diff --git a/SELF_HOST.md b/SELF_HOST.md
index fd34f0ceb..3ca4713d5 100644
--- a/SELF_HOST.md
+++ b/SELF_HOST.md
@@ -458,9 +458,13 @@ Prove it once, while the user is watching:
    return to the desired release.
 
 `manage uninstall` removes the service definition and installed code and keeps
-`config` and `state`, reporting where they are. `manage purge` is the separate,
+`config` and `state`, reporting where they are. It also keeps `manage` itself,
+which is what makes the second step possible. `manage purge` is the separate,
 irreversible operation that deletes them; it requires typing a confirmation
-phrase and is never part of a reinstall.
+phrase and is never part of a reinstall. Run them in that order — uninstall,
+then purge — and purge finishes by printing the single command that clears
+whatever is left: the install root, plus the log directory on Linux and macOS,
+where it sits outside that root.
 
 ## Checkpoint 6: limits and backup
 
diff --git a/deploy/local/install-linux.sh b/deploy/local/install-linux.sh
index b40eda7b0..69dfee3d9 100755
--- a/deploy/local/install-linux.sh
+++ b/deploy/local/install-linux.sh
@@ -702,11 +702,14 @@ UNIT="$LABEL.service"
 ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
 ENV_FILE="$ROOT/config/server.env"
 STATE_DIR="$ROOT/state"
-LOG_DIR="${XDG_STATE_HOME:-$HOME/.local/state}/dormouse-server/logs"
+# LOG_ROOT is the dormouse-owned directory the logs sit in — outside ROOT on a
+# real install, and what "purge" names so it does not leave an empty one behind.
+LOG_ROOT="${XDG_STATE_HOME:-$HOME/.local/state}/dormouse-server"
+LOG_DIR="$LOG_ROOT/logs"
 UNIT_FILE="${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}/systemd/user/$UNIT"
 # A test install (DORMOUSE_INSTALL_ROOT) keeps its logs and unit inside its own
 # root, so `manage` must follow them there rather than at the real HOME paths.
-[ -d "$ROOT/logs" ] && LOG_DIR="$ROOT/logs"
+[ -d "$ROOT/logs" ] && { LOG_DIR="$ROOT/logs"; LOG_ROOT="$ROOT"; }
 [ -f "$ROOT/systemd/$UNIT" ] && UNIT_FILE="$ROOT/systemd/$UNIT"
 
 if [ -t 1 ]; then
@@ -1167,7 +1170,8 @@ cmd_uninstall() {
   printf 'It PRESERVES your configuration and state:\n'
   printf '  config : %s\n' "$ROOT/config"
   printf '  state  : %s\n' "$STATE_DIR"
-  printf '\nUse "manage purge" separately to delete those irreversibly.\n\n'
+  printf '\nThis script is left in place so "purge" can still delete them\n'
+  printf 'irreversibly afterwards:\n\n  "%s" purge\n\n' "$ROOT/bin/manage"
   if [ ! -t 0 ]; then
     printf 'refusing to uninstall with no terminal to confirm at\n' >&2
     return 1
@@ -1189,8 +1193,12 @@ cmd_uninstall() {
   else
     printf 'left the Serve config alone (it does not point at 127.0.0.1:%s)\n' "$PORT"
   fi
-  rm -rf "$ROOT/releases" "$ROOT/current" "$ROOT/previous" "$ROOT/bin" "$ROOT/run"
+  # bin/run-server, not bin: this script lives there too, and "purge" — the
+  # command the message above points at — is unreachable once it is deleted.
+  rm -rf "$ROOT/releases" "$ROOT/current" "$ROOT/previous" "$ROOT/run"
+  rm -f "$ROOT/bin/run-server"
   printf '\nuninstalled. config and state remain at:\n  %s\n  %s\n\n' "$ROOT/config" "$STATE_DIR"
+  printf 'delete them irreversibly with:\n\n  "%s" purge\n\n' "$ROOT/bin/manage"
   printf 'lingering, if you enabled it, is left as it is: loginctl disable-linger %s\n\n' "$USER"
 }
 
@@ -1204,6 +1212,15 @@ cmd_purge() {
   if [ "$reply" != "DELETE DORMOUSE STATE" ]; then printf 'aborted\n'; return 1; fi
   rm -rf "$STATE_DIR" "$ROOT/config"
   printf 'purged.\n'
+  # bin/run-server is what "uninstall" removes, so its absence means the service
+  # and the code are already gone and this script is the last thing standing. It
+  # cannot delete itself out from under the shell running it, so say how. The
+  # logs live outside ROOT on a real install, so LOG_ROOT has to be named too or
+  # the printed command leaves them behind.
+  if [ ! -e "$ROOT/bin/run-server" ]; then
+    printf '\nthe service and code were already uninstalled; what remains is\n'
+    printf 'this script and the logs:\n\n  rm -rf "%s" "%s"\n\n' "$ROOT" "$LOG_ROOT"
+  fi
 }
 
