feat(KB-154): persist worktree pool across engine restarts

- Add rehydrate() method and scanIdleWorktrees() to restore idle worktrees from disk on startup
- Add cleanupOrphanedWorktrees() to remove stale worktrees when recycling is disabled
- Wire startup rehydrate/cleanup into dashboard command based on recycleWorktrees setting
- Export new functions from @kb/engine and update dashboard imports
- Add unit tests for rehydrate/scan/cleanup and integration tests for restart resilience

.changeset/persist-worktree-pool.md

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@dustinbyrne/kb": patch
+---
+
+Persist worktree pool across engine restarts. When `recycleWorktrees` is enabled, idle worktrees are rehydrated from disk on startup instead of being forgotten. When disabled, orphaned worktrees are cleaned up automatically.

packages/cli/src/commands/dashboard.ts

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { exec } from "node:child_process";
 import type { AddressInfo } from "node:net";
 import { TaskStore } from "@kb/core";
 import { createServer } from "@kb/dashboard";
-import { TriageProcessor, TaskExecutor, Scheduler, AgentSemaphore, WorktreePool, aiMergeTask, UsageLimitPauser, PRIORITY_MERGE } from "@kb/engine";
+import { TriageProcessor, TaskExecutor, Scheduler, AgentSemaphore, WorktreePool, aiMergeTask, UsageLimitPauser, PRIORITY_MERGE, scanIdleWorktrees, cleanupOrphanedWorktrees } from "@kb/engine";
 import { AuthStorage, ModelRegistry } from "@mariozechner/pi-coding-agent";
 
 function openBrowser(url: string): void {
@@ -47,6 +47,28 @@ export async function runDashboard(port: number, opts: { open?: boolean } = {})
   //
   const pool = new WorktreePool();
 
+  // ── Startup: rehydrate or clean up worktrees from previous runs ────
+  //
+  // When `recycleWorktrees` is true, scan the .worktrees/ directory for
+  // idle worktrees (not assigned to any active task) and load them into
+  // the pool so new tasks can reuse them instead of creating fresh ones.
+  //
+  // When `recycleWorktrees` is false, clean up orphaned worktrees left
+  // behind by previous engine runs to avoid disk waste.
+  //
+  if (initialSettings.recycleWorktrees) {
+    const idlePaths = await scanIdleWorktrees(cwd, store);
+    if (idlePaths.length > 0) {
+      pool.rehydrate(idlePaths);
+      console.log(`[engine] Rehydrated pool with ${idlePaths.length} idle worktree(s)`);
+    }
+  } else {
+    const cleaned = await cleanupOrphanedWorktrees(cwd, store);
+    if (cleaned > 0) {
+      console.log(`[engine] Cleaned up ${cleaned} orphaned worktree(s)`);
+    }
+  }
+
   // ── Usage limit pauser ──────────────────────────────────────────────
   //
   // Shared pauser that triggers globalPause when any agent hits an API

packages/engine/src/index.ts

@@ -6,6 +6,6 @@ export { Scheduler, type SchedulerOptions } from "./scheduler.js";
 export { aiMergeTask, type MergerOptions } from "./merger.js";
 export { reviewStep, type ReviewType, type ReviewVerdict, type ReviewResult, type ReviewOptions } from "./reviewer.js";
 export { createKbAgent, type AgentOptions, type AgentResult } from "./pi.js";
-export { WorktreePool } from "./worktree-pool.js";
+export { WorktreePool, scanIdleWorktrees, cleanupOrphanedWorktrees } from "./worktree-pool.js";
 export { createLogger, type Logger } from "./logger.js";
 export { isUsageLimitError, UsageLimitPauser } from "./usage-limit-detector.js";

packages/engine/src/restart.integration.test.ts

@@ -25,20 +25,23 @@ vi.mock("node:child_process", () => ({
 }));
 vi.mock("node:fs", () => ({
   existsSync: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(true),
+  readdirSync: vi.fn().mockReturnValue([]),
 }));
 
 import { TaskExecutor } from "./executor.js";
 import { TriageProcessor } from "./triage.js";
 import { Scheduler } from "./scheduler.js";
 import { aiMergeTask } from "./merger.js";
+import { WorktreePool, scanIdleWorktrees, cleanupOrphanedWorktrees } from "./worktree-pool.js";
 import { createKbAgent } from "./pi.js";
 import { execSync } from "node:child_process";
-import { existsSync } from "node:fs";
+import { existsSync, readdirSync } from "node:fs";
 import type { Task, TaskDetail, TaskStep, Column, Settings, StepStatus } from "@kb/core";
 
 const mockedCreateHaiAgent = vi.mocked(createKbAgent);
 const mockedExecSync = vi.mocked(execSync);
 const mockedExistsSync = vi.mocked(existsSync);
+const mockedReaddirSync = vi.mocked(readdirSync);
 
