diff --git a/src/etl/ETLService.cpp b/src/etl/ETLService.cpp
index 6f8c0d4ee..595411cb4 100644
--- a/src/etl/ETLService.cpp
+++ b/src/etl/ETLService.cpp
@@ -348,14 +348,21 @@ ETLService::startMonitor(uint32_t seq)
 {
     monitor_ = monitorProvider_->make(ctx_, backend_, ledgers_, seq);
 
+    systemStateWriteCommandSubscription_ =
+        state_->writeCommandSignal.connect([this](SystemState::WriteCommand command) {
+            switch (command) {
+                case etl::SystemState::WriteCommand::StartWriting:
+                    attemptTakeoverWriter();
+                    break;
+                case etl::SystemState::WriteCommand::StopWriting:
+                    giveUpWriter();
+                    break;
+            }
+        });
+
     monitorNewSeqSubscription_ = monitor_->subscribeToNewSequence([this](uint32_t seq) {
         LOG(log_.info()) << "ETLService (via Monitor) got new seq from db: " << seq;
 
-        if (state_->writeConflict) {
-            LOG(log_.info()) << "Got a write conflict; Giving up writer seat immediately";
-            giveUpWriter();
-        }
-
         if (not state_->isWriting) {
             auto const diff = data::synchronousAndRetryOnTimeout([this, seq](auto yield) {
                 return backend_->fetchLedgerDiff(seq, yield);
@@ -371,7 +378,7 @@ ETLService::startMonitor(uint32_t seq)
     monitorDbStalledSubscription_ = monitor_->subscribeToDbStalled([this]() {
         LOG(log_.warn()) << "ETLService received DbStalled signal from Monitor";
         if (not state_->isStrictReadonly and not state_->isWriting)
-            attemptTakeoverWriter();
+            state_->writeCommandSignal(SystemState::WriteCommand::StartWriting);
     });
 
     monitor_->run();
@@ -404,7 +411,6 @@ ETLService::giveUpWriter()
 {
     ASSERT(not state_->isStrictReadonly, "This should only happen on writer nodes");
     state_->isWriting = false;
-    state_->writeConflict = false;
     taskMan_ = nullptr;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/etl/ETLService.hpp b/src/etl/ETLService.hpp
index 45185d4be..689d4d14d 100644
--- a/src/etl/ETLService.hpp
+++ b/src/etl/ETLService.hpp
@@ -74,7 +74,6 @@
 #include <functional>
 #include <memory>
 #include <optional>
-#include <string>
 
 namespace etl {
 
@@ -117,6 +116,7 @@ class ETLService : public ETLServiceInterface {
 
     boost::signals2::scoped_connection monitorNewSeqSubscription_;
     boost::signals2::scoped_connection monitorDbStalledSubscription_;
+    boost::signals2::scoped_connection systemStateWriteCommandSubscription_;
 
     std::optional<util::async::AnyOperation<void>> mainLoop_;
 
diff --git a/src/etl/SystemState.hpp b/src/etl/SystemState.hpp
index 7f841665f..188d53fcb 100644
--- a/src/etl/SystemState.hpp
+++ b/src/etl/SystemState.hpp
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@
 #include "util/prometheus/Label.hpp"
 #include "util/prometheus/Prometheus.hpp"
 
-#include <atomic>
+#include <boost/signals2/signal.hpp>
+#include <boost/signals2/variadic_signal.hpp>
 
 namespace etl {
 
@@ -50,8 +51,24 @@ struct SystemState {
         "Whether the process is writing to the database"
     );
 
-    std::atomic_bool isStopping = false;    /**< @brief Whether the software is stopping. */
-    std::atomic_bool writeConflict = false; /**< @brief Whether a write conflict was detected. */
+    /**
+     * @brief Commands for controlling the ETL writer state.
+     *
+     * These commands are emitted via writeCommandSignal to coordinate writer state transitions across components.
+     */
+    enum class WriteCommand {
+        StartWriting, /**< Request to attempt taking over as the ETL writer */
+        StopWriting   /**< Request to give up the ETL writer role (e.g., due to write conflict) */
+    };
+
+    /**
+     * @brief Signal for coordinating ETL writer state transitions.
+     *
+     * This signal allows components to request changes to the writer state without direct coupling.
+     * - Emitted with StartWriting when database stalls and node should attempt to become writer
+     * - Emitted with StopWriting when write conflicts are detected
+     */
+    boost::signals2::signal<void(WriteCommand)> writeCommandSignal;
 
