diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/eic_tunnel_pool.go b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/eic_tunnel_pool.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..20b2e269
--- /dev/null
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/eic_tunnel_pool.go
@@ -0,0 +1,457 @@
+package handlers
+
+// eic_tunnel_pool.go — refcounted pool for EIC SSH tunnels keyed on
+// instanceID. Reuses one tunnel across N file ops, amortising the
+// ssh-keygen + SendSSHPublicKey + open-tunnel + waitForPort cost
+// (~3-5s) over multiple cats/finds (~50-200ms each).
+//
+// Origin: core#11 — canvas detail-panel config + filesystem load
+// took ~20s. ConfigTab fans out 4 GETs serially; the slowest is
+// /files/config.yaml which dispatches to readFileViaEIC. Without a
+// pool, every readFileViaEIC + listFilesViaEIC + writeFileViaEIC +
+// deleteFileViaEIC pays the full setup cost even when fired
+// back-to-back on the same workspace EC2.
+//
+// The pool keeps one eicSSHSession alive per instanceID for up to
+// poolTTL. SendSSHPublicKey grants a 60s key validity, so poolTTL
+// must stay strictly below that to avoid serving requests on a
+// just-expired key. We default to 50s with a 10s safety margin.
+//
+// Concurrency model:
+//
+//   - Single mutex guards the entries map.
+//   - Slow path (tunnel setup) runs OUTSIDE the lock, gated by an
+//     "intent" placeholder so concurrent acquires for the same
+//     instanceID don't both build a tunnel — the loser drops its
+//     setup and uses the winner's.
+//   - Refcount on each entry; eviction blocked while refcount > 0.
+//   - Janitor goroutine sweeps every poolJanitorInterval, drops
+//     entries where refcount == 0 && expiresAt < now.
+//
+// Test injection:
+//
+//   - poolSetupTunnel is a package-level var so tests can swap the
+//     slow path for a counting stub. Production wires it to
+//     realWithEICTunnel-style setup.
+//   - withEICTunnel (the public, single-shot API) is also a var
+//     (already, see template_files_eic.go). It's rebound here to
+//     pooledWithEICTunnel which routes through globalEICTunnelPool.
+//   - Tests that need single-shot behaviour can set poolTTL = 0,
+//     which makes pooledWithEICTunnel fall through to the underlying
+//     setup directly (no pool entry kept).
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// poolTTL is the maximum age of a pooled tunnel. Must be strictly
+// less than the SendSSHPublicKey grant window (60s) so we never
+// serve a request through a key that's about to expire mid-op.
+//
+// Configurable via init-time wiring (see initEICTunnelPool); not a
+// const so tests can pin TTL=0 (disable pooling) or TTL=50ms (drive
+// eviction tests).
+var poolTTL = 50 * time.Second
+
+// poolJanitorInterval is how often the janitor goroutine sweeps for
+// expired idle entries. Tighter than poolTTL so eviction is timely;
+// loose enough that the goroutine doesn't burn CPU.
+var poolJanitorInterval = 10 * time.Second
+
+// poolMaxEntries caps simultaneous instanceIDs the pool tracks.
+// Beyond this, new acquires evict the LRU entry. Defends against a
+// pathological caller (e.g. a sweep over hundreds of workspace
+// EC2s) from leaking unbounded tunnel processes. 32 is a generous
+// ceiling for the canvas use case (one human navigates ≤ ~5
+// workspaces at a time).
+var poolMaxEntries = 32
+
+// poolSetupTunnel is the slow-path tunnel constructor. Wrapped in a
+// var so tests can inject a counter stub. Returns a session and a
+// cleanup function (closes the open-tunnel subprocess + scrubs the
+// ephemeral keydir). nil session + non-nil err means setup failed
+// and there is nothing to clean up.
+//
+// Production wiring lives in eic_tunnel_pool_setup.go (a thin shim
+// over the existing realWithEICTunnel logic).
+var poolSetupTunnel = func(ctx context.Context, instanceID string) (
+	sess eicSSHSession, cleanup func(), err error) {
+	return setupRealEICTunnel(ctx, instanceID)
+}
+
+// pooledTunnel is one entry in the pool. session is shared by N
+// concurrent fn calls; cleanup runs once when refcount returns to
+// zero AND the entry is past expiresAt or evicted.
