diff --git a/backend/CLAUDE.md b/backend/CLAUDE.md
index 01da37b05..ac12023b2 100644
--- a/backend/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/backend/CLAUDE.md
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ Proxied through nginx: `/api/langgraph/*` → Gateway LangGraph-compatible runti
 **Provider Pattern**: `SandboxProvider` with `acquire`, `acquire_async`, `get`, `release` lifecycle. Async agent/tool paths call async sandbox lifecycle hooks so Docker sandbox creation, discovery, cross-process locking, readiness polling, and release stay off the event loop.
 **Implementations**:
 - `LocalSandboxProvider` - Local filesystem execution. `acquire(thread_id)` returns a per-thread `LocalSandbox` (id `local:{thread_id}`) whose `path_mappings` resolve `/mnt/user-data/{workspace,uploads,outputs}` and `/mnt/acp-workspace` to that thread's host directories, so the public `Sandbox` API honours the `/mnt/user-data` contract uniformly with AIO. `acquire()` / `acquire(None)` keeps the legacy generic singleton (id `local`) for callers without a thread context. Per-thread sandboxes are held in an LRU cache (default 256 entries) guarded by a `threading.Lock`.
-- `AioSandboxProvider` (`packages/harness/deerflow/community/`) - Docker-based isolation
+- `AioSandboxProvider` (`packages/harness/deerflow/community/`) - Docker-based isolation. Active-cache and warm-pool entries are checked with the backend during acquire/reuse; definitively dead containers are dropped from all in-process maps so the thread can discover or create a fresh sandbox instead of reusing a stale client. Backend health-check failures are treated as unknown, not dead; local discovery likewise treats an unverifiable container as not adoptable and falls through to create rather than failing acquire. `get()` remains an in-memory lookup for event-loop-safe tool paths.
 
 **Virtual Path System**:
 - Agent sees: `/mnt/user-data/{workspace,uploads,outputs}`, `/mnt/skills`
diff --git a/backend/README.md b/backend/README.md
index 20ef72d50..04f3f67bd 100644
--- a/backend/README.md
+++ b/backend/README.md
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ Middlewares execute in strict order, each handling a specific concern:
 Per-thread isolated execution with virtual path translation:
 
 - **Abstract interface**: `execute_command`, `read_file`, `write_file`, `list_dir`
-- **Providers**: `LocalSandboxProvider` (filesystem) and `AioSandboxProvider` (Docker, in community/). Async runtime paths use async sandbox lifecycle hooks so startup, readiness polling, and release do not block the event loop.
+- **Providers**: `LocalSandboxProvider` (filesystem) and `AioSandboxProvider` (Docker, in community/). Async runtime paths use async sandbox lifecycle hooks so startup, readiness polling, and release do not block the event loop. `AioSandboxProvider` validates active-cache and warm-pool containers during acquire/reuse, dropping definitively dead entries so a thread can provision a fresh sandbox after an unexpected container exit while keeping `get()` as an in-memory lookup. Backend health-check failures are treated as unknown, not dead, and a container that cannot be verified during discovery is simply not adopted (acquire falls through to create instead of failing).
 - **Virtual paths**: `/mnt/user-data/{workspace,uploads,outputs}` → thread-specific physical directories
 - **Skills path**: `/mnt/skills` → `deer-flow/skills/` directory
 - **Skills loading**: Recursively discovers nested `SKILL.md` files under `skills/{public,custom}` and preserves nested container paths
diff --git a/backend/packages/harness/deerflow/community/aio_sandbox/aio_sandbox_provider.py b/backend/packages/harness/deerflow/community/aio_sandbox/aio_sandbox_provider.py
index ec84f23df..095663367 100644
--- a/backend/packages/harness/deerflow/community/aio_sandbox/aio_sandbox_provider.py
+++ b/backend/packages/harness/deerflow/community/aio_sandbox/aio_sandbox_provider.py
@@ -470,14 +470,32 @@ class AioSandboxProvider(SandboxProvider):
 
             existing_id = self._thread_sandboxes[thread_id]
             if existing_id in self._sandboxes:
-                suffix = " (post-lock check)" if post_lock else ""
-                logger.info(f"Reusing in-process sandbox {existing_id} for thread {thread_id}{suffix}")
-                self._last_activity[existing_id] = time.time()
-                return existing_id
+                info = self._sandbox_infos.get(existing_id)
+            else:
+                del self._thread_sandboxes[thread_id]
+                return None
 
-            del self._thread_sandboxes[thread_id]
+        alive = self._check_tracked_sandbox_alive(existing_id, info) if info is not None else True
+        if alive is False:
+            self._drop_unhealthy_sandbox(
+                existing_id,
+                "in-process cache failed health check",
+                expected_info=info,
+            )
             return None
 
+        with self._lock:
+            if self._thread_sandboxes.get(thread_id) != existing_id:
+                return None
+            if existing_id not in self._sandboxes:
+                self._thread_sandboxes.pop(thread_id, None)
+                return None
+
+            suffix = " (post-lock check)" if post_lock else ""
+            logger.info(f"Reusing in-process sandbox {existing_id} for thread {thread_id}{suffix}")
+            self._last_activity[existing_id] = time.time()
+            return existing_id
+
     def _reclaim_warm_pool_sandbox(self, thread_id: str | None, sandbox_id: str, *, post_lock: bool = False) -> str | None:
         """Promote a warm-pool sandbox back to active tracking if available."""
         if thread_id is None:
@@ -487,7 +505,22 @@ class AioSandboxProvider(SandboxProvider):
             if sandbox_id not in self._warm_pool:
                 return None
 
