diff --git a/cmd/membershipd/main.go b/cmd/membershipd/main.go
index ee509f5..8d0e767 100644
--- a/cmd/membershipd/main.go
+++ b/cmd/membershipd/main.go
@@ -33,6 +33,13 @@ func main() {
 		runUserCLI(os.Args[2:])
 		return
 	}
+	// `membershipd migrate-to-kv` is the one-time, idempotent SQLite->JetStream KV
+	// data move for decentralization (issue 0003c). Like the user CLI it runs on
+	// the host and is dispatched before the server flag set parses os.Args.
+	if len(os.Args) > 1 && os.Args[1] == "migrate-to-kv" {
+		runMigrateCLI(os.Args[2:])
+		return
+	}
 
 	var (
 		bind      = flag.String("bind", "127.0.0.1", "network interface to bind the HTTP API and the embedded NATS to; use 0.0.0.0 to accept LAN/remote peers")
diff --git a/cmd/membershipd/migrate_cli.go b/cmd/membershipd/migrate_cli.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..997b0ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/membershipd/migrate_cli.go
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"flag"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/enmanuel/unibus/pkg/busauth"
+	"github.com/enmanuel/unibus/pkg/membership"
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go"
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
+)
+
+// runMigrateCLI implements `membershipd migrate-to-kv`, the idempotent move of
+// the control-plane state from the local SQLite database into replicated
+// JetStream KV (issue 0003c). It backs up the SQLite file first (VACUUM INTO),
+// then connects to the target NATS and copies every room/member/key/user into
+// the KV buckets. Re-running it converges to the same state.
+//
+// It runs on the bus host (no auth on the control-plane side), connecting to the
+// cluster's NATS; --ca pins TLS when the data plane is secured.
+func runMigrateCLI(args []string) {
+	fs := flag.NewFlagSet("migrate-to-kv", flag.ExitOnError)
+	dbPath := fs.String("db", defaultDBPath, "SQLite database path to migrate FROM")
+	natsURL := fs.String("nats-url", "", "NATS url of the cluster to migrate INTO (required)")
+	ca := fs.String("ca", "", "CA cert to pin TLS on the NATS connection (optional)")
+	replicas := fs.Int("replicas", 1, "KV replication factor (1 for a 1-2 node rollout, 3 for HA quorum)")
+	noBackup := fs.Bool("no-backup", false, "skip the SQLite backup before migrating (NOT recommended)")
+	_ = fs.Parse(args)
+
+	if *natsURL == "" {
+		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "membershipd migrate-to-kv: --nats-url is required (the cluster to write the KV buckets into)")
+		os.Exit(2)
+	}
+
+	// Back up the SQLite database first so a botched migration can be undone.
+	var backupPath string
+	if !*noBackup {
+		bak, err := membership.BackupSQLite(*dbPath)
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "membershipd migrate-to-kv: backup failed: %v\n", err)
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+		backupPath = bak
+		fmt.Printf("backed up %s -> %s\n", *dbPath, backupPath)
+	}
+
+	// Connect to the target NATS (optionally TLS-pinned to the bus CA).
+	natsOpts := []nats.Option{nats.Name("unibus-migrate")}
+	if *ca != "" {
+		tlsCfg, err := busauth.LoadCATLSConfig(*ca)
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "membershipd migrate-to-kv: load CA: %v\n", err)
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+		natsOpts = append(natsOpts, nats.Secure(tlsCfg))
+	}
+	nc, err := nats.Connect(*natsURL, natsOpts...)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "membershipd migrate-to-kv: connect %q: %v\n", *natsURL, err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+	defer nc.Close()
+
+	js, err := jetstream.New(nc)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "membershipd migrate-to-kv: jetstream: %v\n", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+
+	report, err := membership.MigrateSQLiteToKV(*dbPath, js, membership.JetStreamConfig{
+		Replicas:  *replicas,
+		OpTimeout: 30 * time.Second,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "membershipd migrate-to-kv: %v\n", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+	report.BackupPath = backupPath
+
+	fmt.Printf("migrated to KV (replicas=%d): %d rooms, %d members, %d keys, %d users\n",
+		*replicas, report.Rooms, report.Members, report.Keys, report.Users)
+	if backupPath != "" {
+		fmt.Printf("rollback: restore %s if needed\n", backupPath)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/membership/jetstream_store.go b/pkg/membership/jetstream_store.go
index 0ab63a5..74f561e 100644
--- a/pkg/membership/jetstream_store.go
+++ b/pkg/membership/jetstream_store.go
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"sort"
 	"strconv"
+	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
@@ -508,3 +509,125 @@ func (s *jetstreamStore) HasAdmin() bool {
 	}
 	return false
 }
+
+// ---- snapshot import / export (issue 0003c migration) ---------------------
+
+// importSnapshot writes a full Snapshot into the KV buckets, preserving each
+// room's epoch and each user's status (Put, not CreateRoom/AddUser, so the exact
+// state is reproduced rather than reset to defaults). Idempotent: every write is
+// an overwrite, so re-running the migration converges.
