diff --git a/server/src/__tests__/heartbeat-issue-liveness-escalation.test.ts b/server/src/__tests__/heartbeat-issue-liveness-escalation.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5e3f80abf4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/__tests__/heartbeat-issue-liveness-escalation.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,280 @@
+import { randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
+import { and, eq, sql } from "drizzle-orm";
+import { afterAll, afterEach, beforeAll, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import {
+  activityLog,
+  agents,
+  agentWakeupRequests,
+  companies,
+  createDb,
+  heartbeatRuns,
+  issueComments,
+  issueRelations,
+  issues,
+} from "@paperclipai/db";
+import {
+  getEmbeddedPostgresTestSupport,
+  startEmbeddedPostgresTestDatabase,
+} from "./helpers/embedded-postgres.js";
+
+const mockAdapterExecute = vi.hoisted(() =>
+  vi.fn(async () => ({
+    exitCode: 0,
+    signal: null,
+    timedOut: false,
+    errorMessage: null,
+    summary: "Acknowledged liveness escalation.",
+    provider: "test",
+    model: "test-model",
+  })),
+);
+
+vi.mock("../telemetry.ts", () => ({
+  getTelemetryClient: () => ({ track: vi.fn() }),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("@paperclipai/shared/telemetry", async () => {
+  const actual = await vi.importActual<typeof import("@paperclipai/shared/telemetry")>(
+    "@paperclipai/shared/telemetry",
+  );
+  return {
+    ...actual,
+    trackAgentFirstHeartbeat: vi.fn(),
+  };
+});
+
+vi.mock("../adapters/index.ts", async () => {
+  const actual = await vi.importActual<typeof import("../adapters/index.ts")>("../adapters/index.ts");
+  return {
+    ...actual,
+    getServerAdapter: vi.fn(() => ({
+      supportsLocalAgentJwt: false,
+      execute: mockAdapterExecute,
+    })),
+  };
+});
+
+import { heartbeatService } from "../services/heartbeat.ts";
+import { runningProcesses } from "../adapters/index.ts";
+
+const embeddedPostgresSupport = await getEmbeddedPostgresTestSupport();
+const describeEmbeddedPostgres = embeddedPostgresSupport.supported ? describe : describe.skip;
+
+if (!embeddedPostgresSupport.supported) {
+  console.warn(
+    `Skipping embedded Postgres issue liveness escalation tests on this host: ${embeddedPostgresSupport.reason ?? "unsupported environment"}`,
+  );
+}
+
+describeEmbeddedPostgres("heartbeat issue graph liveness escalation", () => {
+  let tempDb: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof startEmbeddedPostgresTestDatabase>> | null = null;
+  let db: ReturnType<typeof createDb>;
+
+  beforeAll(async () => {
+    tempDb = await startEmbeddedPostgresTestDatabase("paperclip-heartbeat-issue-liveness-");
+    db = createDb(tempDb.connectionString);
+  }, 30_000);
+
+  afterEach(async () => {
+    vi.clearAllMocks();
+    runningProcesses.clear();
+    let idlePolls = 0;
+    for (let attempt = 0; attempt < 100; attempt += 1) {
+      const runs = await db
+        .select({ status: heartbeatRuns.status })
+        .from(heartbeatRuns);
+      const hasActiveRun = runs.some((run) => run.status === "queued" || run.status === "running");
+      if (!hasActiveRun) {
+        idlePolls += 1;
+        if (idlePolls >= 3) break;
+      } else {
+        idlePolls = 0;
+      }
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 50));
+    }
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 50));
+    await db.execute(sql.raw(`TRUNCATE TABLE "companies" CASCADE`));
+  });
+
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    await tempDb?.cleanup();
+  });
+
+  async function seedBlockedChain() {
+    const companyId = randomUUID();
+    const managerId = randomUUID();
+    const coderId = randomUUID();
+    const blockedIssueId = randomUUID();
+    const blockerIssueId = randomUUID();
+    const issuePrefix = `T${companyId.replace(/-/g, "").slice(0, 6).toUpperCase()}`;
+
+    await db.insert(companies).values({
+      id: companyId,
+      name: "Paperclip",
+      issuePrefix,
+      requireBoardApprovalForNewAgents: false,
+    });
+
+    await db.insert(agents).values([
+      {
+        id: managerId,
+        companyId,
+        name: "CTO",
+        role: "cto",
+        status: "idle",
+        adapterType: "codex_local",
+        adapterConfig: {},
+        runtimeConfig: {},
+        permissions: {},
+      },
+      {
+        id: coderId,
+        companyId,
+        name: "Coder",
+        role: "engineer",
+        status: "idle",
+        reportsTo: managerId,
+        adapterType: "codex_local",
+        adapterConfig: {},
+        runtimeConfig: {},
+        permissions: {},
+      },
+    ]);
+
+    await db.insert(issues).values([
+      {
+        id: blockedIssueId,
+        companyId,
+        title: "Blocked parent",
+        status: "blocked",
+        priority: "medium",
+        assigneeAgentId: coderId,
+        issueNumber: 1,
+        identifier: `${issuePrefix}-1`,
+      },
+      {
+        id: blockerIssueId,
+        companyId,
+        title: "Missing unblock owner",
+        status: "todo",
+        priority: "medium",
+        issueNumber: 2,
+        identifier: `${issuePrefix}-2`,
+      },
+    ]);
+
+    await db.insert(issueRelations).values({
+      companyId,
+      issueId: blockerIssueId,
+      relatedIssueId: blockedIssueId,
+      type: "blocks",
+    });
+
+    return { companyId, managerId, blockedIssueId, blockerIssueId };
+  }
+
+  it("creates one manager escalation, preserves blockers, and wakes the assignee", async () => {
+    const { companyId, managerId, blockedIssueId, blockerIssueId } = await seedBlockedChain();
+    const heartbeat = heartbeatService(db);
+
+    const first = await heartbeat.reconcileIssueGraphLiveness();
+    const second = await heartbeat.reconcileIssueGraphLiveness();
+
+    expect(first.escalationsCreated).toBe(1);
+    expect(second.escalationsCreated).toBe(0);
+    expect(second.existingEscalations).toBe(1);
+
+    const escalations = await db
+      .select()
+      .from(issues)
+      .where(
+        and(
+          eq(issues.companyId, companyId),
+          eq(issues.originKind, "harness_liveness_escalation"),
+        ),
+      );
+    expect(escalations).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(escalations[0]).toMatchObject({
