diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 48fa239..cdcdfa2 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -38,3 +38,6 @@ strict = true
 testpaths = ["src"]
 python_files = ["test_*.py"]
 asyncio_mode = "auto"
+markers = [
+	"integration: marks integration tests that require running services",
+]
diff --git a/src/agents/orchestrator/agent.py b/src/agents/orchestrator/agent.py
index 6c48d0a..50512d3 100644
--- a/src/agents/orchestrator/agent.py
+++ b/src/agents/orchestrator/agent.py
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
 
 import asyncio
 import json
-from datetime import datetime
+import logging
+from datetime import UTC, datetime
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, AsyncIterator
 
@@ -18,6 +19,13 @@
 from .workflow_state import WorkflowState
 
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+def _utc_iso_timestamp() -> str:
+	return datetime.now(UTC).isoformat()
+
+
 def _load_system_prompt() -> str:
 	prompt_path = Path(__file__).parent / "prompts" / "system.md"
 	if not prompt_path.exists():
@@ -68,7 +76,7 @@ async def run(self, payload: dict[str, Any]) -> AgentResult:
 					"type": "agent_started",
 					"launch_id": launch_id,
 					"agent_id": agent_id,
-					"timestamp": datetime.utcnow().isoformat(),
+					"timestamp": _utc_iso_timestamp(),
 				},
 			)
 
@@ -98,7 +106,7 @@ async def run(self, payload: dict[str, Any]) -> AgentResult:
 						"launch_id": launch_id,
 						"agent_id": agent_id,
 						"error": state.failure_reason,
-						"timestamp": datetime.utcnow().isoformat(),
+						"timestamp": _utc_iso_timestamp(),
 					},
 				)
 				break
@@ -111,7 +119,7 @@ async def run(self, payload: dict[str, Any]) -> AgentResult:
 					"launch_id": launch_id,
 					"agent_id": agent_id,
 					"output": output,
-					"timestamp": datetime.utcnow().isoformat(),
+					"timestamp": _utc_iso_timestamp(),
 				},
 			)
 
@@ -134,7 +142,13 @@ async def run(self, payload: dict[str, Any]) -> AgentResult:
 					break
 
 				state.resume_from_hitl(edits if isinstance(edits, dict) else None)
-				await self._hitl_store.clear(launch_id)
+				try:
+					await self._hitl_store.clear(launch_id)
+				except Exception:
+					logger.warning(
+						"Failed to clear HITL state",
+						extra={"launch_id": launch_id},
+					)
 
 		if state.failed:
 			status = "failed"
@@ -172,7 +186,7 @@ async def _pause_for_hitl(
 			"checkpoint": checkpoint,
 			"agent_id": state.completed_agents[-1] if state.completed_agents else "unknown",
 			"output_preview": output,
-			"created_at": datetime.utcnow().isoformat(),
+			"created_at": _utc_iso_timestamp(),
 		}
 		await self._hitl_store.set_pending(state.launch_id, pending)
 		await self._publish_event(
@@ -198,7 +212,14 @@ async def _wait_for_hitl_resolution(
 		return None
 
 	async def _publish_event(self, launch_id: str, event: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
-		await self._session_store.publish(f"launch:{launch_id}:events", event)
+		# Event streaming should not block workflow completion if Redis is unavailable.
+		try:
+			await self._session_store.publish(f"launch:{launch_id}:events", event)
+		except Exception:
+			logger.warning(
+				"Failed to publish orchestrator event",
+				extra={"launch_id": launch_id, "event_type": event.get("type")},
+			)
 
 	async def stream(self, payload: dict[str, Any]) -> AsyncIterator[str]:
 		result = await self.run(payload)