diff --git a/bin/box-work.py b/bin/box-work.py
index ebb4e17..58bb6f5 100755
--- a/bin/box-work.py
+++ b/bin/box-work.py
@@ -219,7 +219,167 @@ def check_tunnel_ports():
             s.close()
     return ports_status
 
-def cmd_status(args):
+def badge_status(status: str) -> str:
+    if status == "PASS":
+        return c_green("PASS")
+    elif status == "WARN":
+        return c_yellow("WARN")
+    else:
+        return c_red("FAIL")
+
+def check_agent_preflight(agent_name: str) -> dict:
+    """Ensures hatch, restore, and git config health before assigning work to cloud muse agents."""
+    worker = next((w for w in WORKERS if w["name"] == agent_name), None)
+    if not worker and agent_name != "super":
+        return {
+            "agent": agent_name,
+            "port": 0,
+            "hatch": {"status": "FAIL", "details": f"Unknown agent '{agent_name}'"},
+            "restore": {"status": "FAIL", "details": "Not listed in fleet topology"},
+            "git": {"status": "FAIL", "details": "No partition entry"},
+            "overall": "FAIL",
+            "ready": False,
+            "reasons": [f"Agent '{agent_name}' is not in fleet topology"]
+        }
+
+    port = worker["port"] if worker else 2224
+    tunnel_ports = check_tunnel_ports()
+    port_status = tunnel_ports.get(port, "DARK")
+    reasons = []
+
+    # 1. HATCH HEALTH (tunnel listener + responsive chat)
+    hatch_status = "PASS"
+    hatch_details = []
+    if port_status == "UP":
+        hatch_details.append(f"Port {port} listener UP")
+    else:
+        hatch_status = "FAIL"
+        hatch_details.append(f"Port {port} reverse tunnel DARK")
+        reasons.append(f"Hatch tunnel is DOWN on port {port}. Container is offline or unreachable.")
+
+    last_chats = get_last_agent_chats()
+    chat_ev = last_chats.get(agent_name)
+    if chat_ev:
+        ts_str = chat_ev.get("ts", "")[:19].replace("T", " ")
+        hatch_details.append(f"Chat active ({ts_str})")
+    else:
+        hatch_details.append("No recent chat entries")
+
+    # 2. RESTORE HEALTH (NODES.md, supervisor persistence)
+    restore_status = "PASS"
+    restore_details = []
+    nodes_file = REPO_ROOT / "NODES.md"
+    node_in_registry = False
+    if nodes_file.exists():
+        try:
+            with open(nodes_file) as f:
+                content = f.read()
+                if f"| {agent_name} |" in content or f"warp-{agent_name}" in content:
+                    node_in_registry = True
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+
+    if node_in_registry or agent_name in ("muse-main", "super"):
+        restore_details.append("Registered in NODES.md")
+    else:
+        restore_status = "WARN"
+        restore_details.append("Not found in NODES.md")
+
+    if port_status == "UP":
+        restore_details.append("Watchdog/Supervisor persistent")
+    else:
+        restore_status = "FAIL"
+        restore_details.append("Container rebuild / tunnel recovery pending")
+        reasons.append("Container requires recovery/restore (run recover-after-rebuild or inspect watchdog).")
+
+    # 3. GIT CONFIG HEALTH (partition token, collaborator access, branches)
+    git_status = "PASS"
+    git_details = []
+    token = ""
+    if PARTITION_TABLE_PATH.exists():
+        try:
+            with open(PARTITION_TABLE_PATH) as f:
+                pt = json.load(f)
+                contributor = pt.get("contributors", {}).get(agent_name)
+                if contributor:
+                    token = contributor.get("token", "")
+                    git_details.append("Token in partition-table")
+                else:
+                    git_status = "FAIL"
+                    git_details.append("Missing from partition-table")
+                    reasons.append(f"Agent '{agent_name}' has no credentials in fleet/partition-table.json")
+        except Exception as e:
+            git_status = "WARN"
+            git_details.append(f"Partition table error: {e}")
+
+    collab_check = gitea_api_request(f"/repos/super/box/collaborators/{agent_name}")
+    if isinstance(collab_check, dict) and collab_check.get("error") and collab_check.get("error") not in (200, 204):
+        git_status = "FAIL"
+        git_details.append("Not a repository collaborator")
+        reasons.append(f"Gitea user '{agent_name}' lacks write/collaborator access")
+    else:
+        git_details.append("Gitea collaborator OK")
+
+    branches = gitea_api_request("/repos/super/box/branches")
+    agent_branch = False
+    if isinstance(branches, list):
+        for b in branches:
+            bname = b.get("name", "")
+            if bname.startswith(f"dev/{agent_name}/") or bname.startswith(f"builder/{agent_name}/"):
+                agent_branch = True
+                break
+    if agent_branch:
+        git_details.append("Branch verified in Gitea")
+    else:
+        git_details.append("No active branch")
+
+    overall = "PASS"
+    if hatch_status == "FAIL" or restore_status == "FAIL" or git_status == "FAIL":
+        overall = "FAIL"
+    elif hatch_status == "WARN" or restore_status == "WARN" or git_status == "WARN":
+        overall = "WARN"
+
+    return {
+        "agent": agent_name,
+        "port": port,
+        "hatch": {"status": hatch_status, "details": ", ".join(hatch_details)},
+        "restore": {"status": restore_status, "details": ", ".join(restore_details)},
+        "git": {"status": git_status, "details": ", ".join(git_details)},
+        "overall": overall,
+        "ready": (overall != "FAIL"),
+        "reasons": reasons
+    }
+
+def cmd_check(args):
+    target_agent = getattr(args, "agent", None)
+    targets = [target_agent] if target_agent else [w["name"] for w in WORKERS if w["role"] != "host"]
+
+    print(c_bold("\n=== BOX WORK: PRE-FLIGHT HEALTH VERIFICATION ===\n"))
+    header = f"{'AGENT':<12} {'HATCH':<12} {'RESTORE':<12} {'GIT CONFIG':<12} {'STATUS'}"
+    print(c_dim(header))
+    print(c_dim("-" * len(header)))
+
+    for ag in targets:
+        res = check_agent_preflight(ag)
+        h_badge = badge_status(res["hatch"]["status"])
+        r_badge = badge_status(res["restore"]["status"])
+        g_badge = badge_status(res["git"]["status"])
+        overall_badge = c_green("🟢 READY") if res["ready"] else c_red("🔴 BLOCKED")
+        print(f"{c_bold(ag):<21} {h_badge:<21} {r_badge:<21} {g_badge:<21} {overall_badge}")
+
+    print()
+    blocked = [ag for ag in targets if not check_agent_preflight(ag)["ready"]]
+    if blocked:
+        print(c_bold("--- PRE-FLIGHT DIAGNOSTIC DETAILS ---"))
+        for ag in blocked:
+            res = check_agent_preflight(ag)
+            print(f"  {c_bold(ag)}:")
+            print(f"    • Hatch:   {res['hatch']['details']}")
+            print(f"    • Restore: {res['restore']['details']}")
+            print(f"    • Git:     {res['git']['details']}")
+            for r in res["reasons"]:
+                print(f"      {c_yellow('!')} {r}")
+        print()
     api_base, _ = get_gitea_config()
     print(c_bold(f"\n=== BOX WORK: FLEET & BUILD PIPELINE ({api_base}) ===\n"))
 
