diff --git a/.changeset/backpressure-scale-up-freeze.md b/.changeset/backpressure-scale-up-freeze.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b69fad0f26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/backpressure-scale-up-freeze.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@trigger.dev/core": patch
+---
+
+Add optional `shouldPauseScaling` to the supervisor consumer pool scaling options to freeze scale-up while it returns true (scale-down stays allowed).
diff --git a/.server-changes/supervisor-dequeue-backpressure.md b/.server-changes/supervisor-dequeue-backpressure.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5d62a73c55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.server-changes/supervisor-dequeue-backpressure.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+area: supervisor
+type: feature
+---
+
+Add opt-in dequeue backpressure to the supervisor. When enabled, the supervisor reads a verdict from Redis and pauses dequeuing while the worker cluster is saturated, then resumes once capacity is available. Disabled by default - no behavior change for existing deployments.
diff --git a/apps/supervisor/package.json b/apps/supervisor/package.json
index 7456d42185..7a3537dbc0 100644
--- a/apps/supervisor/package.json
+++ b/apps/supervisor/package.json
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
     "@kubernetes/client-node": "^1.0.0",
     "@trigger.dev/core": "workspace:*",
     "dockerode": "^4.0.6",
+    "ioredis": "^5.3.2",
     "p-limit": "^6.2.0",
     "prom-client": "^15.1.0",
     "socket.io": "4.7.4",
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@
     "zod": "3.25.76"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
+    "@internal/testcontainers": "workspace:*",
     "@types/dockerode": "^3.3.33"
   }
 }
diff --git a/apps/supervisor/src/backpressure/backpressureMetrics.ts b/apps/supervisor/src/backpressure/backpressureMetrics.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ffe5762854
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/supervisor/src/backpressure/backpressureMetrics.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import { Counter, Gauge, type Registry } from "prom-client";
+
+/** Prometheus metrics for dequeue backpressure. */
+export class BackpressureMetrics {
+  /** 1 while backpressure is engaged (computed signal, set even in dry-run). */
+  readonly engaged: Gauge<string>;
+  /** 1 when running in dry-run (gates inert). */
+  readonly dryRun: Gauge<string>;
+  /** Dequeue attempts the gate skipped - or would have, in dry-run (labelled). */
+  readonly skipsTotal: Counter<string>;
+
+  constructor(opts: { register: Registry; prefix?: string }) {
+    const prefix = opts.prefix ?? "supervisor_backpressure";
+
+    this.engaged = new Gauge({
+      name: `${prefix}_engaged`,
+      help: "1 while dequeue backpressure is engaged (computed signal, regardless of dry-run)",
+      registers: [opts.register],
+    });
+
+    this.dryRun = new Gauge({
+      name: `${prefix}_dry_run`,
+      help: "1 when dequeue backpressure is in dry-run mode (gates inert)",
+      registers: [opts.register],
+    });
+
+    this.skipsTotal = new Counter({
+      name: `${prefix}_skipped_dequeues_total`,
+      help: "Dequeue attempts skipped by backpressure (or would be, in dry-run)",
+      labelNames: ["dry_run"],
+      registers: [opts.register],
+    });
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apps/supervisor/src/backpressure/backpressureMonitor.test.ts b/apps/supervisor/src/backpressure/backpressureMonitor.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7af28ffc9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/supervisor/src/backpressure/backpressureMonitor.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,353 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach, afterEach } from "vitest";
+import { Registry } from "prom-client";
+import { BackpressureMonitor, type BackpressureSignalSource } from "./backpressureMonitor.js";
+import { BackpressureMetrics } from "./backpressureMetrics.js";
+
+function countingSource(verdict: { engaged: boolean } | null): {
+  source: BackpressureSignalSource;
+  reads: () => number;
+} {
+  let reads = 0;
+  return {
+    source: {
+      read: async () => {
+        reads++;
+        return verdict;
+      },
+    },
+    reads: () => reads,
+  };
+}
+
+describe("BackpressureMonitor", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    vi.useRealTimers();
+  });
+
+  it("when disabled, never skips dequeue and never reads the signal source", () => {
+    // Even though the source would report "engaged", a disabled monitor must be
+    // a complete no-op: this is the backwards-compatibility guarantee.
