diff --git a/docs/architecture.md b/docs/architecture.md
index 3109da5b67..d2a6df9fae 100644
--- a/docs/architecture.md
+++ b/docs/architecture.md
@@ -1783,6 +1783,7 @@ This section preserves the detailed lifecycle/self-healing contracts that were f
 - **Dual-observe parity seam (FN-5742 Phase 2)**: with the same flag ON, legacy remains authoritative while shadow reads compute/emit parity telemetry only. Scheduler emits `merge:dependency-parity-diff` when `in-review|done|archived` dependency satisfaction diverges from completion-handoff marker satisfaction, and `merge:lease-parity-diff` when legacy in-review overlap leasing diverges from shadow lease decomposition. Merger emits `merge:request-dequeued-shadow` (agree/disagree metadata) by comparing legacy dequeue selection to shadow merge-request selection while explicitly skipping `manual-required` rows. Phase 3 dequeue cutover is gated on sustained parity (low disagreement rate) from these additive events; no lifecycle authority changes in Phase 2.
 - **Authoritative cutover seam (FN-5743 Phase 3)**: with the flag ON, merge-request records and `completion_handoff_accepted` markers become authoritative enforcement signals for dequeue/retry ownership and dependency/lease gates. Accepted handoffs stop stamping `in-review` executor overlap leases, transient merge retries stay in merge-request state (`running → retrying → queued`, terminal `exhausted|succeeded|cancelled`) without `todo` rebounds, and user hard-cancel (`in-review → todo`) deterministically cancels pending merge-request records while keeping FN-5147/FN-5704 behavior unchanged.
 - **No-progress churn terminalization (FN-5168)**: `StuckTaskDetector` now tracks ignored `fn_task_update` rebuffs via `recordIgnoredStepUpdate(taskId)` and, after one loop/compact-and-resume recovery has already fired in the same `execute()` lifecycle, escalates `ignoredStepUpdateCount >= 25` to the terminal reason `no-progress-churn`. `SelfHealingManager.checkStuckBudget()` maps that reason directly to `STUCK_NO_PROGRESS_CHURN`, emits `task:stuck-no-progress-churn-terminalized` with `{ taskId, ignoredStepUpdateCount, stuckKillStreak, lastReason }`, and parks the task in `in-review` without consuming the normal stuck-kill budget. Under FN-5147 `autoMerge: false`, that failed in-review task remains terminal-until-merged just like `STUCK_LOOP_EXHAUSTED`; the new class adds an earlier bounded exit, not a re-execution path.
+- **Todo↔in-progress flapping convergence (FN-5941)**: live backward-recovery paths now share a `getFalsePositiveRequeueSignal(...)` guard that suppresses `in-progress → todo` recovery when any hard liveness proof exists (`getExecutingTaskIds`, recent active-heartbeat run, checked-out lease, live worktree+branch binding, or recent `executionStartedAt` inside the relevant grace window). Suppressed candidates emit observation-only `task:*no-action` audits instead of silently mutating lifecycle state. Scheduler adds a short `recentEngineTodoRequeues` settle window so engine-sourced requeues cannot be re-dispatched immediately on the same `task:moved → todo` tick. The durable convergence backstop is the dispatch-oscillation breaker: scheduler reuses `task.dispatchStormCount` + `task.lastDispatchAt` as a sliding-window counter (`dispatchOscillationThreshold`, `dispatchOscillationWindowMs`) and, when the threshold is exceeded, leaves the task parked in `todo`, sets `paused: true` with `pausedReason: "dispatch-oscillation"`, records `task:dispatch-oscillation-terminalized`, and requires an operator unpause or forward move to reset the counter.
 - **Landed-files attribution (FN-5103)**: Rebase-strategy `mergeDetails.landedFiles` / `filesChanged` / `insertions` / `deletions` are captured from task-attributable commits only via `filterFilesToOwnTaskCommits` (subject-prefix + trailer + bracket-prefix evidence), tagged `landedFilesAttributionRestricted: true`. Zero own commits → `landedFiles: []` and `noOpVerifiedShortCircuit: true`. FN-5304 guard: when `<rebaseBaseSha>..HEAD` reports zero own commits, merger must also validate the source `fusion/<id>` tip; if that source tip still has attributable own commits relative to `rebaseBaseSha`, throw `SilentNoOpAttributionMismatchError`, refuse writing `mergeConfirmed: true`, park the task in `in-review` with `status: "failed"`, and emit `merge:no-op-attribution-mismatch`. If source ref is unavailable, skip with diagnostic + `merge:no-op-attribution-mismatch-skipped` (`reason: "source-ref-unavailable"`). Attribution-helper failures fall back to the unrestricted `rebaseBaseSha..sha` walk and set `landedFilesCaptureFallback: 'attribution-failed'`. Self-healing `recoverDoneTaskMergeMetadata` skips reconcile when `landedFilesAttributionRestricted` or `noOpVerifiedShortCircuit` is set so the narrower set is not overwritten with the full range. Squash-strategy capture is unchanged.
 - **Soft-delete scheduler invalidation (FN-5137)**: `task:deleted` events must invalidate `AutoClaimSnapshotManager` and clear scheduler bookkeeping (`pausedTaskIds`, `failedTaskIds`, `wasNodeDispatchValidationBlocked`, `wasNodeBlocked`); `executor.execute()` / `resumeOrphaned()` / `resumeTaskForAgent()` refuse any task with `deletedAt` set.
 - **Soft-delete in-flight abort (FN-5142)**: `task:deleted` must immediately abort/dispose active executor work (`activeSessions`, `activeStepExecutors`, `activeWorkflowStepSessions`, reviewer subagents), interrupt active merge state (`mergeAbortController`, `activeMergeSession`, `activeMergeTaskId`, `mergeActive`, `mergeQueue`, `pausedReviewTaskIds`), and abort triage specify/subagent sessions for that id. Handlers are per-task and idempotent.
diff --git a/docs/diagnostics.md b/docs/diagnostics.md
index ab0ca6b047..176cea2633 100644
--- a/docs/diagnostics.md
+++ b/docs/diagnostics.md
@@ -71,6 +71,15 @@ Time-based stuck/stalled/stale surfaces now floor activity timestamps using `set
 - Audit event: `task:stuck-no-progress-churn-terminalized` with `{ taskId, ignoredStepUpdateCount, stuckKillStreak, lastReason: "no-progress-churn" }`.
 - Outcome: task is marked `status: "failed"`, moved to `in-review`, and not requeued; operators should decompose/rescope the task instead of waiting for more automatic stuck-kill retries.
 
+## Dispatch oscillation breaker (`[scheduler]`, `[self-healing]`)
+
+FN-5941 adds a convergence backstop for repeated `todo↔in-progress` churn.
+
+- Suppressed false-positive backward recoveries emit `task:reclaim-self-owned-branch-conflict-no-action`, `task:auto-recover-in-progress-limbo-no-action`, or `task:stuck-loop-exhausted-no-action` with liveness metadata (`taskId`, `branch`, `worktree`, `checkedOutBy`, `executionStartedAt`, `executionAgeMs`, `graceMs`, `liveWorktreeBoundBranch`, `reason`).
+- Scheduler settle-window diagnostic: `Task <id> was engine-requeued <age>ms ago — waiting <settleMs>ms settle window before redispatch`.
+- Terminal audit event: `task:dispatch-oscillation-terminalized` with `{ taskId, cycleCount, windowMs, lastMoveSource }`.
+- Outcome: task stays in `todo`, is auto-paused with `pausedReason: "dispatch-oscillation"`, and requires operator unpause/forward progress to reset the counter.
+
 ## Stale self-owned active-session cleanup diagnostics (`[executor]`)
 
