diff --git a/docs/design/companion-process-manager.md b/docs/design/companion-process-manager.md
index 8c3c690b..2f8cbcd6 100644
--- a/docs/design/companion-process-manager.md
+++ b/docs/design/companion-process-manager.md
@@ -680,7 +680,7 @@ No per-companion logic in Arbiter.
 - [x] Implement `start_process`.
 - [x] Implement `stop_process`.
 - [x] Implement `restart_process`.
-- [ ] Preserve and clear `manual_stop` correctly.
+- [x] Preserve and clear `manual_stop` correctly.
 - [ ] Add Unix control socket.
 - [ ] Implement JSON command protocol.
 - [ ] Implement `status`.
diff --git a/gunicorn/companion/manager.py b/gunicorn/companion/manager.py
index 65ba365f..59281138 100644
--- a/gunicorn/companion/manager.py
+++ b/gunicorn/companion/manager.py
@@ -37,13 +37,17 @@ class CompanionManager:
         Parent records the pid and moves the companion to STARTING. Child
         resolves and runs the target, exiting the worker on any failure so a
         crashed companion never leaks back into the manager's control flow.
+
+        Spawning is policy-neutral: it does not touch ``manual_stop``. Clearing
+        that flag is the job of the commands that intentionally bring a
+        companion back (:meth:`start_process`, :meth:`restart_process`), and a
+        companion only ever reaches a respawn path with the flag already false.
         """
         pid = os.fork()
         if pid != 0:
             proc.pid = pid
             proc.state = State.STARTING
             proc.started_at = time.time()
-            proc.manual_stop = False
             self.log.info("companion %s started (pid %s)", proc.name, pid)
             return pid
 
diff --git a/tests/test_companion_manager.py b/tests/test_companion_manager.py
index 13247e55..cca1bfef 100644
--- a/tests/test_companion_manager.py
+++ b/tests/test_companion_manager.py
@@ -274,6 +274,40 @@ def test_restart_process_stopping_rejected():
     assert not ok and "stopping" in msg
 
 
+def test_manual_stop_preserved_through_exit():
+    # stop a running companion, then reap its child: it must settle in STOPPED
+    # with manual_stop still set so it is not auto-restarted.
+    mgr = make_manager("rq")
+    proc = mgr.processes["rq"]
+    proc.state = State.RUNNING
+    proc.pid = 60
+    with mock.patch("os.kill"):
+        mgr.stop_process("rq", now=10.0)
+    with mock.patch("os.waitpid", side_effect=[(60, 0), (0, 0)]), \
+            mock.patch("os.fork") as fork:
+        mgr.reap_processes()
+    fork.assert_not_called()
+    assert proc.state == State.STOPPED and proc.manual_stop is True
+
+
+def test_start_clears_manual_stop():
+    mgr = make_manager("rq")
+    proc = mgr.processes["rq"]
+    proc.manual_stop = True
+    with mock.patch("os.fork", return_value=61):
+        mgr.start_process("rq")
+    assert proc.manual_stop is False
+
+
+def test_spawn_does_not_touch_manual_stop():
+    mgr = make_manager("rq")
+    proc = mgr.processes["rq"]
+    proc.manual_stop = True
+    with mock.patch("os.fork", return_value=62):
+        mgr.spawn_process(proc)
+    assert proc.manual_stop is True
+
+
 def test_handle_exit_unexpected_backoff():
     mgr = make_manager("rq")
     proc = mgr.processes["rq"]