+//
+// lastUsed tracks the most recent acquire time for LRU bookkeeping
+// (overflow eviction). expiresAt is set at construction and not
+// extended on use — a tunnel cannot live past poolTTL even if it's
+// hot, because the underlying SendSSHPublicKey grant expires.
+type pooledTunnel struct {
+	session   eicSSHSession
+	cleanup   func()
+	expiresAt time.Time
+	lastUsed  time.Time
+	refcount  int
+	poisoned  bool // true if a fn returned a tunnel-fatal error; do not reuse
+}
+
+// eicTunnelPool is the package-level pool. Single instance lives
+// in globalEICTunnelPool; constructor runs lazily on first acquire.
+type eicTunnelPool struct {
+	mu      sync.Mutex
+	entries map[string]*pooledTunnel
+	// pendingSetups guards concurrent setup for the same instanceID.
+	// First acquirer takes the slot; later ones wait on the channel.
+	pendingSetups map[string]chan struct{}
+	stopJanitor   chan struct{}
+	// janitorInterval is captured at pool construction from the
+	// package-level poolJanitorInterval var. Captured (not re-read on
+	// every tick) so a test that swaps the package var via t.Cleanup
+	// after a global pool's janitor is already running can't race
+	// with that goroutine's ticker read. The global pool is created
+	// lazily once per process via sync.Once; before this capture
+	// landed, every test that touched poolJanitorInterval after the
+	// global pool's first-touch raced the janitor (caught by -race
+	// on staging tip 249dbc6a — TestPooledWithEICTunnel_PanicPoisonsEntry).
+	// Tests still get the new value on a freshPool() because they
+	// set the package var BEFORE calling newEICTunnelPool().
+	janitorInterval time.Duration
+}
+
+var (
+	globalEICTunnelPool     *eicTunnelPool
+	globalEICTunnelPoolOnce sync.Once
+)
+
+// getEICTunnelPool returns the singleton pool, lazy-initialising on
+// first call. Idempotent.
+func getEICTunnelPool() *eicTunnelPool {
+	globalEICTunnelPoolOnce.Do(func() {
+		globalEICTunnelPool = newEICTunnelPool()
+		go globalEICTunnelPool.janitor()
+	})
+	return globalEICTunnelPool
+}
+
+// newEICTunnelPool constructs an empty pool. Exported so tests can
+// build isolated pools without sharing the singleton.
+//
+// Captures poolJanitorInterval at construction time so the janitor
+// goroutine doesn't race with t.Cleanup-driven swaps of the package
+// var. See the janitorInterval field comment for the failure mode.
+func newEICTunnelPool() *eicTunnelPool {
+	return &eicTunnelPool{
+		entries:         map[string]*pooledTunnel{},
+		pendingSetups:   map[string]chan struct{}{},
+		stopJanitor:     make(chan struct{}),
+		janitorInterval: poolJanitorInterval,
+	}
+}
+
+// acquire returns a usable session for instanceID. If a healthy entry
+// exists, refcount++ and return it. If a setup is in flight for the
+// same instanceID, wait for it. Otherwise build one (slow path).
+//
+// done() must be called by the caller when the op finishes. It
+// decrements refcount and triggers cleanup if the entry is past
+// TTL or poisoned and refcount==0.
+//
+// Errors from the slow path propagate; pool state is not modified
+// for failed setups (no poisoned entry created — that's only for
+// fn-returned errors on a previously-good session).
+func (p *eicTunnelPool) acquire(ctx context.Context, instanceID string) (
+	sess eicSSHSession, done func(poisoned bool), err error) {
+
+	if poolTTL <= 0 {
+		// Pool disabled (TTL=0 mode for tests / opt-out). Fall
+		// through to a direct setup with caller-driven cleanup.
+		s, cleanup, err := poolSetupTunnel(ctx, instanceID)
+		if err != nil {
+			return eicSSHSession{}, nil, err
+		}
+		return s, func(_ bool) { cleanup() }, nil
+	}
+
+	for {
+		p.mu.Lock()
+		if pt, ok := p.entries[instanceID]; ok && !pt.poisoned && pt.expiresAt.After(time.Now()) {
+			pt.refcount++
+			pt.lastUsed = time.Now()
+			p.mu.Unlock()
+			return pt.session, p.releaser(instanceID, pt), nil
+		}
+		// Either no entry, expired entry, or poisoned entry. If a
+		// setup is already in flight, wait and retry.