 case "${1:-status}" in
@@ -1227,7 +1244,7 @@ usage: manage <command>
   show-password   warn, then display the setup password locally
   serve           re-apply the Tailscale Serve mapping for this server
   rollback        switch to the retained previous release, preserving state
-  uninstall       remove the unit + code (keeps config and state)
+  uninstall       remove the unit + code (keeps config, state, and this script)
   purge           irreversibly delete config and state
 USAGE
     exit 64
diff --git a/deploy/local/install-macos.sh b/deploy/local/install-macos.sh
index 5d6f9aa4e..68edf7d84 100755
--- a/deploy/local/install-macos.sh
+++ b/deploy/local/install-macos.sh
@@ -962,7 +962,8 @@ cmd_uninstall() {
   printf 'It PRESERVES your configuration and state:\n'
   printf '  config : %s\n' "$ROOT/config"
   printf '  state  : %s\n' "$STATE_DIR"
-  printf '\nUse "manage purge" separately to delete those irreversibly.\n\n'
+  printf '\nThis script is left in place so "purge" can still delete them\n'
+  printf 'irreversibly afterwards:\n\n  "%s" purge\n\n' "$ROOT/bin/manage"
   if [ ! -t 0 ]; then
     printf 'refusing to uninstall with no terminal to confirm at\n' >&2
     return 1
@@ -983,8 +984,12 @@ cmd_uninstall() {
   else
     printf 'left the Serve config alone (it does not point at 127.0.0.1:%s)\n' "$PORT"
   fi
-  rm -rf "$ROOT/releases" "$ROOT/current" "$ROOT/previous" "$ROOT/bin" "$ROOT/run"
+  # bin/run-server, not bin: this script lives there too, and "purge" — the
+  # command the message above points at — is unreachable once it is deleted.
+  rm -rf "$ROOT/releases" "$ROOT/current" "$ROOT/previous" "$ROOT/run"
+  rm -f "$ROOT/bin/run-server"
   printf '\nuninstalled. config and state remain at:\n  %s\n  %s\n\n' "$ROOT/config" "$STATE_DIR"
+  printf 'delete them irreversibly with:\n\n  "%s" purge\n\n' "$ROOT/bin/manage"
 }
 
 cmd_purge() {
@@ -997,6 +1002,16 @@ cmd_purge() {
   if [ "$reply" != "DELETE DORMOUSE STATE" ]; then printf 'aborted\n'; return 1; fi
   rm -rf "$STATE_DIR" "$ROOT/config"
   printf 'purged.\n'
+  # bin/run-server is what "uninstall" removes, so its absence means the
+  # LaunchAgent and the code are already gone and this script is the last thing
+  # standing. It cannot delete itself out from under the shell running it. The
+  # logs live outside ROOT on a real install, so LOG_DIR has to be named too or
+  # the printed command leaves them behind. (~/Library/Logs/Dormouse Server is
+  # dormouse-owned, so deleting it leaves no empty directory behind.)
+  if [ ! -e "$ROOT/bin/run-server" ]; then
+    printf '\nthe LaunchAgent and code were already uninstalled; what remains\n'
+    printf 'is this script and the logs:\n\n  rm -rf "%s" "%s"\n\n' "$ROOT" "$LOG_DIR"
+  fi
 }
 
 case "${1:-status}" in
@@ -1020,7 +1035,7 @@ usage: manage <command>
   show-password   warn, then display the setup password locally
   serve           re-apply the Tailscale Serve mapping for this server
   rollback        switch to the retained previous release, preserving state
-  uninstall       remove LaunchAgent + code (keeps config and state)
+  uninstall       remove LaunchAgent + code (keeps config, state, this script)
   purge           irreversibly delete config and state
 USAGE
     exit 64
diff --git a/deploy/local/install-windows.ps1 b/deploy/local/install-windows.ps1
index 3dce29f38..b7bd634b2 100644
--- a/deploy/local/install-windows.ps1
+++ b/deploy/local/install-windows.ps1
@@ -1747,7 +1747,10 @@ function Invoke-Uninstall {
   Write-Host "  config : $Root\config"
   Write-Host "  state  : $StateDir"
   Write-Host ""
-  Write-Host 'Use "manage purge" separately to delete those irreversibly.'
+  Write-Host 'This script is left in place so "purge" can still delete them'
+  Write-Host 'irreversibly afterwards:'
+  Write-Host ""
+  Write-Host ('  "{0}\bin\manage.cmd" purge' -f $Root)
   Write-Host ""
   if ([Console]::IsInputRedirected) {
     [Console]::Error.WriteLine('refusing to uninstall with no terminal to confirm at')
@@ -1776,9 +1779,13 @@ function Invoke-Uninstall {
     Write-Host "left the Serve config alone (it does not point at 127.0.0.1:$PORT)"
   }
 
