diff --git a/lib/project-external-trigger.js b/lib/project-external-trigger.js
index 51e340d..0ce1420 100644
--- a/lib/project-external-trigger.js
+++ b/lib/project-external-trigger.js
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ var path = require("path");
 
 // How long (ms) to keep processed trigger files before pruning on startup.
 var PROCESSED_MAX_AGE_MS = 30 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000; // 30 days
+var POLL_INTERVAL_MS = 30 * 1000;        // 30 s backstop scan
+var WATCHER_REARM_INTERVAL_MS = 5 * 60 * 1000; // 5 min inotify rebind
 
 /**
  * External trigger watcher — global singleton.
@@ -35,6 +37,14 @@ var PROCESSED_MAX_AGE_MS = 30 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000; // 30 days
  * Daemon-down recovery: unprocessed files that predate the current process
  * start are picked up via a startup scan (scanExisting). No file is lost
  * if the daemon is restarted while triggers are pending.
+ *
+ * Watcher hardening (three layers):
+ *   Layer 1 — 30 s polling backstop: scanExisting() on an interval so files
+ *             are never permanently missed if fs.watch silently dies.
+ *   Layer 2 — 5 min periodic re-arm: close and re-open the fs.watch binding
+ *             so the inotify registration is never more than 5 min stale.
+ *   Layer 3 — health export: getHealth() returns watcher liveness, last-event
+ *             timestamp, and poll-interval presence for external monitoring.
  */
 function attachExternalTrigger(ctx) {
   var triggersDir = ctx.triggersDir;
@@ -47,6 +57,11 @@ function attachExternalTrigger(ctx) {
   // from the initial scan + watcher race.
   var dispatched = {};
 
+  // Hardening state
+  var pollInterval = null;
+  var rearmTimer = null;
+  var watcherLastEventMs = 0;
+
   // --- Directory setup ---
 
   function ensureDirs() {
@@ -231,12 +246,16 @@ function attachExternalTrigger(ctx) {
     }, 200);
   }
 
-  function startWatcher() {
-    ensureDirs();
-    pruneOldProcessed();
-    scanExisting(); // pick up files dropped while daemon was down
+  // --- Layer 2: periodic watcher re-arm ---
+
+  function armWatcher() {
+    if (watcher) {
+      try { watcher.close(); } catch (e) {}
+      watcher = null;
+    }
     try {
       watcher = fs.watch(triggersDir, function (eventType, filename) {
+        watcherLastEventMs = Date.now();
         if (filename && !filename.endsWith(".json")) return;
         onDirChange();
       });
@@ -244,18 +263,47 @@ function attachExternalTrigger(ctx) {
         console.error("[external-trigger] Watcher error:", e.message || e);
         stopWatcher();
       });
-      console.log("[external-trigger] Watching:", triggersDir);
     } catch (e) {
-      console.error("[external-trigger] Failed to start watcher:", e.message || e);
+      console.error("[external-trigger] Failed to arm watcher:", e.message || e);
     }
   }
 
+  function startWatcher() {
+    ensureDirs();
+    pruneOldProcessed();
+    scanExisting(); // pick up files dropped while daemon was down
+
+    armWatcher();
+    console.log("[external-trigger] Watching:", triggersDir);
+
+    // Layer 1: polling backstop — catches files if fs.watch silently dies
+    pollInterval = setInterval(function () {
+      scanExisting();
+    }, POLL_INTERVAL_MS);
+    pollInterval.unref();
+
+    // Layer 2: periodic re-arm — keeps inotify registration fresh
+    rearmTimer = setInterval(function () {
+      armWatcher();
+      console.log("[external-trigger] Watcher re-armed");
+    }, WATCHER_REARM_INTERVAL_MS);
+    rearmTimer.unref();
+  }
+
   function stopWatcher() {
     clearTimeout(debounce);
     if (watcher) {
       try { watcher.close(); } catch (e) {}
       watcher = null;
     }
+    if (pollInterval) {
+      clearInterval(pollInterval);
+      pollInterval = null;
+    }
+    if (rearmTimer) {
+      clearInterval(rearmTimer);
+      rearmTimer = null;
+    }
   }
 
   // --- Startup scan (daemon-down recovery) ---
@@ -289,8 +337,15 @@ function attachExternalTrigger(ctx) {
   return {
     startWatcher: startWatcher,
     stopWatcher: stopWatcher,
+    // Layer 3: health export for external monitoring
+    getHealth: function () {
+      return {
+        watcherAlive: !!watcher,
+        lastEventMs: watcherLastEventMs,
+        pollActive: !!pollInterval,
+      };
+    },
   };
 }
 
 module.exports = { attachExternalTrigger: attachExternalTrigger };
-