+    const { source, reads } = countingSource({ engaged: true });
+    const monitor = new BackpressureMonitor({ enabled: false, source });
+
+    monitor.start();
+
+    expect(monitor.shouldSkipDequeue()).toBe(false);
+    expect(reads()).toBe(0);
+
+    monitor.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("when enabled and the source reports engaged, skips dequeue after a refresh", async () => {
+    const { source } = countingSource({ engaged: true });
+    const monitor = new BackpressureMonitor({ enabled: true, source, refreshIntervalMs: 1000 });
+
+    monitor.start();
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0); // flush the initial async read
+
+    expect(monitor.shouldSkipDequeue()).toBe(true);
+
+    monitor.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("when enabled and the source reports clear, does not skip dequeue", async () => {
+    const { source } = countingSource({ engaged: false });
+    const monitor = new BackpressureMonitor({ enabled: true, source, refreshIntervalMs: 1000 });
+
+    monitor.start();
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
+
+    expect(monitor.shouldSkipDequeue()).toBe(false);
+
+    monitor.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("fails open (stops skipping) when the source throws", async () => {
+    let call = 0;
+    const source: BackpressureSignalSource = {
+      read: async () => {
+        call++;
+        if (call === 1) {
+          return { engaged: true };
+        }
+        throw new Error("signal source unreachable");
+      },
+    };
+    const monitor = new BackpressureMonitor({ enabled: true, source, refreshIntervalMs: 1000 });
+
+    monitor.start();
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
+    expect(monitor.shouldSkipDequeue()).toBe(true); // engaged from the first read
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1000); // next refresh throws
+    expect(monitor.shouldSkipDequeue()).toBe(false); // fail-open: a dead source must not pin the brake
+
+    monitor.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("fails open when the source reports unknown (null)", async () => {
+    const { source } = countingSource(null);
+    const monitor = new BackpressureMonitor({ enabled: true, source, refreshIntervalMs: 1000 });
+
+    monitor.start();
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
+
+    expect(monitor.shouldSkipDequeue()).toBe(false);
+
+    monitor.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("fails open when the cached verdict goes stale (older than max age)", async () => {
+    // Source stops updating (e.g. hangs) after the first read; the verdict ages out.
+    const source: BackpressureSignalSource = {
+      read: async () => ({ engaged: true, ts: Date.now() }),
+    };
+    const monitor = new BackpressureMonitor({
+      enabled: true,
+      source,
+      refreshIntervalMs: 1_000_000, // effectively only the initial read fires
+      maxVerdictAgeMs: 15_000,
+    });
+
+    monitor.start();
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
+    expect(monitor.shouldSkipDequeue()).toBe(true);
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(15_001); // verdict now older than max age
+    expect(monitor.shouldSkipDequeue()).toBe(false);
+
+    monitor.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("does not read the source on the hot path (reads are driven by the refresh tick)", async () => {
+    const { source, reads } = countingSource({ engaged: true });
+    const monitor = new BackpressureMonitor({ enabled: true, source, refreshIntervalMs: 1000 });
+
+    monitor.start();
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
+    expect(reads()).toBe(1); // just the initial refresh
+
+    for (let i = 0; i < 1000; i++) {
+      monitor.shouldSkipDequeue();
+    }
+
+    expect(reads()).toBe(1); // hot-path calls performed zero I/O
+
+    monitor.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("does not start an overlapping refresh while one is in flight", async () => {
+    let reads = 0;
+    const source: BackpressureSignalSource = {
+      // Never resolves - simulates a hung read.
+      read: () => {
+        reads++;
+        return new Promise<{ engaged: boolean } | null>(() => {});
+      },
+    };
+    const monitor = new BackpressureMonitor({ enabled: true, source, refreshIntervalMs: 1000 });
+
+    monitor.start();
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(3000); // several intervals while the first read hangs
+
+    expect(reads).toBe(1); // in-flight guard prevents stacking
+
+    monitor.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("stops refreshing after stop()", async () => {
+    const { source, reads } = countingSource({ engaged: true });
+    const monitor = new BackpressureMonitor({ enabled: true, source, refreshIntervalMs: 1000 });
+
+    monitor.start();
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
+    const readsAtStop = reads();
+
+    monitor.stop();
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(5000);
+
+    expect(reads()).toBe(readsAtStop);
+  });
+
+  it("isEngaged reflects the hard engaged state (the signal for freezing scale-up)", async () => {
+    const { source } = countingSource({ engaged: true });
+    const monitor = new BackpressureMonitor({ enabled: true, source, refreshIntervalMs: 1000 });
+
+    monitor.start();
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
+
+    expect(monitor.isEngaged()).toBe(true);
+
+    monitor.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("isEngaged is false when clear and when stale", async () => {
+    const source: BackpressureSignalSource = {
+      read: async () => ({ engaged: true, ts: Date.now() }),
+    };
+    const monitor = new BackpressureMonitor({
+      enabled: true,
+      source,
+      refreshIntervalMs: 1_000_000,
+      maxVerdictAgeMs: 15_000,
+    });
+
+    monitor.start();
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
+    expect(monitor.isEngaged()).toBe(true);
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(15_001); // stale → fail-open
+    expect(monitor.isEngaged()).toBe(false);
+
+    monitor.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("ramps the dequeue gate after release instead of resuming instantly", async () => {
+    let engaged = true;
+    let rnd = 0.5;
+    const source: BackpressureSignalSource = { read: async () => ({ engaged }) };
+    const monitor = new BackpressureMonitor({
+      enabled: true,
+      source,
+      refreshIntervalMs: 1000,
+      rampMs: 10_000,
+      random: () => rnd,
+    });
+
+    monitor.start();
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
+    expect(monitor.shouldSkipDequeue()).toBe(true); // hard engaged
+
+    // Release: the next refresh observes the clear verdict and starts the ramp.
