diff --git a/macfleet/compute/dispatch.py b/macfleet/compute/dispatch.py
index d941cca..c01e2a5 100644
--- a/macfleet/compute/dispatch.py
+++ b/macfleet/compute/dispatch.py
@@ -125,6 +125,10 @@ async def submit(
             raise RuntimeError("TaskDispatcher must be started before submitting tasks")
 
         spec = TaskSpec.from_call(fn, args, kwargs, timeout=timeout)
+        try:
+            payload = spec.pack()
+        except (TypeError, ValueError) as e:
+            raise ValueError(f"TaskSpec could not be serialized: {e}") from e
         future = TaskFuture(task_id=spec.task_id)
 
         worker_id = self._pick_live_worker()
@@ -141,7 +145,7 @@ async def submit(
         self._pending[spec.task_id] = future
         self._task_to_worker[spec.task_id] = worker_id
         try:
-            await self._transport.send(worker_id, spec.pack(), msg_type=MessageType.TASK)
+            await self._transport.send(worker_id, payload, msg_type=MessageType.TASK)
         except (ConnectionError, OSError) as e:
             self._pending.pop(spec.task_id, None)
             self._task_to_worker.pop(spec.task_id, None)
diff --git a/macfleet/compute/worker.py b/macfleet/compute/worker.py
index d8f0f14..a938614 100644
--- a/macfleet/compute/worker.py
+++ b/macfleet/compute/worker.py
@@ -199,10 +199,30 @@ async def _execute_and_reply(self, spec: TaskSpec) -> None:
             )
             result = TaskResult.failure(spec.task_id, e)
 
+        try:
+            payload = result.pack()
+        except (TypeError, ValueError) as e:
+            logger.warning(
+                "Task %s produced an unserializable result: %s",
+                spec.task_id[:8], e,
+            )
+            audit_event(
+                "task.result_serialization_failed",
+                task_name=spec.task_name,
+                coordinator=self._coordinator,
+                error_type=type(e).__name__,
+            )
+            result = TaskResult(
+                task_id=spec.task_id,
+                ok=False,
+                error=f"Task result could not be serialized: {e}",
+            )
+            payload = result.pack()
+
         try:
             await self._transport.send(
                 self._coordinator,
-                result.pack(),
+                payload,
                 msg_type=MessageType.RESULT,
             )
         except (ConnectionError, OSError) as e:
diff --git a/tests/test_compute/test_dispatch.py b/tests/test_compute/test_dispatch.py
index 8d36b46..c188249 100644
--- a/tests/test_compute/test_dispatch.py
+++ b/tests/test_compute/test_dispatch.py
@@ -61,6 +61,11 @@ def slow_identity(x: int, delay: float = 0.3) -> int:
     return x
 
 
+@task
+def returns_unserializable_object():
+    return object()
+
+
 async def _setup_pair() -> tuple[PeerTransport, PeerTransport, int]:
     """Create a connected coordinator-worker transport pair over loopback."""
     coordinator = PeerTransport(local_id="coordinator", config=CONFIG)
@@ -382,6 +387,34 @@ async def test_worker_stop_returns_after_timed_out_task(self):
         finally:
             await _teardown(coordinator, worker)
 
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_unserializable_worker_result_returns_remote_error(self):
+        """Worker return values that cannot cross msgpack fail the task, not the listener."""
+        coordinator, worker, _ = await _setup_pair()
+        try:
+            dispatcher = TaskDispatcher(coordinator, ["worker-0"])
+            tw = TaskWorker(worker, "coordinator", max_workers=1)
+
+            await dispatcher.start()
+            await tw.start()
+
+            future = await dispatcher.submit(returns_unserializable_object, timeout=5.0)
+            with pytest.raises(RemoteTaskError) as exc_info:
+                await future.result(timeout=5.0)
+
+            assert "Task result could not be serialized" in exc_info.value.remote_traceback
+            assert dispatcher.pending_count == 0
+            assert tw._listener_task is not None
+            assert not tw._listener_task.done()
+
+            healthy = await dispatcher.submit(times_two, 21, timeout=5.0)
+            assert await healthy.result(timeout=5.0) == 42
+
+            await tw.stop()
+            await dispatcher.stop()
+        finally:
+            await _teardown(coordinator, worker)
+
 
 class TestDispatcherEdgeCases:
     def test_no_workers_raises(self):
@@ -408,6 +441,19 @@ async def run():
 
         asyncio.run(run())
 
+    def test_unserializable_task_args_do_not_leak_pending_future(self):
+        transport = PeerTransport(local_id="solo", config=CONFIG)
+        dispatcher = TaskDispatcher(transport, ["worker-0"])
+
+        async def run():
+            await dispatcher.start()
+            with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="TaskSpec could not be serialized"):
+                await dispatcher.submit(times_two, object(), timeout=1.0)
+            assert dispatcher.pending_count == 0
+            await dispatcher.stop()
+
+        asyncio.run(run())
+
     def test_dispatcher_cannot_start_twice_and_can_restart_after_stop(self):
         transport = PeerTransport(local_id="solo", config=CONFIG)
         dispatcher = TaskDispatcher(transport, ["worker-0"])