diff --git a/app/Console/Kernel.php b/app/Console/Kernel.php
index 3ec59adb3..665553fcb 100644
--- a/app/Console/Kernel.php
+++ b/app/Console/Kernel.php
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ use App\Jobs\CheckHelperImageJob;
 use App\Jobs\CheckTraefikVersionJob;
 use App\Jobs\CleanupInstanceStuffsJob;
 use App\Jobs\CleanupOrphanedPreviewContainersJob;
+use App\Jobs\CleanupStaleMultiplexedConnections;
 use App\Jobs\PullChangelog;
 use App\Jobs\PullTemplatesFromCDN;
 use App\Jobs\RegenerateSslCertJob;
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ class Kernel extends ConsoleKernel
             $this->instanceTimezone = config('app.timezone');
         }
 
-        // $this->scheduleInstance->job(new CleanupStaleMultiplexedConnections)->hourly();
+        $this->scheduleInstance->job(new CleanupStaleMultiplexedConnections)->hourly()->onOneServer();
         $this->scheduleInstance->command('cleanup:redis --clear-locks')->daily();
         $this->scheduleInstance->command('sanctum:prune-expired --hours=1')->hourly()->onOneServer();
         $this->scheduleInstance->job(new ApiTokenExpirationWarningJob)->hourly()->onOneServer();
diff --git a/app/Helpers/SshMultiplexingHelper.php b/app/Helpers/SshMultiplexingHelper.php
index 4629df571..78084a157 100644
--- a/app/Helpers/SshMultiplexingHelper.php
+++ b/app/Helpers/SshMultiplexingHelper.php
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ namespace App\Helpers;
 
 use App\Models\PrivateKey;
 use App\Models\Server;
+use Illuminate\Contracts\Cache\LockTimeoutException;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Cache;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Hash;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Log;
@@ -30,37 +31,99 @@ class SshMultiplexingHelper
             return false;
         }
 
+        // Fast path: a usable master already exists, no need to lock.
+        if (self::connectionIsReusable($server)) {
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        // Slow path: establishing or refreshing the master. Serialize per server
+        // so concurrent workers do not each spawn their own master process,
+        // leaving orphaned non-master ssh connections that ControlPersist never reaps.
+        try {
+            return Cache::lock(
+                self::connectionLockKey($server),
+                config('constants.ssh.mux_lock_ttl')
+            )->block(config('constants.ssh.mux_lock_timeout'), function () use ($server) {
+                // Double-checked: another worker may have established the master
+                // while we were waiting for the lock.
+                if (self::connectionIsReusable($server)) {
+                    return true;
+                }
+
+                // A master exists but is stale or expired: close and re-establish.
+                if (self::masterConnectionExists($server)) {
+                    return self::refreshMultiplexedConnection($server);
+                }
+
+                return self::establishNewMultiplexedConnection($server);
+            });
+        } catch (LockTimeoutException) {
+            Log::warning('SSH multiplexing lock timeout, falling back to non-multiplexed connection', [
+                'server' => $server->name ?? $server->ip,
+            ]);
+
+            return false;
+        } catch (\Throwable $e) {
+            Log::warning('SSH multiplexing lock unavailable, falling back to non-multiplexed connection', [
+                'server' => $server->name ?? $server->ip,
+                'error' => $e->getMessage(),
+            ]);
+
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Per-server, per-host lock key for serializing master establishment.
+     *
+     * The mux socket is a host-local unix socket, so the lock is scoped to the
+     * current Coolify host: workers on the same host share a master and must
+     * serialize, while workers on other hosts manage their own masters and must
+     * not block on each other.
+     */
+    private static function connectionLockKey(Server $server): string
+    {
+        return 'ssh_mux_lock_'.(gethostname() ?: 'unknown').'_'.$server->uuid;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Check whether a multiplexed master connection currently exists for the server.
+     */
+    private static function masterConnectionExists(Server $server): bool
+    {
         $sshConfig = self::serverSshConfiguration($server);
         $muxSocket = $sshConfig['muxFilename'];
 