 // ── Mock helpers ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
@@ -701,3 +704,209 @@ describe("Crash scenario edge cases", () => {
     expect(sem.activeCount).toBe(0);
   });
 });
+
+// ── Worktree pool restart resilience tests ────────────────────────────────
+
+function makeDirEntry(name: string) {
+  return { name, isDirectory: () => true } as any;
+}
+
+describe("Worktree pool restart with recycleWorktrees=true", () => {
+  it("pool is rehydrated with idle worktrees from disk", async () => {
+    mockedReaddirSync.mockReturnValue([
+      makeDirEntry("swift-falcon"),
+      makeDirEntry("calm-river"),
+      makeDirEntry("bold-eagle"),
+    ] as any);
+    mockedExistsSync.mockReturnValue(true);
+
+    const store = createMockStore();
+    store.listTasks.mockResolvedValue([
+      makeTask("KB-100", "in-progress", { worktree: "/root/.worktrees/swift-falcon" }),
+      makeTask("KB-101", "done", { worktree: "/root/.worktrees/calm-river" }),
+    ]);
+
+    // Simulate startup rehydration
+    const pool = new WorktreePool();
+    const idlePaths = await scanIdleWorktrees("/root", store);
+    pool.rehydrate(idlePaths);
+
+    // swift-falcon → in-progress, not idle
+    // calm-river → done, idle
+    // bold-eagle → unassigned, idle
+    expect(pool.size).toBe(2);
+    expect(pool.has("/root/.worktrees/calm-river")).toBe(true);
+    expect(pool.has("/root/.worktrees/bold-eagle")).toBe(true);
+    expect(pool.has("/root/.worktrees/swift-falcon")).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("executor acquires from rehydrated pool instead of creating new worktrees", async () => {
+    // Setup: rehydrate pool with one idle worktree
+    mockedReaddirSync.mockReturnValue([
+      makeDirEntry("idle-wt"),
+    ] as any);
+
+    const store = createMockStore();
+    store.listTasks.mockResolvedValue([]);
+    store.getSettings.mockResolvedValue({
+      ...DEFAULT_SETTINGS,
+      recycleWorktrees: true,
+    });
+    store.getTask.mockResolvedValue(makeTaskDetail("KB-110", "in-progress"));
+
+    const pool = new WorktreePool();
+    const idlePaths = await scanIdleWorktrees("/root", store);
+    pool.rehydrate(idlePaths);
+    expect(pool.size).toBe(1);
+
+    // Now simulate executor acquiring from pool
+    // The pool path exists on disk, but the task's default path does not
+    mockedExistsSync.mockImplementation(
+      (p) => p === "/root/.worktrees/idle-wt",
+    );
+
+    mockAgentSuccess();
+
+    const executor = new TaskExecutor(store, "/root", { pool });
+    await executor.execute(makeTask("KB-110", "in-progress"));
+    await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 50));
+
+    // Pool should be empty (worktree acquired)
+    expect(pool.size).toBe(0);
+
+    // No git worktree add calls (reused from pool)
+    const worktreeAddCalls = mockedExecSync.mock.calls.filter(
+      (c) => typeof c[0] === "string" && (c[0] as string).includes("worktree add"),
+    );
+    expect(worktreeAddCalls).toHaveLength(0);
+
+    // Should log pool acquisition
+    expect(store.logEntry).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      "KB-110",
+      expect.stringContaining("Acquired worktree from pool"),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("worktrees assigned to in-progress tasks are preserved (not in pool)", async () => {
+    mockedReaddirSync.mockReturnValue([
+      makeDirEntry("active-wt"),
+      makeDirEntry("idle-wt"),
+    ] as any);
+    mockedExistsSync.mockReturnValue(true);
+
+    const store = createMockStore();
+    store.listTasks.mockResolvedValue([
+      makeTask("KB-120", "in-progress", { worktree: "/root/.worktrees/active-wt" }),
+    ]);
+
+    const pool = new WorktreePool();
+    const idlePaths = await scanIdleWorktrees("/root", store);
+    pool.rehydrate(idlePaths);
+
+    // Only idle-wt should be in pool (active-wt is assigned to in-progress task)
