diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e26abff..ac4dc73 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
     "start": "next start",
     "lint": "eslint .",
     "typecheck": "tsc --noEmit",
-    "test": "node --test tests/bootstrap.test.mjs && node --import tsx --test tests/pr14-critical-bugs.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/components/shared/base-card.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/components/shared/agent-avatar.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/components/sessions/sessions-header.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/components/sessions/agent-station-logic.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/lib/parser.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/lib/pathing.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/components/shared/left-panel.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/components/shared/top-bar.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/components/shared/mobile-nav.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/components/swarm/swarm-card.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/hooks/url-state-integration.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/hooks/use-graph-analysis.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/components/graph/smart-dag.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/components/unified-shell.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/components/blocked-triage-modal.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/components/graph/graph-node-labels.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/components/graph/graph-node-assign.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/components/graph/graph-node-conversation.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/lib/coord-schema.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/lib/install-manifest.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/lib/runtime-manager.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/lib/coord-events.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/api/coord-events-route.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/lib/coord-projections-inbox.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/lib/coord-projections-reservations.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/components/sessions/conversation-drawer-coord.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/scripts/beadboard-launcher.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/scripts/beadboard-launcher-runtime.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/scripts/beadboard-launcher-status-text.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/scripts/install-wrappers-contract.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/scripts/install-sh-smoke.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/scripts/install-legacy-migration.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/scripts/installer-ci-contract.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/docs/installer-quickstart-contract.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/docs/runtime-manager-adr-contract.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/cli/beadboard-cli.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/cli/beadboard-bin-routing.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/cli/beadboard-help-output.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/skills/beadboard-driver/resolve-bb.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/skills/beadboard-driver/session-preflight.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/skills/beadboard-driver/generate-agent-name.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/skills/beadboard-driver/readiness-report.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/skills/beadboard-driver/skill-local-runner.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/skills/beadboard-driver/diagnose-env.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/skills/beadboard-driver/heal-common-issues.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/lib/epic-graph.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/components/shared/left-panel-filtering.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/hooks/use-beads-subscription-contract.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/components/graph/dependency-graph-hide-closed-contract.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/components/shared/unified-shell-hide-closed-contract.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/lib/agent-registry.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/api/agents-mail.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/skills/beadboard-driver/bb-mail-shim.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/skills/beadboard-driver/ensure-bb-mail-configured.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/lib/dispatch-prompt.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/components/shared/dispatch-button.test.tsx && node skills/beadboard-driver/tests/run-tests.mjs",