+      parentId: blockedIssueId,
+      assigneeAgentId: managerId,
+      status: expect.stringMatching(/^(todo|in_progress|done)$/),
+    });
+
+    const blockers = await db
+      .select({ blockerIssueId: issueRelations.issueId })
+      .from(issueRelations)
+      .where(eq(issueRelations.relatedIssueId, blockedIssueId));
+    expect(blockers.map((row) => row.blockerIssueId).sort()).toEqual(
+      [blockerIssueId, escalations[0]!.id].sort(),
+    );
+
+    const comments = await db.select().from(issueComments).where(eq(issueComments.issueId, blockedIssueId));
+    expect(comments).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(comments[0]?.body).toContain("harness-level liveness incident");
+    expect(comments[0]?.body).toContain(escalations[0]?.identifier ?? escalations[0]!.id);
+
+    const wakes = await db.select().from(agentWakeupRequests).where(eq(agentWakeupRequests.agentId, managerId));
+    expect(wakes.some((wake) => wake.reason === "issue_assigned")).toBe(true);
+
+    const events = await db.select().from(activityLog).where(eq(activityLog.companyId, companyId));
+    expect(events.some((event) => event.action === "issue.harness_liveness_escalation_created")).toBe(true);
+    expect(events.some((event) => event.action === "issue.blockers.updated")).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("creates a fresh escalation when the previous matching escalation is terminal", async () => {
+    const { companyId, managerId, blockedIssueId, blockerIssueId } = await seedBlockedChain();
+    const heartbeat = heartbeatService(db);
+    const incidentKey = [
+      "harness_liveness",
+      companyId,
+      blockedIssueId,
+      "blocked_by_unassigned_issue",
+      blockerIssueId,
+    ].join(":");
+    const closedEscalationId = randomUUID();
+
+    await db.insert(issues).values({
+      id: closedEscalationId,
+      companyId,
+      title: "Closed escalation",
+      status: "done",
+      priority: "high",
+      parentId: blockedIssueId,
+      assigneeAgentId: managerId,
+      issueNumber: 3,
+      identifier: "CLOSED-3",
+      originKind: "harness_liveness_escalation",
+      originId: incidentKey,
+    });
+
+    const result = await heartbeat.reconcileIssueGraphLiveness();
+
+    expect(result.escalationsCreated).toBe(1);
+    expect(result.existingEscalations).toBe(0);
+
+    const openEscalations = await db
+      .select()
+      .from(issues)
+      .where(
+        and(
+          eq(issues.companyId, companyId),
+          eq(issues.originKind, "harness_liveness_escalation"),
+          eq(issues.originId, incidentKey),
+        ),
+      );
+    expect(openEscalations).toHaveLength(2);
+    const freshEscalation = openEscalations.find((issue) => issue.status !== "done");
+    expect(freshEscalation).toMatchObject({
+      parentId: blockedIssueId,
+      assigneeAgentId: managerId,
+      status: expect.stringMatching(/^(todo|in_progress|done)$/),
+    });
+
+    const blockers = await db
+      .select({ blockerIssueId: issueRelations.issueId })
+      .from(issueRelations)
+      .where(eq(issueRelations.relatedIssueId, blockedIssueId));
+    expect(blockers.some((row) => row.blockerIssueId === closedEscalationId)).toBe(false);
+    expect(blockers.some((row) => row.blockerIssueId === freshEscalation?.id)).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/server/src/__tests__/issue-liveness.test.ts b/server/src/__tests__/issue-liveness.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c675254514
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/__tests__/issue-liveness.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,185 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { classifyIssueGraphLiveness } from "../services/issue-liveness.ts";
+
+const companyId = "company-1";
+const managerId = "manager-1";
+const coderId = "coder-1";
+const blockerId = "blocker-1";
+const blockedId = "blocked-1";
+
+function issue(overrides: Record<string, unknown> = {}) {
+  return {
+    id: blockedId,
+    companyId,
+    identifier: "PAP-1703",
+    title: "Parent work",
+    status: "blocked",
+    assigneeAgentId: coderId,
+    assigneeUserId: null,
+    createdByAgentId: null,
+    createdByUserId: null,
+    executionState: null,
+    ...overrides,
+  };
+}
+
+function agent(overrides: Record<string, unknown> = {}) {
+  return {
+    id: coderId,
+    companyId,
+    name: "Coder",
+    role: "engineer",
+    title: null,
+    status: "idle",
+    reportsTo: managerId,
+    ...overrides,
+  };
+}
+
+const manager = agent({
+  id: managerId,
+  name: "CTO",
+  role: "cto",
+  reportsTo: null,
+});
+
+const blocks = [{ companyId, blockerIssueId: blockerId, blockedIssueId: blockedId }];
+
+describe("issue graph liveness classifier", () => {
+  it("detects a PAP-1703-style blocked chain with an unassigned blocker and stable incident key", () => {
+    const findings = classifyIssueGraphLiveness({
+      issues: [
+        issue(),
+        issue({
+          id: blockerId,
+          identifier: "PAP-1704",
+          title: "Missing unblock work",
+          status: "todo",
+          assigneeAgentId: null,
+        }),
+      ],
+      relations: blocks,
+      agents: [agent(), manager],
+    });
+
+    expect(findings).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(findings[0]).toMatchObject({
+      issueId: blockedId,
+      identifier: "PAP-1703",
+      state: "blocked_by_unassigned_issue",
+      recommendedOwnerAgentId: managerId,
+      dependencyPath: [
+        expect.objectContaining({ issueId: blockedId }),
+        expect.objectContaining({ issueId: blockerId }),
+      ],
+      incidentKey: `harness_liveness:${companyId}:${blockedId}:blocked_by_unassigned_issue:${blockerId}`,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("does not flag a live blocked chain with an active assignee and wake path", () => {
+    const findings = classifyIssueGraphLiveness({
+      issues: [
+        issue(),
+        issue({
+          id: blockerId,
+          identifier: "PAP-1704",
+          title: "Live unblock work",
+          status: "todo",
+          assigneeAgentId: "blocker-agent",
+        }),
+      ],
+      relations: blocks,
+      agents: [
+        agent(),