 FN-5346 adds a same-task stale-binding reconcile marker before worktree removal:
diff --git a/docs/settings-reference.md b/docs/settings-reference.md
index 94712f71a3..183b6217bc 100644
--- a/docs/settings-reference.md
+++ b/docs/settings-reference.md
@@ -389,6 +389,9 @@ Default notes:
 | `specStalenessEnabled` | `boolean` | `false` | Enforce automatic re-planning for stale plans. |
 | `specStalenessMaxAgeMs` | `number` | `21600000` | Spec staleness threshold in ms (6 hours). |
 | `taskStuckTimeoutMs` | `number` | `undefined` | Inactivity timeout for stuck-task recovery. |
+| `dispatchOscillationThreshold` | `number` | `5` | Number of rapid `todo↔in-progress` cycles allowed before scheduler auto-pauses the task with `pausedReason="dispatch-oscillation"`. |
+| `dispatchOscillationWindowMs` | `number` | `60000` | Sliding window in ms used to count rapid `todo↔in-progress` cycles for the dispatch-oscillation breaker. |
+| `dispatchOscillationSettleMs` | `number` | `5000` | Minimum settle delay after an engine-sourced `in-progress → todo` recovery before scheduler may re-dispatch the task. Prevents immediate same-tick redispatch races. |
 | `runtimeStopDrainMs` | `number` | `2000` | Maximum milliseconds `InProcessRuntime.stop()` waits for in-flight tasks to drain after aborting AI sessions. Set `0` to skip drain polling entirely (useful for test/CI). |
 | `engineActiveSinceMs` | `number` | `undefined` | Epoch ms when the in-process runtime last became active (startup or unpause). Time-based stuck/stalled/stale surfaces floor their activity anchor at this timestamp so paused/stopped downtime is not counted as quiet age. Runtime-managed; typically not set manually. |
 | `engineActivationGraceMs` | `number` | `300000` | Extra grace window (ms) added after `engineActiveSinceMs` before time-based stuck/stalled/stale surfaces can fire. Set `0` to disable warmup. |
diff --git a/packages/core/src/__tests__/settings-parity.test.ts b/packages/core/src/__tests__/settings-parity.test.ts
index eae4ca2f72..14ce670f26 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/__tests__/settings-parity.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/__tests__/settings-parity.test.ts
@@ -181,7 +181,13 @@ describe("settings key parity", () => {
 
