diff --git a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/dependencies.rs b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/dependencies.rs
index 05a89fa7..ccb8e752 100644
--- a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/dependencies.rs
+++ b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/dependencies.rs
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ pub(super) async fn check_bitcoin_pruning_compatibility(package_id: &str) -> Res
         tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_secs(2)).await;
     }
 
-    if detect_disk_gb() < ARCHIVAL_BITCOIN_DISK_GB {
+    if detect_disk_gb().await < ARCHIVAL_BITCOIN_DISK_GB {
         anyhow::bail!(archival_bitcoin_required_message(package_id));
     }
 
@@ -497,10 +497,11 @@ fn check_blockchain_info_for_pruning(package_id: &str, json: &serde_json::Value)
     Ok(())
 }
 
-fn detect_disk_gb() -> u64 {
-    let output = std::process::Command::new("df")
+async fn detect_disk_gb() -> u64 {
+    let output = tokio::process::Command::new("df")
         .args(["-BG", "/var/lib/archipelago"])
-        .output();
+        .output()
+        .await;
     let Ok(output) = output else {
         return u64::MAX;
     };
diff --git a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/install.rs b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/install.rs
index e01598ab..8dc43714 100644
--- a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/install.rs
+++ b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/install.rs
@@ -2196,13 +2196,14 @@ async fn ensure_host_port_listener(
     container_name: &str,
     runtime_ports: &[String],
 ) -> Result<()> {
-    let Some(port) = runtime_ports
+    let mut port = runtime_ports
         .first()
         .and_then(|p| p.split(':').next())
-        .and_then(|p| p.parse::<u16>().ok())
-        .or_else(|| published_host_port(container_name))
-        .or_else(|| required_host_port(package_id))
-    else {
+        .and_then(|p| p.parse::<u16>().ok());
+    if port.is_none() {
+        port = published_host_port(container_name).await;
+    }
+    let Some(port) = port.or_else(|| required_host_port(package_id)) else {
         return Ok(());
     };
 
@@ -2248,10 +2249,11 @@ async fn ensure_host_port_listener(
     ))
 }
 
-fn published_host_port(container_name: &str) -> Option<u16> {
-    let output = std::process::Command::new("podman")
+async fn published_host_port(container_name: &str) -> Option<u16> {
+    let output = tokio::process::Command::new("podman")
         .args(["port", container_name])
         .output()
+        .await
         .ok()?;
     if !output.status.success() {
         return None;
diff --git a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/system/handlers.rs b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/system/handlers.rs
index 512f2f3a..5ddfa4a4 100644
--- a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/system/handlers.rs
+++ b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/system/handlers.rs
@@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ impl RpcHandler {
         // Restart the service via systemd
         tokio::spawn(async {
             tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_secs(2)).await;
-            let _ = std::process::Command::new("sudo")
+            let _ = tokio::process::Command::new("sudo")
                 .args(["systemctl", "restart", "archipelago"])
                 .spawn();
         });
diff --git a/core/archipelago/src/config.rs b/core/archipelago/src/config.rs
index dea0a949..ad1a1b2d 100644
--- a/core/archipelago/src/config.rs
+++ b/core/archipelago/src/config.rs
@@ -81,10 +81,11 @@ pub struct Config {
 
 impl Config {
     /// Detect primary host IP (first non-loopback IPv4)
-    fn detect_host_ip() -> Result<String> {
-        let output = std::process::Command::new("hostname")
+    async fn detect_host_ip() -> Result<String> {
+        let output = tokio::process::Command::new("hostname")
             .args(["-I"])
             .output()
+            .await
             .context("Failed to run hostname -I")?;
         let s = String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stdout);
         let ip = s
@@ -210,7 +211,9 @@ impl Config {
         if let Ok(ip) = std::env::var("ARCHIPELAGO_HOST_IP") {
             config.host_ip = ip;
         } else {
-            config.host_ip = Self::detect_host_ip().unwrap_or_else(|_| "127.0.0.1".to_string());
+            config.host_ip = Self::detect_host_ip()
+                .await
+                .unwrap_or_else(|_| "127.0.0.1".to_string());
         }
 
