diff --git a/src/agent/api/mod.rs b/src/agent/api/mod.rs
index bde1704..66a8811 100644
--- a/src/agent/api/mod.rs
+++ b/src/agent/api/mod.rs
@@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ pub async fn collect_stream(
     rx: &mut mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<StreamEvent>,
     ui_tx: &UiSender,
     target: StreamTarget,
-    agent: &std::sync::Arc<tokio::sync::Mutex<super::Agent>>,
+    agent: &std::sync::Arc<std::sync::Mutex<super::Agent>>,
     active_tools: &crate::user::ui_channel::SharedActiveTools,
 ) -> StreamResult {
     let mut content = String::new();
diff --git a/src/agent/mod.rs b/src/agent/mod.rs
index 533190c..7f0bdd0 100644
--- a/src/agent/mod.rs
+++ b/src/agent/mod.rs
@@ -232,14 +232,14 @@ impl Agent {
     /// Takes Arc<Mutex<Agent>> and manages locking internally so the
     /// lock is never held across I/O (API streaming, tool dispatch).
     pub async fn turn(
-        agent: Arc<tokio::sync::Mutex<Agent>>,
+        agent: Arc<std::sync::Mutex<Agent>>,
         user_input: &str,
         ui_tx: &UiSender,
         target: StreamTarget,
     ) -> Result<TurnResult> {
         // --- Pre-loop setup (lock 1): agent cycle, memories, user input ---
         let active_tools = {
-            let mut me = agent.lock().await;
+            let mut me = agent.lock().unwrap();
 
             let cycle = me.run_agent_cycle();
             for key in &cycle.surfaced_keys {
@@ -285,9 +285,10 @@ impl Agent {
             me.push_message(Message::user(user_input));
             let _ = ui_tx.send(UiMessage::AgentUpdate(me.agent_cycles.snapshots()));
 
-            me.active_tools.clone()
+            let tools = me.active_tools.clone();
+            drop(me);
+            tools
         };
-        // --- Lock released ---
 
         let mut overflow_retries: u32 = 0;
         let mut empty_retries: u32 = 0;
@@ -298,7 +299,7 @@ impl Agent {
 
             // --- Lock 2: assemble messages, start stream ---
             let (mut rx, _stream_guard) = {
-                let me = agent.lock().await;
+                let me = agent.lock().unwrap();
                 let api_messages = me.assemble_api_messages();
                 let sampling = api::SamplingParams {
                     temperature: me.temperature,
@@ -328,7 +329,7 @@ impl Agent {
 
             // --- Lock 3: process results ---
             {
-                let mut me = agent.lock().await;
+                let mut me = agent.lock().unwrap();
 