   it("keeps task stuck timeout active by default without coupling to workflow step timeout", () => {
     expect(DEFAULT_PROJECT_SETTINGS.taskStuckTimeoutMs).toBe(600_000);
+    expect(DEFAULT_PROJECT_SETTINGS.dispatchOscillationThreshold).toBe(5);
+    expect(DEFAULT_PROJECT_SETTINGS.dispatchOscillationWindowMs).toBe(60_000);
+    expect(DEFAULT_PROJECT_SETTINGS.dispatchOscillationSettleMs).toBe(5_000);
     expect(DEFAULT_PROJECT_SETTINGS.runtimeStopDrainMs).toBe(2_000);
+    expect(isProjectSettingsKey("dispatchOscillationThreshold")).toBe(true);
+    expect(isProjectSettingsKey("dispatchOscillationWindowMs")).toBe(true);
+    expect(isProjectSettingsKey("dispatchOscillationSettleMs")).toBe(true);
     // workflowStepTimeoutMs MOVED to workflow settings (U4) — no longer a project key.
     expect(isProjectSettingsKey("workflowStepTimeoutMs")).toBe(false);
     expect(PROJECT_SETTINGS_KEYS).not.toContain("workflowStepTimeoutMs");
diff --git a/packages/core/src/settings-schema.ts b/packages/core/src/settings-schema.ts
index 5e3cef5c65..90c9b0f0dd 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/settings-schema.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/settings-schema.ts
@@ -342,6 +342,12 @@ export const DEFAULT_PROJECT_SETTINGS = {
   specStalenessEnabled: false,
   specStalenessMaxAgeMs: 6 * 60 * 60 * 1000,
   taskStuckTimeoutMs: 600_000,
+  /** Number of rapid todo↔in-progress cycles allowed before auto-pausing the task. */
+  dispatchOscillationThreshold: 5,
+  /** Sliding time window used to count rapid todo↔in-progress cycles. */
+  dispatchOscillationWindowMs: 60_000,
+  /** Delay before scheduler may re-dispatch an engine-requeued todo task. */
+  dispatchOscillationSettleMs: 5_000,
   runtimeStopDrainMs: 2_000,
   engineActiveSinceMs: undefined,
   engineActivationGraceMs: 5 * 60_000,
diff --git a/packages/core/src/types.ts b/packages/core/src/types.ts
index 2bbe56a69a..1940c905e5 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/types.ts
@@ -3649,6 +3649,15 @@ export interface ProjectSettings {
    *  than this duration, the task is considered stuck and will be terminated and retried.
    *  Default: 600000 (10 minutes). Set to 0 to disable. */
   taskStuckTimeoutMs?: number;
+  /** Number of rapid todo↔in-progress cycles allowed before auto-pausing the task.
+   *  Default: 5. */
+  dispatchOscillationThreshold?: number;
+  /** Sliding time window in milliseconds used to count rapid todo↔in-progress cycles.
+   *  Default: 60000 (1 minute). */
+  dispatchOscillationWindowMs?: number;
+  /** Delay before scheduler may re-dispatch an engine-requeued todo task.
+   *  Default: 5000 (5 seconds). */
+  dispatchOscillationSettleMs?: number;
   /** Maximum milliseconds InProcessRuntime.stop() waits for in-flight tasks to drain
    *  AFTER aborting their AI sessions. Default: 2000. Set to 0 to skip drain waits
    *  entirely (test/CI). Set to 30000 to preserve the historical 30s grace window. */
diff --git a/packages/engine/src/__tests__/reliability-interactions/todo-inprogress-flapping.test.ts b/packages/engine/src/__tests__/reliability-interactions/todo-inprogress-flapping.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..445d1ac490
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/engine/src/__tests__/reliability-interactions/todo-inprogress-flapping.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,556 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { EventEmitter } from "node:events";
+import { mkdirSync, rmSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { execSync } from "node:child_process";
+import type { Settings, Task, TaskStore } from "@fusion/core";
+import { Scheduler } from "../../scheduler.js";
+import { SelfHealingManager } from "../../self-healing.js";
+import * as branchConflictModule from "../../branch-conflicts.js";
+import * as worktreePoolModule from "../../worktree-pool.js";
+
+function git(cwd: string, command: string): string {
+  return execSync(`git ${command}`, { cwd, encoding: "utf8", stdio: ["pipe", "pipe", "pipe"] }).trim();
+}
+
+type MutableSettings = Settings & {
+  autoMerge?: boolean;
+  globalPause?: boolean;
+  enginePaused?: boolean;
+  dispatchOscillationSettleMs?: number;
+};
+
+function makeTask(rootDir: string, overrides: Partial<Task> = {}): Task {
+  return {
+    id: "FN-5941",
+    title: "flapping",
+    description: "test",
+    column: "in-progress",
+    branch: "fusion/fn-5941",
+    worktree: join(rootDir, ".worktrees", "fn-5941"),
+    paused: false,
+    userPaused: false,
+    checkedOutBy: undefined,
+    dependencies: [],
+    steps: [{ id: "s1", title: "step", status: "in-progress" } as any],
+    currentStep: 1,
+    log: [],
+    createdAt: new Date("2026-01-01T00:00:00.000Z").toISOString(),
+    updatedAt: new Date("2026-01-01T00:00:00.000Z").toISOString(),
+    columnMovedAt: new Date("2026-01-01T00:00:00.000Z").toISOString(),
+    executionStartedAt: new Date("2026-01-01T00:00:00.000Z").toISOString(),
+    ...overrides,
+  } as Task;
+}
+
+function makeStore(rootDir: string, task: Task, settingsOverrides: Partial<MutableSettings> = {}): TaskStore & EventEmitter {
+  const emitter = new EventEmitter();
+  const settings = {
+    autoMerge: true,
+    globalPause: false,
+    enginePaused: false,
+    baseBranch: "main",
+    mergeStrategy: "direct",
+    autoRecovery: { mode: "deterministic-only", maxRetries: 3 },
+    maxStuckKills: 6,
+    ...settingsOverrides,
+  } as unknown as Settings;
+
+  return Object.assign(emitter, {
+    getSettings: vi.fn(async () => settings),
+    getTask: vi.fn(async (id: string) => (id === task.id ? task : null)),
+    listTasks: vi.fn(async ({ column }: { column?: string } = {}) => (column === task.column ? [task] : [])),
+    updateTask: vi.fn(async (_id: string, updates: Partial<Task>) => Object.assign(task, updates)),
+    moveTask: vi.fn(async (_id: string, column: Task["column"], opts?: Record<string, unknown>) => {
+      task.column = column;
+      (task as any).__lastMoveOpts = opts;
+      return task;
+    }),
+    logEntry: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
+    recordRunAuditEvent: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
+    appendAgentLog: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
+    updateSettings: vi.fn(async () => settings),
+    clearStaleExecutionStartBranchReferences: vi.fn(() => []),
+    walCheckpoint: vi.fn(() => ({ busy: 0, log: 0, checkpointed: 0 })),
+    archiveTaskAndCleanup: vi.fn(async () => ({})),
+    mergeTask: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
+    handoffToReview: vi.fn(async () => task),
+    getRootDir: vi.fn(() => rootDir),
+  }) as unknown as TaskStore & EventEmitter;
+}
+
+function makeSchedulerStore(rootDir: string, task: Task, settingsOverrides: Partial<MutableSettings> = {}): TaskStore & EventEmitter {
+  const emitter = new EventEmitter();
+  const settings = {
+    autoMerge: true,
+    globalPause: false,
+    enginePaused: false,
+    maxConcurrent: 1,
+    maxWorktrees: 10,
+    groupOverlappingFiles: false,
+    dispatchOscillationSettleMs: 5_000,
+    worktreeNaming: "task-id",
+    ...settingsOverrides,
+  } as unknown as Settings;
+
+  return Object.assign(emitter, {
+    getSettings: vi.fn(async () => settings),
+    getTask: vi.fn(async (id: string) => (id === task.id ? task : null)),
+    listTasks: vi.fn(async ({ column }: { column?: string } = {}) => {
+      if (!column) return [task];
+      return task.column === column ? [task] : [];
+    }),
+    updateTask: vi.fn(async (_id: string, updates: Partial<Task>) => Object.assign(task, updates)),
+    moveTask: vi.fn(async (_id: string, column: Task["column"], opts?: Record<string, unknown>) => {
+      const from = task.column;
+      task.column = column;
+      task.columnMovedAt = new Date(Date.now()).toISOString();
+      emitter.emit("task:moved", { task, from, to: column, source: (opts?.moveSource as "user" | "engine" | "scheduler" | undefined) ?? "engine" });
+      return task;
+    }),
+    logEntry: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
+    recordRunAuditEvent: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
+    getRootDir: vi.fn(() => rootDir),
+    getTasksDir: vi.fn(() => join(rootDir, ".fusion", "tasks")),
+    parseFileScopeFromPrompt: vi.fn(async () => []),
+    on: emitter.on.bind(emitter),
+    off: emitter.off.bind(emitter),
+  }) as unknown as TaskStore & EventEmitter;
+}
+
+describe("FN-5941 reliability interactions: todo/in-progress flapping", () => {
+  let rootDir = "";
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.restoreAllMocks();
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+    vi.setSystemTime(new Date("2026-01-01T02:00:00.000Z"));
+    vi.spyOn(Scheduler.prototype as any, "validateTaskFilesystem").mockResolvedValue({ valid: true });
+    rootDir = join(tmpdir(), `fn-5941-${Math.random().toString(36).slice(2)}`);
+    mkdirSync(rootDir, { recursive: true });
+    git(rootDir, "init -b main");
+    git(rootDir, "config user.name 'Fusion'");
+    git(rootDir, "config user.email 'hi@runfusion.ai'");
+    writeFileSync(join(rootDir, "README.md"), "root\n");
+    git(rootDir, "add README.md");
+    git(rootDir, "commit -m 'init'");
+    mkdirSync(join(rootDir, ".worktrees"), { recursive: true });
+    mkdirSync(join(rootDir, ".worktrees", "fn-5941"), { recursive: true });
+    vi.spyOn(worktreePoolModule, "isUsableTaskWorktree").mockResolvedValue(true);
+    vi.spyOn(branchConflictModule, "inspectBranchConflict").mockResolvedValue({
+      kind: "reclaimable",
+      taskAttributedCommitCount: 1,
+      strandedCommits: [{ sha: "c1", authorName: "a", subject: "s", timestamp: Date.now() }],
+      livePath: join(rootDir, ".worktrees", "fn-5941"),
+      tipSha: "abc123abc123abc123abc123abc123abc123abcd",
+    } as any);
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    vi.useRealTimers();
+    if (rootDir) rmSync(rootDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  });
+
+  it("does not requeue a genuinely executing in-progress task during resume-limbo reclaim", async () => {
+    const task = makeTask(rootDir, {
+      resumeLimboCount: 1,
+      resumeLimboTipSha: "abc123abc123abc123abc123abc123abc123abcd",
+      resumeLimboStepSignature: JSON.stringify({ currentStep: 1, steps: ["in-progress"] }),
+      executionStartedAt: new Date(Date.now() - 30_000).toISOString(),
+    });
+    const store = makeStore(rootDir, task);
+    const manager = new SelfHealingManager(store as any, {
+      rootDir,
+      getExecutingTaskIds: () => new Set<string>([task.id]),
+    } as any);
+
+    const recovered = await manager.reclaimSelfOwnedBranchConflicts();
+
+    expect(recovered).toBe(0);
+    expect(store.moveTask).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(task.column).toBe("in-progress");
+    expect(task.resumeLimboCount).toBe(1);
+    expect(store.recordRunAuditEvent).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({
+      mutationType: "task:reclaim-self-owned-branch-conflict-no-action",
+      target: task.id,
+      metadata: expect.objectContaining({ reason: "executor-active" }),
+    }));
+
+    manager.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("defers resume-limbo reclaim when execution started within the grace window", async () => {
+    const task = makeTask(rootDir, {
+      resumeLimboCount: 1,
+      resumeLimboTipSha: "abc123abc123abc123abc123abc123abc123abcd",
+      resumeLimboStepSignature: JSON.stringify({ currentStep: 1, steps: ["in-progress"] }),
+      executionStartedAt: new Date(Date.now() - 60_000).toISOString(),
+    });
+    const store = makeStore(rootDir, task);
+    const manager = new SelfHealingManager(store as any, { rootDir } as any);
+
+    const recovered = await manager.reclaimSelfOwnedBranchConflicts();
+
+    expect(recovered).toBe(0);
+    expect(store.moveTask).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(store.recordRunAuditEvent).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({
+      mutationType: "task:reclaim-self-owned-branch-conflict-no-action",
+      target: task.id,
+      metadata: expect.objectContaining({ reason: "recent-execution-started" }),
+    }));
+
+    manager.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("does not requeue a task tracked by an active heartbeat run during resume-limbo reclaim", async () => {
+    const task = makeTask(rootDir, {
+      id: "FN-5941-HEARTBEAT",
+      resumeLimboCount: 1,
+      resumeLimboTipSha: "abc123abc123abc123abc123abc123abc123abcd",
+      resumeLimboStepSignature: JSON.stringify({ currentStep: 1, steps: ["in-progress"] }),
+      executionStartedAt: new Date("2025-12-31T20:00:00.000Z").toISOString(),
+    });
+    const store = makeStore(rootDir, task);
+    const agentStore = {
+      listActiveHeartbeatRuns: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([
+        { startedAt: new Date().toISOString(), contextSnapshot: { taskId: task.id } },
+      ]),
+    };
+    const manager = new SelfHealingManager(store as any, { rootDir, agentStore } as any);
+
+    const recovered = await manager.reclaimSelfOwnedBranchConflicts();