         // Ensure data directory exists
diff --git a/core/archipelago/src/container/prod_orchestrator.rs b/core/archipelago/src/container/prod_orchestrator.rs
index 5825afa6..8fdbe869 100644
--- a/core/archipelago/src/container/prod_orchestrator.rs
+++ b/core/archipelago/src/container/prod_orchestrator.rs
@@ -1440,7 +1440,7 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
                 .collect()
         };
         let mut report = ReconcileReport::default();
-        let disk_gb = self.disk_gb();
+        let disk_gb = self.disk_gb().await;
         // Register every candidate before the (sequential, possibly slow)
         // pass so the scanner overlays queued-but-down apps as Restarting
         // instead of Stopped. Each app is deregistered as its turn finishes,
@@ -1620,7 +1620,7 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
         }
 
         let mut resolved_manifest = lm.manifest.clone();
-        self.resolve_dynamic_env(&mut resolved_manifest)?;
+        self.resolve_dynamic_env(&mut resolved_manifest).await?;
         let name = compute_container_name(&lm.manifest);
 
         // An explicitly user-stopped app MUST stay stopped. The reconcile filter
@@ -1970,7 +1970,7 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
     async fn install_fresh(&self, lm: &LoadedManifest) -> Result<()> {
         self.ensure_app_secrets(&lm.manifest.app.id).await?;
         let mut resolved_manifest = lm.manifest.clone();
-        self.resolve_dynamic_env(&mut resolved_manifest)?;
+        self.resolve_dynamic_env(&mut resolved_manifest).await?;
         resolve_catalog_image(&mut resolved_manifest);
 
         let resolved = resolved_manifest.app.container.resolve().ok_or_else(|| {
@@ -2263,7 +2263,7 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
         // Re-render the manifest with dynamic env baked in, then go
         // through the same install path a fresh install would.
         let mut resolved = lm.manifest.clone();
-        self.resolve_dynamic_env(&mut resolved)?;
+        self.resolve_dynamic_env(&mut resolved).await?;
         self.install_via_quadlet(&resolved, name)
             .await
             .with_context(|| format!("Phase 3.3: re-install {name} via Quadlet"))?;
@@ -2329,7 +2329,7 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
         let restart_required = quadlet::contains_stale_health_gate(&old_body);
 
         let mut resolved = lm.manifest.clone();
-        self.resolve_dynamic_env(&mut resolved)?;
+        self.resolve_dynamic_env(&mut resolved).await?;
         // Same catalog/pinned-version image resolution the installer applies, so
         // the drift re-render doesn't revert a pinned version back to the
         // manifest's shipped `:latest` tag on the next reconcile tick.
@@ -2404,7 +2404,7 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
 
         for dep in dependencies {
             let mut resolved = dep.manifest.clone();
-            self.resolve_dynamic_env(&mut resolved)?;
+            self.resolve_dynamic_env(&mut resolved).await?;
             let name = compute_container_name(&dep.manifest);
             if self.runtime.get_container_status(&name).await.is_err() {
                 continue;
@@ -2588,7 +2588,7 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
                 }
                 .read("bitcoin-rpc-password")
                 .context("lnd pre-start: read bitcoin RPC password")?;
-                let bitcoin_host = self.bitcoin_host();
+                let bitcoin_host = self.bitcoin_host().await;
                 let outcome = lnd::ensure_config(&self.lnd_paths, &rpc_pass, &bitcoin_host)
                     .await
                     .context("lnd pre-start: ensure lnd.conf")?;
@@ -2706,10 +2706,12 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
         tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_secs(1)).await;
     }
 
