diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/handlers_additional_test.go b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/handlers_additional_test.go
index 46ebe317f..805a491e9 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/handlers_additional_test.go
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/handlers_additional_test.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ func TestWorkspaceCreate_WithParentID(t *testing.T) {
 	// Default tier is 3 (Privileged) — see workspace.go create-handler comment.
 	// delivery_mode defaults to "push" when payload omits it (#2339).
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspaces").
-		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Child Agent", nil, 3, "claude-code", &parentID, nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
+		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Child Agent", nil, 3, "claude-code", "", &parentID, nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
 		WillReturnResult(sqlmock.NewResult(0, 1))
 	mock.ExpectCommit()
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspace_secrets").
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ func TestWorkspaceCreate_DefaultsParentToPlatformRoot(t *testing.T) {
 
 	mock.ExpectBegin()
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspaces").
-		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Team Member", nil, 3, "claude-code", rootID, nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
+		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Team Member", nil, 3, "claude-code", "", rootID, nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
 		WillReturnResult(sqlmock.NewResult(0, 1))
 	mock.ExpectCommit()
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspace_secrets").WillReturnResult(sqlmock.NewResult(0, 1))
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ func TestWorkspaceCreate_NoPlatformRoot_KeepsNullParent(t *testing.T) {
 
 	mock.ExpectBegin()
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspaces").
-		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Bootstrap Root", nil, 3, "claude-code", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
+		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Bootstrap Root", nil, 3, "claude-code", "", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
 		WillReturnResult(sqlmock.NewResult(0, 1))
 	mock.ExpectCommit()
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspace_secrets").WillReturnResult(sqlmock.NewResult(0, 1))
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ func TestWorkspaceCreate_ExplicitClaudeCodeRuntime(t *testing.T) {
 	mock.ExpectBegin()
 	// delivery_mode defaults to "push" when payload omits it (#2339).
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspaces").
-		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "CC Agent", nil, 2, "claude-code", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
+		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "CC Agent", nil, 2, "claude-code", "", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
 		WillReturnResult(sqlmock.NewResult(0, 1))
 	mock.ExpectCommit()
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO canvas_layouts").
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ func TestWorkspaceCreate_MaxConcurrentTasksOverride(t *testing.T) {
 
 	mock.ExpectBegin()
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspaces").
-		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Leader Agent", nil, 3, "claude-code", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), 3, "push").
+		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Leader Agent", nil, 3, "claude-code", "", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), 3, "push").
 		WillReturnResult(sqlmock.NewResult(0, 1))
 	mock.ExpectCommit()
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO canvas_layouts").
@@ -1111,8 +1111,8 @@ func TestRestart_ParentPaused(t *testing.T) {
 	// Workspace lookup succeeds
 	mock.ExpectQuery("SELECT status, name, tier").
 		WithArgs("dddddddd-0001-0000-0000-000000000000").
-		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"status", "name", "tier", "runtime"}).
-			AddRow("offline", "Child Agent", 1, "claude-code"))
+		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"status", "name", "tier", "runtime", "template"}).
+			AddRow("offline", "Child Agent", 1, "claude-code", ""))
 
 	// isParentPaused: get parent_id
 	mock.ExpectQuery("SELECT parent_id FROM workspaces WHERE id").
@@ -1154,8 +1154,8 @@ func TestRestart_ProvisionerNil(t *testing.T) {
 
 	mock.ExpectQuery("SELECT status, name, tier").
 		WithArgs("ws-noprov").
-		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"status", "name", "tier", "runtime"}).
-			AddRow("offline", "Agent", 1, "claude-code"))
+		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"status", "name", "tier", "runtime", "template"}).
+			AddRow("offline", "Agent", 1, "claude-code", ""))
 
 	// isParentPaused: no parent
 	mock.ExpectQuery("SELECT parent_id FROM workspaces WHERE id").
@@ -1389,8 +1389,8 @@ func TestResume_ProvisionerNil(t *testing.T) {
 
 	mock.ExpectQuery("SELECT name, tier").
 		WithArgs("ws-resume-noprov").
-		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"name", "tier", "runtime"}).
-			AddRow("Paused Agent", 1, "claude-code"))
+		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"name", "tier", "runtime", "template"}).
+			AddRow("Paused Agent", 1, "claude-code", ""))
 