                 // Handle stream errors with retry logic
                 if let Some(e) = stream_error {
@@ -433,7 +434,7 @@ impl Agent {
                         }
                     }
                     // Reacquire to apply results
-                    let mut me = agent.lock().await;
+                    let mut me = agent.lock().unwrap();
                     for (call, output) in results {
                         me.apply_tool_result(&call, output, ui_tx, &mut ds);
                     }
@@ -482,7 +483,7 @@ impl Agent {
     /// Dispatch a tool call without holding the agent lock across I/O.
     /// Used by `turn()` which manages its own locking.
     async fn dispatch_tool_call_unlocked(
-        agent: &Arc<tokio::sync::Mutex<Agent>>,
+        agent: &Arc<std::sync::Mutex<Agent>>,
         active_tools: &crate::user::ui_channel::SharedActiveTools,
         call: &ToolCall,
         ui_tx: &UiSender,
@@ -493,7 +494,7 @@ impl Agent {
             Err(e) => {
                 let err = format!("Error: malformed tool call arguments: {e}");
                 let _ = ui_tx.send(UiMessage::Activity(format!("rejected: {} (bad args)", call.function.name)));
-                let mut me = agent.lock().await;
+                let mut me = agent.lock().unwrap();
                 me.apply_tool_result(call, err, ui_tx, ds);
                 return;
             }
@@ -531,7 +532,7 @@ impl Agent {
         };
         if let Ok((call, output)) = entry.handle.await {
             // Brief lock to apply result
-            let mut me = agent.lock().await;
+            let mut me = agent.lock().unwrap();
             me.apply_tool_result(&call, output, ui_tx, ds);
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/agent/tools/control.rs b/src/agent/tools/control.rs
index daa5ef5..843e981 100644
--- a/src/agent/tools/control.rs
+++ b/src/agent/tools/control.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ pub(super) fn tools() -> [super::Tool; 3] {
                        .ok_or_else(|| anyhow::anyhow!("'model' parameter is required"))?;
                    if model.is_empty() { anyhow::bail!("'model' parameter cannot be empty"); }
                    if let Some(agent) = agent {
-                       let mut a = agent.lock().await;
+                       let mut a = agent.lock().unwrap();
                        a.pending_model_switch = Some(model.to_string());
                    }
                    Ok(format!("Switching to model '{}' after this turn.", model))
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ pub(super) fn tools() -> [super::Tool; 3] {
                parameters_json: r#"{"type":"object","properties":{}}"#,
                handler: |agent, _v| Box::pin(async move {
                    if let Some(agent) = agent {
-                       let mut a = agent.lock().await;
+                       let mut a = agent.lock().unwrap();
                        a.pending_yield = true;
                        a.pending_dmn_pause = true;
                    }
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ pub(super) fn tools() -> [super::Tool; 3] {
                handler: |agent, v| Box::pin(async move {
                    let msg = v.get("message").and_then(|v| v.as_str()).unwrap_or("Waiting for input.");
                    if let Some(agent) = agent {
-                       let mut a = agent.lock().await;
+                       let mut a = agent.lock().unwrap();
                        a.pending_yield = true;
                    }
                    Ok(format!("Yielding. {}", msg))
diff --git a/src/agent/tools/mod.rs b/src/agent/tools/mod.rs
index 95ef89f..8e42353 100644
--- a/src/agent/tools/mod.rs
+++ b/src/agent/tools/mod.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ fn default_timeout() -> u64 { 120 }
 /// Async tool handler function.
 /// Agent is None when called from contexts without an agent (MCP server, subconscious).
 pub type ToolHandler = fn(
-    Option<std::sync::Arc<tokio::sync::Mutex<super::Agent>>>,
+    Option<std::sync::Arc<std::sync::Mutex<super::Agent>>>,
     serde_json::Value,
 ) -> Pin<Box<dyn Future<Output = anyhow::Result<String>> + Send>>;
 
@@ -94,11 +94,11 @@ pub async fn dispatch(
 pub async fn dispatch_with_agent(
     name: &str,
     args: &serde_json::Value,
-    agent: Option<std::sync::Arc<tokio::sync::Mutex<super::Agent>>>,
+    agent: Option<std::sync::Arc<std::sync::Mutex<super::Agent>>>,
 ) -> String {
     // Look up in agent's tools if available, otherwise global
     let tool = if let Some(ref a) = agent {
-        let guard = a.lock().await;
+        let guard = a.lock().unwrap();
         guard.tools.iter().find(|t| t.name == name).copied()
     } else {
         None
diff --git a/src/agent/tools/working_stack.rs b/src/agent/tools/working_stack.rs
index 696e170..6cc3970 100644
--- a/src/agent/tools/working_stack.rs
+++ b/src/agent/tools/working_stack.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ pub fn tool() -> super::Tool {
         parameters_json: r#"{"type":"object","properties":{"action":{"type":"string","enum":["push","pop","update","switch"],"description":"Stack operation"},"content":{"type":"string","description":"Task description (for push/update)"},"index":{"type":"integer","description":"Stack index (for switch, 0=bottom)"}},"required":["action"]}"#,
         handler: |agent, v| Box::pin(async move {
             if let Some(agent) = agent {
-                let mut a = agent.lock().await;
+                let mut a = agent.lock().unwrap();
                 Ok(handle(&v, &mut a.context.working_stack))
             } else {
                 anyhow::bail!("working_stack requires agent context")
diff --git a/src/mind/mod.rs b/src/mind/mod.rs
index 902bdd3..881e989 100644
--- a/src/mind/mod.rs
+++ b/src/mind/mod.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ pub mod log;
 use anyhow::Result;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::time::Instant;
-use tokio::sync::{mpsc, Mutex};
+use tokio::sync::mpsc;
+use std::sync::Mutex;
 
