diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f52387a..c630311 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ has a matching GitHub release whose body comes from its section below.
 
 ### Added
 
+- Gateway: `POST /v1/berth/switch` and `POST /v1/berth/stop` switch the card to an engine or give it back without
+  sending a prompt. Stop never touches a pinned holder. The `/gui/` board's Launch now uses the same switch.
 - Linux AMD support (experimental), contributed by @jenerestain. `berth daemon --gpu-backend amd`
   governs a discrete RDNA3 or RDNA4 card, or a Phoenix APU (Radeon 780M), read from sysfs and DRM
   `fdinfo` with no ROCm. `--gpu N` names DRM cardN. On an APU, reserved VRAM and GTT (shared host
diff --git a/docs/gateway.md b/docs/gateway.md
index ae6dd77..e921eb6 100644
--- a/docs/gateway.md
+++ b/docs/gateway.md
@@ -247,6 +247,22 @@ back to, which are worth parking in RAM instead of stopping and reloading. An un
 or an engine `berth.toml` does not name is a 400 naming the step; a missing or wrong key
 and any browser `Origin` are refused, as on every other route.
 
+## Switch or stop an engine directly
+
+A request naming a model switches the card on its own. To switch without sending a prompt, or to give the card back,
+name the engine:
+
+```sh
+curl -s http://127.0.0.1:9799/v1/berth/switch -H "Authorization: Bearer $(berth key)" -d '{"engine":"strata"}'
+curl -s http://127.0.0.1:9799/v1/berth/stop   -H "Authorization: Bearer $(berth key)" -d '{"engine":"strata"}'
+```
+
+- **Switch** answers `202` once the start is under way, and starts the engine under a lease the same way a request
+  would: the holder drains at its boundary first. It takes any engine with a `start` command; another is a `404`.
+- **Stop** answers `202` with the leases berthd asked to give the card back, the same drain as `berth stop`. A
+  pinned holder (a game, a render, `berth hold`) is a `409`: Berth never stops it from the network. An engine that is
+  not running under a lease is a `409` too, and berthd not answering is a `503`.
+
 ## Open a stopped engine's web UI
 
 A bookmark to ComfyUI or Strata's chat page is a dead link while that engine is stopped. Give the engine a
diff --git a/internal/gateway/gateway.go b/internal/gateway/gateway.go
index bebbc2a..800e411 100644
--- a/internal/gateway/gateway.go
+++ b/internal/gateway/gateway.go
@@ -207,6 +207,8 @@ func (g *Gateway) Handler() http.Handler {
 	mux.HandleFunc("GET /v1/berth/wait", g.wait)
 	mux.HandleFunc("GET /v1/berth/cost", g.cost)
 	mux.HandleFunc("POST /v1/berth/plan", g.plan)
+	mux.HandleFunc("POST /v1/berth/switch", g.apiSwitch)
+	mux.HandleFunc("POST /v1/berth/stop", g.apiStop)
 	for _, p := range []string{"/v1/chat/completions", "/v1/completions", "/v1/embeddings"} {
 		mux.HandleFunc("POST "+p, g.forward)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/gateway/gui.go b/internal/gateway/gui.go
index 4a03cc9..bd18fb3 100644
--- a/internal/gateway/gui.go
+++ b/internal/gateway/gui.go
@@ -350,40 +350,15 @@ func names(card []guiHold) string {
 	return strings.Join(out, " and ")
 }
 
