diff --git a/scripts/agent/run-scheduler-cycle.mjs b/scripts/agent/run-scheduler-cycle.mjs
index dbe68a4..f0e0a29 100644
--- a/scripts/agent/run-scheduler-cycle.mjs
+++ b/scripts/agent/run-scheduler-cycle.mjs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import fs from 'node:fs/promises';
 import path from 'node:path';
 import { spawn } from 'node:child_process';
+import { randomUUID } from 'node:crypto';
 
 const VALID_CADENCES = new Set(['daily', 'weekly']);
 const ALL_EXCLUDED_REASON = 'All roster tasks currently claimed by other agents';
@@ -314,6 +315,18 @@ async function getSchedulerConfig(cadence, { isInteractive }) {
     lockHealthPreflightFromConfig,
   );
   const lockHealthPreflightSkip = parseBooleanFlag(process.env.SCHEDULER_SKIP_LOCK_HEALTH_PREFLIGHT, false);
+  const strictLock = parseBooleanFlag(
+    process.env.SCHEDULER_STRICT_LOCK,
+    parseBooleanFlag(scheduler.strict_lock, true),
+  );
+  const degradedLockRetryWindowMs = parseNonNegativeInt(
+    process.env.SCHEDULER_DEGRADED_LOCK_RETRY_WINDOW_MS,
+    parseNonNegativeInt(scheduler.degraded_lock_retry_window, 3600000),
+  );
+  const maxDeferrals = parseNonNegativeInt(
+    process.env.SCHEDULER_MAX_DEFERRALS,
+    parseNonNegativeInt(scheduler.max_deferrals, 3),
+  );
 
   return {
     firstPrompt: scheduler.firstPromptByCadence?.[cadence] || null,
@@ -331,6 +344,11 @@ async function getSchedulerConfig(cadence, { isInteractive }) {
       enabled: lockHealthPreflightEnabled,
       skip: lockHealthPreflightSkip,
     },
+    lockFailurePolicy: {
+      strictLock,
+      degradedLockRetryWindowMs,
+      maxDeferrals,
+    },
     memoryPolicy: {
       mode,
       retrieveCommand: typeof memoryPolicyRaw.retrieveCommand === 'string' && memoryPolicyRaw.retrieveCommand.trim()
@@ -347,6 +365,40 @@ async function getSchedulerConfig(cadence, { isInteractive }) {
   };
 }
 
+function getRunDateKey(now = new Date()) {
+  return now.toISOString().slice(0, 10);
+}
+
+async function readRunState(cadence) {
+  const statePath = path.resolve(process.cwd(), 'task-logs', cadence, '.scheduler-run-state.json');
+  const fallback = { run_date: getRunDateKey(), lock_deferral: null };
+  const raw = await readJson(statePath, fallback);
+  if (!raw || typeof raw !== 'object') {
+    return { statePath, state: fallback };
+  }
+
+  if (raw.run_date !== getRunDateKey()) {
+    return { statePath, state: fallback };
+  }
+
+  return {
+    statePath,
+    state: {
+      run_date: raw.run_date,
+      lock_deferral: raw.lock_deferral && typeof raw.lock_deferral === 'object' ? raw.lock_deferral : null,
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+async function writeRunState(statePath, state) {
+  await fs.mkdir(path.dirname(statePath), { recursive: true });
+  await fs.writeFile(statePath, `${JSON.stringify(state, null, 2)}\n`, 'utf8');
+}
+
+function createIdempotencyKey({ cadence, selectedAgent, runDate }) {
+  return `${cadence}:${selectedAgent}:${runDate}:${randomUUID()}`;
+}
+
 async function runLockHealthPreflight({ cadence, platform }) {
   const preflight = await runCommand('node', ['scripts/agent/check-relay-health.mjs', '--cadence', cadence], {
     env: { AGENT_PLATFORM: platform },
@@ -372,14 +424,19 @@ function sleep(ms) {
   return new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, ms));
 }
 
