diff --git a/awx/main/tasks/facts.py b/awx/main/tasks/facts.py
index 8fbdae9019..48772e9c2c 100644
--- a/awx/main/tasks/facts.py
+++ b/awx/main/tasks/facts.py
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ def start_fact_cache(hosts, artifacts_dir, timeout=None, inventory_id=None, log_
     log_data = log_data or {}
     log_data['inventory_id'] = inventory_id
     log_data['written_ct'] = 0
-    hosts_cached = []
+    # Dict mapping host name -> bool (True if a fact file was written)
+    hosts_cached = {}
 
     # Create the fact_cache directory inside artifacts_dir
     fact_cache_dir = os.path.join(artifacts_dir, 'fact_cache')
@@ -37,13 +38,14 @@ def start_fact_cache(hosts, artifacts_dir, timeout=None, inventory_id=None, log_
     last_write_time = None
 
     for host in hosts:
-        hosts_cached.append(host.name)
         if not host.ansible_facts_modified or (timeout and host.ansible_facts_modified < now() - datetime.timedelta(seconds=timeout)):
+            hosts_cached[host.name] = False
             continue  # facts are expired - do not write them
 
         filepath = os.path.join(fact_cache_dir, host.name)
         if not os.path.realpath(filepath).startswith(fact_cache_dir):
             logger.error(f'facts for host {smart_str(host.name)} could not be cached')
+            hosts_cached[host.name] = False
             continue
 
         try:
@@ -59,8 +61,10 @@ def start_fact_cache(hosts, artifacts_dir, timeout=None, inventory_id=None, log_
             backdated = mtime - 2
             os.utime(filepath, (backdated, backdated))
             last_write_time = backdated
+            hosts_cached[host.name] = True
         except IOError:
             logger.error(f'facts for host {smart_str(host.name)} could not be cached')
+            hosts_cached[host.name] = False
             continue
 
     # Write summary file directly to the artifacts_dir
@@ -69,7 +73,6 @@ def start_fact_cache(hosts, artifacts_dir, timeout=None, inventory_id=None, log_
         summary_data = {
             'last_write_time': last_write_time,
             'hosts_cached': hosts_cached,
-            'written_ct': log_data['written_ct'],
         }
         with open(summary_file, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as f:
             json.dump(summary_data, f, indent=2)
@@ -101,7 +104,8 @@ def finish_fact_cache(host_qs, artifacts_dir, job_id=None, inventory_id=None, jo
         logger.error(f'Error reading summary file at {summary_path}: {e}')
         return
 
-    host_names = summary.get('hosts_cached', [])
+    hosts_cached_map = summary.get('hosts_cached', {})
+    host_names = list(hosts_cached_map.keys())
     hosts_cached = host_qs.filter(name__in=host_names).order_by('id').iterator()
     # Path where individual fact files were written
     fact_cache_dir = os.path.join(artifacts_dir, 'fact_cache')
@@ -143,6 +147,14 @@ def finish_fact_cache(host_qs, artifacts_dir, job_id=None, inventory_id=None, jo
             else:
                 log_data['unmodified_ct'] += 1
         else:
+            # File is missing. Only interpret this as "ansible cleared facts" if
+            # start_fact_cache actually wrote a file for this host (i.e. the host
+            # had valid, non-expired facts before the job ran).  If no file was
+            # ever written, the missing file is expected and not a clear signal.
+            if not hosts_cached_map.get(host.name):
+                log_data['unmodified_ct'] += 1
+                continue
+
             # if the file goes missing, ansible removed it (likely via clear_facts)
             # if the file goes missing, but the host has not started facts, then we should not clear the facts
             if job_created and host.ansible_facts_modified and host.ansible_facts_modified > job_created:
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/functional/tasks/test_fact_cache.py b/awx/main/tests/functional/tasks/test_fact_cache.py
index 1ca43da034..07e6a325ec 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/functional/tasks/test_fact_cache.py
+++ b/awx/main/tests/functional/tasks/test_fact_cache.py
@@ -73,17 +73,21 @@ class TestFinishFactCacheScoping:
 class TestFinishFactCacheConcurrentProtection:
     """finish_fact_cache must not clear facts that a concurrent job updated."""
 
-    def test_skip_clear_when_facts_modified_after_job_created(self, organization, artifacts_dir):
-        """If a host's facts were updated after the job was created, do not clear them.
+    def test_no_clear_when_no_file_was_written(self, organization, artifacts_dir):
+        """Host with no prior facts should not have facts cleared when file is missing.
 
         Generated by Claude Opus 4.6 (claude-opus-4-6).
+
+        start_fact_cache records hosts_cached[host] = False for hosts with no
+        prior facts (no file written).  finish_fact_cache should skip the clear
+        for these hosts because the missing file is expected, not a clear signal.
         """
         inv = Inventory.objects.create(organization=organization, name='concurrent-inv')
         host = inv.hosts.create(name='target')
 
         job_created = now() - timedelta(minutes=5)
 
-        # start_fact_cache writes a reference file (host has no facts yet → no file written)
+        # start_fact_cache records host with False (no facts → no file written)
         start_fact_cache(inv.hosts.all(), artifacts_dir=artifacts_dir, timeout=0, inventory_id=inv.id)
 
         # Simulate a concurrent job updating this host's facts AFTER our job was created
@@ -91,12 +95,43 @@ class TestFinishFactCacheConcurrentProtection:
         host.ansible_facts_modified = now()
         host.save(update_fields=['ansible_facts', 'ansible_facts_modified'])
 
-        # The fact file is missing (our job's ansible didn't target this host),
-        # which would normally trigger a clear.  But the concurrent protection
-        # should skip it because ansible_facts_modified > job_created.
-        fact_file = os.path.join(artifacts_dir, 'fact_cache', host.name)
-        if os.path.exists(fact_file):
-            os.remove(fact_file)
+        # The fact file is missing because start_fact_cache never wrote one.
+        # finish_fact_cache should skip this host entirely.
+        finish_fact_cache(
+            inv.hosts,
+            artifacts_dir=artifacts_dir,
+            inventory_id=inv.id,
+            job_created=job_created,
+        )
+
+        host.refresh_from_db()
+        assert host.ansible_facts == {'from_concurrent_job': True}, 'Facts were cleared for a host that never had a fact file written'
+
+    def test_skip_clear_when_facts_modified_after_job_created(self, organization, artifacts_dir):
+        """If a file was written and then deleted, but facts were concurrently updated, skip clear.
+
+        Generated by Claude Opus 4.6 (claude-opus-4-6).
+        """
+        inv = Inventory.objects.create(organization=organization, name='concurrent-written-inv')
+        host = inv.hosts.create(name='target')
+
+        old_time = now() - timedelta(hours=1)
+        host.ansible_facts = {'original': True}
+        host.ansible_facts_modified = old_time
+        host.save(update_fields=['ansible_facts', 'ansible_facts_modified'])
+
+        job_created = now() - timedelta(minutes=5)
+
+        # start_fact_cache writes a file (host has facts → True in map)
+        start_fact_cache(inv.hosts.all(), artifacts_dir=artifacts_dir, timeout=0, inventory_id=inv.id)
+
+        # Remove the fact file (ansible didn't target this host via --limit)
+        os.remove(os.path.join(artifacts_dir, 'fact_cache', host.name))
+
+        # Simulate a concurrent job updating this host's facts AFTER our job was created
+        host.ansible_facts = {'from_concurrent_job': True}
+        host.ansible_facts_modified = now()
+        host.save(update_fields=['ansible_facts', 'ansible_facts_modified'])
 
         finish_fact_cache(
             inv.hosts,