diff --git a/libs/checkpoint-postgres/langgraph/checkpoint/postgres/__init__.py b/libs/checkpoint-postgres/langgraph/checkpoint/postgres/__init__.py
index cd5a14a19..537acd0fa 100644
--- a/libs/checkpoint-postgres/langgraph/checkpoint/postgres/__init__.py
+++ b/libs/checkpoint-postgres/langgraph/checkpoint/postgres/__init__.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ Conn = _internal.Conn  # For backward compatibility
 class PostgresSaver(BasePostgresSaver):
     """Checkpointer that stores checkpoints in a Postgres database."""
 
-    lock: threading.RLock
+    lock: threading.Lock
 
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class PostgresSaver(BasePostgresSaver):
 
         self.conn = conn
         self.pipe = pipe
-        self.lock = threading.RLock()
+        self.lock = threading.Lock()
         self.supports_pipeline = Capabilities().has_pipeline()
 
     @classmethod
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ class PostgresSaver(BasePostgresSaver):
                             value["channel_values"],
                         )
             for value in values:
-                yield self._load_checkpoint_tuple(value)
+                yield self._load_checkpoint_tuple(value, cur)
 
     def get_tuple(self, config: RunnableConfig) -> CheckpointTuple | None:
         """Get a checkpoint tuple from the database.
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ class PostgresSaver(BasePostgresSaver):
                         value["channel_values"],
                     )
 
-            return self._load_checkpoint_tuple(value)
+            return self._load_checkpoint_tuple(value, cur)
 
     def put(
         self,
@@ -430,22 +430,26 @@ class PostgresSaver(BasePostgresSaver):
                 with conn.cursor(binary=True, row_factory=dict_row) as cur:
                     yield cur
 
-    def _load_checkpoint_tuple(self, value: DictRow) -> CheckpointTuple:
+    def _load_checkpoint_tuple(
+        self, value: DictRow, cur: Cursor[DictRow]
+    ) -> CheckpointTuple:
         """
         Convert a database row into a CheckpointTuple object.
 
         Args:
             value: A row from the database containing checkpoint data.
+            cur: The cursor used by the caller; reused for DeltaChannel
+                 reconstruction to avoid acquiring `self.lock` a second time.
 
         Returns:
             CheckpointTuple: A structured representation of the checkpoint,
             including its configuration, metadata, parent checkpoint (if any),
             and pending writes.
         """
-        from langgraph.checkpoint.base import DeltaChannelSentinel
+        from langgraph.checkpoint.base import DELTA_SENTINEL
 
         channel_values = self._load_blobs(value["channel_values"])
-        if any(isinstance(v, DeltaChannelSentinel) for v in channel_values.values()):
+        if any(v is DELTA_SENTINEL for v in channel_values.values()):
             cp_config = cast(
                 RunnableConfig,
                 {
@@ -456,8 +460,7 @@ class PostgresSaver(BasePostgresSaver):
                     }
                 },
             )
-            with self._cursor() as cur:
-                self._resolve_delta_channels(cp_config, channel_values, cur)
+            self._resolve_delta_channels(cp_config, channel_values, cur)
         return CheckpointTuple(
             {
                 "configurable": {
diff --git a/libs/checkpoint-postgres/langgraph/checkpoint/postgres/aio.py b/libs/checkpoint-postgres/langgraph/checkpoint/postgres/aio.py
index 595e240f3..86070a909 100644
--- a/libs/checkpoint-postgres/langgraph/checkpoint/postgres/aio.py
+++ b/libs/checkpoint-postgres/langgraph/checkpoint/postgres/aio.py
@@ -8,12 +8,13 @@ from typing import Any
 
 from langchain_core.runnables import RunnableConfig
 from langgraph.checkpoint.base import (
+    DELTA_SENTINEL,
     WRITES_IDX_MAP,
     ChannelVersions,
     Checkpoint,
     CheckpointMetadata,
     CheckpointTuple,
-    DeltaChannelSentinel,
+    DeltaChannelWrites,
     get_checkpoint_id,
     get_serializable_checkpoint_metadata,
 )
@@ -169,7 +170,7 @@ class AsyncPostgresSaver(BasePostgresSaver):
                             value["channel_values"],
                         )
             for value in values:
-                yield await self._load_checkpoint_tuple(value)
+                yield await self._load_checkpoint_tuple(value, cur)
 
     async def aget_tuple(self, config: RunnableConfig) -> CheckpointTuple | None:
         """Get a checkpoint tuple from the database asynchronously.
@@ -220,7 +221,7 @@ class AsyncPostgresSaver(BasePostgresSaver):
                         value["channel_values"],
                     )
 
-            return await self._load_checkpoint_tuple(value)
+            return await self._load_checkpoint_tuple(value, cur)
 
     async def aput(
         self,
@@ -444,12 +445,17 @@ class AsyncPostgresSaver(BasePostgresSaver):
                 thread_id, checkpoint_ns, checkpoint_id, channel, cur
             )
 
-    async def _load_checkpoint_tuple(self, value: DictRow) -> CheckpointTuple:
+    async def _load_checkpoint_tuple(
+        self, value: DictRow, cur: AsyncCursor[DictRow]
+    ) -> CheckpointTuple:
         """
         Convert a database row into a CheckpointTuple object.
 