-    fn detect_host_facts(&self) -> HostFacts {
-        let host_ip = Self::detect_host_ip().unwrap_or_else(|| "127.0.0.1".to_string());
-        let host_mdns = Self::detect_host_mdns();
-        let disk_gb = self.disk_gb();
+    async fn detect_host_facts(&self) -> HostFacts {
+        let host_ip = Self::detect_host_ip()
+            .await
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| "127.0.0.1".to_string());
+        let host_mdns = Self::detect_host_mdns().await;
+        let disk_gb = self.disk_gb().await;
         HostFacts {
             host_ip,
             host_mdns,
@@ -2723,9 +2725,8 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
 
     /// Container name of the running Bitcoin node (`bitcoin-knots` or
     /// `bitcoin-core`) for the `{{BITCOIN_HOST}}` derived-env placeholder.
-    /// Synchronous `podman ps` to match the surrounding host-fact detection;
-    /// defaults to `bitcoin-knots` when none is running (B12).
-    fn bitcoin_host(&self) -> String {
+    /// Defaults to `bitcoin-knots` when none is running (B12).
+    async fn bitcoin_host(&self) -> String {
         #[cfg(test)]
         if let Some(host) = &self.test_bitcoin_host {
             return host.clone();
@@ -2733,9 +2734,10 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
         // Mirrors api::rpc::package::dependencies (the legacy install path);
         // both Bitcoin node variants are reachable on archy-net by name.
         const BITCOIN_NAMES: &[&str] = &["bitcoin-knots", "bitcoin-core", "bitcoin"];
-        let names = Command::new("podman")
+        let names = tokio::process::Command::new("podman")
             .args(["ps", "--format", "{{.Names}}"])
             .output()
+            .await
             .ok()
             .filter(|o| o.status.success())
             .map(|o| String::from_utf8_lossy(&o.stdout).into_owned())
@@ -2753,8 +2755,12 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
         self.test_bitcoin_host = Some(host.to_string());
     }
 
-    fn detect_host_ip() -> Option<String> {
-        let output = Command::new("hostname").arg("-I").output().ok()?;
+    async fn detect_host_ip() -> Option<String> {
+        let output = tokio::process::Command::new("hostname")
+            .arg("-I")
+            .output()
+            .await
+            .ok()?;
         if !output.status.success() {
             return None;
         }
@@ -2762,9 +2768,10 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
         stdout.split_whitespace().next().map(|s| s.to_string())
     }
 
-    fn detect_host_mdns() -> String {
-        let hostname = Command::new("hostname")
+    async fn detect_host_mdns() -> String {
+        let hostname = tokio::process::Command::new("hostname")
             .output()
+            .await
             .ok()
             .and_then(|o| {
                 if o.status.success() {
@@ -2782,13 +2789,18 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
         }
     }
 
-    fn detect_disk_gb() -> u64 {
+    async fn detect_disk_gb() -> u64 {
         let target = if Path::new("/var/lib/archipelago").exists() {
             "/var/lib/archipelago"
         } else {
             "/"
         };
-        let output = match Command::new("df").arg("-k").arg(target).output() {
+        let output = match tokio::process::Command::new("df")
+            .arg("-k")
+            .arg(target)
+            .output()
+            .await
+        {
             Ok(o) if o.status.success() => o,
             _ => return 0,
         };
@@ -2808,12 +2820,12 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
         kb / 1_000_000
     }
 
-    fn disk_gb(&self) -> u64 {
+    async fn disk_gb(&self) -> u64 {
         #[cfg(test)]
         if let Some(disk_gb) = self.test_disk_gb {
             return disk_gb;
         }
-        Self::detect_disk_gb()
+        Self::detect_disk_gb().await
     }
 
     /// Ensure app-specific secrets exist *before* env resolution. The Bitcoin
@@ -2838,14 +2850,14 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn resolve_dynamic_env(&self, manifest: &mut AppManifest) -> Result<()> {
+    async fn resolve_dynamic_env(&self, manifest: &mut AppManifest) -> Result<()> {
         // Materialise any manifest-declared generated secrets before they're
         // read below. This is the single chokepoint every install/reconcile
         // path funnels through, so an app's secrets exist by the time its
         // `secret_env` resolves — no per-app code, no host provisioning.
         crate::container::secrets::ensure_generated_secrets(&self.secrets_dir, manifest)?;
 
