Converted all external tool calling to async

server/src/agent_mode/loop_ops.rs

@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ pub(super) async fn detect_conflicts(
         our_claims.remove(&story_id);
 
         // Stop any local agent for this story by looking up its name.
-        if let Ok(agent_list) = agents.list_agents() {
+        if let Ok(agent_list) = agents.list_agents().await {
             for info in agent_list {
                 if info.story_id == story_id {
                     let _ = agents
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ pub(super) fn reclaim_timed_out_work(_project_root: &Path) {
 /// Check for completed agents, push their feature branches to the remote,
 /// and report completion via CRDT.
 pub(super) async fn check_completions_and_push(agents: &AgentPool, _project_root: &Path) {
-    let Ok(agent_list) = agents.list_agents() else {
+    let Ok(agent_list) = agents.list_agents().await else {
         return;
     };
 

server/src/agents/pool/auto_assign/auto_assign.rs

@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ mod tests {
         // task eventually fails.
         pool.auto_assign_available_work(tmp.path()).await;
 
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         let has_pending = agents.values().any(|a| {
             a.agent_name == "coder-1"
                 && matches!(a.status, AgentStatus::Pending | AgentStatus::Running)
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ mod tests {
         pool.auto_assign_available_work(root).await;
 
         // No agent should have been started for the spike.
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         assert!(
             agents.is_empty(),
             "No agents should be assigned to a spike with review_hold"
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         pool.auto_assign_available_work(tmp.path()).await;
 
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         // coder-1 must NOT have been assigned to the QA story (wrong stage).
         let coder_assigned_to_qa = agents.iter().any(|(key, a)| {
             key.contains("9930_story_qa1")
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         pool.auto_assign_available_work(tmp.path()).await;
 
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         // coder-1 should have been picked (it matches the stage and is preferred).
         let coder1_assigned = agents.values().any(|a| {
             a.agent_name == "coder-1"
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ mod tests {
         // Must not panic.
         pool.auto_assign_available_work(tmp.path()).await;
 
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         // No agent should be assigned to the specific QA story (coder-1 may
         // be assigned to leaked 2_current items from the global CRDT store).
         let assigned_to_qa_story = agents.iter().any(|(key, a)| {
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ mod tests {
         let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3001);
         pool.auto_assign_available_work(root).await;
 
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         // Filter to only agents assigned to our specific story to avoid
         // interference from other tests sharing the global CRDT store.
         let assigned_to_our_story = agents.iter().any(|(key, a)| {
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ mod tests {
         let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3001);
         pool.auto_assign_available_work(root).await;
 
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         let has_pending = agents.values().any(|a| {
             matches!(
                 a.status,
@@ -553,7 +553,7 @@ mod tests {
         let _ = tokio::join!(t1, t2);
 
         // At most one Pending/Running entry should exist for coder-1.
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         let active_coder_count = agents
             .values()
             .filter(|a| {
@@ -602,7 +602,7 @@ mod tests {
         pool.auto_assign_available_work(tmp.path()).await;
 
         let count_after_first = {
-            let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+            let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
             agents
                 .iter()
                 .filter(|(key, a)| {
@@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ mod tests {
         pool.auto_assign_available_work(tmp.path()).await;
 
         let count_after_second = {
-            let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+            let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
             agents
                 .iter()
                 .filter(|(key, a)| {

server/src/agents/pool/auto_assign/merge.rs

@@ -99,13 +99,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
             // Skip if an explicit mergemaster LLM agent is already running
             // (operator-driven failure recovery path).
             let has_mergemaster = {
-                let agents = match self.agents.lock() {
+                let agents = self.agents.lock().await;
-                    Ok(a) => a,
-                    Err(e) => {
-                        slog_error!("[auto-assign] Failed to lock agents: {e}");
-                        break;
-                    }
-                };
                 is_story_assigned_for_stage(config, &agents, story_id, &PipelineStage::Mergemaster)
             };
             if has_mergemaster {

server/src/agents/pool/auto_assign/merge_failure_block_subscriber.rs

@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ pub(crate) fn spawn_merge_failure_block_subscriber(pool: Arc<AgentPool>, project
             match rx.recv().await {
                 Ok(fired) => {
                     let recovery_running =
-                        is_mergemaster_running(&pool, &project_root, &fired.story_id.0);
+                        is_mergemaster_running(&pool, &project_root, &fired.story_id.0).await;
                     on_transition(&project_root, &fired, &mut counters, recovery_running);
                 }
                 Err(tokio::sync::broadcast::error::RecvError::Lagged(n)) => {
@@ -72,15 +72,12 @@ pub(crate) fn spawn_merge_failure_block_subscriber(pool: Arc<AgentPool>, project
 /// Return true if a mergemaster agent is currently in the pool for `story_id`.
 /// Used to suppress counter increments while recovery is actively iterating
 /// (bug 1025).
-fn is_mergemaster_running(pool: &AgentPool, project_root: &Path, story_id: &str) -> bool {
+async fn is_mergemaster_running(pool: &AgentPool, project_root: &Path, story_id: &str) -> bool {
     let config = match crate::config::ProjectConfig::load(project_root) {
         Ok(c) => c,
         Err(_) => return false,
     };
-    let agents = match pool.agents.lock() {
+    let agents = pool.agents.lock().await;
-        Ok(a) => a,
-        Err(_) => return false,
-    };
     is_story_assigned_for_stage(&config, &agents, story_id, &PipelineStage::Mergemaster)
 }
 

server/src/agents/pool/auto_assign/merge_failure_subscriber.rs

@@ -100,15 +100,7 @@ async fn on_merge_failure_transition(
             };
 
             let agent_name = {
-                let agents = match pool.agents.lock() {
+                let agents = pool.agents.lock().await;
-                    Ok(a) => a,
-                    Err(e) => {
-                        slog_warn!(
-                            "[merge-failure-sub] Failed to lock agent pool for '{story_id}': {e}"
-                        );
-                        return;
-                    }
-                };
                 if is_story_assigned_for_stage(
                     &config,
                     &agents,
@@ -228,7 +220,7 @@ mod tests {
         );
         on_merge_failure_transition(&pool, tmp.path(), &fired).await;
 
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.lock().await;
         assert!(
             agents.iter().any(|(key, a)| {
                 key.contains(story_id)
@@ -259,7 +251,7 @@ mod tests {
         // Give the subscriber time to run (it should do nothing).
         tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(100)).await;
 
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.lock().await;
         let spawned = agents.iter().any(|(key, a)| {
             key.contains(story_id)
                 && a.agent_name == "mergemaster"
@@ -287,7 +279,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(100)).await;
 
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.lock().await;
         let spawned = agents.iter().any(|(key, a)| {
             key.contains(story_id)
                 && a.agent_name == "mergemaster"
@@ -315,7 +307,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(100)).await;
 
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.lock().await;
         let spawned = agents.iter().any(|(key, a)| {
             key.contains(story_id)
                 && a.agent_name == "mergemaster"
@@ -343,7 +335,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(100)).await;
 
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.lock().await;
         let spawned = agents.iter().any(|(key, a)| {
             key.contains(story_id)
                 && a.agent_name == "mergemaster"
@@ -374,7 +366,7 @@ mod tests {
         // First call — spawns mergemaster (agent enters Pending).
         on_merge_failure_transition(&pool, tmp.path(), &fired).await;
         {
-            let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+            let agents = pool.agents.lock().await;
             assert!(
                 agents.iter().any(|(key, a)| {
                     key.contains(story_id)
@@ -388,7 +380,7 @@ mod tests {
         // Second call (self-loop) — agent is still Pending; guard must prevent double-spawn.
         on_merge_failure_transition(&pool, tmp.path(), &fired).await;
 
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.lock().await;
         let active_count = agents
             .iter()
             .filter(|(key, a)| {

server/src/agents/pool/auto_assign/pipeline.rs

@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ use std::path::Path;
 use crate::config::ProjectConfig;
 use crate::pipeline_state::Stage;
 use crate::slog;
-use crate::slog_error;
 
 use super::super::super::PipelineStage;
 use super::super::AgentPool;
@@ -80,13 +79,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
                 if *stage == PipelineStage::Coder
                     && let Some(max) = config.max_coders
                 {
-                    let agents_lock = match self.agents.lock() {
+                    let agents_lock = self.agents.lock().await;
-                        Ok(a) => a,
-                        Err(e) => {
-                            slog_error!("[auto-assign] Failed to lock agents: {e}");
-                            break;
-                        }
-                    };
                     let active = count_active_agents_for_stage(config, &agents_lock, stage);
                     if active >= max {
                         slog!(
@@ -102,13 +95,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
                 // stage_mismatch=true means the preferred agent's stage doesn't match the
                 // pipeline stage, so we fell back to a generic stage agent.
                 let (already_assigned, free_agent, preferred_busy, stage_mismatch) = {
-                    let agents = match self.agents.lock() {
+                    let agents = self.agents.lock().await;
-                        Ok(a) => a,
-                        Err(e) => {
-                            slog_error!("[auto-assign] Failed to lock agents: {e}");
-                            break;
-                        }
-                    };
                     let assigned = is_story_assigned_for_stage(config, &agents, story_id, stage);
                     if assigned {
                         (true, None, false, false)

server/src/agents/pool/auto_assign/scan.rs

@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ mod tests {
         let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3001);
         pool.inject_test_agent("42_story_foo", "coder-1", AgentStatus::Running);
 
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         assert!(is_story_assigned_for_stage(
             &config,
             &agents,
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ mod tests {
         let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3001);
         pool.inject_test_agent("42_story_foo", "coder-1", AgentStatus::Completed);
 
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         // Completed agents don't count as assigned
         assert!(!is_story_assigned_for_stage(
             &config,
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ stage = "qa"
         let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3001);
         pool.inject_test_agent("42_story_foo", "qa-2", AgentStatus::Running);
 
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         // qa-2 with stage=qa should be recognised as a QA agent
         assert!(
             is_story_assigned_for_stage(&config, &agents, "42_story_foo", &PipelineStage::Qa),
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ name = "coder-2"
         pool.inject_test_agent("s1", "coder-1", AgentStatus::Running);
         pool.inject_test_agent("s2", "coder-2", AgentStatus::Running);
 
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         let free = find_free_agent_for_stage(&config, &agents, &PipelineStage::Coder);
         assert!(free.is_none(), "no free coders should be available");
     }
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ name = "coder-3"
         // coder-1 is busy, coder-2 is free
         pool.inject_test_agent("s1", "coder-1", AgentStatus::Running);
 
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         let free = find_free_agent_for_stage(&config, &agents, &PipelineStage::Coder);
         assert_eq!(
             free,
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ name = "coder-1"
         // coder-1 completed its previous story — it's free for a new one
         pool.inject_test_agent("s1", "coder-1", AgentStatus::Completed);
 
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         let free = find_free_agent_for_stage(&config, &agents, &PipelineStage::Coder);
         assert_eq!(free, Some("coder-1"), "completed coder-1 should be free");
     }

server/src/agents/pool/auto_assign/watchdog/limits.rs

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::path::Path;
-use std::sync::Mutex;
+use tokio::sync::Mutex;
 use tokio::sync::broadcast;
 
 use crate::agents::pool::StoryAgent;
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ pub(crate) fn count_turns_in_log(path: &Path) -> u64 {
 /// Turns and budget are counted from the **current session's** log file
 /// only — prior sessions are excluded so that restart counts from earlier
 /// runs do not accumulate against the limits.
-pub(super) fn check_agent_limits(
+pub(super) async fn check_agent_limits(
     agents: &Mutex<HashMap<String, StoryAgent>>,
     project_root: &Path,
 ) -> Vec<(String, TerminationReason)> {
@@ -94,10 +94,7 @@ pub(super) fn check_agent_limits(
 
     // Snapshot running agents: (key, story_id, agent_name, tx, log_session_id).
     let running: Vec<RunningAgentSnapshot> = {
-        let lock = match agents.lock() {
+        let lock = agents.lock().await;
-            Ok(l) => l,
-            Err(_) => return Vec::new(),
-        };
         lock.iter()
             .filter(|(_, agent)| agent.status == AgentStatus::Running)
             .map(|(key, agent)| {

server/src/agents/pool/auto_assign/watchdog/mod.rs

@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ pub(crate) use limits::{count_turns_in_log, resolve_session_log};
 impl AgentPool {
     /// Run a single watchdog pass synchronously (test helper).
     #[cfg(test)]
-    pub fn run_watchdog_once(&self) {
+    pub async fn run_watchdog_once(&self) {
-        check_orphaned_agents(&self.agents);
+        check_orphaned_agents(&self.agents).await;
     }
 