-// guiWake starts the engine in the background and answers at once; the page
-// polls /state. A second ask while a start is under way joins it. Only the
-// Start button asks: opening the page never takes the card.
+// guiWake is the page's Launch: a switch to the engine. Only the button
+// asks; opening the page never takes the card.
 func (g *Gateway) guiWake(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	e, ok := g.launchable(r.PathValue("name"))
 	if !ok {
 		apiError(w, http.StatusNotFound, "no engine of that name has a start command in berth.toml")
 		return
 	}
-	g.mu.Lock()
-	if g.wakes == nil {
-		g.wakes = map[string]*wake{}
-	}
-	already := g.wakes[e.Name] != nil && g.wakes[e.Name].starting
-	if !already {
-		g.wakes[e.Name] = &wake{starting: true}
-	}
-	g.mu.Unlock()
-	if !already {
-		g.log().Info("gui plane starting engine", "engine", e.Name)
-		go func() {
-			// The start outlives the page's request: a closed tab still
-			// leaves the engine coming up, bounded by the gateway's ready.
-			ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), g.ready())
-			defer cancel()
-			err := g.ensure(ctx, e)
-			if err != nil {
-				g.log().Warn("gui plane start failed", "engine", e.Name, "err", err)
-			}
-			g.mu.Lock()
-			g.wakes[e.Name] = &wake{err: err}
-			g.mu.Unlock()
-		}()
-	}
+	g.switchTo(e)
 	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
 	w.WriteHeader(http.StatusAccepted)
 	_ = json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(guiStatus{State: "waiting", Message: "Asking berth for the card"})
diff --git a/internal/gateway/switch.go b/internal/gateway/switch.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7cf943f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/gateway/switch.go
@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+// Copyright 2026 Trevin Tindall (T-Crypt)
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+package gateway
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"net/http"
+
+	"github.com/T-Crypt/berth/internal/config"
+	"github.com/T-Crypt/berth/internal/proto"
+	"github.com/T-Crypt/berth/internal/server"
+)
+
+// The switchboard's actions on the keyed API: switch the card to an engine,
+// or stop one. The gui plane's Launch and the harbor's board call the same
+// two paths, so every surface switches the card the same way.
+
+// switchTo starts the engine in the background under a lease, the way a
+// request for one of its models would; the caller reads the engine's state
+// to follow it. A second ask while a start is under way joins it.
+func (g *Gateway) switchTo(e *config.Engine) {
+	g.mu.Lock()
+	if g.wakes == nil {
+		g.wakes = map[string]*wake{}
+	}
+	already := g.wakes[e.Name] != nil && g.wakes[e.Name].starting
+	if !already {
+		g.wakes[e.Name] = &wake{starting: true}
+	}
+	g.mu.Unlock()
+	if already {
+		return
+	}
+	g.log().Info("switching the card", "engine", e.Name)
+	go func() {
+		// The start outlives the request that asked for it: a closed tab
+		// still leaves the engine coming up, bounded by the gateway's ready.
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), g.ready())
+		defer cancel()
+		err := g.ensure(ctx, e)
+		if err != nil {
+			g.log().Warn("switch failed", "engine", e.Name, "err", err)
+		}
+		g.mu.Lock()
+		g.wakes[e.Name] = &wake{err: err}
+		g.mu.Unlock()
+	}()
+}
+
+// engineReq reads the actions' body, {"engine":"NAME"}.
+func engineReq(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) (string, bool) {
+	var req struct {
+		Engine string `json:"engine"`
+	}
+	body, err := io.ReadAll(io.LimitReader(r.Body, 1<<16))
+	if err != nil || json.Unmarshal(body, &req) != nil || req.Engine == "" {
+		apiError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, `the body must be JSON like {"engine":"NAME"}`)
+		return "", false
+	}
+	return req.Engine, true
+}
+
+// apiSwitch is POST /v1/berth/switch: 202 once the start is under way.
+func (g *Gateway) apiSwitch(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	name, ok := engineReq(w, r)
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	e, ok := g.launchable(name)
+	if !ok {
+		apiError(w, http.StatusNotFound, fmt.Sprintf("no engine %q with a start command in berth.toml", name))
+		return
+	}
+	g.switchTo(e)
+	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	w.WriteHeader(http.StatusAccepted)
+	_ = json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(guiStatus{State: "waiting", Message: "Asking berth for the card"})
+}
+
+// apiStop is POST /v1/berth/stop: berthd asks the engine's leases to give
+// the card back at their request boundary, as `berth stop` does. Unlike the
+// terminal, a remote stop never touches a pinned lease (a game, a render,
+// berth hold): those end only when their owner ends them.
+func (g *Gateway) apiStop(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	name, ok := engineReq(w, r)
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	if g.engineByName(name) == nil {
+		apiError(w, http.StatusNotFound, fmt.Sprintf("no engine %q in berth.toml", name))
+		return
+	}
+	st := g.nodeStatus()
+	if st == nil {
+		apiError(w, http.StatusServiceUnavailable, "berthd is not answering; nothing was stopped")