+func (s *jetstreamStore) importSnapshot(snap *Snapshot) error {
+	ctx, cancel := s.ctx()
+	defer cancel()
+	for _, r := range snap.Rooms {
+		b, err := json.Marshal(r)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("import: marshal room %q: %w", r.RoomID, err)
+		}
+		if _, err := s.rooms.Put(ctx, r.RoomID, b); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("import: put room %q: %w", r.RoomID, err)
+		}
+	}
+	for roomID, members := range snap.Members {
+		for _, m := range members {
+			if err := s.putMember(ctx, roomID, m); err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("import: %w", err)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	for _, rec := range snap.Keys {
+		if _, err := s.keys.Put(ctx, sealedKey(rec.RoomID, rec.Endpoint, rec.Epoch), rec.Sealed); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("import: put key %q/%q@%d: %w", rec.RoomID, rec.Endpoint, rec.Epoch, err)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, u := range snap.Users {
+		b, err := json.Marshal(u)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("import: marshal user %q: %w", u.SignPub, err)
+		}
+		if _, err := s.users.Put(ctx, normalizeSignPub(u.SignPub), b); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("import: put user %q: %w", u.SignPub, err)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// ExportSnapshot reads the entire KV control-plane state back into a Snapshot,
+// so the migration's parity test can compare it against the SQLite source.
+func (s *jetstreamStore) ExportSnapshot() (*Snapshot, error) {
+	snap := &Snapshot{Members: map[string][]Member{}}
+
+	roomEntries, err := s.watchAll(s.rooms)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("export kv: rooms: %w", err)
+	}
+	for _, e := range roomEntries {
+		var r RoomInfo
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(e.Value(), &r); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("export kv: unmarshal room: %w", err)
+		}
+		snap.Rooms = append(snap.Rooms, r)
+	}
+
+	memberEntries, err := s.watchAll(s.members)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("export kv: members: %w", err)
+	}
+	for _, e := range memberEntries {
+		// Key is "<roomID>.<endpoint>"; neither segment contains a dot.
+		roomID := strings.SplitN(e.Key(), ".", 2)[0]
+		var m Member
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(e.Value(), &m); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("export kv: unmarshal member: %w", err)
+		}
+		snap.Members[roomID] = append(snap.Members[roomID], m)
+	}
+
+	keyEntries, err := s.watchAll(s.keys)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("export kv: keys: %w", err)
+	}
+	for _, e := range keyEntries {
+		// Key is "<roomID>.<endpoint>.<epoch>".
+		parts := strings.Split(e.Key(), ".")
+		if len(parts) != 3 {
+			continue
+		}
+		epoch, err := strconv.Atoi(parts[2])
+		if err != nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		snap.Keys = append(snap.Keys, SealedKeyRecord{RoomID: parts[0], Endpoint: parts[1], Epoch: epoch, Sealed: e.Value()})
+	}
+
+	users, err := s.ListUsers()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("export kv: users: %w", err)
+	}
+	snap.Users = users
+	return snap, nil
+}
+
+// watchAll collects every current entry of a bucket (no key filter), draining
+// the watcher to its initial-snapshot nil marker.
+func (s *jetstreamStore) watchAll(kv jetstream.KeyValue) ([]jetstream.KeyValueEntry, error) {
+	ctx, cancel := s.ctx()
+	defer cancel()
+	w, err := kv.WatchAll(ctx, jetstream.IgnoreDeletes())
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	defer w.Stop()
+	var out []jetstream.KeyValueEntry
+	for {
+		select {
+		case e := <-w.Updates():
+			if e == nil {
+				return out, nil
+			}
+			out = append(out, e)
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return nil, ctx.Err()
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/membership/migrate.go b/pkg/membership/migrate.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6a12d5d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/membership/migrate.go
@@ -0,0 +1,176 @@
+package membership
+
+// Migration from the local SQLite control plane to replicated JetStream KV
+// (issue 0003c). It is the one-time, idempotent data move that decentralization
+// needs: read the entire SQLite state, write it into the KV buckets. Re-running
+// it is safe (every KV write is an overwrite), so a partial/interrupted run is
+// recovered by running again, and a parity test can assert the two stores hold
+// the same state before and after.