     /// Run one watchdog pass: detect orphans, enforce limits, kill offenders.
@@ -39,21 +39,22 @@ impl AgentPool {
     /// `retry_count` is incremented and the story stays in `2_current/` for
     /// re-attempt.  This prevents the original kill-respawn loop (bug 646)
     /// while restoring the `max_retries` semantic for turn/budget overruns.
-    pub fn run_watchdog_pass(&self, project_root: Option<&Path>) -> usize {
+    pub async fn run_watchdog_pass(&self, project_root: Option<&Path>) -> usize {
-        let orphaned = check_orphaned_agents(&self.agents);
+        let orphaned = check_orphaned_agents(&self.agents).await;
 
         if let Some(root) = project_root {
-            let terminated = check_agent_limits(&self.agents, root);
+            let terminated = check_agent_limits(&self.agents, root).await;
             let config = ProjectConfig::load(root).unwrap_or_default();
             for (key, reason) in &terminated {
                 // Step 1: snapshot the agent's worktree path so we can find every
                 // process running in it (claude + any subprocesses).  This must
                 // happen BEFORE we mutate the agent record so we can read the
                 // worktree info safely.
-                let worktree_path = self.agents.lock().ok().and_then(|lock| {
+                let worktree_path = {
+                    let lock = self.agents.lock().await;
                     lock.get(key)
                         .and_then(|a| a.worktree_info.as_ref().map(|wt| wt.path.clone()))
-                });
+                };
 
                 // Step 2: SIGKILL every process running in the worktree and
                 // BLOCK until verified gone.  The previous mechanism — portable_pty's
@@ -85,16 +86,16 @@ impl AgentPool {
                         "[watchdog] No worktree path recorded for '{key}'; cannot tree-kill, \
                          falling back to portable_pty SIGHUP (likely no-op for claude-code)."
                     );
-                    self.kill_child_for_key(key);
+                    self.kill_child_for_key(key).await;
                 }
 
                 // Step 3: NOW update the agent record.  The process is verified
                 // gone (or we logged that SIGKILL didn't take effect, which is
                 // exceptional), so flipping status away from Running can no
                 // longer open a window for a concurrent spawn.
-                if let Ok(mut lock) = self.agents.lock()
-                    && let Some(agent) = lock.get_mut(key)
                 {
+                    let mut lock = self.agents.lock().await;
+                    if let Some(agent) = lock.get_mut(key) {
                         agent.status = AgentStatus::Failed;
                         agent.termination_reason = Some(reason.clone());
                         if let Some(handle) = agent.task_handle.take() {
@@ -104,6 +105,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
                             handle.abort();
                         }
                     }
+                }
 
                 // Use the retry mechanism: increment retry_count and only block
                 // when the limit is exceeded, matching the pipeline's behaviour.

server/src/agents/pool/auto_assign/watchdog/orphan.rs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! Orphan detection: marks running agents whose backing task has exited.
 
 use std::collections::HashMap;
-use std::sync::Mutex;
+use tokio::sync::Mutex;
 use tokio::sync::broadcast;
 
 use crate::agents::pool::StoryAgent;
@@ -15,11 +15,8 @@ use crate::slog;
 /// without updating the agent status — for example when the process is killed
 /// externally and the PTY master fd returns EOF before our inactivity timeout
 /// fires, but some other edge case prevents the normal cleanup path from running.
-pub(super) fn check_orphaned_agents(agents: &Mutex<HashMap<String, StoryAgent>>) -> usize {
+pub(super) async fn check_orphaned_agents(agents: &Mutex<HashMap<String, StoryAgent>>) -> usize {
-    let mut lock = match agents.lock() {
+    let mut lock = agents.lock().await;
-        Ok(l) => l,
-        Err(_) => return 0,
-    };
 
     // Collect orphaned entries: Running or Pending agents whose task handle is finished.
     // Pending agents can be orphaned if worktree creation panics before setting status.

server/src/agents/pool/auto_assign/watchdog/tests/limits_tests.rs

@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ use crate::agents::{AgentEvent, AgentStatus, TerminationReason};
 
 // ── Limit enforcement integration tests (bug 624) ────────────────────────
 
-#[test]
+#[tokio::test]
-fn watchdog_terminates_agent_exceeding_turn_limit() {
+async fn watchdog_terminates_agent_exceeding_turn_limit() {
     let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
     let root = tmp.path();
 
@@ -37,12 +37,12 @@ max_turns = 10
     );
     let mut rx = tx.subscribe();
 
-    let found = pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root));
+    let found = pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root)).await;
     assert!(found >= 1, "watchdog should detect the over-limit agent");
 
     // Agent should now be Failed with TurnLimit reason.
     {
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         let key = composite_key("story_a", "coder-1");
         let agent = agents.get(&key).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(agent.status, AgentStatus::Failed);
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ max_turns = 10
     );
 }
 
-#[test]
+#[tokio::test]
-fn watchdog_terminates_agent_exceeding_budget_limit() {
+async fn watchdog_terminates_agent_exceeding_budget_limit() {
     let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
     let root = tmp.path();
 
@@ -87,11 +87,11 @@ max_budget_usd = 5.00
     );
     let mut rx = tx.subscribe();
 
-    let found = pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root));
+    let found = pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root)).await;
     assert!(found >= 1, "watchdog should detect the over-budget agent");
 
     {
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         let key = composite_key("story_b", "coder-1");
         let agent = agents.get(&key).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(agent.status, AgentStatus::Failed);
@@ -106,8 +106,8 @@ max_budget_usd = 5.00
     assert!(matches!(event, AgentEvent::Error { .. }));
 }
 
-#[test]
+#[tokio::test]
-fn watchdog_does_not_terminate_agent_under_limits() {
+async fn watchdog_does_not_terminate_agent_under_limits() {
     let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
     let root = tmp.path();
 
@@ -133,11 +133,11 @@ max_budget_usd = 10.00
     // has 25 turns < 50 so no violation).
     pool.inject_test_agent_with_session("story_c", "coder-1", AgentStatus::Running, "sess-ok");
 
-    let found = pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root));
+    let found = pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root)).await;
     assert_eq!(found, 0, "agent under limits should not be terminated");
 
     {
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         let key = composite_key("story_c", "coder-1");
         let agent = agents.get(&key).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(
@@ -153,8 +153,8 @@ max_budget_usd = 10.00
 /// coder-1 with max_turns=50, max_budget_usd=5.00 ran 5.6× over the turn
 /// limit (280 turns). The watchdog must terminate at the turn limit (turns
 /// hit first in the observed trace), with reason TurnLimit.
-#[test]
+#[tokio::test]
-fn regression_bug624_coder1_story623_trajectory() {
+async fn regression_bug624_coder1_story623_trajectory() {
     let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
     let root = tmp.path();
 
@@ -183,11 +183,11 @@ max_budget_usd = 5.00
     );
     let mut rx = tx.subscribe();
 
-    let found = pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root));
+    let found = pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root)).await;
     assert!(found >= 1, "watchdog must catch the turn-limit violation");
 
     {
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         let key = composite_key("story_623", "coder-1");
         let agent = agents.get(&key).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(agent.status, AgentStatus::Failed);
@@ -218,8 +218,8 @@ max_budget_usd = 5.00
 ///
 /// This test seeds a single session that legitimately exceeds the limit
 /// and uses `max_retries = 1` so that the first violation blocks.
-#[test]
+#[tokio::test]
-fn watchdog_marks_story_blocked_after_limit_termination() {
+async fn watchdog_marks_story_blocked_after_limit_termination() {
     crate::db::ensure_content_store();
     crate::crdt_state::init_for_test();
 
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ max_turns = 10
         "sess-runaway",
     );
 
-    let found = pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root));
+    let found = pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root)).await;
     assert!(found >= 1, "watchdog should detect the over-limit agent");
 
     // With max_retries=1, the first violation blocks immediately via the state machine.
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ max_turns = 10
 
     // Sanity: the agent itself is also Failed with the right reason.
     {
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         let key = composite_key(story_id, "coder-1");
         let agent = agents.get(&key).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(agent.status, AgentStatus::Failed);
@@ -297,8 +297,8 @@ max_turns = 10
 /// fresh session_id whose log has fewer events than `max_turns`.
 /// Assert the agent is NOT terminated (per-session count is under the
 /// limit) AND the story is NOT marked blocked.
-#[test]
+#[tokio::test]
-fn per_session_counting_does_not_terminate_under_limit() {
+async fn per_session_counting_does_not_terminate_under_limit() {
     let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
     let root = tmp.path();
 
@@ -323,14 +323,14 @@ max_turns = 10
     let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3001);
     pool.inject_test_agent_with_session("story_d", "coder-1", AgentStatus::Running, "new-sess");
 
-    let found = pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root));
+    let found = pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root)).await;
     assert_eq!(
         found, 0,
         "agent under per-session limit should NOT be terminated"
     );
 
     {
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         let key = composite_key("story_d", "coder-1");
         let agent = agents.get(&key).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(
@@ -345,8 +345,8 @@ max_turns = 10
 /// Same setup as per_session_counting_does_not_terminate_under_limit, but
 /// the new agent's own session log exceeds `max_turns`. Assert the agent
 /// IS terminated AND (with max_retries=1) the story IS marked blocked.
-#[test]
+#[tokio::test]
-fn per_session_counting_terminates_over_limit() {
+async fn per_session_counting_terminates_over_limit() {
     crate::db::ensure_content_store();
     crate::crdt_state::init_for_test();
 
@@ -390,14 +390,14 @@ max_turns = 10
         pool.inject_test_agent_with_session(story_id, "coder-1", AgentStatus::Running, "new-sess");
     let mut rx = tx.subscribe();
 
-    let found = pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root));
+    let found = pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root)).await;
     assert!(
         found >= 1,
         "agent over per-session limit must be terminated"
     );
 
     {
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         let key = composite_key(story_id, "coder-1");
         let agent = agents.get(&key).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(agent.status, AgentStatus::Failed);
@@ -423,8 +423,8 @@ max_turns = 10
 /// `max_turns`. After session 1: retry_count=1, NOT blocked. After
 /// session 2: retry_count=2, NOT blocked. After session 3:
 /// retry_count=3 >= max_retries, story IS blocked.
-#[test]
+#[tokio::test]
-fn watchdog_retry_semantic_blocks_after_max_retries() {
+async fn watchdog_retry_semantic_blocks_after_max_retries() {
     crate::db::ensure_content_store();
 
     let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@ max_turns = 10
         write_fake_session_log(root, story_id, "coder-1", "session-1", 12);
         let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3001);
         pool.inject_test_agent_with_session(story_id, "coder-1", AgentStatus::Running, "session-1");
-        pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root));
+        pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root)).await;
 
         let item = crate::crdt_state::read_item(story_id).expect("story must be in CRDT");
         assert_eq!(
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ max_turns = 10
         write_fake_session_log(root, story_id, "coder-1", "session-2", 12);
         let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3001);
         pool.inject_test_agent_with_session(story_id, "coder-1", AgentStatus::Running, "session-2");
-        pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root));
+        pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root)).await;
 
         let item = crate::crdt_state::read_item(story_id).expect("story must be in CRDT");
         assert_eq!(
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ max_turns = 10
         write_fake_session_log(root, story_id, "coder-1", "session-3", 12);
         let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3001);
         pool.inject_test_agent_with_session(story_id, "coder-1", AgentStatus::Running, "session-3");
-        pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root));
+        pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root)).await;
 
         let item = crate::crdt_state::read_item(story_id).expect("story must be in CRDT");
         assert_eq!(
@@ -518,8 +518,8 @@ max_turns = 10
 /// must not count against the watchdog's turn budget. A session log with
 /// 5 tool turns and 30 narration turns reports turns_used == 5, so an
 /// agent with max_tool_turns = 10 stays Running.
-#[test]
+#[tokio::test]
-fn watchdog_does_not_count_narration_only_turns() {
+async fn watchdog_does_not_count_narration_only_turns() {
     let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
     let root = tmp.path();
 