-        let mut facts = self.detect_host_facts();
+        let mut facts = self.detect_host_facts().await;
         // Only pay the podman cost to detect Knots-vs-Core when this manifest
         // actually templates the Bitcoin node into its env (mempool — B12).
         if manifest
@@ -2855,7 +2867,7 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
             .iter()
             .any(|e| e.template.contains("{{BITCOIN_HOST}}"))
         {
-            facts.bitcoin_host = self.bitcoin_host();
+            facts.bitcoin_host = self.bitcoin_host().await;
         }
         let mut env = manifest.app.environment.clone();
         env.extend(manifest.app.container.resolve_derived_env(&facts));
@@ -3208,7 +3220,7 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
     ) -> Result<String> {
         let mut out = content.to_string();
         if out.contains("{{HOST_IP}}") || out.contains("{{HOST_MDNS}}") {
-            let facts = self.detect_host_facts();
+            let facts = self.detect_host_facts().await;
             out = out
                 .replace("{{HOST_IP}}", &facts.host_ip)
                 .replace("{{HOST_MDNS}}", &facts.host_mdns);
@@ -3297,7 +3309,7 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
     /// however the box is reached locally. (Generalised from the old per-app
     /// netbird TLS helper, deleted in #20 ph4: rsa:2048, 10-year, no per-app Rust.)
     async fn ensure_manifest_certs(&self, manifest: &AppManifest) -> Result<()> {
-        let facts = self.detect_host_facts();
+        let facts = self.detect_host_facts().await;
         let render = |s: &str| {
             s.replace("{{HOST_IP}}", &facts.host_ip)
                 .replace("{{HOST_MDNS}}", &facts.host_mdns)
@@ -3594,7 +3606,7 @@ impl ContainerOrchestrator for ProdContainerOrchestrator {
         self.ensure_app_secrets(app_id).await?;
         let name = compute_container_name(&lm.manifest);
         let mut resolved_manifest = lm.manifest.clone();
-        self.resolve_dynamic_env(&mut resolved_manifest)?;
+        self.resolve_dynamic_env(&mut resolved_manifest).await?;
 
         let service = format!("{name}.service");
         if self.quadlet_unit_exists(&name).await? {
@@ -4328,7 +4340,7 @@ app:
             orch.set_bitcoin_host_for_test(node);
 
             let mut manifest = AppManifest::parse(yaml).unwrap();
-            orch.resolve_dynamic_env(&mut manifest).unwrap();
+            orch.resolve_dynamic_env(&mut manifest).await.unwrap();
 
             assert!(
                 manifest
diff --git a/core/archipelago/src/transport/fips.rs b/core/archipelago/src/transport/fips.rs
index 15a28620..a922969f 100644
--- a/core/archipelago/src/transport/fips.rs
+++ b/core/archipelago/src/transport/fips.rs
@@ -23,26 +23,36 @@ use std::time::{Duration, SystemTime, UNIX_EPOCH};
 /// TTL keeps the result responsive to daemon flaps without pounding DBus.
 const AVAILABILITY_CACHE_TTL: Duration = Duration::from_secs(10);
 
