diff --git a/.changeset/postgres-node-registry-routes.md b/.changeset/postgres-node-registry-routes.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e22d853aa6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/postgres-node-registry-routes.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+"@runfusion/fusion": patch
+---
+
+summary: Keep multi-node management connected to the active PostgreSQL registry.
+category: fix
+dev: Node CRUD, health, path, version, plugin, and Docker-config routes now reuse the server-injected CentralCore.
diff --git a/packages/dashboard/src/routes/__tests__/register-node-routes.test.ts b/packages/dashboard/src/routes/__tests__/register-node-routes.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3000addbab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/dashboard/src/routes/__tests__/register-node-routes.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+// @vitest-environment node
+
+import express from "express";
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { request } from "../../test-request.js";
+import { registerNodeRoutes } from "../register-node-routes.js";
+import type { ApiRoutesContext } from "../types.js";
+
+const { legacyCentralConstructor } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  legacyCentralConstructor: vi.fn(function LegacyCentralCore() {
+    throw new Error("node routes must use the injected central authority");
+  }),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("@fusion/core", async () => {
+  const actual = await vi.importActual<typeof import("@fusion/core")>("@fusion/core");
+  return {
+    ...actual,
+    CentralCore: legacyCentralConstructor,
+  };
+});
+
+function buildApp(centralCore: Record<string, unknown> | undefined) {
+  const router = express.Router();
+  registerNodeRoutes({
+    router,
+    options: centralCore ? { centralCore: centralCore as never } : {},
+    rethrowAsApiError(error: unknown): never {
+      throw error;
+    },
+  } as unknown as ApiRoutesContext);
+
+  const app = express();
+  app.use(express.json());
+  app.use("/api", router);
+  app.use((error: Error, _req: express.Request, res: express.Response, _next: express.NextFunction) => {
+    res.status(500).json({ error: error.message });
+  });
+
+  return app;
+}
+
+function createFixture() {
+  const centralCore = {
+    init: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
+    close: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
+    listNodes: vi.fn(async () => [
+      { id: "node_z", name: "Zulu", type: "remote", status: "online" },
+      { id: "node_a", name: "Alpha", type: "local", status: "online" },
+    ]),
+    registerNode: vi.fn(async (input: Record<string, unknown>) => ({
+      id: "node_remote",
+      status: "offline",
+      ...input,
+    })),
+  };
+
+  return { app: buildApp(centralCore), centralCore };
+}
+
+describe("registerNodeRoutes PostgreSQL authority", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.clearAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  it("lists nodes through the injected central authority", async () => {
+    const { app, centralCore } = createFixture();
+
+    const response = await request(app, "GET", "/api/nodes");
+
+    expect(response.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(response.body).toEqual([
+      { id: "node_a", name: "Alpha", type: "local", status: "online" },
+      { id: "node_z", name: "Zulu", type: "remote", status: "online" },
+    ]);
+    expect(centralCore.listNodes).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    expect(centralCore.init).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(centralCore.close).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(legacyCentralConstructor).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("registers nodes through the injected central authority", async () => {
+    const { app, centralCore } = createFixture();
+
+    const response = await request(
+      app,
+      "POST",
+      "/api/nodes",
+      JSON.stringify({
+        name: "macbook-air",
+        type: "remote",
+        url: "https://macbook-air.example.test:4041",
+        maxConcurrent: 1,
+      }),
+      { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+    );
+
+    expect(response.status).toBe(201);
+    expect(centralCore.registerNode).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      name: "macbook-air",
+      type: "remote",
+      url: "https://macbook-air.example.test:4041",
+      apiKey: undefined,
+      maxConcurrent: 1,
+      capabilities: undefined,
+      dockerConfig: undefined,
+    });
+    expect(centralCore.init).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(centralCore.close).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(legacyCentralConstructor).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  // FNXC:NodeRegistry — a route-owned fallback authority (no injected centralCore) must close on
+  // EVERY exit path, including when the underlying store operation throws mid-handler.
+  it("closes a route-owned fallback authority when listNodes throws", async () => {
+    const fallbackCentral = {
+      init: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
+      close: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
+      listNodes: vi.fn(async () => {
+        throw new Error("registry unavailable");
+      }),
+    };
+    // Only the single fallback construction in this test uses the working fake; the default throwing
+    // constructor is restored automatically afterward.
+    legacyCentralConstructor.mockImplementationOnce(function ConstructedFallbackCentral() {
+      return fallbackCentral;
+    });
+
+    const app = buildApp(undefined);
+
+    const response = await request(app, "GET", "/api/nodes");
+
+    expect(response.status).toBe(500);
+    expect(legacyCentralConstructor).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(fallbackCentral.init).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    expect(fallbackCentral.listNodes).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    expect(fallbackCentral.close).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/dashboard/src/routes/register-node-routes.ts b/packages/dashboard/src/routes/register-node-routes.ts
index b4bb5689c3..1e38ae13cf 100644
--- a/packages/dashboard/src/routes/register-node-routes.ts
+++ b/packages/dashboard/src/routes/register-node-routes.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import { CentralCore, sanitizeDockerNodeConfigForResponse, validateDockerNodeConfig } from "@fusion/core";
+import type { NodeConfig, NodeStatus } from "@fusion/core";
 import { ApiError, badRequest, notFound } from "../api-error.js";
 import type { ApiRouteRegistrar } from "./types.js";
 