+    engaged = false;
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1000);
+    expect(monitor.isEngaged()).toBe(false);
+
+    // Just after release (progress ~0): skip probability ~1, so skip regardless.
+    rnd = 0.99;
+    expect(monitor.shouldSkipDequeue()).toBe(true);
+
+    // Halfway through the ramp (progress 0.5): skip probability 0.5.
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(5000);
+    rnd = 0.4;
+    expect(monitor.shouldSkipDequeue()).toBe(true); // 0.4 < 0.5 → skip
+    rnd = 0.6;
+    expect(monitor.shouldSkipDequeue()).toBe(false); // 0.6 ≥ 0.5 → allow
+
+    // Past the ramp window: never skip.
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(5000);
+    rnd = 0.0;
+    expect(monitor.shouldSkipDequeue()).toBe(false);
+
+    monitor.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("fails open on an engaged verdict with no timestamp when staleness is enforced", async () => {
+    // A verdict claiming engaged but carrying no ts can't be checked for freshness;
+    // when maxVerdictAgeMs is set we must not trust it (else a dead producer could
+    // pin the brake forever).
+    const { source } = countingSource({ engaged: true }); // no ts
+    const monitor = new BackpressureMonitor({
+      enabled: true,
+      source,
+      refreshIntervalMs: 1000,
+      maxVerdictAgeMs: 15_000,
+    });
+
+    monitor.start();
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
+
+    expect(monitor.computeEngaged()).toBe(false);
+    expect(monitor.shouldSkipDequeue()).toBe(false);
+
+    monitor.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("in dry-run, the gates are inert but computeEngaged still reflects the real signal", async () => {
+    const { source } = countingSource({ engaged: true });
+    const monitor = new BackpressureMonitor({
+      enabled: true,
+      source,
+      refreshIntervalMs: 1000,
+      dryRun: true,
+    });
+
+    monitor.start();
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
+
+    expect(monitor.computeEngaged()).toBe(true); // real signal, for observability/metrics
+    expect(monitor.isEngaged()).toBe(false); // inert: no scale-up freeze
+    expect(monitor.shouldSkipDequeue()).toBe(false); // inert: no dequeue skip
+
+    monitor.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("logs on verdict transitions", async () => {
+    let engaged = true;
+    const source: BackpressureSignalSource = { read: async () => ({ engaged }) };
+    const logs: Array<{ message: string; meta?: Record<string, unknown> }> = [];
+    const logger = {
+      info: (message: string, meta?: Record<string, unknown>) => logs.push({ message, meta }),
+    };
+    const monitor = new BackpressureMonitor({
+      enabled: true,
+      source,
+      refreshIntervalMs: 1000,
+      logger,
+    });
+
+    monitor.start();
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
+    expect(logs.some((l) => l.meta?.engaged === true)).toBe(true);
+
+    engaged = false;
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1000);
+    expect(logs.some((l) => l.meta?.engaged === false)).toBe(true);
+
+    monitor.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("records prometheus metrics", async () => {
+    const { source } = countingSource({ engaged: true });
+    const register = new Registry();
+    const metrics = new BackpressureMetrics({ register });
+    const monitor = new BackpressureMonitor({
+      enabled: true,
+      source,
+      refreshIntervalMs: 1000,
+      metrics,
+    });
+
+    monitor.start();
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
+
+    expect(await register.metrics()).toContain("supervisor_backpressure_engaged 1");
+
+    monitor.shouldSkipDequeue();
+    expect(await register.metrics()).toMatch(
+      /supervisor_backpressure_skipped_dequeues_total\{dry_run="false"\} [1-9]/
+    );
+
+    monitor.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("resumes instantly when no ramp is configured", async () => {
+    let engaged = true;
+    const source: BackpressureSignalSource = { read: async () => ({ engaged }) };
+    const monitor = new BackpressureMonitor({ enabled: true, source, refreshIntervalMs: 1000 });
+
+    monitor.start();
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
+    expect(monitor.shouldSkipDequeue()).toBe(true);
+
+    engaged = false;
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1000);
+    expect(monitor.shouldSkipDequeue()).toBe(false); // no ramp → instant resume
+
+    monitor.stop();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/apps/supervisor/src/backpressure/backpressureMonitor.ts b/apps/supervisor/src/backpressure/backpressureMonitor.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6b4170697e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/supervisor/src/backpressure/backpressureMonitor.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+import type { BackpressureMetrics } from "./backpressureMetrics.js";
+
+export interface BackpressureLogger {
+  info(message: string, meta?: Record<string, unknown>): void;
+}
+
+export type BackpressureVerdict = {
+  engaged: boolean;
+  /** Epoch ms the verdict was produced. Used for consumer-side staleness fail-open. */
+  ts?: number;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Source of the current backpressure verdict. `read()` returns `null` when the
+ * verdict is unknown (missing/unreadable) - the monitor treats unknown as
+ * "not engaged" (fail-open).