@@ -542,13 +542,13 @@ max_turns = 200
     let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3001);
     pool.inject_test_agent_with_session("story_923", "coder-1", AgentStatus::Running, "sess-narr");
 
-    let found = pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root));
+    let found = pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root)).await;
     assert_eq!(
         found, 0,
         "agent must not be terminated: only 5 tool turns of a 10-turn budget"
     );
 
-    let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+    let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
     let key = composite_key("story_923", "coder-1");
     let agent = agents.get(&key).unwrap();
     assert_eq!(agent.status, AgentStatus::Running);
@@ -558,8 +558,8 @@ max_turns = 200
 /// Story 923: max_tool_turns takes precedence over max_turns when both are
 /// set. With max_tool_turns = 3 and max_turns = 200, an agent that has 4
 /// tool turns is killed even though total turns (4) is far below max_turns.
-#[test]
+#[tokio::test]
-fn watchdog_max_tool_turns_overrides_max_turns() {
+async fn watchdog_max_tool_turns_overrides_max_turns() {
     let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
     let root = tmp.path();
 
@@ -585,13 +585,13 @@ max_turns = 200
     );
     let mut rx = tx.subscribe();
 
-    let found = pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root));
+    let found = pool.run_watchdog_pass(Some(root)).await;
     assert!(
         found >= 1,
         "watchdog must terminate when tool turns exceed max_tool_turns"
     );
 
-    let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+    let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
     let key = composite_key("story_923b", "coder-1");
     let agent = agents.get(&key).unwrap();
     assert_eq!(agent.status, AgentStatus::Failed);

server/src/agents/pool/auto_assign/watchdog/tests/orphan_tests.rs

@@ -20,18 +20,18 @@ async fn check_orphaned_agents_returns_count_of_orphaned_agents() {
     pool.inject_test_agent_with_handle("story_a", "coder", AgentStatus::Running, h1);
     pool.inject_test_agent_with_handle("story_b", "coder", AgentStatus::Running, h2);
 
-    let found = check_orphaned_agents(&pool.agents);
+    let found = check_orphaned_agents(&pool.agents).await;
     assert_eq!(found, 2, "should detect both orphaned agents");
 }
 
-#[test]
+#[tokio::test]
-fn check_orphaned_agents_returns_zero_when_no_orphans() {
+async fn check_orphaned_agents_returns_zero_when_no_orphans() {
     let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3001);
     // Inject agents in terminal states — not orphaned.
     pool.inject_test_agent("story_a", "coder", AgentStatus::Completed);
     pool.inject_test_agent("story_b", "qa", AgentStatus::Failed);
 
-    let found = check_orphaned_agents(&pool.agents);
+    let found = check_orphaned_agents(&pool.agents).await;
     assert_eq!(
         found, 0,
         "no orphans should be detected for terminal agents"
@@ -53,10 +53,10 @@ async fn watchdog_detects_orphaned_running_agent() {
         pool.inject_test_agent_with_handle("orphan_story", "coder", AgentStatus::Running, handle);
     let mut rx = tx.subscribe();
 
-    pool.run_watchdog_once();
+    pool.run_watchdog_once().await;
 
     {
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         let key = composite_key("orphan_story", "coder");
         let agent = agents.get(&key).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(
@@ -87,13 +87,13 @@ async fn watchdog_orphan_detection_returns_nonzero_enabling_auto_assign() {
 
     // Before watchdog: agent is Running.
     {
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         let key = composite_key("orphan_story", "coder");
         assert_eq!(agents.get(&key).unwrap().status, AgentStatus::Running);
     }
 
     // Run watchdog pass — should return 1 (orphan found).
-    let found = check_orphaned_agents(&pool.agents);
+    let found = check_orphaned_agents(&pool.agents).await;
     assert_eq!(
         found, 1,
         "watchdog must return 1 for a single orphaned agent"
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ async fn watchdog_orphan_detection_returns_nonzero_enabling_auto_assign() {
 
     // After watchdog: agent is Failed.
     {
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         let key = composite_key("orphan_story", "coder");
         assert_eq!(
             agents.get(&key).unwrap().status,

server/src/agents/pool/mod.rs

@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ mod test_helpers;
 use crate::io::watcher::WatcherEvent;
 use crate::service::status::StatusBroadcaster;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
-use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
+use std::sync::Arc;
-use tokio::sync::broadcast;
+use tokio::sync::{Mutex, broadcast};
 
 // Bring pool-internal types into pool's namespace so that sub-modules
 // (auto_assign, pipeline, etc.) can access them via `use super::...`.
@@ -87,10 +87,12 @@ impl AgentPool {
                         _ => continue,
                     };
                     let key = composite_key(&story_id, &agent_name);
-                    if let Ok(mut agents) = agents_clone.lock()
-                        && let Some(agent) = agents.get_mut(&key)
                     {
-                        agent.throttled = Some(crate::agents::AgentExecution::Throttled { until });
+                        let mut agents = agents_clone.lock().await;
+                        if let Some(agent) = agents.get_mut(&key) {
+                            agent.throttled =
+                                Some(crate::agents::AgentExecution::Throttled { until });
+                        }
                     }
                     let _ = watcher_tx_clone.send(WatcherEvent::AgentStateChanged);
                 }

server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/advance/helpers.rs

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
-use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
+use std::sync::Arc;
 
 use tokio::sync::broadcast;
 
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ use std::path::Path;
 /// type cycle between `start_agent` and `run_server_owned_completion`.
 #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
 pub(crate) fn spawn_pipeline_advance(
-    agents: Arc<Mutex<HashMap<String, StoryAgent>>>,
+    agents: Arc<tokio::sync::Mutex<HashMap<String, StoryAgent>>>,
     port: u16,
     story_id: &str,
     agent_name: &str,

server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/advance/mod.rs

@@ -694,7 +694,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
                         if let Err(e) = crate::agents::lifecycle::move_story_to_done(story_id) {
                             slog_error!("[pipeline] Failed to move '{story_id}' to done: {e}");
                         }
-                        self.remove_agents_for_story(story_id);
+                        self.remove_agents_for_story(story_id).await;
                         crate::crdt_state::delete_merge_job(story_id);
                         // TODO: Re-enable worktree cleanup once we have persistent agent logs.
                         // Removing worktrees destroys evidence needed to debug empty-commit agents.

server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/advance/tests_regression.rs

@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ async fn mergemaster_blocks_and_sends_story_blocked_when_no_commits_ahead() {
     );
 
     // No mergemaster agent should have been started.
-    let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+    let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
     let mergemaster_started = agents
         .values()
         .any(|a| a.agent_name.contains("mergemaster"));
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ stage = "qa"
 
     // Verify that 293 cannot get a QA agent right now (QA is busy).
     {
-        let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         assert!(
             !is_agent_free(&agents, "qa"),
             "qa should be busy on story 292"
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ stage = "qa"
     // Simulate QA completing on story 292: remove the agent from the pool
     // (as run_server_owned_completion does) then run pipeline advance.
     {
-        let mut agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let mut agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         agents.remove(&composite_key("292_story_first", "qa"));
     }
 
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ stage = "qa"
     .await;
 
     // After pipeline advance, auto_assign should have started QA on story 293.
-    let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+    let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
     let qa_on_293 = agents.values().any(|a| {
         a.agent_name == "qa" && matches!(a.status, AgentStatus::Pending | AgentStatus::Running)
     });
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ async fn stale_mergemaster_advance_for_done_story_is_noop() {
     .await;
 
     // No agents should have been started.
-    let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+    let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
     assert!(
         agents.is_empty(),
         "No agents should be started for a stale advance on a done story. \
@@ -871,7 +871,7 @@ stage = "coder"
     .await;
 
     // The coder must be re-spawned — Pending or Running.
-    let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+    let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
     let coder_restarted = agents.values().any(|a| {
         a.agent_name == "coder-1" && matches!(a.status, AgentStatus::Pending | AgentStatus::Running)
     });
@@ -957,7 +957,7 @@ stage = "coder"
     .await;
 
     // The recovery respawn must have been issued — coder-1 should be Pending/Running.
-    let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+    let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
     let coder_restarted = agents.values().any(|a| {
         a.agent_name == "coder-1" && matches!(a.status, AgentStatus::Pending | AgentStatus::Running)
     });
@@ -1328,7 +1328,7 @@ async fn coder_completion_with_test_evidence_and_zero_commits_does_not_advance()
     );
 
     // No QA or merge agent should have been started.
-    let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+    let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
     let qa_or_merge_started = agents
         .values()
         .any(|a| a.agent_name.contains("qa") || a.agent_name.contains("merge"));

server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/completion/legacy.rs

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
 
         // Verify agent exists, is Running, and grab its worktree path.
         let worktree_path = {
-            let agents = self.agents.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+            let agents = self.agents.lock().await;
             let agent = agents
                 .get(&key)
                 .ok_or_else(|| format!("No agent '{agent_name}' for story '{story_id}'"))?;
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
             merge_failure_reported_for_advance,
             session_id_for_advance,
         ) = {
-            let mut agents = self.agents.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+            let mut agents = self.agents.lock().await;
             let agent = agents.get_mut(&key).ok_or_else(|| {
                 format!("Agent '{agent_name}' for story '{story_id}' disappeared during gate check")
             })?;

server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/completion/server.rs

@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 use crate::io::watcher::WatcherEvent;
 use crate::slog;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
-use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
+use std::sync::Arc;
+use tokio::sync::Mutex;
 use tokio::sync::broadcast;
 
 use super::super::super::super::{AgentEvent, CompletionReport, PipelineStage, pipeline_stage};
@@ -45,10 +46,7 @@ pub(in crate::agents::pool) async fn run_server_owned_completion(
 
     // Guard: skip if completion was already recorded (legacy path).
     {
-        let lock = match agents.lock() {
+        let lock = agents.lock().await;
-            Ok(a) => a,
-            Err(_) => return,
-        };
         match lock.get(&key) {
             Some(agent) if agent.completion.is_some() => {
                 slog!(
@@ -64,10 +62,7 @@ pub(in crate::agents::pool) async fn run_server_owned_completion(
 
     // Get worktree path for running gates.
     let worktree_path = {
-        let lock = match agents.lock() {
+        let lock = agents.lock().await;
-            Ok(a) => a,
-            Err(_) => return,
-        };
         lock.get(&key)
             .and_then(|a| a.worktree_info.as_ref().map(|wt| wt.path.clone()))
     };
@@ -192,10 +187,7 @@ pub(in crate::agents::pool) async fn run_server_owned_completion(
     // Store completion report, extract data for pipeline advance, then
     // remove the entry so completed agents never appear in list_agents.
     let (tx, project_root_for_advance, wt_path_for_advance, merge_failure_reported_for_advance) = {
-        let mut lock = match agents.lock() {
+        let mut lock = agents.lock().await;
-            Ok(a) => a,
-            Err(_) => return,
-        };
         let agent = match lock.get_mut(&key) {
             Some(a) => a,
             None => return,

server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/completion/tests.rs

@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ async fn server_owned_completion_skips_when_already_completed() {
     );
 
     // Subscribe before calling so we can check if Done event was emitted.
-    let mut rx = pool.subscribe("s10", "coder-1").unwrap();
+    let mut rx = pool.subscribe("s10", "coder-1").await.unwrap();
 
     run_server_owned_completion(
         &pool.agents,
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ async fn server_owned_completion_skips_when_already_completed() {
     .await;
 
     // Status should remain Completed (unchanged) — no gate re-run.
-    let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+    let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
     let key = super::super::super::composite_key("s10", "coder-1");
     let agent = agents.get(&key).unwrap();
     assert_eq!(agent.status, AgentStatus::Completed);
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ async fn server_owned_completion_runs_gates_on_clean_worktree() {
     let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3001);
     pool.inject_test_agent_with_path("s11", "coder-1", AgentStatus::Running, repo.to_path_buf());
 
-    let mut rx = pool.subscribe("s11", "coder-1").unwrap();
+    let mut rx = pool.subscribe("s11", "coder-1").await.unwrap();
 
     run_server_owned_completion(
         &pool.agents,
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ async fn server_owned_completion_runs_gates_on_clean_worktree() {
     .await;
 