+		if pending, ok := p.pendingSetups[instanceID]; ok {
+			p.mu.Unlock()
+			select {
+			case <-pending:
+				continue // re-check the entries map
+			case <-ctx.Done():
+				return eicSSHSession{}, nil, ctx.Err()
+			}
+		}
+		// Drop expired/poisoned entry now (we'll cleanup outside
+		// the lock — the entry is unreferenced or we'd not be here).
+		var oldCleanup func()
+		if pt, ok := p.entries[instanceID]; ok {
+			if pt.refcount == 0 {
+				oldCleanup = pt.cleanup
+				delete(p.entries, instanceID)
+			}
+		}
+		// Reserve the setup slot.
+		signal := make(chan struct{})
+		p.pendingSetups[instanceID] = signal
+		p.mu.Unlock()
+
+		if oldCleanup != nil {
+			go oldCleanup()
+		}
+
+		// Slow path: build a new tunnel. Anything that goes wrong
+		// here cleans up the pendingSetups slot and propagates to
+		// the caller without leaving the pool in a state where the
+		// next acquire blocks waiting on a signal that never fires.
+		newSess, cleanup, setupErr := poolSetupTunnel(ctx, instanceID)
+
+		p.mu.Lock()
+		delete(p.pendingSetups, instanceID)
+		close(signal)
+
+		if setupErr != nil {
+			p.mu.Unlock()
+			return eicSSHSession{}, nil, fmt.Errorf("eic tunnel setup: %w", setupErr)
+		}
+
+		// Enforce LRU bound BEFORE inserting so we don't briefly
+		// exceed the cap even by one entry.
+		p.evictLRUIfFullLocked(instanceID)
+
+		pt := &pooledTunnel{
+			session:   newSess,
+			cleanup:   cleanup,
+			expiresAt: time.Now().Add(poolTTL),
+			lastUsed:  time.Now(),
+			refcount:  1,
+		}
+		p.entries[instanceID] = pt
+		p.mu.Unlock()
+		return pt.session, p.releaser(instanceID, pt), nil
+	}
+}
+
+// releaser returns a closure that decrements refcount and triggers
+// cleanup if (a) the entry is past TTL or (b) the caller signalled
+// poison. Idempotent against double-release (decrements once via the
+// captured pt; pool entry may have been replaced by then).
+func (p *eicTunnelPool) releaser(instanceID string, pt *pooledTunnel) func(poisoned bool) {
+	released := false
+	return func(poisoned bool) {
+		p.mu.Lock()
+		defer p.mu.Unlock()
+		if released {
+			return
+		}
+		released = true
+		pt.refcount--
+		if poisoned {
+			pt.poisoned = true
+		}
+		// Evict immediately if poisoned-and-idle OR expired-and-idle.
+		// Hot entries (refcount > 0) defer eviction to the last release.
+		if pt.refcount == 0 && (pt.poisoned || pt.expiresAt.Before(time.Now())) {
+			// If the entry in the map is still us, remove it.
+			if cur, ok := p.entries[instanceID]; ok && cur == pt {
+				delete(p.entries, instanceID)
+			}
+			go pt.cleanup()
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// evictLRUIfFullLocked drops the least-recently-used IDLE entry
+// when the pool is at capacity. Caller must hold p.mu. The new
+// instanceID about to be inserted is excluded so we don't evict
+// ourselves. If no idle entries exist, no eviction happens — the
+// new entry will push us above the soft cap until something releases.
+func (p *eicTunnelPool) evictLRUIfFullLocked(skipInstance string) {
+	if len(p.entries) < poolMaxEntries {
+		return
+	}
+	var oldestKey string
+	var oldest *pooledTunnel
+	for k, pt := range p.entries {
+		if k == skipInstance {
+			continue
+		}
+		if pt.refcount > 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+		if oldest == nil || pt.lastUsed.Before(oldest.lastUsed) {
+			oldestKey = k
+			oldest = pt
+		}
+	}
+	if oldest == nil {
+		return // every entry is in use; no eviction possible
+	}
+	delete(p.entries, oldestKey)
+	go oldest.cleanup()
+}
+
+// janitor periodically scans for entries that are idle AND expired,
+// closing their tunnels. Runs forever (per pool lifetime); cancelled
+// by close(p.stopJanitor) for tests that build short-lived pools.
+//
+// Reads p.janitorInterval (captured at construction) instead of the
+// package-level poolJanitorInterval — see janitorInterval field comment.