-async function acquireLockWithRetry({ selectedAgent, cadence, platform, lockRetry }) {
+async function acquireLockWithRetry({ selectedAgent, cadence, platform, lockRetry, idempotencyKey }) {
   const lockCommandArgs = ['run', 'lock:lock', '--', '--agent', selectedAgent, '--cadence', cadence];
   const backoffScheduleMs = [];
   let attempts = 0;
 
   while (true) {
     attempts += 1;
-    const result = await runCommand('npm', lockCommandArgs, { env: { AGENT_PLATFORM: platform } });
+    const result = await runCommand('npm', lockCommandArgs, {
+      env: {
+        AGENT_PLATFORM: platform,
+        ...(idempotencyKey ? { SCHEDULER_LOCK_IDEMPOTENCY_KEY: idempotencyKey } : {}),
+      },
+    });
 
     if (result.code !== 2) {
       return { result, attempts, backoffScheduleMs };
@@ -481,6 +538,8 @@ async function main() {
   }
 
   while (true) {
+    const { statePath: runStatePath, state: schedulerRunState } = await readRunState(cadence);
+
     if (schedulerConfig.lockHealthPreflight.enabled && !schedulerConfig.lockHealthPreflight.skip) {
       const preflight = await runLockHealthPreflight({ cadence, platform });
       if (preflight.code !== 0) {
@@ -492,6 +551,7 @@ async function main() {
           reason: 'Lock backend unavailable preflight',
           detail: `Preflight failed (${preflight.failureCategory}). Retry scheduler after verifying relay connectivity, relay URLs, and DNS/network status.`,
           metadata: {
+            failure_class: 'backend_unavailable',
             preflight_failure_category: preflight.failureCategory,
             relay_list: preflight.relayList.join(', ') || '(none)',
             preflight_stderr_excerpt: preflight.stderrExcerpt || '(empty)',
@@ -543,11 +603,16 @@ async function main() {
       process.exit(1);
     }
 
+    const deferralForAgent = schedulerRunState.lock_deferral?.selected_agent === selectedAgent
+      ? schedulerRunState.lock_deferral
+      : null;
+
     const lockAttempt = await acquireLockWithRetry({
       selectedAgent,
       cadence,
       platform,
       lockRetry: schedulerConfig.lockRetry,
+      idempotencyKey: deferralForAgent?.idempotency_key,
     });
     const lockResult = lockAttempt.result;
 
