diff --git a/src/cron/schedule.test.ts b/src/cron/schedule.test.ts
index 614a980f4cd..1b4a09744b1 100644
--- a/src/cron/schedule.test.ts
+++ b/src/cron/schedule.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 import {
+  coerceFiniteScheduleNumber,
   clearCronScheduleCacheForTest,
   computeNextRunAtMs,
   computePreviousRunAtMs,
@@ -76,6 +77,26 @@ describe("cron schedule", () => {
     expect(next).toBe(now + 30_000);
   });
 
+  it("handles string-typed everyMs and anchorMs from legacy persisted data", () => {
+    const anchor = Date.parse("2025-12-13T00:00:00.000Z");
+    const now = anchor + 10_000;
+    const next = computeNextRunAtMs(
+      {
+        kind: "every",
+        everyMs: "30000" as unknown as number,
+        anchorMs: `${anchor}` as unknown as number,
+      },
+      now,
+    );
+    expect(next).toBe(anchor + 30_000);
+  });
+
+  it("returns undefined for non-numeric string everyMs", () => {
+    const now = Date.now();
+    const next = computeNextRunAtMs({ kind: "every", everyMs: "abc" as unknown as number }, now);
+    expect(next).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
   it("advances when now matches anchor for every schedule", () => {
     const anchor = Date.parse("2025-12-13T00:00:00.000Z");
     const next = computeNextRunAtMs({ kind: "every", everyMs: 30_000, anchorMs: anchor }, anchor);
@@ -175,3 +196,23 @@ describe("cron schedule", () => {
     });
   });
 });
+
+describe("coerceFiniteScheduleNumber", () => {
+  it("returns finite numbers directly", () => {
+    expect(coerceFiniteScheduleNumber(60_000)).toBe(60_000);
+  });
+
+  it("parses numeric strings", () => {
+    expect(coerceFiniteScheduleNumber("60000")).toBe(60_000);
+    expect(coerceFiniteScheduleNumber(" 60000 ")).toBe(60_000);
+  });
+
+  it("returns undefined for invalid inputs", () => {
+    expect(coerceFiniteScheduleNumber("")).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(coerceFiniteScheduleNumber("abc")).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(coerceFiniteScheduleNumber(NaN)).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(coerceFiniteScheduleNumber(Infinity)).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(coerceFiniteScheduleNumber(null)).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(coerceFiniteScheduleNumber(undefined)).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/cron/schedule.ts b/src/cron/schedule.ts
index 4c31c0a1afe..e62e9e2e7ab 100644
--- a/src/cron/schedule.ts
+++ b/src/cron/schedule.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,21 @@ function resolveCachedCron(expr: string, timezone: string): Cron {
   return next;
 }
 
+export function coerceFiniteScheduleNumber(value: unknown): number | undefined {
+  if (typeof value === "number") {
+    return Number.isFinite(value) ? value : undefined;
+  }
+  if (typeof value === "string") {
+    const trimmed = value.trim();
+    if (!trimmed) {
+      return undefined;
+    }
+    const parsed = Number(trimmed);
+    return Number.isFinite(parsed) ? parsed : undefined;
+  }
+  return undefined;
+}
+
 export function computeNextRunAtMs(schedule: CronSchedule, nowMs: number): number | undefined {
   if (schedule.kind === "at") {
     // Handle both canonical `at` (string) and legacy `atMs` (number) fields.
@@ -51,8 +66,13 @@ export function computeNextRunAtMs(schedule: CronSchedule, nowMs: number): numbe
   }
 
   if (schedule.kind === "every") {
-    const everyMs = Math.max(1, Math.floor(schedule.everyMs));
-    const anchor = Math.max(0, Math.floor(schedule.anchorMs ?? nowMs));
+    const everyMsRaw = coerceFiniteScheduleNumber(schedule.everyMs);
+    if (everyMsRaw === undefined) {
+      return undefined;
+    }
+    const everyMs = Math.max(1, Math.floor(everyMsRaw));
+    const anchorRaw = coerceFiniteScheduleNumber(schedule.anchorMs);
+    const anchor = Math.max(0, Math.floor(anchorRaw ?? nowMs));
     if (nowMs < anchor) {
       return anchor;
     }
diff --git a/src/cron/service.issue-13992-regression.test.ts b/src/cron/service.issue-13992-regression.test.ts
index 58db3962f65..f3ee7121a70 100644
--- a/src/cron/service.issue-13992-regression.test.ts
+++ b/src/cron/service.issue-13992-regression.test.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ function createCronSystemEventJob(now: number, overrides: Partial<CronJob> = {})
 }
 