         Args:
             value: A row from the database containing checkpoint data.
+            cur: The cursor used by the caller; reused for DeltaChannel
+                 reconstruction to avoid re-entering `self.lock`, which is
+                 `asyncio.Lock` and would deadlock.
 
         Returns:
             CheckpointTuple: A structured representation of the checkpoint,
@@ -464,17 +470,13 @@ class AsyncPostgresSaver(BasePostgresSaver):
         channel_values: dict[str, Any] = {}
         if blob_values:
             channel_values = self._load_blobs(blob_values)
-            delta_channels = [
-                ch
-                for ch, v in channel_values.items()
-                if isinstance(v, DeltaChannelSentinel)
-            ]
-            if delta_channels:
-                async with self._cursor() as cur:
-                    for channel in delta_channels:
-                        channel_values[channel] = await self._aget_channel_writes_cur(
+            for channel, v in channel_values.items():
+                if v is DELTA_SENTINEL:
+                    channel_values[channel] = DeltaChannelWrites(
+                        await self._aget_channel_writes_cur(
                             thread_id, checkpoint_ns, checkpoint_id, channel, cur
                         )
+                    )
 
         return CheckpointTuple(
             {
diff --git a/libs/checkpoint-postgres/langgraph/checkpoint/postgres/base.py b/libs/checkpoint-postgres/langgraph/checkpoint/postgres/base.py
index 0a17f052a..f03c5d63b 100644
--- a/libs/checkpoint-postgres/langgraph/checkpoint/postgres/base.py
+++ b/libs/checkpoint-postgres/langgraph/checkpoint/postgres/base.py
@@ -9,10 +9,11 @@ from typing import Any, cast
 
 from langchain_core.runnables import RunnableConfig
 from langgraph.checkpoint.base import (
+    DELTA_SENTINEL,
     WRITES_IDX_MAP,
     BaseCheckpointSaver,
     ChannelVersions,
-    DeltaChannelSentinel,
+    DeltaChannelWrites,
     get_checkpoint_id,
 )
 from langgraph.checkpoint.serde.types import TASKS
@@ -205,14 +206,16 @@ class BasePostgresSaver(BaseCheckpointSaver[str]):
         channel_values: dict[str, Any],
         cur: Any,
     ) -> None:
-        for channel, value in list(channel_values.items()):
-            if isinstance(value, DeltaChannelSentinel):
-                channel_values[channel] = self._get_channel_writes_cur(
-                    config["configurable"]["thread_id"],
-                    config["configurable"].get("checkpoint_ns", ""),
-                    config["configurable"]["checkpoint_id"],
-                    channel,
-                    cur,
+        for channel, value in channel_values.items():
+            if value is DELTA_SENTINEL:
+                channel_values[channel] = DeltaChannelWrites(
+                    self._get_channel_writes_cur(
+                        config["configurable"]["thread_id"],
+                        config["configurable"].get("checkpoint_ns", ""),
+                        config["configurable"]["checkpoint_id"],
+                        channel,
+                        cur,
+                    )
                 )
 
     def _get_channel_writes_cur(
diff --git a/libs/checkpoint/langgraph/checkpoint/base/__init__.py b/libs/checkpoint/langgraph/checkpoint/base/__init__.py
index f52b9b117..c32024445 100644
--- a/libs/checkpoint/langgraph/checkpoint/base/__init__.py
+++ b/libs/checkpoint/langgraph/checkpoint/base/__init__.py
@@ -1,14 +1,12 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import copy
-import dataclasses
 import logging
 import threading
 from collections.abc import AsyncIterator, Collection, Iterator, Mapping, Sequence
-from typing import (  # noqa: UP035
+from typing import (
     Any,
     Generic,
-    List,
     Literal,
     NamedTuple,
     TypedDict,
@@ -22,28 +20,18 @@ from langgraph.checkpoint.serde.base import SerializerProtocol, maybe_add_typed_
 from langgraph.checkpoint.serde.encrypted import EncryptedSerializer
 from langgraph.checkpoint.serde.jsonplus import JsonPlusSerializer
 from langgraph.checkpoint.serde.types import (
+    DELTA_SENTINEL,
     ERROR,
     INTERRUPT,
     RESUME,
     SCHEDULED,
     ChannelProtocol,
+    DeltaChannelWrites,
 )
 
 V = TypeVar("V", int, float, str)
 PendingWrite = tuple[str, str, Any]
 
-
-@dataclasses.dataclass
-class DeltaChannelSentinel:
-    """Marker stored in checkpoint_blobs for a DeltaChannel field.
-
-    No data is stored here — the actual per-step writes live in checkpoint_writes
-    and are replayed through the reducer at load time.
-    """
-
-    pass
-
-
 _DELTA_RECONSTRUCTION: threading.local = threading.local()
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -475,14 +463,14 @@ class BaseCheckpointSaver(Generic[V]):
         """
         raise NotImplementedError
 
-    def get_channel_writes(self, config: RunnableConfig, channel: str) -> List[Any]:  # noqa: UP006
+    def get_channel_writes(self, config: RunnableConfig, channel: str) -> list[Any]:
         """Collect all writes for `channel` across this checkpoint's ancestry, oldest→newest.
 