@@ -562,6 +627,46 @@ async function main() {
       const stderrExcerpt = excerptText(lockResult.stderr);
       const stdoutExcerpt = excerptText(lockResult.stdout);
       const backoffSchedule = lockAttempt.backoffScheduleMs.join(', ');
+
+      const existingDeferral = deferralForAgent || {};
+      const firstFailureAt = existingDeferral.first_failure_timestamp || new Date().toISOString();
+      const firstFailureMs = parseDateValue(firstFailureAt) || Date.now();
+      const nowMs = Date.now();
+      const deferralAttemptCount = parseNonNegativeInt(existingDeferral.attempt_count, 0) + 1;
+      const idempotencyKey = existingDeferral.idempotency_key
+        || createIdempotencyKey({ cadence, selectedAgent, runDate: schedulerRunState.run_date });
+      const withinRetryWindow = nowMs - firstFailureMs <= schedulerConfig.lockFailurePolicy.degradedLockRetryWindowMs;
+      const withinDeferralBudget = deferralAttemptCount <= schedulerConfig.lockFailurePolicy.maxDeferrals;
+
+      if (!schedulerConfig.lockFailurePolicy.strictLock && withinRetryWindow && withinDeferralBudget) {
+        schedulerRunState.lock_deferral = {
+          attempt_count: deferralAttemptCount,
+          first_failure_timestamp: firstFailureAt,
+          backend_category: backendCategory,
+          idempotency_key: idempotencyKey,
+          selected_agent: selectedAgent,
+        };
+        await writeRunState(runStatePath, schedulerRunState);
+        await writeLog({
+          cadence,
+          agent: selectedAgent,
+          status: 'deferred',
+          platform,
+          reason: 'Lock backend deferred',
+          detail: `Deferred after lock backend failure (${backendCategory}); retry window active and deferral budget remaining.`,
+          metadata: {
+            failure_class: 'backend_unavailable',
+            deferral_attempt_count: deferralAttemptCount,
+            deferral_first_failure_timestamp: firstFailureAt,
+            backend_category: backendCategory,
+            lock_idempotency_key: idempotencyKey,
+          },
+        });
+        process.exit(0);
+      }
+
+      schedulerRunState.lock_deferral = null;
+      await writeRunState(runStatePath, schedulerRunState);
       await writeLog({
         cadence,
         agent: selectedAgent,
@@ -570,10 +675,14 @@ async function main() {
         reason: 'Lock backend error',
         detail: `Lock backend error (${backendCategory}) after ${lockAttempt.attempts} attempt(s). Retry ${lockCommand} after verifying relay connectivity, relay URLs, and DNS/network status.`,
         metadata: {
+          failure_class: 'backend_unavailable',
           lock_attempts_total: lockAttempt.attempts,
           lock_backoff_schedule_ms: backoffSchedule || '(none)',
           backend_category: backendCategory,
+          deferral_attempt_count: deferralAttemptCount,
+          deferral_first_failure_timestamp: firstFailureAt,
           lock_command: lockCommand,
+          lock_idempotency_key: idempotencyKey,
           lock_stderr_excerpt: stderrExcerpt || '(empty)',
           lock_stdout_excerpt: stdoutExcerpt || '(empty)',
         },
@@ -582,6 +691,8 @@ async function main() {
     }
 
     if (lockResult.code !== 0) {
+      schedulerRunState.lock_deferral = null;
+      await writeRunState(runStatePath, schedulerRunState);
       await writeLog({
         cadence,
         agent: selectedAgent,
@@ -593,6 +704,8 @@ async function main() {
     }
 
     const promptPath = path.resolve(process.cwd(), 'src/prompts', cadence, `${selectedAgent}.md`);
+    schedulerRunState.lock_deferral = null;
+    await writeRunState(runStatePath, schedulerRunState);
     const runArtifactSince = new Date().toISOString();
     const runStartMs = Date.parse(runArtifactSince);
     const outputChunks = [];
@@ -603,7 +716,15 @@ async function main() {
       });
       outputChunks.push(retrieveResult.stdout, retrieveResult.stderr);
       if (retrieveResult.code !== 0) {
-        await writeLog({ cadence, agent: selectedAgent, status: 'failed', platform, reason: 'Memory retrieval command failed', detail: schedulerConfig.memoryPolicy.retrieveCommand });
+        await writeLog({
+          cadence,
+          agent: selectedAgent,
+          status: 'failed',
+          platform,
+          reason: 'Memory retrieval command failed',
+          detail: schedulerConfig.memoryPolicy.retrieveCommand,
+          metadata: { failure_class: 'prompt_validation_error' },
+        });
         process.exit(retrieveResult.code);
       }
     }
@@ -614,14 +735,30 @@ async function main() {
       });
       outputChunks.push(handoff.stdout, handoff.stderr);
       if (handoff.code !== 0) {
-        await writeLog({ cadence, agent: selectedAgent, status: 'failed', platform, reason: 'Prompt/handoff execution failed', detail: 'Handoff callback failed.' });
+        await writeLog({
+          cadence,
+          agent: selectedAgent,
+          status: 'failed',
+          platform,
+          reason: 'Prompt/handoff execution failed',
+          detail: 'Handoff callback failed.',
+          metadata: { failure_class: 'prompt_validation_error' },
+        });
         process.exit(handoff.code);
       }
     } else {
       const detail = schedulerConfig.missingHandoffCommandForMode
         ? 'Missing scheduler handoff command for non-interactive run. Set scheduler.handoffCommandByCadence.daily|weekly in torch-config.json.'
         : 'No handoff callback configured. Set scheduler.handoffCommandByCadence.daily|weekly in torch-config.json.';
-      await writeLog({ cadence, agent: selectedAgent, status: 'failed', platform, reason: 'Prompt/handoff execution failed', detail });
+      await writeLog({
+        cadence,
+        agent: selectedAgent,
+        status: 'failed',
+        platform,
+        reason: 'Prompt/handoff execution failed',
+        detail,
+        metadata: { failure_class: 'prompt_validation_error' },
+      });
       process.exit(1);
     }
 
