diff --git a/packages/engine/src/__tests__/research-dispatcher.test.ts b/packages/engine/src/__tests__/research-dispatcher.test.ts
index 8e4a4dc6c7..bda2fe7975 100644
--- a/packages/engine/src/__tests__/research-dispatcher.test.ts
+++ b/packages/engine/src/__tests__/research-dispatcher.test.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,27 @@
-import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 import type { ResearchRun, ResearchStore } from "@fusion/core";
 import type { ResearchOrchestrator } from "../research/research-orchestrator.js";
 import { ResearchRunDispatcher } from "../research/research-dispatcher.js";
 
-const sleep = (ms: number) => new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, ms));
-
+/*
+FNXC:ResearchDispatcher 2026-08-04-00:03:
+This is a pure timer-driven polling unit test (no subprocess, no network), so it uses
+FAKE TIMERS instead of real `sleep()` waits per AGENTS.md "Do Not Add Slow Tests" /
+"Prefer fake timers over real polling/time waits". The previous real-sleep version was
+both slow (~200ms of wall-clock waits) AND weaker: the dispatcher clamps tickIntervalMs
+to a 100ms floor, so 30-40ms real sleeps never let the interval re-fire — only the
+immediate `void this.tick()` in start() ran. The double-dispatch and stop-cancels-timer
+cases therefore never exercised a SECOND tick. Advancing fake timers past the 100ms
+interval now deterministically fires follow-up ticks, so those invariants are genuinely
+asserted. stop()'s drain loop only spins when inFlight is non-empty, so every test drains
+inFlight (immediate/resolved runs) before stop, keeping the fake-timer clock from stalling
+in that real-`setTimeout` loop.
+*/
 describe("ResearchRunDispatcher", () => {
+  afterEach(() => {
+    vi.useRealTimers();
+  });
+
   function createStore(runs: ResearchRun[]): ResearchStore {
     return {
       listRuns: vi.fn(() => runs),
@@ -13,6 +29,7 @@ describe("ResearchRunDispatcher", () => {
   }
 
   it("dispatches queued runs", async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
     const runs = [{ id: "RR-1", query: "hello", status: "queued" } as ResearchRun];
     const store = createStore(runs);
     const startRun = vi.fn(async () => ({ id: "RR-1" } as ResearchRun));
@@ -20,13 +37,15 @@ describe("ResearchRunDispatcher", () => {
 
     const dispatcher = new ResearchRunDispatcher({ store, orchestrator, tickIntervalMs: 10 });
     dispatcher.start();
-    await sleep(30);
+    // Flush the immediate `void this.tick()` chain (await listRuns -> startRun).
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
 
     expect(startRun).toHaveBeenCalledWith("RR-1", "hello", expect.objectContaining({ abortSignal: expect.any(AbortSignal) }));
     await dispatcher.stop();
   });
 
   it("does not double-dispatch in-flight runs", async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
     const runs = [{ id: "RR-1", query: "hello", status: "queued" } as ResearchRun];
     const store = createStore(runs);
     let resolveRun: (() => void) | undefined;
@@ -37,15 +56,21 @@ describe("ResearchRunDispatcher", () => {
 
     const dispatcher = new ResearchRunDispatcher({ store, orchestrator, tickIntervalMs: 10 });
     dispatcher.start();
-    await sleep(40);
+    // Immediate tick dispatches RR-1 and marks it in-flight (startRun stays pending).
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
+    expect(startRun).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+    // Fire a follow-up interval tick (100ms floor): the in-flight guard must skip RR-1.
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(100);
     expect(startRun).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
 
     resolveRun?.();
-    await sleep(10);
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
     await dispatcher.stop();
   });
 
   it("survives startRun rejection", async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
     const runs = [{ id: "RR-1", query: "hello", status: "queued" } as ResearchRun];
     const store = createStore(runs);
     const startRun = vi.fn(async () => {
@@ -55,13 +80,14 @@ describe("ResearchRunDispatcher", () => {
 
     const dispatcher = new ResearchRunDispatcher({ store, orchestrator, tickIntervalMs: 10 });
     dispatcher.start();
-    await sleep(40);
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
 
     expect(startRun).toHaveBeenCalled();
     await dispatcher.stop();
   });
 
   it("stop cancels timer", async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
     const runs = [{ id: "RR-1", query: "hello", status: "queued" } as ResearchRun];
     const store = createStore(runs);
     const startRun = vi.fn(async () => ({ id: "RR-1" } as ResearchRun));
@@ -69,11 +95,12 @@ describe("ResearchRunDispatcher", () => {
 
     const dispatcher = new ResearchRunDispatcher({ store, orchestrator, tickIntervalMs: 10 });
     dispatcher.start();
-    await sleep(30);
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
     await dispatcher.stop();
 
     const callsAfterStop = startRun.mock.calls.length;
-    await sleep(40);
+    // Advancing well past several intervals must produce no further ticks once stopped.
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(300);
     expect(startRun).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(callsAfterStop);
   });
 });