 use crate::agent::{Agent, TurnResult};
 use crate::agent::api::ApiClient;
@@ -241,7 +242,7 @@ impl Mind {
     /// Initialize — restore log, start daemons and background agents.
     pub async fn init(&self) {
         // Restore conversation
-        let mut ag = self.agent.lock().await;
+        let mut ag = self.agent.lock().unwrap();
         ag.restore_from_log();
         drop(ag);
     }
@@ -257,7 +258,7 @@ impl Mind {
                 MindCommand::None => {}
                 MindCommand::Compact => {
                     let threshold = compaction_threshold(&self.config.app);
-                    let mut ag = self.agent.lock().await;
+                    let mut ag = self.agent.lock().unwrap();
                     if ag.last_prompt_tokens() > threshold {
                         ag.compact();
                     }
@@ -272,7 +273,7 @@ impl Mind {
                 }
                 MindCommand::Interrupt => {
                     self.shared.lock().unwrap().interrupt();
-                    let ag = self.agent.lock().await;
+                    let ag = self.agent.lock().unwrap();
                     let mut tools = ag.active_tools.lock().unwrap();
                     for entry in tools.drain(..) { entry.handle.abort(); }
                     drop(tools); drop(ag);
@@ -289,7 +290,7 @@ impl Mind {
                     let new_log = log::ConversationLog::new(
                         self.config.session_dir.join("conversation.jsonl"),
                     ).ok();
-                    let mut ag = self.agent.lock().await;
+                    let mut ag = self.agent.lock().unwrap();
                     let shared_ctx = ag.shared_context.clone();
                     let shared_tools = ag.active_tools.clone();
                     *ag = Agent::new(
@@ -323,7 +324,7 @@ impl Mind {
         let response_window = cfg.scoring_response_window;
         tokio::spawn(async move {
             let (context, client) = {
-                let mut ag = agent.lock().await;
+                let mut ag = agent.lock().unwrap();
                 if ag.agent_cycles.memory_scoring_in_flight { return; }
                 ag.agent_cycles.memory_scoring_in_flight = true;
                 (ag.context.clone(), ag.client_clone())
@@ -332,7 +333,7 @@ impl Mind {
                 &context, max_age as i64, response_window, &client, &ui_tx,
             ).await;
             {
-                let mut ag = agent.lock().await;
+                let mut ag = agent.lock().unwrap();
                 ag.agent_cycles.memory_scoring_in_flight = false;
                 if let Ok(ref scores) = result { ag.agent_cycles.memory_scores = scores.clone(); }
             }
@@ -387,7 +388,7 @@ impl Mind {
 
                     // Post-turn maintenance
                     {
-                        let mut ag = self.agent.lock().await;
+                        let mut ag = self.agent.lock().unwrap();
                         ag.age_out_images();
                         ag.publish_context_state();
                     }
diff --git a/src/subconscious/digest.rs b/src/subconscious/digest.rs
index db1553b..0f9c43a 100644
--- a/src/subconscious/digest.rs
+++ b/src/subconscious/digest.rs
@@ -602,7 +602,7 @@ fn str_err<T>(r: Result<T, String>) -> anyhow::Result<T> {
 
 /// digest_daily tool handler: generate a daily digest
 async fn handle_digest_daily(
-    _agent: Option<std::sync::Arc<tokio::sync::Mutex<super::super::agent::Agent>>>,
+    _agent: Option<std::sync::Arc<std::sync::Mutex<super::super::agent::Agent>>>,
     args: serde_json::Value,
 ) -> anyhow::Result<String> {
     let date = str_err(get_str_required(&args, "date"))?;
@@ -613,7 +613,7 @@ async fn handle_digest_daily(
 
 /// digest_weekly tool handler: generate a weekly digest
 async fn handle_digest_weekly(
-    _agent: Option<std::sync::Arc<tokio::sync::Mutex<super::super::agent::Agent>>>,
+    _agent: Option<std::sync::Arc<std::sync::Mutex<super::super::agent::Agent>>>,
     args: serde_json::Value,
 ) -> anyhow::Result<String> {
     let week_label = str_err(get_str_required(&args, "week"))?;
@@ -624,7 +624,7 @@ async fn handle_digest_weekly(
 