 describe("issue #13992 regression - cron jobs skip execution", () => {
-  it("should NOT recompute nextRunAtMs for past-due jobs during maintenance", () => {
+  it("should NOT recompute nextRunAtMs for past-due jobs by default", () => {
     const now = Date.now();
     const pastDue = now - 60_000; // 1 minute ago
 
@@ -40,6 +40,61 @@ describe("issue #13992 regression - cron jobs skip execution", () => {
     expect(job.state.nextRunAtMs).toBe(pastDue);
   });
 
+  it("should recompute past-due nextRunAtMs with recomputeExpired when slot already executed", () => {
+    // NOTE: in onTimer this recovery branch is used only when due scan found no
+    // runnable jobs; this unit test validates the maintenance helper contract.
+    const now = Date.now();
+    const pastDue = now - 60_000;
+
+    const job: CronJob = {
+      id: "test-job",
+      name: "test job",
+      enabled: true,
+      schedule: { kind: "cron", expr: "0 8 * * *", tz: "UTC" },
+      payload: { kind: "systemEvent", text: "test" },
+      sessionTarget: "main",
+      wakeMode: "next-heartbeat",
+      createdAtMs: now - 3600_000,
+      updatedAtMs: now - 3600_000,
+      state: {
+        nextRunAtMs: pastDue,
+        lastRunAtMs: pastDue + 1000,
+      },
+    };
+
+    const state = createMockCronStateForJobs({ jobs: [job], nowMs: now });
+    recomputeNextRunsForMaintenance(state, { recomputeExpired: true });
+
+    expect(typeof job.state.nextRunAtMs).toBe("number");
+    expect((job.state.nextRunAtMs ?? 0) > now).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("should NOT recompute past-due nextRunAtMs for running jobs even with recomputeExpired", () => {
+    const now = Date.now();
+    const pastDue = now - 60_000;
+
+    const job: CronJob = {
+      id: "test-job",
+      name: "test job",
+      enabled: true,
+      schedule: { kind: "cron", expr: "0 8 * * *", tz: "UTC" },
+      payload: { kind: "systemEvent", text: "test" },
+      sessionTarget: "main",
+      wakeMode: "next-heartbeat",
+      createdAtMs: now - 3600_000,
+      updatedAtMs: now - 3600_000,
+      state: {
+        nextRunAtMs: pastDue,
+        runningAtMs: now - 500,
+      },
+    };
+
+    const state = createMockCronStateForJobs({ jobs: [job], nowMs: now });
+    recomputeNextRunsForMaintenance(state, { recomputeExpired: true });
+
+    expect(job.state.nextRunAtMs).toBe(pastDue);
+  });
+
   it("should compute missing nextRunAtMs during maintenance", () => {
     const now = Date.now();
 