-            info, _ = self._warm_pool.pop(sandbox_id)
+            info, _ = self._warm_pool[sandbox_id]
+
+        alive = self._check_tracked_sandbox_alive(sandbox_id, info)
+        if alive is False:
+            self._drop_unhealthy_sandbox(
+                sandbox_id,
+                "warm-pool cache failed health check",
+                expected_info=info,
+            )
+            return None
+
+        with self._lock:
+            warm_item = self._warm_pool.pop(sandbox_id, None)
+            if warm_item is None:
+                return None
+            info, _ = warm_item
             sandbox = AioSandbox(id=sandbox_id, base_url=info.sandbox_url)
             self._sandboxes[sandbox_id] = sandbox
             self._sandbox_infos[sandbox_id] = info
@@ -527,6 +560,70 @@ class AioSandboxProvider(SandboxProvider):
         logger.info(f"Created sandbox {sandbox_id} for thread {thread_id} at {info.sandbox_url}")
         return sandbox_id
 
+    def _check_tracked_sandbox_alive(self, sandbox_id: str, info: SandboxInfo) -> bool | None:
+        """Return whether a tracked sandbox appears alive, or None if unknown."""
+        try:
+            return self._backend.is_alive(info)
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.warning(f"Failed to check sandbox {sandbox_id} health: {e}")
+            return None
+
+    def _remove_tracked_sandbox(
+        self,
+        sandbox_id: str,
+        *,
+        expected_info: SandboxInfo | None = None,
+    ) -> tuple[Sandbox | None, SandboxInfo | None, bool]:
+        """Remove a sandbox from in-process tracking maps.
+
+        When expected_info is provided, removal only happens if the currently
+        tracked active or warm-pool entry is the exact info object that was
+        checked. This prevents a stale health-check result from deleting a
+        freshly recreated sandbox with the same deterministic id.
+        """
+        thread_ids_to_remove: list[str] = []
+
+        with self._lock:
+            active_info = self._sandbox_infos.get(sandbox_id)
+            warm_item = self._warm_pool.get(sandbox_id)
+            warm_info = warm_item[0] if warm_item is not None else None
+            if expected_info is not None and active_info is not expected_info and warm_info is not expected_info:
+                return None, None, False
+
+            sandbox = self._sandboxes.pop(sandbox_id, None)
+            info = self._sandbox_infos.pop(sandbox_id, None)
+            thread_ids_to_remove = [tid for tid, sid in self._thread_sandboxes.items() if sid == sandbox_id]
+            for tid in thread_ids_to_remove:
+                del self._thread_sandboxes[tid]
+            self._last_activity.pop(sandbox_id, None)
+            if info is None and sandbox_id in self._warm_pool:
+                info, _ = self._warm_pool.pop(sandbox_id)
+            else:
+                self._warm_pool.pop(sandbox_id, None)
+
+        return sandbox, info, True
+
+    def _drop_unhealthy_sandbox(self, sandbox_id: str, reason: str, *, expected_info: SandboxInfo | None = None) -> None:
+        """Remove and destroy a sandbox after a definitive failed health check."""
+        sandbox, info, removed = self._remove_tracked_sandbox(sandbox_id, expected_info=expected_info)
+        if not removed:
+            logger.info(f"Skipped dropping sandbox {sandbox_id}: tracked info changed after health check")
+            return
+
+        if sandbox is not None:
+            try:
+                sandbox.close()
+            except Exception as e:
+                logger.warning(f"Error closing unhealthy sandbox {sandbox_id}: {e}")
+
+        if info is not None:
+            try:
+                self._backend.destroy(info)
+            except Exception as e:
+                logger.warning(f"Error destroying unhealthy sandbox {sandbox_id}: {e}")
+
+        logger.warning(f"Dropped unhealthy sandbox {sandbox_id}: {reason}")
+
     def _replica_count(self) -> tuple[int, int]:
         """Return configured replicas and currently tracked sandbox count."""
         replicas = self._config.get("replicas", DEFAULT_REPLICAS)
@@ -617,7 +714,7 @@ class AioSandboxProvider(SandboxProvider):
 
     async def _acquire_internal_async(self, thread_id: str | None) -> str:
         """Async counterpart to ``_acquire_internal``."""
-        cached_id = self._reuse_in_process_sandbox(thread_id)
+        cached_id = await asyncio.to_thread(self._reuse_in_process_sandbox, thread_id)
         if cached_id is not None:
             return cached_id
 
@@ -625,7 +722,7 @@ class AioSandboxProvider(SandboxProvider):
         sandbox_id = self._sandbox_id_for_thread(thread_id)
 
         # ── Layer 1.5: Warm pool (container still running, no cold-start) ──
-        reclaimed_id = self._reclaim_warm_pool_sandbox(thread_id, sandbox_id)
+        reclaimed_id = await asyncio.to_thread(self._reclaim_warm_pool_sandbox, thread_id, sandbox_id)
         if reclaimed_id is not None:
             return reclaimed_id
 
@@ -681,7 +778,7 @@ class AioSandboxProvider(SandboxProvider):
             locked = True
             # Re-check in-process caches under the file lock in case another
             # thread in this process won the race while we were waiting.
-            cached_id = self._recheck_cached_sandbox(thread_id, sandbox_id)
+            cached_id = await asyncio.to_thread(self._recheck_cached_sandbox, thread_id, sandbox_id)
             if cached_id is not None:
                 return cached_id
 
