diff --git a/server/valkey.ts b/server/valkey.ts
index 5532498..6fe7d66 100644
--- a/server/valkey.ts
+++ b/server/valkey.ts
@@ -6,8 +6,21 @@ const VALKEY_URL = Deno.env.get("VALKEY_URL") ||
 export const valkey = VALKEY_URL
   ? new Redis(VALKEY_URL, {
     enableOfflineQueue: false,
+    maxRetriesPerRequest: 1,
+    retryStrategy: (times) => (times > 3 ? null : Math.min(times * 100, 1000)),
   })
-  : new Redis({ lazyConnect: true, enableOfflineQueue: false });
+  : new Redis({
+    lazyConnect: true,
+    enableOfflineQueue: false,
+    maxRetriesPerRequest: 1,
+    retryStrategy: () => null,
+  });
+
+valkey.on("error", (err) => {
+  if (Deno.env.get("DEBUG_VALKEY")) {
+    console.warn("[Valkey] Connection warning:", err.message);
+  }
+});
 
 export async function pingValkey(): Promise<void> {
   if (!VALKEY_URL) return; // Skip in test
diff --git a/tasks/path.md b/tasks/path.md
index 1f6bf96..7d444c9 100644
--- a/tasks/path.md
+++ b/tasks/path.md
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ in an existing task file._
 2. Apply minimal, pure functional modifications.
 3. Ensure all downstream pipeline steps and context contracts remain intact.
 4. Run all quality gates (`deno fmt`, `deno task lint`, `deno task check`, `deno task test`).
-5. Upon successful completion and verification, update the task status according to `tasks/GUIDELINES.md`.
+5. Run ONLY unit tests (`deno task test` / `deno test --allow-all`). Do NOT execute `deno task start` or `deno task dev` (live database daemons are not running in sandbox containers).
+6. Upon successful completion and verification, update the task status according to `tasks/GUIDELINES.md`.
 ```
 
 ---