@@ -138,4 +193,78 @@ describe("issue #13992 regression - cron jobs skip execution", () => {
     expect(malformedJob.state.scheduleErrorCount).toBe(1);
     expect(malformedJob.state.lastError).toMatch(/^schedule error:/);
   });
+
+  it("recomputes expired slots already executed but keeps never-executed stale slots", () => {
+    const now = Date.now();
+    const pastDue = now - 60_000;
+    const alreadyExecuted: CronJob = {
+      id: "already-executed",
+      name: "already executed",
+      enabled: true,
+      schedule: { kind: "cron", expr: "0 8 * * *", tz: "UTC" },
+      payload: { kind: "systemEvent", text: "done" },
+      sessionTarget: "main",
+      wakeMode: "next-heartbeat",
+      createdAtMs: now - 86400_000,
+      updatedAtMs: now - 86400_000,
+      state: {
+        nextRunAtMs: pastDue,
+        lastRunAtMs: pastDue + 1000,
+      },
+    };
+
+    const neverExecuted: CronJob = {
+      id: "never-executed",
+      name: "never executed",
+      enabled: true,
+      schedule: { kind: "cron", expr: "0 8 * * *", tz: "UTC" },
+      payload: { kind: "systemEvent", text: "pending" },
+      sessionTarget: "main",
+      wakeMode: "next-heartbeat",
+      createdAtMs: now - 86400_000 * 2,
+      updatedAtMs: now - 86400_000 * 2,
+      state: {
+        nextRunAtMs: pastDue,
+        lastRunAtMs: pastDue - 86400_000,
+      },
+    };
+
+    const state = createMockCronStateForJobs({
+      jobs: [alreadyExecuted, neverExecuted],
+      nowMs: now,
+    });
+    recomputeNextRunsForMaintenance(state, { recomputeExpired: true });
+
+    expect((alreadyExecuted.state.nextRunAtMs ?? 0) > now).toBe(true);
+    expect(neverExecuted.state.nextRunAtMs).toBe(pastDue);
+  });
+
+  it("does not advance overdue never-executed jobs when stale running marker is cleared", () => {
+    const now = Date.now();
+    const pastDue = now - 60_000;
+    const staleRunningAt = now - 3 * 60 * 60_000;
+
+    const job: CronJob = {
+      id: "stale-running-overdue",
+      name: "stale running overdue",
+      enabled: true,
+      schedule: { kind: "cron", expr: "0 8 * * *", tz: "UTC" },
+      payload: { kind: "systemEvent", text: "test" },
+      sessionTarget: "main",
+      wakeMode: "next-heartbeat",
+      createdAtMs: now - 86400_000,
+      updatedAtMs: now - 86400_000,
+      state: {
+        nextRunAtMs: pastDue,
+        runningAtMs: staleRunningAt,
+        lastRunAtMs: pastDue - 3600_000,
+      },
+    };
+
+    const state = createMockCronStateForJobs({ jobs: [job], nowMs: now });
+    recomputeNextRunsForMaintenance(state, { recomputeExpired: true, nowMs: now });
+
+    expect(job.state.runningAtMs).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(job.state.nextRunAtMs).toBe(pastDue);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/cron/service.issue-17852-daily-skip.test.ts b/src/cron/service.issue-17852-daily-skip.test.ts
index 3ec2a75466b..62f7d5316ce 100644
--- a/src/cron/service.issue-17852-daily-skip.test.ts
+++ b/src/cron/service.issue-17852-daily-skip.test.ts
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ describe("issue #17852 - daily cron jobs should not skip days", () => {
     };
   }
 
-  it("recomputeNextRunsForMaintenance should NOT advance past-due nextRunAtMs", () => {
+  it("recomputeNextRunsForMaintenance should NOT advance past-due nextRunAtMs by default", () => {
     // Simulate: job scheduled for 3:00 AM, timer processing happens at 3:00:01
     // The job was NOT executed in this tick (e.g., it became due between
     // findDueJobs and the post-execution block).
@@ -53,6 +53,20 @@ describe("issue #17852 - daily cron jobs should not skip days", () => {
     expect(job.state.nextRunAtMs).toBe(threeAM);
   });
 
+  it("recomputeNextRunsForMaintenance can advance expired nextRunAtMs on recovery path when slot already executed", () => {
+    const threeAM = Date.parse("2026-02-16T03:00:00.000Z");
+    const now = threeAM + 1_000; // 3:00:01
+
+    const job = createDailyThreeAmJob(threeAM);
+    job.state.lastRunAtMs = threeAM + 1;
+
+    const state = createMockCronStateForJobs({ jobs: [job], nowMs: now });
+    recomputeNextRunsForMaintenance(state, { recomputeExpired: true });
+
+    const tomorrowThreeAM = threeAM + DAY_MS;
+    expect(job.state.nextRunAtMs).toBe(tomorrowThreeAM);
+  });
+
   it("full recomputeNextRuns WOULD silently advance past-due nextRunAtMs (the bug)", () => {
     // This test documents the buggy behavior that caused #17852.
     // The full recomputeNextRuns sees a past-due nextRunAtMs and advances it
diff --git a/src/cron/service.issue-regressions.test.ts b/src/cron/service.issue-regressions.test.ts
index ed6a927686e..9665d40ec55 100644
--- a/src/cron/service.issue-regressions.test.ts
+++ b/src/cron/service.issue-regressions.test.ts
@@ -423,10 +423,11 @@ describe("Cron issue regressions", () => {
     cron.stop();
   });
 
