diff --git a/src/patchworks/_review.py b/src/patchworks/_review.py
index 267bbe0..9a1c50c 100644
--- a/src/patchworks/_review.py
+++ b/src/patchworks/_review.py
@@ -291,9 +291,12 @@ def _table_group(self, name: str, mode: str = "r"):
         )
 
     def _load_decisions(self, name: str) -> None:
+        from ._io import open_group_any
+
         log = dict(self._table_group(name).attrs.get(REVIEW_KEY) or {})
+        # open_group_any: a .zip bundle is read in place (never saved to).
         fingerprint = label_fingerprint(
-            zarr.open_group(_label_group(self.store, name), mode="r")
+            open_group_any(_label_group(self.store, name))
         )
         decisions = log.get("decisions") or {}
         if decisions and log.get("labels") != fingerprint:
diff --git a/src/patchworks/_tables.py b/src/patchworks/_tables.py
index 7a58019..505a03d 100644
--- a/src/patchworks/_tables.py
+++ b/src/patchworks/_tables.py
@@ -822,7 +822,7 @@ def nearest_parents(
     size = read_pixel_size(cpath)
     spacing = np.array([float(size.get(ax, 1.0)) for ax in axes])
     margin = np.ceil(max_distance_um / spacing).astype(int)
-    table = zarr.open_group(f"{cpath}/{TABLE_GROUP}", mode="r")
+    table = open_group_any(f"{cpath}/{TABLE_GROUP}")
     all_labels = table["label"][...]
     lo = np.stack([np.asarray(table[f"bbox_min_{ax}"][...]) for ax in axes], 1)
     hi = np.stack([np.asarray(table[f"bbox_max_{ax}"][...]) for ax in axes], 1)
diff --git a/tests/test_review.py b/tests/test_review.py
index fcd5c5b..66d83a5 100644
--- a/tests/test_review.py
+++ b/tests/test_review.py
@@ -69,6 +69,31 @@ def test_decisions_apply_everywhere_and_persist(scene):
     assert 4 in Review(scene).effective("cilia_labels").index
 
 
+def test_a_zip_bundle_is_reviewed_read_only(scene):
+    """A zipped store opens (napari-chunked-regionprops shows its corrected
+    tables through this), keeps its decisions, and refuses new ones."""
+    import os
+    import zipfile
+
+    rv = Review(scene, expect=EXPECT)
+    rv.decide("cilia_labels", 4, "wrong")
+    bundle = f"{scene}.zip"
+    root = os.path.dirname(str(scene))
+    with zipfile.ZipFile(bundle, "w") as archive:
+        for here, _, files in os.walk(scene):
+            for f in files:
+                path = os.path.join(here, f)
+                archive.write(path, os.path.relpath(path, root))
+
+    zipped = Review(bundle, expect=EXPECT)
+    assert 4 not in zipped.effective("cilia_labels").index
+    pd.testing.assert_frame_equal(
+        zipped.effective("cyto_labels"), rv.effective("cyto_labels")
+    )
+    with pytest.raises(PermissionError):
+        zipped.decide("cilia_labels", 5, "wrong")
+
+
 def test_merging_a_parent_moves_its_children(scene):
     rv = Review(scene, expect=EXPECT)
     rv.decide("cyto_labels", 2, "merge", into=1)