+ */
+export interface BackpressureSignalSource {
+  read(): Promise<BackpressureVerdict | null>;
+}
+
+export type BackpressureMonitorOptions = {
+  enabled: boolean;
+  source: BackpressureSignalSource;
+  refreshIntervalMs?: number;
+  /**
+   * If set, a cached verdict older than this is treated as unknown (fail-open).
+   * Guards against the source silently going stale (e.g. hanging reads).
+   */
+  maxVerdictAgeMs?: number;
+  /**
+   * If set, after backpressure releases the dequeue gate stays partially engaged
+   * for this long, skipping a linearly-decaying fraction of attempts so the
+   * aggregate dequeue rate ramps from ~0 to full instead of snapping to full and
+   * re-flooding a freshly-recovered cluster. 0/unset = instant resume.
+   */
+  rampMs?: number;
+  /** Injectable RNG for the resume ramp; defaults to Math.random. */
+  random?: () => number;
+  /**
+   * When true, the gates are inert (never skip dequeues, never freeze scale-up).
+   * computeEngaged() still reflects the real signal so it can be observed.
+   */
+  dryRun?: boolean;
+  logger?: BackpressureLogger;
+  metrics?: BackpressureMetrics;
+};
+
+const DEFAULT_REFRESH_INTERVAL_MS = 1000;
+
+export class BackpressureMonitor {
+  private verdict: BackpressureVerdict | null = null;
+  private timer?: ReturnType<typeof setInterval>;
+  private refreshInFlight = false;
+  private wasEngaged = false;
+  private releasedAt?: number;
+
+  constructor(private readonly opts: BackpressureMonitorOptions) {
+    this.opts.metrics?.dryRun.set(this.opts.dryRun ? 1 : 0);
+  }
+
+  start(): void {
+    if (!this.opts.enabled) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    void this.refreshTick();
+    this.timer = setInterval(
+      () => void this.refreshTick(),
+      this.opts.refreshIntervalMs ?? DEFAULT_REFRESH_INTERVAL_MS
+    );
+  }
+
+  /** Skip a tick if the previous refresh is still in flight, so slow/hung reads can't stack. */
+  private async refreshTick(): Promise<void> {
+    if (this.refreshInFlight) {
+      return;
+    }
+    this.refreshInFlight = true;
+    try {
+      await this.refresh();
+    } finally {
+      this.refreshInFlight = false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  stop(): void {
+    if (this.timer) {
+      clearInterval(this.timer);
+      this.timer = undefined;
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Raw hard backpressure state: true while the (fresh) verdict says engaged,
+   * ignoring dry-run. Used for observability/metrics so the real signal is
+   * visible even when the gates are inert.
+   */
+  computeEngaged(): boolean {
+    const verdict = this.verdict;
+    if (verdict?.engaged !== true) {
+      return false;
+    }
+
+    // When staleness enforcement is on, an engaged verdict must carry a fresh
+    // timestamp. A missing or stale ts can't be trusted (a dead producer could
+    // otherwise pin the brake forever), so fail open.
+    const maxAge = this.opts.maxVerdictAgeMs;
+    if (maxAge !== undefined) {
+      if (verdict.ts === undefined || Date.now() - verdict.ts > maxAge) {
+        return false;
+      }
+    }
+
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Effective hard state: the signal for freezing consumer-pool scale-up. Inert
+   * (false) in dry-run. Hot-path read, no I/O.
+   */
+  isEngaged(): boolean {
+    return this.opts.dryRun ? false : this.computeEngaged();
+  }
+
+  /** Hot-path read: synchronous, never performs I/O. Inert (false) in dry-run. */
+  shouldSkipDequeue(): boolean {
+    const wouldSkip = this.computeShouldSkip();
+    if (wouldSkip) {
+      this.opts.metrics?.skipsTotal.inc({ dry_run: this.opts.dryRun ? "true" : "false" });
+    }
+    return this.opts.dryRun ? false : wouldSkip;
+  }
+
+  private computeShouldSkip(): boolean {
+    if (this.computeEngaged()) {
+      return true;
+    }
+
+    // Post-release ramp: skip a linearly-decaying fraction of attempts so the
+    // aggregate dequeue rate climbs back to full over rampMs rather than snapping.
+    const rampMs = this.opts.rampMs;
+    if (rampMs && this.releasedAt !== undefined) {
+      const elapsed = Date.now() - this.releasedAt;
+      if (elapsed < rampMs) {
+        const skipProbability = 1 - elapsed / rampMs;
+        return (this.opts.random ?? Math.random)() < skipProbability;
+      }
+    }
+
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  private async refresh(): Promise<void> {
+    try {
+      this.verdict = await this.opts.source.read();
+    } catch {
+      // Fail-open: a dead/unreachable source must never pin the brake. Treat as
+      // unknown (no verdict) so dequeue resumes as if backpressure were off.
