diff --git a/src/graphics/host_gpu/renderer/cache/bufferCache.cpp b/src/graphics/host_gpu/renderer/cache/bufferCache.cpp
index 9df8b3615..b8a8b74a4 100644
--- a/src/graphics/host_gpu/renderer/cache/bufferCache.cpp
+++ b/src/graphics/host_gpu/renderer/cache/bufferCache.cpp
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ void BufferCache::DeleteBuffer(BufferId id) {
 	}
 }
 
+template <bool async>
 bool BufferCache::DownloadBufferMemory(Buffer& buffer, uint64_t vaddr, uint64_t size) {
 	std::vector<vk::BufferCopy> copies;
 	uint64_t                    total_size     = 0;
@@ -170,14 +171,22 @@ bool BufferCache::DownloadBufferMemory(Buffer& buffer, uint64_t vaddr, uint64_t
 	                       vk::PipelineStageFlagBits::eAllCommands |
 	                           vk::PipelineStageFlagBits::eHost,
 	                       {}, 0, nullptr, 1, &after, 0, nullptr);
-	m_scheduler.DeferPriorityOperation([this, mapped, offset, total_size, buffer_address,
-	                                    copies = std::move(copies), owner = std::move(temporary)] {
+	auto publish = [this, mapped, offset, total_size, buffer_address,
+	                copies = std::move(copies), owner = std::move(temporary)] {
 		(owner ? *owner : m_download_buffer).Invalidate(offset, total_size);
 		for (const auto& copy: copies) {
 			Libs::LibKernel::Memory::WriteBacking(buffer_address + copy.srcOffset,
 			                                      mapped + (copy.dstOffset - offset), copy.size);
 		}
-	});
+	};
+	if constexpr (async) {
+		m_scheduler.DeferPriorityOperation(std::move(publish));
+	} else {
+		const auto tick = m_scheduler.CurrentTick();
+		m_scheduler.Wait(tick);
+		m_scheduler.WaitPriorityOperations(tick);
+		publish();
+	}
 	return true;
 }
 
@@ -256,10 +265,7 @@ void BufferCache::ReadMemory(uint64_t vaddr, uint64_t size, bool is_write) {
 		const auto window_begin = std::max(Common::AlignDown(vaddr, WindowSize), buffer_begin);
 		const auto window_end = std::min(std::max(window_begin + WindowSize, vaddr + size), buffer_end);
 
-		if (DownloadBufferMemory(buffer, window_begin, window_end - window_begin)) {
-			const auto tick = m_scheduler.CurrentTick();
-			m_scheduler.Wait(tick);
-			m_scheduler.WaitPriorityOperations(tick);
+		if (DownloadBufferMemory<false>(buffer, window_begin, window_end - window_begin)) {
 			m_memory_tracker.UnmarkRegionAsGpuModified(window_begin, window_end - window_begin);
 		}
 		if (is_write) {
@@ -614,7 +620,7 @@ void BufferCache::RunGarbageCollector() {
 			return false;
 		}
 		if (dirty) {
-			EXIT_IF(!DownloadBufferMemory(buffer, buffer.CpuAddress(), buffer.Size()));
+			EXIT_NOT_IMPLEMENTED(!DownloadBufferMemory<true>(buffer, buffer.CpuAddress(), buffer.Size()));
 			dirty_buffers.push_back(id);
 		} else {
 			m_memory_tracker.UntrackMemory(buffer.CpuAddress(), buffer.Size());
diff --git a/src/graphics/host_gpu/renderer/cache/bufferCache.h b/src/graphics/host_gpu/renderer/cache/bufferCache.h
index aa969a9dd..1212bd535 100644
--- a/src/graphics/host_gpu/renderer/cache/bufferCache.h
+++ b/src/graphics/host_gpu/renderer/cache/bufferCache.h
@@ -117,7 +117,8 @@ private:
 	[[nodiscard]] vk::Buffer UploadCopies(Buffer& buffer, std::span<vk::BufferCopy> copies,
 	                                      uint64_t total_size);
 	[[nodiscard]] bool SynchronizeBufferFromImage(Buffer& buffer, uint64_t vaddr, uint64_t size);
-	// Queues backing publication; callers wait before clearing dirty pages or reusing their data.
+	// Synchronous downloads publish before returning; asynchronous callers wait before reuse.
+	template <bool async>
 	[[nodiscard]] bool DownloadBufferMemory(Buffer& buffer, uint64_t vaddr, uint64_t size);
 
 	GraphicContext&                                   m_graphics;
diff --git a/tests/ShaderRecompilerComputeTests.cpp b/tests/ShaderRecompilerComputeTests.cpp
index 1be1349f1..7644326f8 100644
--- a/tests/ShaderRecompilerComputeTests.cpp
+++ b/tests/ShaderRecompilerComputeTests.cpp
@@ -4208,7 +4208,30 @@ public:
         cache.FillBuffer(base + offset, sizeof(window_value), window_value,
                          false);
       }
+      const auto window_publication_tick = scheduler.CurrentTick();
+      std::binary_semaphore window_publication_entered{0};
+      std::binary_semaphore release_window_publication{0};
+      std::atomic<bool> window_readback_returned{false};
+      scheduler.DeferPriorityOperation([&] {
+        window_publication_entered.release();
+        release_window_publication.acquire();
+        Libs::LibKernel::Memory::WriteBacking(
+            base + window_inside_offset, &window_stale, sizeof(window_stale));
+      });
+      std::jthread release_window_callback([&] {
+        window_publication_entered.acquire();
+        const auto deadline = std::chrono::steady_clock::now() +
+                              std::chrono::milliseconds(100);
+        while (!window_readback_returned.load() &&
+               std::chrono::steady_clock::now() < deadline) {
+          std::this_thread::yield();
+        }
+        release_window_publication.release();
+      });
       cache.ReadMemory(base + window_fault_offset, sizeof(window_value));
+      window_readback_returned = true;
+      release_window_callback.join();
+      scheduler.WaitPriorityOperations(window_publication_tick);
       uint32_t window_inside_backing = 0;
       uint32_t window_outside_backing = 0;
       Libs::LibKernel::Memory::TryReadBacking(base + window_inside_offset,
@@ -4217,7 +4240,7 @@ public:
       Libs::LibKernel::Memory::TryReadBacking(base + window_outside_offset,
                                               &window_outside_backing,
                                               sizeof(window_outside_backing));
-      Require(name, "widened-window boundary",
+      Require(name, "widened-window publication order and boundary",
               window_inside_backing == window_value &&
                   window_outside_backing == window_stale &&
                   !cache.HasGpuDirtyBytes(base + window_inside_offset,
@@ -4228,7 +4251,8 @@ public:
                                              sizeof(window_value)) &&
                   cache.IsRegionGpuModified(base + window_outside_offset,
                                             sizeof(window_value)),
-              "readback did not honor the clamped half-open 512 KiB window");
+              "readback did not publish after the older overlapping callback "
+              "or honor the clamped half-open 512 KiB window");
       cache.ReadMemory(base + window_outside_offset, sizeof(window_value));
 
       Libs::LibKernel::Memory::WriteBacking(base + first_offset, &first_stale,