@@ -631,7 +768,15 @@ async function main() {
       });
       outputChunks.push(storeResult.stdout, storeResult.stderr);
       if (storeResult.code !== 0) {
-        await writeLog({ cadence, agent: selectedAgent, status: 'failed', platform, reason: 'Memory storage command failed', detail: schedulerConfig.memoryPolicy.storeCommand });
+        await writeLog({
+          cadence,
+          agent: selectedAgent,
+          status: 'failed',
+          platform,
+          reason: 'Memory storage command failed',
+          detail: schedulerConfig.memoryPolicy.storeCommand,
+          metadata: { failure_class: 'prompt_validation_error' },
+        });
         process.exit(storeResult.code);
       }
     }
@@ -661,6 +806,7 @@ async function main() {
         platform,
         reason: 'Required memory steps not verified',
         detail: `Missing evidence for: ${missingSteps.join(', ')}`,
+        metadata: { failure_class: 'prompt_validation_error' },
       });
       process.exit(1);
     }
@@ -692,6 +838,7 @@ async function main() {
         platform,
         reason: 'Missing required run artifacts',
         detail,
+        metadata: { failure_class: 'prompt_validation_error' },
       });
       process.exit(artifactCheck.code);
     }
@@ -701,7 +848,15 @@ async function main() {
       if (!parts.length) continue;
       const result = await runCommand(parts[0], parts.slice(1));
       if (result.code !== 0) {
-        await writeLog({ cadence, agent: selectedAgent, status: 'failed', platform, reason: 'Validation failed', detail: validation });
+        await writeLog({
+          cadence,
+          agent: selectedAgent,
+          status: 'failed',
+          platform,
+          reason: 'Validation failed',
+          detail: validation,
+          metadata: { failure_class: 'prompt_validation_error' },
+        });
         process.exit(result.code);
       }
     }
diff --git a/src/docs/TORCH.md b/src/docs/TORCH.md
index b37d4ef..67813f2 100644
--- a/src/docs/TORCH.md
+++ b/src/docs/TORCH.md
@@ -65,6 +65,9 @@ Common settings:
 - `scheduler.firstPromptByCadence.daily` / `.weekly` — first-run scheduler starting agent.
 - `scheduler.handoffCommandByCadence.daily` / `.weekly` — shell command run after lock acquisition; command must use `SCHEDULER_AGENT`, `SCHEDULER_CADENCE`, and `SCHEDULER_PROMPT_PATH` provided by `scripts/agent/run-scheduler-cycle.mjs`.
 - `scheduler.paused.daily` / `.weekly` — array of agent names to exclude from scheduler rotation.
+- `scheduler.strict_lock` — lock backend policy switch (default: `true`); when `false`, scheduler defers backend-unavailable lock failures before converting the run to failed.
+- `scheduler.degraded_lock_retry_window` — non-strict deferral window in milliseconds; backend lock failures outside this window immediately consume failure budget and mark run failed.
+- `scheduler.max_deferrals` — max number of non-strict lock deferrals allowed in-window before scheduler records a hard failure.
 