     /**
      * @brief Whether clio detected an amendment block.
diff --git a/src/etl/impl/LedgerPublisher.hpp b/src/etl/impl/LedgerPublisher.hpp
index 0b48ca3f6..1db50299b 100644
--- a/src/etl/impl/LedgerPublisher.hpp
+++ b/src/etl/impl/LedgerPublisher.hpp
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
 #include <xrpl/protocol/Serializer.h>
 
 #include <algorithm>
+#include <atomic>
 #include <chrono>
 #include <cstddef>
 #include <cstdint>
@@ -76,6 +77,8 @@ class LedgerPublisher : public LedgerPublisherInterface {
 
     util::async::AnyStrand publishStrand_;
 
+    std::atomic_bool stop_{false};
+
     std::shared_ptr<BackendInterface> backend_;
     std::shared_ptr<feed::SubscriptionManagerInterface> subscriptions_;
     std::reference_wrapper<SystemState const> state_;  // shared state for ETL
@@ -125,7 +128,7 @@ public:
     {
         LOG(log_.info()) << "Attempting to publish ledger = " << ledgerSequence;
         size_t numAttempts = 0;
-        while (not state_.get().isStopping) {
+        while (not stop_) {
             auto range = backend_->hardFetchLedgerRangeNoThrow();
 
             if (!range || range->maxSequence < ledgerSequence) {
@@ -258,6 +261,18 @@ public:
         return *lastPublishedSequence_.lock();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * @brief Stops publishing
+     *
+     * @note This is a basic implementation to satisfy tests. This will be improved in
+     * https://github.com/XRPLF/clio/issues/2833
+     */
+    void
+    stop()
+    {
+        stop_ = true;
+    }
+
 private:
     void
     setLastClose(std::chrono::time_point<ripple::NetClock> lastCloseTime)
diff --git a/src/etl/impl/Loading.cpp b/src/etl/impl/Loading.cpp
index 59d2d0a9c..9c378f253 100644
--- a/src/etl/impl/Loading.cpp
+++ b/src/etl/impl/Loading.cpp
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ Loader::load(model::LedgerData const& data)
                              << "; took " << duration << "ms";
 
             if (not success) {
-                state_->writeConflict = true;
+                state_->writeCommandSignal(SystemState::WriteCommand::StopWriting);
                 LOG(log_.warn()) << "Another node wrote a ledger into the DB - we have a write conflict";
                 return std::unexpected(LoaderError::WriteConflict);
             }
diff --git a/tests/unit/etl/ETLServiceTests.cpp b/tests/unit/etl/ETLServiceTests.cpp
index 253009459..59a570a44 100644
--- a/tests/unit/etl/ETLServiceTests.cpp
+++ b/tests/unit/etl/ETLServiceTests.cpp
@@ -216,6 +216,10 @@ protected:
     std::shared_ptr<testing::NiceMock<MockMonitorProvider>> monitorProvider_ =
         std::make_shared<testing::NiceMock<MockMonitorProvider>>();
     std::shared_ptr<etl::SystemState> systemState_ = std::make_shared<etl::SystemState>();
+    testing::StrictMock<testing::MockFunction<void(etl::SystemState::WriteCommand)>> mockWriteSignalCommandCallback_;
+    boost::signals2::scoped_connection writeCommandConnection_{
+        systemState_->writeCommandSignal.connect(mockWriteSignalCommandCallback_.AsStdFunction())
+    };
 
     etl::ETLService service_{
         ctx_,
@@ -370,13 +374,13 @@ TEST_F(ETLServiceTests, HandlesWriteConflictInMonitorSubscription)
     EXPECT_CALL(*cacheLoader_, load(kSEQ));
 
     service_.run();
-    systemState_->writeConflict = true;
+    writeCommandConnection_.disconnect();
+    systemState_->writeCommandSignal(etl::SystemState::WriteCommand::StopWriting);
 
     EXPECT_CALL(*publisher_, publish(kSEQ + 1, testing::_, testing::_));
     ASSERT_TRUE(capturedCallback);
     capturedCallback(kSEQ + 1);
 
-    EXPECT_FALSE(systemState_->writeConflict);
     EXPECT_FALSE(systemState_->isWriting);
 }
 
@@ -447,6 +451,8 @@ TEST_F(ETLServiceTests, AttemptTakeoverWriter)
     EXPECT_CALL(*taskManagerProvider_, make(testing::_, testing::_, kSEQ + 1, testing::_))
         .WillOnce(testing::Return(std::move(mockTaskManager)));
 
+    EXPECT_CALL(mockWriteSignalCommandCallback_, Call(etl::SystemState::WriteCommand::StartWriting));
+
     ASSERT_TRUE(capturedDbStalledCallback);
     capturedDbStalledCallback();
 