+
+    expect(recovered).toBe(0);
+    expect(store.moveTask).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(store.recordRunAuditEvent).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({
+      mutationType: "task:reclaim-self-owned-branch-conflict-no-action",
+      target: task.id,
+      metadata: expect.objectContaining({ reason: "active-heartbeat-run" }),
+    }));
+
+    manager.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("does not requeue an executor-active task when stuck-kill budget is exhausted", async () => {
+    const task = makeTask(rootDir, {
+      id: "FN-5941-STUCK",
+      stuckKillCount: 6,
+      executionStartedAt: new Date(Date.now() - 15_000).toISOString(),
+      steps: [{ id: "s1", title: "step", status: "in-progress" } as any],
+      currentStep: 1,
+    });
+    const store = makeStore(rootDir, task, { maxStuckKills: 6 });
+    const manager = new SelfHealingManager(store as any, {
+      rootDir,
+      getExecutingTaskIds: () => new Set<string>([task.id]),
+    } as any);
+
+    const allowedRetry = await manager.checkStuckBudget(task.id, "inactivity");
+
+    expect(allowedRetry).toBe(false);
+    expect(store.moveTask).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(task.column).toBe("in-progress");
+    expect(task.stuckKillCount).toBe(6);
+    expect(store.recordRunAuditEvent).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({
+      mutationType: "task:stuck-loop-exhausted-no-action",
+      target: task.id,
+      metadata: expect.objectContaining({
+        reason: "executor-active",
+        attemptedStuckKillCount: 7,
+        maxStuckKills: 6,
+      }),
+    }));
+
+    manager.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("does not requeue a recent resume-limbo task when execution just started", async () => {
+    const task = makeTask(rootDir, {
+      id: "FN-5941-RESUME",
+      resumeLimboCount: 1,
+      resumeLimboTipSha: "abc123abc123abc123abc123abc123abc123abcd",
+      resumeLimboStepSignature: JSON.stringify({ currentStep: 1, steps: ["in-progress"] }),
+      executionStartedAt: new Date(Date.now() - 15_000).toISOString(),
+    });
+    const store = makeStore(rootDir, task);
+    const manager = new SelfHealingManager(store as any, { rootDir } as any);
+
+    const recovered = await manager.reclaimSelfOwnedBranchConflicts();
+
+    expect(recovered).toBe(0);
+    expect(store.moveTask).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(task.column).toBe("in-progress");
+    expect(store.recordRunAuditEvent).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({
+      mutationType: "task:reclaim-self-owned-branch-conflict-no-action",
+      target: task.id,
+      metadata: expect.objectContaining({ reason: "recent-execution-started" }),
+    }));
+
+    manager.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("still requeues a genuinely dead task when stuck-kill budget is exhausted", async () => {
+    const task = makeTask(rootDir, {
+      id: "FN-5941-DEAD",
+      stuckKillCount: 6,
+      branch: undefined,
+      worktree: join(rootDir, ".worktrees", "fn-5941-missing-dead"),
+      executionStartedAt: new Date("2025-12-31T20:00:00.000Z").toISOString(),
+      steps: [{ id: "s1", title: "step", status: "in-progress" } as any],
+      currentStep: 1,
+    });
+    const store = makeStore(rootDir, task, { maxStuckKills: 6 });
+    const manager = new SelfHealingManager(store as any, { rootDir } as any);
+
+    const allowedRetry = await manager.checkStuckBudget(task.id, "inactivity");
+
+    expect(allowedRetry).toBe(false);
+    expect(store.moveTask).toHaveBeenCalledWith(task.id, "todo", expect.objectContaining({
+      preserveProgress: true,
+      preserveStatus: true,
+      moveSource: "engine",
+      recoveryRehome: true,
+    }));
+    expect(task.column).toBe("todo");
+    expect(task.stuckKillCount).toBe(7);
+    expect(task.status).toBe("queued");
+
+    manager.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("does not requeue an in-progress limbo candidate while a checkout lease is still live", async () => {
+    const task = makeTask(rootDir, {
+      branch: undefined,
+      worktree: join(rootDir, ".worktrees", "fn-5941-missing"),
+      checkedOutBy: "agent-123",
+      executionStartedAt: new Date("2025-12-31T23:00:00.000Z").toISOString(),
+      updatedAt: new Date("2025-12-31T23:00:00.000Z").toISOString(),
+      columnMovedAt: new Date("2025-12-31T23:00:00.000Z").toISOString(),
+      steps: [{ id: "s1", title: "step", status: "pending" } as any],
+      currentStep: 1,
+    });
+    const store = makeStore(rootDir, task);
+    const manager = new SelfHealingManager(store as any, { rootDir } as any);
+
+    const recovered = await manager.recoverInProgressLimbo();
+
+    expect(recovered).toBe(0);
+    expect(store.moveTask).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(task.column).toBe("in-progress");
+    expect(store.recordRunAuditEvent).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({
+      mutationType: "task:auto-recover-in-progress-limbo-no-action",
+      target: task.id,
+      metadata: expect.objectContaining({ reason: "checked-out-lease-active" }),
+    }));
+
+    manager.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("waits for the settle window before re-dispatching an engine-requeued todo task", async () => {
+    const task = makeTask(rootDir, {
+      id: "FN-5941-SCHED",
+      column: "todo",
+      branch: undefined,
+      worktree: undefined,
+      steps: [],
+      currentStep: 0,
+      status: "queued",
+      columnMovedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+    });
+    const store = makeSchedulerStore(rootDir, task);
+    const scheduler = new Scheduler(store as any);
+
+    store.emit("task:moved", { task, from: "in-progress", to: "todo", source: "engine" });
+    (scheduler as any).running = true;
+
+    await scheduler.schedule();
+    expect(store.moveTask).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(5_001);
+    await scheduler.schedule();
+
+    expect(store.moveTask).toHaveBeenCalledWith(task.id, "in-progress", expect.objectContaining({ moveSource: "scheduler" }));
+  });
+
+  it("auto-pauses a task once dispatch oscillation exceeds the threshold", async () => {
+    const task = makeTask(rootDir, {
+      id: "FN-5941-BREAKER",
+      column: "todo",
+      branch: undefined,
+      worktree: undefined,
+      steps: [],
+      currentStep: 0,
+      status: "queued",
+      dispatchStormCount: 5,
+      lastDispatchAt: new Date(Date.now() - 1_000).toISOString(),
+      columnMovedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+      error: undefined,
+    });
+    const store = makeSchedulerStore(rootDir, task, {
+      dispatchOscillationThreshold: 5,
+      dispatchOscillationWindowMs: 60_000,
+    });
+    const scheduler = new Scheduler(store as any);
+    (scheduler as any).running = true;
+
+    await scheduler.schedule();
+
+    expect(store.moveTask).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(task.paused).toBe(true);
+    expect(task.pausedReason).toBe("dispatch-oscillation");
+    expect(task.dispatchStormCount).toBe(6);
+    expect(store.recordRunAuditEvent).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({
+      mutationType: "task:dispatch-oscillation-terminalized",
+      target: task.id,
+      metadata: expect.objectContaining({ cycleCount: 6, windowMs: 60_000 }),
+    }));
+  });
+
+  it("keeps dispatching while oscillation count stays under the threshold", async () => {
+    const task = makeTask(rootDir, {
+      id: "FN-5941-UNDER",
+      column: "todo",
+      branch: undefined,
+      worktree: undefined,
+      steps: [],
+      currentStep: 0,
+      status: "queued",
+      dispatchStormCount: 1,
+      lastDispatchAt: new Date(Date.now() - 1_000).toISOString(),
+      columnMovedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+    });
+    const store = makeSchedulerStore(rootDir, task, {
+      dispatchOscillationThreshold: 5,
+      dispatchOscillationWindowMs: 60_000,
+    });
+    const scheduler = new Scheduler(store as any);
+    (scheduler as any).running = true;
+
+    await scheduler.schedule();
+
+    expect(store.moveTask).toHaveBeenCalledWith(task.id, "in-progress", expect.objectContaining({ moveSource: "scheduler" }));
+    expect(task.dispatchStormCount).toBe(2);
+    expect(task.paused).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("resets the oscillation counter after the window ages out", async () => {
+    const task = makeTask(rootDir, {
+      id: "FN-5941-AGED",
+      column: "todo",
+      branch: undefined,
+      worktree: undefined,
+      steps: [],
+      currentStep: 0,
+      status: "queued",
+      dispatchStormCount: 4,
+      lastDispatchAt: new Date(Date.now() - 120_000).toISOString(),
+      columnMovedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+    });
+    const store = makeSchedulerStore(rootDir, task, {
+      dispatchOscillationThreshold: 5,
+      dispatchOscillationWindowMs: 60_000,
+    });
+    const scheduler = new Scheduler(store as any);
+    (scheduler as any).running = true;
+
+    await scheduler.schedule();
+
+    expect(store.moveTask).toHaveBeenCalledWith(task.id, "in-progress", expect.objectContaining({ moveSource: "scheduler" }));
+    expect(task.dispatchStormCount).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  it("resets dispatch oscillation state on forward transition to in-review", async () => {
+    const task = makeTask(rootDir, {
+      id: "FN-5941-RESET-MOVE",
+      column: "todo",
+      branch: undefined,
+      worktree: undefined,
+      steps: [],
+      currentStep: 0,
+      dispatchStormCount: 3,
+      lastDispatchAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+    });
+    const store = makeSchedulerStore(rootDir, task);
+    const scheduler = new Scheduler(store as any);
+
+    store.emit("task:moved", { task, from: "todo", to: "in-review", source: "engine" });
+    await Promise.resolve();
+
+    expect(task.dispatchStormCount).toBeNull();
+    expect(task.lastDispatchAt).toBeNull();
+    expect((scheduler as any).recentEngineTodoRequeues.has(task.id)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("resets dispatch oscillation state on manual unpause", async () => {
+    const task = makeTask(rootDir, {
+      id: "FN-5941-RESET-UNPAUSE",
+      column: "todo",
+      branch: undefined,
+      worktree: undefined,
+      steps: [],
+      currentStep: 0,
+      paused: true,
+      userPaused: false,
+      dispatchStormCount: 4,
+      lastDispatchAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+    });
+    const store = makeSchedulerStore(rootDir, task);
+    new Scheduler(store as any);
+
+    store.emit("task:updated", task);
+    task.paused = false;
+    store.emit("task:updated", task);
+    await Promise.resolve();
+
+    expect(task.dispatchStormCount).toBeNull();
+    expect(task.lastDispatchAt).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("clears the settle-window guard when the task is deleted", async () => {
+    const task = makeTask(rootDir, {
+      id: "FN-5941-DELETE",
+      column: "todo",
+      branch: undefined,
+      worktree: undefined,
+      steps: [],
+      currentStep: 0,
+      status: "queued",
+      columnMovedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+    });
+    const store = makeSchedulerStore(rootDir, task);
+    const scheduler = new Scheduler(store as any);
+
+    store.emit("task:moved", { task, from: "in-progress", to: "todo", source: "engine" });
+    store.emit("task:deleted", task);
+    (scheduler as any).running = true;
+
+    await scheduler.schedule();
+
+    expect(store.moveTask).toHaveBeenCalledWith(task.id, "in-progress", expect.objectContaining({ moveSource: "scheduler" }));
+  });
+
+  it("does not delay a user-moved todo task with the settle-window guard", async () => {
+    const task = makeTask(rootDir, {
+      id: "FN-5941-USER",
+      column: "todo",
+      branch: undefined,
+      worktree: undefined,
+      steps: [],
+      currentStep: 0,
+      status: "queued",
+      columnMovedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+    });
+    const store = makeSchedulerStore(rootDir, task);
+    const scheduler = new Scheduler(store as any);
+
+    store.emit("task:moved", { task, from: "in-progress", to: "todo", source: "engine" });
+    task.columnMovedAt = new Date().toISOString();
+    store.emit("task:moved", { task, from: "in-progress", to: "todo", source: "user" });
+    (scheduler as any).running = true;
+
+    await scheduler.schedule();
+
+    expect(store.moveTask).toHaveBeenCalledWith(task.id, "in-progress", expect.objectContaining({ moveSource: "scheduler" }));
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/engine/src/__tests__/scheduler.test.ts b/packages/engine/src/__tests__/scheduler.test.ts
index 4b4ef4fff5..b07223c40b 100644
--- a/packages/engine/src/__tests__/scheduler.test.ts
+++ b/packages/engine/src/__tests__/scheduler.test.ts
@@ -578,13 +578,14 @@ describe("Scheduler", () => {
       expect(onMoves).toContainEqual(["FN-1", "in-progress"]);
     });
 