-        // Check if connection exists
         $checkCommand = "ssh -O check -o ControlPath=$muxSocket ";
         if (data_get($server, 'settings.is_cloudflare_tunnel')) {
             $checkCommand .= '-o ProxyCommand="cloudflared access ssh --hostname %h" ';
         }
         $checkCommand .= self::escapedUserAtHost($server);
-        $process = Process::run($checkCommand);
 
-        if ($process->exitCode() !== 0) {
-            return self::establishNewMultiplexedConnection($server);
+        return Process::run($checkCommand)->exitCode() === 0;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Determine whether the existing master connection can be reused as-is
+     * (it exists, has not exceeded its max age, and passes the health check).
+     */
+    private static function connectionIsReusable(Server $server): bool
+    {
+        if (! self::masterConnectionExists($server)) {
+            return false;
         }
 
-        // Connection exists, ensure we have metadata for age tracking
+        // Existing connection but no metadata, store current time as fallback.
         if (self::getConnectionAge($server) === null) {
-            // Existing connection but no metadata, store current time as fallback
             self::storeConnectionMetadata($server);
         }
 
-        // Connection exists, check if it needs refresh due to age
         if (self::isConnectionExpired($server)) {
-            return self::refreshMultiplexedConnection($server);
+            return false;
         }
 
-        // Perform health check if enabled
-        if (config('constants.ssh.mux_health_check_enabled')) {
-            if (! self::isConnectionHealthy($server)) {
-                return self::refreshMultiplexedConnection($server);
-            }
+        if (config('constants.ssh.mux_health_check_enabled') && ! self::isConnectionHealthy($server)) {
+            return false;
         }
 
         return true;
@@ -75,7 +138,10 @@ class SshMultiplexingHelper
         $serverInterval = config('constants.ssh.server_interval');
         $muxPersistTime = config('constants.ssh.mux_persist_time');
 
-        $establishCommand = "ssh -fNM -o ControlMaster=auto -o ControlPath=$muxSocket -o ControlPersist={$muxPersistTime} ";
+        // No -M: it forces master mode and overrides ControlMaster=auto. When a
+        // socket already exists -M leaves an orphaned non-master ssh -fN process
+        // that ControlPersist never reaps. ControlMaster=auto reuses instead.
+        $establishCommand = "ssh -fN -o ControlMaster=auto -o ControlPath=$muxSocket -o ControlPersist={$muxPersistTime} ";
 
         if (data_get($server, 'settings.is_cloudflare_tunnel')) {
             $establishCommand .= ' -o ProxyCommand="cloudflared access ssh --hostname %h" ';
@@ -176,6 +242,10 @@ class SshMultiplexingHelper
                     $ssh_command .= "-o ControlMaster=auto -o ControlPath=$muxSocket -o ControlPersist={$muxPersistTime} ";
                 }
             } catch (\Exception $e) {
+                Log::warning('SSH multiplexing failed, falling back to non-multiplexed connection', [
+                    'server' => $server->name ?? $server->ip,
+                    'error' => $e->getMessage(),
+                ]);
                 // Continue without multiplexing
             }
         }
diff --git a/app/Jobs/CleanupStaleMultiplexedConnections.php b/app/Jobs/CleanupStaleMultiplexedConnections.php
index 6d49bee4b..0d3029c66 100644
--- a/app/Jobs/CleanupStaleMultiplexedConnections.php
+++ b/app/Jobs/CleanupStaleMultiplexedConnections.php
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ use Illuminate\Contracts\Queue\ShouldQueue;
 use Illuminate\Foundation\Bus\Dispatchable;
 use Illuminate\Queue\InteractsWithQueue;
 use Illuminate\Queue\SerializesModels;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Log;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Process;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Storage;
 
