diff --git a/extensions/memory-core/src/memory/qmd-manager.test.ts b/extensions/memory-core/src/memory/qmd-manager.test.ts
index bd0aed2e7d7..71e098ecc4d 100644
--- a/extensions/memory-core/src/memory/qmd-manager.test.ts
+++ b/extensions/memory-core/src/memory/qmd-manager.test.ts
@@ -1049,7 +1049,7 @@ describe("QmdMemoryManager", () => {
     );
   });
 
-  it("rebinds a path-pattern conflict when qmd add reports the stale collection name", async () => {
+  it("refuses to rebind a stderr-only path-pattern conflict without collection metadata", async () => {
     cfg = {
       ...cfg,
       memory: {
@@ -1111,10 +1111,10 @@ describe("QmdMemoryManager", () => {
     const { manager } = await createManager({ mode: "full" });
     await manager.close();
 
-    expect(removeCalls).toEqual(["workspace-legacy"]);
-    expect(addCalls).toEqual(["workspace-main", "workspace-main"]);
-    expect(logWarnMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining("rebinding"));
-    expect(logWarnMock).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+    expect(removeCalls).toEqual([]);
+    expect(addCalls).toEqual(["workspace-main"]);
+    expect(logWarnMock).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining("rebinding"));
+    expect(logWarnMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       expect.stringContaining("qmd collection add skipped for workspace-main"),
     );
   });
diff --git a/extensions/memory-core/src/memory/qmd-manager.ts b/extensions/memory-core/src/memory/qmd-manager.ts
index accfac525df..810e21b0a68 100644
--- a/extensions/memory-core/src/memory/qmd-manager.ts
+++ b/extensions/memory-core/src/memory/qmd-manager.ts
@@ -671,7 +671,23 @@ export class QmdMemoryManager implements MemorySearchManager {
       conflictName = this.findCollectionByPathPattern(collection, existing);
     }
 
-    conflictName ??= this.parseConflictingCollectionNameFromAddError(addErrorMessage);
+    if (!conflictName) {
+      const parsedConflictName = this.parseConflictingCollectionNameFromAddError(addErrorMessage);
+      const parsedDetails = parsedConflictName ? existing.get(parsedConflictName) : undefined;
+      if (
+        parsedConflictName &&
+        parsedDetails?.path &&
+        typeof parsedDetails.pattern === "string" &&
+        this.pathsMatch(parsedDetails.path, collection.path) &&
+        this.patternsMatchForManagedCollection(
+          collection.path,
+          parsedDetails.pattern,
+          collection.pattern,
+        )
+      ) {
+        conflictName = parsedConflictName;
+      }
+    }
 
     if (!conflictName) {
       return false;