diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0277326..7c1c54e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -113,10 +113,6 @@ default** and covers anything the hooked path doesn't.
 From an in-depth review pass. Each item is fixed test-first (a failing test, then the fix) and lands
 as its own commit; "verify" items are confirmed real before any change, and dropped if not.
 
-Features:
-- **Stale Vulkan-layer registration cleanup** — remove a leftover `HKCU` implicit-layer entry from a
-  crashed prior run on host startup.
-
 UX:
 - **Auto re-attach control** — keep it visible/controllable when not connected (today it can be
   enabled-but-invisible).
diff --git a/host/src/main.cpp b/host/src/main.cpp
index 78e0d36..e4ae5d4 100644
--- a/host/src/main.cpp
+++ b/host/src/main.cpp
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include "log_panel.hpp"
 #include "test_harness.hpp"
 #include "ui/app_chrome.hpp"
+#include "vk_layer_setup.hpp"
 
 namespace
 {
@@ -316,6 +317,10 @@ bool wait_for_hooked_frame(coop::D3D11Window& window, coop::InjectionPanel& inje
 
 int run()
 {
+	// Clear any leftover Vulkan-layer registration from a host that crashed while registered, before
+	// it can keep loading our DLL into every Vulkan app this session.
+	coop::cleanup_stale_vk_layer();
+
 	coop::D3D11Window window;
 	if (!window.create(L"CoopAllTheThings"))
 	{
diff --git a/host/src/vk_layer_setup.cpp b/host/src/vk_layer_setup.cpp
index f6b0d61..caea6f3 100644
--- a/host/src/vk_layer_setup.cpp
+++ b/host/src/vk_layer_setup.cpp
@@ -76,4 +76,11 @@ void unregister_vk_layer()
 	}
 }
 
+void cleanup_stale_vk_layer()
+{
+	// At startup nothing of ours should be registered yet (registration is opt-in, this session). So
+	// a registration present now is a crash leftover -- removing it is exactly unregister_vk_layer().
+	unregister_vk_layer();
+}
+
 } // namespace coop
diff --git a/host/src/vk_layer_setup.hpp b/host/src/vk_layer_setup.hpp
index 3ca53e3..72768e8 100644
--- a/host/src/vk_layer_setup.hpp
+++ b/host/src/vk_layer_setup.hpp
@@ -21,4 +21,10 @@ bool register_vk_layer(const std::wstring& target_image);
 // on host shutdown as a belt-and-suspenders cleanup).
 void unregister_vk_layer();
 
+// Call once at host startup. The layer is session-scoped (registered only while the tool runs,
+// unregistered on clean exit), so any registration present at startup is a leftover from a host that
+// crashed/was killed while registered -- which would otherwise keep loading our DLL into EVERY Vulkan
+// app until the next clean run. This removes that stale registration. No-op if nothing is registered.
+void cleanup_stale_vk_layer();
+
 } // namespace coop