@@ -44,7 +46,41 @@ function isDiscoveredRemoteProject(value: unknown): value is DiscoveredRemotePro
 }
 
 export const registerNodeRoutes: ApiRouteRegistrar = (ctx) => {
-  const { router, rethrowAsApiError } = ctx;
+  const { router, options, rethrowAsApiError } = ctx;
+
+  /*
+  FNXC:NodeRegistry 2026-07-15-00:00:
+  Every node route needs a CentralCore authority to read/write the node registry.
+  When the server injects a shared authority (`options.centralCore`), its lifecycle is owned by the
+  server: the route must NEVER call `init()`/`close()` on it. When no shared authority is injected the
+  route owns a fallback: construct once, `init()` once, and guarantee `close()` on EVERY exit path
+  (success and error). A prior version closed the fallback only on success branches, so any handler that
+  threw (validation, not-found, upstream failure) leaked the fallback connection. `withCentralCore`
+  centralizes this so no handler can forget the finally-close, and closes best-effort if `init()` itself
+  throws so a partially-opened fallback never leaks.
+  */
+  const withCentralCore = async <T>(fn: (central: CentralCore) => T | Promise<T>): Promise<T> => {
+    const shared = options?.centralCore;
+    if (shared) {
+      // Shared authority: server-owned lifecycle — do not init/close here.
+      return await fn(shared);
+    }
+
+    const central = new CentralCore();
+    try {
+      await central.init();
+    } catch (initErr) {
+      // init failed → close best-effort so a partially-opened fallback does not leak.
+      await central.close().catch(() => {});
+      throw initErr;
+    }
+
+    try {
+      return await fn(central);
+    } finally {
+      await central.close();
+    }
+  };
 
   // ── Node Management Routes (Multi-Node Support) ───────────────────────────
 
@@ -55,12 +91,7 @@ export const registerNodeRoutes: ApiRouteRegistrar = (ctx) => {
    */
   router.get("/nodes", async (_req, res) => {
     try {
-      const { CentralCore } = await import("@fusion/core");
-      const central = new CentralCore();
-      await central.init();
-
-      const nodes = await central.listNodes();
-      await central.close();
+      const nodes = await withCentralCore((central) => central.listNodes());
 
       nodes.sort((a, b) => a.name.localeCompare(b.name));
       res.json(nodes);
@@ -106,11 +137,7 @@ export const registerNodeRoutes: ApiRouteRegistrar = (ctx) => {
         throw badRequest("capabilities must be an array of strings");
       }
 
