diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/sf/auto/loop.js b/src/resources/extensions/sf/auto/loop.js
index e7968234b..637ae083c 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/sf/auto/loop.js
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/sf/auto/loop.js
@@ -891,6 +891,7 @@ export async function autoLoop(ctx, pi, s, deps) {
 				}
 				// ── Unit execution (shared with dev path) ──
 				await enforceMinRequestInterval(s, ic.prefs);
+				watchdog.heartbeat(); // reset before long-running unit execution
 				const unitPhaseResult = await runUnitPhaseViaContract(
 					ic,
 					iterData,
@@ -1214,6 +1215,7 @@ export async function autoLoop(ctx, pi, s, deps) {
 				});
 			}
 			await enforceMinRequestInterval(s, ic.prefs);
+			watchdog.heartbeat(); // reset before long-running unit execution
 			const unitPhaseResult = await runUnitPhaseViaContract(
 				ic,
 				iterData,