+        manager,
+        agent({ id: "blocker-agent", name: "Blocker Agent", reportsTo: managerId }),
+      ],
+      queuedWakeRequests: [{ companyId, issueId: blockerId, agentId: "blocker-agent", status: "queued" }],
+    });
+
+    expect(findings).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it("does not flag an unassigned blocker that already has an active execution path", () => {
+    const findings = classifyIssueGraphLiveness({
+      issues: [
+        issue(),
+        issue({
+          id: blockerId,
+          identifier: "PAP-1704",
+          title: "Unassigned but already running",
+          status: "todo",
+          assigneeAgentId: null,
+        }),
+      ],
+      relations: blocks,
+      agents: [agent(), manager],
+      activeRuns: [{ companyId, issueId: blockerId, agentId: coderId, status: "running" }],
+    });
+
+    expect(findings).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it("detects cancelled blockers and uninvokable blocker assignees deterministically", () => {
+    const cancelled = classifyIssueGraphLiveness({
+      issues: [
+        issue(),
+        issue({
+          id: blockerId,
+          identifier: "PAP-1704",
+          title: "Cancelled unblock work",
+          status: "cancelled",
+          assigneeAgentId: "blocker-agent",
+        }),
+      ],
+      relations: blocks,
+      agents: [agent(), manager, agent({ id: "blocker-agent", name: "Paused", status: "paused" })],
+    });
+    expect(cancelled[0]?.state).toBe("blocked_by_cancelled_issue");
+
+    const paused = classifyIssueGraphLiveness({
+      issues: [
+        issue(),
+        issue({
+          id: blockerId,
+          identifier: "PAP-1704",
+          title: "Paused unblock work",
+          status: "todo",
+          assigneeAgentId: "blocker-agent",
+        }),
+      ],
+      relations: blocks,
+      agents: [agent(), manager, agent({ id: "blocker-agent", name: "Paused", status: "paused" })],
+    });
+    expect(paused[0]?.state).toBe("blocked_by_uninvokable_assignee");
+  });
+
+  it("detects invalid in_review execution participant", () => {
+    const findings = classifyIssueGraphLiveness({
+      issues: [
+        issue({
+          status: "in_review",
+          executionState: {
+            status: "pending",
+            currentStageId: "stage-1",
+            currentStageIndex: 0,
+            currentStageType: "review",
+            currentParticipant: { type: "agent", agentId: "missing-agent" },
+            returnAssignee: { type: "agent", agentId: coderId },
+            completedStageIds: [],
+            lastDecisionId: null,
+            lastDecisionOutcome: null,
+          },
+        }),
+      ],
+      relations: [],
+      agents: [agent(), manager],
+    });
+
+    expect(findings).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(findings[0]).toMatchObject({
+      state: "invalid_review_participant",
+      incidentKey: `harness_liveness:${companyId}:${blockedId}:invalid_review_participant:missing-agent`,
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/server/src/index.ts b/server/src/index.ts
index a788364a7c..8645289d93 100644
--- a/server/src/index.ts
+++ b/server/src/index.ts
@@ -674,6 +674,12 @@ export async function startServer(): Promise<StartedServer> {
           logger.warn({ ...reconciled }, "startup stranded-issue reconciliation changed assigned issue state");
         }
       })
+      .then(async () => {
+        const reconciled = await heartbeat.reconcileIssueGraphLiveness();
+        if (reconciled.escalationsCreated > 0) {
+          logger.warn({ ...reconciled }, "startup issue-graph liveness reconciliation created escalations");
+        }
+      })
       .catch((err) => {
         logger.error({ err }, "startup heartbeat recovery failed");
       });
@@ -715,6 +721,12 @@ export async function startServer(): Promise<StartedServer> {
             logger.warn({ ...reconciled }, "periodic stranded-issue reconciliation changed assigned issue state");
           }
         })
+        .then(async () => {
+          const reconciled = await heartbeat.reconcileIssueGraphLiveness();
+          if (reconciled.escalationsCreated > 0) {
+            logger.warn({ ...reconciled }, "periodic issue-graph liveness reconciliation created escalations");
+          }
+        })
         .catch((err) => {
           logger.error({ err }, "periodic heartbeat recovery failed");
         });
diff --git a/server/src/services/heartbeat.ts b/server/src/services/heartbeat.ts
index 5e4d14ff50..6b95be1903 100644
--- a/server/src/services/heartbeat.ts
+++ b/server/src/services/heartbeat.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import path from "node:path";
 import { execFile as execFileCallback } from "node:child_process";
 import { promisify } from "node:util";
 import { randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
-import { and, asc, desc, eq, getTableColumns, gt, inArray, isNull, or, sql } from "drizzle-orm";
+import { and, asc, desc, eq, getTableColumns, gt, inArray, isNull, notInArray, or, sql } from "drizzle-orm";
 import type { Db } from "@paperclipai/db";
 import {
   AGENT_DEFAULT_MAX_CONCURRENT_RUNS,
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import {
   heartbeatRunEvents,
   heartbeatRuns,
   issueComments,
+  issueRelations,
   issues,
   issueWorkProducts,
   projects,
@@ -61,6 +62,10 @@ import {
   classifyRunLiveness,
   type RunLivenessClassificationInput,
 } from "./run-liveness.js";
+import {
+  classifyIssueGraphLiveness,
+  type IssueLivenessFinding,
+} from "./issue-liveness.js";
 import { logActivity, publishPluginDomainEvent, type LogActivityInput } from "./activity-log.js";
 import {
   buildWorkspaceReadyComment,
@@ -3830,6 +3835,363 @@ export function heartbeatService(db: Db) {
     return result;
   }
 
+  function issueIdFromRunContext(contextSnapshot: unknown) {
+    const context = parseObject(contextSnapshot);
+    return readNonEmptyString(context.issueId) ?? readNonEmptyString(context.taskId);
+  }
+
+  function issueIdFromWakePayload(payload: unknown) {
+    const parsed = parseObject(payload);
+    const nestedContext = parseObject(parsed[DEFERRED_WAKE_CONTEXT_KEY]);
+    return readNonEmptyString(parsed.issueId) ??