-    it("flag-OFF: the sweep never issues a scheduler-sourced move (legacy path byte-identical)", async () => {
+    it("flag-OFF: todo dispatch is tagged as scheduler-sourced for redispatch guards", async () => {
       const off = setupTodoStore(false);
       await off.scheduler.schedule();
       const schedulerSourcedMoves = vi
         .mocked(off.store.moveTask)
         .mock.calls.filter((c) => (c[2] as { moveSource?: string } | undefined)?.moveSource === "scheduler");
-      expect(schedulerSourcedMoves.length).toBe(0);
+      expect(schedulerSourcedMoves.length).toBe(1);
+      expect(schedulerSourcedMoves[0]?.slice(0, 2)).toEqual(["FN-1", "in-progress"]);
     });
   });
 
@@ -2466,22 +2467,23 @@ describe("Scheduler", () => {
       (scheduler as any).running = true;
       await scheduler.schedule();
 
-      expect(updateTask).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(1, "FN-011", {
+      const dispatchPrepCalls = updateTask.mock.calls.filter(([, patch]) => Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(patch, "mergeRetries"));
+      expect(dispatchPrepCalls[0]).toEqual(["FN-011", {
         status: null,
         blockedBy: null,
         executionStartBranch: undefined,
         effectiveNodeId: null,
         effectiveNodeSource: "local",
         mergeRetries: 0,
-      });
-      expect(updateTask).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, "FN-012", {
+      }]);
+      expect(dispatchPrepCalls[1]).toEqual(["FN-012", {
         status: null,
         blockedBy: null,
         executionStartBranch: undefined,
         effectiveNodeId: null,
         effectiveNodeSource: "local",
         mergeRetries: 0,
-      });
+      }]);
 
       randomSpy.mockRestore();
     });
diff --git a/packages/engine/src/__tests__/self-healing-in-progress-limbo.test.ts b/packages/engine/src/__tests__/self-healing-in-progress-limbo.test.ts
index 5ef1222233..9f99467c59 100644
--- a/packages/engine/src/__tests__/self-healing-in-progress-limbo.test.ts
+++ b/packages/engine/src/__tests__/self-healing-in-progress-limbo.test.ts
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ describe("recoverInProgressLimbo", () => {
       rootDir: "/tmp/test-project",
       getExecutingTaskIds: () => new Set<string>(),
       leaseManager: {
-        recoverAbandonedLease: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(false),
+        recoverAbandonedLease: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(true),
         reconcileLeaseRow,
       } as any,
     });
diff --git a/packages/engine/src/__tests__/self-healing.test.ts b/packages/engine/src/__tests__/self-healing.test.ts
index 12813ab527..f6f18f0e63 100644
--- a/packages/engine/src/__tests__/self-healing.test.ts
+++ b/packages/engine/src/__tests__/self-healing.test.ts
@@ -7951,15 +7951,21 @@ describe("SelfHealingManager reclaimSelfOwnedBranchConflicts", () => {
     expect(store.updateTask).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
-  it("skips checked out tasks", async () => {
+  it("skips checked out tasks and emits no-action telemetry", async () => {
     (store.listTasks as any)
       .mockResolvedValueOnce([{ id: "FN-501", checkedOutBy: "agent-1", branch: "fusion/fn-501", worktree: "/tmp/fn-501" }])
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce([])
       .mockResolvedValueOnce([]);
     const inspectSpy = vi.spyOn(branchConflictModule, "inspectBranchConflict");
 
     const recovered = await manager.reclaimSelfOwnedBranchConflicts();
     expect(recovered).toBe(0);
     expect(inspectSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect((store as any).recordRunAuditEvent).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({
+      mutationType: "task:reclaim-self-owned-branch-conflict-no-action",
+      target: "FN-501",
+      metadata: expect.objectContaining({ reason: "checked-out-lease-active" }),
+    }));
   });
 
