diff --git a/cron/scheduler.py b/cron/scheduler.py
index 61d5537d9..e7a22dfbe 100644
--- a/cron/scheduler.py
+++ b/cron/scheduler.py
@@ -972,6 +972,12 @@ def run_job(job: dict) -> tuple[bool, str, str, Optional[str]]:
                 f"— last activity: {_last_desc}"
             )
 
+        # Guard against non-dict returns from run_conversation under error conditions
+        if not isinstance(result, dict):
+            raise RuntimeError(
+                f"agent.run_conversation returned {type(result).__name__} instead of dict: {result!r}"
+            )
+
         final_response = result.get("final_response", "") or ""
         # Strip leaked placeholder text that upstream may inject on empty completions.
         if final_response.strip() == "(No response generated)":