+
+import (
+	"database/sql"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
+)
+
+// SealedKeyRecord is one row of room_keys: the sealed room key for an endpoint
+// at a given epoch. It is the unit the snapshot carries so a backend can be
+// imported with the exact epoch history (CreateRoom/AddMember alone could not
+// reproduce a multi-epoch room).
+type SealedKeyRecord struct {
+	RoomID   string
+	Endpoint string
+	Epoch    int
+	Sealed   []byte
+}
+
+// Snapshot is the complete control-plane state, backend-agnostic. It is what
+// ExportSnapshot produces and importSnapshot consumes, so the SQLite->KV
+// migration and the parity test both work in terms of it.
+type Snapshot struct {
+	Rooms   []RoomInfo
+	Members map[string][]Member // roomID -> members
+	Keys    []SealedKeyRecord
+	Users   []User
+}
+
+// MigrateReport summarizes what a migration moved, for the operator log.
+type MigrateReport struct {
+	BackupPath string
+	Rooms      int
+	Members    int
+	Keys       int
+	Users      int
+}
+
+// MigrateSQLiteToKV reads the SQLite store at sqlitePath and writes its entire
+// state into the JetStream KV buckets on js (created with cfg.Replicas). It is
+// idempotent: re-running converges to the same state. The caller is responsible
+// for backing up the SQLite file first (BackupSQLite) — this function only
+// reads it.
+func MigrateSQLiteToKV(sqlitePath string, js jetstream.JetStream, cfg JetStreamConfig) (*MigrateReport, error) {
+	src, err := openSQLite(sqlitePath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("migrate: open sqlite %q: %w", sqlitePath, err)
+	}
+	defer src.Close()
+
+	snap, err := src.ExportSnapshot()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("migrate: export sqlite: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	dst, err := OpenJetStream(js, cfg)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("migrate: open kv: %w", err)
+	}
+	kv := dst.(*jetstreamStore)
+	if err := kv.importSnapshot(snap); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("migrate: import to kv: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	members := 0
+	for _, ms := range snap.Members {
+		members += len(ms)
+	}
+	return &MigrateReport{
+		Rooms:   len(snap.Rooms),
+		Members: members,
+		Keys:    len(snap.Keys),
+		Users:   len(snap.Users),
+	}, nil
+}
+
+// BackupSQLite makes a consistent copy of the SQLite database next to it,
+// named "<path>.bak.<unixnano>", using SQLite's own VACUUM INTO (which writes a
+// transactionally-consistent snapshot even with a live WAL). It returns the
+// backup path. Always call this before MigrateSQLiteToKV so a botched migration
+// can be undone.
+func BackupSQLite(path string) (string, error) {
+	dst := fmt.Sprintf("%s.bak.%d", path, time.Now().UnixNano())
+	db, err := sql.Open("sqlite", "file:"+path+"?_pragma=busy_timeout(5000)")
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("backup: open %q: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	defer db.Close()
+	if err := db.Ping(); err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("backup: ping %q: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	// VACUUM INTO writes a fresh, consistent database file; the literal path is
+	// safely single-quoted (it is operator-supplied, never network input).
+	if _, err := db.Exec("VACUUM INTO '" + strings.ReplaceAll(dst, "'", "''") + "'"); err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("backup: VACUUM INTO %q: %w", dst, err)
+	}
+	return dst, nil
+}
+
+// ---- SQLite export --------------------------------------------------------
+
+// ExportSnapshot reads the entire SQLite control-plane state into a Snapshot.
