diff --git a/local/recipes/system/driver-manager/source/src/config.rs b/local/recipes/system/driver-manager/source/src/config.rs
index 83bcb52a7b..ec365b9d0b 100644
--- a/local/recipes/system/driver-manager/source/src/config.rs
+++ b/local/recipes/system/driver-manager/source/src/config.rs
@@ -259,20 +259,11 @@ impl Driver for DriverConfig {
             format!("/usr/lib/drivers/{}", self.command[0])
         };
 
-        // Also check the initfs path — drivers like nvmed live in
-        // /scheme/initfs/lib/drivers/ during early boot and may not yet
-        // be staged to /usr/lib/drivers/ after switchroot.
-        if !std::path::Path::new(&actual_path).exists() {
-            let initfs_path = format!("/scheme/initfs/lib/drivers/{}", self.command[0].rsplit('/').next().unwrap_or(&self.command[0]));
-            if std::path::Path::new(&initfs_path).exists() {
-                return ProbeResult::Deferred {
-                    reason: format!("driver in initfs only (not yet in rootfs): {}", initfs_path),
-                };
-            }
-            return ProbeResult::Fatal {
-                reason: format!("driver binary not found: {} (also checked {})", actual_path, initfs_path),
-            };
-        }
+        // Skip the binary existence check. On Redox, scheme paths
+        // (especially /scheme/initfs/) may block on open/stat. The
+        // Command::new() spawn will fail with a clear error if the
+        // binary doesn't exist, which is handled as a Fatal probe
+        // result downstream.
 
         // Skip if this driver's scheme is already registered (e.g., by
         // pcid-spawner during initfs). Prevents re-spawning drivers
diff --git a/local/recipes/system/driver-manager/source/src/main.rs b/local/recipes/system/driver-manager/source/src/main.rs
index 035daae8ea..52d02cd4b5 100644
--- a/local/recipes/system/driver-manager/source/src/main.rs
+++ b/local/recipes/system/driver-manager/source/src/main.rs
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ fn main() {
     let manager_config = ManagerConfig {
         max_concurrent_probes: 4,
         deferred_retry_ms: 500,
-        async_probe: true,
+        async_probe: !initfs,
     };
 
     let manager = Arc::new(Mutex::new(DeviceManager::new(manager_config.clone())));
@@ -498,7 +498,72 @@ fn main() {
         idle_forever();
     }
 
-    let max_retries = if initfs { 10u32 } else { 3u32 };
+    // In initfs mode: do bounded retries for deferred probes, then exit
+    // so init can proceed to rootfs mount. The rootfs driver-manager
+    // instance (started by the rootfs service) handles hotplug and
+    // persistent management.
+    if initfs {
+        let max_retries = 10u32;
+        for retry in 1..=max_retries {
+            if SHUTDOWN_REQUESTED.load(Ordering::SeqCst) {
+                log::info!("driver-manager: SIGTERM received, shutting down");
+                graceful_shutdown();
+                process::exit(0);
+            }
+
+            reap_all_drivers(&driver_configs);
+            thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(500));
+
+            let retry_events = match manager.lock() {
+                Ok(mut mgr) => mgr.retry_deferred(),
+                Err(err) => {
+                    log::error!("failed to retry deferred probes: manager lock poisoned: {err}");
+                    break;
+                }
+            };
+
+            let mut remaining = 0;
+            let mut newly_bound = 0;
+
+            for event in &retry_events {
+                log_timeline(event);
+                if let ProbeEvent::ProbeCompleted {
+                    device,
+                    driver_name,
+                    result,
+                } = event
+                {
+                    match result {
+                        ProbeResult::Bound => {
+                            newly_bound += 1;
+                            notify_bound_device(scheme.as_ref(), device, driver_name);
+                        }
+                        ProbeResult::Deferred { .. } => remaining += 1,
+                        _ => {}
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            if remaining == 0 {
+                log::info!("all deferred resolved after {} retries (initfs)", retry);
+                break;
+            }
+
+            if newly_bound > 0 {
+                log::info!(
+                    "initfs retry #{}: {} new, {} remaining",
+                    retry,
+                    newly_bound,
+                    remaining
+                );
+            }
+        }
+
+        log::info!("driver-manager: initfs phase complete, exiting");
+        return;
+    }
+
+    let max_retries = 3u32;
     for retry in 1..=max_retries {
         if SHUTDOWN_REQUESTED.load(Ordering::SeqCst) {
             log::info!("driver-manager: SIGTERM received during deferred retry, shutting down");