diff --git a/Orchestrators/watchdog_orchestrator.sh b/Orchestrators/watchdog_orchestrator.sh
index 56d6e4c..4f69288 100755
--- a/Orchestrators/watchdog_orchestrator.sh
+++ b/Orchestrators/watchdog_orchestrator.sh
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@
 #   System Watchdog last   — only triggers if prior layers could not resolve the issue.
 #                            Rebooting without first reducing pressure may reboot into the same state.
 #
+# ── ARRAY CHECK ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+#   Exits immediately if /mnt/user is not mounted as shfs (array not started).
+#   Watchdogs check Docker containers and storage — meaningless without the array.
+#   Prevents false positives and unnecessary reboots when array is stopped or stopping.
+#
 # ── STARTUP GRACE ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 #   No action until system uptime >= WATCHDOG_STARTUP_GRACE seconds.
 #   Prevents false positives from containers still starting at array launch.
@@ -110,6 +115,14 @@ if [[ "$SHOW_STATUS" == true ]]; then
     exit 0
 fi
 
+# ==============================================================================================
+# ━━━ Array Check ━━━
+# ==============================================================================================
+if ! df --output=fstype /mnt/user 2>/dev/null | grep -q shfs; then
+    log "Array not started — skipping watchdog cycle"
+    exit 0
+fi
+
 # ==============================================================================================
 # ━━━ Startup Grace ━━━
 # ==============================================================================================