diff --git a/src/cron/service.ts b/src/cron/service.ts
index 87046c62e..620ebd16f 100644
--- a/src/cron/service.ts
+++ b/src/cron/service.ts
@@ -37,6 +37,11 @@ export type CronServiceDeps = {
   cronEnabled: boolean;
   enqueueSystemEvent: (text: string) => void;
   requestHeartbeatNow: (opts?: { reason?: string }) => void;
+  runHeartbeatOnce?: (opts?: { reason?: string }) => Promise<{
+    status: "ran" | "skipped" | "failed";
+    durationMs: number;
+    reason?: string;
+  }>;
   runIsolatedAgentJob: (params: { job: CronJob; message: string }) => Promise<{
     status: "ok" | "error" | "skipped";
     summary?: string;
@@ -514,10 +519,31 @@ export class CronService {
           return;
         }
         this.deps.enqueueSystemEvent(text);
-        if (job.wakeMode === "now") {
+        if (job.wakeMode === "now" && this.deps.runHeartbeatOnce) {
+          const heartbeatResult = await this.deps.runHeartbeatOnce({
+            reason: `cron:${job.id}`,
+          });
+          // Map heartbeat status to cron status
+          if (heartbeatResult.status === "ran") {
+            await finish("ok", undefined, text);
+          } else if (heartbeatResult.status === "skipped") {
+            await finish(
+              "skipped",
+              heartbeatResult.reason ?? "heartbeat skipped",
+              text,
+            );
+          } else if (heartbeatResult.status === "failed") {
+            await finish(
+              "error",
+              heartbeatResult.reason ?? "heartbeat failed",
+              text,
+            );
+          }
+        } else {
+          // wakeMode is "next-heartbeat" or runHeartbeatOnce not available
           this.deps.requestHeartbeatNow({ reason: `cron:${job.id}` });
+          await finish("ok", undefined, text);
         }
-        await finish("ok", undefined, text);
         return;
       }
 
diff --git a/src/gateway/server.ts b/src/gateway/server.ts
index 805ae7ffe..caabc1517 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server.ts
@@ -61,7 +61,10 @@ import { startNodeBridgeServer } from "../infra/bridge/server.js";
 import { resolveCanvasHostUrl } from "../infra/canvas-host-url.js";
 import { GatewayLockError } from "../infra/gateway-lock.js";
 import { onHeartbeatEvent } from "../infra/heartbeat-events.js";
-import { startHeartbeatRunner } from "../infra/heartbeat-runner.js";
+import {
+  runHeartbeatOnce,
+  startHeartbeatRunner,
+} from "../infra/heartbeat-runner.js";
 import { requestHeartbeatNow } from "../infra/heartbeat-wake.js";
 import { getMachineDisplayName } from "../infra/machine-name.js";
 import { resolveOutboundTarget } from "../infra/outbound/targets.js";
@@ -715,6 +718,14 @@ export async function startGatewayServer(
         enqueueSystemEvent(text, { sessionKey: resolveMainSessionKey(cfg) });
       },
       requestHeartbeatNow,
+      runHeartbeatOnce: async (opts) => {
+        const runtimeConfig = loadConfig();
+        return await runHeartbeatOnce({
+          cfg: runtimeConfig,
+          reason: opts?.reason,
+          deps: { runtime },
+        });
+      },
       runIsolatedAgentJob: async ({ job, message }) => {
         const runtimeConfig = loadConfig();
         return await runCronIsolatedAgentTurn({