diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 73c76156..6bd81011 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,11 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
+## [0.10.6] - Unreleased
+
+### Fixed
+- #996: Ensure COS commands execute in exec under a dedicated, isolated context
+
 ## [0.10.5] - 2026-01-15
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/src/cls/IPM/Main.cls b/src/cls/IPM/Main.cls
index a9392916..2b62aa8f 100644
--- a/src/cls/IPM/Main.cls
+++ b/src/cls/IPM/Main.cls
@@ -983,8 +983,7 @@ ClassMethod ShellInternal(
             } elseif (tCommandInfo = "load") {
                 do ..Load(.tCommandInfo)
             } elseif (tCommandInfo = "exec") {
-                write !
-                xecute tCommandInfo("parameters","expression")
+                do ..ExecuteCOS(.tCommandInfo)
             } elseif (tCommandInfo = "install") {
                 do ..Install(.tCommandInfo)
             } elseif (tCommandInfo = "reinstall") {
@@ -2218,6 +2217,13 @@ ClassMethod Load(
 	$$$ThrowOnError(log.Finalize($$$OK, devMode))
 }
 
+ClassMethod ExecuteCOS(ByRef commandInfo)
+{
+    new $namespace
+    write !
+    xecute commandInfo("parameters","expression")
+}
+
 ClassMethod LoadInternal(
 	ByRef pCommandInfo,
 	pLog As %IPM.General.AbstractHistory) [ Internal ]