-      const { CentralCore } = await import("@fusion/core");
-      const central = new CentralCore();
-      await central.init();
-
-      const node = await central.registerNode({
+      const node = await withCentralCore((central) => central.registerNode({
         name: name.trim(),
         type: nodeType,
         url: typeof url === "string" ? url.trim() : undefined,
@@ -118,9 +145,8 @@ export const registerNodeRoutes: ApiRouteRegistrar = (ctx) => {
         maxConcurrent,
         capabilities,
         dockerConfig,
-      });
+      }));
 
-      await central.close();
       res.status(201).json(node);
     } catch (err: unknown) {
       if (err instanceof ApiError) {
@@ -204,12 +230,10 @@ export const registerNodeRoutes: ApiRouteRegistrar = (ctx) => {
    * List all project path mappings for a node.
    */
   router.get("/nodes/:id/path-mappings", async (req, res) => {
-    const { CentralCore } = await import("@fusion/core");
-    const central = new CentralCore();
-
     try {
-      await central.init();
-      const mappings = await central.listProjectNodePathMappingsForNode(req.params.id);
+      const mappings = await withCentralCore((central) =>
+        central.listProjectNodePathMappingsForNode(req.params.id),
+      );
       res.json(mappings);
     } catch (err: unknown) {
       if (err instanceof ApiError) {
@@ -218,8 +242,6 @@ export const registerNodeRoutes: ApiRouteRegistrar = (ctx) => {
       const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
       const status = message.includes("Node not found") ? 404 : 500;
       throw new ApiError(status, message);
-    } finally {
-      await central.close();
     }
   });
 
@@ -229,12 +251,7 @@ export const registerNodeRoutes: ApiRouteRegistrar = (ctx) => {
    */
   router.get("/nodes/:id", async (req, res) => {
     try {
-      const { CentralCore } = await import("@fusion/core");
-      const central = new CentralCore();
-      await central.init();
-
-      const node = await central.getNode(req.params.id);
-      await central.close();
+      const node = await withCentralCore((central) => central.getNode(req.params.id));
 
       if (!node) {
         throw notFound("Node not found");
@@ -257,21 +274,16 @@ export const registerNodeRoutes: ApiRouteRegistrar = (ctx) => {
     try {
       const { name, url, apiKey, maxConcurrent, status, capabilities, dockerConfig } = req.body;
 
-      const updates: Partial<Omit<import("@fusion/core").NodeConfig, "id" | "createdAt">> = {};
+      const updates: Partial<Omit<NodeConfig, "id" | "createdAt">> = {};
       if (name !== undefined) updates.name = name;
       if (url !== undefined) updates.url = url;
       if (apiKey !== undefined) updates.apiKey = apiKey;
       if (maxConcurrent !== undefined) updates.maxConcurrent = maxConcurrent;
-      if (status !== undefined) updates.status = status as import("@fusion/core").NodeStatus;
+      if (status !== undefined) updates.status = status as NodeStatus;
       if (capabilities !== undefined) updates.capabilities = capabilities;
       if (dockerConfig !== undefined) updates.dockerConfig = dockerConfig;
 
-      const { CentralCore } = await import("@fusion/core");
-      const central = new CentralCore();
-      await central.init();
-
-      const node = await central.updateNode(req.params.id, updates);
-      await central.close();
+      const node = await withCentralCore((central) => central.updateNode(req.params.id, updates));
 
