diff --git a/BUILDING_FROM_SOURCE.md b/BUILDING_FROM_SOURCE.md
index 97184271677..7c502a5101b 100644
--- a/BUILDING_FROM_SOURCE.md
+++ b/BUILDING_FROM_SOURCE.md
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ To **build** after configuration, run the following:
 To **install**, run the following:
 
 ```bash
-> cmake --build . --target install-tiledb --config Release
+> cmake --build . --target install --config Release
 ```
 
 Other helpful build targets are as follows:
diff --git a/test/src/unit-capi-consolidation.cc b/test/src/unit-capi-consolidation.cc
index 9d7e466a969..dccb870d09d 100644
--- a/test/src/unit-capi-consolidation.cc
+++ b/test/src/unit-capi-consolidation.cc
@@ -8030,3 +8030,55 @@ TEST_CASE_METHOD(
     CHECK(rc == TILEDB_OK);
   }
 }
+
+TEST_CASE_METHOD(
+    ConsolidationFx,
+    "C API: Test consolidation of already consolidated delete commits",
+    "[capi][consolidation][commits][deletes]") {
+  // Create a sparse array (Query Conditions require sparse arrays)
+  remove_sparse_array();
+  create_sparse_array();
+
+  tiledb_array_t* array;
+  REQUIRE(
+      tiledb_array_alloc(ctx_, sparse_array_uri_.c_str(), &array) == TILEDB_OK);
+
+  // Write initial data (Creates a .wrt file)
+  write_sparse_full();
+
+  // Submit a Delete Query Condition (Creates a .del file)
+  REQUIRE(tiledb_array_open(ctx_, array, TILEDB_DELETE) == TILEDB_OK);
+  tiledb_query_t* query;
+  REQUIRE(tiledb_query_alloc(ctx_, array, TILEDB_DELETE, &query) == TILEDB_OK);
+
+  tiledb_query_condition_t* qc;
+  REQUIRE(tiledb_query_condition_alloc(ctx_, &qc) == TILEDB_OK);
+  int32_t val = 3;
+  // "a1" is the int32 attribute created by create_sparse_array()
+  REQUIRE(
+      tiledb_query_condition_init(
+          ctx_, qc, "a1", &val, sizeof(int32_t), TILEDB_EQ) == TILEDB_OK);
+  REQUIRE(tiledb_query_set_condition(ctx_, query, qc) == TILEDB_OK);
+  REQUIRE(tiledb_query_submit(ctx_, query) == TILEDB_OK);
+
+  REQUIRE(tiledb_array_close(ctx_, array) == TILEDB_OK);
+  tiledb_query_condition_free(&qc);
+  tiledb_query_free(&query);
+
+  // First Consolidation: Packs the .wrt and .del into a .con file
+  consolidate_sparse("commits");
+
+  // Vacuum: Destroys the physical .del file from disk
+  vacuum_sparse("commits");
+
+  // Write more data: Creates a new .wrt file so the consolidator has work to
+  // do
+  write_sparse_unordered();
+
+  // Second Consolidation
+  consolidate_sparse("commits");
+
+  // Clean up
+  tiledb_array_free(&array);
+  remove_sparse_array();
+}
diff --git a/tiledb/sm/array/array_directory.cc b/tiledb/sm/array/array_directory.cc
index 8869f0928d2..84ba34380f4 100644
--- a/tiledb/sm/array/array_directory.cc
+++ b/tiledb/sm/array/array_directory.cc
@@ -725,6 +725,21 @@ ArrayDirectory::load_consolidated_commit_uris(
   // Load the commit URIs to ignore. This is done in serial for now as it can be
   // optimized by vacuuming.
   std::unordered_set<std::string> ignore_set;
+
+  // Helper lambda to advance the stream past binary delete payloads.
+  // Assumes the caller has already verified this is a delete commit.