@@ -20,6 +21,132 @@ class CleanupStaleMultiplexedConnections implements ShouldQueue
     {
         $this->cleanupStaleConnections();
         $this->cleanupNonExistentServerConnections();
+        $this->cleanupOrphanedSshProcesses();
+        $this->cleanupOrphanedCloudflaredProcesses();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Kill backgrounded ssh master processes that lost the ControlPath socket
+     * race. Such processes are not masters, so ControlPersist never reaps them
+     * and they leak memory until the container restarts. A legitimate master
+     * always owns its socket file; an orphan has none.
+     *
+     * Processes younger than the minimum age are skipped: a freshly forked
+     * master creates its socket a few milliseconds after starting, so a young
+     * process with no socket may simply be mid-establish rather than orphaned.
+     */
+    private function cleanupOrphanedSshProcesses(): void
+    {
+        $muxDir = storage_path('app/ssh/mux');
+        $minAge = (int) config('constants.ssh.mux_orphan_min_age');
+
+        foreach ($this->listProcesses() as $process) {
+            // Backgrounded ssh master: current `ssh -fN` or legacy `ssh -fNM`.
+            if (! preg_match('#(^|/)ssh -fN#', $process['args'])) {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            // Only ever touch ssh processes pointing at Coolify's mux directory.
+            if (! preg_match('#ControlPath=('.preg_quote($muxDir, '#').'/\S+)#', $process['args'], $pathMatch)) {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            if ($process['etimes'] >= $minAge && ! file_exists($pathMatch[1])) {
+                $this->reapOrphan('ssh', $process);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Kill orphaned `cloudflared access ssh` proxy processes. Each is spawned
+     * as the SSH ProxyCommand transport for a Cloudflare Tunnel server and must
+     * die with its parent ssh. When that ssh is killed or orphaned (e.g. a lost
+     * mux master), the cloudflared process can leak and accumulate. A legitimate
+     * proxy always has a live ssh parent; one without is safe to reap.
+     *
+     * Processes younger than the minimum age are skipped so a proxy whose parent
+     * ssh is still starting up, or a transient `ssh -O check` proxy mid-exit, is
+     * never mistaken for an orphan.
+     */
+    private function cleanupOrphanedCloudflaredProcesses(): void
+    {
+        $minAge = (int) config('constants.ssh.mux_orphan_min_age');
+        $processes = $this->listProcesses();
+
+        $sshPids = [];
+        foreach ($processes as $process) {
+            // The ssh binary itself, not `cloudflared access ssh` (space before ssh).
+            if (preg_match('#(^|/)ssh\s#', $process['args'])) {
+                $sshPids[$process['pid']] = true;
+            }
+        }
+
+        foreach ($processes as $process) {
+            // `cloudflared access ssh`, never the `cloudflared tunnel` daemon.
+            if (! str_contains($process['args'], 'cloudflared access ssh')) {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            // Orphaned when no live ssh process is its parent.
+            if ($process['etimes'] >= $minAge && ! isset($sshPids[$process['ppid']])) {
+                $this->reapOrphan('cloudflared', $process);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Reap a detected orphan process. When orphan reaping is disabled (the
+     * default), the orphan is only logged — a dry-run mode that lets operators
+     * verify what would be killed before enabling it for real.
+     *
+     * @param  array{pid: string, ppid: string, etimes: int, args: string}  $process
+     */
+    private function reapOrphan(string $kind, array $process): void
+    {
+        if (! config('constants.ssh.mux_orphan_reap_enabled')) {
+            Log::info("Orphaned {$kind} process detected (dry-run, not killed)", [
+                'pid' => $process['pid'],
+                'etimes' => $process['etimes'],
+                'command' => $process['args'],
+            ]);
+
+            return;
+        }
+
+        Process::run('kill '.escapeshellarg($process['pid']));
+        Log::info("Killed orphaned {$kind} process", [
+            'pid' => $process['pid'],
+            'etimes' => $process['etimes'],
+            'command' => $process['args'],
+        ]);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Snapshot of running processes.
+     *
+     * @return list<array{pid: string, ppid: string, etimes: int, args: string}>
+     */
+    private function listProcesses(): array
+    {
+        $ps = Process::run('ps -ww -eo pid=,ppid=,etimes=,args=');
+        if ($ps->exitCode() !== 0) {
+            return [];
+        }
+
+        $processes = [];
+        foreach (explode("\n", trim($ps->output())) as $line) {
+            if (! preg_match('/^\s*(\d+)\s+(\d+)\s+(\d+)\s+(.*)$/', $line, $matches)) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            $processes[] = [
+                'pid' => $matches[1],
+                'ppid' => $matches[2],
+                'etimes' => (int) $matches[3],
+                'args' => $matches[4],
+            ];
+        }
+
+        return $processes;
     }
 
