diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 17bc5dfc..1cdc313d 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
     "start": "node --env-file-if-exists=.env src/index.ts",
     "dev": "SHUTDOWN_DRAIN_MS=2000 node --env-file-if-exists=.env --watch src/index.ts",
     "dev-instance": "bash scripts/dev-instance.sh up",
+    "dev-instance:no-slack": "bash scripts/dev-instance.sh up --no-slack",
     "dev-instance:status": "bash scripts/dev-instance.sh status",
     "dev-instance:down": "bash scripts/dev-instance.sh down",
     "worker": "node --env-file-if-exists=.env src/runs/worker-main.ts",
diff --git a/scripts/dev/cli.ts b/scripts/dev/cli.ts
index 3e45ee54..869da576 100644
--- a/scripts/dev/cli.ts
+++ b/scripts/dev/cli.ts
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ function parseCli() {
         follow: { type: "boolean", short: "f", default: false },
         fix: { type: "boolean", default: false },
         sandbox: { type: "string", default: "auto" },
+        "no-slack": { type: "boolean", default: false },
         "no-watch": { type: "boolean", default: false },
         org: { type: "string" },
       },
@@ -74,13 +75,13 @@ const command = positionals[0] ?? "up";
 const store = poolStore();
 
 const commandOptions: Record<string, readonly string[]> = {
-  up: ["json", "force", "strict", "rotate", "sandbox", "no-watch", "org"],
+  up: ["json", "force", "strict", "rotate", "sandbox", "no-slack", "no-watch", "org"],
   down: ["json"],
   status: ["json"],
   restart: ["json"],
   canary: ["json"],
   logs: ["follow"],
-  doctor: ["json", "fix"],
+  doctor: ["json", "fix", "no-slack"],
 };
 
 const devServiceNames = [...CHILD_ORDER, "web-ui"];
@@ -115,6 +116,7 @@ function emitJson(payload: unknown): void {
 }
 
 const orgId = opts.org ?? process.env.DEV_INSTANCE_ORG_ID ?? "acme";
+const withSlack = !opts["no-slack"] && process.env.DEV_INSTANCE_NO_SLACK !== "1";
 const devCallerEnv = (): Record<string, string> => ({ ...callerEnvSnapshot(), DEV_INSTANCE_ORG_ID: orgId });
 
 async function legacyTeardown(lease: LeaseInfo): Promise<void> {
@@ -175,6 +177,22 @@ function claimNext(exclude: Set<string>): string | null {
   return null;
 }
 
+// Slackless instances need only a port/lock slot, not a provisioned Slack app.
+// Prefer slot numbers with no poolN.env so a browser-only instance never squats
+// a slot a Slack-enabled worktree could use; fall back to configured ones.
+const MAX_PORT_SLOTS = 16; // slotPorts spaces port families 16 apart
+
+function claimPortSlot(exclude: Set<string>): string | null {
+  const configured = new Set(listSlots(store));
+  const all = Array.from({ length: MAX_PORT_SLOTS }, (_, i) => `pool${i + 1}`);
+  const ordered = [...all.filter((s) => !configured.has(s)), ...all.filter((s) => configured.has(s))];
+  for (const slot of ordered) {
+    if (exclude.has(slot)) continue;
+    if (claimSlotLock(slot, store)) return slot;
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
 function renderPhase(e: BootPhaseEvent): void {
   if (opts.json || e.event !== "phase") return;
   let mark = "…";
@@ -188,7 +206,7 @@ function renderPhase(e: BootPhaseEvent): void {
 async function bootOnSlot(slot: string, worktree: string, branch: string): Promise<BootResult> {
   const ports = slotPorts(slot);
   const lock = lockDir(slot, store);
-  const tokens = slotTokens(slot, store);
+  const tokens = withSlack ? slotTokens(slot, store) : null;
 
   writeFileSync(
     join(lock, "meta"),
@@ -200,6 +218,7 @@ async function bootOnSlot(slot: string, worktree: string, branch: string): Promi
       `web_port=${ports.web}`,
       `admin_port=${ports.admin}`,
       `portal_port=${ports.portal}`,
+      `slack=${withSlack ? "1" : "0"}`,
       "booting=1",
       `owner_pid=${process.pid}`,
       `created_epoch=${nowEpoch()}`,
@@ -208,11 +227,15 @@ async function bootOnSlot(slot: string, worktree: string, branch: string): Promi
     ].join("\n"),
   );
 