       res.json(node);
     } catch (err: unknown) {
@@ -293,11 +305,7 @@ export const registerNodeRoutes: ApiRouteRegistrar = (ctx) => {
    */
   router.get("/nodes/:id/docker-config", async (req, res) => {
     try {
-      const { CentralCore, sanitizeDockerNodeConfigForResponse } = await import("@fusion/core");
-      const central = new CentralCore();
-      await central.init();
-      const node = await central.getNode(req.params.id);
-      await central.close();
+      const node = await withCentralCore((central) => central.getNode(req.params.id));
       if (!node) throw notFound("Node not found");
       res.json(node.dockerConfig ? sanitizeDockerNodeConfigForResponse(node.dockerConfig) : null);
     } catch (err: unknown) {
@@ -312,20 +320,17 @@ export const registerNodeRoutes: ApiRouteRegistrar = (ctx) => {
    */
   router.put("/nodes/:id/docker-config", async (req, res) => {
     try {
-      const { CentralCore, validateDockerNodeConfig, sanitizeDockerNodeConfigForResponse } = await import("@fusion/core");
       const validation = validateDockerNodeConfig(req.body);
       if (!validation.valid || !validation.config) {
         throw new ApiError(400, "Invalid Docker config", { errors: validation.errors ?? [] });
       }
-      const central = new CentralCore();
-      await central.init();
-      const node = await central.getNode(req.params.id);
-      if (!node) {
-        await central.close();
-        throw notFound("Node not found");
-      }
-      const updated = await central.updateNode(req.params.id, { dockerConfig: validation.config });
-      await central.close();
+      const updated = await withCentralCore(async (central) => {
+        const node = await central.getNode(req.params.id);
+        if (!node) {
+          throw notFound("Node not found");
+        }
+        return central.updateNode(req.params.id, { dockerConfig: validation.config });
+      });
       res.json(sanitizeDockerNodeConfigForResponse(updated.dockerConfig!));
     } catch (err: unknown) {
       if (err instanceof ApiError) throw err;
@@ -335,47 +340,42 @@ export const registerNodeRoutes: ApiRouteRegistrar = (ctx) => {
 
   router.patch("/nodes/:id/docker-config", async (req, res) => {
     try {
-      const { CentralCore, validateDockerNodeConfig, sanitizeDockerNodeConfigForResponse } = await import("@fusion/core");
-      const central = new CentralCore();
-      await central.init();
-      const node = await central.getNode(req.params.id);
-      if (!node) {
-        await central.close();
-        throw notFound("Node not found");
-      }
-      const existing = node.dockerConfig;
-      if (!existing) {
-        await central.close();
-        throw badRequest("Node has no existing Docker config; use PUT first");
-      }
+      const updated = await withCentralCore(async (central) => {
+        const node = await central.getNode(req.params.id);
+        if (!node) {
+          throw notFound("Node not found");
+        }
+        const existing = node.dockerConfig;
+        if (!existing) {
+          throw badRequest("Node has no existing Docker config; use PUT first");
+        }
 
-      const patch = req.body as Record<string, unknown>;
-      const mergedEnvironment: Record<string, string> = { ...existing.environment };
-      if (patch.environment && typeof patch.environment === "object" && !Array.isArray(patch.environment)) {
-        for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(patch.environment as Record<string, unknown>)) {
-          if (value === null) {
-            delete mergedEnvironment[key];
-          } else if (typeof value === "string") {
-            mergedEnvironment[key] = value;
+        const patch = req.body as Record<string, unknown>;
+        const mergedEnvironment: Record<string, string> = { ...existing.environment };
+        if (patch.environment && typeof patch.environment === "object" && !Array.isArray(patch.environment)) {
+          for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(patch.environment as Record<string, unknown>)) {
+            if (value === null) {
+              delete mergedEnvironment[key];
+            } else if (typeof value === "string") {
+              mergedEnvironment[key] = value;
+            }
           }
         }
-      }
 
-      const merged = {
-        ...existing,
-        ...patch,
-        environment: mergedEnvironment,
-        volumeMounts: patch.volumeMounts !== undefined ? patch.volumeMounts : existing.volumeMounts,
-      };
+        const merged = {
+          ...existing,
+          ...patch,
+          environment: mergedEnvironment,
+          volumeMounts: patch.volumeMounts !== undefined ? patch.volumeMounts : existing.volumeMounts,
+        };
 
-      const validation = validateDockerNodeConfig(merged);
-      if (!validation.valid || !validation.config) {
-        await central.close();
-        throw new ApiError(400, "Invalid Docker config", { errors: validation.errors ?? [] });
-      }
+        const validation = validateDockerNodeConfig(merged);
+        if (!validation.valid || !validation.config) {
+          throw new ApiError(400, "Invalid Docker config", { errors: validation.errors ?? [] });
+        }
 