     private function cleanupStaleConnections()
@@ -31,7 +158,7 @@ class CleanupStaleMultiplexedConnections implements ShouldQueue
             $server = Server::where('uuid', $serverUuid)->first();
 
             if (! $server) {
-                $this->removeMultiplexFile($muxFile);
+                $this->removeMultiplexFile($muxFile, 'server_not_found');
 
                 continue;
             }
@@ -41,14 +168,14 @@ class CleanupStaleMultiplexedConnections implements ShouldQueue
             $checkProcess = Process::run($checkCommand);
 
             if ($checkProcess->exitCode() !== 0) {
-                $this->removeMultiplexFile($muxFile);
+                $this->removeMultiplexFile($muxFile, 'connection_check_failed');
             } else {
                 $muxContent = Storage::disk('ssh-mux')->get($muxFile);
                 $establishedAt = Carbon::parse(substr($muxContent, 37));
                 $expirationTime = $establishedAt->addSeconds(config('constants.ssh.mux_persist_time'));
 
                 if (Carbon::now()->isAfter($expirationTime)) {
-                    $this->removeMultiplexFile($muxFile);
+                    $this->removeMultiplexFile($muxFile, 'expired');
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -62,7 +189,7 @@ class CleanupStaleMultiplexedConnections implements ShouldQueue
         foreach ($muxFiles as $muxFile) {
             $serverUuid = $this->extractServerUuidFromMuxFile($muxFile);
             if (! in_array($serverUuid, $existingServerUuids)) {
-                $this->removeMultiplexFile($muxFile);
+                $this->removeMultiplexFile($muxFile, 'server_does_not_exist');
             }
         }
     }
@@ -72,11 +199,30 @@ class CleanupStaleMultiplexedConnections implements ShouldQueue
         return substr($muxFile, 4);
     }
 