 Default first-run daily scheduler prompt is `scheduler-update-agent`.
 
@@ -72,6 +75,11 @@ For weekly repository-fit maintenance, TORCH also includes `src/prompts/weekly/r
 
 Operational note: scheduler handoff commands are treated as required execution steps. A non-zero exit code (or missing command) is a hard failure: the scheduler writes a `_failed.md` task log, exits immediately, and does not publish `lock:complete` for that run.
 
+Scheduler failure classes in task logs:
+
+- `backend_unavailable` — lock backend unavailable preflight failures and lock acquisition backend exit code `2` failures/deferrals.
+- `prompt_validation_error` — prompt/handoff, memory evidence, artifact verification, and validation command failures.
+
 
 ## Lock backend production defaults
 
diff --git a/src/prompts/scheduler-flow.md b/src/prompts/scheduler-flow.md
index 1e8d517..bb19c3e 100644
--- a/src/prompts/scheduler-flow.md
+++ b/src/prompts/scheduler-flow.md
@@ -148,17 +148,24 @@ Every agent prompt invoked by the schedulers (daily/weekly) MUST enforce this co
 
    - Exit `0`: lock acquired, continue.
    - Exit `3`: race lost/already locked, return to step 2.
-   - Exit `2`: lock backend error, write `_failed.md` with reason `Lock backend error`, and include failure metadata fields:
+   - Exit `2`: lock backend error.
+     - If `scheduler.strict_lock` is `false`, defer the run while both budget constraints are still satisfied:
+       - `degraded_lock_retry_window` (ms) since first backend failure has not elapsed.
+       - `max_deferrals` has not been exceeded.
+       - Record deferral metadata in scheduler run state (`attempt_count`, `first_failure_timestamp`, `backend_category`, and preserved idempotency key).
+     - Otherwise write `_failed.md` with reason `Lock backend error`, and include failure metadata fields:
      - `backend_category` (classified backend failure category)
      - `lock_command` (raw lock command for retry)
      - `lock_stderr_excerpt` (redacted stderr snippet)
      - `lock_stdout_excerpt` (redacted stdout snippet)
+     - Include `failure_class: backend_unavailable` for both deferred and failed backend-unavailable lock outcomes.
    - Keep generic reason text for compatibility, but append actionable retry guidance in `detail` using the command from `lock_command`.
 
 9. Execute `<prompt_dir>/<prompt-file>` end-to-end via configured handoff command.
 
    - Scheduler automation runs `scheduler.handoffCommandByCadence.<cadence>` with environment variables for cadence/agent/prompt path.
    - If no handoff command is configured for the cadence, write `_failed.md` and stop.
+   - Prompt/handoff and prompt validation failures should emit `failure_class: prompt_validation_error`.
 
 10. Confirm memory contract completion:
 
diff --git a/test/run-scheduler-cycle-memory-policy.test.mjs b/test/run-scheduler-cycle-memory-policy.test.mjs
index 699479d..2cf78df 100644
--- a/test/run-scheduler-cycle-memory-policy.test.mjs
+++ b/test/run-scheduler-cycle-memory-policy.test.mjs
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ async function setupFixture({
   lockShellBody = '',
   roster = ['agent-a'],
   lockHealthPreflight = undefined,
+  schedulerPolicy = {},
   preflightScript = '#!/usr/bin/env node\nconsole.log(JSON.stringify({ ok: true, relays: ["wss://relay.test"] }));\nprocess.exit(0);\n',
 }) {
   const root = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'scheduler-memory-policy-'));
@@ -69,6 +70,7 @@ async function setupFixture({
         handoffCommandByCadence: { daily: 'echo HANDOFF_OK' },
         validationCommandsByCadence: { daily: ['true'] },
         memoryPolicyByCadence: { daily: memoryPolicy },
+        ...schedulerPolicy,
         ...(lockHealthPreflight === undefined ? {} : { lockHealthPreflight }),
       },
     }, null, 2),
@@ -186,6 +188,7 @@ test('records backend failure metadata when lock command exits with code 2', { c
   const failedBody = await fs.readFile(path.join(fixture.root, 'task-logs', 'daily', failedLog), 'utf8');
 