 	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
 	c, _ := gin.CreateTestContext(w)
diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/handlers_extended_test.go b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/handlers_extended_test.go
index dfd742f58..ebcdb7c29 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/handlers_extended_test.go
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/handlers_extended_test.go
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ func TestExtended_WorkspaceRestart_NoProvisioner(t *testing.T) {
 	// Expect SELECT for workspace existence check (includes runtime column)
 	mock.ExpectQuery("SELECT status, name, tier").
 		WithArgs("ws-restart").
-		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"status", "name", "tier", "runtime"}).AddRow("offline", "Restarting Agent", 1, "claude-code"))
+		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"status", "name", "tier", "runtime", "template"}).AddRow("offline", "Restarting Agent", 1, "claude-code", ""))
 
 	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
 	c, _ := gin.CreateTestContext(w)
diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/handlers_test.go b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/handlers_test.go
index 3d0fa850f..7d3c2eb1c 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/handlers_test.go
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/handlers_test.go
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ func TestWorkspaceCreate(t *testing.T) {
 	// Default tier is 3 (Privileged) — see workspace.go create-handler comment.
 	// delivery_mode defaults to "push" when payload omits it (#2339).
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspaces").
-		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Test Agent", nil, 3, "claude-code", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
+		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Test Agent", nil, 3, "claude-code", "", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
 		WillReturnResult(sqlmock.NewResult(0, 1))
 
 	// Expect transaction commit (no secrets in this payload)
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ func TestWorkspaceCreate_ReturnsAuthToken_201(t *testing.T) {
 
 	mock.ExpectBegin()
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspaces").
-		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Token Holder", nil, 3, "claude-code", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
+		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Token Holder", nil, 3, "claude-code", "", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
 		WillReturnResult(sqlmock.NewResult(0, 1))
 	mock.ExpectCommit()
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO canvas_layouts").
diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/org_import.go b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/org_import.go
index fbc7b3a7f..519548e49 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/org_import.go
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/org_import.go
@@ -298,6 +298,7 @@ func (h *OrgHandler) createWorkspaceTree(ws OrgWorkspace, parentID *string, absX
 		// whether to do prep at all.
 		payload := models.CreateWorkspacePayload{
 			Name: ws.Name, Tier: tier, Runtime: runtime, Model: model,
+			Template:        ws.Template,
 			WorkspaceDir:    ws.WorkspaceDir,
 			WorkspaceAccess: workspaceAccess,
 		}
diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/restart_template.go b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/restart_template.go
index 08e9c5706..5de08e2b9 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/restart_template.go
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/restart_template.go
@@ -39,7 +39,11 @@ type restartTemplateInput struct {
 //  3. `RebuildConfig=true` → org-templates recovery fallback (#239).
 //  4. `ApplyTemplate=true` + non-empty dbRuntime → runtime-default template
 //     (e.g. `hermes-default/`) for runtime-change workflows.
-//  5. Fall through → empty path + "existing-volume" label. Provisioner
+//  5. Persisted `dbTemplate` (set by PATCH /workspaces/:id/template) when no
+//     explicit body template was supplied. This makes `PATCH template=...`
+//     followed by a plain `POST /restart` actually apply the newly stored
+//     template instead of silently reusing the existing config volume.
+//  6. Fall through → empty path + "existing-volume" label. Provisioner
 //     reuses the workspace's existing config volume from the previous run.
 //
 // Returns (templatePath, configLabel). An empty templatePath is the signal
@@ -48,7 +52,7 @@ type restartTemplateInput struct {
 //
 // Pure function: no writes, no DB access, no network. Safe to unit-test
 // with just a temp directory.
-func resolveRestartTemplate(configsDir, wsName, dbRuntime string, body restartTemplateInput) (templatePath, configLabel string) {
+func resolveRestartTemplate(configsDir, wsName, dbRuntime, dbTemplate string, body restartTemplateInput) (templatePath, configLabel string) {
 	template := body.Template
 