   it("skips tasks with recent active heartbeat runs", async () => {
diff --git a/packages/engine/src/run-audit.ts b/packages/engine/src/run-audit.ts
index 0b560535c2..6f52b46221 100644
--- a/packages/engine/src/run-audit.ts
+++ b/packages/engine/src/run-audit.ts
@@ -471,10 +471,18 @@ export type DatabaseMutationType =
   | "task:auto-recover-post-done-noncontinuable-wedge-exhausted"
   | "task:auto-recover-worktree-session-exhausted"
   | "task:auto-recover-in-progress-limbo"
+  /** Metadata: { taskId, branch, worktree, checkedOutBy, executionStartedAt, executionAgeMs, graceMs, liveWorktreeBoundBranch, reason } */
+  | "task:auto-recover-in-progress-limbo-no-action"
   | "task:resume-limbo-escalated"
+  /** Metadata: { taskId, branch, worktree, checkedOutBy, executionStartedAt, executionAgeMs, graceMs, liveWorktreeBoundBranch, reason } */
+  | "task:reclaim-self-owned-branch-conflict-no-action"
   | "task:orphan-detected-no-action"
+  /** Metadata: { taskId, lastReason, stuckKillCount, attemptedStuckKillCount, maxStuckKills, checkedOutBy, executionStartedAt, executionAgeMs, graceMs, liveWorktreeBoundBranch } */
+  | "task:stuck-loop-exhausted-no-action"
   /** Metadata: { taskId: string; ignoredStepUpdateCount: number; stuckKillStreak: number; lastReason: "no-progress-churn" } */
   | "task:stuck-no-progress-churn-terminalized"
+  /** Metadata: { taskId, cycleCount, windowMs, lastMoveSource } */
+  | "task:dispatch-oscillation-terminalized"
   | "task:auto-recover-starved-refinement"
   /** Metadata: { rawDiffFileCount: number; attributedFileCount: number; foreignCommitCount: number; foreignCommitShas: string[]; source: string } */
   | "task:worktree-contamination-detected"
diff --git a/packages/engine/src/scheduler.ts b/packages/engine/src/scheduler.ts
index 5a014383eb..c099ccfcdb 100644
--- a/packages/engine/src/scheduler.ts
+++ b/packages/engine/src/scheduler.ts
@@ -142,6 +142,10 @@ const COORDINATION_SAFE_SCOPE_PREFIXES = [
   ".changeset/",
 ];
 
+const DEFAULT_DISPATCH_OSCILLATION_SETTLE_MS = 5_000;
+const DEFAULT_DISPATCH_OSCILLATION_THRESHOLD = 5;
+const DEFAULT_DISPATCH_OSCILLATION_WINDOW_MS = 60_000;
+
 function isCoordinationSafeScopeEntry(entry: string): boolean {
   const normalized = normalizeOverlapPath(entry).toLowerCase();
   if (!normalized) return false;
@@ -483,6 +487,8 @@ export class Scheduler {
   private dispatchQueuedConcurrencyAuditMemo = new Map<string, string>();
   /** Tracks per-task candidacy fingerprints for task:updated auto-claim invalidation gating. */
   private lastAutoClaimFingerprint = new Map<string, string>();
+  /** Tracks recent engine-sourced in-progress → todo requeues to prevent immediate re-dispatch races. */
+  private recentEngineTodoRequeues = new Map<string, string>();
   private readonly staleTaskReporter: StaleTaskReporter;
   private readonly backlogPressureReporter: BacklogPressureReporter;
   private readonly unlinkedMissionsAdvisoryReporter: UnlinkedMissionsAdvisoryReporter;
@@ -559,7 +565,7 @@ export class Scheduler {
      * Also handles mission auto-advance: when a linked task completes,
      * update feature status and potentially activate next pending slice.
      */
-    this.store.on("task:moved", async ({ task, from, to }) => {
+    this.store.on("task:moved", async ({ task, from, to, source }) => {
       this.lastAutoClaimFingerprint.set(task.id, computeAutoClaimFingerprint(task));
       if (from === "todo" || to === "todo") {
         this.options.snapshotManager?.invalidate(`task:moved:${from}->${to}`);
@@ -670,6 +676,24 @@ export class Scheduler {
         }
       }
 
+      if (from === "in-progress" && to === "todo") {
+        if (source === "engine") {
+          this.recentEngineTodoRequeues.set(task.id, task.columnMovedAt ?? new Date().toISOString());
+        } else {
+          this.recentEngineTodoRequeues.delete(task.id);
+        }
+      } else if (to === "in-review" || to === "done" || to === "archived") {
+        this.recentEngineTodoRequeues.delete(task.id);
+        if (task.dispatchStormCount != null || task.lastDispatchAt != null) {
+          void this.store.updateTask(task.id, {
+            dispatchStormCount: null,
+            lastDispatchAt: null,
+          }).catch((error) => {
+            schedulerLog.warn(`Failed to reset dispatch oscillation state for ${task.id} on move to ${to}: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}`);
+          });
+        }
+      }
+
       // Event-driven scheduling: when a task moves to "done" (completion) or "todo" (retry/manual move),
       // trigger scheduling immediately so waiting tasks can start without waiting
       // for the next poll interval (up to 15 seconds).
@@ -706,6 +730,14 @@ export class Scheduler {
       } else if (this.pausedTaskIds.has(task.id)) {
         // Task was paused, now unpaused — trigger scheduling
         this.pausedTaskIds.delete(task.id);
+        if (task.userPaused === false && (task.dispatchStormCount != null || task.lastDispatchAt != null)) {
+          void this.store.updateTask(task.id, {
+            dispatchStormCount: null,
+            lastDispatchAt: null,
+          }).catch((error) => {
+            schedulerLog.warn(`Failed to reset dispatch oscillation state for ${task.id} on unpause: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}`);
+          });
+        }
         if (this.running && (task.column === "todo" || task.column === "triage")) {
           schedulerLog.log(`Task ${task.id} unpaused — triggering scheduling`);
           this.schedule();
@@ -734,6 +766,7 @@ export class Scheduler {
       this.options.snapshotManager?.invalidate("task:deleted");
       this.pausedTaskIds.delete(task.id);
       this.failedTaskIds.delete(task.id);
+      this.recentEngineTodoRequeues.delete(task.id);
       this.wasNodeDispatchValidationBlocked.delete(task.id);
       this.wasNodeBlocked.delete(task.id);
       this.wasPermanentAgentUnavailable.delete(task.id);
@@ -1687,6 +1720,31 @@ export class Scheduler {
         }
 