+      this.verdict = null;
+    }
+
+    // Track the engaged→released transition to anchor the resume ramp. Use the
+    // staleness-aware state so a stale verdict doesn't pin wasEngaged / the gauge.
+    const nowEngaged = this.computeEngaged();
+    this.opts.metrics?.engaged.set(nowEngaged ? 1 : 0);
+
+    if (nowEngaged !== this.wasEngaged) {
+      this.opts.logger?.info("backpressure verdict changed", {
+        engaged: nowEngaged,
+        dryRun: !!this.opts.dryRun,
+      });
+    }
+    if (this.wasEngaged && !nowEngaged) {
+      this.releasedAt = Date.now();
+    }
+    this.wasEngaged = nowEngaged;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apps/supervisor/src/backpressure/redisBackpressureSignalSource.test.ts b/apps/supervisor/src/backpressure/redisBackpressureSignalSource.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..77a7457b13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/supervisor/src/backpressure/redisBackpressureSignalSource.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+import { redisTest } from "@internal/testcontainers";
+import { Redis } from "ioredis";
+import { describe, expect } from "vitest";
+import { RedisBackpressureSignalSource } from "./redisBackpressureSignalSource.js";
+
+const KEY = "backpressure:test";
+
+describe("RedisBackpressureSignalSource", () => {
+  redisTest("returns null when the key is absent", async ({ redisOptions }) => {
+    const redis = new Redis(redisOptions);
+    try {
+      const source = new RedisBackpressureSignalSource(redis, KEY);
+      expect(await source.read()).toBeNull();
+    } finally {
+      await redis.quit();
+    }
+  });
+
+  redisTest("parses a valid engaged verdict", async ({ redisOptions }) => {
+    const redis = new Redis(redisOptions);
+    try {
+      await redis.set(KEY, JSON.stringify({ engaged: true, ts: 1_700_000_000_000 }));
+      const source = new RedisBackpressureSignalSource(redis, KEY);
+      expect(await source.read()).toEqual({ engaged: true, ts: 1_700_000_000_000 });
+    } finally {
+      await redis.quit();
+    }
+  });
+
+  redisTest("parses a clear verdict", async ({ redisOptions }) => {
+    const redis = new Redis(redisOptions);
+    try {
+      await redis.set(KEY, JSON.stringify({ engaged: false }));
+      const source = new RedisBackpressureSignalSource(redis, KEY);
+      expect(await source.read()).toEqual({ engaged: false });
+    } finally {
+      await redis.quit();
+    }
+  });
+
+  redisTest("returns null for malformed JSON (fail-open)", async ({ redisOptions }) => {
+    const redis = new Redis(redisOptions);
+    try {
+      await redis.set(KEY, "not json {");
+      const source = new RedisBackpressureSignalSource(redis, KEY);
+      expect(await source.read()).toBeNull();
+    } finally {
+      await redis.quit();
+    }
+  });
+
+  redisTest("returns null for valid JSON of the wrong shape (fail-open)", async ({ redisOptions }) => {
+    const redis = new Redis(redisOptions);
+    try {
+      await redis.set(KEY, JSON.stringify({ foo: "bar" }));
+      const source = new RedisBackpressureSignalSource(redis, KEY);
+      expect(await source.read()).toBeNull();
+    } finally {
+      await redis.quit();
+    }
+  });
+});
diff --git a/apps/supervisor/src/backpressure/redisBackpressureSignalSource.ts b/apps/supervisor/src/backpressure/redisBackpressureSignalSource.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4f8a54c624
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/supervisor/src/backpressure/redisBackpressureSignalSource.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import type { Redis } from "ioredis";
+import { z } from "zod";
+import type { BackpressureSignalSource, BackpressureVerdict } from "./backpressureMonitor.js";
+
+const VerdictSchema = z.object({
+  engaged: z.boolean(),
+  ts: z.number().optional(),
+});
+
+/** Reads the backpressure verdict from a Redis key written by the cluster-side aggregator. */
+export class RedisBackpressureSignalSource implements BackpressureSignalSource {
+  constructor(
+    private readonly redis: Redis,
+    private readonly key: string
+  ) {}
+
+  async read(): Promise<BackpressureVerdict | null> {
+    const raw = await this.redis.get(this.key);
+    if (raw === null) {
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    // A malformed or wrong-shaped value is treated as unknown (null) so the
+    // monitor fails open rather than acting on garbage.