@@ -390,6 +550,23 @@ def cmd_start(args):
     agent = args.agent
     body = args.goal or f"Work task for {agent}: {title}"
 
+    # 0. Pre-flight health gate: Hatch, Restore, Git Config
+    preflight = check_agent_preflight(agent)
+    if not preflight["ready"] and not getattr(args, "force", False):
+        print(c_red(f"\n[BLOCKED] Agent '{agent}' failed pre-flight health verification:"))
+        print(f"  • Hatch:   {badge_status(preflight['hatch']['status'])} - {preflight['hatch']['details']}")
+        print(f"  • Restore: {badge_status(preflight['restore']['status'])} - {preflight['restore']['details']}")
+        print(f"  • Git:     {badge_status(preflight['git']['status'])} - {preflight['git']['details']}")
+        print(c_yellow("\nBlocking reasons:"))
+        for r in preflight["reasons"]:
+            print(f"  - {r}")
+        print(c_dim(f"\nTo inspect full health: box work check {agent}\nTo bypass pre-flight: box work start '{title}' --to {agent} --force\n"))
+        sys.exit(1)
+    elif not preflight["ready"] and getattr(args, "force", False):
+        print(c_yellow(f"[WARNING] Overriding failed pre-flight checks on {agent} (--force specified).\n"))
+    else:
+        print(c_green(f"✓ Pre-flight checks passed (Hatch: OK, Restore: OK, Git Config: OK) for {agent}"))
+
     print(c_bold(f"Initiating work ticket for agent {agent}..."))
     
     # 1. Ensure label exists in Gitea
@@ -443,6 +620,20 @@ def cmd_start(args):
 def cmd_assign(args):
     issue_num = args.issue
     agent = args.agent
+
+    # 0. Pre-flight health gate: Hatch, Restore, Git Config
+    preflight = check_agent_preflight(agent)
+    if not preflight["ready"] and not getattr(args, "force", False):
+        print(c_red(f"\n[BLOCKED] Agent '{agent}' failed pre-flight health verification:"))
+        print(f"  • Hatch:   {badge_status(preflight['hatch']['status'])} - {preflight['hatch']['details']}")
+        print(f"  • Restore: {badge_status(preflight['restore']['status'])} - {preflight['restore']['details']}")
+        print(f"  • Git:     {badge_status(preflight['git']['status'])} - {preflight['git']['details']}")
+        print(c_yellow("\nBlocking reasons:"))
+        for r in preflight["reasons"]:
+            print(f"  - {r}")
+        print(c_dim(f"\nTo bypass pre-flight: box work assign {issue_num} --to {agent} --force\n"))
+        sys.exit(1)
+
     print(c_bold(f"Assigning Ticket #{issue_num} to {agent}..."))
 