+    expect(pool.size).toBe(1);
+    expect(pool.has("/root/.worktrees/idle-wt")).toBe(true);
+    expect(pool.has("/root/.worktrees/active-wt")).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("worktrees assigned to in-review tasks are preserved (not in pool)", async () => {
+    mockedReaddirSync.mockReturnValue([
+      makeDirEntry("review-wt"),
+    ] as any);
+    mockedExistsSync.mockReturnValue(true);
+
+    const store = createMockStore();
+    store.listTasks.mockResolvedValue([
+      makeTask("KB-121", "in-review", { worktree: "/root/.worktrees/review-wt" }),
+    ]);
+
+    const pool = new WorktreePool();
+    const idlePaths = await scanIdleWorktrees("/root", store);
+    pool.rehydrate(idlePaths);
+
+    // review-wt is assigned to in-review task — NOT idle
+    expect(pool.size).toBe(0);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("Worktree cleanup on restart with recycleWorktrees=false", () => {
+  it("orphaned worktrees are cleaned up via git worktree remove", async () => {
+    mockedReaddirSync.mockReturnValue([
+      makeDirEntry("orphan-1"),
+      makeDirEntry("orphan-2"),
+    ] as any);
+    mockedExistsSync.mockReturnValue(true);
+    mockedExecSync.mockReturnValue(Buffer.from(""));
+
+    const store = createMockStore();
+    store.listTasks.mockResolvedValue([]);
+
+    const cleaned = await cleanupOrphanedWorktrees("/root", store);
+
+    expect(cleaned).toBe(2);
+    const removeCalls = mockedExecSync.mock.calls.filter(
+      (c) => typeof c[0] === "string" && (c[0] as string).includes("worktree remove"),
+    );
+    expect(removeCalls).toHaveLength(2);
+  });
+
+  it("worktrees assigned to in-progress tasks are preserved during cleanup", async () => {
+    mockedReaddirSync.mockReturnValue([
+      makeDirEntry("active-wt"),
+      makeDirEntry("orphan-wt"),
+    ] as any);
+    mockedExistsSync.mockReturnValue(true);
+    mockedExecSync.mockReturnValue(Buffer.from(""));
+
+    const store = createMockStore();
+    store.listTasks.mockResolvedValue([
+      makeTask("KB-130", "in-progress", { worktree: "/root/.worktrees/active-wt" }),
+    ]);
+
+    const cleaned = await cleanupOrphanedWorktrees("/root", store);
+
+    expect(cleaned).toBe(1);
+    const removeCalls = mockedExecSync.mock.calls.filter(
+      (c) => typeof c[0] === "string" && (c[0] as string).includes("worktree remove"),
+    );
+    expect(removeCalls).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(removeCalls[0][0]).toContain("orphan-wt");
+    expect(removeCalls[0][0]).not.toContain("active-wt");
+  });
+
+  it("worktrees assigned to in-review tasks are preserved during cleanup", async () => {
+    mockedReaddirSync.mockReturnValue([
+      makeDirEntry("review-wt"),
+    ] as any);
+    mockedExistsSync.mockReturnValue(true);
+
+    const store = createMockStore();
+    store.listTasks.mockResolvedValue([
+      makeTask("KB-131", "in-review", { worktree: "/root/.worktrees/review-wt" }),
+    ]);
+
+    const cleaned = await cleanupOrphanedWorktrees("/root", store);
+
+    // review-wt is assigned to in-review task — should NOT be removed
+    expect(cleaned).toBe(0);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("Edge case: worktree deleted between scan and acquire", () => {
+  it("acquire returns null when rehydrated worktree was deleted from disk", async () => {
+    const pool = new WorktreePool();
+
+    // Rehydrate succeeds (path exists at scan time)
+    mockedExistsSync.mockReturnValue(true);
+    pool.rehydrate(["/root/.worktrees/vanished-wt"]);
+    expect(pool.size).toBe(1);
+
+    // Between rehydrate and acquire, the directory is deleted
+    mockedExistsSync.mockReturnValue(false);
+
+    // acquire() checks existsSync and prunes the stale entry
+    const result = pool.acquire();
+    expect(result).toBeNull();
+    expect(pool.size).toBe(0);
+  });
+});