+      readNonEmptyString(nestedContext.issueId) ??
+      readNonEmptyString(nestedContext.taskId);
+  }
+
+  async function collectIssueGraphLivenessFindings() {
+    const [issueRows, relationRows, agentRows, activeRunRows, wakeRows] = await Promise.all([
+      db
+        .select({
+          id: issues.id,
+          companyId: issues.companyId,
+          identifier: issues.identifier,
+          title: issues.title,
+          status: issues.status,
+          projectId: issues.projectId,
+          goalId: issues.goalId,
+          parentId: issues.parentId,
+          assigneeAgentId: issues.assigneeAgentId,
+          assigneeUserId: issues.assigneeUserId,
+          createdByAgentId: issues.createdByAgentId,
+          createdByUserId: issues.createdByUserId,
+          executionState: issues.executionState,
+        })
+        .from(issues)
+        .where(isNull(issues.hiddenAt)),
+      db
+        .select({
+          companyId: issueRelations.companyId,
+          blockerIssueId: issueRelations.issueId,
+          blockedIssueId: issueRelations.relatedIssueId,
+        })
+        .from(issueRelations)
+        .where(eq(issueRelations.type, "blocks")),
+      db
+        .select({
+          id: agents.id,
+          companyId: agents.companyId,
+          name: agents.name,
+          role: agents.role,
+          title: agents.title,
+          status: agents.status,
+          reportsTo: agents.reportsTo,
+        })
+        .from(agents),
+      db
+        .select({
+          companyId: heartbeatRuns.companyId,
+          agentId: heartbeatRuns.agentId,
+          status: heartbeatRuns.status,
+          contextSnapshot: heartbeatRuns.contextSnapshot,
+        })
+        .from(heartbeatRuns)
+        .where(inArray(heartbeatRuns.status, [...ACTIVE_HEARTBEAT_RUN_STATUSES])),
+      db
+        .select({
+          companyId: agentWakeupRequests.companyId,
+          agentId: agentWakeupRequests.agentId,
+          status: agentWakeupRequests.status,
+          payload: agentWakeupRequests.payload,
+        })
+        .from(agentWakeupRequests)
+        .where(inArray(agentWakeupRequests.status, ["queued", "deferred_issue_execution"])),
+    ]);
+
+    return classifyIssueGraphLiveness({
+      issues: issueRows,
+      relations: relationRows,
+      agents: agentRows,
+      activeRuns: activeRunRows.map((row) => ({
+        companyId: row.companyId,
+        agentId: row.agentId,
+        status: row.status,
+        issueId: issueIdFromRunContext(row.contextSnapshot),
+      })),
+      queuedWakeRequests: wakeRows.map((row) => ({
+        companyId: row.companyId,
+        agentId: row.agentId,
+        status: row.status,
+        issueId: issueIdFromWakePayload(row.payload),
+      })),
+    });
+  }
+
+  async function findOpenLivenessEscalation(companyId: string, incidentKey: string) {
+    return db
+      .select()
+      .from(issues)
+      .where(
+        and(
+          eq(issues.companyId, companyId),
+          eq(issues.originKind, "harness_liveness_escalation"),
+          eq(issues.originId, incidentKey),
+          isNull(issues.hiddenAt),
+          notInArray(issues.status, ["done", "cancelled"]),
+        ),
+      )
+      .limit(1)
+      .then((rows) => rows[0] ?? null);
+  }
+
+  async function existingBlockerIssueIds(companyId: string, issueId: string) {
+    return db
+      .select({ blockerIssueId: issueRelations.issueId })
+      .from(issueRelations)
+      .where(
+        and(
+          eq(issueRelations.companyId, companyId),
+          eq(issueRelations.relatedIssueId, issueId),
+          eq(issueRelations.type, "blocks"),
+        ),
+      )
+      .then((rows) => rows.map((row) => row.blockerIssueId));
+  }
+
+  function formatDependencyPath(finding: IssueLivenessFinding) {
+    return finding.dependencyPath
+      .map((entry) => entry.identifier ?? entry.issueId)
+      .join(" -> ");
+  }
+
+  function buildLivenessEscalationDescription(finding: IssueLivenessFinding) {
+    return [
+      "Paperclip detected a harness-level issue graph liveness incident.",
+      "",
+      `- Incident key: \`${finding.incidentKey}\``,
+      `- Finding: \`${finding.state}\``,
+      `- Dependency path: ${formatDependencyPath(finding)}`,
+      `- Reason: ${finding.reason}`,
+      `- Requested action: ${finding.recommendedAction}`,
+      "",
+      "Resolve the blocked chain, then mark this escalation issue done so the original issue can resume when all blockers are cleared.",
+    ].join("\n");
+  }
+
+  function buildLivenessOriginalIssueComment(finding: IssueLivenessFinding, escalation: typeof issues.$inferSelect) {
+    return [
+      "Paperclip detected a harness-level liveness incident in this issue's dependency graph.",
+      "",
+      `- Escalation issue: ${escalation.identifier ?? escalation.id}`,
+      `- Incident key: \`${finding.incidentKey}\``,
+      `- Finding: \`${finding.state}\``,
+      `- Dependency path: ${formatDependencyPath(finding)}`,
+      `- Reason: ${finding.reason}`,
+      `- Manager action requested: ${finding.recommendedAction}`,
+      "",
+      "This issue now keeps its existing blockers and is also blocked by the escalation issue so dependency wakeups remain explicit.",