   assert.match(failedBody, /reason: Lock backend error/);
+  assert.match(failedBody, /failure_class: 'backend_unavailable'/);
   assert.match(failedBody, /backend_category: 'publish failed to all relays'/);
   assert.match(failedBody, /lock_command: 'AGENT_PLATFORM=codex npm run lock:lock -- --agent agent-a --cadence daily'/);
   assert.match(failedBody, /lock_stderr_excerpt: 'publish failed to all relays token=\[REDACTED\] SECRET_KEY=\[REDACTED\]'/);
@@ -194,6 +197,149 @@ test('records backend failure metadata when lock command exits with code 2', { c
   assert.match(failedBody, /platform: 'codex'/);
 });
 
+test('defers backend failures in non-strict mode and reuses idempotency key on successful retry', { concurrency: false }, async () => {
+  const fixture = await setupFixture({
+    memoryPolicy: { mode: 'optional' },
+    schedulerPolicy: {
+      strict_lock: false,
+      degraded_lock_retry_window: 3600000,
+      max_deferrals: 3,
+    },
+    lockShellBody: `    count_file="$PWD/.lock-count"
+    key_log="$PWD/.idempotency-keys"
+    count=0
+    if [[ -f "$count_file" ]]; then
+      count="$(cat "$count_file")"
+    fi
+    count=$((count + 1))
+    echo "$count" > "$count_file"
+    echo "\${SCHEDULER_LOCK_IDEMPOTENCY_KEY:-missing}" >> "$key_log"
+    if [[ "$count" -lt 3 ]]; then
+      echo 'relay query timeout' >&2
+      exit 2
+    fi
+    :`,
+  });
+
+  const first = await runNode(fixture.scriptPath, ['--cadence', 'daily'], {
+    cwd: fixture.root,
+    env: {
+      ...fixture.env,
+      SCHEDULER_LOCK_MAX_RETRIES: '0',
+      SCHEDULER_LOCK_BACKOFF_MS: '0',
+      SCHEDULER_LOCK_JITTER_MS: '0',
+    },
+  });
+  assert.equal(first.code, 0, `stdout: ${first.stdout}\nstderr: ${first.stderr}`);
+
+  const second = await runNode(fixture.scriptPath, ['--cadence', 'daily'], {
+    cwd: fixture.root,
+    env: {
+      ...fixture.env,
+      SCHEDULER_LOCK_MAX_RETRIES: '0',
+      SCHEDULER_LOCK_BACKOFF_MS: '0',
+      SCHEDULER_LOCK_JITTER_MS: '0',
+    },
+  });
+  assert.equal(second.code, 0, `stdout: ${second.stdout}\nstderr: ${second.stderr}`);
+
+  const third = await runNode(fixture.scriptPath, ['--cadence', 'daily'], {
+    cwd: fixture.root,
+    env: {
+      ...fixture.env,
+      SCHEDULER_LOCK_MAX_RETRIES: '0',
+      SCHEDULER_LOCK_BACKOFF_MS: '0',
+      SCHEDULER_LOCK_JITTER_MS: '0',
+    },
+  });
+  assert.equal(third.code, 0, `stdout: ${third.stdout}\nstderr: ${third.stderr}`);
+
+  const logs = await fs.readdir(path.join(fixture.root, 'task-logs', 'daily'));
+  const deferredLog = logs.find((name) => name.endsWith('__deferred.md'));
+  assert.ok(deferredLog);
+  const deferredBody = await fs.readFile(path.join(fixture.root, 'task-logs', 'daily', deferredLog), 'utf8');
+  assert.match(deferredBody, /failure_class: 'backend_unavailable'/);
+  assert.match(deferredBody, /deferral_attempt_count: '\d+'/);
+