+func (p *eicTunnelPool) janitor() {
+	t := time.NewTicker(p.janitorInterval)
+	defer t.Stop()
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-t.C:
+			p.sweep()
+		case <-p.stopJanitor:
+			return
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// sweep is one janitor pass. Drops idle expired entries.
+func (p *eicTunnelPool) sweep() {
+	p.mu.Lock()
+	now := time.Now()
+	var toClose []func()
+	for k, pt := range p.entries {
+		if pt.refcount == 0 && pt.expiresAt.Before(now) {
+			toClose = append(toClose, pt.cleanup)
+			delete(p.entries, k)
+		}
+	}
+	p.mu.Unlock()
+	for _, c := range toClose {
+		go c()
+	}
+}
+
+// stop terminates the janitor and closes all idle entries. Hot
+// (refcount > 0) entries are NOT force-closed — callers running
+// against them would see a use-after-free. In practice stop is only
+// called by tests that have already drained their callers.
+func (p *eicTunnelPool) stop() {
+	close(p.stopJanitor)
+	p.mu.Lock()
+	defer p.mu.Unlock()
+	for k, pt := range p.entries {
+		if pt.refcount == 0 {
+			go pt.cleanup()
+			delete(p.entries, k)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// pooledWithEICTunnel is the pool-backed replacement for
+// realWithEICTunnel. The signature matches `var withEICTunnel`
+// exactly so the rebind (in initEICTunnelPool) is a drop-in.
+//
+// Errors from `fn` itself are forwarded to the caller AND mark the
+// pool entry as poisoned, so the next acquire builds a fresh
+// tunnel. This catches the case where the workspace EC2 was
+// restarted out-of-band (tunnel still appears alive locally but
+// every cat/find errors out).
+func pooledWithEICTunnel(ctx context.Context, instanceID string,
+	fn func(s eicSSHSession) error) error {
+	pool := getEICTunnelPool()
+	sess, done, err := pool.acquire(ctx, instanceID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	// poisoned defaults to true so a panic from fn poisons the
+	// entry on the way through the deferred release. Without the
+	// defer, a panicking fn would leak refcount=1 forever and
+	// permanently block eviction of this entry. The fn-error path
+	// resets poisoned to its real classification before return.
+	poisoned := true
+	defer func() { done(poisoned) }()
+	fnErr := fn(sess)
+	poisoned = fnErrIndicatesTunnelFault(fnErr)
+	return fnErr
+}
+
+// fnErrIndicatesTunnelFault returns true for fn errors whose nature
+// suggests the underlying tunnel is no longer reusable (auth gone,
+// network gone, ssh process dead). Returning true poisons the pool
+// entry so the next acquire builds fresh.
+//
+// Conservative: only marks tunnel-faulty for clearly tunnel-level
+// failures (connection refused, broken pipe, ssh exit-status from
+// fatal-channel signals). A `cat` returning os.ErrNotExist on a
+// missing file is NOT a tunnel fault — that's the file path being
+// wrong, the tunnel is fine.
+func fnErrIndicatesTunnelFault(err error) bool {
+	if err == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	msg := err.Error()
+	// stderr substrings produced by ssh when the tunnel is broken.
+	for _, marker := range []string{
+		"connection refused",
+		"connection closed",
+		"broken pipe",
+		"Connection reset by peer",
+		"kex_exchange_identification",
+		"port forwarding failed",
+		"Permission denied",
+		"Authentication failed",
+	} {
+		if containsCaseInsensitive(msg, marker) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// containsCaseInsensitive avoids importing strings just for this
+// (the file already needs ssh stderr matching elsewhere — this
+// keeps the helper local to avoid a cross-file dependency).
+func containsCaseInsensitive(s, substr string) bool {
+	if len(substr) > len(s) {
+		return false
+	}
+	// Manual lowercase compare loop; ssh error markers are ASCII so
+	// no need for unicode-aware folding.
+	low := func(b byte) byte {
+		if b >= 'A' && b <= 'Z' {
+			return b + 32
+		}
+		return b
+	}
+	for i := 0; i+len(substr) <= len(s); i++ {
+		match := true
+		for j := 0; j < len(substr); j++ {
+			if low(s[i+j]) != low(substr[j]) {
+				match = false
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		if match {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// initEICTunnelPool rebinds the package-level withEICTunnel var to
+// the pooled implementation. Called once at package init via the
+// init() in eic_tunnel_pool_setup.go (split file so the rebind
+// itself is testable without dragging in the production setup
+// shim's exec/aws dependencies).