         Default implementation walks the full thread history via `list()`. Savers can
         override with a more efficient query (InMemorySaver and PostgresSaver do this).
         """
         # Guard against re-entrant calls: when list() triggers reconstruction which
-        # calls list() again, the inner call returns tuples with DeltaChannelSentinel
+        # calls list() again, the inner call returns tuples with DELTA_SENTINEL
         # in channel_values (which get_channel_writes ignores — it only reads
         # pending_writes). This breaks the recursion safely.
         if getattr(_DELTA_RECONSTRUCTION, "active", False):
@@ -505,7 +493,7 @@ class BaseCheckpointSaver(Generic[V]):
 
     async def aget_channel_writes(
         self, config: RunnableConfig, channel: str
-    ) -> List[Any]:  # noqa: UP006
+    ) -> list[Any]:
         """Async version of get_channel_writes."""
         if getattr(_DELTA_RECONSTRUCTION, "active", False):
             return []
diff --git a/libs/checkpoint/langgraph/checkpoint/memory/__init__.py b/libs/checkpoint/langgraph/checkpoint/memory/__init__.py
index f265fe860..bc85e1020 100644
--- a/libs/checkpoint/langgraph/checkpoint/memory/__init__.py
+++ b/libs/checkpoint/langgraph/checkpoint/memory/__init__.py
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ from langgraph.checkpoint.base import (
     Checkpoint,
     CheckpointMetadata,
     CheckpointTuple,
-    DeltaChannelSentinel,
+    DELTA_SENTINEL,
+    DeltaChannelWrites,
     SerializerProtocol,
     get_checkpoint_id,
     get_checkpoint_metadata,
@@ -143,10 +144,14 @@ class InMemorySaver(
         config: RunnableConfig,
         channel_values: dict[str, Any],
     ) -> None:
-        """Replace DeltaChannelSentinel entries with reconstructed write lists."""
-        for channel, value in list(channel_values.items()):
-            if isinstance(value, DeltaChannelSentinel):
-                channel_values[channel] = self.get_channel_writes(config, channel)
+        """Replace DELTA_SENTINEL entries with DeltaChannelWrites so
+        DeltaChannel.from_checkpoint can distinguish reconstructed writes from
+        a pre-DeltaChannel accumulated list."""
+        for channel, value in channel_values.items():
+            if value is DELTA_SENTINEL:
+                channel_values[channel] = DeltaChannelWrites(
+                    self.get_channel_writes(config, channel)
+                )
 
     def get_channel_writes(self, config: RunnableConfig, channel: str) -> list[Any]:
         thread_id = config["configurable"]["thread_id"]
diff --git a/libs/checkpoint/langgraph/checkpoint/serde/jsonplus.py b/libs/checkpoint/langgraph/checkpoint/serde/jsonplus.py
index a3bb23b59..48ef785ca 100644
--- a/libs/checkpoint/langgraph/checkpoint/serde/jsonplus.py
+++ b/libs/checkpoint/langgraph/checkpoint/serde/jsonplus.py
@@ -33,14 +33,13 @@ from langchain_core.load.load import Reviver
 from langgraph.checkpoint.serde import _msgpack as _lg_msgpack
 from langgraph.checkpoint.serde.base import SerializerProtocol
 from langgraph.checkpoint.serde.event_hooks import emit_serde_event
-from langgraph.checkpoint.serde.types import SendProtocol
+from langgraph.checkpoint.serde.types import DELTA_SENTINEL, SendProtocol
 from langgraph.store.base import Item
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from langgraph.checkpoint.serde._msgpack import (
         AllowedMsgpackModules,
     )
-    from langgraph.checkpoint.serde.types import SendProtocol
 
 LC_REVIVER = Reviver()
 EMPTY_BYTES = b""
@@ -64,14 +63,6 @@ def _warn_once(
     logger.warning(msg, *args)
 
 
-def _get_delta_sentinel_cls() -> type:
-    from langgraph.checkpoint.base import (
-        DeltaChannelSentinel,
-    )  # lazy import avoids circular dep
-
-    return DeltaChannelSentinel
-
-
 class JsonPlusSerializer(SerializerProtocol):
     """Serializer that uses ormsgpack, with optional fallbacks.
 
