diff --git a/kernel/daedalus_v4l2_main.c b/kernel/daedalus_v4l2_main.c
index 899600a..dce98e3 100644
--- a/kernel/daedalus_v4l2_main.c
+++ b/kernel/daedalus_v4l2_main.c
@@ -731,6 +731,7 @@ static void daedalus_device_run(void *priv)
 	size_t blen, payload_len;
 	u32 cookie;
 	int ret;
+	bool claimed = false;	/* src/dst removed from m2m rdy_queue */
 
 	src_buf = v4l2_m2m_next_src_buf(ctx->m2m_ctx);
 	dst_buf = v4l2_m2m_next_dst_buf(ctx->m2m_ctx);
@@ -856,6 +857,28 @@ static void daedalus_device_run(void *priv)
 	inf = kzalloc(sizeof(*inf), GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!inf)
 		goto fail_buf_error;
+
+	/*
+	 * Take both buffers off the m2m ready-queue HERE — before the
+	 * inflight list grows.  Once src_consumed releases the src side
+	 * and the m2m scheduler can dispatch the next device_run, the
+	 * NEW device_run mustn't see this dst_buf (which we're still
+	 * holding for a future HAS_PIXELS).  Without this claim,
+	 * v4l2_m2m_next_dst_buf at the next device_run returns the same
+	 * parked dst_buf, two inflight entries reference it, and the
+	 * later HAS_PIXELS triggers a list_del on an already-removed
+	 * vb2_buffer → kernel panic (observed on Pi CM5 hard reboot
+	 * during mpv vaapi-copy playback of 720p H.264, 2026-05-21).
+	 *
+	 * Both helpers are inline list_del+counter-decrement under the
+	 * q_ctx rdy_spinlock — safe to call from device_run on the
+	 * buffer we just peeked via next_*_buf above.  Mirrors the
+	 * amphion vdec/venc pattern.
+	 */
+	v4l2_m2m_src_buf_remove_by_buf(ctx->m2m_ctx, src_buf);
+	v4l2_m2m_dst_buf_remove_by_buf(ctx->m2m_ctx, dst_buf);
+	claimed = true;
+
 	cookie		= daedalus_next_cookie();
 	inf->cookie	= cookie;
 	inf->ctx	= ctx;
@@ -909,11 +932,13 @@ static void daedalus_device_run(void *priv)
 
 fail_buf_error:
 	if (src_buf) {
-		v4l2_m2m_src_buf_remove(ctx->m2m_ctx);
+		if (!claimed)
+			v4l2_m2m_src_buf_remove(ctx->m2m_ctx);
 		v4l2_m2m_buf_done(src_buf, VB2_BUF_STATE_ERROR);
 	}
 	if (dst_buf) {
-		v4l2_m2m_dst_buf_remove(ctx->m2m_ctx);
+		if (!claimed)
+			v4l2_m2m_dst_buf_remove(ctx->m2m_ctx);
 		v4l2_m2m_buf_done(dst_buf, VB2_BUF_STATE_ERROR);
 	}
 	kfree(req);
@@ -1074,7 +1099,13 @@ void daedalus_complete_resp_frame(u32 cookie,
 			daedalus_pack_pixels_into_dst(dst_to_complete, fr,
 						      pixels, pixels_len);
 		dst_to_complete->vb2_buf.timestamp = dst_timestamp;
-		v4l2_m2m_dst_buf_remove_by_buf(ctx->m2m_ctx, dst_to_complete);
+		/*
+		 * The buffer was already removed from m2m's rdy_queue at
+		 * device_run time (see the "Take both buffers off ..."
+		 * block).  Just call buf_done here — calling
+		 * v4l2_m2m_dst_buf_remove_by_buf again would list_del a
+		 * list_head that's no longer linked, smashing the list.
+		 */
 		v4l2_m2m_buf_done(dst_to_complete, state);
 	}
 
@@ -1091,7 +1122,7 @@ void daedalus_complete_resp_frame(u32 cookie,
 	if (src_to_complete) {
 		if (req_to_complete)
 			v4l2_ctrl_request_complete(req_to_complete, &ctx->hdl);
-		v4l2_m2m_src_buf_remove_by_buf(ctx->m2m_ctx, src_to_complete);
+		/* Already off the rdy_queue (see device_run claim) — buf_done only. */
 		v4l2_m2m_buf_done(src_to_complete, state);
 		if (req_to_complete)
 			media_request_put(req_to_complete);