packages/engine/src/worktree-pool.test.ts

@@ -6,14 +6,17 @@ vi.mock("node:child_process", () => ({
 
 vi.mock("node:fs", () => ({
   existsSync: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(true),
+  readdirSync: vi.fn().mockReturnValue([]),
 }));
 
-import { WorktreePool } from "./worktree-pool.js";
+import { WorktreePool, scanIdleWorktrees, cleanupOrphanedWorktrees } from "./worktree-pool.js";
 import { execSync } from "node:child_process";
-import { existsSync } from "node:fs";
+import { existsSync, readdirSync } from "node:fs";
+import type { Task, Column } from "@kb/core";
 
 const mockedExecSync = vi.mocked(execSync);
 const mockedExistsSync = vi.mocked(existsSync);
+const mockedReaddirSync = vi.mocked(readdirSync);
 
 describe("WorktreePool", () => {
   let pool: WorktreePool;
@@ -161,4 +164,217 @@ describe("WorktreePool", () => {
       expect(calls).toContain('git checkout -B "kb/kb-001" main');
     });
   });
+
+  describe("rehydrate", () => {
+    it("loads paths into the idle set", () => {
+      mockedExistsSync.mockReturnValue(true);
+      pool.rehydrate(["/tmp/wt-1", "/tmp/wt-2", "/tmp/wt-3"]);
+      expect(pool.size).toBe(3);
+      expect(pool.has("/tmp/wt-1")).toBe(true);
+      expect(pool.has("/tmp/wt-2")).toBe(true);
+      expect(pool.has("/tmp/wt-3")).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it("skips paths that don't exist on disk", () => {
+      mockedExistsSync.mockImplementation((p) => p === "/tmp/good-wt");
+      pool.rehydrate(["/tmp/good-wt", "/tmp/gone-wt"]);
+      expect(pool.size).toBe(1);
+      expect(pool.has("/tmp/good-wt")).toBe(true);
+      expect(pool.has("/tmp/gone-wt")).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    it("handles empty array", () => {
+      pool.rehydrate([]);
+      expect(pool.size).toBe(0);
+    });
+
+    it("does not duplicate entries already in the pool", () => {
+      mockedExistsSync.mockReturnValue(true);
+      pool.release("/tmp/existing");
+      pool.rehydrate(["/tmp/existing", "/tmp/new"]);
+      expect(pool.size).toBe(2);
+    });
+  });
+});
+
+// ── Helper for mock store ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+function makeTask(id: string, column: Column, worktree?: string): Task {
+  return {
+    id,
+    title: `Task ${id}`,
+    description: `Description for ${id}`,
+    column,
+    dependencies: [],
+    worktree,
+    steps: [],
+    currentStep: 0,
+    log: [],
+    createdAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+    updatedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+  };
+}
+
+function createMockStore(tasks: Task[] = []) {
+  return {
+    listTasks: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(tasks),
+  } as any;
+}
+
+function makeDirEntry(name: string) {
+  return { name, isDirectory: () => true } as any;
+}
+
+// ── scanIdleWorktrees tests ───────────────────────────────────────────
+
+describe("scanIdleWorktrees", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.clearAllMocks();
+    mockedExistsSync.mockReturnValue(true);
+  });
+
+  it("correctly identifies idle vs active worktrees", async () => {
+    mockedReaddirSync.mockReturnValue([
+      makeDirEntry("swift-falcon"),
+      makeDirEntry("calm-river"),
+      makeDirEntry("bold-eagle"),
+    ] as any);
+
+    const store = createMockStore([
+      makeTask("KB-001", "in-progress", "/root/.worktrees/swift-falcon"),
+      makeTask("KB-002", "done", "/root/.worktrees/calm-river"),
+    ]);
+
+    const idle = await scanIdleWorktrees("/root", store);
+
+    // swift-falcon is assigned to in-progress task → NOT idle
+    // calm-river is assigned to done task → idle (done tasks don't count)
+    // bold-eagle is not assigned at all → idle
+    expect(idle).toContain("/root/.worktrees/calm-river");
+    expect(idle).toContain("/root/.worktrees/bold-eagle");
+    expect(idle).not.toContain("/root/.worktrees/swift-falcon");
+  });
+
+  it("handles empty .worktrees/ directory", async () => {
+    mockedReaddirSync.mockReturnValue([] as any);
+    const store = createMockStore([]);
+
+    const idle = await scanIdleWorktrees("/root", store);
+    expect(idle).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it("handles missing .worktrees/ directory", async () => {