+/// Availability cache shared with the background probe thread, so the
+/// sync `is_available()` hot path never blocks on `systemctl`.
+struct AvailabilityCache {
+    available: AtomicBool,
+    probed_at_ms: AtomicU64,
+    probe_in_flight: AtomicBool,
+}
+
 pub struct FipsTransport {
     identity_dir: PathBuf,
-    available_cached: AtomicBool,
-    available_cached_at_ms: AtomicU64,
+    availability: std::sync::Arc<AvailabilityCache>,
 }
 
 impl FipsTransport {
     pub fn new(identity_dir: &Path) -> Self {
         Self {
             identity_dir: identity_dir.to_path_buf(),
-            available_cached: AtomicBool::new(false),
-            available_cached_at_ms: AtomicU64::new(0),
+            availability: std::sync::Arc::new(AvailabilityCache {
+                available: AtomicBool::new(false),
+                probed_at_ms: AtomicU64::new(0),
+                probe_in_flight: AtomicBool::new(false),
+            }),
         }
     }
 
     fn probe_daemon_active() -> bool {
-        // Cheap blocking probe: spawn `systemctl is-active` synchronously.
-        // Short-circuit if either the archipelago-managed unit or the
-        // upstream fips.service is active — legacy/dev nodes run only the
-        // upstream unit.
+        // Blocking probe — only ever run on a dedicated background thread
+        // (see is_available), never on a tokio worker. Short-circuit if
+        // either the archipelago-managed unit or the upstream fips.service
+        // is active — legacy/dev nodes run only the upstream unit.
         for unit in [
             crate::fips::SERVICE_UNIT,
             crate::fips::UPSTREAM_SERVICE_UNIT,
@@ -70,14 +80,30 @@ impl NodeTransport for FipsTransport {
             .duration_since(UNIX_EPOCH)
             .map(|d| d.as_millis() as u64)
             .unwrap_or(0);
-        let cached_at = self.available_cached_at_ms.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
+        let cached_at = self.availability.probed_at_ms.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
+        let cached = self.availability.available.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
         if now_ms.saturating_sub(cached_at) < AVAILABILITY_CACHE_TTL.as_millis() as u64 {
-            return self.available_cached.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
+            return cached;
         }
-        let val = Self::probe_daemon_active();
-        self.available_cached.store(val, Ordering::Relaxed);
-        self.available_cached_at_ms.store(now_ms, Ordering::Relaxed);
-        val
+        // Cache is stale. This sync trait method is called from async
+        // route(), so running the ~50ms systemctl probe inline stalls a
+        // tokio worker. Serve the stale value and refresh on a background
+        // thread instead — the transport supervisor's warm loop keeps this
+        // fresh in steady state, so staleness is bounded to one probe round.
+        let cache = std::sync::Arc::clone(&self.availability);
+        if !cache.probe_in_flight.swap(true, Ordering::Relaxed) {
+            std::thread::spawn(move || {
+                let val = Self::probe_daemon_active();
+                let probed_ms = SystemTime::now()
+                    .duration_since(UNIX_EPOCH)
+                    .map(|d| d.as_millis() as u64)
+                    .unwrap_or(0);
+                cache.available.store(val, Ordering::Relaxed);
+                cache.probed_at_ms.store(probed_ms, Ordering::Relaxed);
+                cache.probe_in_flight.store(false, Ordering::Relaxed);
+            });
+        }
+        cached
     }
 
     fn send<'a>(
diff --git a/core/container/src/runtime.rs b/core/container/src/runtime.rs
index cf0dd0f6..4a7cf6f2 100644
--- a/core/container/src/runtime.rs
+++ b/core/container/src/runtime.rs
@@ -853,11 +853,11 @@ pub struct AutoRuntime {
 impl AutoRuntime {
     pub async fn new(user: String) -> Result<Self> {
         // Try Podman first
-        if Self::check_podman_available() {
+        if Self::check_podman_available().await {
             Ok(Self {
                 runtime: Box::new(PodmanRuntime::new(user)),
             })
-        } else if Self::check_docker_available() {
+        } else if Self::check_docker_available().await {
             Ok(Self {
                 runtime: Box::new(DockerRuntime::new(user)),
             })
@@ -866,12 +866,20 @@ impl AutoRuntime {
         }
     }
 
-    fn check_podman_available() -> bool {
-        Command::new("podman").arg("--version").output().is_ok()
+    async fn check_podman_available() -> bool {
+        TokioCommand::new("podman")
+            .arg("--version")
+            .output()
+            .await
+            .is_ok()
     }
 