-  const swept = await sweepSlackTokenOrphans(tokens.appToken, new Set(), (m) => out(m));
-  if (swept.swept.length) out(`swept ${swept.swept.length} orphaned process(es) holding ${slot}'s Slack app token`);
+  if (tokens) {
+    const swept = tokens?.appToken
+      ? await sweepSlackTokenOrphans(tokens.appToken, new Set(), (m) => out(m))
+      : { swept: [] as string[] };
+    if (swept.swept.length) out(`swept ${swept.swept.length} orphaned process(es) holding ${slot}'s Slack app token`);
+  }
 
   const callerEnv = devCallerEnv();
-  const canaryChannel = tokens.canaryChannel || callerEnv.DEV_INSTANCE_CANARY_CHANNEL || "";
+  const canaryChannel = (tokens?.canaryChannel ?? "") || callerEnv.DEV_INSTANCE_CANARY_CHANNEL || "";
   writeFileSync(
     join(lock, "boot-spec.json"),
     JSON.stringify(
@@ -225,6 +248,7 @@ async function bootOnSlot(slot: string, worktree: string, branch: string): Promi
         sandbox: opts.sandbox as "local" | "sprites" | "auto",
         canaryChannel,
         strict: opts.strict,
+        slack: withSlack,
       },
       null,
       2,
@@ -256,7 +280,11 @@ async function bootOnSlot(slot: string, worktree: string, branch: string): Promi
     };
   }
 
-  out(`booting on slot ${slot} (@${tokens.handle || `agent-${slot}`})...`);
+  out(
+    tokens
+      ? `booting on slot ${slot} (@${tokens.handle || `agent-${slot}`})...`
+      : `booting on slot ${slot} (Slack off -- browser only)...`,
+  );
   let result: BootResult | null = null;
   await streamBootEvents(sock, (e) => {
     renderPhase(e);
@@ -270,15 +298,18 @@ function printSuccess(result: BootResult, branch: string): void {
   const lock = lockDir(result.slot, store);
   const meta = readMeta(lock);
   out("");
+  const slackLive = result.slackEnabled !== false;
   out(
-    `[ok] dev instance up -- slot ${result.slot} (VERIFIED: socket exclusive${result.canary ? `, canary ${result.canary.rttMs}ms round trip` : ", delivery unverified -- no canary channel"})`,
+    slackLive
+      ? `[ok] dev instance up -- slot ${result.slot} (VERIFIED: socket exclusive${result.canary ? `, canary ${result.canary.rttMs}ms round trip` : ", delivery unverified -- no canary channel"})`
+      : `[ok] dev instance up -- slot ${result.slot} (browser only -- Slack off)`,
   );
   out(`   branch : ${branch}`);
   out(`   portal : http://localhost:${ports.portal}  -> prod-style front door: the assistant at / and /admin`);
   out(
     `   core   : http://localhost:${ports.core}  (org=${orgId}, session_store=${meta.session_store}, run_store=${meta.run_store})`,
   );
-  out(`   slack  : @${result.handle}  -> mention it in example.slack.com to test`);
+  if (slackLive) out(`   slack  : @${result.handle}  -> mention it in example.slack.com to test`);
   out(`   web    : http://localhost:${ports.portal}/  (direct: http://localhost:${ports.web})`);
   out(`   admin  : http://localhost:${ports.portal}/admin/   (direct: http://localhost:${ports.admin})`);
   out(`   logs   : ${lock}/{core,web,admin,portal,supervisor}.log`);
@@ -326,26 +357,33 @@ async function cmdUp(): Promise<number> {
 
   const excluded = new Set<string>();
   const waitMax = Number(process.env.DEV_INSTANCE_WAIT || 120);
+  const claim = (): string | null => (withSlack ? claimNext(excluded) : claimPortSlot(excluded));
   for (let attempt = 1; attempt <= 3; attempt++) {
-    let slot = claimNext(excluded);
-    if (!slot && (await reclaimReclaimable())) slot = claimNext(excluded);
+    let slot = claim();
+    if (!slot && (await reclaimReclaimable())) slot = claim();
     if (!slot && waitMax > 0 && attempt === 1) {
       out("");
-      out(`all pool apps are in use by other worktrees -- waiting up to ${waitMax}s for a free slot.`);
+      out(
+        withSlack
+          ? `all pool apps are in use by other worktrees -- waiting up to ${waitMax}s for a free slot.`
+          : `all local slots are in use by other worktrees -- waiting up to ${waitMax}s for a free one.`,
+      );
       out(`  this is normal contention, not an error.  held now: ${takenSummary(store)}`);
       let waited = 0;
       while (waited < waitMax && !slot) {
         await sleep(5000);
         waited += 5;
         await reapStale();
-        if (await reclaimReclaimable()) slot = claimNext(excluded);
-        if (!slot) slot = claimNext(excluded);
+        if (await reclaimReclaimable()) slot = claim();
+        if (!slot) slot = claim();
       }
     }
     if (!slot) {
       emitJson({ ok: false, reason: "no free pool slot", held: takenSummary(store) });
       out(
-        `no free pool app. Another worktree holds each one -- 'dev down' one of them, add a poolN.env, or raise DEV_INSTANCE_WAIT.`,
+        withSlack
+          ? `no free pool app. Another worktree holds each one -- 'dev down' one of them, add a poolN.env, or raise DEV_INSTANCE_WAIT.`
+          : `no free local slot. 'dev down' another worktree or raise DEV_INSTANCE_WAIT.`,
       );
       return EXIT.noFreeSlot;
     }
@@ -404,7 +442,7 @@ async function cmdDown(): Promise<number> {
     return EXIT.ok;
   }
   const slot = mine.slot;
-  const tokens = slotTokens(slot, store);
+  const tokens = mine.meta.slack === "0" ? null : slotTokens(slot, store);
   await teardownLease(mine);
   const residue: string[] = [];
   for (const [name, port] of Object.entries(slotPorts(slot))) {
@@ -412,7 +450,9 @@ async function cmdDown(): Promise<number> {
     const holders = portHolders(port);
     if (holders.length) residue.push(`port ${port} (${name}) still held by pid(s) ${holders.join(",")}`);
   }
-  const swept = await sweepSlackTokenOrphans(tokens.appToken, new Set(), (m) => out(m));
+  const swept = tokens
+    ? await sweepSlackTokenOrphans(tokens.appToken, new Set(), (m) => out(m))
+    : { swept: [] as string[] };
   if (residue.length) {
     emitJson({ ok: false, slot, residue });
     out(`[!] down completed with residue:\n  ${residue.join("\n  ")}`);
@@ -435,7 +475,11 @@ async function cmdStatus(): Promise<number> {
     }
   })();
   const rows: Record<string, unknown>[] = [];
-  for (const slot of listSlots(store)) {
+  const leases = listLeases(store);
+  const known = [...new Set([...listSlots(store), ...leases.map((l) => l.slot)])].sort(
+    (a, b) => Number(a.replace(/^pool/, "")) - Number(b.replace(/^pool/, "")),
+  );
+  for (const slot of known) {
     const lock = lockDir(slot, store);
     const ports = slotPorts(slot);
     const flag = readSlotFlag(slot, store);
@@ -443,7 +487,7 @@ async function cmdStatus(): Promise<number> {
       rows.push({ slot, state: flag && slotFlagged(slot, store) ? `flagged(${flag.reason})` : "free", ports });
       continue;
     }
-    const lease = listLeases(store).find((l) => l.slot === slot);
+    const lease = leases.find((l) => l.slot === slot);
     if (!lease) continue;
     const sock = resolveSocketPath(lock);
     if (await supervisorReachable(sock)) {
@@ -511,7 +555,7 @@ async function cmdStatus(): Promise<number> {
   }
   const taken = rows.filter((r) => r.state !== "free" && !String(r.state).startsWith("flagged")).length;
   console.log("");
-  console.log(`${taken} taken / ${rows.length - taken} free / ${rows.length} pool apps total`);
+  console.log(`${taken} taken / ${rows.length - taken} free / ${rows.length} slots total`);
   console.log("live = supervised + verified. Reclaim never touches a slot with a fresh supervisor heartbeat.");
   return EXIT.ok;
 }
@@ -597,10 +641,10 @@ async function main(): Promise<number> {
     case "logs":
       return await cmdLogs();
     case "doctor":
-      return await runDoctor({ json: opts.json, fix: opts.fix, store });
+      return await runDoctor({ json: opts.json, fix: opts.fix, store, slack: withSlack });
     default:
       console.error(
-        "usage: dev [up|down|status|restart|canary|logs|doctor] [--json] [--force] [--rotate] [--strict] [--sandbox local|sprites|auto] [--no-watch] [--org id] [--fix]",
+        "usage: dev [up|down|status|restart|canary|logs|doctor] [--json] [--force] [--rotate] [--strict] [--sandbox local|sprites|auto] [--no-slack] [--no-watch] [--org id] [--fix]",
       );
       return EXIT.usage;
   }
diff --git a/scripts/dev/commands/doctor.ts b/scripts/dev/commands/doctor.ts
index 8bdbbf70..7c760e85 100644
--- a/scripts/dev/commands/doctor.ts
+++ b/scripts/dev/commands/doctor.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ interface Check {
   autoFixable?: boolean;
 }
 
-export async function runDoctor(opts: { json: boolean; fix: boolean; store: string }): Promise<number> {
+export async function runDoctor(opts: { json: boolean; fix: boolean; store: string; slack: boolean }): Promise<number> {
   const checks: Check[] = [];
   const worktree = (() => {
     try {
@@ -28,16 +28,23 @@ export async function runDoctor(opts: { json: boolean; fix: boolean; store: stri
     }
   })();
 
+  const mine = worktree ? myLease(worktree, opts.store) : null;
+  // A browser-only instance (--no-slack, or a live lease booted that way) needs no pool app.
+  const needsPool = opts.slack && mine?.meta.slack !== "0";
   const slots = listSlots(opts.store);
+  let poolDetail = "Slack off -- no pool slot needed";
+  if (needsPool) {
+    poolDetail = slots.length ? `${slots.length} pool slot(s) configured` : "no poolN.env files in the pool store";
+  }
   checks.push({
     id: "pool",
-    ok: slots.length > 0,
-    severity: "critical",
-    detail: slots.length ? `${slots.length} pool slot(s) configured` : "no poolN.env files in the pool store",
-    remedy: slots.length ? undefined : "add poolN.env files (see the dev-instance skill runbook)",
+    ok: !needsPool || slots.length > 0,
+    severity: needsPool ? "critical" : "info",
+    detail: poolDetail,
+    remedy: needsPool && !slots.length ? "add poolN.env files (see the dev-instance skill runbook)" : undefined,
   });
 
-  for (const slot of slots) {
+  for (const slot of needsPool ? slots : []) {
     const flag = readSlotFlag(slot, opts.store);
     if (flag && slotFlagged(slot, opts.store)) {
       checks.push({
@@ -53,7 +60,6 @@ export async function runDoctor(opts: { json: boolean; fix: boolean; store: stri
     }
   }
 