 	// Tier 2: name-based auto-match, gated on ApplyTemplate.
@@ -102,7 +106,22 @@ func resolveRestartTemplate(configsDir, wsName, dbRuntime string, body restartTe
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Tier 5: reuse existing volume. This is the default, and the path
+	// Tier 5: persisted template from PATCH /workspaces/:id/template.
+	// When the caller supplied no explicit body template, fall back to the
+	// template stored in the DB. This makes `PATCH template=seo-agent`
+	// followed by `POST /restart` with no body apply the newly installed
+	// template instead of reusing the stale config volume.
+	if body.Template == "" && dbTemplate != "" {
+		if candidatePath, resolveErr := resolveInsideRoot(configsDir, dbTemplate); resolveErr != nil {
+			log.Printf("Restart: invalid persisted template %q: %v — proceeding without it", dbTemplate, resolveErr)
+		} else if _, err := os.Stat(candidatePath); err == nil {
+			return candidatePath, dbTemplate
+		} else {
+			log.Printf("Restart: persisted template %q dir not found — proceeding without it", dbTemplate)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Tier 6: reuse existing volume. This is the default, and the path
 	// the Canvas Save+Restart flow MUST hit to preserve user edits.
 	return "", "existing-volume"
 }
diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/restart_template_test.go b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/restart_template_test.go
index f84fb84f8..80f43ad68 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/restart_template_test.go
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/restart_template_test.go
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func TestResolveRestartTemplate_DefaultRestart_PreservesVolume(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Hermes Agent", "hermes", restartTemplateInput{
+	path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Hermes Agent", "hermes", "", restartTemplateInput{
 		// ApplyTemplate intentionally omitted — this is the default restart.
 	})
 	if path != "" {
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ func TestResolveRestartTemplate_DefaultRestart_PreservesVolume(t *testing.T) {
 func TestResolveRestartTemplate_ExplicitTemplate_AlwaysHonoured(t *testing.T) {
 	root := newTemplateDir(t, "claude-code")
 
-	path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Some Agent", "", restartTemplateInput{
+	path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Some Agent", "", "", restartTemplateInput{
 		Template: "claude-code",
 	})
 	if path == "" || label != "claude-code" {
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ func TestResolveRestartTemplate_ExplicitTemplate_AlwaysHonoured(t *testing.T) {
 func TestResolveRestartTemplate_ApplyTemplate_NameMatch(t *testing.T) {
 	root := newTemplateDir(t, "hermes")
 
-	path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Hermes", "", restartTemplateInput{
+	path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Hermes", "", "", restartTemplateInput{
 		ApplyTemplate: true,
 	})
 	if path == "" || label != "hermes" {
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ func TestResolveRestartTemplate_ApplyTemplate_NameMatch(t *testing.T) {
 func TestResolveRestartTemplate_ApplyTemplate_RuntimeDefault(t *testing.T) {
 	root := newTemplateDir(t, "hermes-default")
 
-	path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Some Workspace", "hermes", restartTemplateInput{
+	path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Some Workspace", "hermes", "", restartTemplateInput{
 		ApplyTemplate: true,
 	})
 	if path == "" || label != "hermes-default" {
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ func TestRestartRuntimeFromConfig_DefaultRestartPreservesContainerRuntime(t *tes
 func TestResolveRestartTemplate_ApplyTemplate_NoMatch_NoRuntime(t *testing.T) {
 	root := newTemplateDir(t) // empty templates dir
 
-	path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Orphan", "", restartTemplateInput{
+	path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Orphan", "", "", restartTemplateInput{
 		ApplyTemplate: true,
 	})
 	if path != "" {
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ func TestResolveRestartTemplate_ApplyTemplate_NoMatch_NoRuntime(t *testing.T) {
 func TestResolveRestartTemplate_InvalidExplicitTemplate_ProceedsWithout(t *testing.T) {
 	root := newTemplateDir(t, "claude-code")
 
-	path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Some Agent", "", restartTemplateInput{
+	path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Some Agent", "", "", restartTemplateInput{
 		Template: "../../etc/passwd",
 	})
 	if path != "" {
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ func TestResolveRestartTemplate_InvalidExplicitTemplate_ProceedsWithout(t *testi
 func TestResolveRestartTemplate_NonExistentExplicitTemplate(t *testing.T) {
 	root := newTemplateDir(t, "claude-code")
 
-	path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Some Agent", "", restartTemplateInput{
+	path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Some Agent", "", "", restartTemplateInput{
 		Template: "deleted-template",
 	})
 	if path != "" {
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ func TestResolveRestartTemplate_NonExistentExplicitTemplate(t *testing.T) {
 func TestResolveRestartTemplate_Priority_ExplicitBeatsApplyTemplate(t *testing.T) {
 	root := newTemplateDir(t, "hermes", "claude-code")
 