-  it("does not advance unrelated due jobs after manual cron.run", async () => {
+  it("manual cron.run preserves unrelated due jobs but advances already-executed stale slots", async () => {
     const store = makeStorePath();
     const nowMs = Date.now();
     const dueNextRunAtMs = nowMs - 1_000;
+    const staleExecutedNextRunAtMs = nowMs - 2_000;
 
     await writeCronJobs(store.storePath, [
       createIsolatedRegressionJob({
@@ -445,6 +446,17 @@ describe("Cron issue regressions", () => {
         payload: { kind: "agentTurn", message: "unrelated due" },
         state: { nextRunAtMs: dueNextRunAtMs },
       }),
+      createIsolatedRegressionJob({
+        id: "unrelated-stale-executed",
+        name: "unrelated stale executed",
+        scheduledAt: nowMs,
+        schedule: { kind: "cron", expr: "*/5 * * * *", tz: "UTC" },
+        payload: { kind: "agentTurn", message: "unrelated stale executed" },
+        state: {
+          nextRunAtMs: staleExecutedNextRunAtMs,
+          lastRunAtMs: staleExecutedNextRunAtMs + 1,
+        },
+      }),
     ]);
 
     const cron = await startCronForStore({
@@ -458,8 +470,11 @@ describe("Cron issue regressions", () => {
 
     const jobs = await cron.list({ includeDisabled: true });
     const unrelated = jobs.find((entry) => entry.id === "unrelated-due");
+    const staleExecuted = jobs.find((entry) => entry.id === "unrelated-stale-executed");
     expect(unrelated).toBeDefined();
     expect(unrelated?.state.nextRunAtMs).toBe(dueNextRunAtMs);
+    expect(staleExecuted).toBeDefined();
+    expect((staleExecuted?.state.nextRunAtMs ?? 0) > nowMs).toBe(true);
 
     cron.stop();
   });
@@ -1499,4 +1514,41 @@ describe("Cron issue regressions", () => {
     expect(job.state.nextRunAtMs).toBe(endedAt + 30_000);
     expect(job.enabled).toBe(true);
   });
+
+  it("force run preserves 'every' anchor while recording manual lastRunAtMs", () => {
+    const nowMs = Date.now();
+    const everyMs = 24 * 60 * 60 * 1_000;
+    const lastScheduledRunMs = nowMs - 6 * 60 * 60 * 1_000;
+    const expectedNextMs = lastScheduledRunMs + everyMs;
+
+    const job: CronJob = {
+      id: "daily-job",
+      name: "Daily job",
+      enabled: true,
+      createdAtMs: lastScheduledRunMs - everyMs,
+      updatedAtMs: lastScheduledRunMs,
+      schedule: { kind: "every", everyMs, anchorMs: lastScheduledRunMs - everyMs },
+      sessionTarget: "main",
+      wakeMode: "next-heartbeat",
+      payload: { kind: "systemEvent", text: "daily check-in" },
+      state: {
+        lastRunAtMs: lastScheduledRunMs,
+        nextRunAtMs: expectedNextMs,
+      },
+    };
+    const state = createRunningCronServiceState({
+      storePath: "/tmp/cron-force-run-anchor-test.json",
+      log: noopLogger as never,
+      nowMs: () => nowMs,
+      jobs: [job],
+    });
+
+    const startedAt = nowMs;
+    const endedAt = nowMs + 2_000;
+
+    applyJobResult(state, job, { status: "ok", startedAt, endedAt }, { preserveSchedule: true });
+
+    expect(job.state.lastRunAtMs).toBe(startedAt);
+    expect(job.state.nextRunAtMs).toBe(expectedNextMs);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/cron/service/jobs.ts b/src/cron/service/jobs.ts
index 6ae2e130412..4f3b5682a44 100644
--- a/src/cron/service/jobs.ts
+++ b/src/cron/service/jobs.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 import crypto from "node:crypto";
 import { normalizeAgentId } from "../../routing/session-key.js";
 import { parseAbsoluteTimeMs } from "../parse.js";
-import { computeNextRunAtMs, computePreviousRunAtMs } from "../schedule.js";
+import {
+  coerceFiniteScheduleNumber,
+  computeNextRunAtMs,
+  computePreviousRunAtMs,
+} from "../schedule.js";
 import {
   normalizeCronStaggerMs,
   resolveCronStaggerMs,
@@ -31,6 +35,10 @@ const STUCK_RUN_MS = 2 * 60 * 60 * 1000;
 const STAGGER_OFFSET_CACHE_MAX = 4096;
 const staggerOffsetCache = new Map<string, number>();
 
