diff --git a/appview/models/label.go b/appview/models/label.go
--- a/appview/models/label.go
+++ b/appview/models/label.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package models
 
 import (
+	"cmp"
 	"context"
 	"crypto/sha1"
 	"encoding/hex"
@@ -551,6 +552,10 @@
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	if op.Subject != "" && len(def.Scope) > 0 && !slices.Contains(def.Scope, op.Subject.Collection().String()) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	state.names[op.OperandKey] = def.Name
 
 	switch op.Operation {
@@ -601,10 +606,24 @@
 	return nil
 }
 
+func labelOpRank(op LabelOperation) int {
+	if op == LabelOperationDel {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return 1
+}
+
 func (c *LabelApplicationCtx) ApplyLabelOps(state LabelState, ops []LabelOp) {
 	// sort label ops in sort order first
 	slices.SortFunc(ops, func(a, b LabelOp) int {
-		return a.SortAt().Compare(b.SortAt())
+		return cmp.Or(
+			a.SortAt().Compare(b.SortAt()),
+			cmp.Compare(a.Did, b.Did),
+			cmp.Compare(a.Rkey, b.Rkey),
+			cmp.Compare(labelOpRank(a.Operation), labelOpRank(b.Operation)),
+			cmp.Compare(a.OperandKey, b.OperandKey),
+			cmp.Compare(a.OperandValue, b.OperandValue),
+		)
 	})
 
 	// apply ops in sequence
diff --git a/appview/models/label_test.go b/appview/models/label_test.go
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/appview/models/label_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+package models
+
+import (
+	"slices"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/bluesky-social/indigo/atproto/syntax"
+)
+
+func TestApplyLabelOps_FutureDatedOrderIndependent(t *testing.T) {
+	def := &LabelDefinition{
+		Did: "did:plc:boltless", Rkey: "st", Name: "status",
+		ValueType: ValueType{Type: ConcreteTypeString},
+		Scope:     []string{"sh.tangled.repo.issue"},
+		Multiple:  false,
+	}
+	key := def.AtUri().String()
+	ctx := &LabelApplicationCtx{Defs: map[string]*LabelDefinition{key: def}}
+	subject := syntax.ATURI("at://did:plc:boltless/sh.tangled.repo.issue/issue1")
+
+	mk := func(rkey, val string, performed time.Time) LabelOp {
+		return LabelOp{
+			Did: "did:plc:boltless", Rkey: rkey, Subject: subject,
+			Operation: LabelOperationAdd, OperandKey: key, OperandValue: val,
+			PerformedAt: performed,
+		}
+	}
+
+	earlier := time.Date(2100, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	later := time.Date(2200, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+
+	fold := func(ops []LabelOp) []string {
+		st := NewLabelState()
+		ctx.ApplyLabelOps(st, ops)
+		out := st.LabelNameValues()
+		slices.Sort(out)
+		return out
+	}
+
+	forward := fold([]LabelOp{mk("aaa", "open", earlier), mk("bbb", "closed", later)})
+	reverse := fold([]LabelOp{mk("bbb", "closed", later), mk("aaa", "open", earlier)})
+
+	if !slices.Equal(forward, reverse) {
+		t.Fatalf("fold must be order-independent for future-dated ops: forward=%v reverse=%v", forward, reverse)
+	}
+	if !slices.Equal(forward, []string{"status:closed"}) {
+		t.Fatalf("the later createdAt must win regardless of ingest order, got %v", forward)
+	}
+}