+    ].join("\n");
+  }
+
+  async function resolveEscalationOwnerAgentId(
+    finding: IssueLivenessFinding,
+    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect,
+  ) {
+    const candidates = [
+      finding.recommendedOwnerAgentId,
+      ...finding.recommendedOwnerCandidateAgentIds,
+    ].filter((candidate): candidate is string => Boolean(candidate));
+
+    for (const candidate of [...new Set(candidates)]) {
+      const budgetBlock = await budgets.getInvocationBlock(issue.companyId, candidate, {
+        issueId: issue.id,
+        projectId: issue.projectId,
+      });
+      if (!budgetBlock) return candidate;
+    }
+
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  async function ensureIssueBlockedByEscalation(input: {
+    issue: typeof issues.$inferSelect;
+    escalationIssueId: string;
+    finding: IssueLivenessFinding;
+    runId?: string | null;
+  }) {
+    const blockerIds = await existingBlockerIssueIds(input.issue.companyId, input.issue.id);
+    const nextBlockerIds = [...new Set([...blockerIds, input.escalationIssueId])];
+    const update: Partial<typeof issues.$inferInsert> & { blockedByIssueIds: string[] } = {
+      blockedByIssueIds: nextBlockerIds,
+    };
+    if (input.issue.status !== "blocked") {
+      update.status = "blocked";
+    }
+
+    const updated = await issuesSvc.update(input.issue.id, update);
+    if (!updated) return null;
+
+    await logActivity(db, {
+      companyId: input.issue.companyId,
+      actorType: "system",
+      actorId: "system",
+      agentId: null,
+      runId: input.runId ?? null,
+      action: "issue.blockers.updated",
+      entityType: "issue",
+      entityId: input.issue.id,
+      details: {
+        source: "heartbeat.reconcile_issue_graph_liveness",
+        incidentKey: input.finding.incidentKey,
+        findingState: input.finding.state,
+        blockerIssueIds: nextBlockerIds,
+        escalationIssueId: input.escalationIssueId,
+        status: update.status ?? input.issue.status,
+        previousStatus: input.issue.status,
+      },
+    });
+
+    return updated;
+  }
+
+  async function createIssueGraphLivenessEscalation(input: {
+    finding: IssueLivenessFinding;
+    runId?: string | null;
+  }) {
+    const issue = await db
+      .select()
+      .from(issues)
+      .where(eq(issues.id, input.finding.issueId))
+      .then((rows) => rows[0] ?? null);
+    if (!issue || issue.companyId !== input.finding.companyId) return { kind: "skipped" as const };
+
+    const existing = await findOpenLivenessEscalation(issue.companyId, input.finding.incidentKey);
+    if (existing) {
+      await ensureIssueBlockedByEscalation({
+        issue,
+        escalationIssueId: existing.id,
+        finding: input.finding,
+        runId: input.runId ?? null,
+      });
+      return { kind: "existing" as const, escalationIssueId: existing.id };
+    }
+
+    const ownerAgentId = await resolveEscalationOwnerAgentId(input.finding, issue);
+    if (!ownerAgentId) return { kind: "skipped" as const };
+
+    const escalation = await issuesSvc.create(issue.companyId, {
+      title: `Unblock liveness incident for ${issue.identifier ?? issue.title}`,
+      description: buildLivenessEscalationDescription(input.finding),
+      status: "todo",
+      priority: "high",
+      parentId: issue.id,
+      projectId: issue.projectId,
+      goalId: issue.goalId,
+      assigneeAgentId: ownerAgentId,
+      originKind: "harness_liveness_escalation",
+      originId: input.finding.incidentKey,
+      billingCode: issue.billingCode,
+      inheritExecutionWorkspaceFromIssueId: issue.id,
+    });
+
+    await ensureIssueBlockedByEscalation({
+      issue,
+      escalationIssueId: escalation.id,
+      finding: input.finding,
+      runId: input.runId ?? null,
+    });
+
+    await issuesSvc.addComment(
+      issue.id,
+      buildLivenessOriginalIssueComment(input.finding, escalation),
+      { runId: input.runId ?? null },
+    );
+
+    await logActivity(db, {
+      companyId: issue.companyId,
+      actorType: "system",
+      actorId: "system",
+      agentId: ownerAgentId,
+      runId: input.runId ?? null,
+      action: "issue.harness_liveness_escalation_created",
+      entityType: "issue",
+      entityId: escalation.id,
+      details: {
+        source: "heartbeat.reconcile_issue_graph_liveness",
+        incidentKey: input.finding.incidentKey,
+        findingState: input.finding.state,
+        sourceIssueId: issue.id,
+        sourceIdentifier: issue.identifier,
+        escalationIssueId: escalation.id,
+        escalationIdentifier: escalation.identifier,
+        dependencyPath: input.finding.dependencyPath,
+      },
+    });
+
+    const wake = await enqueueWakeup(ownerAgentId, {
+      source: "assignment",
+      triggerDetail: "system",
+      reason: "issue_assigned",
+      payload: {
+        issueId: escalation.id,
+        sourceIssueId: issue.id,
+        incidentKey: input.finding.incidentKey,
+      },
+      requestedByActorType: "system",
+      requestedByActorId: null,
+      contextSnapshot: {
+        issueId: escalation.id,
+        taskId: escalation.id,
