diff --git a/strix/core/execution.py b/strix/core/execution.py
index 8966ebf4..eccc3419 100644
--- a/strix/core/execution.py
+++ b/strix/core/execution.py
@@ -780,17 +780,21 @@ async def _run_cycle(  # noqa: PLR0912, PLR0915
                 await coordinator.set_status(agent_id, "failed", error=str(exc))
                 await notify_parent_on_terminal(coordinator, agent_id, "failed")
                 return None
-            if not interactive:
-                raise
             if isinstance(exc, MaxTurnsExceeded):
                 status: Status = "stopped"
             elif isinstance(exc, UserError | AgentsException | APIError):
                 status = "failed"
             else:
                 status = "crashed"
-            logger.exception("agent run failed for %s; parking as %s", agent_id, status)
+            logger.exception("agent run failed for %s; marking %s", agent_id, status)
+            # Settle the status and wake the parent before the exception unwinds a
+            # non-interactive agent's task: a child that dies still owes its parent a
+            # report, and the parent would otherwise wait out its timeout on a message
+            # the dead child can no longer send.
             await coordinator.set_status(agent_id, status, error=str(exc) or type(exc).__name__)
             await notify_parent_on_terminal(coordinator, agent_id, status)
+            if not interactive:
+                raise
             return None
         else:
             return cast("RunResultBase | None", stream)
diff --git a/tests/test_execution.py b/tests/test_execution.py
index da6f4169..6364f801 100644
--- a/tests/test_execution.py
+++ b/tests/test_execution.py
@@ -855,6 +855,39 @@ async def test_structured_provider_refusal_fails_noninteractive_child(
     session.close()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_crashing_noninteractive_child_settles_and_wakes_its_parent(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+) -> None:
+    # The exception ends the child's task, so its status and the parent's wake-up
+    # have to be settled on the way out or the parent waits on a dead child.
+    def _boom(*_args: Any, **_kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+        raise RuntimeError("sandbox died mid-turn")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("strix.core.execution.Runner.run_streamed", _boom)
+    coordinator = AgentCoordinator()
+    await coordinator.register("root", "strix", parent_id=None)
+    await coordinator.register("child", "recon", parent_id="root")
+
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="sandbox died mid-turn"):
+        await execution._run_cycle(
+            MagicMock(),
+            coordinator,
+            "child",
+            input_data="task",
+            run_config=MagicMock(),
+            context={"parent_id": "root"},
+            max_turns=5,
+            session=None,
+            interactive=False,
+            event_sink=None,
+            hooks=None,
+        )
+
+    assert coordinator.statuses["child"] == "crashed"
+    assert coordinator.pending_counts.get("root", 0) > 0
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_run_agent_loop_seeds_identity_before_first_cycle(
     tmp_path: Any, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch