diff --git a/app/game-engine/test/turnDaemonLifecycle.test.ts b/app/game-engine/test/turnDaemonLifecycle.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..22bf7b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/game-engine/test/turnDaemonLifecycle.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+
+import {
+    FixedIntervalSchedule,
+    InMemoryControlQueue,
+    ManualClock,
+    TurnDaemonLifecycle,
+    type TurnProcessor,
+    type TurnRunResult,
+    type TurnStateStore,
+} from '../src/index.js';
+
+describe('TurnDaemonLifecycle', () => {
+    it('runs once when requestRun is enqueued', async () => {
+        const clock = new ManualClock(0);
+        const controlQueue = new InMemoryControlQueue();
+        const schedule = new FixedIntervalSchedule(1000);
+
+        const stateStore: TurnStateStore = {
+            loadLastTurnTime: async () => new Date(0),
+            saveLastTurnTime: async () => {},
+            loadCheckpoint: async () => undefined,
+            saveCheckpoint: async () => {},
+        };
+
+        let resolveRun: (() => void) | null = null;
+        const runCalled = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+            resolveRun = resolve;
+        });
+        const processor: TurnProcessor = {
+            run: vi.fn(async (): Promise<TurnRunResult> => {
+                resolveRun?.();
+                return {
+                    lastTurnTime: new Date(0).toISOString(),
+                    processedGenerals: 0,
+                    processedTurns: 1,
+                    durationMs: 0,
+                    partial: false,
+                };
+            }),
+        };
+
+        const lifecycle = new TurnDaemonLifecycle(
+            { clock, controlQueue, schedule, stateStore, processor },
+            {
+                profile: 'test',
+                defaultBudget: { budgetMs: 1000, maxGenerals: 10, catchUpCap: 1 },
+            },
+        );
+
+        const loop = lifecycle.start();
+        lifecycle.requestRun('manual');
+        await Promise.race([
+            runCalled,
+            new Promise((_, reject) => {
+                setTimeout(() => reject(new Error('run was not called')), 50);
+            }),
+        ]);
+
+        expect(processor.run).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+        await lifecycle.stop('test done');
+        await loop;
+    });
+});