+func initEICTunnelPool() {
+	withEICTunnel = pooledWithEICTunnel
+}
diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/eic_tunnel_pool_test.go b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/eic_tunnel_pool_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2b4b5bf4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/eic_tunnel_pool_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,467 @@
+package handlers
+
+// eic_tunnel_pool_test.go — tests for the refcounted EIC tunnel pool
+// added in core#11. Stubs poolSetupTunnel with a counter so the
+// tests don't fork ssh-keygen / aws subprocesses.
+//
+// Per memory feedback_assert_exact_not_substring: each test pins
+// exact expected counts (not "at least N") so a regression that
+// silently double-sets-up surfaces here.
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// withPoolSetupStub swaps poolSetupTunnel for a counting fake that
+// returns a sentinel session and a cleanup func that records its
+// invocation. Restores on test cleanup.
+//
+// setupSignal blocks each setup until released — for concurrent-
+// acquire tests where we want to gate setup completion.
+func withPoolSetupStub(t *testing.T) (
+	setupCount *int64, cleanupCount *int64, restore func(), unblock func()) {
+	t.Helper()
+	prev := poolSetupTunnel
+	prevTTL := poolTTL
+	prevJanitor := poolJanitorInterval
+
+	var sc, cc int64
+	setupCount, cleanupCount = &sc, &cc
+
+	gate := make(chan struct{}, 1)
+	gate <- struct{}{} // allow the first setup through immediately
+	unblock = func() { gate <- struct{}{} }
+
+	poolSetupTunnel = func(ctx context.Context, instanceID string) (
+		eicSSHSession, func(), error) {
+		select {
+		case <-gate:
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return eicSSHSession{}, nil, ctx.Err()
+		}
+		atomic.AddInt64(&sc, 1)
+		sess := eicSSHSession{
+			instanceID: instanceID,
+			osUser:     "ubuntu",
+			localPort:  10000 + int(atomic.LoadInt64(&sc)),
+			keyPath:    "/tmp/molecule-eic-test-" + instanceID,
+		}
+		cleanup := func() { atomic.AddInt64(&cc, 1) }
+		return sess, cleanup, nil
+	}
+
+	restore = func() {
+		poolSetupTunnel = prev
+		poolTTL = prevTTL
+		poolJanitorInterval = prevJanitor
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(restore)
+	return
+}
+
+// freshPool returns an isolated pool (NOT the global) so tests run
+// independently. Stops the janitor on cleanup.
+func freshPool(t *testing.T) *eicTunnelPool {
+	t.Helper()
+	p := newEICTunnelPool()
+	t.Cleanup(p.stop)
+	return p
+}
+
+// TestEICTunnelPool_FourOpsAmortise pins the core invariant: four
+// sequential acquire/release cycles on the same instanceID share
+// ONE underlying tunnel setup. Mutation: delete the cache hit branch
+// in acquire() → setupCount goes 1 → 4 → test fails.
+func TestEICTunnelPool_FourOpsAmortise(t *testing.T) {
+	setupCount, cleanupCount, _, _ := withPoolSetupStub(t)
+	// Refill gate after each setup so concurrent stubs aren't blocked
+	// (we want every test to be able to set up if it needs to).
+	t.Cleanup(func() { /* no-op; defer is enough */ })
+	poolTTL = 50 * time.Second
+	pool := freshPool(t)
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	for i := 0; i < 4; i++ {
+		sess, done, err := pool.acquire(ctx, "i-test-1")
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("op %d: acquire: %v", i, err)
+		}
+		if sess.instanceID != "i-test-1" {
+			t.Fatalf("op %d: session has wrong instanceID: %q", i, sess.instanceID)
+		}
+		done(false)
+	}
+
+	if got := atomic.LoadInt64(setupCount); got != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("expected exactly 1 tunnel setup across 4 ops, got %d", got)
+	}
+	if got := atomic.LoadInt64(cleanupCount); got != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("expected 0 cleanups while entry is hot (TTL=50s), got %d", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestEICTunnelPool_DifferentInstancesDoNotShare pins that two
+// different instanceIDs each get their own tunnel — the pool is
+// keyed on instanceID, not a single global slot.