+function isFiniteTimestamp(value: unknown): value is number {
+  return typeof value === "number" && Number.isFinite(value);
+}
+
 function resolveStableCronOffsetMs(jobId: string, staggerMs: number) {
   if (staggerMs <= 1) {
     return 0;
@@ -108,17 +116,13 @@ function computeStaggeredCronPreviousRunAtMs(job: CronJob, nowMs: number) {
   return undefined;
 }
 
-function isFiniteTimestamp(value: unknown): value is number {
-  return typeof value === "number" && Number.isFinite(value);
-}
-
 function resolveEveryAnchorMs(params: {
   schedule: { everyMs: number; anchorMs?: number };
   fallbackAnchorMs: number;
 }) {
-  const raw = params.schedule.anchorMs;
-  if (isFiniteTimestamp(raw)) {
-    return Math.max(0, Math.floor(raw));
+  const coerced = coerceFiniteScheduleNumber(params.schedule.anchorMs);
+  if (coerced !== undefined) {
+    return Math.max(0, Math.floor(coerced));
   }
   if (isFiniteTimestamp(params.fallbackAnchorMs)) {
     return Math.max(0, Math.floor(params.fallbackAnchorMs));
@@ -229,7 +233,11 @@ export function computeJobNextRunAtMs(job: CronJob, nowMs: number): number | und
     return undefined;
   }
   if (job.schedule.kind === "every") {
-    const everyMs = Math.max(1, Math.floor(job.schedule.everyMs));
+    const everyMsRaw = coerceFiniteScheduleNumber(job.schedule.everyMs);
+    if (everyMsRaw === undefined) {
+      return undefined;
+    }
+    const everyMs = Math.max(1, Math.floor(everyMsRaw));
     const lastRunAtMs = job.state.lastRunAtMs;
     if (typeof lastRunAtMs === "number" && Number.isFinite(lastRunAtMs)) {
       const nextFromLastRun = Math.floor(lastRunAtMs) + everyMs;
@@ -374,21 +382,21 @@ function normalizeJobTickState(params: { state: CronServiceState; job: CronJob;
 function walkSchedulableJobs(
   state: CronServiceState,
   fn: (params: { job: CronJob; nowMs: number }) => boolean,
+  nowMs = state.deps.nowMs(),
 ): boolean {
   if (!state.store) {
     return false;
   }
   let changed = false;
-  const now = state.deps.nowMs();
   for (const job of state.store.jobs) {
-    const tick = normalizeJobTickState({ state, job, nowMs: now });
+    const tick = normalizeJobTickState({ state, job, nowMs });
     if (tick.changed) {
       changed = true;
     }
     if (tick.skip) {
       continue;
     }
-    if (fn({ job, nowMs: now })) {
+    if (fn({ job, nowMs })) {
       changed = true;
     }
   }
@@ -440,19 +448,39 @@ export function recomputeNextRuns(state: CronServiceState): boolean {
  * to prevent silently advancing past-due nextRunAtMs values without execution
  * (see #13992).
  */
-export function recomputeNextRunsForMaintenance(state: CronServiceState): boolean {
-  return walkSchedulableJobs(state, ({ job, nowMs: now }) => {
-    let changed = false;
-    // Only compute missing nextRunAtMs, do NOT recompute existing ones.
-    // If a job was past-due but not found by findDueJobs, recomputing would
-    // cause it to be silently skipped.
-    if (!isFiniteTimestamp(job.state.nextRunAtMs)) {
-      if (recomputeJobNextRunAtMs({ state, job, nowMs: now })) {
-        changed = true;
+export function recomputeNextRunsForMaintenance(
+  state: CronServiceState,
+  opts?: { recomputeExpired?: boolean; nowMs?: number },
+): boolean {
+  const recomputeExpired = opts?.recomputeExpired ?? false;
+  return walkSchedulableJobs(
+    state,
+    ({ job, nowMs: now }) => {
+      let changed = false;
+      if (!isFiniteTimestamp(job.state.nextRunAtMs)) {
+        // Missing or invalid nextRunAtMs is always repaired.
+        if (recomputeJobNextRunAtMs({ state, job, nowMs: now })) {
+          changed = true;
+        }
+      } else if (
+        recomputeExpired &&
+        now >= job.state.nextRunAtMs &&
+        typeof job.state.runningAtMs !== "number"
+      ) {
+        // Only advance when the expired slot was already executed.
+        // If not, preserve the past-due value so the job can still run.
+        const lastRun = job.state.lastRunAtMs;
+        const alreadyExecutedSlot = isFiniteTimestamp(lastRun) && lastRun >= job.state.nextRunAtMs;
+        if (alreadyExecutedSlot) {
+          if (recomputeJobNextRunAtMs({ state, job, nowMs: now })) {
+            changed = true;
+          }
+        }
       }
-    }
-    return changed;
-  });
+      return changed;
+    },
+    opts?.nowMs,
+  );
 }
 