+		return
+	}
+	for _, l := range st.Leases {
+		if (l.Engine == name || l.Group == name) && l.Pinned {
+			apiError(w, http.StatusConflict, name+" is pinned; Berth never stops it")
+			return
+		}
+	}
+	conn, raw, err := server.Dial(g.Socket)
+	if err != nil {
+		apiError(w, http.StatusServiceUnavailable, "berthd is not answering; nothing was stopped")
+		return
+	}
+	defer raw.Close()
+	if err := conn.Send(proto.Msg{Op: proto.OpStop, Engine: name}); err != nil {
+		apiError(w, http.StatusServiceUnavailable, "berthd: "+err.Error())
+		return
+	}
+	m, err := conn.Recv()
+	switch {
+	case err != nil:
+		apiError(w, http.StatusServiceUnavailable, "no stop reply from berthd: "+err.Error())
+	case m.Op == proto.OpRefused:
+		apiError(w, http.StatusConflict, m.Reason)
+	default:
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusAccepted)
+		_ = json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(struct {
+			Engine string   `json:"engine"`
+			Leases []string `json:"leases"`
+		}{name, m.Leases})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/gateway/switch_test.go b/internal/gateway/switch_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f08e077
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/gateway/switch_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+// Copyright 2026 Trevin Tindall (T-Crypt)
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+//go:build unix
+
+package gateway
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"io"
+	"log/slog"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"os"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/T-Crypt/berth/internal/broker"
+	"github.com/T-Crypt/berth/internal/config"
+)
+
+// switchGateway is a gateway with one API-only engine the test binary
+// serves, the shape of Strata or a bare llama-server.
+func switchGateway(t *testing.T) (*httptest.Server, *broker.Broker) {
+	t.Helper()
+	sock, b := daemon(t)
+	addr := freeAddr(t)
+	t.Setenv("BERTH_GW_ENGINE", addr+",strata-model,300ms")
+	g := &Gateway{Socket: sock, Ready: 10 * time.Second, Key: testKey, Log: slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(io.Discard, nil)),
+		Engines: []config.Engine{
+			{Name: "strata", Type: "llamacpp", URL: "http://" + addr, Start: []string{os.Args[0]}, Serves: []string{"strata-model"}},
+			{Name: "blender", Type: "custom", URL: "http://127.0.0.1:1"},
+		}}
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(g.Handler())
+	t.Cleanup(srv.Close)
+	return srv, b
+}
+
+func until(t *testing.T, what string, ok func() bool) {
+	t.Helper()
+	deadline := time.Now().Add(10 * time.Second)
+	for !ok() {
+		if time.Now().After(deadline) {
+			t.Fatalf("timed out waiting for %s", what)
+		}
+		time.Sleep(50 * time.Millisecond)
+	}
+}
+
+// A switch starts the engine under a lease and answers before it is up; a
+// stop gives the card back through berthd's own drain.
+func TestSwitchThenStop(t *testing.T) {
+	srv, b := switchGateway(t)
+
+	resp := call(t, "POST", srv.URL+"/v1/berth/switch", `{"engine":"strata"}`)
+	resp.Body.Close()
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusAccepted {
+		t.Fatalf("switch = %d", resp.StatusCode)
+	}
+	until(t, "strata to hold the card", func() bool {
+		st := b.Status()
+		return len(st.Leases) == 1 && st.Leases[0].Engine == "strata" && st.Leases[0].State == "active"
+	})
+
+	resp = call(t, "POST", srv.URL+"/v1/berth/stop", `{"engine":"strata"}`)
+	var got struct {
+		Engine string   `json:"engine"`
+		Leases []string `json:"leases"`
+	}
+	_ = json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&got)
+	resp.Body.Close()
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusAccepted || got.Engine != "strata" || len(got.Leases) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("stop = %d %+v", resp.StatusCode, got)
+	}
+	until(t, "the card to be free", func() bool { return len(b.Status().Leases) == 0 })
+}
+
+func TestSwitchStopRefusals(t *testing.T) {
+	srv, b := switchGateway(t)
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+	l, err := b.Acquire(ctx, broker.Request{Engine: "blender", Priority: broker.Hold, Pinned: true}, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer l.Release()
+	l.Attach(os.Getpid())
+
+	for _, c := range []struct {
+		path, body string
+		want       int
+	}{
+		{"/v1/berth/switch", `{"engine":"nope"}`, http.StatusNotFound},
+		{"/v1/berth/switch", `{"engine":"blender"}`, http.StatusNotFound}, // no start command
+		{"/v1/berth/switch", `not json`, http.StatusBadRequest},
+		{"/v1/berth/stop", `{"engine":"nope"}`, http.StatusNotFound},
+		{"/v1/berth/stop", `{"engine":"blender"}`, http.StatusConflict}, // pinned: never stopped from here
+		{"/v1/berth/stop", `{"engine":"strata"}`, http.StatusConflict},  // configured, not running
+	} {
+		resp := call(t, "POST", srv.URL+c.path, c.body)
+		resp.Body.Close()
+		if resp.StatusCode != c.want {
+			t.Errorf("%s %s = %d, want %d", c.path, c.body, resp.StatusCode, c.want)
+		}
+	}
+	if st := b.Status(); len(st.Leases) != 1 || st.Leases[0].State != "active" {
+		t.Fatalf("a refused stop touched the pinned lease: %+v", st.Leases)
+	}
+}