+    mockedExistsSync.mockReturnValue(false);
+    const store = createMockStore([]);
+
+    const idle = await scanIdleWorktrees("/root", store);
+    expect(idle).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it("treats in-review tasks as active (worktree preserved)", async () => {
+    mockedReaddirSync.mockReturnValue([
+      makeDirEntry("review-wt"),
+    ] as any);
+
+    const store = createMockStore([
+      makeTask("KB-010", "in-review", "/root/.worktrees/review-wt"),
+    ]);
+
+    const idle = await scanIdleWorktrees("/root", store);
+    expect(idle).not.toContain("/root/.worktrees/review-wt");
+  });
+
+  it("returns all worktrees when no tasks exist", async () => {
+    mockedReaddirSync.mockReturnValue([
+      makeDirEntry("wt-1"),
+      makeDirEntry("wt-2"),
+    ] as any);
+
+    const store = createMockStore([]);
+
+    const idle = await scanIdleWorktrees("/root", store);
+    expect(idle).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(idle).toContain("/root/.worktrees/wt-1");
+    expect(idle).toContain("/root/.worktrees/wt-2");
+  });
+});
+
+// ── cleanupOrphanedWorktrees tests ────────────────────────────────────
+
+describe("cleanupOrphanedWorktrees", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.clearAllMocks();
+    mockedExistsSync.mockReturnValue(true);
+    mockedExecSync.mockReturnValue(Buffer.from(""));
+  });
+
+  it("removes worktrees not assigned to any active task", async () => {
+    mockedReaddirSync.mockReturnValue([
+      makeDirEntry("orphan-1"),
+      makeDirEntry("orphan-2"),
+    ] as any);
+
+    const store = createMockStore([]);
+
+    const cleaned = await cleanupOrphanedWorktrees("/root", store);
+
+    expect(cleaned).toBe(2);
+    const removeCalls = mockedExecSync.mock.calls.filter(
+      (c) => typeof c[0] === "string" && (c[0] as string).includes("worktree remove"),
+    );
+    expect(removeCalls).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(removeCalls[0][0]).toContain("/root/.worktrees/orphan-1");
+    expect(removeCalls[1][0]).toContain("/root/.worktrees/orphan-2");
+  });
+
+  it("preserves worktrees assigned to in-progress/in-review tasks", async () => {
+    mockedReaddirSync.mockReturnValue([
+      makeDirEntry("active-wt"),
+      makeDirEntry("orphan-wt"),
+    ] as any);
+
+    const store = createMockStore([
+      makeTask("KB-001", "in-progress", "/root/.worktrees/active-wt"),
+    ]);
+
+    const cleaned = await cleanupOrphanedWorktrees("/root", store);
+
+    expect(cleaned).toBe(1);
+    const removeCalls = mockedExecSync.mock.calls.filter(
+      (c) => typeof c[0] === "string" && (c[0] as string).includes("worktree remove"),
+    );
+    expect(removeCalls).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(removeCalls[0][0]).toContain("orphan-wt");
+    expect(removeCalls[0][0]).not.toContain("active-wt");
+  });
+
+  it("handles git worktree remove failures gracefully (non-fatal)", async () => {
+    mockedReaddirSync.mockReturnValue([
+      makeDirEntry("fail-wt"),
+      makeDirEntry("ok-wt"),
+    ] as any);
+
+    mockedExecSync.mockImplementation((cmd: any) => {
+      if (typeof cmd === "string" && cmd.includes("fail-wt")) {
+        throw new Error("worktree locked");
+      }
+      return Buffer.from("");
+    });
+
+    const store = createMockStore([]);
+
+    const cleaned = await cleanupOrphanedWorktrees("/root", store);
+
+    // Only 1 cleaned (the other failed), but no throw
+    expect(cleaned).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  it("no-ops when .worktrees/ doesn't exist", async () => {
+    mockedExistsSync.mockReturnValue(false);
+    const store = createMockStore([]);
+
+    const cleaned = await cleanupOrphanedWorktrees("/root", store);
+    expect(cleaned).toBe(0);
+    expect(mockedExecSync).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
 });

packages/engine/src/worktree-pool.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import { execSync } from "node:child_process";
-import { existsSync } from "node:fs";
+import { existsSync, readdirSync } from "node:fs";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import type { TaskStore } from "@kb/core";
 import { worktreePoolLog } from "./logger.js";
 