-    private function removeMultiplexFile($muxFile)
+    /**
+     * Close and delete a stale mux socket file. When orphan reaping is disabled
+     * (the default), the file is only logged — a dry-run mode that lets operators
+     * verify what would be removed before enabling it for real.
+     */
+    private function removeMultiplexFile(string $muxFile, string $reason): void
     {
+        if (! config('constants.ssh.mux_orphan_reap_enabled')) {
+            Log::info('Stale mux file detected (dry-run, not removed)', [
+                'file' => $muxFile,
+                'reason' => $reason,
+            ]);
+
+            return;
+        }
+
         $muxSocket = "/var/www/html/storage/app/ssh/mux/{$muxFile}";
         $closeCommand = "ssh -O exit -o ControlPath={$muxSocket} localhost 2>/dev/null";
         Process::run($closeCommand);
         Storage::disk('ssh-mux')->delete($muxFile);
+
+        Log::info('Removed stale mux file', [
+            'file' => $muxFile,
+            'reason' => $reason,
+        ]);
     }
 }
diff --git a/config/constants.php b/config/constants.php
index 10db1085c..7721ff213 100644
--- a/config/constants.php
+++ b/config/constants.php
@@ -70,6 +70,10 @@ return [
         'mux_health_check_enabled' => env('SSH_MUX_HEALTH_CHECK_ENABLED', true),
         'mux_health_check_timeout' => env('SSH_MUX_HEALTH_CHECK_TIMEOUT', 5),
         'mux_max_age' => env('SSH_MUX_MAX_AGE', 1800), // 30 minutes
+        'mux_lock_ttl' => env('SSH_MUX_LOCK_TTL', 30), // lock auto-release, seconds
+        'mux_lock_timeout' => env('SSH_MUX_LOCK_TIMEOUT', 10), // max wait for lock, seconds
+        'mux_orphan_min_age' => env('SSH_MUX_ORPHAN_MIN_AGE', 600), // min process age before reaping orphans, seconds
+        'mux_orphan_reap_enabled' => env('SSH_MUX_ORPHAN_REAP_ENABLED', false), // false = dry-run, only log orphans
         'connection_timeout' => 10,
         'server_interval' => 20,
         'command_timeout' => 3600,
diff --git a/tests/Feature/SshMultiplexingLockTest.php b/tests/Feature/SshMultiplexingLockTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8d56f5235
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Feature/SshMultiplexingLockTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,219 @@
+<?php
+
+use App\Helpers\SshMultiplexingHelper;
+use App\Jobs\CleanupStaleMultiplexedConnections;
+use App\Models\PrivateKey;
+use App\Models\Server;
+use App\Models\User;
+use Illuminate\Foundation\Testing\RefreshDatabase;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Cache;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\File;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Process;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Storage;
+
+/**
+ * Tests for the per-server lock that prevents concurrent workers from each
+ * spawning their own SSH master, which leaves orphaned non-master ssh
+ * connections that ControlPersist never reaps (memory leak).
+ */
+uses(RefreshDatabase::class);
+
+function makeMuxServer(): Server
+{
+    $user = User::factory()->create();
+    $team = $user->teams()->first();
+
+    $privateKey = PrivateKey::create([
+        'name' => 'mux-test-key-'.uniqid(),
+        'private_key' => "-----BEGIN OPENSSH PRIVATE KEY-----\n".
+            "b3BlbnNzaC1rZXktdjEAAAAABG5vbmUAAAAEbm9uZQAAAAAAAAABAAAAMwAAAAtzc2gtZW\n".
+            "QyNTUxOQAAACBbhpqHhqv6aI67Mj9abM3DVbmcfYhZAhC7ca4d9UCevAAAAJi/QySHv0Mk\n".
+            "hwAAAAtzc2gtZWQyNTUxOQAAACBbhpqHhqv6aI67Mj9abM3DVbmcfYhZAhC7ca4d9UCevA\n".
+            "AAAECBQw4jg1WRT2IGHMncCiZhURCts2s24HoDS0thHnnRKVuGmoeGq/pojrsyP1pszcNV\n".
+            "uZx9iFkCELtxrh31QJ68AAAAEXNhaWxANzZmZjY2ZDJlMmRkAQIDBA==\n".
+            '-----END OPENSSH PRIVATE KEY-----',
+        'team_id' => $team->id,
+    ]);
+
+    return Server::factory()->create([
+        'team_id' => $team->id,
+        'private_key_id' => $privateKey->id,
+    ]);
+}
+
+it('establishes a master with ssh -fN and never the orphan-prone ssh -fNM', function () {
+    config(['constants.ssh.mux_enabled' => true]);
+    $server = makeMuxServer();
+
+    Process::fake([
+        '*-O check*' => Process::result(exitCode: 1), // no existing master
+        '*-fN *' => Process::result(exitCode: 0),      // establish succeeds
+    ]);
+
+    expect(SshMultiplexingHelper::ensureMultiplexedConnection($server))->toBeTrue();
+
+    Process::assertRan(fn ($process) => str_contains($process->command, 'ssh -fN ')
+        && ! str_contains($process->command, 'ssh -fNM'));
+});
+
+it('reuses an existing healthy master without spawning a new one', function () {
+    config([
+        'constants.ssh.mux_enabled' => true,
+        'constants.ssh.mux_health_check_enabled' => true,
+    ]);
+    $server = makeMuxServer();
+
+    Process::fake([
+        '*-O check*' => Process::result(exitCode: 0),
+        '*health_check_ok*' => Process::result(output: 'health_check_ok', exitCode: 0),
+    ]);
+
+    expect(SshMultiplexingHelper::ensureMultiplexedConnection($server))->toBeTrue();
+
+    Process::assertNotRan(fn ($process) => str_contains($process->command, 'ssh -fN'));
+});
+
+it('does not spawn a master when the per-server lock is already held', function () {
+    config([
+        'constants.ssh.mux_enabled' => true,
+        'constants.ssh.mux_lock_timeout' => 0,
+    ]);
+    $server = makeMuxServer();
+
+    Process::fake([
+        '*-O check*' => Process::result(exitCode: 1), // forces the slow path
+    ]);
+
+    // Simulate another worker on the same host holding the lock for this server.
+    $lockKey = 'ssh_mux_lock_'.(gethostname() ?: 'unknown').'_'.$server->uuid;
+    $held = Cache::lock($lockKey, 30);
+    expect($held->get())->toBeTrue();
+
+    expect(SshMultiplexingHelper::ensureMultiplexedConnection($server))->toBeFalse();
+
+    Process::assertNotRan(fn ($process) => str_contains($process->command, 'ssh -fN '));
+
+    $held->release();
+});
+
+it('returns false and runs no ssh when multiplexing is disabled', function () {
+    config(['constants.ssh.mux_enabled' => false]);
+    $server = makeMuxServer();
+
+    Process::fake();
+
+    expect(SshMultiplexingHelper::ensureMultiplexedConnection($server))->toBeFalse();
+
+    Process::assertNothingRan();
+});
+
+it('kills only old orphaned ssh masters whose control socket no longer exists', function () {
+    config(['constants.ssh.mux_orphan_reap_enabled' => true]);
+    $muxDir = storage_path('app/ssh/mux');
+    File::ensureDirectoryExists($muxDir);
+
+    $liveSocket = $muxDir.'/mux_live_'.uniqid();
+    $orphanSocket = $muxDir.'/mux_orphan_'.uniqid();
+    $youngSocket = $muxDir.'/mux_young_'.uniqid();
+    File::put($liveSocket, 'x'); // live master owns its socket file; the others do not
+
+    // Columns: pid ppid etimes args
+    Process::fake([
+        'ps*' => Process::result(output: "111 1 5000 ssh -fN -o ControlMaster=auto -o ControlPath={$liveSocket} root@1.2.3.4\n".
+            "222 1 5000 ssh -fN -o ControlMaster=auto -o ControlPath={$orphanSocket} root@1.2.3.4\n".
+            "333 1 30 ssh -fN -o ControlMaster=auto -o ControlPath={$youngSocket} root@1.2.3.4\n"),
+        'kill*' => Process::result(exitCode: 0),
+    ]);
+
+    $job = new CleanupStaleMultiplexedConnections;
+    $method = new ReflectionMethod($job, 'cleanupOrphanedSshProcesses');
+    $method->setAccessible(true);
+    $method->invoke($job);
+
+    // Old orphan: killed.
+    Process::assertRan(fn ($process) => str_contains($process->command, 'kill') && str_contains($process->command, '222'));
+    // Live master (socket exists): spared.
+    Process::assertNotRan(fn ($process) => str_contains($process->command, 'kill') && str_contains($process->command, '111'));