+func (s *sqliteStore) ExportSnapshot() (*Snapshot, error) {
+	snap := &Snapshot{Members: map[string][]Member{}}
+
+	rows, err := s.db.Query(`SELECT room_id, subject, key_epoch, encrypt, persist, sign_msgs, owner_endpoint FROM rooms ORDER BY room_id`)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("export: query rooms: %w", err)
+	}
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var r RoomInfo
+		var enc, per, sgn int
+		if err := rows.Scan(&r.RoomID, &r.Subject, &r.Epoch, &enc, &per, &sgn, &r.OwnerEndpoint); err != nil {
+			rows.Close()
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("export: scan room: %w", err)
+		}
+		r.Encrypt, r.Persist, r.SignMsgs = enc != 0, per != 0, sgn != 0
+		snap.Rooms = append(snap.Rooms, r)
+	}
+	rows.Close()
+	if err := rows.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	mrows, err := s.db.Query(`SELECT room_id, endpoint, role, sign_pub, kex_pub FROM members ORDER BY room_id, endpoint`)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("export: query members: %w", err)
+	}
+	for mrows.Next() {
+		var roomID string
+		var m Member
+		if err := mrows.Scan(&roomID, &m.Endpoint, &m.Role, &m.SignPub, &m.KexPub); err != nil {
+			mrows.Close()
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("export: scan member: %w", err)
+		}
+		snap.Members[roomID] = append(snap.Members[roomID], m)
+	}
+	mrows.Close()
+	if err := mrows.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	krows, err := s.db.Query(`SELECT room_id, epoch, endpoint, sealed_key FROM room_keys ORDER BY room_id, endpoint, epoch`)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("export: query room_keys: %w", err)
+	}
+	for krows.Next() {
+		var rec SealedKeyRecord
+		if err := krows.Scan(&rec.RoomID, &rec.Epoch, &rec.Endpoint, &rec.Sealed); err != nil {
+			krows.Close()
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("export: scan room_key: %w", err)
+		}
+		snap.Keys = append(snap.Keys, rec)
+	}
+	krows.Close()
+	if err := krows.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	users, err := s.ListUsers()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("export: list users: %w", err)
+	}
+	snap.Users = users
+	return snap, nil
+}
diff --git a/pkg/membership/migrate_test.go b/pkg/membership/migrate_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ab71da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/membership/migrate_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,195 @@
+package membership
+
+import (
+	"path/filepath"
+	"reflect"
+	"sort"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/enmanuel/unibus/pkg/embeddednats"
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go"
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
+)
+
+// seedSQLite populates a SQLite store with a representative control plane: two
+// rooms (one rekeyed to epoch 2 with a removed member's keys left behind), a few
+// members and sealed keys, and a user allowlist with one revoked entry. It
+// returns the populated *sqliteStore and its file path.
+func seedSQLite(t *testing.T) (*sqliteStore, string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "seed.db")
+	s, err := openSQLite(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("openSQLite: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	r1 := RoomInfo{RoomID: newULID(), Subject: "room.alpha", Encrypt: true, Persist: true, SignMsgs: true, OwnerEndpoint: "ep-owner1"}
+	if err := s.CreateRoom(r1, []byte("o1-sign"), []byte("o1-kex"), []byte("o1-sealed-e1")); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("create r1: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := s.AddMember(r1.RoomID, Member{Endpoint: "ep-bob", Role: "member", SignPub: []byte("bob-sign"), KexPub: []byte("bob-kex")}, 1, []byte("bob-sealed-e1")); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("add bob: %v", err)
+	}
+	// Rekey r1 to epoch 2 (owner keeps a key at the new epoch).
+	if err := s.BumpEpoch(r1.RoomID, 2); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("bump: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := s.PutSealedKeys(r1.RoomID, 2, map[string][]byte{"ep-owner1": []byte("o1-sealed-e2")}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("put keys e2: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	r2 := RoomInfo{RoomID: newULID(), Subject: "room.beta", Encrypt: false, Persist: false, SignMsgs: false, OwnerEndpoint: "ep-owner2"}
+	if err := s.CreateRoom(r2, []byte("o2-sign"), []byte("o2-kex"), nil); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("create r2: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if err := s.AddUser("aa11", "alice", RoleAdmin); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("add alice: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := s.AddUser("bb22", "bob", RoleMember); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("add bob user: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := s.AddUser("cc33", "carol", RoleMember); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("add carol: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := s.RevokeUser("cc33"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("revoke carol: %v", err)
+	}
+	return s, path
+}
+
+// normalizeSnapshot sorts every slice in a Snapshot so two snapshots from
+// different backends can be compared regardless of enumeration order.