 export function nextWakeAtMs(state: CronServiceState) {
diff --git a/src/cron/service/ops.ts b/src/cron/service/ops.ts
index dd02ca4ab6d..14758c5df34 100644
--- a/src/cron/service/ops.ts
+++ b/src/cron/service/ops.ts
@@ -398,13 +398,18 @@ export async function run(state: CronServiceState, id: string, mode?: "due" | "f
       return;
     }
 
-    const shouldDelete = applyJobResult(state, job, {
-      status: coreResult.status,
-      error: coreResult.error,
-      delivered: coreResult.delivered,
-      startedAt,
-      endedAt,
-    });
+    const shouldDelete = applyJobResult(
+      state,
+      job,
+      {
+        status: coreResult.status,
+        error: coreResult.error,
+        delivered: coreResult.delivered,
+        startedAt,
+        endedAt,
+      },
+      { preserveSchedule: mode === "force" },
+    );
 
     emit(state, {
       jobId: job.id,
@@ -450,7 +455,7 @@ export async function run(state: CronServiceState, id: string, mode?: "due" | "f
       snapshot: postRunSnapshot,
       removed: postRunRemoved,
     });
-    recomputeNextRunsForMaintenance(state);
+    recomputeNextRunsForMaintenance(state, { recomputeExpired: true });
     await persist(state);
     armTimer(state);
   });
diff --git a/src/cron/service/store.ts b/src/cron/service/store.ts
index dca0bde2efe..0a52197bf81 100644
--- a/src/cron/service/store.ts
+++ b/src/cron/service/store.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
 } from "../legacy-delivery.js";
 import { parseAbsoluteTimeMs } from "../parse.js";
 import { migrateLegacyCronPayload } from "../payload-migration.js";
+import { coerceFiniteScheduleNumber } from "../schedule.js";
 import { normalizeCronStaggerMs, resolveDefaultCronStaggerMs } from "../stagger.js";
 import { loadCronStore, saveCronStore } from "../store.js";
 import type { CronJob } from "../types.js";
@@ -411,15 +412,18 @@ export async function ensureLoaded(
       }
 