+  auto skip_delete_payload = [](std::stringstream& stream,
+                                uint64_t* out_payload_offset = nullptr) {
+    storage_size_t size = 0;
+    stream.read(reinterpret_cast<char*>(&size), sizeof(storage_size_t));
+
+    if (out_payload_offset) {
+      *out_payload_offset = static_cast<uint64_t>(stream.tellg());
+    }
+
+    stream.seekg(size, std::ios_base::cur);
+  };
+
   for (auto& uri : commits_dir_uris) {
     if (uri.to_string().ends_with(constants::ignore_file_suffix)) {
       uint64_t size = resources_.get().vfs().file_size(uri);
@@ -765,11 +780,8 @@ ArrayDirectory::load_consolidated_commit_uris(
 
         // If we have a delete, process the condition tile
         if (condition_marker.ends_with(constants::delete_file_suffix)) {
-          storage_size_t size = 0;
-          ss.read(
-              static_cast<char*>(static_cast<void*>(&size)),
-              sizeof(storage_size_t));
-          auto pos = ss.tellg();
+          uint64_t payload_pos = 0;
+          skip_delete_payload(ss, &payload_pos);
 
           // Get the start and end timestamp for this delete
           FragmentID fragment_id{URI(condition_marker)};
@@ -779,10 +791,8 @@ ArrayDirectory::load_consolidated_commit_uris(
           // times
           if (timestamps_overlap(delete_timestamp_range, false)) {
             delete_and_update_tiles_location_.emplace_back(
-                uri, condition_marker, pos);
+                uri, condition_marker, payload_pos);
           }
-          pos += size;
-          ss.seekg(pos);
         }
       }
     }
@@ -809,6 +819,10 @@ ArrayDirectory::load_consolidated_commit_uris(
           all_in_set = false;
           break;
         }
+        // Skip the binary payload if it's a delete file
+        if (uri_str.ends_with(constants::delete_file_suffix)) {
+          skip_delete_payload(ss);
+        }
       }
 
       if (all_in_set && count == uris_set.size()) {
@@ -920,6 +934,13 @@ void ArrayDirectory::load_commits_uris_to_consolidate(
         uri.to_string().ends_with(constants::delete_file_suffix)) {
       if (consolidated_uris_set.count(uri) == 0) {
         commit_uris_to_consolidate_.emplace_back(uri);
+        if (static_cast<std::string_view>(uri).ends_with(
+                constants::delete_file_suffix)) {
+          const auto base_uri_size = uri_.to_string().size();
+          // 0 offset because it is a raw file
+          delete_and_update_tiles_location_.emplace_back(
+              uri, uri.to_string().substr(base_uri_size), 0);
+        }
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/tiledb/sm/array/test/unit_array_directory.cc b/tiledb/sm/array/test/unit_array_directory.cc
index 940ace2fad5..3ef26fcd18c 100644
--- a/tiledb/sm/array/test/unit_array_directory.cc
+++ b/tiledb/sm/array/test/unit_array_directory.cc
@@ -137,3 +137,119 @@ TEST_CASE("Array directory: Vac file fix", "[array-directory][vac-file-fix]") {
       ArrayDirectory::get_full_vac_uri(
           "base/", "file://not/related/test.vac") == "base/test.vac");
 }
+
+TEST_CASE(
+    "Array directory: Commits mode populates raw delete locations",
+    "[array-directory][commits-mode-del]") {
+  Config cfg;
+  auto logger = make_shared<Logger>(HERE(), "foo");
+  ContextResources resources{cfg, logger, 1, 1, ""};
+  auto& vfs = resources.vfs();
+
+  // Setup a test array with a commits directory
+  URI array_uri(arrays_dir + "/test_array_dir_commits_mode");
+  if (vfs.is_dir(array_uri)) {
+    vfs.remove_dir(array_uri);
+  }
+  vfs.create_dir(array_uri);
+  URI commits_dir = array_uri.join_path("__commits");
+  vfs.create_dir(commits_dir);
+
+  // Create a test raw .del file (write version 12 format)
+  URI del_uri =
+      commits_dir.join_path("__0_0_6e1138cbb833e380c227d402c1d2fc38_22.del");
+  vfs.touch(del_uri);
+
+  // Load ArrayDirectory explicitly in COMMITS mode
+  ArrayDirectory array_dir(
+      resources, array_uri, 0, 1, ArrayDirectoryMode::COMMITS);