+        wakeReason: "issue_assigned",
+        source: "harness_liveness_escalation",
+        sourceIssueId: issue.id,
+        incidentKey: input.finding.incidentKey,
+      },
+    });
+
+    logger.warn({
+      incidentKey: input.finding.incidentKey,
+      findingState: input.finding.state,
+      sourceIssueId: issue.id,
+      escalationIssueId: escalation.id,
+      ownerAgentId,
+      wakeupRunId: wake?.id ?? null,
+    }, "created issue graph liveness escalation");
+
+    return { kind: "created" as const, escalationIssueId: escalation.id };
+  }
+
+  async function reconcileIssueGraphLiveness(opts?: { runId?: string | null }) {
+    const findings = await collectIssueGraphLivenessFindings();
+    const result = {
+      findings: findings.length,
+      escalationsCreated: 0,
+      existingEscalations: 0,
+      skipped: 0,
+      issueIds: [] as string[],
+      escalationIssueIds: [] as string[],
+    };
+
+    for (const finding of findings) {
+      const escalation = await createIssueGraphLivenessEscalation({
+        finding,
+        runId: opts?.runId ?? null,
+      });
+      if (escalation.kind === "created") {
+        result.escalationsCreated += 1;
+        result.issueIds.push(finding.issueId);
+        result.escalationIssueIds.push(escalation.escalationIssueId);
+      } else if (escalation.kind === "existing") {
+        result.existingEscalations += 1;
+        result.issueIds.push(finding.issueId);
+        result.escalationIssueIds.push(escalation.escalationIssueId);
+      } else {
+        result.skipped += 1;
+      }
+    }
+
+    return result;
+  }
+
   async function updateRuntimeState(
     agent: typeof agents.$inferSelect,
     run: typeof heartbeatRuns.$inferSelect,
@@ -5590,7 +5952,10 @@ export function heartbeatService(db: Db) {
       });
 
       if (outcome.kind === "deferred" || outcome.kind === "skipped") return null;
-      if (outcome.kind === "coalesced") return outcome.run;
+      if (outcome.kind === "coalesced") {
+        await startNextQueuedRunForAgent(agent.id);
+        return outcome.run;
+      }
 
       const newRun = outcome.run;
       publishLiveEvent({
@@ -6164,6 +6529,8 @@ export function heartbeatService(db: Db) {
 
     reconcileStrandedAssignedIssues,
 
+    reconcileIssueGraphLiveness,
+
     tickTimers: async (now = new Date()) => {
       const allAgents = await db.select().from(agents);
       let checked = 0;
diff --git a/server/src/services/index.ts b/server/src/services/index.ts
index 6536f893ad..5ee4d2bafd 100644
--- a/server/src/services/index.ts
+++ b/server/src/services/index.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ export { routineService } from "./routines.js";
 export { costService } from "./costs.js";
 export { financeService } from "./finance.js";
 export { heartbeatService } from "./heartbeat.js";
+export { classifyIssueGraphLiveness, type IssueLivenessFinding } from "./issue-liveness.js";
 export { dashboardService } from "./dashboard.js";
 export { sidebarBadgeService } from "./sidebar-badges.js";
 export { sidebarPreferenceService } from "./sidebar-preferences.js";
diff --git a/server/src/services/issue-liveness.ts b/server/src/services/issue-liveness.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c7cc58f6cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/services/issue-liveness.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,324 @@
+export type IssueLivenessSeverity = "warning" | "critical";
+
+export type IssueLivenessState =
+  | "blocked_by_unassigned_issue"
+  | "blocked_by_uninvokable_assignee"
+  | "blocked_by_cancelled_issue"
+  | "invalid_review_participant";
+
+export interface IssueLivenessIssueInput {
+  id: string;
+  companyId: string;
+  identifier: string | null;
+  title: string;
+  status: string;
+  projectId?: string | null;
+  goalId?: string | null;
+  parentId?: string | null;
+  assigneeAgentId?: string | null;
+  assigneeUserId?: string | null;
+  createdByAgentId?: string | null;
+  createdByUserId?: string | null;
+  executionState?: Record<string, unknown> | null;
+}
+
+export interface IssueLivenessRelationInput {
+  companyId: string;
+  blockerIssueId: string;
+  blockedIssueId: string;
+}
+
+export interface IssueLivenessAgentInput {
+  id: string;
+  companyId: string;
+  name: string;
+  role: string;
+  title?: string | null;
+  status: string;
+  reportsTo?: string | null;
+}
+
+export interface IssueLivenessExecutionPathInput {
+  companyId: string;
+  issueId: string | null;
+  agentId?: string | null;
+  status: string;
+}
+
+export interface IssueLivenessDependencyPathEntry {
+  issueId: string;
+  identifier: string | null;
+  title: string;
+  status: string;
+}
+
+export interface IssueLivenessFinding {
+  issueId: string;
+  companyId: string;
+  identifier: string | null;
+  state: IssueLivenessState;
+  severity: IssueLivenessSeverity;
+  reason: string;
+  dependencyPath: IssueLivenessDependencyPathEntry[];
+  recommendedOwnerAgentId: string | null;
+  recommendedOwnerCandidateAgentIds: string[];
+  recommendedAction: string;
+  incidentKey: string;
+}
+
+export interface IssueGraphLivenessInput {
+  issues: IssueLivenessIssueInput[];