     payload = {
@@ -501,14 +692,20 @@ def main():
 
     sub.add_parser("status", help="Show full operational work dashboard")
     
+    # box work check [agent]
+    p_check = sub.add_parser("check", help="Run pre-flight health verification (Hatch, Restore, Git Config)")
+    p_check.add_argument("agent", nargs="?", help="Optional specific agent name to check")
+
     p_start = sub.add_parser("start", help="Instantly start and assign new build ticket to an agent")
     p_start.add_argument("title", help="Ticket title / summary")
     p_start.add_argument("--to", dest="agent", required=True, help="Agent username (opm, 646, dev, pip, def, muse)")
     p_start.add_argument("--goal", help="Optional detailed goal description")
+    p_start.add_argument("--force", action="store_true", help="Bypass pre-flight health gate")
 
     p_assign = sub.add_parser("assign", help="Assign existing ticket to an agent")
     p_assign.add_argument("issue", type=int, help="Issue number (e.g. 215)")
     p_assign.add_argument("--to", dest="agent", required=True, help="Agent username")
+    p_assign.add_argument("--force", action="store_true", help="Bypass pre-flight health gate")
 
     p_merge = sub.add_parser("merge", help="Merge an open PR into master")
     p_merge.add_argument("pr", type=int, help="Pull request number (e.g. 214)")
@@ -522,6 +719,8 @@ def main():
 
     if not action or action == "status":
         cmd_status(args)
+    elif action == "check":
+        cmd_check(args)
     elif action == "start":
         cmd_start(args)
     elif action == "assign":
diff --git a/bin/super-cli.py b/bin/super-cli.py
index 2426f80..1da697b 100755
--- a/bin/super-cli.py
+++ b/bin/super-cli.py
@@ -1483,6 +1483,8 @@ def cmd_work(args):
         box_work.cmd_assign(args)
     elif action == "merge":
         box_work.cmd_merge(args)
+    elif action == "check":
+        box_work.cmd_check(args)
     elif action == "chats":
         box_work.cmd_chats(args)
     else:
@@ -6620,13 +6622,17 @@ def build_parser():
     p_work = subparsers.add_parser("work", parents=[common], help="Fleet workspace, task orchestration, worker scope, and active signals")
     work_sub = p_work.add_subparsers(dest="work_action")
     p_w_status = work_sub.add_parser("status", parents=[common], help="Show full operational work dashboard (default)")
+    p_w_check = work_sub.add_parser("check", parents=[common], help="Run pre-flight health checks (Hatch, Restore, Git Config)")
+    p_w_check.add_argument("agent", nargs="?", help="Optional specific agent name to check")
     p_w_start = work_sub.add_parser("start", parents=[common], help="Instantly start and assign new build ticket to an agent")
     p_w_start.add_argument("title", help="Ticket title / summary")
     p_w_start.add_argument("--to", dest="agent", required=True, help="Agent username (opm, 646, dev, pip, def, muse)")
     p_w_start.add_argument("--goal", help="Optional detailed goal description")
+    p_w_start.add_argument("--force", action="store_true", help="Bypass pre-flight health gate")
     p_w_assign = work_sub.add_parser("assign", parents=[common], help="Assign existing ticket to an agent")
     p_w_assign.add_argument("issue", type=int, help="Issue number (e.g. 215)")
     p_w_assign.add_argument("--to", dest="agent", required=True, help="Agent username")
+    p_w_assign.add_argument("--force", action="store_true", help="Bypass pre-flight health gate")
     p_w_merge = work_sub.add_parser("merge", parents=[common], help="Merge an open PR into master")
     p_w_merge.add_argument("pr", type=int, help="Pull request number (e.g. 214)")
     p_w_chats = work_sub.add_parser("chats", parents=[common], help="View recent live chat activity")
diff --git a/tests/test_box_work.py b/tests/test_box_work.py
index 7adb858..c39b688 100644
--- a/tests/test_box_work.py
+++ b/tests/test_box_work.py
@@ -43,5 +43,20 @@ class TestBoxWork(unittest.TestCase):
         res = box_work.get_recent_done_tasks(limit=5)
         self.assertIsInstance(res, list)
 
+    def test_check_agent_preflight_structure(self):
+        res = box_work.check_agent_preflight("opm")
+        self.assertIn("hatch", res)
+        self.assertIn("restore", res)
+        self.assertIn("git", res)
+        self.assertIn("status", res["hatch"])
+        self.assertIn("status", res["restore"])
+        self.assertIn("status", res["git"])
+        self.assertIn("ready", res)
+
+    def test_check_agent_preflight_unknown_fails(self):
+        res = box_work.check_agent_preflight("nonexistent_agent_xyz")
+        self.assertFalse(res["ready"])
+        self.assertEqual(res["overall"], "FAIL")
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()