+    let json: unknown;
+    try {
+      json = JSON.parse(raw);
+    } catch {
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    const parsed = VerdictSchema.safeParse(json);
+    return parsed.success ? parsed.data : null;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apps/supervisor/src/env.ts b/apps/supervisor/src/env.ts
index f9f7e2d086..f3b0d4c023 100644
--- a/apps/supervisor/src/env.ts
+++ b/apps/supervisor/src/env.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,29 @@ const Env = z
     TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_SCALING_BATCH_WINDOW_MS: z.coerce.number().int().positive().default(1000), // Batch window for metrics processing (ms)
     TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_SCALING_DAMPING_FACTOR: z.coerce.number().min(0).max(1).default(0.7), // Smooths consumer count changes after EWMA (0=no scaling, 1=immediate)
 
+    // Dequeue backpressure - off by default. When enabled, the supervisor reads a
+    // verdict from Redis (written by the cluster-side aggregator) and pauses dequeues
+    // while the worker cluster can't schedule pods. Disabled = total no-op: no Redis
+    // client is created, no reads happen, and the dequeue loop is unaffected.
+    TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_ENABLED: BoolEnv.default(false),
+    // Safety default: even when enabled, backpressure only logs what it would do.
+    // Set to false to actually skip dequeues / freeze scale-up.
+    TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_DRY_RUN: BoolEnv.default(true),
+    TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_REDIS_KEY: z.string().default("engine:dequeue:backpressure"),
+    TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_REFRESH_MS: z.coerce.number().int().positive().default(1000),
+    TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_RAMP_MS: z.coerce.number().int().min(0).default(30_000), // Resume ramp window after release; 0 = instant resume
+
+    TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_MAX_VERDICT_AGE_MS: z.coerce
+      .number()
+      .int()
+      .positive()
+      .default(15_000), // Stale verdict → fail-open (treat as not engaged)
+    TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_REDIS_HOST: z.string().optional(),
+    TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_REDIS_PORT: z.coerce.number().int().optional(),
+    TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_REDIS_USERNAME: z.string().optional(),
+    TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_REDIS_PASSWORD: z.string().optional(),
+    TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_REDIS_TLS_DISABLED: BoolEnv.default(false),
+
     // Optional services
     TRIGGER_WARM_START_URL: z.string().optional(),
     TRIGGER_CHECKPOINT_URL: z.string().optional(),
@@ -285,6 +308,14 @@ const Env = z
         path: ["TRIGGER_WORKLOAD_API_DOMAIN"],
       });
     }
+    if (data.TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_ENABLED && !data.TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_REDIS_HOST) {
+      ctx.addIssue({
+        code: z.ZodIssueCode.custom,
+        message:
+          "TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_REDIS_HOST is required when TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_ENABLED is true",
+        path: ["TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_REDIS_HOST"],
+      });
+    }
   })
   .transform((data) => ({
     ...data,
diff --git a/apps/supervisor/src/index.ts b/apps/supervisor/src/index.ts
index 440459a416..aa9255ef26 100644
--- a/apps/supervisor/src/index.ts
+++ b/apps/supervisor/src/index.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,10 @@ import { FailedPodHandler } from "./services/failedPodHandler.js";
 import { getWorkerToken } from "./workerToken.js";
 import { OtlpTraceService } from "./services/otlpTraceService.js";
 import { extractTraceparent, getRestoreRunnerId } from "./util.js";
+import { Redis } from "ioredis";
+import { BackpressureMonitor } from "./backpressure/backpressureMonitor.js";
+import { RedisBackpressureSignalSource } from "./backpressure/redisBackpressureSignalSource.js";
+import { BackpressureMetrics } from "./backpressure/backpressureMetrics.js";
 import {
   fromContext,
   recordPhaseSince,
@@ -54,6 +58,8 @@ class ManagedSupervisor {
   private readonly podCleaner?: PodCleaner;
   private readonly failedPodHandler?: FailedPodHandler;
   private readonly tracing?: OtlpTraceService;
+  private readonly backpressureMonitor?: BackpressureMonitor;
+  private readonly backpressureRedis?: Redis;
 
   private readonly isKubernetes = isKubernetesEnvironment(env.KUBERNETES_FORCE_ENABLED);
   private readonly warmStartUrl = env.TRIGGER_WARM_START_URL;
@@ -66,10 +72,14 @@ class ManagedSupervisor {
   private readonly wideEventsNoisyRoutes = env.TRIGGER_WIDE_EVENTS_NOISY_ROUTES;
 
   constructor() {
+    // Strip secret-like env vars before debug-logging the rest. Add any new
+    // secret env var here so it never lands in the DEBUG "Starting up" log.