@@ -260,12 +251,12 @@ class JsonPlusSerializer(SerializerProtocol):
     def dumps_typed(self, obj: Any) -> tuple[str, bytes]:
         if obj is None:
             return "null", EMPTY_BYTES
+        elif obj is DELTA_SENTINEL:
+            return "delta", EMPTY_BYTES
         elif isinstance(obj, bytes):
             return "bytes", obj
         elif isinstance(obj, bytearray):
             return "bytearray", obj
-        elif isinstance(obj, _get_delta_sentinel_cls()):
-            return "delta", b""
         else:
             try:
                 return "msgpack", _msgpack_enc(obj)
@@ -289,9 +280,7 @@ class JsonPlusSerializer(SerializerProtocol):
                 data_, ext_hook=self._unpack_ext_hook, option=ormsgpack.OPT_NON_STR_KEYS
             )
         elif type_ == "delta":
-            from langgraph.checkpoint.base import DeltaChannelSentinel
-
-            return DeltaChannelSentinel()
+            return DELTA_SENTINEL
         elif self.pickle_fallback and type_ == "pickle":
             return pickle.loads(data_)
         else:
diff --git a/libs/checkpoint/langgraph/checkpoint/serde/types.py b/libs/checkpoint/langgraph/checkpoint/serde/types.py
index 65a2b0c8e..7a8ba7484 100644
--- a/libs/checkpoint/langgraph/checkpoint/serde/types.py
+++ b/libs/checkpoint/langgraph/checkpoint/serde/types.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import dataclasses
 from collections.abc import Sequence
 from typing import (
     Any,
@@ -14,6 +15,34 @@ INTERRUPT = "__interrupt__"
 RESUME = "__resume__"
 TASKS = "__pregel_tasks"
 
+
+class _DeltaSentinel:
+    """Singleton marker stored (as zero bytes) in checkpoint_blobs for a
+    DeltaChannel field. The actual per-step writes live in checkpoint_writes
+    and are replayed through the reducer at load time.
+
+    Compare with `is DELTA_SENTINEL` — `loads_typed` always returns the same
+    module-level instance.
+    """
+
+    __slots__ = ()
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        return "DELTA_SENTINEL"
+
+
+DELTA_SENTINEL = _DeltaSentinel()
+
+
+@dataclasses.dataclass
+class DeltaChannelWrites:
+    """In-memory wrapper around per-step writes reconstructed by a saver.
+    Consumed by `DeltaChannel.from_checkpoint`. Never serialized — if this
+    reaches the wire, something upstream forgot to unwrap it.
+    """
+
+    writes: list[Any]
+
 Value = TypeVar("Value", covariant=True)
 Update = TypeVar("Update", contravariant=True)
 C = TypeVar("C")
diff --git a/libs/checkpoint/tests/test_jsonplus.py b/libs/checkpoint/tests/test_jsonplus.py
index 17a9a98b1..3384e5598 100644
--- a/libs/checkpoint/tests/test_jsonplus.py
+++ b/libs/checkpoint/tests/test_jsonplus.py
@@ -999,13 +999,14 @@ def test_msgpack_nested_pydantic_serializes_as_dict(
     assert result == obj
 
 
-def test_delta_channel_sentinel_serde_round_trip() -> None:
-    from langgraph.checkpoint.base import DeltaChannelSentinel
+def test_delta_sentinel_serde_round_trip() -> None:
+    from langgraph.checkpoint.base import DELTA_SENTINEL
     from langgraph.checkpoint.serde.jsonplus import JsonPlusSerializer
 
     serde = JsonPlusSerializer()
-    original = DeltaChannelSentinel()
-    type_tag, blob = serde.dumps_typed(original)
+    type_tag, blob = serde.dumps_typed(DELTA_SENTINEL)
+    # Zero-byte "delta" tag — no allowlist change needed.
     assert type_tag == "delta"
+    assert blob == b""
     loaded = serde.loads_typed((type_tag, blob))
-    assert isinstance(loaded, DeltaChannelSentinel)
+    assert loaded is DELTA_SENTINEL
diff --git a/libs/checkpoint/tests/test_memory.py b/libs/checkpoint/tests/test_memory.py
index 8c636bcb5..6890eeff8 100644
--- a/libs/checkpoint/tests/test_memory.py
+++ b/libs/checkpoint/tests/test_memory.py
@@ -324,9 +324,9 @@ def test_memory_saver_with_allowlist_proxy_isolated() -> None:
 
 class TestInMemorySaverDeltaChannel:
     def test_load_blobs_returns_sentinel_for_delta_channel(self) -> None:
-        """_load_blobs returns DeltaChannelSentinel for delta channels (reconstruction deferred)."""
+        """_load_blobs returns DELTA_SENTINEL for delta channels (reconstruction deferred)."""
         from langgraph.checkpoint.base import (
-            DeltaChannelSentinel,
+            DELTA_SENTINEL,
             empty_checkpoint,
         )
 
@@ -336,8 +336,7 @@ class TestInMemorySaverDeltaChannel:
         thread_id, ns, channel = "t1", "", "messages"
         v1 = "00000000000000000000000000000001.0000000000000000"
 