@@ -837,22 +934,7 @@ class AioSandboxProvider(SandboxProvider):
         Args:
             sandbox_id: The ID of the sandbox to destroy.
         """
-        info = None
-        sandbox = None
-        thread_ids_to_remove: list[str] = []
-
-        with self._lock:
-            sandbox = self._sandboxes.pop(sandbox_id, None)
-            info = self._sandbox_infos.pop(sandbox_id, None)
-            thread_ids_to_remove = [tid for tid, sid in self._thread_sandboxes.items() if sid == sandbox_id]
-            for tid in thread_ids_to_remove:
-                del self._thread_sandboxes[tid]
-            self._last_activity.pop(sandbox_id, None)
-            # Also pull from warm pool if it was parked there
-            if info is None and sandbox_id in self._warm_pool:
-                info, _ = self._warm_pool.pop(sandbox_id)
-            else:
-                self._warm_pool.pop(sandbox_id, None)
+        sandbox, info, _ = self._remove_tracked_sandbox(sandbox_id)
 
         if sandbox is not None:
             # Defense-in-depth: close() already swallows its own errors; this
diff --git a/backend/packages/harness/deerflow/community/aio_sandbox/local_backend.py b/backend/packages/harness/deerflow/community/aio_sandbox/local_backend.py
index 69d838208..58eaf6817 100644
--- a/backend/packages/harness/deerflow/community/aio_sandbox/local_backend.py
+++ b/backend/packages/harness/deerflow/community/aio_sandbox/local_backend.py
@@ -169,6 +169,24 @@ def _resolve_docker_bind_host(sandbox_host: str | None = None, bind_host: str |
     return "0.0.0.0"
 
 
+def _is_no_such_container_error(stderr: str, container_name: str) -> bool:
+    """Return True only when stderr definitively says the container does not exist.
+
+    Docker reports "No such object" / "No such container". Apple Container
+    reports a generic "not found", so that phrase is only trusted when the
+    message also names the inspected container (or refers to a
+    container/object); transient failures whose text happens to contain
+    "not found" (e.g. "command not found", "context not found") must stay on
+    the raise path instead of being misread as a dead container.
+    """
+    message = stderr.lower()
+    if "no such object" in message or "no such container" in message:
+        return True
+    if "not found" not in message:
+        return False
+    return container_name.lower() in message or "container" in message or "object" in message
+
+
 class LocalContainerBackend(SandboxBackend):
     """Backend that manages sandbox containers locally using Docker or Apple Container.
 
@@ -335,11 +353,21 @@ class LocalContainerBackend(SandboxBackend):
             sandbox_id: The deterministic sandbox ID (determines container name).
 
         Returns:
-            SandboxInfo if container found and healthy, None otherwise.
+            SandboxInfo if container found and healthy, None otherwise. A
+            failed runtime check (e.g. transient daemon error) also returns
+            None — discovery must not adopt a container it cannot verify, and
+            falling through to create keeps acquire recoverable instead of
+            hard-failing on a hiccup.
         """
         container_name = f"{self._container_prefix}-{sandbox_id}"
 
-        if not self._is_container_running(container_name):
+        try:
+            running = self._is_container_running(container_name)
+        except RuntimeError as e:
+            logger.warning(f"Could not verify container {container_name} during discovery; not adopting it: {e}")
+            return None
+
+        if not running:
             return None
 
         port = self._get_container_port(container_name)
@@ -582,6 +610,13 @@ class LocalContainerBackend(SandboxBackend):
 
         This enables cross-process container discovery — any process can detect
         containers started by another process via the deterministic container name.
+
+        Raises:
+            RuntimeError: If the container runtime cannot answer the inspect
+                query. A failed check is intentionally distinct from a
+                definitive "container does not exist" result so callers do not
+                destroy healthy containers during transient Docker/Container
+                daemon failures.
         """
         try:
             result = subprocess.run(
@@ -590,9 +625,14 @@ class LocalContainerBackend(SandboxBackend):
                 text=True,
                 timeout=5,
             )
-            return result.returncode == 0 and result.stdout.strip().lower() == "true"
-        except (subprocess.CalledProcessError, subprocess.TimeoutExpired):
+        except subprocess.TimeoutExpired as exc:
+            raise RuntimeError(f"Timed out checking container {container_name}") from exc
+
+        if result.returncode == 0:
+            return result.stdout.strip().lower() == "true"
+        if _is_no_such_container_error(result.stderr, container_name):
             return False
+        raise RuntimeError(f"Failed to inspect container {container_name}: {result.stderr.strip()}")
 
     def _get_container_port(self, container_name: str) -> int | None:
         """Get the host port of a running container.
diff --git a/backend/packages/harness/deerflow/community/aio_sandbox/remote_backend.py b/backend/packages/harness/deerflow/community/aio_sandbox/remote_backend.py
index 83925df13..c04f4e75d 100644
--- a/backend/packages/harness/deerflow/community/aio_sandbox/remote_backend.py
+++ b/backend/packages/harness/deerflow/community/aio_sandbox/remote_backend.py
@@ -176,12 +176,16 @@ class RemoteSandboxBackend(SandboxBackend):
                 f"{self._provisioner_url}/api/sandboxes/{sandbox_id}",
                 timeout=10,
             )
-            if resp.ok:
-                data = resp.json()
-                return data.get("status") == "Running"
-            return False
-        except requests.RequestException:
+        except requests.RequestException as exc:
+            raise RuntimeError(f"Provisioner health check failed for {sandbox_id}: {exc}") from exc
+
+        if resp.status_code == 404:
             return False
+        if not resp.ok:
+            raise RuntimeError(f"Provisioner health check failed for {sandbox_id}: HTTP {resp.status_code} {resp.text}")
+
+        data = resp.json()
+        return data.get("status") == "Running"
 