+func TestEICTunnelPool_DifferentInstancesDoNotShare(t *testing.T) {
+	setupCount, _, _, unblock := withPoolSetupStub(t)
+	poolTTL = 50 * time.Second
+	pool := freshPool(t)
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	// First instance setup uses the initial gate slot.
+	_, doneA, err := pool.acquire(ctx, "i-a")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("acquire A: %v", err)
+	}
+	doneA(false)
+
+	// Second instance needs a new slot through the gate.
+	unblock()
+	_, doneB, err := pool.acquire(ctx, "i-b")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("acquire B: %v", err)
+	}
+	doneB(false)
+
+	if got := atomic.LoadInt64(setupCount); got != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("expected 2 setups (one per instance), got %d", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestEICTunnelPool_TTLEviction: a short TTL forces the second op
+// to build a fresh tunnel after the first expires.
+func TestEICTunnelPool_TTLEviction(t *testing.T) {
+	setupCount, cleanupCount, _, unblock := withPoolSetupStub(t)
+	poolTTL = 50 * time.Millisecond
+	poolJanitorInterval = 1 * time.Second // keep janitor away
+	pool := freshPool(t)
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	_, done, err := pool.acquire(ctx, "i-ttl")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("acquire 1: %v", err)
+	}
+	done(false)
+
+	time.Sleep(80 * time.Millisecond) // past TTL
+
+	unblock() // allow next setup
+	_, done, err = pool.acquire(ctx, "i-ttl")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("acquire 2: %v", err)
+	}
+	done(false)
+
+	if got := atomic.LoadInt64(setupCount); got != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("expected 2 setups (TTL eviction between), got %d", got)
+	}
+	// First entry should have been cleaned up when the second
+	// acquire evicted it on the slow path. Cleanup runs in a
+	// goroutine; poll briefly for it to land.
+	deadline := time.Now().Add(500 * time.Millisecond)
+	for atomic.LoadInt64(cleanupCount) < 1 && time.Now().Before(deadline) {
+		time.Sleep(5 * time.Millisecond)
+	}
+	if got := atomic.LoadInt64(cleanupCount); got < 1 {
+		t.Errorf("expected ≥1 cleanup (first entry evicted), got %d", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestEICTunnelPool_FailureInvalidates pins the poison-on-fault
+// behavior — fn returning a tunnel-fatal error marks the entry
+// unusable so the next acquire builds fresh.
+func TestEICTunnelPool_FailureInvalidates(t *testing.T) {
+	setupCount, _, _, unblock := withPoolSetupStub(t)
+	poolTTL = 50 * time.Second
+	pool := freshPool(t)
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	_, done, err := pool.acquire(ctx, "i-fault")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("acquire 1: %v", err)
+	}
+	done(true) // signal poison
+
+	unblock() // let the next setup through
+	_, done, err = pool.acquire(ctx, "i-fault")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("acquire 2: %v", err)
+	}
+	done(false)
+
+	if got := atomic.LoadInt64(setupCount); got != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("expected 2 setups (poison forced rebuild), got %d", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestEICTunnelPool_ConcurrentAcquireSingleSetup pins that N
+// concurrent acquires for the same instanceID before any release
+// only trigger ONE tunnel setup — the rest wait via pendingSetups.
+//
+// Without this guard each concurrent acquire would spawn its own
+// tunnel and the loser-cleanup would still leak refcount. Mutation:
+// delete the pendingSetups gate → setupCount goes 1 → N → fails.
+func TestEICTunnelPool_ConcurrentAcquireSingleSetup(t *testing.T) {
+	setupCount, _, _, _ := withPoolSetupStub(t)
+	// Pause setup so all goroutines pile into the pending slot.