     // Agent entry should be removed from the map after completion.
-    let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+    let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
     let key = super::super::super::composite_key("s11", "coder-1");
     assert!(
         agents.get(&key).is_none(),
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ async fn server_owned_completion_fails_on_dirty_worktree() {
     let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3001);
     pool.inject_test_agent_with_path("s12", "coder-1", AgentStatus::Running, repo.to_path_buf());
 
-    let mut rx = pool.subscribe("s12", "coder-1").unwrap();
+    let mut rx = pool.subscribe("s12", "coder-1").await.unwrap();
 
     run_server_owned_completion(
         &pool.agents,
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ async fn server_owned_completion_fails_on_dirty_worktree() {
     .await;
 
     // Agent entry should be removed from the map after completion (even on failure).
-    let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+    let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
     let key = super::super::super::composite_key("s12", "coder-1");
     assert!(
         agents.get(&key).is_none(),
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ async fn server_owned_completion_is_noop_for_mergemaster() {
 
     // The agent entry should remain in the pool (lifecycle cleanup is the
     // caller's responsibility, not run_server_owned_completion's).
-    let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+    let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
     let key = super::super::super::composite_key("99_story_merge445", "mergemaster");
     assert!(
         agents.get(&key).is_some(),
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ async fn server_owned_completion_preserves_dirty_worktree_with_committed_work()
     let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3001);
     pool.inject_test_agent_with_path("645_test", "coder-1", AgentStatus::Running, wt_path.clone());
 
-    let mut rx = pool.subscribe("645_test", "coder-1").unwrap();
+    let mut rx = pool.subscribe("645_test", "coder-1").await.unwrap();
 
     run_server_owned_completion(
         &pool.agents,

server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/merge/control.rs

@@ -34,9 +34,8 @@ impl AgentPool {
     /// If the agent was already removed from the pool (race: `remove_agents_for_story`
     /// ran first) this is a no-op; the `ContentKey::MergeSuccess` DB key written
     /// by the caller acts as the authoritative fallback in that case.
-    pub fn set_merge_success_reported(&self, story_id: &str) {
+    pub async fn set_merge_success_reported(&self, story_id: &str) {
-        match self.agents.lock() {
+        let mut lock = self.agents.lock().await;
-            Ok(mut lock) => {
         let found = lock.iter_mut().find(|(key, agent)| {
             let key_story_id = key
                 .rsplit_once(':')
@@ -61,11 +60,6 @@ impl AgentPool {
             }
         }
     }
-            Err(e) => {
-                slog_error!("[pipeline] set_merge_success_reported: could not lock agents: {e}");
-            }
-        }
-    }
 
     /// Record that the mergemaster agent for `story_id` explicitly reported a
     /// merge failure via the `report_merge_failure` MCP tool.
@@ -74,9 +68,8 @@ impl AgentPool {
     /// that `run_pipeline_advance` can block advancement to `5_done/` even when
     /// the server-owned gate check returns `gates_passed=true` (those gates run
     /// in the feature-branch worktree, not on master).
-    pub fn set_merge_failure_reported(&self, story_id: &str) {
+    pub async fn set_merge_failure_reported(&self, story_id: &str) {
-        match self.agents.lock() {
+        let mut lock = self.agents.lock().await;
-            Ok(mut lock) => {
         let found = lock.iter_mut().find(|(key, agent)| {
             let key_story_id = key
                 .rsplit_once(':')
@@ -101,9 +94,4 @@ impl AgentPool {
             }
         }
     }
-            Err(e) => {
-                slog_error!("[pipeline] set_merge_failure_reported: could not lock agents: {e}");
-            }
-        }
-    }
 }

server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/merge/runner.rs

@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
                 && let Ok(ref r) = report
                 && r.story_archived
             {
-                pool.set_merge_success_reported(&sid);
+                pool.set_merge_success_reported(&sid).await;
                 crate::db::write_content(crate::db::ContentKey::MergeSuccess(&sid), "1");
             }
 
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
 
         let story_archived = crate::agents::lifecycle::move_story_to_done(story_id).is_ok();
         if story_archived {
-            self.remove_agents_for_story(story_id);
+            self.remove_agents_for_story(story_id).await;
         }
 
         let worktree_cleaned_up = if wt_path.exists() {

server/src/agents/pool/pipeline/merge/tests.rs

@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ async fn reap_stale_merge_jobs_removes_old_running_entry_without_merge() {
     );
 
     // No agents must have been spawned (no merge was triggered).
-    let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+    let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
     assert!(
         agents.is_empty(),
         "reap must not spawn any agents; got {} agent(s)",
@@ -811,7 +811,7 @@ async fn server_side_merge_happy_path_advances_to_done() {
     }
 
     // Verify no LLM agent was spawned.
-    let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+    let agents = pool.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
     assert!(
         agents.is_empty(),
         "no LLM agents should be spawned for deterministic merge; pool has {} agents",

server/src/agents/pool/process.rs

@@ -25,11 +25,9 @@ impl AgentPool {
     /// continuing to run after the server exits.  Collects each agent's worktree
     /// path, then SIGKILLs every process running inside that path and verifies
     /// termination before returning.
-    pub fn kill_all_children(&self) {
+    pub async fn kill_all_children(&self) {
         let worktree_paths: Vec<(String, std::path::PathBuf)> = {
-            let Ok(agents) = self.agents.lock() else {
+            let agents = self.agents.lock().await;
-                return;
-            };
             agents
                 .iter()
                 .filter_map(|(key, agent)| {
@@ -69,11 +67,9 @@ impl AgentPool {
     /// Fallback used by `stop_agent` when no worktree path is recorded for the
     /// agent.  Also the primary kill path for any caller that has only a composite
     /// key and not a worktree path directly.
-    pub(super) fn kill_child_for_key(&self, key: &str) {
+    pub(super) async fn kill_child_for_key(&self, key: &str) {
         let worktree_path = {
-            let Ok(agents) = self.agents.lock() else {
+            let agents = self.agents.lock().await;
-                return;
-            };
             agents
                 .get(key)
                 .and_then(|a| a.worktree_info.as_ref().map(|wt| wt.path.clone()))
@@ -124,18 +120,18 @@ mod tests {
             .unwrap_or(false)
     }
 
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn kill_all_children_is_safe_on_empty_pool() {
+    async fn kill_all_children_is_safe_on_empty_pool() {
         let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3001);
-        pool.kill_all_children(); // must not panic
+        pool.kill_all_children().await; // must not panic
     }
 
     /// AC 4 — `kill_child_for_key` SIGKILLs the single agent's process and
     /// verifies it is gone within 2 s.  The sleeper has the worktree path in
     /// its argv[0] so `pgrep -f` can locate it, mirroring how claude-code is
     /// launched with `--directory <worktree>` in production.
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn kill_child_for_key_kills_real_process() {
+    async fn kill_child_for_key_kills_real_process() {
         use std::os::unix::process::CommandExt;
 
         let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3002);
@@ -165,7 +161,7 @@ mod tests {
             "sleeper pid {pid} should be running before kill_child_for_key"
         );
 
-        pool.kill_child_for_key("story-1090-kill:coder");
+        pool.kill_child_for_key("story-1090-kill:coder").await;
         let _ = child.wait(); // reap zombie so ps -p returns false
 
         assert!(
@@ -176,8 +172,8 @@ mod tests {
 
     /// AC 5 — `kill_all_children` SIGKILLs all agents' processes.  Two agents
     /// with distinct worktree paths are injected; both must be gone after the call.
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn kill_all_children_kills_multiple_real_processes() {
+    async fn kill_all_children_kills_multiple_real_processes() {
         use std::os::unix::process::CommandExt;
 
         let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3003);
@@ -213,7 +209,7 @@ mod tests {
             );
         }
 
-        pool.kill_all_children();
+        pool.kill_all_children().await;
 
         for (pid, child, _tmp) in &mut sleepers {
             let _ = child.wait(); // reap zombie

server/src/agents/pool/query.rs

@@ -10,12 +10,12 @@ use super::types::{agent_info_from_entry, composite_key};
 impl AgentPool {
     /// Return the names of configured agents for `stage` that are not currently
     /// running or pending.
-    pub fn available_agents_for_stage(
+    pub async fn available_agents_for_stage(
         &self,
         config: &ProjectConfig,
         stage: &PipelineStage,
     ) -> Result<Vec<String>, String> {
-        let agents = self.agents.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+        let agents = self.agents.lock().await;
         Ok(config
             .agent
             .iter()
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ impl AgentPool {
     }
 
     /// List all agents with their status.
-    pub fn list_agents(&self) -> Result<Vec<AgentInfo>, String> {
+    pub async fn list_agents(&self) -> Result<Vec<AgentInfo>, String> {
-        let agents = self.agents.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+        let agents = self.agents.lock().await;
         Ok(agents
             .iter()
             .map(|(key, agent)| {
@@ -59,14 +59,35 @@ impl AgentPool {
             .collect())
     }
 
+    /// Best-effort agent list for sync callers (chat commands, rendering).
+    ///
+    /// Uses `try_lock()` so it never blocks the thread. Returns an empty list
+    /// if the lock is currently held — callers that refresh periodically (htop,
+    /// pipeline board) tolerate this gracefully.
+    pub fn list_agents_nonblocking(&self) -> Vec<AgentInfo> {
+        let Ok(agents) = self.agents.try_lock() else {
+            return Vec::new();
+        };
+        agents
+            .iter()
+            .map(|(key, agent)| {
+                let story_id = key
+                    .rsplit_once(':')
+                    .map(|(sid, _)| sid.to_string())
+                    .unwrap_or_else(|| key.clone());
+                agent_info_from_entry(&story_id, agent)
+            })
+            .collect()
+    }
+
     /// Subscribe to events for a story agent.
-    pub fn subscribe(
+    pub async fn subscribe(
         &self,
         story_id: &str,
         agent_name: &str,
     ) -> Result<broadcast::Receiver<AgentEvent>, String> {
         let key = composite_key(story_id, agent_name);
-        let agents = self.agents.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+        let agents = self.agents.lock().await;
         let agent = agents
             .get(&key)
             .ok_or_else(|| format!("No agent '{agent_name}' for story '{story_id}'"))?;
@@ -74,13 +95,13 @@ impl AgentPool {
     }
 
     /// Drain accumulated events for polling. Returns all events since the last drain.
-    pub fn drain_events(
+    pub async fn drain_events(
         &self,
         story_id: &str,
         agent_name: &str,
     ) -> Result<Vec<AgentEvent>, String> {
         let key = composite_key(story_id, agent_name);
-        let agents = self.agents.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+        let agents = self.agents.lock().await;
         let agent = agents
             .get(&key)
             .ok_or_else(|| format!("No agent '{agent_name}' for story '{story_id}'"))?;
@@ -91,9 +112,13 @@ impl AgentPool {
     /// Get the log session ID and project root for an agent, if available.
     ///
     /// Used by MCP tools to find the persistent log file for a completed agent.
-    pub fn get_log_info(&self, story_id: &str, agent_name: &str) -> Option<(String, PathBuf)> {
+    pub async fn get_log_info(
+        &self,
+        story_id: &str,
+        agent_name: &str,
+    ) -> Option<(String, PathBuf)> {
         let key = composite_key(story_id, agent_name);
-        let agents = self.agents.lock().ok()?;
+        let agents = self.agents.lock().await;
         let agent = agents.get(&key)?;
         let session_id = agent.log_session_id.clone()?;
         let project_root = agent.project_root.clone()?;
@@ -111,8 +136,8 @@ mod tests {
         ProjectConfig::parse(toml_str).unwrap()
     }
 
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn available_agents_for_stage_returns_idle_agents() {
+    async fn available_agents_for_stage_returns_idle_agents() {
         let config = make_config(
             r#"
 [[agent]]
@@ -133,17 +158,19 @@ stage = "qa"
 
         let available = pool
             .available_agents_for_stage(&config, &PipelineStage::Coder)
+            .await
             .unwrap();
         assert_eq!(available, vec!["coder-2"]);
 
         let available_qa = pool
             .available_agents_for_stage(&config, &PipelineStage::Qa)
+            .await
             .unwrap();
         assert_eq!(available_qa, vec!["qa"]);
     }
 