+  const keyLog = await fs.readFile(path.join(fixture.root, '.idempotency-keys'), 'utf8');
+  const keys = keyLog.trim().split(/\r?\n/).filter(Boolean);
+  assert.equal(keys.length, 3);
+  assert.equal(keys[0], 'missing');
+  assert.notEqual(keys[1], 'missing');
+  assert.equal(keys[1], keys[2]);
+});
+
+test('fails after exceeding non-strict deferral budget', { concurrency: false }, async () => {
+  const fixture = await setupFixture({
+    memoryPolicy: { mode: 'optional' },
+    schedulerPolicy: {
+      strict_lock: false,
+      degraded_lock_retry_window: 3600000,
+      max_deferrals: 1,
+    },
+    lockShellBody: `    echo 'publish failed to all relays' >&2
+    exit 2`,
+  });
+
+  const first = await runNode(fixture.scriptPath, ['--cadence', 'daily'], {
+    cwd: fixture.root,
+    env: {
+      ...fixture.env,
+      SCHEDULER_LOCK_MAX_RETRIES: '0',
+      SCHEDULER_LOCK_BACKOFF_MS: '0',
+      SCHEDULER_LOCK_JITTER_MS: '0',
+    },
+  });
+  assert.equal(first.code, 0, `stdout: ${first.stdout}\nstderr: ${first.stderr}`);
+
+  const second = await runNode(fixture.scriptPath, ['--cadence', 'daily'], {
+    cwd: fixture.root,
+    env: {
+      ...fixture.env,
+      SCHEDULER_LOCK_MAX_RETRIES: '0',
+      SCHEDULER_LOCK_BACKOFF_MS: '0',
+      SCHEDULER_LOCK_JITTER_MS: '0',
+    },
+  });
+  assert.equal(second.code, 2, `stdout: ${second.stdout}\nstderr: ${second.stderr}`);
+
+  const logs = await fs.readdir(path.join(fixture.root, 'task-logs', 'daily'));
+  const failedLog = logs.find((name) => name.endsWith('__failed.md'));
+  assert.ok(failedLog);
+  const failedBody = await fs.readFile(path.join(fixture.root, 'task-logs', 'daily', failedLog), 'utf8');
+  assert.match(failedBody, /failure_class: 'backend_unavailable'/);
+  assert.match(failedBody, /deferral_attempt_count: '2'/);
+});
+
+test('strict lock mode fails immediately without deferral', { concurrency: false }, async () => {
+  const fixture = await setupFixture({
+    memoryPolicy: { mode: 'optional' },
+    schedulerPolicy: {
+      strict_lock: true,
+      degraded_lock_retry_window: 3600000,
+      max_deferrals: 5,
+    },
+    lockShellBody: `    echo 'relay timeout' >&2
+    exit 2`,
+  });
+
+  const result = await runNode(fixture.scriptPath, ['--cadence', 'daily'], {
+    cwd: fixture.root,
+    env: {
+      ...fixture.env,
+      SCHEDULER_LOCK_MAX_RETRIES: '0',
+      SCHEDULER_LOCK_BACKOFF_MS: '0',
+      SCHEDULER_LOCK_JITTER_MS: '0',
+    },
+  });
+  assert.equal(result.code, 2, `stdout: ${result.stdout}\nstderr: ${result.stderr}`);
+
+  const logs = await fs.readdir(path.join(fixture.root, 'task-logs', 'daily'));
+  assert.equal(logs.some((name) => name.endsWith('__deferred.md')), false);
+  const failedLog = logs.find((name) => name.endsWith('__failed.md'));
+  assert.ok(failedLog);
+});
+
 
 
 test('skips lock health preflight by default when not enabled', { concurrency: false }, async () => {