diff --git a/gateway/run.py b/gateway/run.py
index 84a5c61acdb..cfbabf1a717 100644
--- a/gateway/run.py
+++ b/gateway/run.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ except ModuleNotFoundError:
     pass
 
 import asyncio
+import concurrent.futures
 import dataclasses
 import inspect
 import json
@@ -2641,6 +2642,8 @@ class GatewayRunner(GatewayAuthorizationMixin, GatewayKanbanWatchersMixin, Gatew
         self._restart_command_source: Optional[SessionSource] = None
         self._stop_task: Optional[asyncio.Task] = None
         self._restart_task: Optional[asyncio.Task] = None
+        self._executor_lock = threading.Lock()
+        self._executor: Optional[concurrent.futures.ThreadPoolExecutor] = None
         
         # Track running agents per session for interrupt support
         # Key: session_key, Value: AIAgent instance
@@ -7303,6 +7306,7 @@ class GatewayRunner(GatewayAuthorizationMixin, GatewayKanbanWatchersMixin, Gatew
                     _db.close()
                 except Exception as _e:
                     logger.debug("SessionDB close error: %s", _e)
+            GatewayRunner._shutdown_executor(self)
             logger.info(
                 "Shutdown phase: SessionDB close done at +%.2fs",
                 _phase_elapsed(),
@@ -13396,7 +13400,47 @@ class GatewayRunner(GatewayAuthorizationMixin, GatewayKanbanWatchersMixin, Gatew
         """Run blocking work in the thread pool while preserving session contextvars."""
         loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
         ctx = copy_context()
-        return await loop.run_in_executor(None, ctx.run, func, *args)
+        return await loop.run_in_executor(
+            self._get_executor(),
+            ctx.run,
+            func,
+            *args,
+        )
+
+    def _get_executor(self) -> concurrent.futures.ThreadPoolExecutor:
+        """Return the gateway-owned executor for blocking agent work."""
+        lock = getattr(self, "_executor_lock", None)
+        if lock is None:
+            lock = threading.Lock()
+            self._executor_lock = lock
+
+        with lock:
+            executor = getattr(self, "_executor", None)
+            if executor is None or getattr(executor, "_shutdown", False):
+                executor = concurrent.futures.ThreadPoolExecutor(
+                    max_workers=10,
+                    thread_name_prefix="hermes-gateway",
+                )
+                self._executor = executor
+            return executor
+
+    def _shutdown_executor(self) -> None:
+        """Stop the gateway-owned executor without touching the loop default."""
+        lock = getattr(self, "_executor_lock", None)
+        if lock is None:
+            return
+
+        with lock:
+            executor = getattr(self, "_executor", None)
+            self._executor = None
+
+        if executor is None:
+            return
+
+        try:
+            executor.shutdown(wait=False, cancel_futures=True)
+        except TypeError:
+            executor.shutdown(wait=False)
 
     def _decide_image_input_mode(self) -> str:
         """Resolve the image-input routing for the currently active model.
diff --git a/tests/gateway/test_session_env.py b/tests/gateway/test_session_env.py
index b0797467d45..a47653db988 100644
--- a/tests/gateway/test_session_env.py
+++ b/tests/gateway/test_session_env.py
@@ -317,6 +317,7 @@ async def test_run_in_executor_with_context_preserves_session_env(monkeypatch):
         )
     finally:
         runner._clear_session_env(tokens)
+        runner._shutdown_executor()
 
     assert result == {
         "platform": "telegram",
@@ -334,7 +335,10 @@ async def test_run_in_executor_with_context_forwards_args():
     def add(a, b):
         return a + b
 
-    result = await runner._run_in_executor_with_context(add, 3, 7)
+    try:
+        result = await runner._run_in_executor_with_context(add, 3, 7)
+    finally:
+        runner._shutdown_executor()
     assert result == 10
 
 
@@ -346,5 +350,45 @@ async def test_run_in_executor_with_context_propagates_exceptions():
     def blow_up():
         raise ValueError("boom")
 
-    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="boom"):
-        await runner._run_in_executor_with_context(blow_up)
+    try:
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="boom"):
+            await runner._run_in_executor_with_context(blow_up)
+    finally:
+        runner._shutdown_executor()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_run_in_executor_with_context_survives_default_executor_shutdown():
+    """Gateway agent work should not depend on asyncio's default executor."""
+    runner = object.__new__(GatewayRunner)
+    loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+
+    await loop.run_in_executor(None, lambda: None)
+    await loop.shutdown_default_executor()
+
+    try:
+        result = await runner._run_in_executor_with_context(lambda: "ok")
+    finally:
+        runner._shutdown_executor()
+
+    assert result == "ok"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_run_in_executor_with_context_recreates_shutdown_gateway_executor():
+    """A stopped gateway-owned executor should be replaced on the next use."""
+    runner = object.__new__(GatewayRunner)
+
+    try:
+        first = await runner._run_in_executor_with_context(lambda: "first")
+        first_executor = runner._executor
+        runner._shutdown_executor()
+
+        second = await runner._run_in_executor_with_context(lambda: "second")
+        second_executor = runner._executor
+    finally:
+        runner._shutdown_executor()
+
+    assert first == "first"
+    assert second == "second"
+    assert second_executor is not first_executor