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn available_agents_for_stage_returns_empty_when_all_busy() {
+    async fn available_agents_for_stage_returns_empty_when_all_busy() {
         let config = make_config(
             r#"
 [[agent]]
@@ -156,12 +183,13 @@ stage = "coder"
 
         let available = pool
             .available_agents_for_stage(&config, &PipelineStage::Coder)
+            .await
             .unwrap();
         assert!(available.is_empty());
     }
 
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn available_agents_for_stage_ignores_completed_agents() {
+    async fn available_agents_for_stage_ignores_completed_agents() {
         let config = make_config(
             r#"
 [[agent]]
@@ -174,6 +202,7 @@ stage = "coder"
 
         let available = pool
             .available_agents_for_stage(&config, &PipelineStage::Coder)
+            .await
             .unwrap();
         assert_eq!(available, vec!["coder-1"]);
     }

server/src/agents/pool/start/mod.rs

@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@
 use crate::agent_log::AgentLogWriter;
 use crate::config::ProjectConfig;
 use crate::slog_error;
+use std::future::Future;
 use std::path::Path;
-use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
+use std::pin::Pin;
+use std::sync::Arc;
 use tokio::sync::broadcast;
 
 use super::super::runtime::{
@@ -38,48 +40,48 @@ impl AgentPool {
     /// `resume_context` (if any) is sent as the new message.  This lets
     /// the agent re-enter the previous conversation without re-reading
     /// CLAUDE.md and README, satisfying story 543.
-    pub async fn start_agent(
+    pub fn start_agent<'a>(
-        &self,
+        &'a self,
-        project_root: &Path,
+        project_root: &'a Path,
-        story_id: &str,
+        story_id: &'a str,
-        agent_name: Option<&str>,
+        agent_name: Option<&'a str>,
-        resume_context: Option<&str>,
+        resume_context: Option<&'a str>,
         session_id_to_resume: Option<String>,
-    ) -> Result<AgentInfo, String> {
+    ) -> Pin<Box<dyn Future<Output = Result<AgentInfo, String>> + Send + 'a>> {
-        self.start_agent_inner(
+        Box::pin(self.start_agent_inner(
             project_root,
             story_id,
             agent_name,
             resume_context,
             session_id_to_resume,
             None,
-        )
+        ))
     }
 
     /// Start an agent with an `AppContext` for direct MCP tool dispatch.
     ///
     /// API-based runtimes (Gemini, OpenAI) need the `AppContext` to invoke MCP
     /// tools without an HTTP round-trip.  CLI-based runtimes (Claude Code) do not.
-    pub fn start_agent_with_ctx(
+    pub fn start_agent_with_ctx<'a>(
-        &self,
+        &'a self,
-        project_root: &Path,
+        project_root: &'a Path,
-        story_id: &str,
+        story_id: &'a str,
-        agent_name: Option<&str>,
+        agent_name: Option<&'a str>,
-        resume_context: Option<&str>,
+        resume_context: Option<&'a str>,
         session_id_to_resume: Option<String>,
         app_ctx: Arc<crate::http::context::AppContext>,
-    ) -> Result<AgentInfo, String> {
+    ) -> Pin<Box<dyn Future<Output = Result<AgentInfo, String>> + Send + 'a>> {
-        self.start_agent_inner(
+        Box::pin(self.start_agent_inner(
             project_root,
             story_id,
             agent_name,
             resume_context,
             session_id_to_resume,
             Some(app_ctx),
-        )
+        ))
     }
 
-    fn start_agent_inner(
+    async fn start_agent_inner(
         &self,
         project_root: &Path,
         story_id: &str,
@@ -100,7 +102,8 @@ impl AgentPool {
         // Create name-independent shared resources before the lock so they are
         // ready for the atomic check-and-insert (story 132).
         let (tx, _) = broadcast::channel::<AgentEvent>(1024);
-        let event_log: Arc<Mutex<Vec<AgentEvent>>> = Arc::new(Mutex::new(Vec::new()));
+        let event_log: Arc<std::sync::Mutex<Vec<AgentEvent>>> =
+            Arc::new(std::sync::Mutex::new(Vec::new()));
         let log_session_id = uuid::Uuid::new_v4().to_string();
 
         // Create the per-session status buffer subscribed to this project's
@@ -149,7 +152,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
         // agent turn (story 736).
         let prior_events: Option<String>;
         {
-            let mut agents = self.agents.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+            let mut agents = self.agents.lock().await;
 
             resolved_name = match agent_name {
                 Some(name) => name.to_string(),
@@ -371,7 +374,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
         // the atomic resolution above).
         let log_writer =
             match AgentLogWriter::new(project_root, story_id, &resolved_name, &log_session_id) {
-                Ok(w) => Some(Arc::new(Mutex::new(w))),
+                Ok(w) => Some(Arc::new(std::sync::Mutex::new(w))),
                 Err(e) => {
                     eprintln!(
                         "[agents] Failed to create log writer for {story_id}:{resolved_name}: {e}"
@@ -436,7 +439,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
 
         // Store the task handle while the agent is still Pending.
         {
-            let mut agents = self.agents.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+            let mut agents = self.agents.lock().await;
             if let Some(agent) = agents.get_mut(&key) {
                 agent.task_handle = Some(handle);
             }

server/src/agents/pool/start/spawn.rs

@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ pub(super) async fn run_agent_spawn(
     story_id: String,
     agent_name: String,
     tx: broadcast::Sender<AgentEvent>,
-    agents: Arc<Mutex<HashMap<String, StoryAgent>>>,
+    agents: Arc<tokio::sync::Mutex<HashMap<String, StoryAgent>>>,
     key: String,
     event_log: Arc<Mutex<Vec<AgentEvent>>>,
     port: u16,
@@ -218,11 +218,12 @@ pub(super) async fn run_agent_spawn(
                     log.push(event.clone());
                 }
                 let _ = tx_clone.send(event);
-                if let Ok(mut agents) = agents_ref.lock()
-                    && let Some(agent) = agents.get_mut(&key_clone)
                 {
+                    let mut agents = agents_ref.lock().await;
+                    if let Some(agent) = agents.get_mut(&key_clone) {
                         agent.status = AgentStatus::Failed;
                     }
+                }
                 AgentPool::notify_agent_state_changed(&watcher_tx_clone);
                 return;
             }
@@ -233,16 +234,27 @@ pub(super) async fn run_agent_spawn(
     // Step 1.1: Install the pre-commit quality-gate hook in the worktree.
     // Non-fatal — if installation fails the agent can still run; the failure
     // is logged so the operator can investigate.
-    if let Err(e) = crate::worktree::install_pre_commit_hook(&wt_info.path) {
+    // Runs in spawn_blocking because install_pre_commit_hook executes
+    // synchronous git-config subprocesses that would otherwise pin a
+    // tokio worker thread and contribute to runtime starvation under
+    // concurrent agent spawns.
+    {
+        let hook_path = wt_info.path.clone();
+        let hook_result = tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
+            crate::worktree::install_pre_commit_hook(&hook_path)
+        })
+        .await
+        .unwrap_or_else(|e| Err(format!("spawn_blocking panicked: {e}")));
+        if let Err(e) = hook_result {
             slog_error!("[agents] pre-commit hook install failed for {sid}: {e}");
         }
+    }
 
     // Step 2: store worktree info and render agent command/args/prompt.
     let wt_path_str = wt_info.path.to_string_lossy().to_string();
     {
-        if let Ok(mut agents) = agents_ref.lock()
+        let mut agents = agents_ref.lock().await;
-            && let Some(agent) = agents.get_mut(&key_clone)
+        if let Some(agent) = agents.get_mut(&key_clone) {
-        {
             agent.worktree_info = Some(wt_info.clone());
         }
     }
@@ -266,11 +278,12 @@ pub(super) async fn run_agent_spawn(
                 log.push(event.clone());
             }
             let _ = tx_clone.send(event);
-            if let Ok(mut agents) = agents_ref.lock()
-                && let Some(agent) = agents.get_mut(&key_clone)
             {
+                let mut agents = agents_ref.lock().await;
+                if let Some(agent) = agents.get_mut(&key_clone) {
                     agent.status = AgentStatus::Failed;
                 }
+            }
             AgentPool::notify_agent_state_changed(&watcher_tx_clone);
             return;
         }
@@ -358,9 +371,8 @@ pub(super) async fn run_agent_spawn(
 
     // Step 3: transition to Running now that the worktree is ready.
     {
-        if let Ok(mut agents) = agents_ref.lock()
+        let mut agents = agents_ref.lock().await;
-            && let Some(agent) = agents.get_mut(&key_clone)
+        if let Some(agent) = agents.get_mut(&key_clone) {
-        {
             agent.status = AgentStatus::Running;
         }
     }
@@ -457,9 +469,9 @@ pub(super) async fn run_agent_spawn(
     match run_result {
         Ok(result) => {
             // Persist token usage if the agent reported it.
-            if let Some(ref usage) = result.token_usage
+            if let Some(ref usage) = result.token_usage {
-                && let Ok(agents) = agents_ref.lock()
+                let agents = agents_ref.lock().await;
-                && let Some(agent) = agents.get(&key_clone)
+                if let Some(agent) = agents.get(&key_clone)
                     && let Some(ref pr) = agent.project_root
                 {
                     let model_for_record = config_clone
@@ -478,6 +490,7 @@ pub(super) async fn run_agent_spawn(
                         );
                     }
                 }
+            }
 
             // Persist session_id so respawns can resume prior reasoning.
             if let Some(ref sess_id) = result.session_id {
@@ -526,10 +539,7 @@ pub(super) async fn run_agent_spawn(
                 // Remove the agent entry from the pool and emit Done so that
                 // any caller blocked on wait_for_agent is unblocked.
                 let tx_done = {
-                    let mut lock = match agents_ref.lock() {
+                    let mut lock = agents_ref.lock().await;
-                        Ok(a) => a,
-                        Err(_) => return,
-                    };
                     if let Some(agent) = lock.remove(&key_clone) {
                         agent.tx
                     } else {
@@ -608,10 +618,7 @@ pub(super) async fn run_agent_spawn(
 
             if stage == PipelineStage::Mergemaster {
                 let (tx_done, done_session_id, merge_failure_reported, merge_success_reported) = {
-                    let mut lock = match agents_ref.lock() {
+                    let mut lock = agents_ref.lock().await;
-                        Ok(a) => a,
-                        Err(_) => return,
-                    };
                     if let Some(agent) = lock.remove(&key_clone) {
                         (
                             agent.tx,
@@ -648,15 +655,14 @@ pub(super) async fn run_agent_spawn(
                     // Do NOT send WorkItem/reassign — story is already Done.
                     // Drain one queued ConflictDetected story now that this
                     // mergemaster slot is free (story 1044).
-                    if let Some((candidate_id, candidate_agent)) =
+                    let candidate =
-                        crate::config::ProjectConfig::load(&project_root_clone)
+                        if let Ok(cfg) = crate::config::ProjectConfig::load(&project_root_clone) {
-                            .ok()
+                            let agts = agents_ref.lock().await;
-                            .and_then(|cfg| {
+                            pick_queued_conflict_detected(&cfg, &agts, &sid)
-                                agents_ref.lock().ok().as_ref().and_then(|agts| {
+                        } else {
-                                    pick_queued_conflict_detected(&cfg, agts, &sid)
+                            None
-                                })
+                        };
-                            })
+                    if let Some((candidate_id, candidate_agent)) = candidate {
-                    {
                         slog!(
                             "[agents] Mergemaster exit for '{sid}' (success): \
                              queued ConflictDetected story '{candidate_id}' found; \
@@ -766,17 +772,14 @@ pub(super) async fn run_agent_spawn(
                 });
                 // Drain one queued ConflictDetected story now that this
                 // mergemaster slot is free (story 1044).
-                if let Some((candidate_id, candidate_agent)) =
+                let candidate =
-                    crate::config::ProjectConfig::load(&project_root_clone)
+                    if let Ok(cfg) = crate::config::ProjectConfig::load(&project_root_clone) {
-                        .ok()
+                        let agts = agents_ref.lock().await;
-                        .and_then(|cfg| {
+                        pick_queued_conflict_detected(&cfg, &agts, &sid)
-                            agents_ref
+                    } else {
-                                .lock()
+                        None
-                                .ok()
+                    };
-                                .as_ref()
+                if let Some((candidate_id, candidate_agent)) = candidate {
-                                .and_then(|agts| pick_queued_conflict_detected(&cfg, agts, &sid))
-                        })
-                {
                     slog!(
                         "[agents] Mergemaster exit for '{sid}': queued ConflictDetected \
                          story '{candidate_id}' found; spawning '{candidate_agent}'."
@@ -833,10 +836,7 @@ pub(super) async fn run_agent_spawn(
 