     def _provisioner_discover(self, sandbox_id: str) -> SandboxInfo | None:
         """GET /api/sandboxes/{sandbox_id} → discover existing sandbox."""
diff --git a/backend/packages/harness/deerflow/sandbox/middleware.py b/backend/packages/harness/deerflow/sandbox/middleware.py
index f40781333..5bdb5a700 100644
--- a/backend/packages/harness/deerflow/sandbox/middleware.py
+++ b/backend/packages/harness/deerflow/sandbox/middleware.py
@@ -1,10 +1,15 @@
 import asyncio
 import logging
+from collections.abc import Awaitable, Callable
+from dataclasses import replace as dc_replace
 from typing import NotRequired, override
 
 from langchain.agents import AgentState
 from langchain.agents.middleware import AgentMiddleware
+from langchain_core.messages import ToolMessage
+from langgraph.prebuilt.tool_node import ToolCallRequest
 from langgraph.runtime import Runtime
+from langgraph.types import Command
 
 from deerflow.agents.thread_state import SandboxState, ThreadDataState
 from deerflow.sandbox import get_sandbox_provider
@@ -126,3 +131,87 @@ class SandboxMiddleware(AgentMiddleware[SandboxMiddlewareState]):
 
         # No sandbox to release
         return await super().aafter_agent(state, runtime)
+
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Tool-call wrappers: persist lazily-acquired sandbox state into the
+    # graph state via Command(update=...).
+    #
+    # Background:
+    #   ``ensure_sandbox_initialized*`` in ``deerflow.sandbox.tools`` mutates
+    #   ``runtime.state["sandbox"]`` directly. That mutation is local to the
+    #   current tool invocation and is NOT picked up by LangGraph's channel
+    #   reducer, so subsequent graph steps (and downstream consumers such as
+    #   ``ToolOutputBudgetMiddleware`` and the sub-agent ``task_tool``)
+    #   cannot observe the sandbox id. Wrapping the tool call lets us detect
+    #   a fresh lazy init by diffing the state snapshot before/after the
+    #   handler and emit a proper state update via ``Command``.
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _read_sandbox_id_from_state(state: object) -> str | None:
+        if not isinstance(state, dict):
+            return None
+        sandbox_state = state.get("sandbox")
+        if not isinstance(sandbox_state, dict):
+            return None
+        sandbox_id = sandbox_state.get("sandbox_id")
+        return sandbox_id if isinstance(sandbox_id, str) else None
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _attach_sandbox_update(result: ToolMessage | Command, sandbox_id: str) -> ToolMessage | Command:
+        """Wrap or merge ``result`` so that ``sandbox.sandbox_id`` is persisted.
+
+        - ``ToolMessage`` -> ``Command(update={"sandbox": ..., "messages": [msg]})``
+        - ``Command`` with dict update -> merge ``sandbox`` key, preserve all
+          existing fields (``messages``, ``goto``, ``graph``, ``resume``, ...).
+        - ``Command`` with non-dict / None update -> leave it untouched to
+          avoid silent data loss on unknown update shapes.
+        """
+        sandbox_update = {"sandbox": {"sandbox_id": sandbox_id}}
+
+        if isinstance(result, ToolMessage):
+            return Command(update={**sandbox_update, "messages": [result]})
+
+        existing_update = result.update
+        if isinstance(existing_update, dict):
+            merged_update = {**existing_update, **sandbox_update}
+            return dc_replace(result, update=merged_update)
+        return result
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _read_sandbox_id_from_request(request: ToolCallRequest) -> str | None:
+        """Read sandbox_id from runtime.state (where ensure_sandbox_initialized writes)."""
+        runtime = request.runtime
+        if runtime is None or runtime.state is None:
+            return None
+        return SandboxMiddleware._read_sandbox_id_from_state(runtime.state)
+
+    @override
+    def wrap_tool_call(
+        self,
+        request: ToolCallRequest,
+        handler: Callable[[ToolCallRequest], ToolMessage | Command],
+    ) -> ToolMessage | Command:
+        prev_sandbox_id = self._read_sandbox_id_from_request(request)
+        result = handler(request)
+        if prev_sandbox_id is not None:
+            return result
+        curr_sandbox_id = self._read_sandbox_id_from_request(request)
+        if curr_sandbox_id is None:
+            return result
+        return self._attach_sandbox_update(result, curr_sandbox_id)
+
+    @override
+    async def awrap_tool_call(
+        self,
+        request: ToolCallRequest,
+        handler: Callable[[ToolCallRequest], Awaitable[ToolMessage | Command]],
+    ) -> ToolMessage | Command:
+        prev_sandbox_id = self._read_sandbox_id_from_request(request)
+        result = await handler(request)
+        if prev_sandbox_id is not None:
+            return result
+        curr_sandbox_id = self._read_sandbox_id_from_request(request)
+        if curr_sandbox_id is None:
+            return result
+        return self._attach_sandbox_update(result, curr_sandbox_id)
diff --git a/backend/tests/fixtures/replay/write_read_file.ultra.events.json b/backend/tests/fixtures/replay/write_read_file.ultra.events.json
index babf90d9d..83976df10 100644
--- a/backend/tests/fixtures/replay/write_read_file.ultra.events.json
+++ b/backend/tests/fixtures/replay/write_read_file.ultra.events.json
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@
       "keys": [
         "artifacts",
         "messages",
+        "sandbox",
         "thread_data",
         "title",
         "viewed_images"
@@ -79,6 +80,7 @@
       "keys": [
         "artifacts",
         "messages",
+        "sandbox",
         "thread_data",
         "title",
         "viewed_images"
@@ -89,6 +91,7 @@
       "keys": [
         "artifacts",
         "messages",
+        "sandbox",
         "thread_data",
         "title",
         "viewed_images"
@@ -99,6 +102,7 @@
       "keys": [
         "artifacts",
         "messages",
+        "sandbox",
         "thread_data",
         "title",
         "viewed_images"
@@ -109,6 +113,7 @@
       "keys": [
         "artifacts",
         "messages",
+        "sandbox",
         "thread_data",
         "title",
         "viewed_images"
@@ -119,6 +124,7 @@
       "keys": [
         "artifacts",
         "messages",
+        "sandbox",
         "thread_data",
         "title",
         "viewed_images"
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_aio_sandbox_local_backend.py b/backend/tests/test_aio_sandbox_local_backend.py
index 333c3eb53..bf0767bc7 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_aio_sandbox_local_backend.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_aio_sandbox_local_backend.py
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 import logging
 import os
+import subprocess
 from types import SimpleNamespace
 
+import pytest
+
 from deerflow.community.aio_sandbox.local_backend import (
     LocalContainerBackend,
     _format_container_command_for_log,
@@ -234,3 +237,99 @@ def test_start_container_keeps_apple_container_port_format(monkeypatch):
     captured_cmd = _capture_start_container_command(monkeypatch, backend, runtime="container")
 
     assert captured_cmd[captured_cmd.index("-p") + 1] == "18080:8080"
+
+
+def _backend_for_inspect_tests() -> LocalContainerBackend:
+    backend = LocalContainerBackend(
+        image="sandbox:latest",
+        base_port=8080,
+        container_prefix="sandbox",
+        config_mounts=[],
+        environment={},
+    )
+    backend._runtime = "docker"
+    return backend
+
+
+def test_is_container_running_false_when_container_missing(monkeypatch):
+    backend = _backend_for_inspect_tests()
+
+    def fake_run(cmd, **kwargs):
+        return SimpleNamespace(stdout="", stderr="Error: No such object: sandbox-missing", returncode=1)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("subprocess.run", fake_run)
+
+    assert backend._is_container_running("sandbox-missing") is False
+
+
+def test_is_container_running_raises_on_runtime_error(monkeypatch):
+    backend = _backend_for_inspect_tests()
+
+    def fake_run(cmd, **kwargs):
+        return SimpleNamespace(stdout="", stderr="Cannot connect to the Docker daemon", returncode=1)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("subprocess.run", fake_run)
+
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="Failed to inspect container sandbox-busy"):
+        backend._is_container_running("sandbox-busy")
+
+
+def test_is_container_running_raises_on_timeout(monkeypatch):
+    backend = _backend_for_inspect_tests()
+
+    def fake_run(cmd, **kwargs):
+        raise subprocess.TimeoutExpired(cmd=cmd, timeout=kwargs["timeout"])
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("subprocess.run", fake_run)
+
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="Timed out checking container sandbox-timeout"):
+        backend._is_container_running("sandbox-timeout")
+
+
+def test_discover_returns_none_when_runtime_check_fails(monkeypatch):
+    """A transient daemon error during discovery must fall through to create, not fail acquire."""
+    backend = _backend_for_inspect_tests()
+
+    def fake_run(cmd, **kwargs):
+        return SimpleNamespace(stdout="", stderr="Cannot connect to the Docker daemon", returncode=1)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("subprocess.run", fake_run)
+
+    assert backend.discover("sandbox-blip") is None
+
+
+def test_discover_returns_none_when_runtime_check_times_out(monkeypatch):
+    """An inspect timeout during discovery must not propagate out of discover()."""
+    backend = _backend_for_inspect_tests()
+
+    def fake_run(cmd, **kwargs):
+        raise subprocess.TimeoutExpired(cmd=cmd, timeout=kwargs["timeout"])
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("subprocess.run", fake_run)
+
+    assert backend.discover("sandbox-timeout") is None
+
+
+def test_is_container_running_false_on_apple_container_not_found(monkeypatch):
+    """Apple Container's generic "not found" is trusted when it names the container."""
+    backend = _backend_for_inspect_tests()
+
+    def fake_run(cmd, **kwargs):
+        return SimpleNamespace(stdout="", stderr='Error: not found: "sandbox-apple"', returncode=1)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("subprocess.run", fake_run)
+
+    assert backend._is_container_running("sandbox-apple") is False
+
+
+def test_is_container_running_raises_on_unrelated_not_found_error(monkeypatch):
+    """Transient errors whose text contains "not found" must not be misread as a dead container."""
+    backend = _backend_for_inspect_tests()
+
+    def fake_run(cmd, **kwargs):
+        return SimpleNamespace(stdout="", stderr="Error: credential helper not found in $PATH", returncode=1)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("subprocess.run", fake_run)
+
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="Failed to inspect container sandbox-busy"):
+        backend._is_container_running("sandbox-busy")
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_aio_sandbox_provider.py b/backend/tests/test_aio_sandbox_provider.py
index ada99e744..974997a69 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_aio_sandbox_provider.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_aio_sandbox_provider.py
@@ -317,6 +317,28 @@ async def test_acquire_async_cancelled_waiter_does_not_block_successor(tmp_path,
     pytest.fail("provider thread lock was not released after successor acquire_async")
 
 
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_acquire_internal_async_offloads_cached_reuse_health_check(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """Async cached reuse must keep backend health checks off the event loop."""
+    aio_mod = importlib.import_module("deerflow.community.aio_sandbox.aio_sandbox_provider")
+    provider, _sandbox, _ = _make_provider_with_active_sandbox(tmp_path, "sandbox-cached-async")
+    provider._thread_sandboxes = {"thread-cached-async": "sandbox-cached-async"}
+    provider._backend.is_alive = MagicMock(return_value=True)
+
+    to_thread_calls: list[tuple[object, tuple[object, ...]]] = []
+
+    async def fake_to_thread(func, /, *args, **kwargs):
+        to_thread_calls.append((func, args))
+        return func(*args, **kwargs)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(aio_mod.asyncio, "to_thread", fake_to_thread)
+
+    sandbox_id = await provider._acquire_internal_async("thread-cached-async")
+
+    assert sandbox_id == "sandbox-cached-async"
+    assert to_thread_calls == [(provider._reuse_in_process_sandbox, ("thread-cached-async",))]
+
+
 def test_remote_backend_create_forwards_effective_user_id(monkeypatch):
     """Provisioner mode must receive user_id so PVC subPath matches user isolation."""
     remote_mod = importlib.import_module("deerflow.community.aio_sandbox.remote_backend")
@@ -424,6 +446,136 @@ def test_release_swallows_close_errors(tmp_path, caplog):
     assert "sandbox-rel-err" in provider._warm_pool
 