-        sentinel = DeltaChannelSentinel()
-        saver.blobs[(thread_id, ns, channel, v1)] = serde.dumps_typed(sentinel)
+        saver.blobs[(thread_id, ns, channel, v1)] = serde.dumps_typed(DELTA_SENTINEL)
 
         cp1 = empty_checkpoint()
         cp1["id"] = "cp1"
@@ -348,7 +347,7 @@ class TestInMemorySaverDeltaChannel:
 
         result = saver._load_blobs(thread_id, ns, {channel: v1})
         assert channel in result
-        assert isinstance(result[channel], DeltaChannelSentinel)
+        assert result[channel] is DELTA_SENTINEL
 
     def test_get_channel_writes_collects_writes(self) -> None:
         """get_channel_writes collects per-step writes oldest→newest."""
diff --git a/libs/langgraph/langgraph/channels/base.py b/libs/langgraph/langgraph/channels/base.py
index 7a442bae0..9207aa2bb 100644
--- a/libs/langgraph/langgraph/channels/base.py
+++ b/libs/langgraph/langgraph/channels/base.py
@@ -119,12 +119,3 @@ class BaseChannel(Generic[Value, Update, Checkpoint], ABC):
         Returns `True` if the channel was updated, `False` otherwise.
         """
         return False
-
-    def after_checkpoint(self, version: Any, checkpoint_id: str | None = None) -> None:
-        """Called after checkpoint() with the assigned version, and after
-        from_checkpoint() with the current channel version.
-
-        No-op by default. Override in channels that track their own version
-        for incremental checkpointing (e.g. DeltaChannel).
-        """
-        pass
diff --git a/libs/langgraph/langgraph/channels/delta.py b/libs/langgraph/langgraph/channels/delta.py
index 3d5e02693..dbe1dddd5 100644
--- a/libs/langgraph/langgraph/channels/delta.py
+++ b/libs/langgraph/langgraph/channels/delta.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 from collections.abc import Callable, Sequence
 from typing import Any, Generic
 
-from langgraph.checkpoint.base import DeltaChannelSentinel
+from langgraph.checkpoint.base import DELTA_SENTINEL, DeltaChannelWrites
 from typing_extensions import Self
 
 from langgraph._internal._typing import MISSING
@@ -14,9 +14,14 @@ from langgraph.errors import EmptyChannelError
 __all__ = ("DeltaChannel",)
 
 
-class DeltaChannel(
-    Generic[Value], BaseChannel[list[Value], Value, DeltaChannelSentinel]
-):
+def _empty(typ: Any) -> Any:
+    try:
+        return typ()
+    except Exception:
+        return []
+
+
+class DeltaChannel(Generic[Value], BaseChannel[list[Value], Value, Any]):
     """A channel that stores only a sentinel in checkpoints; per-step writes are
     stored in checkpoint_writes and replayed through the operator at load time.
 
@@ -76,25 +81,20 @@ class DeltaChannel(
         new.typ = self.typ
         new.key = self.key
         if checkpoint is MISSING:
-            try:
-                new.value = new.typ()
-            except Exception:
-                new.value = []
-        elif isinstance(checkpoint, list):
-            # Flat list of write values (oldest→newest) from get_channel_writes.
-            try:
-                value: Any = new.typ()
-            except Exception:
-                value = []
-            for write in checkpoint:
+            new.value = _empty(new.typ)
+        elif isinstance(checkpoint, DeltaChannelWrites):
+            # Saver reconstructed per-step writes; replay through the operator.
+            value: Any = _empty(new.typ)
+            for write in checkpoint.writes:
                 value = new.operator(value, write)
             new.value = value
         else:
-            # Backward compat: plain accumulated value (e.g. from a migrated thread).
+            # Backward compat: a pre-DeltaChannel thread stored the accumulated
+            # value directly. Trust it as-is.
             try:
                 new.value = list(checkpoint)
             except Exception:
-                new.value = []
+                new.value = _empty(new.typ)
         return new
 
     def update(self, values: Sequence[Any]) -> bool:
@@ -133,5 +133,5 @@ class DeltaChannel(
     def is_available(self) -> bool:
         return self.value is not MISSING
 
-    def checkpoint(self) -> DeltaChannelSentinel:
-        return DeltaChannelSentinel()
+    def checkpoint(self) -> Any:
+        return DELTA_SENTINEL
diff --git a/libs/langgraph/langgraph/pregel/_checkpoint.py b/libs/langgraph/langgraph/pregel/_checkpoint.py
index 8ebaba89f..3d510ac7d 100644
--- a/libs/langgraph/langgraph/pregel/_checkpoint.py
+++ b/libs/langgraph/langgraph/pregel/_checkpoint.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-import logging
 from collections.abc import Mapping
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 
@@ -13,8 +12,6 @@ from langgraph.managed.base import ManagedValueMapping, ManagedValueSpec
 
 LATEST_VERSION = 4
 
-logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
-
 
 def empty_checkpoint() -> Checkpoint:
     return Checkpoint(
@@ -70,12 +67,13 @@ def channels_from_checkpoint(
             channel_specs[k] = v
         else:
             managed_specs[k] = v
-    channels: dict[str, BaseChannel] = {}
-    for k, v in channel_specs.items():
-        ch = v.from_checkpoint(checkpoint["channel_values"].get(k, MISSING))
-        ch.after_checkpoint(checkpoint["channel_versions"].get(k), checkpoint.get("id"))
-        channels[k] = ch
-    return channels, managed_specs
+    return (
+        {
+            k: v.from_checkpoint(checkpoint["channel_values"].get(k, MISSING))
+            for k, v in channel_specs.items()
+        },
+        managed_specs,
+    )
 