     const {
       TRIGGER_WORKER_TOKEN,
       MANAGED_WORKER_SECRET,
       COMPUTE_GATEWAY_AUTH_TOKEN,
+      DOCKER_REGISTRY_PASSWORD,
+      TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_REDIS_PASSWORD,
       ...envWithoutSecrets
     } = env;
 
@@ -181,6 +191,42 @@ class ManagedSupervisor {
       );
     }
 
+    if (env.TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_ENABLED) {
+      this.backpressureRedis = new Redis({
+        host: env.TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_REDIS_HOST,
+        port: env.TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_REDIS_PORT,
+        username: env.TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_REDIS_USERNAME,
+        password: env.TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_REDIS_PASSWORD,
+        ...(env.TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_REDIS_TLS_DISABLED ? {} : { tls: {} }),
+        maxRetriesPerRequest: null,
+      });
+      this.backpressureRedis.on("error", (error) =>
+        this.logger.error("Backpressure redis error", { error: error.message })
+      );
+
+      this.backpressureMonitor = new BackpressureMonitor({
+        enabled: true,
+        source: new RedisBackpressureSignalSource(
+          this.backpressureRedis,
+          env.TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_REDIS_KEY
+        ),
+        refreshIntervalMs: env.TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_REFRESH_MS,
+        maxVerdictAgeMs: env.TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_MAX_VERDICT_AGE_MS,
+        rampMs: env.TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_RAMP_MS,
+        dryRun: env.TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_DRY_RUN,
+        logger: this.logger,
+        metrics: new BackpressureMetrics({ register }),
+      });
+
+      this.logger.log("🛑 Dequeue backpressure enabled", {
+        key: env.TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_REDIS_KEY,
+        refreshIntervalMs: env.TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_REFRESH_MS,
+        maxVerdictAgeMs: env.TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_MAX_VERDICT_AGE_MS,
+        rampMs: env.TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_RAMP_MS,
+        dryRun: env.TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_BACKPRESSURE_DRY_RUN,
+      });
+    }
+
     this.workerSession = new SupervisorSession({
       workerToken: getWorkerToken(),
       apiUrl: env.TRIGGER_API_URL,
@@ -202,18 +248,20 @@ class ManagedSupervisor {
         ewmaAlpha: env.TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_SCALING_EWMA_ALPHA,
         batchWindowMs: env.TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_SCALING_BATCH_WINDOW_MS,
         dampingFactor: env.TRIGGER_DEQUEUE_SCALING_DAMPING_FACTOR,
+        // Freeze scale-up while backpressure is hard-engaged (not during the resume
+        // ramp). Undefined when backpressure is disabled → no effect on scaling.
+        shouldPauseScaling: () => this.backpressureMonitor?.isEngaged() ?? false,
       },
       runNotificationsEnabled: env.TRIGGER_WORKLOAD_API_ENABLED,
       heartbeatIntervalSeconds: env.TRIGGER_WORKER_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_SECONDS,
       sendRunDebugLogs: env.SEND_RUN_DEBUG_LOGS,
       preDequeue: async () => {
-        if (!env.RESOURCE_MONITOR_ENABLED) {
-          return {};
-        }
+        // Synchronous, hot-path-safe cached read; undefined when backpressure is disabled.
+        const skipForBackpressure = this.backpressureMonitor?.shouldSkipDequeue() ?? false;
 
-        if (this.isKubernetes) {
-          // Not used in k8s for now
-          return {};
+        if (!env.RESOURCE_MONITOR_ENABLED || this.isKubernetes) {
+          // Resource monitor is not used in k8s; backpressure is the only gate there.
+          return { skipDequeue: skipForBackpressure };
         }
 
         const resources = await this.resourceMonitor.getNodeResources();
@@ -223,7 +271,10 @@ class ManagedSupervisor {
             cpu: resources.cpuAvailable,
             memory: resources.memoryAvailable,
           },
-          skipDequeue: resources.cpuAvailable < 0.25 || resources.memoryAvailable < 0.25,
+          skipDequeue:
+            skipForBackpressure ||
+            resources.cpuAvailable < 0.25 ||
+            resources.memoryAvailable < 0.25,
         };
       },
       preSkip: async () => {
@@ -553,6 +604,7 @@ class ManagedSupervisor {
     this.logger.log("Starting up");
 
     // Optional services
+    this.backpressureMonitor?.start();
     await this.podCleaner?.start();
     await this.failedPodHandler?.start();
     await this.metricsServer?.start();
@@ -577,6 +629,8 @@ class ManagedSupervisor {
     await this.workerSession.stop();
 
     // Optional services
+    this.backpressureMonitor?.stop();
+    await this.backpressureRedis?.quit();
     await this.podCleaner?.stop();
     await this.failedPodHandler?.stop();
     await this.metricsServer?.stop();
diff --git a/packages/core/src/v3/runEngineWorker/supervisor/consumerPool.test.ts b/packages/core/src/v3/runEngineWorker/supervisor/consumerPool.test.ts
index 6093790b01..d6627b3004 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/v3/runEngineWorker/supervisor/consumerPool.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/v3/runEngineWorker/supervisor/consumerPool.test.ts
@@ -718,4 +718,65 @@ describe("RunQueueConsumerPool", () => {
       expect(pool.size).toBe(1);
     });
   });
+
+  describe("Backpressure scale-up freeze", () => {
+    it("freezes scale-up while shouldPauseScaling returns true, then resumes", async () => {
+      let paused = true;
+      pool = new RunQueueConsumerPool({
+        ...defaultOptions,
+        scaling: {
+          strategy: "smooth",
+          minConsumerCount: 1,
+          maxConsumerCount: 10,
+          scaleUpCooldownMs: 0,
+          disableJitter: true,
+          shouldPauseScaling: () => paused,
+        },
+      });
+      await pool.start();
+      expect(pool.size).toBe(1);
+
+      // A high queue would normally scale up, but backpressure freezes it.