+    "test": "node --test tests/bootstrap.test.mjs && node --import tsx --test tests/pr14-critical-bugs.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/components/shared/base-card.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/components/shared/agent-avatar.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/components/sessions/sessions-header.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/components/sessions/agent-station-logic.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/lib/parser.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/lib/pathing.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/components/shared/left-panel.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/components/shared/top-bar.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/components/shared/mobile-nav.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/components/swarm/swarm-card.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/hooks/url-state-integration.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/hooks/use-graph-analysis.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/components/graph/smart-dag.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/components/unified-shell.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/components/blocked-triage-modal.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/components/graph/graph-node-labels.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/components/graph/graph-node-assign.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/components/graph/graph-node-conversation.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/lib/coord-schema.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/lib/install-manifest.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/lib/runtime-manager.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/lib/coord-events.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/api/coord-events-route.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/lib/coord-projections-inbox.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/lib/coord-projections-reservations.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/components/sessions/conversation-drawer-coord.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/scripts/beadboard-launcher.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/scripts/beadboard-launcher-runtime.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/scripts/beadboard-launcher-status-text.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/scripts/install-wrappers-contract.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/scripts/install-sh-smoke.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/scripts/install-legacy-migration.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/scripts/installer-ci-contract.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/docs/installer-quickstart-contract.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/docs/runtime-manager-adr-contract.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/cli/beadboard-cli.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/cli/beadboard-bin-routing.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/cli/beadboard-help-output.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/skills/beadboard-driver/resolve-bb.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/skills/beadboard-driver/session-preflight.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/skills/beadboard-driver/generate-agent-name.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/skills/beadboard-driver/readiness-report.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/skills/beadboard-driver/skill-local-runner.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/skills/beadboard-driver/diagnose-env.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/skills/beadboard-driver/heal-common-issues.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/lib/epic-graph.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/components/shared/left-panel-filtering.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/hooks/use-beads-subscription-contract.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/components/graph/dependency-graph-hide-closed-contract.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/components/shared/unified-shell-hide-closed-contract.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/lib/agent-registry.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/api/agents-mail.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/skills/beadboard-driver/bb-mail-shim.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/skills/beadboard-driver/ensure-bb-mail-configured.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/lib/dispatch-prompt.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/components/shared/dispatch-button.test.tsx && node --import tsx --test tests/api/agent-dispatch-route.test.ts && node --import tsx --test tests/api/agent-status-route.test.ts && node skills/beadboard-driver/tests/run-tests.mjs",
     "video": "remotion preview src/video/index.ts",
     "video:render": "remotion render src/video/index.ts Main out/video.mp4",
     "video:thumbnail": "remotion still src/video/index.ts Main out/thumbnail.png --frame=60"
diff --git a/src/app/api/agent-dispatch/route.ts b/src/app/api/agent-dispatch/route.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ad36674
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/api/agent-dispatch/route.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+import { NextResponse } from 'next/server';
+
+import { buildDispatchPrompt } from '../../../lib/dispatch-prompt';