-  const mine = worktree ? myLease(worktree, opts.store) : null;
   if (!mine) {
     checks.push({ id: "lease", ok: true, severity: "info", detail: "no dev instance for this worktree" });
   } else {
@@ -83,37 +89,40 @@ export async function runDoctor(opts: { json: boolean; fix: boolean; store: stri
           autoFixable: child?.state !== "healthy",
         });
       }
-      const slack = status.children.core?.slack;
-      const conns = slack?.numConnections ?? null;
-      checks.push({
-        id: "slack-socket",
-        ok: conns === 1,
-        severity: "critical",
-        detail:
-          conns === null
-            ? "num_connections unknown (introspection tap degraded)"
-            : `num_connections=${conns}${slack?.helloHost ? ` (hello host ${slack.helloHost})` : ""}`,
-        remedy: conns !== null && conns > 1 ? "another live connection is stealing events: dev up --rotate" : undefined,
-      });
-      const canary = (await supervisorRequest(sock, "POST", "/canary", {}, 40_000)).body as {
-        ok: boolean;
-        rttMs?: number;
-        reason?: string;
-      };
-      const unconfigured = !canary.ok && /no canary channel configured/.test(canary.reason ?? "");
-      let eventDeliveryRemedy: string | undefined;
-      if (!canary.ok) {
-        eventDeliveryRemedy = unconfigured
-          ? "set CANARY_CHANNEL in the slot env (a channel the bot is in), then dev down && dev up"
-          : "events are not arriving: dev up --rotate (stolen/stale app), or check the slack log";
+      if (status.slackEnabled !== false) {
+        const slack = status.children.core?.slack;
+        const conns = slack?.numConnections ?? null;
+        checks.push({
+          id: "slack-socket",
+          ok: conns === 1,
+          severity: "critical",
+          detail:
+            conns === null
+              ? "num_connections unknown (introspection tap degraded)"
+              : `num_connections=${conns}${slack?.helloHost ? ` (hello host ${slack.helloHost})` : ""}`,
+          remedy:
+            conns !== null && conns > 1 ? "another live connection is stealing events: dev up --rotate" : undefined,
+        });
+        const canary = (await supervisorRequest(sock, "POST", "/canary", {}, 40_000)).body as {
+          ok: boolean;
+          rttMs?: number;
+          reason?: string;
+        };
+        const unconfigured = !canary.ok && /no canary channel configured/.test(canary.reason ?? "");
+        let eventDeliveryRemedy: string | undefined;
+        if (!canary.ok) {
+          eventDeliveryRemedy = unconfigured
+            ? "set CANARY_CHANNEL in the slot env (a channel the bot is in), then dev down && dev up"
+            : "events are not arriving: dev up --rotate (stolen/stale app), or check the slack log";
+        }
+        checks.push({
+          id: "event-delivery",
+          ok: canary.ok,
+          severity: unconfigured ? "warn" : "critical",
+          detail: canary.ok ? `canary round trip ${canary.rttMs}ms` : `canary failed: ${canary.reason}`,
+          remedy: eventDeliveryRemedy,
+        });
       }
-      checks.push({
-        id: "event-delivery",
-        ok: canary.ok,
-        severity: unconfigured ? "warn" : "critical",
-        detail: canary.ok ? `canary round trip ${canary.rttMs}ms` : `canary failed: ${canary.reason}`,
-        remedy: eventDeliveryRemedy,
-      });
       const gitNow = gitHead(worktree);
       checks.push({
         id: "git-drift",
diff --git a/scripts/dev/lib/types.ts b/scripts/dev/lib/types.ts
index 27cf7132..b424eb2f 100644
--- a/scripts/dev/lib/types.ts
+++ b/scripts/dev/lib/types.ts
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ export interface BootPhaseEvent {
 
 export interface BootResult {
   ok: boolean;
+  slackEnabled?: boolean;
   reason?: string;
   slot: string;
   handle?: string;
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ export interface StatusReport {
   sandbox: { backend: string; detail: string };
   durability: { sessionStore: string; runStore: string; databaseUrl: boolean };
   harness: string;
+  slackEnabled: boolean;
   watch: boolean;
   turnsLive: boolean;
   publicApiUrl: string | null;
@@ -109,6 +111,7 @@ export interface BootSpec {
   sandbox: "local" | "sprites" | "auto";
   canaryChannel?: string;
   strict: boolean;
+  slack?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface LeaseInfo {
diff --git a/scripts/dev/supervisor/main.ts b/scripts/dev/supervisor/main.ts
index 5eedb307..cd057da8 100644
--- a/scripts/dev/supervisor/main.ts
+++ b/scripts/dev/supervisor/main.ts
@@ -104,7 +104,10 @@ function readBootSpec(): BootSpec {
   return JSON.parse(readFileSync(join(lock, "boot-spec.json"), "utf8")) as BootSpec;
 }
 
+const slackOn = (spec: BootSpec): boolean => spec.slack !== false;
+
 async function resolveCanaryChannel(spec: BootSpec): Promise<void> {
+  if (!slackOn(spec)) return;
   if (spec.canaryChannel) {
     canaryChannel = spec.canaryChannel;
     canaryChannelSource = "configured";
@@ -272,6 +275,7 @@ function writeLegacyMeta(booting: boolean): void {
     session_store: durability.sessionStore,
     run_store: durability.runStore,
     watch: watch ? "1" : "0",
+    slack: slackOn(readBootSpec()) ? "1" : "0",
     created_epoch: String(startedAt),
     created: new Date(startedAt * 1000).toISOString().replace("T", " ").slice(0, 19),
   };
@@ -390,7 +394,7 @@ async function assembleAndPrepare(spec: BootSpec): Promise<SpecInputs> {
   if (!portalDevPrincipal) portalDevPrincipal = assembled.env.USER || "dev-admin";
   log(`portal auth: localhost bypass signs in as ${portalDevPrincipal}`);
 
-  const tokens = slotTokens(slot, store);
+  const tokens = slackOn(spec) ? slotTokens(slot, store) : null;
 
   return {
     worktree,
@@ -398,7 +402,7 @@ async function assembleAndPrepare(spec: BootSpec): Promise<SpecInputs> {
     baseEnv: assembled.env,
     watch: spec.watch,
     webUiBasePath: spec.callerEnv.DEV_INSTANCE_WEB_UI_BASE || "/",
-    slack: { botToken: tokens.botToken, appToken: tokens.appToken },
+    ...(tokens ? { slack: { botToken: tokens.botToken, appToken: tokens.appToken } } : {}),
     sessionStore,
     runStore,
     databaseUrl,
@@ -454,29 +458,34 @@ async function boot(): Promise<void> {
       process.exit(EXIT.childFailed);
     }
     phase("verify", "start");
-    await resolveCanaryChannel(spec);
-    const verified = await verifySlack(spec);
-    if (!verified.ok) {
-      bootResult = { ok: false, slot, ...verified.result } as BootResult;
-      phase("verify", "fail", bootResult.reason);
-      finishBoot();
-      await teardown(`verification failed: ${bootResult.reason}`);
-      process.exit(bootResult.reason === "slot-stolen" ? EXIT.slotStolen : EXIT.verificationFailed);
+    let verified: { ok: boolean; result: Partial<BootResult> } = { ok: true, result: {} };
+    if (slackOn(spec)) {
+      await resolveCanaryChannel(spec);
+      verified = await verifySlack(spec);
+      if (!verified.ok) {
+        bootResult = { ok: false, slackEnabled: true, slot, ...verified.result } as BootResult;
+        phase("verify", "fail", bootResult.reason);
+        finishBoot();
+        await teardown(`verification failed: ${bootResult.reason}`);
+        process.exit(bootResult.reason === "slot-stolen" ? EXIT.slotStolen : EXIT.verificationFailed);
+      }
+      phase(
+        "verify",
+        "ok",
+        verified.result.canary
+          ? `canary ${verified.result.canary.rttMs}ms, connections=1`
+          : "socket verified (no canary channel)",
+      );
+    } else {
+      phase("verify", "ok", "Slack off -- nothing to verify");
     }
-    phase(
-      "verify",
-      "ok",
-      verified.result.canary
-        ? `canary ${verified.result.canary.rttMs}ms, connections=1`
-        : "socket verified (no canary channel)",
-    );
     bootedAt = nowEpoch();
-    bootResult = { ok: true, slot, handle, ...verified.result } as BootResult;
+    bootResult = { ok: true, slackEnabled: slackOn(spec), slot, handle, ...verified.result } as BootResult;
     writeLegacyMeta(false);
     persistState();
     finishBoot();
     startLoops();
-    log(`live -- @${handle} on slot ${slot}`);
+    log(slackOn(spec) ? `live -- @${handle} on slot ${slot}` : `live -- browser only (Slack off) on slot ${slot}`);
   } catch (err) {
     bootResult = { ok: false, reason: errMessage(err), slot };
     phase(phaseName, "fail", errMessage(err));
@@ -516,7 +525,7 @@ function startLoops(): void {
         log(`${name} healthy again`);
       }
     }
-    const slackHealth = await fetchSlackHealth();
+    const slackHealth = slackOn(readBootSpec()) ? await fetchSlackHealth() : null;
     if (slackHealth) {
       if (slackHealth.lastActivityAt) {
         lastSlackActivitySec = Math.max(lastSlackActivitySec, Math.floor(slackHealth.lastActivityAt / 1000));
@@ -531,7 +540,7 @@ function startLoops(): void {
   }, HEALTH_INTERVAL_MS);
   health.unref();
 
-  if (CANARY_INTERVAL_MS > 0) {
+  if (CANARY_INTERVAL_MS > 0 && slackOn(readBootSpec())) {
     const canary = setInterval(async () => {
       if (!canaryChannel) await resolveCanaryChannel(readBootSpec());
       if (!canaryChannel) return;
@@ -662,8 +671,9 @@ async function reload(body: Record<string, unknown>): Promise<Record<string, unk
   const callerEnv = (body.callerEnv as Record<string, string> | undefined) ?? spec.callerEnv;
   const force = body.force === true;
   const dryRun = body.dryRun === true;
-  const freshCanary =
-    slotTokens(slot, store).canaryChannel || callerEnv.DEV_INSTANCE_CANARY_CHANNEL || spec.canaryChannel || "";
+  const freshCanary = slackOn(spec)
+    ? slotTokens(slot, store).canaryChannel || callerEnv.DEV_INSTANCE_CANARY_CHANNEL || spec.canaryChannel || ""
+    : "";
   const newSpec: BootSpec = { ...spec, callerEnv, canaryChannel: freshCanary };
   if (dryRun) {
     const assembled = await assembleEnv({
@@ -719,13 +729,25 @@ async function reload(body: Record<string, unknown>): Promise<Record<string, unk
         logTail: logTail(childSpec.name),
       };
   }
-  await resolveCanaryChannel(newSpec);
-  const verified = await verifySlack(newSpec);
-  if (!verified.ok) return { ok: false, reason: verified.result.reason, ...verified.result };
+  let verified: { ok: boolean; result: Partial<BootResult> } = { ok: true, result: {} };
+  if (slackOn(newSpec)) {
+    await resolveCanaryChannel(newSpec);
+    verified = await verifySlack(newSpec);
+    if (!verified.ok) return { ok: false, reason: verified.result.reason, ...verified.result };
+  }
   bootedAt = nowEpoch();
   writeLegacyMeta(false);
   persistState();
-  return { ok: true, noop: false, envSha: newEnvSha, gitSha: newGitSha, bootId, handle, ...verified.result };
+  return {
+    ok: true,
+    noop: false,
+    slackEnabled: slackOn(newSpec),
+    envSha: newEnvSha,
+    gitSha: newGitSha,
+    bootId,
+    handle,
+    ...verified.result,
+  };
 }
 
 async function statusReport(): Promise<StatusReport> {
@@ -733,7 +755,8 @@ async function statusReport(): Promise<StatusReport> {
   for (const [name, child] of children) {
     childStatuses[name] = child.status();
   }
-  const slackHealth = await fetchSlackHealth();
+  const slackEnabled = slackOn(readBootSpec());
+  const slackHealth = slackEnabled ? await fetchSlackHealth() : null;
   if (slackHealth && childStatuses.core) childStatuses.core.slack = slackHealth;
   return {
     slot,
@@ -754,6 +777,7 @@ async function statusReport(): Promise<StatusReport> {
       databaseUrl: Boolean(durability.databaseUrl),
     },
     harness,
+    slackEnabled,
     watch,
     turnsLive: harness !== "mock",
     publicApiUrl: sandbox?.publicApiUrl ?? null,
diff --git a/scripts/dev/supervisor/specs.ts b/scripts/dev/supervisor/specs.ts
index c1d308bd..33c0b364 100644
--- a/scripts/dev/supervisor/specs.ts
+++ b/scripts/dev/supervisor/specs.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ export interface SpecInputs {
   baseEnv: Record<string, string>;
   watch: boolean;
   webUiBasePath: string;
-  slack: { botToken: string; appToken: string };
+  slack?: { botToken: string; appToken: string };
   sessionStore: string;
   runStore: string;
   databaseUrl: string;
@@ -37,11 +37,15 @@ export function buildChildSpecs(i: SpecInputs): ChildSpec[] {
         ...(i.databaseUrl ? { DATABASE_URL: i.databaseUrl } : {}),
         ...(i.adminGrantsSeed ? { ADMIN_GRANTS: i.adminGrantsSeed } : {}),
         PUBLIC_WEB_URL: `http://localhost:${i.ports.portal}`,
-        SLACK_BOT_TOKEN: i.slack.botToken,
-        SLACK_APP_TOKEN: i.slack.appToken,
+        ...(i.slack
+          ? {
+              SLACK_BOT_TOKEN: i.slack.botToken,
+              SLACK_APP_TOKEN: i.slack.appToken,
+              DEV_INTROSPECTION: "1",
+              DEV_HEALTH_PORT: String(i.ports.slackHealth),
+            }
+          : {}),
         CORE_ORG_ID: orgId,
-        DEV_INTROSPECTION: "1",
-        DEV_HEALTH_PORT: String(i.ports.slackHealth),
         SHUTDOWN_DRAIN_MS: "2000",
       },
       port: i.ports.core,
diff --git a/test/dev-cli-lib.test.ts b/test/dev-cli-lib.test.ts
index d34267e6..d466b8ea 100644
--- a/test/dev-cli-lib.test.ts
+++ b/test/dev-cli-lib.test.ts
@@ -369,6 +369,30 @@ test("supervised children share the selected dev org", () => {
   assert.equal(buildChildSpecs(inputs).find((spec) => spec.name === "core")!.env.ORG_ID, "acme");
 });
 
+test("child specs omit Slack env when no Slack tokens are supplied", () => {
+  const inputs: SpecInputs = {
+    worktree: "/tmp/worktree",
+    ports: slotPorts("pool1"),
+    baseEnv: {},
+    watch: false,
+    webUiBasePath: "/",
+    sessionStore: "memory",
+    runStore: "memory",
+    databaseUrl: "",
+    adminGrantsSeed: "",
+    coreSigningSecret: "",
+    portalSessionSecret: "secret",
+    portalDevPrincipal: "U1",
+    sandboxEnv: {},
+  };
+  const core = buildChildSpecs(inputs).find((spec) => spec.name === "core")!;
+  assert.equal(core.env.SLACK_BOT_TOKEN, undefined);
+  assert.equal(core.env.SLACK_APP_TOKEN, undefined);
+  assert.equal(core.env.DEV_INTROSPECTION, undefined);
+  assert.equal(core.env.DEV_HEALTH_PORT, undefined);
+  assert.equal(core.env.CORE_ORG_ID, "acme");
+});
+
 test("formatAge renders the bash-compatible shapes", () => {
   assert.equal(formatAge(42), "42s");
   assert.equal(formatAge(150), "2m");