? target?.name ?? ""}'`}
               shortcut={shortcutLabel("run.run")}
               disabled={!!target && (!target.rerun || targetStopping)}
-              onClick={() => void executeAction("run.run")}
+              onClick={() => void launch("run.run")}
             />
           </>
         ) : (
@@ -126,7 +152,7 @@ export function RunWidget() {
               }
               shortcut={shortcutLabel("run.run")}
               disabled={(!selected && !currentFile) || debugOnly}
-              onClick={() => void executeAction("run.run")}
+              onClick={() => void launch("run.run")}
             />
             <IconButton
               icon="debug"
@@ -136,7 +162,7 @@ export function RunWidget() {
               title={selected ? tx`Debug '${selected.name}'` : currentFile ? "Debug Current File" : "Debug"}
               shortcut={shortcutLabel("run.debug")}
               disabled={!selected && !currentFile}
-              onClick={() => void executeAction("run.debug")}
+              onClick={() => void launch("run.debug")}
             />
           </>
         )}
@@ -149,7 +175,7 @@ export function RunWidget() {
               className={clsx(styles.widgetButton, styles.widgetFilled, styles.widgetFilledStop, styles.widgetStopping)}
               title={tx`Kill process`}
               aria-label={tx`Kill process`}
-              onClick={() => void executeAction("run.stop", "widget")}
+              onClick={stop}
             >
               <Spinner size={14} />
             </button>
@@ -161,7 +187,7 @@ export function RunWidget() {
               className={clsx(styles.widgetButton, styles.widgetFilled, styles.widgetFilledStop)}
               title={active || count === 1 ? tx`Stop '${stopName ?? ""}'` : tx`Stop (${count} running)`}
               shortcut={shortcutLabel("run.stop")}
-              onClick={() => void executeAction("run.stop", "widget")}
+              onClick={stop}
             />
           ))}
         <IconButton
@@ -186,3 +212,32 @@ export function RunWidget() {
     </div>
   );
 }
+
+/** Acknowledges widget clicks before a session exists; session state covers other entry points. */
+function useLaunchFeedback(
+  selectedId: string | null,
+  target: ReturnType<typeof selectedTarget>,
+  compoundRunning: ReturnType<typeof compoundTargets>,
+) {
+  const [pendingLaunches, setPendingLaunches] = useState<{ configId: string | null; debug: boolean }[]>([]);
+  const launching = useRef(new Set<string | null>());
+  const pending = pendingLaunches.find((launch) => launch.configId === selectedId);
+  const debugging = pending ? pending.debug : !!target?.debug;
+  const starting =
+    !!pending || target?.status === "starting" || compoundRunning.some((session) => session.status === "starting");
+  const stopping = target?.status === "stopping" || compoundRunning.some((session) => session.status === "stopping");
+  const launch = async (action: "run.run" | "run.debug") => {
+    if (launching.current.has(selectedId)) return;
+    launching.current.add(selectedId);
+    setPendingLaunches((pending) => [...pending, { configId: selectedId, debug: action === "run.debug" }]);
+    try {
+      await executeAction(action);
+    } finally {
+      launching.current.delete(selectedId);
+      setPendingLaunches((pending) => pending.filter((launch) => launch.configId !== selectedId));
+    }
+  };
+  const active = !!target || compoundRunning.length > 0;
+  const showLoading = !stopping && starting;
+  return { active, debugging, showLoading, launch };
+}
diff --git a/src/features/run/sessionTargets.ts b/src/features/run/sessionTargets.ts
index 6c3c1c46e..ae6f175f0 100644
--- a/src/features/run/sessionTargets.ts
+++ b/src/features/run/sessionTargets.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export function selectedTarget(selectedId: string | null, runs: RunSession[], de
         startedAt: s.startedAt,
         debug: false,
         paused: false,
+        status: s.status,
         rerun: () => rerunSession(s.id),
         stop: () => void stopSession(s.id),
         resume: () => {},
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ export function compoundTargets(config: RunConfig | undefined, runs: RunSession[
   if (config?.kind !== "compound") return [];
   const ids = new Set(compoundChildren(config, useRun.getState().configs).map((c) => c.id));
   return [
-    ...sessionsOf(config, runs).map((s) => ({ stop: () => void stopSession(s.id) })),
+    ...sessionsOf(config, runs).map((s) => ({ status: s.status, stop: () => void stopSession(s.id) })),
     ...debug.filter((s) => s.configId != null && ids.has(s.configId)),
   ];
 }
diff --git a/src/platform/locales/text/en.json b/src/platform/locales/text/en.json
index 57654aaac..70262d01a 100644
--- a/src/platform/locales/text/en.json
+++ b/src/platform/locales/text/en.json
@@ -433,6 +433,7 @@
   "Declined": "Declined",
   "Always declined": "Always declined",
   "Branch '{name}' is checked out in the worktree at {path}.\nDelete the worktree and the branch? Its folder is deleted.": "Branch '{name}' is checked out in the worktree at {path}.\nDelete the worktree and the branch? Its folder is deleted.",
+  "Starting…": "Starting…",
   "Maven Goals": "Maven Goals",
   "Gradle Tasks": "Gradle Tasks"
 }
diff --git a/src/ui/Feedback.module.css b/src/ui/Feedback.module.css
index 921ad3d20..cc46ab10e 100644
--- a/src/ui/Feedback.module.css
+++ b/src/ui/Feedback.module.css
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@
   color: var(--fg-muted);
   animation: spin 0.9s linear infinite;
 }
+.spokes {
+  animation: spin 1s steps(8, end) infinite;
+}
 @keyframes spin {
   to {
     transform: rotate(360deg);
@@ -207,4 +210,7 @@
   .spinner {
     animation-duration: 2.4s;
   }
+  .spokes {
+    animation: none;
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/ui/Feedback.tsx b/src/ui/Feedback.tsx
index f44b4b3e4..9f776214c 100644
--- a/src/ui/Feedback.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/Feedback.tsx
@@ -38,22 +38,42 @@ export function Spinner({
   size = 14,
   className,
   label = "Loading",
+  variant = "ring",
 }: {
   size?: number;
   className?: string;
   label?: string;
+  variant?: "ring" | "spokes";
 }) {
   return (
     <svg
-      className={clsx(styles.spinner, className)}
+      className={clsx(styles.spinner, variant === "spokes" && styles.spokes, className)}
       width={size}
       height={size}
-      viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+      viewBox={variant === "spokes" ? "0 0 16 16" : "0 0 24 24"}
       role="status"
       aria-label={label}
     >
-      <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="9" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeOpacity="0.2" strokeWidth="2.4" />
-      <path d="M21 12a9 9 0 0 0-9-9" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2.4" strokeLinecap="round" />
+      {variant === "spokes" ? (
+        Array.from({ length: 8 }, (_, index) => (
+          <rect
+            key={index}
+            x="7"
+            y="1"
+            width="2"
+            height="4"
+            rx="1"
+            fill="currentColor"
+            opacity={1 - index * 0.1}
+            transform={`rotate(${-index * 45} 8 8)`}
+          />
+        ))
+      ) : (
+        <>
+          <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="9" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeOpacity="0.2" strokeWidth="2.4" />
+          <path d="M21 12a9 9 0 0 0-9-9" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2.4" strokeLinecap="round" />
+        </>
+      )}
     </svg>
   );
 }