 
+def test_get_uses_in_memory_registry_only(tmp_path):
+    """get() must stay event-loop safe by avoiding backend health checks."""
+    provider, sandbox, _ = _make_provider_with_active_sandbox(tmp_path, "sandbox-dead")
+    provider._backend.is_alive = MagicMock(side_effect=AssertionError("get must not call backend health checks"))
+
+    assert provider.get("sandbox-dead") is sandbox
+
+
+def test_acquire_drops_dead_cached_sandbox(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """acquire() must replace a stale active cache entry after its container dies."""
+    aio_mod = importlib.import_module("deerflow.community.aio_sandbox.aio_sandbox_provider")
+    provider, sandbox, _ = _make_provider_with_active_sandbox(tmp_path, "sandbox-dead")
+    provider._thread_locks = {}
+    provider._thread_sandboxes = {"thread-dead": "sandbox-dead"}
+    provider._config = {"replicas": 3}
+    provider._backend.is_alive = MagicMock(return_value=False)
+    provider._backend.discover = MagicMock(return_value=None)
+    provider._backend.create = MagicMock(
+        return_value=aio_mod.SandboxInfo(
+            sandbox_id="sandbox-dead",
+            sandbox_url="http://fresh-sandbox",
+            container_name="deer-flow-sandbox-sandbox-dead",
+        )
+    )
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(aio_mod.AioSandboxProvider, "_sandbox_id_for_thread", lambda _self, _thread_id: "sandbox-dead")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(aio_mod.AioSandboxProvider, "_get_extra_mounts", lambda _self, _thread_id: [])
+    monkeypatch.setattr(aio_mod, "get_paths", lambda: Paths(base_dir=tmp_path))
+    monkeypatch.setattr(aio_mod, "get_effective_user_id", lambda: None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(aio_mod, "wait_for_sandbox_ready", lambda _url, timeout=60: True)
+
+    sandbox_id = provider.acquire("thread-dead")
+
+    assert sandbox_id == "sandbox-dead"
+    sandbox.close.assert_called_once_with()
+    provider._backend.destroy.assert_called_once()
+    provider._backend.create.assert_called_once()
+    assert provider._thread_sandboxes["thread-dead"] == "sandbox-dead"
+    assert provider._sandboxes["sandbox-dead"].base_url == "http://fresh-sandbox"
+
+
+def test_acquire_keeps_cached_sandbox_when_health_check_errors(tmp_path):
+    """Transient backend health-check errors must not destroy a tracked sandbox."""
+    provider, sandbox, _ = _make_provider_with_active_sandbox(tmp_path, "sandbox-transient")
+    provider._thread_locks = {}
+    provider._thread_sandboxes = {"thread-transient": "sandbox-transient"}
+    provider._backend.is_alive = MagicMock(side_effect=OSError("docker daemon busy"))
+
+    sandbox_id = provider.acquire("thread-transient")
+
+    assert sandbox_id == "sandbox-transient"
+    sandbox.close.assert_not_called()
+    provider._backend.destroy.assert_not_called()
+    assert provider._sandboxes["sandbox-transient"] is sandbox
+
+
+def test_drop_unhealthy_sandbox_skips_recreated_entry(tmp_path):
+    """A stale health-check result must not delete a newly registered sandbox."""
+    aio_mod = importlib.import_module("deerflow.community.aio_sandbox.aio_sandbox_provider")
+    provider = _make_provider(tmp_path)
+    provider._lock = aio_mod.threading.Lock()
+    provider._warm_pool = {}
+    provider._last_activity = {"sandbox-toctou": 1.0}
+    provider._thread_sandboxes = {"thread-toctou": "sandbox-toctou"}
+    old_info = aio_mod.SandboxInfo(sandbox_id="sandbox-toctou", sandbox_url="http://old-sandbox")
+    new_info = aio_mod.SandboxInfo(sandbox_id="sandbox-toctou", sandbox_url="http://new-sandbox")
+    new_sandbox = MagicMock()
+    provider._sandbox_infos = {"sandbox-toctou": new_info}
+    provider._sandboxes = {"sandbox-toctou": new_sandbox}
+    provider._backend = SimpleNamespace(destroy=MagicMock())
+
+    provider._drop_unhealthy_sandbox("sandbox-toctou", "stale health check", expected_info=old_info)
+
+    new_sandbox.close.assert_not_called()
+    provider._backend.destroy.assert_not_called()
+    assert provider._sandbox_infos["sandbox-toctou"] is new_info
+    assert provider._sandboxes["sandbox-toctou"] is new_sandbox
+    assert provider._thread_sandboxes == {"thread-toctou": "sandbox-toctou"}
+
+
+def test_acquire_skips_dead_warm_pool_sandbox(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """acquire() must create a fresh sandbox when the warm-pool entry died."""
+    aio_mod = importlib.import_module("deerflow.community.aio_sandbox.aio_sandbox_provider")
+    provider = _make_provider(tmp_path)
+    provider._lock = aio_mod.threading.Lock()
+    provider._thread_locks = {}
+    provider._sandboxes = {}
+    provider._sandbox_infos = {}
+    provider._thread_sandboxes = {}
+    provider._last_activity = {}
+    provider._warm_pool = {
+        "sandbox-warm-dead": (
+            aio_mod.SandboxInfo(
+                sandbox_id="sandbox-warm-dead",
+                sandbox_url="http://stale-sandbox",
+                container_name="deer-flow-sandbox-sandbox-warm-dead",
+            ),
+            0.0,
+        )
+    }
+    provider._config = {"replicas": 3}
+    provider._backend = SimpleNamespace(
+        is_alive=MagicMock(return_value=False),
+        destroy=MagicMock(),
+        discover=MagicMock(return_value=None),
+        create=MagicMock(
+            return_value=aio_mod.SandboxInfo(
+                sandbox_id="sandbox-warm-dead",
+                sandbox_url="http://fresh-sandbox",
+                container_name="deer-flow-sandbox-sandbox-warm-dead",
+            )
+        ),
+    )
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(aio_mod.AioSandboxProvider, "_sandbox_id_for_thread", lambda _self, _thread_id: "sandbox-warm-dead")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(aio_mod.AioSandboxProvider, "_get_extra_mounts", lambda _self, _thread_id: [])
+    monkeypatch.setattr(aio_mod, "get_paths", lambda: Paths(base_dir=tmp_path))
+    monkeypatch.setattr(aio_mod, "get_effective_user_id", lambda: None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(aio_mod, "wait_for_sandbox_ready", lambda _url, timeout=60: True)
+
+    sandbox_id = provider.acquire("thread-warm-dead")
+
+    assert sandbox_id == "sandbox-warm-dead"
+    provider._backend.destroy.assert_called_once()
+    provider._backend.create.assert_called_once()
+    assert provider._warm_pool == {}
+    assert provider._thread_sandboxes["thread-warm-dead"] == "sandbox-warm-dead"
+    assert provider._sandboxes["sandbox-warm-dead"].base_url == "http://fresh-sandbox"
+
+
 def test_destroy_swallows_close_errors_and_still_destroys_backend(tmp_path, caplog):
     """A failure in sandbox.close() must not skip backend container destruction."""
     provider, sandbox, _ = _make_provider_with_active_sandbox(tmp_path, "sandbox-dest-err")
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_remote_sandbox_backend.py b/backend/tests/test_remote_sandbox_backend.py
index beb7564c5..3c6f60886 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_remote_sandbox_backend.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_remote_sandbox_backend.py
@@ -257,14 +257,38 @@ def test_provisioner_is_alive_true_only_when_status_running(monkeypatch):
     assert backend._provisioner_is_alive("abc123") is False
 