-    fn check_docker_available() -> bool {
-        Command::new("docker").arg("--version").output().is_ok()
+    async fn check_docker_available() -> bool {
+        TokioCommand::new("docker")
+            .arg("--version")
+            .output()
+            .await
+            .is_ok()
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/docs/1.8.0-RELEASE-HARDENING-PLAN.md b/docs/1.8.0-RELEASE-HARDENING-PLAN.md
index 68bdc07f..e3715ad1 100644
--- a/docs/1.8.0-RELEASE-HARDENING-PLAN.md
+++ b/docs/1.8.0-RELEASE-HARDENING-PLAN.md
@@ -114,11 +114,16 @@ modules; production request/boot paths are essentially panic-free. The real risk
       sweep (`scheduler.rs`), block-header cache (`mesh/mod.rs`), 7× peer-transport badge
       (`sync.rs` + `content.rs`). Federation tombstone/untombstone upgraded to hard errors
       (see §I). Install-log line write left fire-and-forget with an explanatory comment.
-- [ ] 🟠 **Remove blocking `std::process::Command` from async handlers.**
-      `install.rs:2222` `published_host_port` (sync podman on the install path),
-      `dependencies.rs:316` (`df`), `system/handlers.rs:578` (`sudo`), `transport/fips.rs:50`
-      (`systemctl`) stall tokio workers under load. Convert to `tokio::process` or
-      `spawn_blocking`. Only 8 files use `std::process::Command` — bounded.
+- [x] 🟠 **Remove blocking `std::process::Command` from async handlers.** DONE 2026-07-03:
+      converted to `tokio::process` — `published_host_port` (install), `detect_disk_gb`
+      (dependencies), factory-reset restart (system/handlers), `config.rs detect_host_ip`,
+      the orchestrator host-facts helpers (`detect_host_ip/mdns/disk_gb`, `bitcoin_host`,
+      `resolve_dynamic_env` now async through all 6 call sites), and `AutoRuntime::new`
+      probes. `transport/fips.rs is_available()` (sync trait method on the async route path)
+      now serves the cached value and refreshes via a background thread (stale-while-
+      revalidate) instead of blocking on systemctl. `image_verifier.rs` cosign sites have no
+      callers yet — handled with the §A cosign item. Tests: container 155 / transport 29 /
+      config 29 / package 46 all green.
 - [ ] 🟡 **Restrict Bitcoin RPC exposure.** `bootstrap.rs:409` writes
       `rpcallowip=0.0.0.0/0`. Scope to the container subnet / `127.0.0.1`.
 - [ ] 🟡 **Move generated secrets from env to file mounts.** `manifest.rs:1208-1226`
@@ -159,9 +164,11 @@ The real issues are the app-bridge origin model and a bloated bundle.
       (precached by the service worker → blocks PWA install), plus ~18 MB of ~1 MB full-screen
       JPEGs. Convert backgrounds to WebP/AVIF at responsive sizes, lazy/stream the intro video,
       and exclude video/audio from the Workbox precache. Biggest, easiest perf win.
-- [ ] 🟢 **DOMPurify the `Server.vue` QR SVG** (`:283/:295` render `v-html` unsanitized while
-      `TwoFactorSection.vue` sanitizes the analogous SVG); guard the unguarded `pollInterval`
-      (`Mesh.vue:391`); surface silent data-fetch failures (`curatedApps.ts:58/71`).
+- [x] 🟢 **DOMPurify the `Server.vue` QR SVG / guard `Mesh.vue` pollInterval / surface
+      `curatedApps.ts` fetch failures.** DONE 2026-07-03: WireGuard peer QR now sanitized with
+      the same `USE_PROFILES: {svg}` call as TwoFactorSection; Mesh poll interval guarded +
+      nulled on unmount; catalog fetch failures log per-URL console.warn incl. the
+      all-sources-failed fallback. Bundle-verified.
 
 ---