+  relations: IssueLivenessRelationInput[];
+  agents: IssueLivenessAgentInput[];
+  activeRuns?: IssueLivenessExecutionPathInput[];
+  queuedWakeRequests?: IssueLivenessExecutionPathInput[];
+}
+
+const INVOKABLE_AGENT_STATUSES = new Set(["active", "idle", "running", "error"]);
+const BLOCKING_AGENT_STATUSES = new Set(["paused", "terminated", "pending_approval"]);
+
+function issueLabel(issue: IssueLivenessIssueInput) {
+  return issue.identifier ?? issue.id;
+}
+
+function pathEntry(issue: IssueLivenessIssueInput): IssueLivenessDependencyPathEntry {
+  return {
+    issueId: issue.id,
+    identifier: issue.identifier,
+    title: issue.title,
+    status: issue.status,
+  };
+}
+
+function isInvokableAgent(agent: IssueLivenessAgentInput | null | undefined) {
+  return Boolean(agent && INVOKABLE_AGENT_STATUSES.has(agent.status));
+}
+
+function hasActiveExecutionPath(
+  companyId: string,
+  issueId: string,
+  activeRuns: IssueLivenessExecutionPathInput[],
+  queuedWakeRequests: IssueLivenessExecutionPathInput[],
+) {
+  return [...activeRuns, ...queuedWakeRequests].some(
+    (entry) => entry.companyId === companyId && entry.issueId === issueId,
+  );
+}
+
+function readPrincipalAgentId(principal: unknown): string | null {
+  if (!principal || typeof principal !== "object") return null;
+  const value = principal as Record<string, unknown>;
+  return value.type === "agent" && typeof value.agentId === "string" && value.agentId.length > 0
+    ? value.agentId
+    : null;
+}
+
+function principalIsResolvableUser(principal: unknown): boolean {
+  if (!principal || typeof principal !== "object") return false;
+  const value = principal as Record<string, unknown>;
+  return value.type === "user" && typeof value.userId === "string" && value.userId.length > 0;
+}
+
+function agentChainCandidates(
+  startAgentId: string | null | undefined,
+  agentsById: Map<string, IssueLivenessAgentInput>,
+  companyId: string,
+) {
+  const candidates: string[] = [];
+  const seen = new Set<string>();
+  let current = startAgentId ? agentsById.get(startAgentId) : null;
+
+  while (current?.reportsTo) {
+    if (seen.has(current.reportsTo)) break;
+    seen.add(current.reportsTo);
+    const manager = agentsById.get(current.reportsTo);
+    if (!manager || manager.companyId !== companyId) break;
+    if (isInvokableAgent(manager)) candidates.push(manager.id);
+    current = manager;
+  }
+
+  return candidates;
+}
+
+function fallbackExecutiveCandidates(agents: IssueLivenessAgentInput[], companyId: string) {
+  const active = agents.filter((agent) => agent.companyId === companyId && isInvokableAgent(agent));
+  const executive = active.filter((agent) => {
+    const haystack = `${agent.role} ${agent.title ?? ""} ${agent.name}`.toLowerCase();
+    return /\b(cto|chief technology|ceo|chief executive)\b/.test(haystack);
+  });
+  const roots = active.filter((agent) => !agent.reportsTo);
+  return [...executive, ...roots, ...active].map((agent) => agent.id);
+}
+
+function ownerCandidatesForIssue(
+  issue: IssueLivenessIssueInput,
+  agents: IssueLivenessAgentInput[],
+  agentsById: Map<string, IssueLivenessAgentInput>,
+) {
+  const candidates = [
+    ...agentChainCandidates(issue.assigneeAgentId, agentsById, issue.companyId),
+    ...agentChainCandidates(issue.createdByAgentId, agentsById, issue.companyId),
+    ...fallbackExecutiveCandidates(agents, issue.companyId),
+  ];
+  return [...new Set(candidates)];
+}
+
+function incidentKey(input: {
+  companyId: string;
+  issueId: string;
+  state: IssueLivenessState;
+  blockerIssueId?: string | null;
+  participantAgentId?: string | null;
+}) {
+  return [
+    "harness_liveness",
+    input.companyId,
+    input.issueId,
+    input.state,
+    input.blockerIssueId ?? input.participantAgentId ?? "none",
+  ].join(":");
+}
+
+function finding(input: {
+  issue: IssueLivenessIssueInput;
+  state: IssueLivenessState;
+  severity?: IssueLivenessSeverity;
+  reason: string;
+  dependencyPath: IssueLivenessIssueInput[];
+  recommendedOwnerCandidateAgentIds: string[];
+  recommendedAction: string;
+  blockerIssueId?: string | null;
+  participantAgentId?: string | null;
+}): IssueLivenessFinding {
+  return {
+    issueId: input.issue.id,
+    companyId: input.issue.companyId,
+    identifier: input.issue.identifier,
+    state: input.state,
+    severity: input.severity ?? "critical",
+    reason: input.reason,
+    dependencyPath: input.dependencyPath.map(pathEntry),
+    recommendedOwnerAgentId: input.recommendedOwnerCandidateAgentIds[0] ?? null,
+    recommendedOwnerCandidateAgentIds: input.recommendedOwnerCandidateAgentIds,
+    recommendedAction: input.recommendedAction,
+    incidentKey: incidentKey({
+      companyId: input.issue.companyId,
+      issueId: input.issue.id,
+      state: input.state,
+      blockerIssueId: input.blockerIssueId,
+      participantAgentId: input.participantAgentId,
+    }),
+  };
+}
+
+export function classifyIssueGraphLiveness(input: IssueGraphLivenessInput): IssueLivenessFinding[] {
+  const issuesById = new Map(input.issues.map((issue) => [issue.id, issue]));
+  const agentsById = new Map(input.agents.map((agent) => [agent.id, agent]));