 
-def test_provisioner_is_alive_returns_false_on_request_exception(monkeypatch):
+def test_provisioner_is_alive_returns_false_on_404(monkeypatch):
+    backend = RemoteSandboxBackend("http://provisioner:8002")
+
+    def mock_get(url: str, timeout: int):
+        return _StubResponse(status_code=404)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(requests, "get", mock_get)
+    assert backend._provisioner_is_alive("abc123") is False
+
+
+def test_provisioner_is_alive_raises_on_request_exception(monkeypatch):
     backend = RemoteSandboxBackend("http://provisioner:8002")
 
     def mock_get(url: str, timeout: int):
         raise requests.RequestException("boom")
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(requests, "get", mock_get)
-    assert backend._provisioner_is_alive("abc123") is False
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="Provisioner health check failed for abc123"):
+        backend._provisioner_is_alive("abc123")
+
+
+def test_provisioner_is_alive_raises_on_server_error(monkeypatch):
+    backend = RemoteSandboxBackend("http://provisioner:8002")
+
+    def mock_get(url: str, timeout: int):
+        response = _StubResponse(status_code=503)
+        response.text = "unavailable"
+        return response
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(requests, "get", mock_get)
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="HTTP 503 unavailable"):
+        backend._provisioner_is_alive("abc123")
 
 
 def test_discover_delegates_to_provisioner_discover(monkeypatch):
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_sandbox_middleware.py b/backend/tests/test_sandbox_middleware.py
index e3daa3088..c584c759a 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_sandbox_middleware.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_sandbox_middleware.py
@@ -5,7 +5,10 @@ import asyncio
 import pytest
 from langchain.agents.middleware import AgentMiddleware
 from langchain.tools import ToolRuntime
+from langchain_core.messages import ToolMessage
+from langgraph.prebuilt.tool_node import ToolCallRequest
 from langgraph.runtime import Runtime
+from langgraph.types import Command
 
 from deerflow.sandbox.middleware import SandboxMiddleware
 from deerflow.sandbox.sandbox import Sandbox
@@ -223,3 +226,183 @@ async def test_aafter_agent_delegates_to_super_when_no_sandbox(monkeypatch: pyte
 