+	prev := poolSetupTunnel
+	gate := make(chan struct{})
+	poolSetupTunnel = func(ctx context.Context, instanceID string) (
+		eicSSHSession, func(), error) {
+		<-gate
+		atomic.AddInt64(setupCount, 1)
+		return eicSSHSession{instanceID: instanceID}, func() {}, nil
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { poolSetupTunnel = prev })
+
+	poolTTL = 50 * time.Second
+	pool := freshPool(t)
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	const N = 8
+	type result struct {
+		done func(bool)
+		err  error
+	}
+	results := make(chan result, N)
+	var startWg sync.WaitGroup
+	startWg.Add(N)
+	for i := 0; i < N; i++ {
+		go func() {
+			startWg.Done()
+			_, done, err := pool.acquire(ctx, "i-concurrent")
+			results <- result{done, err}
+		}()
+	}
+	startWg.Wait()
+	// give all N goroutines time to enter pool.acquire
+	time.Sleep(20 * time.Millisecond)
+	close(gate)
+
+	for i := 0; i < N; i++ {
+		r := <-results
+		if r.err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("acquire %d: %v", i, r.err)
+		}
+		r.done(false)
+	}
+
+	if got := atomic.LoadInt64(setupCount); got != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("expected 1 setup across %d concurrent acquires, got %d", N, got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestEICTunnelPool_TTLZeroDisablesPooling pins the escape hatch:
+// poolTTL=0 means every acquire goes straight through to setup +
+// cleanup, no entry kept. Useful for tests / opt-out.
+func TestEICTunnelPool_TTLZeroDisablesPooling(t *testing.T) {
+	setupCount, cleanupCount, _, unblock := withPoolSetupStub(t)
+	poolTTL = 0
+	pool := freshPool(t)
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	_, done, err := pool.acquire(ctx, "i-ttlzero")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("acquire 1: %v", err)
+	}
+	done(false)
+
+	unblock()
+	_, done, err = pool.acquire(ctx, "i-ttlzero")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("acquire 2: %v", err)
+	}
+	done(false)
+
+	if got := atomic.LoadInt64(setupCount); got != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("expected 2 setups with TTL=0 (pool disabled), got %d", got)
+	}
+	if got := atomic.LoadInt64(cleanupCount); got != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("expected 2 cleanups with TTL=0 (each release closes), got %d", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestEICTunnelPool_LRUEvictionAtCap pins the LRU defence: when the
+// pool reaches poolMaxEntries, a new acquire for an unseen
+// instanceID evicts the LRU idle entry instead of growing unbounded.
+func TestEICTunnelPool_LRUEvictionAtCap(t *testing.T) {
+	setupCount, cleanupCount, _, _ := withPoolSetupStub(t)
+	prev := poolMaxEntries
+	poolMaxEntries = 2
+	t.Cleanup(func() { poolMaxEntries = prev })
+	poolTTL = 50 * time.Second
+
+	// Replace stub with one that doesn't gate so we can fill quickly.
+	poolSetupTunnel = func(ctx context.Context, instanceID string) (
+		eicSSHSession, func(), error) {
+		atomic.AddInt64(setupCount, 1)
+		return eicSSHSession{instanceID: instanceID}, func() {
+			atomic.AddInt64(cleanupCount, 1)
+		}, nil
+	}
+
+	pool := freshPool(t)
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	for _, id := range []string{"i-1", "i-2"} {
+		_, done, err := pool.acquire(ctx, id)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("acquire %s: %v", id, err)
+		}
+		done(false)
+	}
+	// Both entries idle, pool at cap.
+	_, done, err := pool.acquire(ctx, "i-3")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("acquire i-3: %v", err)
+	}
+	done(false)
+
+	// Wait for the goroutine'd cleanup of the evicted entry.
+	deadline := time.Now().Add(500 * time.Millisecond)
+	for atomic.LoadInt64(cleanupCount) < 1 && time.Now().Before(deadline) {
+		time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
+	}
+
+	if got := atomic.LoadInt64(setupCount); got != 3 {
+		t.Errorf("expected 3 setups (one per unique instance), got %d", got)
+	}
+	if got := atomic.LoadInt64(cleanupCount); got < 1 {
+		t.Errorf("expected ≥1 cleanup (LRU eviction), got %d", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestEICTunnelPool_PoisonedClassification pins the heuristic that
+// distinguishes tunnel-fatal errors (poison the entry) from
+// app-level errors (file not found, validation) that should NOT
+// invalidate the tunnel.