+import { readIssuesFromDisk } from '../../../lib/read-issues';
+import type { BeadIssue } from '../../../lib/types';
+
+export const dynamic = 'force-dynamic';
+
+const DISPATCH_AGENT = 'beads-task-runner';
+const DEFAULT_MAX_BUDGET_USD = 5;
+const DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = 900;
+
+interface DispatchRequestBody {
+  taskId?: unknown;
+}
+
+async function findBead(taskId: string): Promise<BeadIssue | null> {
+  const issues = await readIssuesFromDisk({ projectRoot: process.cwd(), preferBd: true });
+  return issues.find((issue) => issue.id === taskId) ?? null;
+}
+
+function missingEnv(): Response | null {
+  const serviceUrl = process.env.CLAUDE_AGENT_SERVICE_URL;
+  const token = process.env.CLAUDE_AGENT_BEARER_TOKEN;
+  if (!serviceUrl || !token) {
+    return NextResponse.json(
+      { error: 'Claude agent service is not configured (CLAUDE_AGENT_SERVICE_URL / CLAUDE_AGENT_BEARER_TOKEN missing).' },
+      { status: 500 },
+    );
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
+export async function POST(request: Request): Promise<Response> {
+  let body: DispatchRequestBody;
+  try {
+    body = (await request.json()) as DispatchRequestBody;
+  } catch {
+    return NextResponse.json({ error: 'Invalid JSON body.' }, { status: 400 });
+  }
+
+  const taskId = typeof body.taskId === 'string' ? body.taskId.trim() : '';
+  if (!taskId) {
+    return NextResponse.json({ error: 'taskId is required.' }, { status: 400 });
+  }
+
+  const envError = missingEnv();
+  if (envError) return envError;
+
+  const bead = await findBead(taskId);
+  if (!bead) {
+    return NextResponse.json({ error: `Bead ${taskId} not found.` }, { status: 400 });
+  }
+
+  if (!bead.acceptance_criteria?.trim()) {
+    return NextResponse.json({ error: `Bead ${taskId} is missing acceptance criteria.` }, { status: 400 });
+  }
+
+  const prompt = buildDispatchPrompt(bead);
+  const serviceUrl = process.env.CLAUDE_AGENT_SERVICE_URL!;
+  const token = process.env.CLAUDE_AGENT_BEARER_TOKEN!;
+
+  try {
+    const response = await fetch(`${serviceUrl.replace(/\/$/, '')}/execute`, {
+      method: 'POST',
+      headers: {
+        'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}`,
+        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+      },
+      body: JSON.stringify({
+        prompt,
+        agent: DISPATCH_AGENT,
+        max_budget_usd: DEFAULT_MAX_BUDGET_USD,
+        timeout_seconds: DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS,
+      }),
+    });
+
+    if (response.status === 409) {
+      return NextResponse.json({ error: 'Agent is busy' }, { status: 409 });
+    }
+
+    const payload = await response.json().catch(() => null) as { job_id?: string; detail?: string } | null;
+
+    if (!response.ok) {
+      const message = payload?.detail ?? `Agent service returned HTTP ${response.status}.`;
+      return NextResponse.json({ error: message }, { status: 502 });
+    }
+
+    if (!payload?.job_id) {
+      return NextResponse.json({ error: 'Agent service response missing job_id.' }, { status: 502 });
+    }
+
+    return NextResponse.json({ job_id: payload.job_id }, { status: 200 });
+  } catch (error) {
+    const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Failed to reach claude-agent-service.';
+    return NextResponse.json({ error: message }, { status: 502 });
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/app/api/agent-status/route.ts b/src/app/api/agent-status/route.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9e5b0b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/api/agent-status/route.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+import { NextResponse } from 'next/server';
+
+export const dynamic = 'force-dynamic';
+
+const CACHE_TTL_MS = 2000;
+
+interface StatusSnapshot {
+  busy: boolean;
+  fetchedAt: number;
+}
+
+let cache: StatusSnapshot | null = null;
+let inflight: Promise<StatusSnapshot> | null = null;
+
+async function fetchRemoteStatus(): Promise<StatusSnapshot> {
+  const serviceUrl = process.env.CLAUDE_AGENT_SERVICE_URL;
+  if (!serviceUrl) {
+    return { busy: false, fetchedAt: Date.now() };
+  }
+
+  const now = Date.now();
+  try {
+    const response = await fetch(`${serviceUrl.replace(/\/$/, '')}/health`, {
+      cache: 'no-store',
+      headers: { 'Accept': 'application/json' },
+    });
+
+    if (response.status === 503) {
+      return { busy: true, fetchedAt: now };
+    }
+
+    if (!response.ok) {
+      return { busy: false, fetchedAt: now };
+    }
+
+    const payload = await response.json().catch(() => null) as { busy?: boolean } | null;
+    return { busy: Boolean(payload?.busy), fetchedAt: now };
+  } catch {
+    return { busy: false, fetchedAt: now };
+  }
+}
+
+async function getStatus(): Promise<StatusSnapshot> {
+  const now = Date.now();
+  if (cache && now - cache.fetchedAt < CACHE_TTL_MS) {
+    return cache;
+  }
+
+  if (inflight) {
+    return inflight;
+  }
+
+  inflight = fetchRemoteStatus().then((snapshot) => {
+    cache = snapshot;
+    return snapshot;
+  }).finally(() => {
+    inflight = null;
+  });
+
+  return inflight;
+}
+
+export async function GET(): Promise<Response> {
+  const snapshot = await getStatus();
+  return NextResponse.json({ busy: snapshot.busy });
+}