                     // Remove agent from the pool and unblock any wait_for_agent callers.
                     let tx_done = {
-                        let mut lock = match agents_ref.lock() {
+                        let mut lock = agents_ref.lock().await;
-                            Ok(a) => a,
-                            Err(_) => return,
-                        };
                         if let Some(agent) = lock.remove(&key_clone) {
                             agent.tx
                         } else {
@@ -931,11 +931,12 @@ pub(super) async fn run_agent_spawn(
                 log.push(event.clone());
             }
             let _ = tx_clone.send(event);
-            if let Ok(mut agents) = agents_ref.lock()
-                && let Some(agent) = agents.get_mut(&key_clone)
             {
+                let mut agents = agents_ref.lock().await;
+                if let Some(agent) = agents.get_mut(&key_clone) {
                     agent.status = AgentStatus::Failed;
                 }
+            }
             AgentPool::notify_agent_state_changed(&watcher_tx_clone);
         }
     }

server/src/agents/pool/start/tests_concurrency.rs

@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ async fn start_agent_cleans_up_pending_entry_on_failure() {
         "agent must transition to Failed after worktree creation error"
     );
 
-    let agents = pool.agents.lock().unwrap();
+    let agents = pool.agents.lock().await;
     let failed_entry = agents
         .values()
         .find(|a| a.agent_name == "coder-1" && a.status == AgentStatus::Failed);
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ async fn start_agent_cleans_up_pending_entry_on_failure() {
 
     let events = pool
         .drain_events("50_story_test", "coder-1")
+        .await
         .expect("drain_events should succeed");
     let has_error_event = events.iter().any(|e| matches!(e, AgentEvent::Error { .. }));
     assert!(
@@ -736,7 +737,7 @@ async fn reconcile_canonical_agents_stops_stale_coder_in_qa_stage() {
     let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3099);
     pool.inject_test_agent("777_story_reconcile", "coder-1", AgentStatus::Running);
 
-    let before = pool.list_agents().unwrap();
+    let before = pool.list_agents().await.unwrap();
     assert!(
         before.iter().any(|a| a.agent_name == "coder-1"
             && matches!(a.status, AgentStatus::Running | AgentStatus::Pending)),
@@ -745,7 +746,7 @@ async fn reconcile_canonical_agents_stops_stale_coder_in_qa_stage() {
 
     pool.reconcile_canonical_agents(root).await;
 
-    let after = pool.list_agents().unwrap();
+    let after = pool.list_agents().await.unwrap();
     let still_active = after.iter().any(|a| {
         a.story_id == "777_story_reconcile"
             && a.agent_name == "coder-1"
@@ -786,7 +787,7 @@ async fn reconcile_canonical_agents_leaves_correct_stage_agent_alone() {
 
     pool.reconcile_canonical_agents(root).await;
 
-    let after = pool.list_agents().unwrap();
+    let after = pool.list_agents().await.unwrap();
     let still_active = after.iter().any(|a| {
         a.story_id == "555_story_correct"
             && a.agent_name == "coder-1"
@@ -851,7 +852,7 @@ async fn regression_1100_stale_coder_blocks_mergemaster_then_reconciler_clears()
     pool.reconcile_canonical_agents(root).await;
 
     // coder-1 must be gone from the active pool.
-    let remaining = pool.list_agents().unwrap();
+    let remaining = pool.list_agents().await.unwrap();
     assert!(
         !remaining.iter().any(|a| {
             a.story_id == "1100_reg"

server/src/agents/pool/stop.rs

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 //! Agent stop — terminates a running agent while preserving its worktree.
 use crate::process_kill::{pids_matching, sigkill_pids_and_verify};
 use crate::slog;
-use crate::slog_error;
 use crate::slog_warn;
 use std::path::Path;
 
@@ -40,7 +39,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
 
         // Step 1: snapshot the worktree path (no status mutation yet).
         let worktree_info = {
-            let agents = self.agents.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+            let agents = self.agents.lock().await;
             let agent = agents
                 .get(&key)
                 .ok_or_else(|| format!("No agent '{agent_name}' for story '{story_id}'"))?;
@@ -71,12 +70,12 @@ impl AgentPool {
                 "[stop_agent] No worktree path recorded for '{key}'; cannot tree-kill, \
                  falling back to portable_pty SIGHUP (likely no-op for claude-code)."
             );
-            self.kill_child_for_key(&key);
+            self.kill_child_for_key(&key).await;
         }
 
         // Step 3: now safe to mutate.  Status flip and handle abort.
         let (task_handle, tx) = {
-            let mut agents = self.agents.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+            let mut agents = self.agents.lock().await;
             let agent = agents
                 .get_mut(&key)
                 .ok_or_else(|| format!("No agent '{agent_name}' for story '{story_id}'"))?;
@@ -107,7 +106,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
 
         // Remove from map.
         {
-            let mut agents = self.agents.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+            let mut agents = self.agents.lock().await;
             agents.remove(&key);
         }
 
@@ -138,9 +137,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
 
         // Snapshot active LLM agents without holding the lock during async stops.
         let snapshot: Vec<(String, String, PipelineStage)> = {
-            let Ok(agents) = self.agents.lock() else {
+            let agents = self.agents.lock().await;
-                return;
-            };
             agents
                 .iter()
                 .filter_map(|(key, a)| {
@@ -197,14 +194,8 @@ impl AgentPool {
     ///
     /// Called when a story is archived so that stale entries don't accumulate.
     /// Returns the number of entries removed.
-    pub fn remove_agents_for_story(&self, story_id: &str) -> usize {
+    pub async fn remove_agents_for_story(&self, story_id: &str) -> usize {
-        let mut agents = match self.agents.lock() {
+        let mut agents = self.agents.lock().await;
-            Ok(a) => a,
-            Err(e) => {
-                slog_error!("[agents] Failed to lock pool for cleanup of '{story_id}': {e}");
-                return 0;
-            }
-        };
         let prefix = format!("{story_id}:");
         let keys_to_remove: Vec<String> = agents
             .keys()
@@ -229,30 +220,30 @@ mod tests {
 
     // ── remove_agents_for_story tests ────────────────────────────────────────
 
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn remove_agents_for_story_removes_all_entries() {
+    async fn remove_agents_for_story_removes_all_entries() {
         let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3001);
         pool.inject_test_agent("story_a", "coder-1", AgentStatus::Completed);
         pool.inject_test_agent("story_a", "qa", AgentStatus::Failed);
         pool.inject_test_agent("story_b", "coder-1", AgentStatus::Running);
 
-        let removed = pool.remove_agents_for_story("story_a");
+        let removed = pool.remove_agents_for_story("story_a").await;
         assert_eq!(removed, 2, "should remove both agents for story_a");
 
-        let agents = pool.list_agents().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.list_agents().await.unwrap();
         assert_eq!(agents.len(), 1, "only story_b agent should remain");
         assert_eq!(agents[0].story_id, "story_b");
     }
 
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn remove_agents_for_story_returns_zero_when_no_match() {
+    async fn remove_agents_for_story_returns_zero_when_no_match() {
         let pool = AgentPool::new_test(3001);
         pool.inject_test_agent("story_a", "coder-1", AgentStatus::Running);
 
-        let removed = pool.remove_agents_for_story("nonexistent");
+        let removed = pool.remove_agents_for_story("nonexistent").await;
         assert_eq!(removed, 0);
 
-        let agents = pool.list_agents().unwrap();
+        let agents = pool.list_agents().await.unwrap();
         assert_eq!(agents.len(), 1, "existing agents should not be affected");
     }
 
@@ -283,12 +274,12 @@ mod tests {
         pool.inject_test_agent("60_story_cleanup", "qa", AgentStatus::Completed);
         pool.inject_test_agent("61_story_other", "coder-1", AgentStatus::Running);
 
-        assert_eq!(pool.list_agents().unwrap().len(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(pool.list_agents().await.unwrap().len(), 3);
 
         move_story_to_done("60_story_cleanup").unwrap();
-        pool.remove_agents_for_story("60_story_cleanup");
+        pool.remove_agents_for_story("60_story_cleanup").await;
 
-        let remaining = pool.list_agents().unwrap();
+        let remaining = pool.list_agents().await.unwrap();
         assert_eq!(
             remaining.len(),
             1,

server/src/agents/pool/test_helpers.rs

@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
     ) -> broadcast::Sender<AgentEvent> {
         let (tx, _) = broadcast::channel::<AgentEvent>(64);
         let key = composite_key(story_id, agent_name);
-        let mut agents = self.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let mut agents = self.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         agents.insert(
             key,
             StoryAgent {
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
     ) -> broadcast::Sender<AgentEvent> {
         let (tx, _) = broadcast::channel::<AgentEvent>(64);
         let key = composite_key(story_id, agent_name);
-        let mut agents = self.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let mut agents = self.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         agents.insert(
             key,
             StoryAgent {
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
     ) -> broadcast::Sender<AgentEvent> {
         let (tx, _) = broadcast::channel::<AgentEvent>(64);
         let key = composite_key(story_id, agent_name);
-        let mut agents = self.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let mut agents = self.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         agents.insert(
             key,
             StoryAgent {
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
     ) -> broadcast::Sender<AgentEvent> {
         let (tx, _) = broadcast::channel::<AgentEvent>(64);
         let key = composite_key(story_id, agent_name);
-        let mut agents = self.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let mut agents = self.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         agents.insert(
             key,
             StoryAgent {
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
     ) -> broadcast::Sender<AgentEvent> {
         let (tx, _) = broadcast::channel::<AgentEvent>(64);
         let key = composite_key(story_id, agent_name);
-        let mut agents = self.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let mut agents = self.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         agents.insert(
             key,
             StoryAgent {
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
         story_id: &str,
         agent_name: &str,
     ) -> Option<Vec<BufferedItem>> {
-        let agents = self.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let agents = self.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         let key = composite_key(story_id, agent_name);
         agents
             .get(&key)
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
     ) -> broadcast::Sender<AgentEvent> {
         let (tx, _) = broadcast::channel::<AgentEvent>(64);
         let key = composite_key(story_id, agent_name);
-        let mut agents = self.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let mut agents = self.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         agents.insert(
             key,
             StoryAgent {
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
     ) -> broadcast::Sender<AgentEvent> {
         let (tx, _) = broadcast::channel::<AgentEvent>(64);
         let key = composite_key(story_id, agent_name);
-        let mut agents = self.agents.lock().unwrap();
+        let mut agents = self.agents.try_lock().unwrap();
         agents.insert(
             key,
             StoryAgent {

server/src/agents/pool/types.rs

@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ use crate::slog;
 use crate::worktree::WorktreeInfo;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
-use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
+use std::sync::Arc;
-use tokio::sync::broadcast;
+use tokio::sync::{Mutex, broadcast};
 
 use super::super::{AgentEvent, AgentInfo, AgentStatus, CompletionReport};
 
@@ -45,8 +45,10 @@ impl PendingGuard {
 
 impl Drop for PendingGuard {
     fn drop(&mut self) {
-        if self.armed
+        if !self.armed {
-            && let Ok(mut agents) = self.agents.lock()
+            return;
+        }
+        if let Ok(mut agents) = self.agents.try_lock()
             && agents
                 .get(&self.key)
                 .is_some_and(|a| a.status == AgentStatus::Pending)
@@ -68,7 +70,7 @@ pub(super) struct StoryAgent {
     pub(super) tx: broadcast::Sender<AgentEvent>,
     pub(super) task_handle: Option<tokio::task::JoinHandle<()>>,
     /// Accumulated events for polling via get_agent_output.
-    pub(super) event_log: Arc<Mutex<Vec<AgentEvent>>>,
+    pub(super) event_log: Arc<std::sync::Mutex<Vec<AgentEvent>>>,
     /// Set when the agent calls report_completion.
     pub(super) completion: Option<CompletionReport>,
     /// Project root, stored for pipeline advancement after completion.