+func TestEICTunnelPool_PoisonedClassification(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		name string
+		err  error
+		want bool
+	}{
+		{"nil", nil, false},
+		{"file not found", errors.New("os: file does not exist"), false},
+		{"validation", errors.New("invalid path: must be relative"), false},
+		{"connection refused", errors.New("ssh: connect to host: connection refused"), true},
+		{"connection refused upper", errors.New("Connection Refused"), true},
+		{"broken pipe", errors.New("write tunnel: broken pipe"), true},
+		{"permission denied", errors.New("Permission denied (publickey)"), true},
+		{"auth failed", errors.New("Authentication failed"), true},
+		{"connection reset", errors.New("Connection reset by peer"), true},
+		{"port forward", errors.New("port forwarding failed"), true},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range cases {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got := fnErrIndicatesTunnelFault(tc.err)
+			if got != tc.want {
+				t.Errorf("fnErrIndicatesTunnelFault(%v) = %v, want %v",
+					tc.err, got, tc.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// TestEICTunnelPool_RefcountBlocksEviction pins that an entry past
+// TTL is NOT evicted while a caller still holds it — preventing
+// use-after-free in the holder.
+func TestEICTunnelPool_RefcountBlocksEviction(t *testing.T) {
+	setupCount, cleanupCount, _, _ := withPoolSetupStub(t)
+	poolTTL = 30 * time.Millisecond
+	poolJanitorInterval = 5 * time.Millisecond
+	pool := freshPool(t)
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	_, done, err := pool.acquire(ctx, "i-hold")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("acquire: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Sleep past TTL while holding the session. Janitor sweeps
+	// every 5ms but must skip our entry because refcount=1.
+	time.Sleep(80 * time.Millisecond)
+
+	if got := atomic.LoadInt64(cleanupCount); got != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("expected 0 cleanups while holder is active, got %d", got)
+	}
+
+	done(false)
+	// Now refcount=0 and entry is past TTL; releaser triggers cleanup.
+	deadline := time.Now().Add(200 * time.Millisecond)
+	for atomic.LoadInt64(cleanupCount) < 1 && time.Now().Before(deadline) {
+		time.Sleep(5 * time.Millisecond)
+	}
+	if got := atomic.LoadInt64(cleanupCount); got != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("expected 1 cleanup after release of expired entry, got %d", got)
+	}
+	if got := atomic.LoadInt64(setupCount); got != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("setupCount tracking: got %d, want 1", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestPooledWithEICTunnel_PanicPoisonsEntry pins that a panic
+// from fn poisons the pool entry on the way out — refcount goes
+// back to zero (no leak) and the entry is marked unusable so the
+// next acquire builds fresh. Without the defer-release pattern, a
+// panic would leave refcount=1 forever and the entry would never
+// evict.
+func TestPooledWithEICTunnel_PanicPoisonsEntry(t *testing.T) {
+	setupCount, _, _, _ := withPoolSetupStub(t)
+	poolTTL = 50 * time.Second
+	globalEICTunnelPool = newEICTunnelPool()
+	t.Cleanup(globalEICTunnelPool.stop)
+
+	func() {
+		defer func() {
+			if r := recover(); r == nil {
+				t.Errorf("expected panic to bubble up, got nil")
+			}
+		}()
+		_ = pooledWithEICTunnel(context.Background(), "i-panic",
+			func(s eicSSHSession) error { panic("boom") })
+	}()
+
+	// Replenish the gate so the next setup can run.
+	prev := poolSetupTunnel
+	poolSetupTunnel = func(ctx context.Context, instanceID string) (
+		eicSSHSession, func(), error) {
+		atomic.AddInt64(setupCount, 1)
+		return eicSSHSession{instanceID: instanceID}, func() {}, nil
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { poolSetupTunnel = prev })
+
+	// Next acquire must build fresh — entry was poisoned by panic.
+	if err := pooledWithEICTunnel(context.Background(), "i-panic",
+		func(s eicSSHSession) error { return nil }); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("post-panic acquire: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got := atomic.LoadInt64(setupCount); got != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("expected 2 setups (panic poisoned, rebuild), got %d", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestPooledWithEICTunnel_PreservesFnErr pins that errors from the
+// inner fn pass through to the caller verbatim — pool wrapping
+// should not swallow or transform error semantics for app code.
+func TestPooledWithEICTunnel_PreservesFnErr(t *testing.T) {
+	withPoolSetupStub(t)
+	poolTTL = 50 * time.Second
+
+	// Reset the global pool so this test is isolated from any prior
+	// test that may have populated it.
+	globalEICTunnelPool = newEICTunnelPool()
+
+	want := errors.New("file does not exist")
+	got := pooledWithEICTunnel(context.Background(), "i-fn-err",
+		func(s eicSSHSession) error { return want })
+	if !errors.Is(got, want) {
+		t.Errorf("pooledWithEICTunnel returned %v, want %v", got, want)
+	}
+}