diff --git a/run_agent.py b/run_agent.py
index 02803890a..793ddd675 100644
--- a/run_agent.py
+++ b/run_agent.py
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ from model_tools import (
     handle_function_call,
     check_toolset_requirements,
 )
-from tools.terminal_tool import cleanup_vm, get_active_env
+from tools.terminal_tool import cleanup_vm, get_active_env, is_persistent_env
 from tools.tool_result_storage import maybe_persist_tool_result, enforce_turn_budget
 from tools.interrupt import set_interrupt as _set_interrupt
 from tools.browser_tool import cleanup_browser
@@ -1695,9 +1695,25 @@ class AIAgent:
         return None
 
     def _cleanup_task_resources(self, task_id: str) -> None:
-        """Clean up VM and browser resources for a given task."""
+        """Clean up VM and browser resources for a given task.
+
+        Skips ``cleanup_vm`` when the active terminal environment is marked
+        persistent (``persistent_filesystem=True``) so that long-lived sandbox
+        containers survive between turns. The idle reaper in
+        ``terminal_tool._cleanup_inactive_envs`` still tears them down once
+        ``terminal.lifetime_seconds`` is exceeded. Non-persistent backends are
+        torn down per-turn as before to prevent resource leakage (the original
+        intent of this hook for the Morph backend, see commit fbd3a2fd).
+        """
         try:
-            cleanup_vm(task_id)
+            if is_persistent_env(task_id):
+                if self.verbose_logging:
+                    logging.debug(
+                        f"Skipping per-turn cleanup_vm for persistent env {task_id}; "
+                        f"idle reaper will handle it."
+                    )
+            else:
+                cleanup_vm(task_id)
         except Exception as e:
             if self.verbose_logging:
                 logging.warning(f"Failed to cleanup VM for task {task_id}: {e}")
diff --git a/tools/terminal_tool.py b/tools/terminal_tool.py
index 243127a29..183e89833 100644
--- a/tools/terminal_tool.py
+++ b/tools/terminal_tool.py
@@ -814,6 +814,23 @@ def get_active_env(task_id: str):
         return _active_environments.get(task_id)
 
 
+def is_persistent_env(task_id: str) -> bool:
+    """Return True if the active environment for task_id is configured for
+    cross-turn persistence (``persistent_filesystem=True``).
+
+    Used by the agent loop to skip per-turn teardown for backends whose whole
+    point is to survive between turns (docker with ``container_persistent``,
+    daytona, modal, etc.). Non-persistent backends (e.g. Morph) still get torn
+    down at end-of-turn to prevent leakage. The idle reaper
+    (``_cleanup_inactive_envs``) handles persistent envs once they exceed
+    ``terminal.lifetime_seconds``.
+    """
+    env = get_active_env(task_id)
+    if env is None:
+        return False
+    return bool(getattr(env, "_persistent", False))
+
+
 def get_active_environments_info() -> Dict[str, Any]:
     """Get information about currently active environments."""
     info = {