-      const updated = await central.updateNode(req.params.id, { dockerConfig: validation.config });
-      await central.close();
+        return central.updateNode(req.params.id, { dockerConfig: validation.config });
+      });
       res.json(sanitizeDockerNodeConfigForResponse(updated.dockerConfig!));
     } catch (err: unknown) {
       if (err instanceof ApiError) throw err;
@@ -385,11 +385,7 @@ export const registerNodeRoutes: ApiRouteRegistrar = (ctx) => {
 
   router.get("/nodes/:id/docker-config/diff", async (req, res) => {
     try {
-      const { CentralCore } = await import("@fusion/core");
-      const central = new CentralCore();
-      await central.init();
-      const node = await central.getNode(req.params.id);
-      await central.close();
+      const node = await withCentralCore((central) => central.getNode(req.params.id));
       if (!node) throw notFound("Node not found");
       if (!node.dockerConfig) {
         res.json({ config: null });
@@ -412,18 +408,14 @@ export const registerNodeRoutes: ApiRouteRegistrar = (ctx) => {
    */
   router.delete("/nodes/:id", async (req, res) => {
     try {
-      const { CentralCore } = await import("@fusion/core");
-      const central = new CentralCore();
-      await central.init();
+      await withCentralCore(async (central) => {
+        const existing = await central.getNode(req.params.id);
+        if (!existing) {
+          throw notFound("Node not found");
+        }
 
-      const existing = await central.getNode(req.params.id);
-      if (!existing) {
-        await central.close();
-        throw notFound("Node not found");
-      }
-
-      await central.unregisterNode(req.params.id);
-      await central.close();
+        await central.unregisterNode(req.params.id);
+      });
 
       res.status(204).end();
     } catch (err: unknown) {
@@ -440,12 +432,7 @@ export const registerNodeRoutes: ApiRouteRegistrar = (ctx) => {
    */
   router.post("/nodes/:id/health-check", async (req, res) => {
     try {
-      const { CentralCore } = await import("@fusion/core");
-      const central = new CentralCore();
-      await central.init();
-
-      const healthStatus = await central.checkNodeHealth(req.params.id);
-      await central.close();
+      const healthStatus = await withCentralCore((central) => central.checkNodeHealth(req.params.id));
 
       res.json({ status: healthStatus });
     } catch (err: unknown) {
@@ -463,12 +450,7 @@ export const registerNodeRoutes: ApiRouteRegistrar = (ctx) => {
    */
   router.get("/nodes/:id/metrics", async (req, res) => {
     try {
-      const { CentralCore } = await import("@fusion/core");
-      const central = new CentralCore();
-      await central.init();
-
-      const node = await central.getNode(req.params.id);
-      await central.close();
+      const node = await withCentralCore((central) => central.getNode(req.params.id));
 
       if (!node) {
         throw notFound("Node not found");
@@ -491,12 +473,7 @@ export const registerNodeRoutes: ApiRouteRegistrar = (ctx) => {
    */
   router.get("/nodes/:id/version", async (req, res) => {
     try {
-      const { CentralCore } = await import("@fusion/core");
-      const central = new CentralCore();
-      await central.init();
-
-      const node = await central.getNode(req.params.id);
-      await central.close();
+      const node = await withCentralCore((central) => central.getNode(req.params.id));
 
       if (!node) {
         throw notFound("Node not found");
@@ -519,34 +496,28 @@ export const registerNodeRoutes: ApiRouteRegistrar = (ctx) => {
    */
   router.post("/nodes/:id/sync-plugins", async (req, res) => {
     try {
-      const { CentralCore } = await import("@fusion/core");
-      const central = new CentralCore();
-      await central.init();
+      const result = await withCentralCore(async (central) => {
+        // Validate target node exists
+        const targetNode = await central.getNode(req.params.id);
+        if (!targetNode) {
+          throw notFound("Node not found");
+        }
 