+func normalizeSnapshot(snap *Snapshot) {
+	sort.Slice(snap.Rooms, func(i, j int) bool { return snap.Rooms[i].RoomID < snap.Rooms[j].RoomID })
+	for _, ms := range snap.Members {
+		sort.Slice(ms, func(i, j int) bool { return ms[i].Endpoint < ms[j].Endpoint })
+	}
+	sort.Slice(snap.Keys, func(i, j int) bool {
+		a, b := snap.Keys[i], snap.Keys[j]
+		if a.RoomID != b.RoomID {
+			return a.RoomID < b.RoomID
+		}
+		if a.Endpoint != b.Endpoint {
+			return a.Endpoint < b.Endpoint
+		}
+		return a.Epoch < b.Epoch
+	})
+	sort.Slice(snap.Users, func(i, j int) bool { return snap.Users[i].SignPub < snap.Users[j].SignPub })
+}
+
+func newJS(t *testing.T) jetstream.JetStream {
+	t.Helper()
+	ns, err := embeddednats.StartServer(embeddednats.ServerConfig{
+		StoreDir: t.TempDir(),
+		Host:     "127.0.0.1",
+		Port:     kvFreePort(t),
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("embedded nats: %v", err)
+	}
+	nc, err := nats.Connect(ns.ClientURL())
+	if err != nil {
+		ns.Shutdown()
+		t.Fatalf("nats connect: %v", err)
+	}
+	js, err := jetstream.New(nc)
+	if err != nil {
+		nc.Close()
+		ns.Shutdown()
+		t.Fatalf("jetstream: %v", err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { nc.Close(); ns.Shutdown(); ns.WaitForShutdown() })
+	return js
+}
+
+// TestMigrateSQLiteToKVParity is the parity test the issue mandates: after the
+// migration, the KV store holds exactly the SQLite source's state.
+func TestMigrateSQLiteToKVParity(t *testing.T) {
+	src, path := seedSQLite(t)
+	srcSnap, err := src.ExportSnapshot()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("export sqlite: %v", err)
+	}
+	src.Close() // release the file before the migration reopens it
+
+	js := newJS(t)
+	report, err := MigrateSQLiteToKV(path, js, JetStreamConfig{Replicas: 1, OpTimeout: 5 * time.Second})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("migrate: %v", err)
+	}
+	if report.Rooms != 2 || report.Users != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("report mismatch: %+v", report)
+	}
+
+	kv, err := OpenJetStream(js, JetStreamConfig{Replicas: 1, OpTimeout: 5 * time.Second})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("open kv: %v", err)
+	}
+	kvSnap, err := kv.(*jetstreamStore).ExportSnapshot()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("export kv: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	normalizeSnapshot(srcSnap)
+	normalizeSnapshot(kvSnap)
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(srcSnap, kvSnap) {
+		t.Fatalf("parity mismatch after migration:\n sqlite=%+v\n kv=    %+v", srcSnap, kvSnap)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestMigrateSQLiteToKVIdempotent: running the migration twice converges to the
+// same KV state (every write is an overwrite). A second run must not duplicate
+// or corrupt anything.
+func TestMigrateSQLiteToKVIdempotent(t *testing.T) {
+	src, path := seedSQLite(t)
+	srcSnap, _ := src.ExportSnapshot()
+	src.Close()
+
+	js := newJS(t)
+	if _, err := MigrateSQLiteToKV(path, js, JetStreamConfig{Replicas: 1}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("migrate run 1: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := MigrateSQLiteToKV(path, js, JetStreamConfig{Replicas: 1}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("migrate run 2: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	kv, _ := OpenJetStream(js, JetStreamConfig{Replicas: 1})
+	kvSnap, err := kv.(*jetstreamStore).ExportSnapshot()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("export kv: %v", err)
+	}
+	normalizeSnapshot(srcSnap)
+	normalizeSnapshot(kvSnap)
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(srcSnap, kvSnap) {
+		t.Fatalf("idempotency broken: a second migration changed the KV state\n sqlite=%+v\n kv=    %+v", srcSnap, kvSnap)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestBackupSQLiteCreatesConsistentCopy verifies the pre-migration backup is a
+// real, openable copy holding the same data.
+func TestBackupSQLiteCreatesConsistentCopy(t *testing.T) {
+	src, path := seedSQLite(t)
+	srcSnap, _ := src.ExportSnapshot()
+	src.Close()
+
+	bak, err := BackupSQLite(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("backup: %v", err)
+	}
+	restored, err := openSQLite(bak)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("open backup: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer restored.Close()
+	bakSnap, err := restored.ExportSnapshot()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("export backup: %v", err)
+	}
+	normalizeSnapshot(srcSnap)
+	normalizeSnapshot(bakSnap)
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(srcSnap, bakSnap) {
+		t.Fatalf("backup is not a faithful copy")
+	}
+}