 
 def copy_checkpoint(checkpoint: Checkpoint) -> Checkpoint:
diff --git a/libs/langgraph/langgraph/pregel/_loop.py b/libs/langgraph/langgraph/pregel/_loop.py
index 5e80f5d2b..976c1382b 100644
--- a/libs/langgraph/langgraph/pregel/_loop.py
+++ b/libs/langgraph/langgraph/pregel/_loop.py
@@ -891,12 +891,6 @@ class PregelLoop:
             id=self.checkpoint["id"] if exiting else None,
             updated_channels=self.updated_channels,
         )
-        if do_checkpoint and self.channels:
-            for k, ch in self.channels.items():
-                ch.after_checkpoint(
-                    self.checkpoint["channel_versions"].get(k),
-                    self.checkpoint.get("id"),
-                )
         # sanitize TASK channel in the checkpoint before saving (durability=="exit")
         if TASKS in self.checkpoint["channel_values"] and any(
             isinstance(channel, UntrackedValue) for channel in self.channels.values()
diff --git a/libs/langgraph/tests/test_channels.py b/libs/langgraph/tests/test_channels.py
index 3b4ebb3c2..24ff96571 100644
--- a/libs/langgraph/tests/test_channels.py
+++ b/libs/langgraph/tests/test_channels.py
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ def test_untracked_value() -> None:
 
 def test_delta_channel_basic_two_steps() -> None:
     from langchain_core.messages import AIMessage, HumanMessage
-    from langgraph.checkpoint.base import DeltaChannelSentinel
+    from langgraph.checkpoint.base import DELTA_SENTINEL
 
     from langgraph.channels.delta import DeltaChannel
     from langgraph.graph.message import add_messages
@@ -131,12 +131,12 @@ def test_delta_channel_basic_two_steps() -> None:
     # Step 1: one message added
     ch.update([HumanMessage(content="hi", id="h1")])
     d1 = ch.checkpoint()
-    assert isinstance(d1, DeltaChannelSentinel)
+    assert d1 is DELTA_SENTINEL
 
     # Step 2: another message
     ch.update([AIMessage(content="hello", id="a1")])
     d2 = ch.checkpoint()
-    assert isinstance(d2, DeltaChannelSentinel)
+    assert d2 is DELTA_SENTINEL
 
     # Full accumulated value is preserved in memory
     assert len(ch.get()) == 2
@@ -145,19 +145,21 @@ def test_delta_channel_basic_two_steps() -> None:
 
 
 def test_delta_channel_from_checkpoint_writes_list() -> None:
-    """from_checkpoint with a flat list of individual writes replays them through the operator."""
+    """from_checkpoint given DeltaChannelWrites replays through the operator."""
     from langchain_core.messages import AIMessage, HumanMessage
+    from langgraph.checkpoint.base import DeltaChannelWrites
 
     from langgraph.channels.delta import DeltaChannel
     from langgraph.graph.message import add_messages
 
     spec = DeltaChannel(add_messages)
-    # Each element is one write value (as stored in checkpoint_writes)
-    writes = [
-        HumanMessage(content="hi", id="h1"),
-        AIMessage(content="hello", id="a1"),
-        HumanMessage(content="bye", id="h2"),
-    ]
+    writes = DeltaChannelWrites(
+        [
+            HumanMessage(content="hi", id="h1"),
+            AIMessage(content="hello", id="a1"),
+            HumanMessage(content="bye", id="h2"),
+        ]
+    )
     ch = spec.from_checkpoint(writes)
     msgs = ch.get()
     assert len(msgs) == 3
@@ -181,7 +183,7 @@ def test_delta_channel_from_checkpoint_backwards_compat() -> None:
 
 def test_delta_channel_overwrite() -> None:
     from langchain_core.messages import HumanMessage
-    from langgraph.checkpoint.base import DeltaChannelSentinel
+    from langgraph.checkpoint.base import DELTA_SENTINEL
 
     from langgraph.channels.delta import DeltaChannel
     from langgraph.graph.message import add_messages
@@ -192,7 +194,7 @@ def test_delta_channel_overwrite() -> None:
 
     ch.update([Overwrite([HumanMessage(content="new", id="h2")])])
     d = ch.checkpoint()
-    assert isinstance(d, DeltaChannelSentinel)
+    assert d is DELTA_SENTINEL
     # After overwrite, value is reset to only the new message
     assert len(ch.get()) == 1
     assert ch.get()[0].content == "new"
@@ -221,11 +223,15 @@ def test_delta_channel_remove_message_and_replay() -> None:
     assert ch.get() == [HumanMessage(content="hi", id="h1")]
 
     # Replay the writes list from scratch — must reproduce the post-remove state
-    writes = [
-        HumanMessage(content="hi", id="h1"),
-        AIMessage(content="hello", id="a1"),
-        RemoveMessage(id="a1"),
-    ]
+    from langgraph.checkpoint.base import DeltaChannelWrites
+
+    writes = DeltaChannelWrites(
+        [
+            HumanMessage(content="hi", id="h1"),
+            AIMessage(content="hello", id="a1"),
+            RemoveMessage(id="a1"),
+        ]
+    )
     ch2 = spec.from_checkpoint(writes)
     assert ch2.get() == [HumanMessage(content="hi", id="h1")]
 