+    // Young process (may be mid-establish): spared despite missing socket.
+    Process::assertNotRan(fn ($process) => str_contains($process->command, 'kill') && str_contains($process->command, '333'));
+
+    File::delete($liveSocket);
+});
+
+it('kills only old orphaned cloudflared proxies whose parent ssh is gone', function () {
+    config(['constants.ssh.mux_orphan_reap_enabled' => true]);
+    // pid 100 = live ssh master; 200 = its legit child; 300 = old orphan;
+    // 400 = young orphan (parent ssh may still be starting up).
+    Process::fake([
+        'ps*' => Process::result(output: "100 1 5000 ssh -fN -o ControlMaster=auto root@1.2.3.4\n".
+            "200 100 5000 cloudflared access ssh --hostname host.example.com\n".
+            "300 2176 5000 cloudflared access ssh --hostname host.example.com\n".
+            "400 2176 30 cloudflared access ssh --hostname host.example.com\n".
+            "2176 1 9000 /usr/bin/some-supervisor\n"),
+        'kill*' => Process::result(exitCode: 0),
+    ]);
+
+    $job = new CleanupStaleMultiplexedConnections;
+    $method = new ReflectionMethod($job, 'cleanupOrphanedCloudflaredProcesses');
+    $method->setAccessible(true);
+    $method->invoke($job);
+
+    // Old orphan (parent not ssh): killed.
+    Process::assertRan(fn ($process) => str_contains($process->command, 'kill') && str_contains($process->command, '300'));
+    // Legit proxy (parent ssh alive): spared.
+    Process::assertNotRan(fn ($process) => str_contains($process->command, 'kill') && str_contains($process->command, '200'));
+    // Young orphan: spared.
+    Process::assertNotRan(fn ($process) => str_contains($process->command, 'kill') && str_contains($process->command, '400'));
+});
+
+it('dry-run mode logs orphans but kills nothing when reaping is disabled', function () {
+    config(['constants.ssh.mux_orphan_reap_enabled' => false]);
+    $muxDir = storage_path('app/ssh/mux');
+    File::ensureDirectoryExists($muxDir);
+
+    $orphanSocket = $muxDir.'/mux_orphan_'.uniqid(); // no file: a real old orphan
+
+    Process::fake([
+        'ps*' => Process::result(output: "222 1 5000 ssh -fN -o ControlMaster=auto -o ControlPath={$orphanSocket} root@1.2.3.4\n"),
+        'kill*' => Process::result(exitCode: 0),
+    ]);
+
+    $job = new CleanupStaleMultiplexedConnections;
+    $method = new ReflectionMethod($job, 'cleanupOrphanedSshProcesses');
+    $method->setAccessible(true);
+    $method->invoke($job);
+
+    // Orphan detected, but dry-run: nothing killed.
+    Process::assertNotRan(fn ($process) => str_contains($process->command, 'kill'));
+});
+
+it('removes mux files for non-existent servers when reaping is enabled', function () {
+    config(['constants.ssh.mux_orphan_reap_enabled' => true]);
+    Storage::fake('ssh-mux');
+    $file = 'mux_ghost'.uniqid();
+    Storage::disk('ssh-mux')->put($file, 'x');
+    Process::fake(); // the `ssh -O exit` close command
+
+    $job = new CleanupStaleMultiplexedConnections;
+    $method = new ReflectionMethod($job, 'cleanupNonExistentServerConnections');
+    $method->setAccessible(true);
+    $method->invoke($job);
+
+    expect(Storage::disk('ssh-mux')->exists($file))->toBeFalse();
+});
+
+it('keeps mux files for non-existent servers in dry-run mode', function () {
+    config(['constants.ssh.mux_orphan_reap_enabled' => false]);
+    Storage::fake('ssh-mux');
+    $file = 'mux_ghost'.uniqid();
+    Storage::disk('ssh-mux')->put($file, 'x');
+    Process::fake();
+
+    $job = new CleanupStaleMultiplexedConnections;
+    $method = new ReflectionMethod($job, 'cleanupNonExistentServerConnections');
+    $method->setAccessible(true);
+    $method->invoke($job);
+
+    expect(Storage::disk('ssh-mux')->exists($file))->toBeTrue();
+    Process::assertNothingRan();
+});