 /**
@@ -12,6 +14,14 @@ import { worktreePoolLog } from "./logger.js";
  * The pool only tracks *idle* worktrees — those not currently assigned to
  * any active task. The scheduler's `maxWorktrees` setting still governs
  * the total number of worktrees (active + idle).
+ *
+ * **Lifecycle across restarts:** The pool is in-memory only, but on engine
+ * startup it can be rehydrated from disk state via {@link rehydrate} and
+ * {@link scanIdleWorktrees}. When `recycleWorktrees` is true, the startup
+ * sequence scans the `.worktrees/` directory, identifies idle worktrees
+ * (those not assigned to any active task), and bulk-loads them into the
+ * pool. When `recycleWorktrees` is false, orphaned worktrees are cleaned
+ * up via {@link cleanupOrphanedWorktrees}.
  */
 export class WorktreePool {
   private idle = new Set<string>();
@@ -68,6 +78,24 @@ export class WorktreePool {
     return paths;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Bulk-load known idle worktree paths into the pool.
+   *
+   * Called at engine startup to restore the pool from disk state.
+   * Paths that no longer exist on disk are silently skipped.
+   *
+   * @param idlePaths — Absolute paths to idle worktree directories
+   */
+  rehydrate(idlePaths: string[]): void {
+    for (const path of idlePaths) {
+      if (existsSync(path)) {
+        this.idle.add(path);
+      } else {
+        worktreePoolLog.log(`Rehydrate skipped (not on disk): ${path}`);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Prepare a recycled worktree for a new task.
    *
@@ -105,3 +133,83 @@ export class WorktreePool {
     });
   }
 }
+
+/**
+ * Scan the `.worktrees/` directory to find idle worktrees that can be
+ * loaded into the pool on startup.
+ *
+ * A worktree is considered "idle" if it exists on disk under
+ * `<rootDir>/.worktrees/` but is NOT assigned (via `task.worktree`) to
+ * any non-done task.
+ *
+ * @param rootDir — Project root directory (parent of `.worktrees/`)
+ * @param store — Task store for listing tasks and their worktree assignments
+ * @returns Absolute paths of idle worktree directories
+ */
+export async function scanIdleWorktrees(rootDir: string, store: TaskStore): Promise<string[]> {
+  const worktreesDir = join(rootDir, ".worktrees");
+
+  if (!existsSync(worktreesDir)) {
+    return [];
+  }
+
+  // List all subdirectories under .worktrees/
+  let dirs: string[];
+  try {
+    const entries = readdirSync(worktreesDir, { withFileTypes: true });
+    dirs = entries
+      .filter((e) => e.isDirectory())
+      .map((e) => join(worktreesDir, e.name));
+  } catch {
+    return [];
+  }
+
+  if (dirs.length === 0) {
+    return [];
+  }
+
+  // Find worktree paths assigned to non-done tasks (active worktrees)
+  const tasks = await store.listTasks();
+  const activeWorktrees = new Set<string>();
+  for (const task of tasks) {
+    if (task.worktree && task.column !== "done") {
+      activeWorktrees.add(task.worktree);
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Return worktrees on disk that are NOT active
+  return dirs.filter((dir) => !activeWorktrees.has(dir));
+}
+
+/**
+ * Clean up orphaned worktrees left behind from previous engine runs.
+ *
+ * Removes worktree directories under `<rootDir>/.worktrees/` that are NOT
+ * assigned to any non-done task. Used on startup when `recycleWorktrees`
+ * is false to avoid disk waste.
+ *
+ * Failures on individual worktree removals are logged but not fatal.
+ *
+ * @param rootDir — Project root directory (parent of `.worktrees/`)
+ * @param store — Task store for listing tasks and their worktree assignments
+ * @returns Number of worktrees cleaned up
+ */
+export async function cleanupOrphanedWorktrees(rootDir: string, store: TaskStore): Promise<number> {
+  const orphaned = await scanIdleWorktrees(rootDir, store);
+  let cleaned = 0;
+
+  for (const worktreePath of orphaned) {
+    try {
+      execSync(`git worktree remove "${worktreePath}" --force`, {
+        cwd: rootDir,
+        stdio: "pipe",
+      });
+      worktreePoolLog.log(`Cleaned up orphaned worktree: ${worktreePath}`);
+      cleaned++;
+    } catch (err: any) {
+      worktreePoolLog.log(`Failed to remove orphaned worktree ${worktreePath}: ${err.message}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  return cleaned;
+}