server/src/agents/pool/wait.rs

@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@ impl AgentPool {
     ) -> Result<AgentInfo, String> {
         // Subscribe before checking status so we don't miss the terminal event
         // if the agent completes in the window between the two operations.
-        let mut rx = self.subscribe(story_id, agent_name)?;
+        let mut rx = self.subscribe(story_id, agent_name).await?;
 
         // Return immediately if already in a terminal state.
         {
-            let agents = self.agents.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+            let agents = self.agents.lock().await;
             let key = composite_key(story_id, agent_name);
             if let Some(agent) = agents.get(&key)
                 && matches!(agent.status, AgentStatus::Completed | AgentStatus::Failed)
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
                         _ => false,
                     };
                     if is_terminal {
-                        let agents = self.agents.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+                        let agents = self.agents.lock().await;
                         let key = composite_key(story_id, agent_name);
                         return Ok(if let Some(agent) = agents.get(&key) {
                             agent_info_from_entry(story_id, agent)
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
                 }
                 Ok(Err(broadcast::error::RecvError::Lagged(_))) => {
                     // Missed some buffered events — check current status before resuming.
-                    let agents = self.agents.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+                    let agents = self.agents.lock().await;
                     let key = composite_key(story_id, agent_name);
                     if let Some(agent) = agents.get(&key)
                         && matches!(agent.status, AgentStatus::Completed | AgentStatus::Failed)
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
                 }
                 Ok(Err(broadcast::error::RecvError::Closed)) => {
                     // Channel closed: no more events will arrive. Return current state.
-                    let agents = self.agents.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+                    let agents = self.agents.lock().await;
                     let key = composite_key(story_id, agent_name);
                     if let Some(agent) = agents.get(&key) {
                         return Ok(agent_info_from_entry(story_id, agent));

server/src/chat/commands/status/render.rs

@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ pub(crate) fn build_status_from_items(
     items: &[PipelineItem],
 ) -> String {
     // Build a map from story_id → active AgentInfo for quick lookup.
-    let active_agents = agents.list_agents().unwrap_or_default();
+    let active_agents = agents.list_agents_nonblocking();
     let active_map: HashMap<String, &crate::agents::AgentInfo> = active_agents
         .iter()
         .filter(|a| matches!(a.status, AgentStatus::Running | AgentStatus::Pending))

server/src/chat/transport/matrix/assign.rs

@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ pub async fn handle_assign(
     // Check whether a coder is already running on this story.
     let running_coders: Vec<_> = agents
         .list_agents()
+        .await
         .unwrap_or_default()
         .into_iter()
         .filter(|a| {

server/src/chat/transport/matrix/htop.rs

@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ pub fn build_htop_message(agents: &AgentPool, tick: u32, total_duration_secs: u6
         String::new(),
     ];
 
-    let all_agents = agents.list_agents().unwrap_or_default();
+    let all_agents = agents.list_agents_nonblocking();
     let active: Vec<_> = all_agents
         .iter()
         .filter(|a| matches!(a.status, AgentStatus::Running | AgentStatus::Pending))

server/src/chat/transport/matrix/rmtree.rs

@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ pub async fn handle_rmtree(
     // Stop any running or pending agents for this story.
     let running_agents: Vec<(String, String)> = agents
         .list_agents()
+        .await
         .unwrap_or_default()
         .into_iter()
         .filter(|a| {

server/src/http/agents_sse.rs

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ pub async fn agent_stream(
     Path((story_id, agent_name)): Path<(String, String)>,
     ctx: Data<&Arc<AppContext>>,
 ) -> impl IntoResponse {
-    let mut rx = match ctx.services.agents.subscribe(&story_id, &agent_name) {
+    let mut rx = match ctx.services.agents.subscribe(&story_id, &agent_name).await {
         Ok(rx) => rx,
         Err(e) => {
             return Response::builder()

server/src/http/mcp/agent_tools/inspection.rs

@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn tool_get_agent_output(
     // writer failed and nothing was persisted to disk.
     if log_files.is_empty()
         && let Some(agent_name) = agent_name_filter
-        && let Ok(live_events) = ctx.services.agents.drain_events(story_id, agent_name)
+        && let Ok(live_events) = ctx.services.agents.drain_events(story_id, agent_name).await
         && !live_events.is_empty()
     {
         all_lines.push(format!("=== {agent_name} (live) ==="));
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn tool_get_agent_output(
     Ok(output)
 }
 
-pub(crate) fn tool_get_agent_config(ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<String, String> {
+pub(crate) async fn tool_get_agent_config(ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<String, String> {
     let project_root = ctx.services.agents.get_project_root(&ctx.state)?;
     let config = ProjectConfig::load(&project_root)?;
 
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ pub(crate) fn tool_get_agent_config(ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<String, String>
             .services
             .agents
             .available_agents_for_stage(&config, stage)
+            .await
         {
             available_names.extend(names);
         }
@@ -144,7 +145,7 @@ pub(crate) fn tool_get_agent_config(ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<String, String>
 /// Returns turns used, max turns, remaining turns, budget used, max budget,
 /// and remaining budget for the named agent. Fails if the agent is not
 /// currently running or pending.
-pub(crate) fn tool_get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget(
+pub(crate) async fn tool_get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget(
     args: &Value,
     ctx: &AppContext,
 ) -> Result<String, String> {
@@ -158,7 +159,7 @@ pub(crate) fn tool_get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget(
         .ok_or("Missing required argument: agent_name")?;
 
     // Verify the agent exists and is running/pending.
-    let agents = ctx.services.agents.list_agents()?;
+    let agents = ctx.services.agents.list_agents().await?;
     let agent_info = agents
         .iter()
         .find(|a| a.story_id == story_id && a.agent_name == agent_name)
@@ -270,12 +271,12 @@ mod tests {
     use crate::http::test_helpers::test_ctx;
     use serde_json::json;
 
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn tool_get_agent_config_no_project_toml_returns_default_agent() {
+    async fn tool_get_agent_config_no_project_toml_returns_default_agent() {
         let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
         let ctx = test_ctx(tmp.path());
         // No project.toml → default config with one fallback agent
-        let result = tool_get_agent_config(&ctx).unwrap();
+        let result = tool_get_agent_config(&ctx).await.unwrap();
         let parsed: Vec<Value> = serde_json::from_str(&result).unwrap();
         // Default config contains one agent entry with default values
         assert_eq!(
@@ -457,34 +458,36 @@ mod tests {
 
     // ── get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget tests ──────────────────────────
 
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn tool_get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget_missing_story_id() {
+    async fn tool_get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget_missing_story_id() {
         let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
         let ctx = test_ctx(tmp.path());
         let result =
-            tool_get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget(&json!({"agent_name": "coder-1"}), &ctx);
+            tool_get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget(&json!({"agent_name": "coder-1"}), &ctx)
+                .await;
         assert!(result.is_err());
         assert!(result.unwrap_err().contains("story_id"));
     }
 
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn tool_get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget_missing_agent_name() {
+    async fn tool_get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget_missing_agent_name() {
         let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
         let ctx = test_ctx(tmp.path());
         let result =
-            tool_get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget(&json!({"story_id": "1_test"}), &ctx);
+            tool_get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget(&json!({"story_id": "1_test"}), &ctx).await;
         assert!(result.is_err());
         assert!(result.unwrap_err().contains("agent_name"));
     }
 
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn tool_get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget_no_agent_returns_error() {
+    async fn tool_get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget_no_agent_returns_error() {
         let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
         let ctx = test_ctx(tmp.path());
         let result = tool_get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget(
             &json!({"story_id": "99_nope", "agent_name": "coder-1"}),
             &ctx,
-        );
+        )
+        .await;
         assert!(result.is_err());
         let err = result.unwrap_err();
         assert!(
@@ -493,8 +496,8 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn tool_get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget_completed_agent_returns_error() {
+    async fn tool_get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget_completed_agent_returns_error() {
         use crate::agents::AgentStatus;
         let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
         let ctx = test_ctx(tmp.path());
@@ -505,7 +508,8 @@ mod tests {
         let result = tool_get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget(
             &json!({"story_id": "42_story", "agent_name": "coder-1"}),
             &ctx,
-        );
+        )
+        .await;
         assert!(result.is_err());
         let err = result.unwrap_err();
         assert!(
@@ -514,8 +518,8 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn tool_get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget_running_agent_returns_data() {
+    async fn tool_get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget_running_agent_returns_data() {
         use crate::agents::AgentStatus;
         use crate::store::StoreOps;
 
@@ -531,6 +535,7 @@ mod tests {
             &json!({"story_id": "42_story", "agent_name": "coder-1"}),
             &ctx,
         )
+        .await
         .unwrap();
         let parsed: Value = serde_json::from_str(&result).unwrap();
 

server/src/http/mcp/agent_tools/lifecycle.rs

@@ -67,9 +67,9 @@ pub(crate) async fn tool_stop_agent(args: &Value, ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<St
     ))
 }
 
-pub(crate) fn tool_list_agents(ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<String, String> {
+pub(crate) async fn tool_list_agents(ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<String, String> {
     let project_root = ctx.services.agents.get_project_root(&ctx.state).ok();
-    let agents = ctx.services.agents.list_agents()?;
+    let agents = ctx.services.agents.list_agents().await?;
     let mut entries: Vec<serde_json::Value> = agents
         .iter()
         .filter(|a| {
@@ -156,11 +156,11 @@ mod tests {
     use crate::http::test_helpers::test_ctx;
     use serde_json::json;
 
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn tool_list_agents_empty() {
+    async fn tool_list_agents_empty() {
         let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
         let ctx = test_ctx(tmp.path());
-        let result = tool_list_agents(&ctx).unwrap();
+        let result = tool_list_agents(&ctx).await.unwrap();
         let parsed: Vec<serde_json::Value> = serde_json::from_str(&result).unwrap();
         assert!(parsed.is_empty());
     }

server/src/http/mcp/diagnostics/permission.rs

@@ -362,8 +362,8 @@ mod tests {
         // then exec() will be called — which would replace our test process.
         // So we only test that the function *runs* without panicking up to
         // the agent-kill step. We do this by checking the pool is empty.
-        assert_eq!(ctx.services.agents.list_agents().unwrap().len(), 0);
+        assert_eq!(ctx.services.agents.list_agents().await.unwrap().len(), 0);
-        ctx.services.agents.kill_all_children(); // should not panic on empty pool
+        ctx.services.agents.kill_all_children().await; // should not panic on empty pool
     }
 
     #[test]

server/src/http/mcp/dispatch.rs

@@ -30,13 +30,13 @@ pub async fn dispatch_tool_call(
         // Agent tools (async)
         "start_agent" => agent_tools::tool_start_agent(&args, ctx).await,
         "stop_agent" => agent_tools::tool_stop_agent(&args, ctx).await,
-        "list_agents" => agent_tools::tool_list_agents(ctx),
+        "list_agents" => agent_tools::tool_list_agents(ctx).await,
-        "get_agent_config" => agent_tools::tool_get_agent_config(ctx),
+        "get_agent_config" => agent_tools::tool_get_agent_config(ctx).await,
-        "reload_agent_config" => agent_tools::tool_get_agent_config(ctx),
+        "reload_agent_config" => agent_tools::tool_get_agent_config(ctx).await,
         "get_agent_output" => agent_tools::tool_get_agent_output(&args, ctx).await,
         "wait_for_agent" => agent_tools::tool_wait_for_agent(&args, ctx).await,
         "get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget" => {
-            agent_tools::tool_get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget(&args, ctx)
+            agent_tools::tool_get_agent_remaining_turns_and_budget(&args, ctx).await
         }
         // Worktree tools
         "create_worktree" => agent_tools::tool_create_worktree(&args, ctx).await,
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ pub async fn dispatch_tool_call(
         // Editor tools
         "get_editor_command" => agent_tools::tool_get_editor_command(&args, ctx),
         // Lifecycle tools
-        "accept_story" => story_tools::tool_accept_story(&args, ctx),
+        "accept_story" => story_tools::tool_accept_story(&args, ctx).await,
         // Story mutation tools (auto-commit to master)
         "check_criterion" => story_tools::tool_check_criterion(&args, ctx),
         "edit_criterion" => story_tools::tool_edit_criterion(&args, ctx),
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ pub async fn dispatch_tool_call(
         // Bug lifecycle tools
         "create_bug" => story_tools::tool_create_bug(&args, ctx),
         "list_bugs" => story_tools::tool_list_bugs(ctx),
-        "close_bug" => story_tools::tool_close_bug(&args, ctx),
+        "close_bug" => story_tools::tool_close_bug(&args, ctx).await,
         // Refactor lifecycle tools
         "create_refactor" => story_tools::tool_create_refactor(&args, ctx),
         "list_refactors" => story_tools::tool_list_refactors(ctx),
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ pub async fn dispatch_tool_call(
         "merge_agent_work" => merge_tools::tool_merge_agent_work(&args, ctx).await,
         "get_merge_status" => merge_tools::tool_get_merge_status(&args, ctx),
         "move_story_to_merge" => merge_tools::tool_move_story_to_merge(&args, ctx).await,
-        "report_merge_failure" => merge_tools::tool_report_merge_failure(&args, ctx),
+        "report_merge_failure" => merge_tools::tool_report_merge_failure(&args, ctx).await,
         // QA tools
         "request_qa" => qa_tools::tool_request_qa(&args, ctx).await,
         "approve_qa" => qa_tools::tool_approve_qa(&args, ctx).await,

server/src/http/mcp/merge_tools.rs

@@ -171,7 +171,10 @@ pub(super) async fn tool_move_story_to_merge(
     .map_err(|e| format!("Serialization error: {e}"))
 }
 