         const latestSettings = await this.store.getSettings();
+        const oscillationSettings = latestSettings as Settings & {
+          dispatchOscillationSettleMs?: number;
+          dispatchOscillationThreshold?: number;
+          dispatchOscillationWindowMs?: number;
+        };
+        const dispatchSettleMs = oscillationSettings.dispatchOscillationSettleMs
+          ?? DEFAULT_DISPATCH_OSCILLATION_SETTLE_MS;
+        const dispatchOscillationThreshold = oscillationSettings.dispatchOscillationThreshold
+          ?? DEFAULT_DISPATCH_OSCILLATION_THRESHOLD;
+        const dispatchOscillationWindowMs = oscillationSettings.dispatchOscillationWindowMs
+          ?? DEFAULT_DISPATCH_OSCILLATION_WINDOW_MS;
+        const recentEngineTodoMovedAt = this.recentEngineTodoRequeues.get(task.id);
+        if (recentEngineTodoMovedAt) {
+          if (freshTask.columnMovedAt !== recentEngineTodoMovedAt) {
+            this.recentEngineTodoRequeues.delete(task.id);
+          } else {
+            const movedAtMs = Date.parse(recentEngineTodoMovedAt);
+            const settleAgeMs = Number.isFinite(movedAtMs) ? Math.max(0, Date.now() - movedAtMs) : dispatchSettleMs;
+            if (settleAgeMs < dispatchSettleMs) {
+              schedulerLog.log(`Task ${task.id} was engine-requeued ${settleAgeMs}ms ago — waiting ${dispatchSettleMs}ms settle window before redispatch`);
+              continue;
+            }
+            this.recentEngineTodoRequeues.delete(task.id);
+          }
+        }
         if (latestSettings.globalPause) {
           schedulerLog.log(`Task ${task.id} dispatch aborted — globalPause became active mid-pass`);
           continue;
@@ -1892,6 +1950,53 @@ export class Scheduler {
         // with mergeRetries=MAX, the merger refuses it (canMergeTask false),
         // and the ghost-review fallback bounces it back to todo every 10 min
         // before the 30-min cooldown can elapse — infinite loop. See FN-3305.
+        const dispatchTimestamp = new Date().toISOString();
+        const lastDispatchAtMs = freshTask.lastDispatchAt ? Date.parse(freshTask.lastDispatchAt) : Number.NaN;
+        const priorDispatchWithinWindow = Number.isFinite(lastDispatchAtMs)
+          && Date.now() - lastDispatchAtMs <= dispatchOscillationWindowMs;
+        const nextDispatchStormCount = priorDispatchWithinWindow
+          ? (freshTask.dispatchStormCount ?? 0) + 1
+          : 1;
+
+        if (nextDispatchStormCount > dispatchOscillationThreshold) {
+          const oscillationError = freshTask.error
+            ?? `DISPATCH_OSCILLATION: detected ${nextDispatchStormCount} todo↔in-progress cycles within ${dispatchOscillationWindowMs}ms. Task auto-paused for operator review.`;
+          await this.store.updateTask(task.id, {
+            dispatchStormCount: nextDispatchStormCount,
+            lastDispatchAt: dispatchTimestamp,
+            paused: true,
+            pausedReason: "dispatch-oscillation",
+            status: freshTask.status ?? "queued",
+            error: oscillationError,
+          });
+          await this.store.logEntry(
+            task.id,
+            `Dispatch oscillation auto-paused after ${nextDispatchStormCount} cycles within ${dispatchOscillationWindowMs}ms`,
+          );
+          await this.store.appendAgentLog?.(
+            task.id,
+            "Dispatch oscillation detected — task auto-paused for operator review",
+            "text",
+            `cycleCount=${nextDispatchStormCount} windowMs=${dispatchOscillationWindowMs}`,
+          );
+          await this.store.recordRunAuditEvent?.({
+            taskId: task.id,
+            agentId: "scheduler",
+            runId: generateSyntheticRunId("scheduler-dispatch-oscillation", task.id),
+            domain: "database",
+            mutationType: "task:dispatch-oscillation-terminalized",
+            target: task.id,
+            metadata: {
+              taskId: task.id,
+              cycleCount: nextDispatchStormCount,
+              windowMs: dispatchOscillationWindowMs,
+              lastMoveSource: recentEngineTodoMovedAt ? "engine" : "scheduler",
+            },
+          });
+          schedulerLog.warn(`Task ${task.id} auto-paused after dispatch oscillation threshold ${dispatchOscillationThreshold} was exceeded (${nextDispatchStormCount} cycles)`);
+          continue;
+        }
+
         schedulerLog.log(`Starting ${task.id}: ${task.title || task.id} (deps satisfied)`);
         await this.store.updateTask(task.id, {
           status: null,
@@ -1902,9 +2007,15 @@ export class Scheduler {
           mergeRetries: 0,
         });
         await this.store.moveTask(task.id, "in-progress", {
+          moveSource: "scheduler",
           allocateWorktree: (reservedNames) =>
             this.planWorktreePath(task, settings.worktreeNaming, reservedNames, settings),
         });
+        await this.store.updateTask(task.id, {
+          dispatchStormCount: nextDispatchStormCount,
+          lastDispatchAt: dispatchTimestamp,
+        });
+        this.recentEngineTodoRequeues.delete(task.id);
         this.wasNodeBlocked.delete(task.id);
         this.wasNodeDispatchValidationBlocked.delete(task.id);
         this.wasPermanentAgentUnavailable.delete(task.id);
diff --git a/packages/engine/src/self-healing.ts b/packages/engine/src/self-healing.ts
index f506332a9a..709f631074 100644
--- a/packages/engine/src/self-healing.ts
+++ b/packages/engine/src/self-healing.ts
@@ -795,6 +795,100 @@ export class SelfHealingManager {
     log.log(`[${stage}] ${task.id}: triple-proof not satisfied — no action (operator-decides)`);
   }
 
+  private async listActiveHeartbeatTaskIds(): Promise<Set<string>> {
+    const activeTaskIds = new Set<string>();
+    if (!this.options.agentStore) {
+      return activeTaskIds;
+    }
+
+    try {
+      const activeRuns = await this.options.agentStore.listActiveHeartbeatRuns();
+      const activeWindowMs = RUNNING_ON_INACTIVE_TASK_STALE_RUN_MS;
+      const now = Date.now();
+      for (const run of activeRuns) {
+        const startedAtMs = Date.parse(run.startedAt ?? "");
+        if (!Number.isFinite(startedAtMs) || now - startedAtMs > activeWindowMs) continue;
+        const taskId = run.contextSnapshot && typeof run.contextSnapshot.taskId === "string"
+          ? run.contextSnapshot.taskId.toUpperCase()
+          : null;
+        if (taskId) activeTaskIds.add(taskId);
+      }
+    } catch (err: unknown) {
+      const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+      log.warn(`Unable to enumerate active heartbeat runs: ${message}`);
+    }
+
+    return activeTaskIds;
+  }
+
+  private getFalsePositiveRequeueSignal(task: Task, options: {
+    executingIds?: Set<string>;
+    activeHeartbeatTaskIds?: Set<string>;
+    graceMs: number;
+    includeLiveWorktreeBoundBranch?: boolean;
+    includeCheckedOutLease?: boolean;
+  }): { reason: string; metadata: Record<string, unknown> } | null {
+    const normalizedId = task.id.toUpperCase();
+    const executionStartedAtMs = task.executionStartedAt ? Date.parse(task.executionStartedAt) : Number.NaN;
+    const executionAgeMs = Number.isFinite(executionStartedAtMs) ? Math.max(0, Date.now() - executionStartedAtMs) : null;
+    const liveWorktreeBoundBranch = Boolean(
+      task.worktree
+      && typeof task.branch === "string"
+      && task.branch.trim().length > 0
+      && existsSync(task.worktree),
+    );
+    const metadata = {
+      taskId: task.id,
+      branch: task.branch ?? null,
+      worktree: task.worktree ?? null,
+      checkedOutBy: task.checkedOutBy ?? null,
+      executionStartedAt: task.executionStartedAt ?? null,
+      executionAgeMs,
+      graceMs: options.graceMs,
+      liveWorktreeBoundBranch,
+    };
+
+    if (options.executingIds?.has(task.id)) {
+      return { reason: "executor-active", metadata };
+    }
+    if (options.activeHeartbeatTaskIds?.has(normalizedId)) {
+      return { reason: "active-heartbeat-run", metadata };
+    }
+    if ((options.includeCheckedOutLease ?? false) && task.checkedOutBy) {
+      return { reason: "checked-out-lease-active", metadata };
+    }
+    if ((options.includeLiveWorktreeBoundBranch ?? true) && liveWorktreeBoundBranch) {
+      return { reason: "live-worktree-and-branch", metadata };
+    }
+    if (executionAgeMs !== null && executionAgeMs <= options.graceMs) {
+      return { reason: "recent-execution-started", metadata };
+    }
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  private async emitFalsePositiveRequeueNoAction(task: Task, stage: string, mutationType: string, reason: string, metadata: Record<string, unknown>): Promise<void> {
+    try {
+      await createRunAuditor(this.store, {
+        runId: generateSyntheticRunId(`self-healing-${stage}`, task.id),
+        agentId: "self-healing",
+        taskId: task.id,
+        taskLineageId: task.lineageId,
+        phase: stage,
+      }).database({
+        type: mutationType as DatabaseMutationType,
+        target: task.id,
+        metadata: {
+          ...metadata,
+          reason,
+        },
+      });
+    } catch (error) {
+      const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
+      log.warn(`[${stage}] ${task.id}: false-positive no-action audit emission failed: ${message}`);
+    }
+    log.log(`[${stage}] ${task.id}: false-positive requeue suppressed (${reason})`);
+  }
+
   // ── Lifecycle ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
   start(): void {
@@ -1122,11 +1216,36 @@ export class SelfHealingManager {
       }
 