       const everyMsRaw = sched.everyMs;
-      const everyMs =
-        typeof everyMsRaw === "number" && Number.isFinite(everyMsRaw)
-          ? Math.floor(everyMsRaw)
-          : null;
+      const everyMsCoerced = coerceFiniteScheduleNumber(everyMsRaw);
+      const everyMs = everyMsCoerced !== undefined ? Math.floor(everyMsCoerced) : null;
+      if (everyMs !== null && everyMsRaw !== everyMs) {
+        sched.everyMs = everyMs;
+        mutated = true;
+      }
       if ((kind === "every" || sched.kind === "every") && everyMs !== null) {
         const anchorRaw = sched.anchorMs;
+        const anchorCoerced = coerceFiniteScheduleNumber(anchorRaw);
         const normalizedAnchor =
-          typeof anchorRaw === "number" && Number.isFinite(anchorRaw)
-            ? Math.max(0, Math.floor(anchorRaw))
+          anchorCoerced !== undefined
+            ? Math.max(0, Math.floor(anchorCoerced))
             : typeof raw.createdAtMs === "number" && Number.isFinite(raw.createdAtMs)
               ? Math.max(0, Math.floor(raw.createdAtMs))
               : typeof raw.updatedAtMs === "number" && Number.isFinite(raw.updatedAtMs)
diff --git a/src/cron/service/timer.ts b/src/cron/service/timer.ts
index f871edcdd49..8d1d40024ed 100644
--- a/src/cron/service/timer.ts
+++ b/src/cron/service/timer.ts
@@ -287,7 +287,21 @@ export function applyJobResult(
     startedAt: number;
     endedAt: number;
   },
+  opts?: {
+    // Preserve recurring "every" anchors for manual force runs.
+    preserveSchedule?: boolean;
+  },
 ): boolean {
+  const prevLastRunAtMs = job.state.lastRunAtMs;
+  const computeNextWithPreservedLastRun = (nowMs: number) => {
+    const saved = job.state.lastRunAtMs;
+    job.state.lastRunAtMs = prevLastRunAtMs;
+    try {
+      return computeJobNextRunAtMs(job, nowMs);
+    } finally {
+      job.state.lastRunAtMs = saved;
+    }
+  };
   job.state.runningAtMs = undefined;
   job.state.lastRunAtMs = result.startedAt;
   job.state.lastRunStatus = result.status;
@@ -385,7 +399,10 @@ export function applyJobResult(
       const backoff = errorBackoffMs(job.state.consecutiveErrors ?? 1);
       let normalNext: number | undefined;
       try {
-        normalNext = computeJobNextRunAtMs(job, result.endedAt);
+        normalNext =
+          opts?.preserveSchedule && job.schedule.kind === "every"
+            ? computeNextWithPreservedLastRun(result.endedAt)
+            : computeJobNextRunAtMs(job, result.endedAt);
       } catch (err) {
         // If the schedule expression/timezone throws (croner edge cases),
         // record the schedule error (auto-disables after repeated failures)
@@ -408,7 +425,10 @@ export function applyJobResult(
     } else if (job.enabled) {
       let naturalNext: number | undefined;
       try {
-        naturalNext = computeJobNextRunAtMs(job, result.endedAt);
+        naturalNext =
+          opts?.preserveSchedule && job.schedule.kind === "every"
+            ? computeNextWithPreservedLastRun(result.endedAt)
+            : computeJobNextRunAtMs(job, result.endedAt);
       } catch (err) {
         // If the schedule expression/timezone throws (croner edge cases),
         // record the schedule error (auto-disables after repeated failures)
@@ -552,13 +572,17 @@ export async function onTimer(state: CronServiceState) {
   try {
     const dueJobs = await locked(state, async () => {
       await ensureLoaded(state, { forceReload: true, skipRecompute: true });
-      const due = findDueJobs(state);
+      const dueCheckNow = state.deps.nowMs();
+      const due = collectRunnableJobs(state, dueCheckNow);
 
       if (due.length === 0) {
         // Use maintenance-only recompute to avoid advancing past-due nextRunAtMs
         // values without execution. This prevents jobs from being silently skipped
         // when the timer wakes up but findDueJobs returns empty (see #13992).
-        const changed = recomputeNextRunsForMaintenance(state);
+        const changed = recomputeNextRunsForMaintenance(state, {
+          recomputeExpired: true,
+          nowMs: dueCheckNow,
+        });
         if (changed) {
           await persist(state);
         }
@@ -688,14 +712,6 @@ export async function onTimer(state: CronServiceState) {
   }
 }
 
-function findDueJobs(state: CronServiceState): CronJob[] {
-  if (!state.store) {
-    return [];
-  }
-  const now = state.deps.nowMs();
-  return collectRunnableJobs(state, now);
-}
-
 function isRunnableJob(params: {
   job: CronJob;
   nowMs: number;