-      // Validate target node exists
-      const targetNode = await central.getNode(req.params.id);
-      if (!targetNode) {
-        await central.close();
-        throw notFound("Node not found");
-      }
+        // Reject local target nodes - sync-plugins is for remote nodes only
+        if (targetNode.type === "local") {
+          throw badRequest("Cannot sync plugins to a local node - sync-plugins is for remote nodes only");
+        }
 
-      // Reject local target nodes - sync-plugins is for remote nodes only
-      if (targetNode.type === "local") {
-        await central.close();
-        throw badRequest("Cannot sync plugins to a local node - sync-plugins is for remote nodes only");
-      }
+        // Find the local node
+        const nodes = await central.listNodes();
+        const localNode = nodes.find((n) => n.type === "local");
+        if (!localNode) {
+          throw badRequest("Local node not registered - cannot perform sync");
+        }
 
-      // Find the local node
-      const nodes = await central.listNodes();
-      const localNode = nodes.find((n) => n.type === "local");
-      if (!localNode) {
-        await central.close();
-        throw badRequest("Local node not registered - cannot perform sync");
-      }
-
-      // Perform plugin sync comparison
-      const result = await central.syncPlugins(localNode.id, targetNode.id);
-      await central.close();
+        // Perform plugin sync comparison
+        return central.syncPlugins(localNode.id, targetNode.id);
+      });
 
       res.json(result);
     } catch (err: unknown) {
@@ -564,45 +535,38 @@ export const registerNodeRoutes: ApiRouteRegistrar = (ctx) => {
    */
   router.get("/nodes/:id/compatibility", async (req, res) => {
     try {
-      const { CentralCore } = await import("@fusion/core");
-      const central = new CentralCore();
-      await central.init();
+      const result = await withCentralCore(async (central) => {
+        // Validate target node exists
+        const targetNode = await central.getNode(req.params.id);
+        if (!targetNode) {
+          throw notFound("Node not found");
+        }
 
-      // Validate target node exists
-      const targetNode = await central.getNode(req.params.id);
-      if (!targetNode) {
-        await central.close();
-        throw notFound("Node not found");
-      }
+        // Find the local node
+        const nodes = await central.listNodes();
+        const localNode = nodes.find((n) => n.type === "local");
+        if (!localNode) {
+          throw badRequest("Local node not registered - cannot check compatibility");
+        }
 
-      // Find the local node
-      const nodes = await central.listNodes();
-      const localNode = nodes.find((n) => n.type === "local");
-      if (!localNode) {
-        await central.close();
-        throw badRequest("Local node not registered - cannot check compatibility");
-      }
+        // Get version info for both nodes
+        const localVersionInfo = await central.getNodeVersionInfo(localNode.id);
+        const targetVersionInfo = await central.getNodeVersionInfo(targetNode.id);
 
-      // Get version info for both nodes
-      const localVersionInfo = await central.getNodeVersionInfo(localNode.id);
-      const targetVersionInfo = await central.getNodeVersionInfo(targetNode.id);
+        // Validate both have version info
+        if (!localVersionInfo) {
+          throw badRequest("Local node has no version info yet");
+        }
+        if (!targetVersionInfo) {
+          throw badRequest("Target node has no version info yet");
+        }
 
-      // Validate both have version info
-      if (!localVersionInfo) {
-        await central.close();
-        throw badRequest("Local node has no version info yet");
-      }
-      if (!targetVersionInfo) {
-        await central.close();
-        throw badRequest("Target node has no version info yet");
-      }
-
-      // Check compatibility using version strings
-      const result = central.checkVersionCompatibility(
-        localVersionInfo.appVersion,
-        targetVersionInfo.appVersion,
-      );
-      await central.close();
+        // Check compatibility using version strings
+        return central.checkVersionCompatibility(
+          localVersionInfo.appVersion,
+          targetVersionInfo.appVersion,
+        );
+      });
 
       res.json(result);
     } catch (err: unknown) {