+  const blockersByBlockedIssueId = new Map<string, IssueLivenessRelationInput[]>();
+  const findings: IssueLivenessFinding[] = [];
+  const activeRuns = input.activeRuns ?? [];
+  const queuedWakeRequests = input.queuedWakeRequests ?? [];
+
+  for (const relation of input.relations) {
+    const list = blockersByBlockedIssueId.get(relation.blockedIssueId) ?? [];
+    list.push(relation);
+    blockersByBlockedIssueId.set(relation.blockedIssueId, list);
+  }
+
+  for (const issue of input.issues) {
+    const ownerCandidates = ownerCandidatesForIssue(issue, input.agents, agentsById);
+
+    if (issue.status === "blocked") {
+      const relations = blockersByBlockedIssueId.get(issue.id) ?? [];
+      for (const relation of relations) {
+        if (relation.companyId !== issue.companyId) continue;
+        const blocker = issuesById.get(relation.blockerIssueId);
+        if (!blocker || blocker.companyId !== issue.companyId || blocker.status === "done") continue;
+
+        if (blocker.status === "cancelled") {
+          findings.push(finding({
+            issue,
+            state: "blocked_by_cancelled_issue",
+            reason: `${issueLabel(issue)} is still blocked by cancelled issue ${issueLabel(blocker)}.`,
+            dependencyPath: [issue, blocker],
+            recommendedOwnerCandidateAgentIds: ownerCandidates,
+            recommendedAction:
+              `Inspect ${issueLabel(blocker)} and either remove it from ${issueLabel(issue)}'s blockers or replace it with an actionable unblock issue.`,
+            blockerIssueId: blocker.id,
+          }));
+          continue;
+        }
+
+        if (!blocker.assigneeAgentId && !blocker.assigneeUserId) {
+          if (hasActiveExecutionPath(issue.companyId, blocker.id, activeRuns, queuedWakeRequests)) continue;
+          findings.push(finding({
+            issue,
+            state: "blocked_by_unassigned_issue",
+            reason: `${issueLabel(issue)} is blocked by unassigned issue ${issueLabel(blocker)} with no user owner.`,
+            dependencyPath: [issue, blocker],
+            recommendedOwnerCandidateAgentIds: ownerCandidates,
+            recommendedAction:
+              `Assign ${issueLabel(blocker)} to an owner who can complete it, or remove it from ${issueLabel(issue)}'s blockers if it is no longer required.`,
+            blockerIssueId: blocker.id,
+          }));
+          continue;
+        }
+
+        if (!blocker.assigneeAgentId) continue;
+        if (hasActiveExecutionPath(issue.companyId, blocker.id, activeRuns, queuedWakeRequests)) continue;
+
+        const blockerAgent = agentsById.get(blocker.assigneeAgentId);
+        if (!blockerAgent || blockerAgent.companyId !== issue.companyId || BLOCKING_AGENT_STATUSES.has(blockerAgent.status)) {
+          findings.push(finding({
+            issue,
+            state: "blocked_by_uninvokable_assignee",
+            reason: blockerAgent
+              ? `${issueLabel(issue)} is blocked by ${issueLabel(blocker)}, but its assignee is ${blockerAgent.status}.`
+              : `${issueLabel(issue)} is blocked by ${issueLabel(blocker)}, but its assignee no longer exists.`,
+            dependencyPath: [issue, blocker],
+            recommendedOwnerCandidateAgentIds: ownerCandidates,
+            recommendedAction:
+              `Review ${issueLabel(blocker)} and assign it to an active owner or replace the blocker with an actionable issue.`,
+            blockerIssueId: blocker.id,
+          }));
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (issue.status !== "in_review" || !issue.executionState) continue;
+    const participant = issue.executionState.currentParticipant;
+    const participantAgentId = readPrincipalAgentId(participant);
+    if (participantAgentId) {
+      const participantAgent = agentsById.get(participantAgentId);
+      if (!isInvokableAgent(participantAgent) || participantAgent?.companyId !== issue.companyId) {
+        findings.push(finding({
+          issue,
+          state: "invalid_review_participant",
+          reason: participantAgent
+            ? `${issueLabel(issue)} is in review, but current participant agent is ${participantAgent.status}.`
+            : `${issueLabel(issue)} is in review, but current participant agent cannot be resolved.`,
+          dependencyPath: [issue],
+          recommendedOwnerCandidateAgentIds: ownerCandidates,
+          recommendedAction:
+            `Repair ${issueLabel(issue)}'s review participant or return the issue to an active assignee with a clear change request.`,
+          participantAgentId,
+        }));
+      }
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    if (!principalIsResolvableUser(participant)) {
+      findings.push(finding({
+        issue,
+        state: "invalid_review_participant",
+        reason: `${issueLabel(issue)} is in review, but its current participant cannot be resolved.`,
+        dependencyPath: [issue],
+        recommendedOwnerCandidateAgentIds: ownerCandidates,
+        recommendedAction:
+          `Repair ${issueLabel(issue)}'s review participant or return the issue to an active assignee with a clear change request.`,
+      }));
+    }
+  }
+
+  return findings;
+}