 /// digest_monthly tool handler: generate a monthly digest
 async fn handle_digest_monthly(
-    _agent: Option<std::sync::Arc<tokio::sync::Mutex<super::super::agent::Agent>>>,
+    _agent: Option<std::sync::Arc<std::sync::Mutex<super::super::agent::Agent>>>,
     args: serde_json::Value,
 ) -> anyhow::Result<String> {
     let month = str_err(get_str_required(&args, "month"))?;
@@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ async fn handle_digest_monthly(
 
 /// digest_auto tool handler: auto-generate all missing digests
 async fn handle_digest_auto(
-    _agent: Option<std::sync::Arc<tokio::sync::Mutex<super::super::agent::Agent>>>,
+    _agent: Option<std::sync::Arc<std::sync::Mutex<super::super::agent::Agent>>>,
     _args: serde_json::Value,
 ) -> anyhow::Result<String> {
     let mut store = str_err(Store::load())?;
@@ -645,7 +645,7 @@ async fn handle_digest_auto(
 
 /// digest_links tool handler: parse and apply digest links
 async fn handle_digest_links(
-    _agent: Option<std::sync::Arc<tokio::sync::Mutex<super::super::agent::Agent>>>,
+    _agent: Option<std::sync::Arc<std::sync::Mutex<super::super::agent::Agent>>>,
     _args: serde_json::Value,
 ) -> anyhow::Result<String> {
     let mut store = str_err(Store::load())?;
diff --git a/src/user/event_loop.rs b/src/user/event_loop.rs
index c0dc01b..afba332 100644
--- a/src/user/event_loop.rs
+++ b/src/user/event_loop.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use ratatui::crossterm::event::{Event, EventStream, KeyEventKind};
 use futures::StreamExt;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::time::Duration;
-use tokio::sync::Mutex;
+use std::sync::Mutex;
 
 use crate::agent::Agent;
 use crate::agent::api::ApiClient;
@@ -116,8 +116,8 @@ pub async fn start(cli: crate::user::CliArgs) -> Result<()> {
 
     let mind = crate::mind::Mind::new(config, ui_tx.clone(), turn_tx);
 
-    let shared_context = mind.agent.lock().await.shared_context.clone();
-    let shared_active_tools = mind.agent.lock().await.active_tools.clone();
+    let shared_context = mind.agent.lock().unwrap().shared_context.clone();
+    let shared_active_tools = mind.agent.lock().unwrap().active_tools.clone();
 
     let mut result = Ok(());
     tokio_scoped::scope(|s| {
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ async fn cmd_retry_inner(
     mind_tx: &tokio::sync::mpsc::UnboundedSender<MindCommand>,
     ui_tx: &ui_channel::UiSender,
 ) {
-    let mut agent_guard = agent.lock().await;
+    let mut agent_guard = agent.lock().unwrap();
     let entries = agent_guard.entries_mut();
     let mut last_user_text = None;
     while let Some(entry) = entries.last() {
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ fn hotkey_cycle_reasoning(mind: &crate::mind::Mind, ui_tx: &ui_channel::UiSender
 }
 
 async fn hotkey_kill_processes(mind: &crate::mind::Mind, ui_tx: &ui_channel::UiSender) {
-    let active_tools = mind.agent.lock().await.active_tools.clone();
+    let active_tools = mind.agent.lock().unwrap().active_tools.clone();
     let mut tools = active_tools.lock().unwrap();
     if tools.is_empty() {
         let _ = ui_tx.send(UiMessage::Info("(no running tool calls)".into()));
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ pub async fn cmd_switch_model(
     ui_tx: &ui_channel::UiSender,
 ) {
     let resolved = {
-        let ag = agent.lock().await;
+        let ag = agent.lock().unwrap();
         match ag.app_config.resolve_model(name) {
             Ok(r) => r,
             Err(e) => {
@@ -296,11 +296,11 @@ pub async fn cmd_switch_model(
 
     let new_client = ApiClient::new(&resolved.api_base, &resolved.api_key, &resolved.model_id);
     let prompt_changed = {
-        let ag = agent.lock().await;
+        let ag = agent.lock().unwrap();
         resolved.prompt_file != ag.prompt_file
     };
 
-    let mut ag = agent.lock().await;
+    let mut ag = agent.lock().unwrap();
     ag.swap_client(new_client);
 
     if prompt_changed {