diff --git a/decnet/config.py b/decnet/config.py
index 15fa764..f1925b3 100644
--- a/decnet/config.py
+++ b/decnet/config.py
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ def _configure_logging(dev: bool) -> None:
     produce readable logs.  File handler is skipped under pytest.
     """
     import logging.handlers as _lh
+    from decnet.logging.inode_aware_handler import InodeAwareRotatingFileHandler
 
     root = logging.getLogger()
     # Guard: if our StreamHandler is already installed, all handlers are set.
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ def _configure_logging(dev: bool) -> None:
     _in_pytest = any(k.startswith("PYTEST") for k in os.environ)
     if not _in_pytest:
         _log_path = os.environ.get("DECNET_SYSTEM_LOGS", "decnet.system.log")
-        file_handler = _lh.RotatingFileHandler(
+        file_handler = InodeAwareRotatingFileHandler(
             _log_path,
             mode="a",
             maxBytes=10 * 1024 * 1024,  # 10 MB
diff --git a/decnet/logging/file_handler.py b/decnet/logging/file_handler.py
index d095a77..e806c39 100644
--- a/decnet/logging/file_handler.py
+++ b/decnet/logging/file_handler.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import logging.handlers
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
 
+from decnet.logging.inode_aware_handler import InodeAwareRotatingFileHandler
 from decnet.privdrop import chown_to_invoking_user, chown_tree_to_invoking_user
 from decnet.telemetry import traced as _traced
 
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@ _DEFAULT_LOG_FILE = "/var/log/decnet/decnet.log"
 _MAX_BYTES = 10 * 1024 * 1024  # 10 MB
 _BACKUP_COUNT = 5
 
-_handler: logging.handlers.RotatingFileHandler | None = None
+_handler: InodeAwareRotatingFileHandler | None = None
 _logger: logging.Logger | None = None
 
 
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ def _init_file_handler() -> logging.Logger:
     # so a subsequent non-root `decnet api` can also write to it.
     chown_tree_to_invoking_user(log_path.parent)
 
-    _handler = logging.handlers.RotatingFileHandler(
+    _handler = InodeAwareRotatingFileHandler(
         log_path,
         maxBytes=_MAX_BYTES,
         backupCount=_BACKUP_COUNT,
diff --git a/decnet/logging/inode_aware_handler.py b/decnet/logging/inode_aware_handler.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9b03b63
--- /dev/null
+++ b/decnet/logging/inode_aware_handler.py
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+"""
+RotatingFileHandler that detects external deletion or rotation.
+
+Stdlib ``RotatingFileHandler`` holds an open file descriptor for the
+lifetime of the handler.  If the target file is deleted (``rm``) or
+rotated out (``logrotate`` without ``copytruncate``), the handler keeps
+writing to the now-orphaned inode until its own size-based rotation
+finally triggers — silently losing every line in between.
+
+Stdlib ``WatchedFileHandler`` solves exactly this problem but doesn't
+rotate by size.  This subclass combines both: before each emit we stat
+the configured path and compare its inode/device to the currently open
+file; on mismatch we close and reopen.
+
+Cheap: one ``os.stat`` per log record.  Matches the pattern used by
+``decnet/collector/worker.py:_reopen_if_needed``.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import logging
+import logging.handlers
+import os
+
+
+class InodeAwareRotatingFileHandler(logging.handlers.RotatingFileHandler):
+    """RotatingFileHandler that reopens the target on external rotation/deletion."""
+
+    def _should_reopen(self) -> bool:
+        if self.stream is None:
+            return True
+        try:
+            disk_stat = os.stat(self.baseFilename)
+        except FileNotFoundError:
+            return True
+        except OSError:
+            return False
+        try:
+            open_stat = os.fstat(self.stream.fileno())
+        except OSError:
+            return True
+        return (disk_stat.st_ino != open_stat.st_ino
+                or disk_stat.st_dev != open_stat.st_dev)
+
+    def emit(self, record: logging.LogRecord) -> None:
+        if self._should_reopen():
+            try:
+                if self.stream is not None:
+                    self.close()
+            except Exception:  # nosec B110
+                pass
+            self.stream = self._open()
+        super().emit(record)
diff --git a/tests/test_inode_aware_handler.py b/tests/test_inode_aware_handler.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b066888
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_inode_aware_handler.py
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+"""
+Tests for InodeAwareRotatingFileHandler.
+
+Simulates the two scenarios that break plain RotatingFileHandler:
+    1. External `rm` of the log file
+    2. External rename (logrotate-style rotation)
+
+In both cases, the next log record must end up in a recreated file on
+disk, not the orphaned inode held by the old file descriptor.
+"""
+import logging
+import os
+
+import pytest
+
+from decnet.logging.inode_aware_handler import InodeAwareRotatingFileHandler
+
+
+def _make_handler(path) -> logging.Handler:
+    h = InodeAwareRotatingFileHandler(str(path), maxBytes=10_000_000, backupCount=1)
+    h.setFormatter(logging.Formatter("%(message)s"))
+    return h
+
+
+def _record(msg: str) -> logging.LogRecord:
+    return logging.LogRecord("t", logging.INFO, __file__, 1, msg, None, None)
+
+
+def test_writes_land_in_file(tmp_path):
+    path = tmp_path / "app.log"
+    h = _make_handler(path)
+    h.emit(_record("hello"))
+    h.close()
+    assert path.read_text().strip() == "hello"
+
+
+def test_reopens_after_unlink(tmp_path):
+    path = tmp_path / "app.log"
+    h = _make_handler(path)
+    h.emit(_record("first"))
+    os.remove(path)  # simulate `rm decnet.system.log`
+    assert not path.exists()
+
+    h.emit(_record("second"))
+    h.close()
+
+    assert path.exists()
+    assert path.read_text().strip() == "second"
+
+
+def test_reopens_after_rename(tmp_path):
+    """logrotate rename-and-create: the old path is renamed, then we expect
+    writes to go to a freshly created file at the original path."""
+    path = tmp_path / "app.log"
+    h = _make_handler(path)
+    h.emit(_record("pre-rotation"))
+
+    rotated = tmp_path / "app.log.1"
+    os.rename(path, rotated)  # simulate logrotate move
+
+    h.emit(_record("post-rotation"))
+    h.close()
+
+    assert rotated.read_text().strip() == "pre-rotation"
+    assert path.read_text().strip() == "post-rotation"
+
+
+def test_no_reopen_when_file_is_stable(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """Ensure we don't thrash: back-to-back emits must share one FD."""
+    path = tmp_path / "app.log"
+    h = _make_handler(path)
+    h.emit(_record("one"))
+    fd_before = h.stream.fileno()
+    h.emit(_record("two"))
+    fd_after = h.stream.fileno()
+    assert fd_before == fd_after
+    h.close()
+    assert path.read_text().splitlines() == ["one", "two"]
+
+
+def test_rotation_by_size_still_works(tmp_path):
+    """maxBytes-triggered rotation must still function on top of the inode check."""
+    path = tmp_path / "app.log"
+    h = InodeAwareRotatingFileHandler(str(path), maxBytes=50, backupCount=1)
+    h.setFormatter(logging.Formatter("%(message)s"))
+    for i in range(20):
+        h.emit(_record(f"line-{i:03d}-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"))
+    h.close()
+
+    assert path.exists()
+    assert (tmp_path / "app.log.1").exists()