@@ -248,29 +254,33 @@ def test_delta_channel_update_by_id_and_replay() -> None:
     assert ch.get() == [HumanMessage(content="updated", id="h1")]
 
     # Replay writes — must produce the updated message, not the original
-    writes = [
-        HumanMessage(content="original", id="h1"),
-        HumanMessage(content="updated", id="h1"),
-    ]
+    from langgraph.checkpoint.base import DeltaChannelWrites
+
+    writes = DeltaChannelWrites(
+        [
+            HumanMessage(content="original", id="h1"),
+            HumanMessage(content="updated", id="h1"),
+        ]
+    )
     ch2 = spec.from_checkpoint(writes)
     assert len(ch2.get()) == 1
     assert ch2.get()[0].content == "updated"
 
 
 def test_delta_channel_checkpoint_returns_sentinel() -> None:
-    """checkpoint() always returns DeltaChannelSentinel regardless of state."""
-    from langgraph.checkpoint.base import DeltaChannelSentinel
+    """checkpoint() always returns DELTA_SENTINEL regardless of state."""
+    from langgraph.checkpoint.base import DELTA_SENTINEL
 
     from langgraph.channels.delta import DeltaChannel
     from langgraph.graph.message import add_messages
 
     ch = DeltaChannel(add_messages).from_checkpoint(MISSING)
-    assert isinstance(ch.checkpoint(), DeltaChannelSentinel)
+    assert ch.checkpoint() is DELTA_SENTINEL
 
     from langchain_core.messages import HumanMessage
 
     ch.update([HumanMessage(content="hi", id="h1")])
-    assert isinstance(ch.checkpoint(), DeltaChannelSentinel)
+    assert ch.checkpoint() is DELTA_SENTINEL
 
 
 def test_delta_channel_inmemory_saver_assembles_writes() -> None:
@@ -304,16 +314,16 @@ def test_delta_channel_inmemory_saver_assembles_writes() -> None:
     graph.invoke({"messages": [HumanMessage(content="hi", id="h1")]}, config)
     graph.invoke({"messages": [HumanMessage(content="bye", id="h2")]}, config)
 
-    # get_tuple must return a resolved list (not DeltaChannelSentinel)
-    from langgraph.checkpoint.base import DeltaChannelSentinel
+    # get_tuple must return a DeltaChannelWrites wrapper (not the raw sentinel)
+    from langgraph.checkpoint.base import DELTA_SENTINEL, DeltaChannelWrites
 
     saved = saver.get_tuple(config)
     assert saved is not None
     assert "messages" in saved.checkpoint["channel_values"]
-    assert not isinstance(
-        saved.checkpoint["channel_values"]["messages"], DeltaChannelSentinel
+    assert saved.checkpoint["channel_values"]["messages"] is not DELTA_SENTINEL
+    assert isinstance(
+        saved.checkpoint["channel_values"]["messages"], DeltaChannelWrites
     )
-    assert isinstance(saved.checkpoint["channel_values"]["messages"], list)
 
     state = graph.get_state(config)
     assert len(state.values["messages"]) == 4  # 2 human + 2 AI
@@ -343,7 +353,7 @@ def test_delta_channel_dict_reducer_fresh_channel() -> None:
 
 def test_delta_channel_dict_reducer_basic_updates() -> None:
     """DeltaChannel with a dict reducer accumulates key/value pairs across steps."""
-    from langgraph.checkpoint.base import DeltaChannelSentinel
+    from langgraph.checkpoint.base import DELTA_SENTINEL
 
     def merge_dicts(left: dict, right: dict) -> dict:
         return {**left, **right}
@@ -352,24 +362,24 @@ def test_delta_channel_dict_reducer_basic_updates() -> None:
 
     ch.update([{"a": 1}])
     d1 = ch.checkpoint()
-    assert isinstance(d1, DeltaChannelSentinel)
+    assert d1 is DELTA_SENTINEL
 
     ch.update([{"b": 2}])
     d2 = ch.checkpoint()
-    assert isinstance(d2, DeltaChannelSentinel)
+    assert d2 is DELTA_SENTINEL
 
     assert ch.get() == {"a": 1, "b": 2}
 
 
 def test_delta_channel_dict_reducer_writes_reconstruction() -> None:
-    """from_checkpoint with a writes list replays correctly through a dict merge reducer."""
+    """from_checkpoint given DeltaChannelWrites replays through a dict merge reducer."""
+    from langgraph.checkpoint.base import DeltaChannelWrites
 
     def merge_dicts(left: dict, right: dict) -> dict:
         return {**left, **right}
 
     spec = _delta_channel_with_type(merge_dicts, dict)
-    # Each element is one write value (oldest→newest)
-    writes = [{"a": 1}, {"b": 2}, {"c": 3}]
+    writes = DeltaChannelWrites([{"a": 1}, {"b": 2}, {"c": 3}])
     ch = spec.from_checkpoint(writes)
     assert ch.get() == {"a": 1, "b": 2, "c": 3}
 