       const newCount = (task.stuckKillCount ?? 0) + 1;
+      const executingIds = this.options.getExecutingTaskIds?.() ?? new Set<string>();
+      const activeHeartbeatTaskIds = await this.listActiveHeartbeatTaskIds();
 
       if (newCount > maxKills) {
         const hasIncompleteSteps = !!task.steps?.some((step) => NON_TERMINAL_STEP_STATUSES.has(step.status));
 
         if (hasIncompleteSteps) {
+          const liveExecutionSignal = this.getFalsePositiveRequeueSignal(task, {
+            executingIds,
+            activeHeartbeatTaskIds,
+            graceMs: settings.taskStuckTimeoutMs ?? ORPHANED_EXECUTION_RECOVERY_GRACE_MS,
+            includeCheckedOutLease: true,
+          });
+          if (liveExecutionSignal) {
+            await this.emitFalsePositiveRequeueNoAction(
+              task,
+              "stuck-loop-exhausted",
+              "task:stuck-loop-exhausted-no-action",
+              liveExecutionSignal.reason,
+              {
+                ...liveExecutionSignal.metadata,
+                lastReason: reason,
+                stuckKillCount: task.stuckKillCount ?? 0,
+                attemptedStuckKillCount: newCount,
+                maxStuckKills: maxKills,
+              },
+            );
+            return false;
+          }
+
           log.warn(`${taskId} exceeded stuck kill budget (${newCount}/${maxKills}, reason=${reason}) with incomplete steps — re-queueing in todo with progress preserved`);
           await this.store.updateTask(taskId, { stuckKillCount: newCount });
           try {
@@ -2389,32 +2508,31 @@ export class SelfHealingManager {
       // explicit autoMerge:true tasks recover.
       const candidates = [...todoCandidates, ...inProgressCandidates, ...inReviewPausedCandidates]
         .filter((task) => allowsAutoMergeProcessing(task, settings));
-
-      const activeTaskIds = new Set<string>();
-      if (this.options.agentStore) {
-        try {
-          const activeRuns = await this.options.agentStore.listActiveHeartbeatRuns();
-          const activeWindowMs = RUNNING_ON_INACTIVE_TASK_STALE_RUN_MS;
-          const now = Date.now();
-          for (const run of activeRuns) {
-            const startedAtMs = Date.parse(run.startedAt ?? "");
-            if (!Number.isFinite(startedAtMs) || now - startedAtMs > activeWindowMs) continue;
-            const taskId = run.contextSnapshot && typeof run.contextSnapshot.taskId === "string"
-              ? run.contextSnapshot.taskId.toUpperCase()
-              : null;
-            if (taskId) activeTaskIds.add(taskId);
-          }
-        } catch (err: unknown) {
-          const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
-          log.warn(`Unable to enumerate active heartbeat runs for self-owned branch reclaim sweep: ${message}`);
-        }
-      }
+      const executingIds = this.options.getExecutingTaskIds?.() ?? new Set<string>();
+      const activeTaskIds = await this.listActiveHeartbeatTaskIds();
 
       let recovered = 0;
       const integrationBranch = await resolveIntegrationBranch(this.options.rootDir, settings);
       for (const task of candidates) {
-        if (task.checkedOutBy || activeTaskIds.has(task.id.toUpperCase()) || !task.branch || !task.worktree) continue;
+        if (!task.branch || !task.worktree) continue;
         if (task.userPaused) continue;
+        const liveExecutionSignal = this.getFalsePositiveRequeueSignal(task, {
+          executingIds,
+          activeHeartbeatTaskIds: activeTaskIds,
+          graceMs: STALE_ACTIVE_BRANCH_EXECUTION_GRACE_MS,
+          includeLiveWorktreeBoundBranch: false,
+          includeCheckedOutLease: true,
+        });
+        if (liveExecutionSignal) {
+          await this.emitFalsePositiveRequeueNoAction(
+            task,
+            "reclaim-self-owned-branch-conflict",
+            "task:reclaim-self-owned-branch-conflict-no-action",
+            liveExecutionSignal.reason,
+            liveExecutionSignal.metadata,
+          );
+          continue;
+        }
         if (task.column === "todo" && task.blockedBy) {
           log.log(`[self-healing] skipping blocked todo task ${task.id} during self-owned branch reclaim (blockedBy=${task.blockedBy})`);
           continue;
@@ -7260,10 +7378,11 @@ export class SelfHealingManager {
     try {
       const tasks = await this.store.listTasks({ column: "in-progress", slim: true });
       const executingIds = this.options.getExecutingTaskIds?.() ?? new Set<string>();
+      const activeHeartbeatTaskIds = await this.listActiveHeartbeatTaskIds();
       const now = Date.now();
 
       const stranded = tasks.filter((task) => {
-        if (task.column !== "in-progress" || task.paused || executingIds.has(task.id)) {
+        if (task.column !== "in-progress" || task.paused) {
           return false;
         }
         const hasMissingWorktreePath = typeof task.worktree === "string" && task.worktree.length > 0 && !existsSync(task.worktree);
@@ -7290,13 +7409,68 @@ export class SelfHealingManager {
       let recovered = 0;
       for (const task of stranded) {
         try {
-          if (this.options.leaseManager && task.checkedOutBy) {
-            await this.options.leaseManager.recoverAbandonedLease(
-              task.id,
-              `in-progress limbo: ${describeWorktreeState(task)} + null branch`,
-              { preserveProgress: true },
+          const liveExecutionSignal = this.getFalsePositiveRequeueSignal(task, {
+            executingIds,
+            activeHeartbeatTaskIds,
+            graceMs: ORPHANED_EXECUTION_RECOVERY_GRACE_MS,
+          });
+          if (liveExecutionSignal) {
+            await this.emitFalsePositiveRequeueNoAction(
+              task,
+              "auto-recover-in-progress-limbo",
+              "task:auto-recover-in-progress-limbo-no-action",
+              liveExecutionSignal.reason,
+              liveExecutionSignal.metadata,
             );
-            await this.options.leaseManager.reconcileLeaseRow(task.id);
+            continue;
+          }
+
+          if (task.checkedOutBy) {
+            if (this.options.leaseManager) {
+              const leaseRecovered = await this.options.leaseManager.recoverAbandonedLease(
+                task.id,
+                `in-progress limbo: ${describeWorktreeState(task)} + null branch`,
+                { preserveProgress: true },
+              );
+              if (!leaseRecovered) {
+                await this.emitFalsePositiveRequeueNoAction(
+                  task,
+                  "auto-recover-in-progress-limbo",
+                  "task:auto-recover-in-progress-limbo-no-action",
+                  "checked-out-lease-active",
+                  {
+                    taskId: task.id,
+                    branch: task.branch ?? null,
+                    worktree: task.worktree ?? null,
+                    checkedOutBy: task.checkedOutBy,
+                    executionStartedAt: task.executionStartedAt ?? null,
+                    executionAgeMs: task.executionStartedAt ? Math.max(0, Date.now() - Date.parse(task.executionStartedAt)) : null,
+                    graceMs: ORPHANED_EXECUTION_RECOVERY_GRACE_MS,
+                    liveWorktreeBoundBranch: false,
+                  },
+                );
+                continue;
+              }
+              await this.options.leaseManager.reconcileLeaseRow(task.id);
+            } else {
+              await this.emitFalsePositiveRequeueNoAction(
+                task,
+                "auto-recover-in-progress-limbo",
+                "task:auto-recover-in-progress-limbo-no-action",
+                "checked-out-lease-active",
+                {
+                  taskId: task.id,
+                  branch: task.branch ?? null,
+                  worktree: task.worktree ?? null,
+                  checkedOutBy: task.checkedOutBy,
+                  executionStartedAt: task.executionStartedAt ?? null,
+                  executionAgeMs: task.executionStartedAt ? Math.max(0, Date.now() - Date.parse(task.executionStartedAt)) : null,
+                  graceMs: ORPHANED_EXECUTION_RECOVERY_GRACE_MS,
+                  liveWorktreeBoundBranch: false,
+                },
+              );
+              continue;
+            }
           }
 
           const stepStatuses = task.steps.map((step) => step.status);