-pub(super) fn tool_report_merge_failure(args: &Value, ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<String, String> {
+pub(super) async fn tool_report_merge_failure(
+    args: &Value,
+    ctx: &AppContext,
+) -> Result<String, String> {
     let story_id = args
         .get("story_id")
         .and_then(|v| v.as_str())
@@ -182,7 +185,10 @@ pub(super) fn tool_report_merge_failure(args: &Value, ctx: &AppContext) -> Resul
         .ok_or("Missing required argument: reason")?;
 
     slog!("[mergemaster] Merge failure reported for '{story_id}': {reason}");
-    ctx.services.agents.set_merge_failure_reported(story_id);
+    ctx.services
+        .agents
+        .set_merge_failure_reported(story_id)
+        .await;
 
     // The mergemaster provides a freeform reason string; use Other so the
     // auto-assigner does not re-spawn another mergemaster after this one fails.
@@ -412,26 +418,26 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(req_names.contains(&"reason"));
     }
 
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn tool_report_merge_failure_missing_story_id() {
+    async fn tool_report_merge_failure_missing_story_id() {
         let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
         let ctx = test_ctx(tmp.path());
-        let result = tool_report_merge_failure(&json!({"reason": "conflicts"}), &ctx);
+        let result = tool_report_merge_failure(&json!({"reason": "conflicts"}), &ctx).await;
         assert!(result.is_err());
         assert!(result.unwrap_err().contains("story_id"));
     }
 
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn tool_report_merge_failure_missing_reason() {
+    async fn tool_report_merge_failure_missing_reason() {
         let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
         let ctx = test_ctx(tmp.path());
-        let result = tool_report_merge_failure(&json!({"story_id": "42_story_foo"}), &ctx);
+        let result = tool_report_merge_failure(&json!({"story_id": "42_story_foo"}), &ctx).await;
         assert!(result.is_err());
         assert!(result.unwrap_err().contains("reason"));
     }
 
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn tool_report_merge_failure_returns_confirmation() {
+    async fn tool_report_merge_failure_returns_confirmation() {
         let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
         let ctx = test_ctx(tmp.path());
         let result = tool_report_merge_failure(
@@ -440,7 +446,8 @@ mod tests {
                 "reason": "Unresolvable merge conflicts in src/main.rs"
             }),
             &ctx,
-        );
+        )
+        .await;
         assert!(result.is_ok());
         let msg = result.unwrap();
         assert!(msg.contains("42_story_foo"));

server/src/http/mcp/qa_tools.rs

@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ pub(super) async fn tool_approve_qa(args: &Value, ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<St
         move_story_to_done(story_id)?;
 
         let pool = std::sync::Arc::clone(&ctx.services.agents);
-        pool.remove_agents_for_story(story_id);
+        pool.remove_agents_for_story(story_id).await;
 
         let wt_path = crate::worktree::worktree_path(&project_root, story_id);
         if wt_path.exists() {

server/src/http/mcp/story_tools/bug.rs

@@ -66,14 +66,14 @@ pub(crate) fn tool_list_bugs(ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<String, String> {
     .map_err(|e| format!("Serialization error: {e}"))
 }
 
-pub(crate) fn tool_close_bug(args: &Value, ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<String, String> {
+pub(crate) async fn tool_close_bug(args: &Value, ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<String, String> {
     let bug_id = args
         .get("bug_id")
         .and_then(|v| v.as_str())
         .ok_or("Missing required argument: bug_id")?;
 
     close_bug_to_archive(bug_id)?;
-    ctx.services.agents.remove_agents_for_story(bug_id);
+    ctx.services.agents.remove_agents_for_story(bug_id).await;
 
     Ok(format!(
         "Bug '{bug_id}' closed, moved to bugs/archive/, and committed to master."
@@ -422,17 +422,17 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(result.unwrap().contains("Created bug:"));
     }
 
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn tool_close_bug_missing_bug_id() {
+    async fn tool_close_bug_missing_bug_id() {
         let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
         let ctx = test_ctx(tmp.path());
-        let result = tool_close_bug(&json!({}), &ctx);
+        let result = tool_close_bug(&json!({}), &ctx).await;
         assert!(result.is_err());
         assert!(result.unwrap_err().contains("bug_id"));
     }
 
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn tool_close_bug_moves_to_archive() {
+    async fn tool_close_bug_moves_to_archive() {
         let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
         setup_git_repo_in(tmp.path());
         let backlog_dir = tmp.path().join(".huskies/work/1_backlog");
@@ -460,7 +460,9 @@ mod tests {
             .unwrap();
 
         let ctx = test_ctx(tmp.path());
-        let result = tool_close_bug(&json!({"bug_id": "9901_bug_crash"}), &ctx).unwrap();
+        let result = tool_close_bug(&json!({"bug_id": "9901_bug_crash"}), &ctx)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
         assert!(result.contains("9901_bug_crash"));
         assert!(
             crate::db::read_content(crate::db::ContentKey::Story("9901_bug_crash")).is_some(),

server/src/http/mcp/story_tools/story/delete.rs

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use crate::http::context::AppContext;
 use crate::pipeline_state::{Stage, read_typed};
 use serde_json::Value;
 
-pub(crate) fn tool_accept_story(args: &Value, ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<String, String> {
+pub(crate) async fn tool_accept_story(args: &Value, ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<String, String> {
     let story_id = args
         .get("story_id")
         .and_then(|v| v.as_str())
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ pub(crate) fn tool_accept_story(args: &Value, ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<String
     }
 
     move_story_to_done(story_id)?;
-    ctx.services.agents.remove_agents_for_story(story_id);
+    ctx.services.agents.remove_agents_for_story(story_id).await;
 
     Ok(format!(
         "Story '{story_id}' accepted, moved to done/, and committed to master."
@@ -146,27 +146,27 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(!story_file.exists(), "story file should be deleted");
     }
 
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn tool_accept_story_missing_story_id() {
+    async fn tool_accept_story_missing_story_id() {
         let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
         let ctx = test_ctx(tmp.path());
-        let result = tool_accept_story(&json!({}), &ctx);
+        let result = tool_accept_story(&json!({}), &ctx).await;
         assert!(result.is_err());
         assert!(result.unwrap_err().contains("story_id"));
     }
 
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn tool_accept_story_nonexistent_story_returns_error() {
+    async fn tool_accept_story_nonexistent_story_returns_error() {
         let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
         setup_git_repo_in(tmp.path());
         let ctx = test_ctx(tmp.path());
         // No story file in current/ — should fail
-        let result = tool_accept_story(&json!({"story_id": "99_nonexistent"}), &ctx);
+        let result = tool_accept_story(&json!({"story_id": "99_nonexistent"}), &ctx).await;
         assert!(result.is_err());
     }
 
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn tool_accept_story_refuses_when_feature_branch_has_unmerged_code() {
+    async fn tool_accept_story_refuses_when_feature_branch_has_unmerged_code() {
         let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
         setup_git_repo_in(tmp.path());
 
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ mod tests {
         .unwrap();
 
         let ctx = test_ctx(tmp.path());
-        let result = tool_accept_story(&json!({"story_id": "50_story_test"}), &ctx);
+        let result = tool_accept_story(&json!({"story_id": "50_story_test"}), &ctx).await;
         assert!(
             result.is_err(),
             "should refuse when feature branch has unmerged code"
@@ -215,8 +215,8 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
-    #[test]
+    #[tokio::test]
-    fn tool_accept_story_succeeds_when_no_feature_branch() {
+    async fn tool_accept_story_succeeds_when_no_feature_branch() {
         let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
         setup_git_repo_in(tmp.path());
 
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ mod tests {
         );
 
         let ctx = test_ctx(tmp.path());
-        let result = tool_accept_story(&json!({"story_id": "51_story_no_branch"}), &ctx);
+        let result = tool_accept_story(&json!({"story_id": "51_story_no_branch"}), &ctx).await;
         assert!(
             result.is_ok(),
             "should succeed when no feature branch: {result:?}"

server/src/http/workflow/pipeline.rs

@@ -230,10 +230,7 @@ pub fn load_pipeline_state(ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<PipelineState, String> {
 
 /// Build a map from story_id → AgentAssignment for all pending/running agents.
 fn build_active_agent_map(ctx: &AppContext) -> HashMap<String, AgentAssignment> {
-    let agents = match ctx.services.agents.list_agents() {
+    let agents = ctx.services.agents.list_agents_nonblocking();
-        Ok(a) => a,
-        Err(_) => return HashMap::new(),
-    };
 
     let config_opt = ctx
         .state

server/src/main.rs

@@ -492,7 +492,7 @@ async fn main() -> Result<(), std::io::Error> {
     tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(1500)).await;
 
     // Kill all active PTY child processes before exiting.
-    agents_for_shutdown.kill_all_children();
+    agents_for_shutdown.kill_all_children().await;
 
     if let Some(ref path) = port_file {
         remove_port_file(path);

server/src/rebuild.rs

@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ pub async fn rebuild_and_restart(
     // 1. Gracefully stop all running agents.
     let running_count = agents
         .list_agents()
+        .await
         .unwrap_or_default()
         .iter()
         .filter(|a| a.status == crate::agents::AgentStatus::Running)
@@ -102,7 +103,7 @@ pub async fn rebuild_and_restart(
     if running_count > 0 {
         slog!("[rebuild] Stopping {running_count} running agent(s) before rebuild");
     }
-    agents.kill_all_children();
+    agents.kill_all_children().await;
 
     // 2. Find the workspace root (parent of the server binary's source).
     //    CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR at compile time points to the `server/` crate;

server/src/service/work_item/delete.rs

@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ pub async fn delete_work_item(
 
     // 1. Stop any running/pending agents (best-effort).
     let mut agents_stopped: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
-    if let Ok(agent_list) = agents.list_agents() {
+    if let Ok(agent_list) = agents.list_agents().await {
         for agent in agent_list.iter().filter(|a| a.story_id == story_id) {
             match agents
                 .stop_agent(project_root, story_id, &agent.agent_name)
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ pub async fn delete_work_item(
     }
 
     // 2. Remove agent pool entries.
-    let removed_count = agents.remove_agents_for_story(story_id);
+    let removed_count = agents.remove_agents_for_story(story_id).await;
     slog_warn!("[delete_work_item] Removed {removed_count} agent pool entries for '{story_id}'");
 
     // 3. Remove worktree (best-effort).
@@ -240,6 +240,7 @@ mod tests {
         // Agent pool must have no entries for this story.
         let pool_entries = agents
             .list_agents()
+            .await
             .unwrap_or_default()
             .into_iter()
             .filter(|a| a.story_id == story_id)

server/src/startup/tick_loop.rs

@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ pub(crate) fn spawn_tick_loop(
             // timeout window). A `TransitionFired` subscriber cannot observe the
             // absence of events, so this must remain on a periodic tick.
             if tick_count.is_multiple_of(30) {
-                let found = agents.run_watchdog_pass(root.as_deref());
+                let found = agents.run_watchdog_pass(root.as_deref()).await;
                 if found > 0 {
                     crate::slog!(
                         "[tick] {found} orphaned agent(s) detected; triggering auto-assign."