+
+  // Verify the location map was populated
+  auto locs = array_dir.delete_and_update_tiles_location();
+
+  REQUIRE(locs.size() == 1);
+  CHECK(
+      locs[0].condition_marker() ==
+      "__commits/"
+      "__0_0_6e1138cbb833e380c227d402c1d2fc38_22.del");
+  CHECK(locs[0].offset() == 0);
+
+  vfs.remove_dir(array_uri);
+}
+
+TEST_CASE(
+    "Array directory: Vacuum verification skips binary delete payloads",
+    "[array-directory][vacuum-binary-skip]") {
+  Config cfg;
+  auto logger = make_shared<Logger>(HERE(), "foo");
+  ContextResources resources{cfg, logger, 1, 1, ""};
+  auto& vfs = resources.vfs();
+
+  // Setup a test array
+  URI array_uri(arrays_dir + "/test_array_dir_vacuum_skip");
+  if (vfs.is_dir(array_uri)) {
+    vfs.remove_dir(array_uri);
+  }
+  vfs.create_dir(array_uri);
+  URI commits_dir = array_uri.join_path("__commits");
+  vfs.create_dir(commits_dir);
+
+  // Mock physical files so they exist in the directory listing
+  vfs.touch(
+      commits_dir.join_path("__0_0_5c336fca5fe8057791d69cad6c15e981_22.wrt"));
+  vfs.touch(
+      commits_dir.join_path("__1_1_6e1138cbb833e380c227d402c1d2fc38_22.del"));
+
+  // Create a .con file containing a binary payload
+  URI con_uri =
+      commits_dir.join_path("__0_1_51cfc7c8956f93998a1ba2a42e7ec0d5_22.con");
+  std::string wrt_uri =
+      "__commits/"
+      "__0_0_5c336fca5fe8057791d69cad6c15e981_22.wrt\n";
+  std::string del_uri =
+      "__commits/"
+      "__1_1_6e1138cbb833e380c227d402c1d2fc38_22.del\n";
+  // 4 bytes of binary data
+  storage_size_t payload_size = 4;
+  std::string binary_payload = "BEEF";
+
+  // Pack the bytes exactly like the consolidator does
+  std::vector<uint8_t> data;
+  data.insert(data.end(), wrt_uri.begin(), wrt_uri.end());
+  data.insert(data.end(), del_uri.begin(), del_uri.end());
+
+  auto* size_ptr = reinterpret_cast<uint8_t*>(&payload_size);
+  data.insert(data.end(), size_ptr, size_ptr + sizeof(storage_size_t));
+  data.insert(data.end(), binary_payload.begin(), binary_payload.end());
+
+  vfs.write(con_uri, data.data(), data.size());
+  auto status = vfs.close_file(con_uri);
+  CHECK(status.ok());
+
+  // Create a newer, encompassing .con file.
+  URI con_uri2 =
+      commits_dir.join_path("__0_2_017ebf26d62191760cc867d23ccd1458_22.con");
+  std::vector<uint8_t> data2 = data;
+  std::string wrt_uri2 =
+      "__commits/"
+      "__2_2_06e30b6f9ed34137f9ac342cf6211c84_22.wrt\n";
+  data2.insert(data2.end(), wrt_uri2.begin(), wrt_uri2.end());
+
+  vfs.write(con_uri2, data2.data(), data2.size());
+  status = vfs.close_file(con_uri2);
+  CHECK(status.ok());
+
+  // Load the ArrayDirectory in COMMITS mode
+  ArrayDirectory array_dir(
+      resources, array_uri, 0, 2, ArrayDirectoryMode::COMMITS);
+
+  // Verify the .con file passed verification and was marked for vacuuming
+  auto vacuum_uris = array_dir.consolidated_commits_uris_to_vacuum();
+
+  REQUIRE(vacuum_uris.size() == 1);
+  std::cout << vacuum_uris[0].to_string() << std::endl;
+  std::cout << con_uri.to_string() << std::endl;
+  CHECK(vacuum_uris[0] == con_uri);
+
+  vfs.remove_dir(array_uri);
+}
diff --git a/tiledb/sm/consolidator/consolidator.cc b/tiledb/sm/consolidator/consolidator.cc
index fcef32b4cab..22baf75ae28 100644
--- a/tiledb/sm/consolidator/consolidator.cc
+++ b/tiledb/sm/consolidator/consolidator.cc
@@ -255,6 +255,16 @@ void Consolidator::write_consolidated_commits_file(
     const ArrayDirectory& array_dir,
     const std::vector<URI>& commit_uris,
     ContextResources& resources) {
+  // Map relative URIs to their actual physical locations on disk (either raw
+  // .del files or embedded in .con files)
+  std::unordered_map<
+      std::string,
+      const ArrayDirectory::DeleteAndUpdateTileLocation*>
+      location_map;
+  for (const auto& loc : array_dir.delete_and_update_tiles_location()) {
+    location_map[loc.condition_marker()] = &loc;
+  }
+
   // Compute the file name.
