diff --git a/packages/orchestrator/pkg/sandbox/checks.go b/packages/orchestrator/pkg/sandbox/checks.go
index a9480185be..78ab3aeedc 100644
--- a/packages/orchestrator/pkg/sandbox/checks.go
+++ b/packages/orchestrator/pkg/sandbox/checks.go
@@ -28,6 +28,11 @@ type Checks struct {
 
 	mu        sync.Mutex
 	cancelCtx context.CancelCauseFunc
+	// stopped records that Stop ran. Start is launched in its own goroutine, so
+	// a short-lived sandbox can Stop before Start is scheduled — at which point
+	// cancelCtx is still nil and Stop has nothing to cancel. Without this flag
+	// Start would then enter an uncancellable health-check loop that leaks.
+	stopped bool
 
 	healthy atomic.Bool
 
@@ -52,6 +57,13 @@ func NewChecks(sandbox *Sandbox, useClickhouseMetrics bool) *Checks {
 
 func (c *Checks) Start(ctx context.Context) {
 	c.mu.Lock()
+	if c.stopped {
+		// Stop already ran before this goroutine was scheduled; don't start the
+		// health-check loop, it would never be cancelled.
+		c.mu.Unlock()
+
+		return
+	}
 	ctx, c.cancelCtx = context.WithCancelCause(ctx)
 	c.mu.Unlock()
 
@@ -62,6 +74,8 @@ func (c *Checks) Stop() {
 	c.mu.Lock()
 	defer c.mu.Unlock()
 
+	c.stopped = true
+
 	if c.cancelCtx != nil {
 		c.cancelCtx(ErrChecksStopped)
 	}
diff --git a/packages/orchestrator/pkg/sandbox/checks_test.go b/packages/orchestrator/pkg/sandbox/checks_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e743687528
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/orchestrator/pkg/sandbox/checks_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+//go:build linux
+
+package sandbox
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// TestChecks_StopBeforeStart_DoesNotStartHealthLoop is a regression test for
+// the Checks start/stop race.
+//
+// Checks.Start is launched in its own goroutine (go sbx.Checks.Start(execCtx)),
+// so the sandbox teardown path can run Checks.Stop before that goroutine is
+// scheduled. execCtx is derived via context.WithoutCancel and never
+// auto-cancels, so the logHealth ticker loop is only ever ended by Stop
+// cancelling the context Start installs. If Start enters logHealth after Stop
+// already ran, the loop — and the per-tick health-check HTTP dials it spawns —
+// leak for the process lifetime.
+//
+// Start must observe the prior Stop and return without entering logHealth.
+func TestChecks_StopBeforeStart_DoesNotStartHealthLoop(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	c := &Checks{}
+
+	// Teardown wins the race: Stop runs before the Start goroutine.
+	c.Stop()
+
+	returned := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		c.Start(context.Background())
+		close(returned)
+	}()
+
+	select {
+	case <-returned:
+		// Start observed the prior Stop and skipped logHealth.
+	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("Checks.Start entered the health loop after a prior Stop — goroutine leak")
+	}
+
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	cancelCtx := c.cancelCtx
+	c.mu.Unlock()
+	if cancelCtx != nil {
+		t.Fatal("Checks.Start installed a health-loop context despite a prior Stop")
+	}
+}