diff --git a/tests/api/agent-dispatch-route.test.ts b/tests/api/agent-dispatch-route.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9ecfb4b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/api/agent-dispatch-route.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+import test from 'node:test';
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+
+import { POST } from '../../src/app/api/agent-dispatch/route';
+
+function captureEnv(keys: string[]): () => void {
+  const saved = new Map<string, string | undefined>();
+  for (const key of keys) saved.set(key, process.env[key]);
+  return () => {
+    for (const key of keys) {
+      const prior = saved.get(key);
+      if (prior === undefined) delete process.env[key];
+      else process.env[key] = prior;
+    }
+  };
+}
+
+test('POST returns 400 when body is not valid JSON', async () => {
+  const request = new Request('http://localhost/api/agent-dispatch', {
+    method: 'POST',
+    body: 'not-json',
+    headers: { 'content-type': 'application/json' },
+  });
+
+  const response = await POST(request);
+  assert.equal(response.status, 400);
+  const body = await response.json();
+  assert.match(body.error, /Invalid JSON/);
+});
+
+test('POST returns 400 when taskId missing', async () => {
+  const request = new Request('http://localhost/api/agent-dispatch', {
+    method: 'POST',
+    body: JSON.stringify({}),
+    headers: { 'content-type': 'application/json' },
+  });
+
+  const response = await POST(request);
+  assert.equal(response.status, 400);
+  const body = await response.json();
+  assert.match(body.error, /taskId is required/);
+});
+
+test('POST returns 500 when env vars are missing', async () => {
+  const restore = captureEnv(['CLAUDE_AGENT_SERVICE_URL', 'CLAUDE_AGENT_BEARER_TOKEN']);
+  delete process.env.CLAUDE_AGENT_SERVICE_URL;
+  delete process.env.CLAUDE_AGENT_BEARER_TOKEN;
+  try {
+    const request = new Request('http://localhost/api/agent-dispatch', {
+      method: 'POST',
+      body: JSON.stringify({ taskId: 'some-bead-id' }),
+      headers: { 'content-type': 'application/json' },
+    });
+
+    const response = await POST(request);
+    assert.equal(response.status, 500);
+    const body = await response.json();
+    assert.match(body.error, /not configured/);
+  } finally {
+    restore();
+  }
+});
diff --git a/tests/api/agent-status-route.test.ts b/tests/api/agent-status-route.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4cb447d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/api/agent-status-route.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+import test from 'node:test';
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+
+import { GET } from '../../src/app/api/agent-status/route';
+
+type FetchFn = typeof fetch;
+
+function withFetchStub<T>(stub: FetchFn, work: () => Promise<T>): Promise<T> {
+  const original = globalThis.fetch;
+  globalThis.fetch = stub;
+  return work().finally(() => {
+    globalThis.fetch = original;
+  });
+}
+
+function captureEnv(keys: string[]): () => void {
+  const saved = new Map<string, string | undefined>();
+  for (const key of keys) saved.set(key, process.env[key]);
+  return () => {
+    for (const key of keys) {
+      const prior = saved.get(key);
+      if (prior === undefined) delete process.env[key];
+      else process.env[key] = prior;
+    }
+  };
+}
+
+test('GET returns {busy:false} when CLAUDE_AGENT_SERVICE_URL is unset', async () => {
+  const restore = captureEnv(['CLAUDE_AGENT_SERVICE_URL']);
+  delete process.env.CLAUDE_AGENT_SERVICE_URL;
+  try {
+    await withFetchStub(async () => {
+      throw new Error('fetch should not be called when URL is unset');
+    }, async () => {
+      // Bust the module cache so cached snapshots from prior tests do not leak.
+      await import(`../../src/app/api/agent-status/route?url-unset=${Date.now()}`);
+      const response = await GET();
+      const body = await response.json();
+      assert.equal(response.status, 200);
+      assert.equal(body.busy, false);
+    });
+  } finally {
+    restore();
+  }
+});
+
+test('GET proxies busy=true when /health returns busy=true', async () => {
+  const restore = captureEnv(['CLAUDE_AGENT_SERVICE_URL']);
+  process.env.CLAUDE_AGENT_SERVICE_URL = 'http://fake-agent.local';
+  try {
+    const stub: FetchFn = async () => new Response(JSON.stringify({ status: 'ok', busy: true }), {
+      status: 200,
+      headers: { 'content-type': 'application/json' },
+    });
+
+    await withFetchStub(stub, async () => {
+      const mod = await import(`../../src/app/api/agent-status/route?busy-true=${Date.now()}`) as { GET: typeof GET };
+      const response = await mod.GET();
+      const body = await response.json();
+      assert.equal(response.status, 200);
+      assert.equal(body.busy, true);
+    });
+  } finally {
+    restore();
+  }
+});
+
+test('GET returns busy=true when /health returns HTTP 503', async () => {
+  const restore = captureEnv(['CLAUDE_AGENT_SERVICE_URL']);
+  process.env.CLAUDE_AGENT_SERVICE_URL = 'http://fake-agent.local';
+  try {
+    const stub: FetchFn = async () => new Response('busy', { status: 503 });
+
+    await withFetchStub(stub, async () => {
+      const mod = await import(`../../src/app/api/agent-status/route?busy-503=${Date.now()}`) as { GET: typeof GET };
+      const response = await mod.GET();
+      const body = await response.json();
+      assert.equal(response.status, 200);
+      assert.equal(body.busy, true);
+    });
+  } finally {
+    restore();
+  }
+});