   auto name = storage_format::generate_consolidated_fragment_name(
       commit_uris.front(), commit_uris.back(), write_version);
@@ -266,14 +276,36 @@ void Consolidator::write_consolidated_commits_file(
   std::vector<storage_size_t> file_sizes(commit_uris.size());
   for (uint64_t i = 0; i < commit_uris.size(); i++) {
     const auto& uri = commit_uris[i];
-    total_size += uri.to_string().size() - base_uri_size + 1;
-
-    // If the file is a delete, add the file size to the count and the size of
-    // the size variable.
-    if (uri.to_string().ends_with(constants::delete_file_suffix)) {
-      file_sizes[i] = resources.vfs().file_size(uri);
-      total_size += file_sizes[i];
-      total_size += sizeof(storage_size_t);
+    std::string relative_uri = uri.to_string().substr(base_uri_size);
+    // +1 for the newline character
+    total_size += relative_uri.size() + 1;
+
+    // If the file is a delete, find its physical payload size.
+    if (relative_uri.ends_with(constants::delete_file_suffix)) {
+      auto it = location_map.find(relative_uri);
+      if (it == location_map.end()) {
+        throw ConsolidatorException(
+            "Delete commit physical location not found in ArrayDirectory "
+            "ledger.");
+      }
+
+      const auto* loc = it->second;
+
+      if (loc->offset() == 0) {
+        // It's a raw .del file still sitting on disk
+        file_sizes[i] = resources.vfs().file_size(loc->uri());
+      } else {
+        // It's already embedded in an older .con file.
+        // Read the size bytes stored immediately before the payload offset.
+        storage_size_t payload_size = 0;
+        throw_if_not_ok(resources.vfs().read_exactly(
+            loc->uri(),
+            loc->offset() - sizeof(storage_size_t),
+            &payload_size,
+            sizeof(storage_size_t)));
+        file_sizes[i] = payload_size;
+      }
+      total_size += file_sizes[i] + sizeof(storage_size_t);
     }
   }
 
@@ -283,16 +315,22 @@ void Consolidator::write_consolidated_commits_file(
   for (uint64_t i = 0; i < commit_uris.size(); i++) {
     // Add the uri.
     const auto& uri = commit_uris[i];
-    std::string relative_uri = uri.to_string().substr(base_uri_size) + "\n";
+    std::string relative_uri = uri.to_string().substr(base_uri_size);
     memcpy(&data[file_index], relative_uri.data(), relative_uri.size());
     file_index += relative_uri.size();
 
-    // For deletes, read the delete condition to the output file.
-    if (uri.to_string().ends_with(constants::delete_file_suffix)) {
+    // Directly append the newline character to the buffer
+    data[file_index++] = '\n';
+
+    // For deletes, read the delete condition payload from its mapped physical
+    // location.
+    if (relative_uri.ends_with(constants::delete_file_suffix)) {
       memcpy(&data[file_index], &file_sizes[i], sizeof(storage_size_t));
       file_index += sizeof(storage_size_t);
+
+      const auto* loc = location_map[relative_uri];
       throw_if_not_ok(resources.vfs().read_exactly(
-          uri, 0, &data[file_index], file_sizes[i]));
+          loc->uri(), loc->offset(), &data[file_index], file_sizes[i]));
       file_index += file_sizes[i];
     }
   }