diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 91f2ef93..5c66a0bc 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -34,6 +34,11 @@ hub answers 400 to both and nothing else changes.
   runs `psql -v ON_ERROR_STOP=1`. Tests `internal/appexport/r1187_abdfg_test.go` (6), red-proved with the old behaviour
   behind the new function shapes (link packing error, a 10-s hang on the FIFO, link not restored, import not refused,
   bad paths accepted, postgis missed).
+- **R-1298:** the hold report skips an install's hold (`unhealthy_stop`, `update_failed`, `putback_pending`) of an app that
+  is not installed (`holdreport.Reporter.SetInstalled`: the app's `app.yaml` exists — an unreadable one still counts,
+  R-1220) and reports it cleared if it was reported; a restore hold is always reported (R-379). 9202's four orphan holds
+  from a hand removal would otherwise have mailed weekly. Test `TestR1298_OnlyHoldsOfInstalledAppsAreReported`,
+  red-proved; the wiring test pins the `SetInstalled` line.
 - `settings.RestoreHold.Why()` / `WireReason()`: the hold sentence moved out of `cmd/controller` (`holdWhy` calls it), so
   `--restore-holds` and the hub's list say the same thing.
 - Tests `internal/holdreport/holdreport_test.go` (8): the report field, the daily repeat, cleared once, cleared while
diff --git a/controller/cmd/controller/main.go b/controller/cmd/controller/main.go
index fea6d5e4..5789f771 100644
--- a/controller/cmd/controller/main.go
+++ b/controller/cmd/controller/main.go
@@ -1068,6 +1068,12 @@ func main() {
 	// when one is gone, every hold again once a day and after each start. One observer of the hold store, so every
 	// writer is covered. Pinned by internal/holdreport.
 	holdReporter := holdreport.New(sett, notifier.PushEvent, logger)
+	// R-1298: „installed" = the app's app.yaml file exists (a product removal deletes it; an unreadable one still counts,
+	// the R-1220 rule). An install's hold of an app without one is not reported.
+	holdReporter.SetInstalled(func(stack string) bool {
+		_, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(cfg.Paths.StacksDir, stack, "app.yaml"))
+		return err == nil
+	})
 	sched.Every("hold-report", time.Minute, func(ctx context.Context) error {
 		holdReporter.Tick(time.Now())
 		return nil
diff --git a/controller/internal/holdreport/holdreport.go b/controller/internal/holdreport/holdreport.go
index 3ab060c0..b94a79ea 100644
--- a/controller/internal/holdreport/holdreport.go
+++ b/controller/internal/holdreport/holdreport.go
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ type Reporter struct {
 	push     Push
 	logger   *log.Logger
 	lastFull time.Time
+	// installed (R-1298) — nil = every app counts as installed.
+	installed  func(stack string) bool
+	skipLogged map[string]bool
 }
 
 // New builds a reporter. The first Tick re-sends every hold (a controller start).
@@ -69,13 +72,42 @@ func New(store Store, push Push, logger *log.Logger) *Reporter {
 