+      pool.updateQueueLength(10);
+      advanceTimeAndProcessMetrics(1100);
+      expect(pool.size).toBe(1);
+
+      // Once backpressure releases, scaling resumes.
+      paused = false;
+      pool.updateQueueLength(10);
+      advanceTimeAndProcessMetrics(1100);
+      expect(pool.size).toBeGreaterThan(1);
+    });
+
+    it("still allows scale-down while paused", async () => {
+      let paused = false;
+      pool = new RunQueueConsumerPool({
+        ...defaultOptions,
+        scaling: {
+          strategy: "smooth",
+          minConsumerCount: 1,
+          maxConsumerCount: 10,
+          scaleUpCooldownMs: 0,
+          scaleDownCooldownMs: 0,
+          disableJitter: true,
+          shouldPauseScaling: () => paused,
+        },
+      });
+      await pool.start();
+
+      pool.updateQueueLength(10);
+      advanceTimeAndProcessMetrics(1100);
+      const scaledUp = pool.size;
+      expect(scaledUp).toBeGreaterThan(1);
+
+      // Pausing must not block shrinking - we want to drain down, just not grow.
+      // Loop to let the EWMA-smoothed queue length fall (one batch isn't enough).
+      paused = true;
+      for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
+        pool.updateQueueLength(0);
+        advanceTimeAndProcessMetrics(1100);
+      }
+      expect(pool.size).toBeLessThan(scaledUp);
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/core/src/v3/runEngineWorker/supervisor/consumerPool.ts b/packages/core/src/v3/runEngineWorker/supervisor/consumerPool.ts
index d72cef75c7..5c73a9819a 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/v3/runEngineWorker/supervisor/consumerPool.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/v3/runEngineWorker/supervisor/consumerPool.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,12 @@ export type ScalingOptions = {
   batchWindowMs?: number;
   disableJitter?: boolean;
   dampingFactor?: number;
+  /**
+   * When this returns true, scale-up is frozen (scale-down still allowed). Used to
+   * stop the pool from adding consumers to drain a queue that backpressure is
+   * deliberately holding. Synchronous and hot-path-safe.
+   */
+  shouldPauseScaling?: () => boolean;
 };
 
 export type ConsumerPoolOptions = {
@@ -49,6 +55,7 @@ export class RunQueueConsumerPool {
   private readonly maxConsumerCount: number;
   private readonly scalingStrategy: ScalingStrategy;
   private readonly disableJitter: boolean;
+  private readonly shouldPauseScaling?: () => boolean;
 
   private consumers: Map<string, QueueConsumer> = new Map();
   private readonly consumerFactory: QueueConsumerFactory;
@@ -79,6 +86,7 @@ export class RunQueueConsumerPool {
     this.scaleUpCooldownMs = opts.scaling.scaleUpCooldownMs ?? 10000; // 10 seconds default
     this.scaleDownCooldownMs = opts.scaling.scaleDownCooldownMs ?? 60000; // 60 seconds default
     this.disableJitter = opts.scaling.disableJitter ?? false;
+    this.shouldPauseScaling = opts.scaling.shouldPauseScaling;
 
     // Configure EWMA parameters from options
     this.ewmaAlpha = opts.scaling.ewmaAlpha ?? 0.3;
@@ -259,6 +267,16 @@ export class RunQueueConsumerPool {
 
     // Check cooldown periods with jitter
     if (targetCount > this.consumers.size) {
+      // Freeze scale-up while backpressure is engaged - don't add consumers to
+      // drain a queue we're deliberately holding. Scale-down stays allowed.
+      if (this.shouldPauseScaling?.()) {
+        this.logger.debug("Scale up frozen by backpressure", {
+          currentCount: this.consumers.size,
+          targetCount,
+        });
+        return;
+      }
+
       // Scale up
       const effectiveCooldown = this.scaleUpCooldownMs + jitterMs;
       if (timeSinceLastScale < effectiveCooldown) {
diff --git a/pnpm-lock.yaml b/pnpm-lock.yaml
index 1efd8dea94..ce093c8ffc 100644
--- a/pnpm-lock.yaml
+++ b/pnpm-lock.yaml
@@ -224,6 +224,9 @@ importers:
       dockerode:
         specifier: ^4.0.6
         version: 4.0.6
+      ioredis:
+        specifier: ^5.3.2
+        version: 5.3.2
       p-limit:
         specifier: ^6.2.0
         version: 6.2.0
@@ -240,6 +243,9 @@ importers:
         specifier: 3.25.76
         version: 3.25.76
     devDependencies:
+      '@internal/testcontainers':
+        specifier: workspace:*
+        version: link:../../internal-packages/testcontainers
       '@types/dockerode':
         specifier: ^3.3.33
         version: 3.3.35