diff --git a/crates/font-store/src/language_packs/tests.rs b/crates/font-store/src/language_packs/tests.rs
index f9ef14e8..1107e719 100644
--- a/crates/font-store/src/language_packs/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/font-store/src/language_packs/tests.rs
@@ -318,3 +318,18 @@ fn hostile_archives_are_refused() {
     unpack(&pack_archive("nl", "x"), &dest).unwrap();
     assert!(dest.join("LICENCES/COPYING").is_file());
 }
+
+/// A staging folder an earlier process with the same id left behind is cleared, so an unpack
+/// (`create_new`) can't fail on, or mix in, its files.
+#[test]
+fn a_stale_stage_folder_is_cleared() {
+    let store = temp("stale-stage");
+    let staging = store.join(".staging");
+    for n in 0..512 {
+        let d = staging.join(format!("{}-{n}", std::process::id()));
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(d.join("nl")).unwrap();
+        std::fs::write(d.join("nl/pack.toml"), b"old").unwrap();
+    }
+    let stage = Stage::new(&store).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(std::fs::read_dir(&stage.dir).unwrap().count(), 0, "{}", stage.dir.display());
+}
diff --git a/crates/font-store/src/store.rs b/crates/font-store/src/store.rs
index e2cd1161..7c3ed0f3 100644
--- a/crates/font-store/src/store.rs
+++ b/crates/font-store/src/store.rs
@@ -840,6 +840,10 @@ impl Stage {
     pub(crate) fn new(store: &Path) -> Result<Self, Error> {
         static N: AtomicU64 = AtomicU64::new(0);
         let dir = store.join(STAGING).join(format!("{}-{}", std::process::id(), N.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed)));
+        // A folder left by an earlier process with the same id is cleared, not mixed in.
+        if std::fs::symlink_metadata(&dir).is_ok() {
+            std::fs::remove_dir_all(&dir).map_err(io("clearing an old download folder"))?;
+        }
         std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir).map_err(io("creating a download folder"))?;
         Ok(Self { dir })
     }