@@ -398,10 +408,14 @@ def test_delta_channel_dict_reducer_with_deletions() -> None:
     assert ch.get() == {"file2.py": "content2", "file3.py": "content3"}
 
     # Confirm writes reconstruction produces the same result
-    writes = [
-        {"file1.py": "content1", "file2.py": "content2"},
-        {"file1.py": None, "file3.py": "content3"},
-    ]
+    from langgraph.checkpoint.base import DeltaChannelWrites
+
+    writes = DeltaChannelWrites(
+        [
+            {"file1.py": "content1", "file2.py": "content2"},
+            {"file1.py": None, "file3.py": "content3"},
+        ]
+    )
     spec = _delta_channel_with_type(merge_files, dict)
     ch2 = spec.from_checkpoint(writes)
     assert ch2.get() == {"file2.py": "content2", "file3.py": "content3"}
diff --git a/libs/langgraph/tests/test_delta_channel_benchmark.py b/libs/langgraph/tests/test_delta_channel_benchmark.py
index 3a641dddd..25dbf1d29 100644
--- a/libs/langgraph/tests/test_delta_channel_benchmark.py
+++ b/libs/langgraph/tests/test_delta_channel_benchmark.py
@@ -54,7 +54,9 @@ except ImportError:
 _HUMAN_TEMPLATE = (
     "I need help understanding the implications of {topic} on our system architecture. "
     "Specifically, I'm concerned about how this interacts with our existing {concern} "
-    "and whether we need to refactor the {component} layer before proceeding."
+    "and whether we need to refactor the {component} layer before proceeding. "
+    "We've had prior incidents in this area and want to be deliberate. "
+    "What should we prioritize first, and are there known failure modes we should design around from the start?"
 )
 
 _AI_TEMPLATE = (
@@ -285,14 +287,13 @@ def _run_benchmark_for_checkpointer(cp_hint: Any) -> None:
         rows.append((turns, b_bytes, d_bytes, b_rt, d_rt))
 
     # ── Table 1: Storage ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-    W = 70
+    W = 60
     print("Storage (checkpoint blob bytes)")
     print("=" * W)
     print(
         f"{'turns':>6}  {'ctx size':>10}  {'add_msgs':>12}  {'delta':>12}  {'savings':>8}"
     )
     print("-" * W)
-    storage_results = []
     for turns, b_bytes, d_bytes, b_rt, d_rt in rows:
         if b_bytes < 0:
             print(
@@ -300,17 +301,15 @@ def _run_benchmark_for_checkpointer(cp_hint: Any) -> None:
             )
         else:
             ratio = b_bytes / d_bytes if d_bytes else float("inf")
-            storage_results.append((turns, b_bytes, d_bytes, ratio))
             print(
                 f"{turns:>6}  {_approx_tokens(turns):>10}  "
-                f"{_fmt_bytes(b_bytes):>12}  {_fmt_bytes(d_bytes):>12}  "
-                f"{ratio:>7.0f}x"
+                f"{_fmt_bytes(b_bytes):>12}  {_fmt_bytes(d_bytes):>12}  {ratio:>7.0f}x"
             )
     print("=" * W)
     print()
 
     # ── Table 2: Read latency ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
-    print("Read latency (avg of 5 get_state calls)")
+    print("Read latency (avg of 5 get_state calls = cost per invoke)")
     print("=" * W)
     print(f"{'turns':>6}  {'ctx size':>10}  {'add_msgs':>12}  {'delta':>12}")
     print("-" * W)
@@ -322,21 +321,9 @@ def _run_benchmark_for_checkpointer(cp_hint: Any) -> None:
     print("=" * W)
     print()
 
-    if storage_results:
-        turns, b_bytes, d_bytes, ratio = storage_results[-1]
-        b_rt = rows[-1][-2]
-        d_rt = rows[-1][-1]
-        print(
-            f"At {turns} turns: {_fmt_bytes(b_bytes)} → {_fmt_bytes(d_bytes)} ({ratio:.0f}x less storage); "
-            f"read {b_rt * 1000:.1f}ms → {d_rt * 1000:.1f}ms"
-        )
-        print()
-
     print("Legend:")
     print("  add_msgs = Annotated[list, add_messages]  — O(N²) storage")
-    print(
-        "  delta    = DeltaChannel(add_messages)     — O(N) storage, full chain replay"
-    )
+    print("  delta    = DeltaChannel(add_messages)     — O(N) storage")
     print()
 
 
diff --git a/libs/langgraph/tests/test_time_travel.py b/libs/langgraph/tests/test_time_travel.py
index caf51f5a5..fe544274f 100644
--- a/libs/langgraph/tests/test_time_travel.py
+++ b/libs/langgraph/tests/test_time_travel.py
@@ -1161,9 +1161,7 @@ def test_subgraph_interrupt_resume_with_explicit_head_checkpoint_id(
     assert called == ["step_a", "ask_human"]
 
     # Resume with explicit head checkpoint_id in config
-    head_checkpoint_id = graph.get_state(config).config["configurable"][
-        "checkpoint_id"
-    ]
+    head_checkpoint_id = graph.get_state(config).config["configurable"]["checkpoint_id"]
     called.clear()
     resume_config = {
         "configurable": {