-  foreach ($p in @((Join-Path $Root 'releases'), (Join-Path $Root 'bin'), (Join-Path $Root 'run'))) {
+  foreach ($p in @((Join-Path $Root 'releases'), (Join-Path $Root 'run'))) {
     Remove-Tree $p
   }
+  # bin\run-server.ps1, not bin: this script lives there too, and "purge" -- the
+  # command the message above points at -- is unreachable once it is deleted.
+  $runServer = Join-Path $Root 'bin\run-server.ps1'
+  if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $runServer) { [IO.File]::Delete($runServer) }
   foreach ($p in @($CurrentPointer, $PreviousPointer)) {
     if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $p) { [IO.File]::Delete($p) }
   }
@@ -1787,6 +1794,10 @@ function Invoke-Uninstall {
   Write-Host "  $Root\config"
   Write-Host "  $StateDir"
   Write-Host ""
+  Write-Host "delete them irreversibly with:"
+  Write-Host ""
+  Write-Host ('  "{0}\bin\manage.cmd" purge' -f $Root)
+  Write-Host ""
   return 0
 }
 
@@ -1805,6 +1816,17 @@ function Invoke-Purge {
     Remove-Tree $p
   }
   Write-Host 'purged.'
+  # bin\run-server.ps1 is what "uninstall" removes, so its absence means the
+  # Scheduled Task and the code are already gone and this script is the last
+  # thing standing. It cannot delete itself out from under the shell running it.
+  if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath (Join-Path $Root 'bin\run-server.ps1'))) {
+    Write-Host ""
+    Write-Host "the Scheduled Task and code were already uninstalled; this script"
+    Write-Host "is all that remains:"
+    Write-Host ""
+    Write-Host ('  Remove-Item -Recurse -Force "{0}"' -f $Root)
+    Write-Host ""
+  }
   return 0
 }
 
@@ -1830,7 +1852,7 @@ usage: manage <command>
   show-password   warn, then display the setup password locally
   serve           re-apply the Tailscale Serve mapping for this server
   rollback        switch to the retained previous release, preserving state
-  uninstall       remove the Scheduled Task + code (keeps config and state)
+  uninstall       remove the Scheduled Task + code (keeps config, state, this script)
   purge           irreversibly delete config and state
 "@
     exit 64
@@ -1845,13 +1867,16 @@ usage: manage <command>
 @echo off
 rem Installed by deploy/local/install-windows.ps1.
 rem The trailing "& exit" matters. cmd.exe seeks back into this file after
-rem every command, and "manage uninstall" deletes bin -- this very file -- so
-rem that read fails with "The system cannot find the path specified." and
-rem returns 1, making a clean uninstall look broken. "exit" ends cmd.exe
-rem outright so it never seeks back, and with no argument it exits with the
-rem current ERRORLEVEL. "exit /b" does NOT work here: it only returns from the
-rem batch, which still requires reading the file. Tradeoff: calling this .cmd
-rem from another batch script ends that script too; it is meant to be run
+rem every command, so a manage command that removes the file it is being read
+rem from makes that read fail with "The system cannot find the path specified."
+rem and return 1, making a clean run look broken. "uninstall" used to do exactly
+rem that -- it deleted bin, this very file included. It now deletes only
+rem bin\run-server.ps1, so nothing manage does removes this file; the guard is
+rem kept so the exit code does not depend on that staying true. "exit" ends
+rem cmd.exe outright so it never seeks back, and with no argument it exits with
+rem the current ERRORLEVEL. "exit /b" does NOT work here: it only returns from
+rem the batch, which still requires reading the file. Tradeoff: calling this
+rem .cmd from another batch script ends that script too; it is meant to be run
 rem directly.
 "$POWERSHELL_EXE" -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "%~dp0manage.ps1" %* & exit
 "@
diff --git a/docs/specs/server.md b/docs/specs/server.md
index 6b9fced63..4245e78c1 100644
--- a/docs/specs/server.md
+++ b/docs/specs/server.md
@@ -1025,6 +1025,23 @@ nonzero on any failure), `logs`, `restart`, `show-password`, `serve` (re-apply
 the Serve mapping after a dev session repointed it), `rollback`, `uninstall`,
 and the separately-confirmed `purge`.
 
+Teardown is two steps in that order, and `uninstall` has to leave `manage`
+itself behind for the second one to be reachable at all: it removes the service
+definition, the releases, the pointers, `run/` and `bin/run-server`, but not the
+`bin` directory `manage` lives in — deleting that would strand `config/` and
+`state/`, the data the message it prints tells you to run `purge` for. `purge`
+deletes `state/` and `config/` after its typed confirmation and, when
+`bin/run-server` is already gone, closes by printing the one command that
+removes what is left; it cannot delete itself out from under the shell running
+it. That command names the dormouse-owned log directory alongside the install
+root, because on Linux and macOS the logs live outside it — `LOG_ROOT`
+(`$XDG_STATE_HOME/dormouse-server`) and `~/Library/Logs/Dormouse Server`
+respectively, each named at the level dormouse owns so no empty directory
+survives. On Windows `logs` is inside the root, so the root alone is enough.
+Source of truth:
+`cmd_uninstall` / `cmd_purge` (`Invoke-Uninstall` / `Invoke-Purge` on Windows)
+in the `manage` script each installer generates.
+
 The Host that connects to such a server needs a build whose baked relay
 allowlist admits the origin — see "Where a Host may reach a relay server"
 above; a `*.ts.net` origin requires `DORMOUSE_REMOTE_CONNECT_SRC` at build time.