diff --git a/parent_watchdog.py b/parent_watchdog.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..870c65b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/parent_watchdog.py
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+"""Parent-liveness watchdog for stdio MCP servers.
+
+When an intermediate wrapper keeps stdin open after the client dies, the
+Python MCP stdio loop never sees EOF and the process leaks forever (swap
+thrash). This watchdog exits once os.getppid() changes from the original
+parent (POSIX reparenting).
+
+Soft stdin EOF is intentional: do NOT hard-exit on EOF alone. One-shot
+pipe clients must be able to finish in-flight handlers. Hard exit is
+reserved for parent-watchdog reparent (and OS signals installed by the
+host process).
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+import threading
+import time
+from collections.abc import Callable
+
+DEFAULT_PARENT_WATCHDOG_S = 30.0
+MIN_PARENT_WATCHDOG_S = 0.1
+
+
+def parse_watchdog_interval_s(raw: str | None) -> float:
+    if raw is None or raw.strip() == "":
+        return DEFAULT_PARENT_WATCHDOG_S
+    try:
+        value = float(raw)
+    except ValueError:
+        return DEFAULT_PARENT_WATCHDOG_S
+    if value <= 0:
+        return DEFAULT_PARENT_WATCHDOG_S
+    return max(value, MIN_PARENT_WATCHDOG_S)
+
+
+def start_parent_watchdog(
+    parent_pid: int,
+    interval_s: float,
+    on_dead: Callable[[], None],
+    *,
+    is_parent_gone: Callable[[int], bool] | None = None,
+) -> threading.Thread:
+    probe = is_parent_gone or (lambda pid: os.getppid() != pid)
+    fired = {"value": False}
+
+    def _loop() -> None:
+        while not fired["value"]:
+            if probe(parent_pid):
+                fired["value"] = True
+                on_dead()
+                return
+            time.sleep(interval_s)
+
+    thread = threading.Thread(target=_loop, name="mcp-parent-watchdog", daemon=True)
+    thread.start()
+    return thread
+
+
+def install_stdio_parent_watchdog(
+    env_name: str,
+    *,
+    parent_pid: int | None = None,
+) -> None:
+    # Prefer a pid captured before any await in main — getppid() is dynamic.
+    pinned = os.getppid() if parent_pid is None else parent_pid
+    interval = parse_watchdog_interval_s(os.environ.get(env_name))
+
+    def _exit() -> None:
+        os._exit(0)
+
+    start_parent_watchdog(pinned, interval, _exit)
diff --git a/profile_server.py b/profile_server.py
index b4841c8..eaa41d9 100644
--- a/profile_server.py
+++ b/profile_server.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
     Tool,
 )
 
+from parent_watchdog import install_stdio_parent_watchdog
 from profile_manager import (
     PageNotFoundError,
     ProfileManager,
@@ -953,6 +954,7 @@ async def main() -> None:
     """Run the profile writer MCP server."""
 
     logger.info("Starting Stream Deck Profile Writer MCP server")
+    install_stdio_parent_watchdog("STREAMDECK_PARENT_WATCHDOG_S")
     async with stdio_server() as (read_stream, write_stream):
         await server.run(read_stream, write_stream, server.create_initialization_options())
 
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 16291a2..4396698 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ Issues = "https://github.com/verygoodplugins/streamdeck-mcp/issues"
 name = "io.github.verygoodplugins/streamdeck-mcp"
 
 [tool.setuptools]
-py-modules = ["profile_manager", "profile_server", "server", "mdi_icons", "install_skill"]
+py-modules = ["profile_manager", "profile_server", "server", "mdi_icons", "install_skill", "parent_watchdog"]
 packages = ["streamdeck_assets", "streamdeck_plugin"]
 
 [tool.setuptools.package-data]
@@ -75,6 +75,9 @@ testpaths = ["tests"]
 [tool.ruff]
 line-length = 100
 target-version = "py311"
+# Skill docs contain intentional example formatting; ruff format rewrites fenced
+# Python snippets incorrectly (e.g. kwargs → tuples). Keep assets out of format/lint.
+extend-exclude = ["streamdeck_assets"]
 
 [tool.ruff.lint]
 select = ["E", "F", "I", "N", "W", "UP"]
diff --git a/server.py b/server.py
index 8ddfe85..bb98056 100644
--- a/server.py
+++ b/server.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 import asyncio
 import json
 import logging
+import os
 import re
 import shlex
 import subprocess
@@ -20,6 +21,8 @@
 from mcp.server.stdio import stdio_server
 from mcp.types import TextContent, Tool
 
+from parent_watchdog import install_stdio_parent_watchdog
+
 # Configure logging
 logging.basicConfig(
     level=logging.INFO,
@@ -1324,7 +1327,10 @@ async def call_tool(name: str, arguments: dict[str, Any]) -> list[TextContent]:
 
 async def main() -> None:
     """Run the MCP server."""
+    # Capture before any await — os.getppid() is dynamic.
+    parent_pid = os.getppid()
     logger.info("Starting Stream Deck MCP server")
+    install_stdio_parent_watchdog("STREAMDECK_PARENT_WATCHDOG_S", parent_pid=parent_pid)
     async with stdio_server() as (read_stream, write_stream):
         await server.run(read_stream, write_stream, server.create_initialization_options())
 
diff --git a/tests/test_parent_watchdog.py b/tests/test_parent_watchdog.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5316c75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_parent_watchdog.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+import time
+
+from parent_watchdog import (
+    DEFAULT_PARENT_WATCHDOG_S,
+    parse_watchdog_interval_s,
+    start_parent_watchdog,
+)
+
+
+def test_parse_defaults():
+    assert parse_watchdog_interval_s(None) == DEFAULT_PARENT_WATCHDOG_S
+    assert parse_watchdog_interval_s("") == DEFAULT_PARENT_WATCHDOG_S
+    assert parse_watchdog_interval_s("nope") == DEFAULT_PARENT_WATCHDOG_S
+    assert parse_watchdog_interval_s("0") == DEFAULT_PARENT_WATCHDOG_S
+    assert parse_watchdog_interval_s("-1") == DEFAULT_PARENT_WATCHDOG_S
+
+
+def test_parse_positive_floor():
+    assert parse_watchdog_interval_s("2.5") == 2.5
+    assert parse_watchdog_interval_s("0.01") == 0.1
+
+
+def test_watchdog_fires_once():
+    hits = []
+    start_parent_watchdog(1, 0.05, lambda: hits.append(1), is_parent_gone=lambda _pid: True)
+    time.sleep(0.2)
+    assert hits == [1]