diff --git a/src/atm/canary.py b/src/atm/canary.py
index 5dea2bd..602caf2 100644
--- a/src/atm/canary.py
+++ b/src/atm/canary.py
@@ -1,14 +1,18 @@
 """Layout drift detector via perceptual hash comparison."""
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import logging
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Callable
 
 import numpy as np
 
 from .config import Config
 from .vision import crop_roi, hamming_hex, phash
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 @dataclass
 class CanaryResult:
@@ -28,10 +32,15 @@ class Canary:
         self,
         cfg: Config,
         pause_flag_path: Path | None = None,
+        on_pause_callback: Callable[[int], None] | None = None,
     ) -> None:
         self._cfg = cfg
         self._pause_flag_path = pause_flag_path
         self._paused = False
+        # Single-shot callback invoked exactly once per not_paused→paused transition.
+        # Wrapped in try/except at call site so a faulty notifier never breaks
+        # the detection cycle.
+        self._on_pause = on_pause_callback
 
     def check(self, frame_bgr: np.ndarray) -> CanaryResult:
         roi_img = crop_roi(frame_bgr, self._cfg.canary.roi)
@@ -43,6 +52,12 @@ class Canary:
             self._paused = True
             if self._pause_flag_path is not None:
                 self._pause_flag_path.write_text("paused", encoding="utf-8")
+            if self._on_pause is not None:
+                try:
+                    self._on_pause(distance)
+                except Exception as exc:
+                    # Never let a notifier hiccup abort the detection cycle.
+                    logger.warning("canary on_pause_callback raised: %s", exc)
 
         return CanaryResult(distance=distance, drifted=drifted, paused=self._paused)
 
diff --git a/src/atm/main.py b/src/atm/main.py
index d70312a..0a6a686 100644
--- a/src/atm/main.py
+++ b/src/atm/main.py
@@ -809,8 +809,30 @@ async def run_live_async(cfg, duration_s=None, capture_stub: bool = False) -> No
     capture = _build_capture(cfg, capture_stub=capture_stub)
     detector = Detector(cfg, capture)
     fsm = StateMachine(lockout_s=cfg.lockout_s)
-    canary = Canary(cfg, pause_flag_path=Path("logs/pause.flag"))
     audit = AuditLog(Path("logs"))
+
+    # Forward-declare notifier so the canary pause callback can close over it.
+    # The notifier is constructed a few lines below once backends exist.
+    _notifier_ref: dict = {}
+
+    def _on_canary_pause(distance: int) -> None:
+        audit.log({"ts": time.time(), "event": "canary_drift_paused", "distance": distance})
+        n = _notifier_ref.get("n")
+        if n is not None:
+            n.send(Alert(
+                kind="warn",
+                title=f"Canary drift={distance} — monitorizare pauzată",
+                body=(
+                    "Fereastra/paleta s-a schimbat. Trimite /resume pentru a relua "
+                    "sau recalibrează."
+                ),
+            ))
+
+    canary = Canary(
+        cfg,
+        pause_flag_path=Path("logs/pause.flag"),
+        on_pause_callback=_on_canary_pause,
+    )
     detection_log = AuditLog(Path("logs/detections"))
     backends = [
         DiscordNotifier(cfg.discord.webhook_url),
@@ -827,6 +849,7 @@ async def run_live_async(cfg, duration_s=None, capture_stub: bool = False) -> No
         })
 
     notifier = FanoutNotifier(backends, Path(cfg.dead_letter_path), on_drop=_on_drop)
+    _notifier_ref["n"] = notifier
 
     # Initial frame + canary check
     first_frame = capture()
diff --git a/tests/test_canary.py b/tests/test_canary.py
index feb63a8..4dcce37 100644
--- a/tests/test_canary.py
+++ b/tests/test_canary.py
@@ -140,6 +140,52 @@ def test_pause_file_written(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     assert flag.exists()
 
 
+def test_canary_pause_callback_fires_once() -> None:
+    """Single-shot: callback invoked exactly once per not_paused→paused edge."""
+    cfg = _cfg_with_baseline(BASELINE_FRAME)
+    calls: list[int] = []
+
+    canary = Canary(cfg, on_pause_callback=lambda d: calls.append(d))
+
+    canary.check(DRIFTED_FRAME)   # transition → callback fires
+    canary.check(DRIFTED_FRAME)   # still paused → no new callback
+    canary.check(BASELINE_FRAME)  # clean but still paused → no new callback
+
+    assert len(calls) == 1
+    assert calls[0] > 0  # distance should be positive
+
+
+def test_canary_resume_allows_new_pause_notification() -> None:
+    """After resume, a fresh drift must re-fire the callback."""
+    cfg = _cfg_with_baseline(BASELINE_FRAME)
+    calls: list[int] = []
+
+    canary = Canary(cfg, on_pause_callback=lambda d: calls.append(d))
+
+    canary.check(DRIFTED_FRAME)
+    assert len(calls) == 1
+
+    canary.resume()
+    canary.check(DRIFTED_FRAME)  # new pause transition
+
+    assert len(calls) == 2
+
+
+def test_canary_pause_callback_exception_does_not_crash_check() -> None:
+    """A failing callback must not break canary.check (detection cycle safety)."""
+    cfg = _cfg_with_baseline(BASELINE_FRAME)
+
+    def _boom(_d: int) -> None:
+        raise RuntimeError("notifier down")
+
+    canary = Canary(cfg, on_pause_callback=_boom)
+
+    # Must not raise — exception is swallowed + logged.
+    result = canary.check(DRIFTED_FRAME)
+    assert result.paused is True
+    assert canary.is_paused is True
+
+
 def test_resume_deletes_pause_file(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     """resume() deletes the pause flag file."""
     flag = tmp_path / "paused.flag"