@@ -477,15 +483,15 @@ TEST_F(ETLServiceTests, GiveUpWriterAfterWriteConflict)
 
     service_.run();
     systemState_->isWriting = true;
-    systemState_->writeConflict = true;  // got a write conflict along the way
+    writeCommandConnection_.disconnect();
+    systemState_->writeCommandSignal(etl::SystemState::WriteCommand::StopWriting);
 
     EXPECT_CALL(*publisher_, publish(kSEQ + 1, testing::_, testing::_));
 
     ASSERT_TRUE(capturedCallback);
     capturedCallback(kSEQ + 1);
 
-    EXPECT_FALSE(systemState_->isWriting);      // gives up writing
-    EXPECT_FALSE(systemState_->writeConflict);  // and removes write conflict flag
+    EXPECT_FALSE(systemState_->isWriting);  // gives up writing
 }
 
 TEST_F(ETLServiceTests, CancelledLoadInitialLedger)
@@ -539,3 +545,65 @@ TEST_F(ETLServiceTests, RunStopsIfInitialLoadIsCancelledByBalancer)
     EXPECT_FALSE(service_.isAmendmentBlocked());
     EXPECT_FALSE(service_.isCorruptionDetected());
 }
+
+TEST_F(ETLServiceTests, DbStalledDoesNotTriggerSignalWhenStrictReadonly)
+{
+    auto mockMonitor = std::make_unique<testing::NiceMock<MockMonitor>>();
+    auto& mockMonitorRef = *mockMonitor;
+    std::function<void()> capturedDbStalledCallback;
+
+    EXPECT_CALL(*monitorProvider_, make).WillOnce([&mockMonitor](auto, auto, auto, auto, auto) {
+        return std::move(mockMonitor);
+    });
+    EXPECT_CALL(mockMonitorRef, subscribeToNewSequence);
+    EXPECT_CALL(mockMonitorRef, subscribeToDbStalled).WillOnce([&capturedDbStalledCallback](auto callback) {
+        capturedDbStalledCallback = callback;
+        return boost::signals2::scoped_connection{};
+    });
+    EXPECT_CALL(mockMonitorRef, run);
+
+    EXPECT_CALL(*backend_, hardFetchLedgerRange)
+        .WillRepeatedly(testing::Return(data::LedgerRange{.minSequence = 1, .maxSequence = kSEQ}));
+    EXPECT_CALL(*ledgers_, getMostRecent()).WillOnce(testing::Return(kSEQ));
+    EXPECT_CALL(*cacheLoader_, load(kSEQ));
+
+    service_.run();
+    systemState_->isStrictReadonly = true;  // strict readonly mode
+    systemState_->isWriting = false;
+
+    // No signal should be emitted because node is in strict readonly mode
+
+    ASSERT_TRUE(capturedDbStalledCallback);
+    capturedDbStalledCallback();
+}
+
+TEST_F(ETLServiceTests, DbStalledDoesNotTriggerSignalWhenAlreadyWriting)
+{
+    auto mockMonitor = std::make_unique<testing::NiceMock<MockMonitor>>();
+    auto& mockMonitorRef = *mockMonitor;
+    std::function<void()> capturedDbStalledCallback;
+
+    EXPECT_CALL(*monitorProvider_, make).WillOnce([&mockMonitor](auto, auto, auto, auto, auto) {
+        return std::move(mockMonitor);
+    });
+    EXPECT_CALL(mockMonitorRef, subscribeToNewSequence);
+    EXPECT_CALL(mockMonitorRef, subscribeToDbStalled).WillOnce([&capturedDbStalledCallback](auto callback) {
+        capturedDbStalledCallback = callback;
+        return boost::signals2::scoped_connection{};
+    });
+    EXPECT_CALL(mockMonitorRef, run);
+
+    EXPECT_CALL(*backend_, hardFetchLedgerRange)
+        .WillRepeatedly(testing::Return(data::LedgerRange{.minSequence = 1, .maxSequence = kSEQ}));
+    EXPECT_CALL(*ledgers_, getMostRecent()).WillOnce(testing::Return(kSEQ));
+    EXPECT_CALL(*cacheLoader_, load(kSEQ));
+
+    service_.run();
+    systemState_->isStrictReadonly = false;
+    systemState_->isWriting = true;  // already writing
+
+    // No signal should be emitted because node is already writing
+
+    ASSERT_TRUE(capturedDbStalledCallback);
+    capturedDbStalledCallback();
+}
diff --git a/tests/unit/etl/LedgerPublisherTests.cpp b/tests/unit/etl/LedgerPublisherTests.cpp
index e4d422a9d..5b3c73d0f 100644
--- a/tests/unit/etl/LedgerPublisherTests.cpp
+++ b/tests/unit/etl/LedgerPublisherTests.cpp
@@ -216,15 +216,14 @@ TEST_F(ETLLedgerPublisherTest, PublishLedgerHeaderCloseTimeGreaterThanNow)
 TEST_F(ETLLedgerPublisherTest, PublishLedgerSeqStopIsTrue)
 {
     auto dummyState = etl::SystemState{};
-    dummyState.isStopping = true;
     auto publisher = impl::LedgerPublisher(ctx, backend_, mockSubscriptionManagerPtr, dummyState);
+    publisher.stop();
     EXPECT_FALSE(publisher.publish(kSEQ, {}));
 }
 
