diff --git a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.test.ts
index f64a163cfe..1b2410224d 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.test.ts
@@ -6989,6 +6989,30 @@ describe('OrcaRuntimeService', () => {
     }
   })
 
+  it('marks a direct dispatch failed when its worker PTY exits', () => {
+    const runtime = createRuntime()
+    const workerHandle = runtime.preAllocateHandleForPty('pty-1')
+    const failDispatch = vi.fn()
+    const updateTaskStatus = vi.fn()
+    const insertMessage = vi.fn()
+    runtime.setOrchestrationDb({
+      getActiveDispatchForTerminal: vi.fn((handle: string) =>
+        handle === workerHandle ? { id: 'ctx-1', task_id: 'task-1' } : undefined
+      ),
+      failDispatch,
+      getActiveCoordinatorRun: vi.fn(() => undefined),
+      updateTaskStatus,
+      insertMessage
+    } as never)
+    syncSinglePty(runtime)
+
+    runtime.onPtyExit('pty-1', -1)
+
+    expect(failDispatch).toHaveBeenCalledWith('ctx-1', 'Agent exited with code -1')
+    expect(updateTaskStatus).toHaveBeenCalledWith('task-1', 'failed', 'Agent exited with code -1')
+    expect(insertMessage).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
   it('keeps stale-title timers isolated per PTY', async () => {
     vi.useFakeTimers()
     try {
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts
index 3e7ba7e279..fd66a1e2e3 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts
@@ -10308,20 +10308,25 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
     // the unexpected exit on its next check cycle, even if the circuit breaker
     // hasn't tripped yet.
     const run = this._orchestrationDb.getActiveCoordinatorRun()
-    if (run) {
-      this._orchestrationDb.insertMessage({
-        from: handle,
-        to: run.coordinator_handle,
-        subject: `Agent exited unexpectedly (code ${exitCode})`,
-        type: 'escalation',
-        priority: 'high',
-        payload: JSON.stringify({
-          taskId: dispatch.task_id,
-          exitCode,
-          handle
-        })
-      })
+    if (!run) {
+      // Why: a direct dispatch has no coordinator loop to consume the ready
+      // retry. Mark it failed so an exited agent cannot silently lose the task.
+      this._orchestrationDb.updateTaskStatus(dispatch.task_id, 'failed', errorContext)
+      return
     }
+
+    this._orchestrationDb.insertMessage({
+      from: handle,
+      to: run.coordinator_handle,
+      subject: `Agent exited unexpectedly (code ${exitCode})`,
+      type: 'escalation',
+      priority: 'high',
+      payload: JSON.stringify({
+        taskId: dispatch.task_id,
+        exitCode,
+        handle
+      })
+    })
   }
 
   async listTerminals(