 func key(h settings.RestoreHold) string { return h.WireReason() + "|" + h.At }
 
+// SetInstalled wires the „is this app installed?" check (R-1298). nil = every app counts as installed.
+func (r *Reporter) SetInstalled(f func(stack string) bool) { r.installed = f }
+
+// installHold is a hold that belongs to an app's INSTALL (R-704): a removal ends it. A restore hold (restore_failed,
+// restore_mixed) does not — a person clears it, so it stays reported whatever the app's state (R-379).
+func installHold(h settings.RestoreHold) bool {
+	switch h.Reason {
+	case settings.HoldReasonUnhealthyStop, settings.HoldReasonUpdateFailed, settings.HoldReasonPutBackPending:
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 // Tick sends what changed since the last tick, and every hold again when a day has passed.
 func (r *Reporter) Tick(now time.Time) {
 	if r.store == nil || r.push == nil {
 		return
 	}
-	holds := r.store.ListRestoreHolds()
-	sort.Slice(holds, func(i, j int) bool { return holds[i].Stack < holds[j].Stack })
+	all := r.store.ListRestoreHolds()
+	sort.Slice(all, func(i, j int) bool { return all[i].Stack < all[j].Stack })
+	// R-1298: an install's hold of an app that is not installed any more (removed outside the product) is not a held
+	// app — it is skipped, and reported cleared if it was reported before. Logged once per stack per process.
+	holds := all[:0:0]
+	for _, h := range all {
+		if r.installed != nil && installHold(h) && !r.installed(h.Stack) {
+			if r.skipLogged == nil {
+				r.skipLogged = map[string]bool{}
+			}
+			if !r.skipLogged[h.Stack] {
+				r.skipLogged[h.Stack] = true
+				r.logf("[INFO] [holdreport] %s: a %s hold of an app that is not installed — not reported (R-1298)", h.Stack, h.WireReason())
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		holds = append(holds, h)
+	}
 	prev := r.store.GetReportedHolds()
 	full := r.lastFull.IsZero() || now.Sub(r.lastFull) >= ResendEvery
 
diff --git a/controller/internal/holdreport/holdreport_test.go b/controller/internal/holdreport/holdreport_test.go
index 5cf5e3bf..36f3b3be 100644
--- a/controller/internal/holdreport/holdreport_test.go
+++ b/controller/internal/holdreport/holdreport_test.go
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ func TestD53_TheReporterIsWiredInMain(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 	src := strings.Join(live, "\n")
-	for _, want := range []string{"holdreport.New(sett, notifier.PushEvent, logger)", `sched.Every("hold-report"`, "holdReporter.Tick("} {
+	for _, want := range []string{"holdreport.New(sett, notifier.PushEvent, logger)", `sched.Every("hold-report"`, "holdReporter.Tick(", "holdReporter.SetInstalled("} {
 		if !strings.Contains(src, want) {
 			t.Errorf("main.go lacks %q — the hold report is not wired", want)
 		}
@@ -180,3 +180,32 @@ func TestD53_TheReportedRecordSurvivesAReload(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("after a reload the record reads %q", got)
 	}
 }
+
+// R-1298: an install's hold (crash-loop stop, failed update, waiting put-back) of an app that is NOT installed any more is
+// not reported — on 9202 four such holds from a hand removal would have mailed the operator weekly about apps that do not
+// exist. A restore hold stays reported whatever the app's state (R-379: a person clears it). A hold reported earlier and
+// now skipped is reported cleared. COMPANION RED-PROOF: without the installed check all three holds are reported.
+func TestR1298_OnlyHoldsOfInstalledAppsAreReported(t *testing.T) {
+	st := &fakeStore{holds: map[string]settings.RestoreHold{
+		"gone":    {Stack: "gone", At: "2026-09-24T12:16:24Z", Reason: settings.HoldReasonUnhealthyStop},
+		"gonedb":  {Stack: "gonedb", At: "2026-09-24T12:16:24Z", Reason: settings.HoldReasonRestoreFailed},
+		"present": {Stack: "present", At: "2026-10-26T17:37:52Z", Reason: settings.HoldReasonUpdateFailed},
+	}, reported: map[string]string{"gone": "unhealthy_stop|2026-09-24T12:16:24Z"}}
+	var out []sent
+	r := New(st, rec(&out), nil)
+	r.SetInstalled(func(stack string) bool { return stack == "present" })
+	r.Tick(t0)
+	got := map[string]string{}
+	for _, s := range out {
+		got[s.d.StackName] = s.typ
+	}
+	if got["gone"] != EventCleared {
+		t.Errorf("the hold of an app that is not installed must be reported cleared, got %q", got["gone"])
+	}
+	if got["gonedb"] != EventHeld {
+		t.Errorf("a restore hold must stay reported even when the app is gone, got %q", got["gonedb"])
+	}
+	if got["present"] != EventHeld {
+		t.Errorf("an installed app's hold must be reported, got %q", got["present"])
+	}
+}