     assert result == {"delegated": True}
     assert calls == [(state, runtime)]
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# wrap_tool_call / awrap_tool_call: persistent sandbox state via Command
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def _make_tool_call_request(state: dict) -> ToolCallRequest:
+    """Build a minimal ToolCallRequest backed by a real ToolRuntime."""
+    runtime = ToolRuntime(
+        state=state,
+        context={},
+        config={"configurable": {}},
+        stream_writer=lambda _: None,
+        tools=[],
+        tool_call_id="call-1",
+        store=None,
+    )
+    return ToolCallRequest(
+        tool_call={"id": "call-1", "name": "bash", "args": {}},
+        tool=None,
+        state=state,
+        runtime=runtime,
+    )
+
+
+def test_wrap_tool_call_emits_command_when_lazy_init_happens() -> None:
+    middleware = SandboxMiddleware()
+    state: dict = {}
+    request = _make_tool_call_request(state)
+
+    def handler(req: ToolCallRequest) -> ToolMessage:
+        # Simulate ensure_sandbox_initialized() mutating runtime.state in-place.
+        req.runtime.state["sandbox"] = {"sandbox_id": "new-sandbox"}
+        return ToolMessage(content="ok", tool_call_id="call-1", name="bash")
+
+    result = middleware.wrap_tool_call(request, handler)
+
+    assert isinstance(result, Command)
+    assert isinstance(result.update, dict)
+    assert result.update["sandbox"] == {"sandbox_id": "new-sandbox"}
+    messages = result.update["messages"]
+    assert len(messages) == 1
+    assert messages[0].content == "ok"
+    assert messages[0].tool_call_id == "call-1"
+
+
+def test_wrap_tool_call_passthrough_when_sandbox_already_in_state() -> None:
+    middleware = SandboxMiddleware()
+    state: dict = {"sandbox": {"sandbox_id": "existing"}}
+    request = _make_tool_call_request(state)
+    original = ToolMessage(content="ok", tool_call_id="call-1", name="bash")
+
+    def handler(req: ToolCallRequest) -> ToolMessage:
+        return original
+
+    result = middleware.wrap_tool_call(request, handler)
+
+    assert result is original
+
+
+def test_wrap_tool_call_passthrough_when_handler_did_not_initialize_sandbox() -> None:
+    middleware = SandboxMiddleware()
+    state: dict = {}
+    request = _make_tool_call_request(state)
+    original = ToolMessage(content="ok", tool_call_id="call-1", name="bash")
+
+    def handler(req: ToolCallRequest) -> ToolMessage:
+        return original
+
+    result = middleware.wrap_tool_call(request, handler)
+
+    assert result is original
+
+
+def test_wrap_tool_call_merges_with_existing_command_update() -> None:
+    middleware = SandboxMiddleware()
+    state: dict = {}
+    request = _make_tool_call_request(state)
+    tool_msg = ToolMessage(content="ok", tool_call_id="call-1", name="bash")
+
+    def handler(req: ToolCallRequest) -> Command:
+        req.runtime.state["sandbox"] = {"sandbox_id": "new-sandbox"}
+        return Command(
+            update={
+                "messages": [tool_msg],
+                "viewed_images": {"a.png": {"base64": "x", "mime_type": "image/png"}},
+            },
+            goto="next-node",
+        )
+
+    result = middleware.wrap_tool_call(request, handler)
+
+    assert isinstance(result, Command)
+    assert result.goto == "next-node"
+    assert isinstance(result.update, dict)
+    assert result.update["messages"] == [tool_msg]
+    assert result.update["viewed_images"] == {"a.png": {"base64": "x", "mime_type": "image/png"}}
+    assert result.update["sandbox"] == {"sandbox_id": "new-sandbox"}
+
+
+def test_wrap_tool_call_does_not_override_non_dict_update() -> None:
+    middleware = SandboxMiddleware()
+    state: dict = {}
+    request = _make_tool_call_request(state)
+    cmd = Command(update=[("messages", [ToolMessage(content="x", tool_call_id="c", name="bash")])])
+
+    def handler(req: ToolCallRequest) -> Command:
+        req.runtime.state["sandbox"] = {"sandbox_id": "new-sandbox"}
+        return cmd
+
+    result = middleware.wrap_tool_call(request, handler)
+
+    # Non-dict update is left untouched to avoid silent data loss.
+    assert result is cmd
+
+
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_awrap_tool_call_emits_command_when_lazy_init_happens() -> None:
+    middleware = SandboxMiddleware()
+    state: dict = {}
+    request = _make_tool_call_request(state)
+
+    async def handler(req: ToolCallRequest) -> ToolMessage:
+        req.runtime.state["sandbox"] = {"sandbox_id": "async-new"}
+        return ToolMessage(content="ok", tool_call_id="call-1", name="bash")
+
+    result = await middleware.awrap_tool_call(request, handler)
+
+    assert isinstance(result, Command)
+    assert isinstance(result.update, dict)
+    assert result.update["sandbox"] == {"sandbox_id": "async-new"}
+    messages = result.update["messages"]
+    assert len(messages) == 1
+    assert messages[0].content == "ok"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_awrap_tool_call_passthrough_when_sandbox_already_in_state() -> None:
+    middleware = SandboxMiddleware()
+    state: dict = {"sandbox": {"sandbox_id": "existing"}}
+    request = _make_tool_call_request(state)
+    original = ToolMessage(content="ok", tool_call_id="call-1", name="bash")
+
+    async def handler(req: ToolCallRequest) -> ToolMessage:
+        return original
+
+    result = await middleware.awrap_tool_call(request, handler)
+
+    assert result is original
+
+
+def test_wrap_tool_call_preserves_existing_command_fields_when_merging() -> None:
+    """Regression: when merging sandbox_update into an existing Command,
+    all other Command fields (e.g. graph, goto, resume) must be preserved.
+    """
+    middleware = SandboxMiddleware()
+    state: dict = {}
+    request = _make_tool_call_request(state)
+
+    def handler(req: ToolCallRequest) -> Command:
+        req.runtime.state["sandbox"] = {"sandbox_id": "sbx-merge"}
+        return Command(
+            update={"existing_key": "existing_value"},
+            graph="parent",
+            goto="next_node",
+            resume="resume-token",
+        )
+
+    result = middleware.wrap_tool_call(request, handler)
+
+    assert isinstance(result, Command)
+    assert result.update == {
+        "existing_key": "existing_value",
+        "sandbox": {"sandbox_id": "sbx-merge"},
+    }
+    # Critical: other Command fields must NOT be dropped by the merge.
+    assert result.graph == "parent"
+    assert result.goto == "next_node"
+    assert result.resume == "resume-token"