 TEST_F(ETLLedgerPublisherTest, PublishLedgerSeqMaxAttempt)
 {
     auto dummyState = etl::SystemState{};
-    dummyState.isStopping = false;
     auto publisher = impl::LedgerPublisher(ctx, backend_, mockSubscriptionManagerPtr, dummyState);
 
     static constexpr auto kMAX_ATTEMPT = 2;
@@ -238,7 +237,6 @@ TEST_F(ETLLedgerPublisherTest, PublishLedgerSeqMaxAttempt)
 TEST_F(ETLLedgerPublisherTest, PublishLedgerSeqStopIsFalse)
 {
     auto dummyState = etl::SystemState{};
-    dummyState.isStopping = false;
     auto publisher = impl::LedgerPublisher(ctx, backend_, mockSubscriptionManagerPtr, dummyState);
 
     LedgerRange const range{.minSequence = kSEQ, .maxSequence = kSEQ};
diff --git a/tests/unit/etl/LoadingTests.cpp b/tests/unit/etl/LoadingTests.cpp
index 143f915a2..6631fde73 100644
--- a/tests/unit/etl/LoadingTests.cpp
+++ b/tests/unit/etl/LoadingTests.cpp
@@ -188,3 +188,53 @@ TEST_F(LoadingAssertTest, LoadInitialLedgerHasDataInDB)
 
     EXPECT_CLIO_ASSERT_FAIL({ [[maybe_unused]] auto unused = loader_.loadInitialLedger(data); });
 }
+
+TEST_F(LoadingTests, LoadWriteConflictEmitsStopWritingSignal)
+{
+    state_->isWriting = true;  // writer is active
+    auto const data = createTestData();
+    testing::StrictMock<testing::MockFunction<void(etl::SystemState::WriteCommand)>> mockSignalCallback;
+
+    auto connection = state_->writeCommandSignal.connect(mockSignalCallback.AsStdFunction());
+
+    EXPECT_CALL(*mockRegistryPtr_, dispatch(data));
+    EXPECT_CALL(*backend_, doFinishWrites()).WillOnce(testing::Return(false));  // simulate write conflict
+    EXPECT_CALL(mockSignalCallback, Call(etl::SystemState::WriteCommand::StopWriting));
+
+    auto result = loader_.load(data);
+    EXPECT_FALSE(result.has_value());
+    EXPECT_EQ(result.error(), etl::LoaderError::WriteConflict);
+}
+
+TEST_F(LoadingTests, LoadSuccessDoesNotEmitSignal)
+{
+    state_->isWriting = true;  // writer is active
+    auto const data = createTestData();
+    testing::StrictMock<testing::MockFunction<void(etl::SystemState::WriteCommand)>> mockSignalCallback;
+
+    auto connection = state_->writeCommandSignal.connect(mockSignalCallback.AsStdFunction());
+
+    EXPECT_CALL(*mockRegistryPtr_, dispatch(data));
+    EXPECT_CALL(*backend_, doFinishWrites()).WillOnce(testing::Return(true));  // success
+    // No signal should be emitted on success
+
+    auto result = loader_.load(data);
+    EXPECT_TRUE(result.has_value());
+}
+
+TEST_F(LoadingTests, LoadWhenNotWritingDoesNotCheckConflict)
+{
+    state_->isWriting = false;  // not a writer
+    auto const data = createTestData();
+    testing::StrictMock<testing::MockFunction<void(etl::SystemState::WriteCommand)>> mockSignalCallback;
+
+    auto connection = state_->writeCommandSignal.connect(mockSignalCallback.AsStdFunction());
+
+    EXPECT_CALL(*mockRegistryPtr_, dispatch(data));
+    // doFinishWrites should not be called when not writing
+    EXPECT_CALL(*backend_, doFinishWrites()).Times(0);
+    // No signal should be emitted
+
+    auto result = loader_.load(data);
+    EXPECT_TRUE(result.has_value());
+}