-	path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Hermes", "", restartTemplateInput{
+	path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Hermes", "", "", restartTemplateInput{
 		Template:      "claude-code",
 		ApplyTemplate: true,
 	})
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ func TestResolveRestartTemplate_CWE22_TraversalRuntime_FallsThrough(t *testing.T
 		{"deep traversal", "a/b/c/../../../d"},
 	} {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Some Workspace", tc.dbRuntime, restartTemplateInput{
+			path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Some Workspace", tc.dbRuntime, "", restartTemplateInput{
 				ApplyTemplate: true,
 			})
 			// Must NOT return a path that escapes root
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ func TestResolveRestartTemplate_CWE22_TraversalRuntime_FallsThrough(t *testing.T
 func TestResolveRestartTemplate_CWE22_TraversalRuntime_CannotOverrideKnownRuntime(t *testing.T) {
 	root := newTemplateDir(t, "claude-code-default")
 
-	path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Some Workspace", "../../../etc", restartTemplateInput{
+	path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Some Workspace", "../../../etc", "", restartTemplateInput{
 		ApplyTemplate: true,
 	})
 	// Must resolve to claude-code-default (the safe default after sanitizeRuntime),
@@ -313,3 +313,56 @@ func TestResolveRestartTemplate_CWE22_TraversalRuntime_CannotOverrideKnownRuntim
 		t.Errorf("label must be claude-code-default; got %q", label)
 	}
 }
+
+// TestResolveRestartTemplate_PersistedTemplate_FallsBack verifies that a
+// workspace with a non-empty DB template uses that template on a plain
+// restart when no body template or apply/rebuild flags are supplied.
+// Regression test for core#2980 review feedback.
+func TestResolveRestartTemplate_PersistedTemplate_FallsBack(t *testing.T) {
+	root := newTemplateDir(t, "seo-agent")
+
+	path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Some Workspace", "claude-code", "seo-agent", restartTemplateInput{
+		// no body.Template, no ApplyTemplate, no RebuildConfig
+	})
+	expected := filepath.Join(root, "seo-agent")
+	if path != expected {
+		t.Errorf("persisted template fallback: expected path %q, got %q", expected, path)
+	}
+	if label != "seo-agent" {
+		t.Errorf("persisted template fallback: expected label %q, got %q", "seo-agent", label)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestResolveRestartTemplate_PersistedTemplate_EmptyPreservesVolume verifies
+// that workspaces with an empty DB template still reuse the existing config
+// volume on a plain restart.
+func TestResolveRestartTemplate_PersistedTemplate_EmptyPreservesVolume(t *testing.T) {
+	root := newTemplateDir(t, "seo-agent")
+
+	path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Some Workspace", "claude-code", "", restartTemplateInput{})
+	if path != "" {
+		t.Errorf("empty persisted template must preserve volume; got path=%q", path)
+	}
+	if label != "existing-volume" {
+		t.Errorf("empty persisted template must fall back to existing-volume; got label=%q", label)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestResolveRestartTemplate_ExplicitBodyTemplateOverridesPersistedTemplate
+// verifies that a template named in the request body still wins over the
+// stored template.
+func TestResolveRestartTemplate_ExplicitBodyTemplateOverridesPersistedTemplate(t *testing.T) {
+	root := newTemplateDir(t, "seo-agent", "hermes")
+
+	path, label := resolveRestartTemplate(root, "Some Workspace", "claude-code", "seo-agent", restartTemplateInput{
+		Template: "hermes",
+	})
+	expected := filepath.Join(root, "hermes")
+	if path != expected {
+		t.Errorf("explicit body template must win; expected path %q, got %q", expected, path)
+	}
+	if label != "hermes" {
+		t.Errorf("explicit body template must win; expected label %q, got %q", "hermes", label)
+	}
+}
+
diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/runtime_registry.go b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/runtime_registry.go
index a355a6bf2..2adb2b05b 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/runtime_registry.go
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/runtime_registry.go
@@ -348,3 +348,32 @@ func templateIdentityForRuntime(runtime string) (string, bool) {
 	}
 	return rr.Repo + "@" + rr.Ref, true
 }
+
+// isKnownTemplate reports whether name is a registered workspace template in
+// manifest.json. The empty string is intentionally NOT known — it is the
+// "no installed template" sentinel and falls back to runtime resolution.
+func isKnownTemplate(name string) bool {
+	if name == "" {
+		return false
+	}
+	_, ok := templateRepoByName[name]
+	return ok
+}
+
+// resolveTemplateIdentity returns the Gitea template identity (repo@ref) for a
+// workspace. If a template is explicitly installed, it wins; otherwise the
+// runtime's default template is used. This is the SSOT for the RFC #2843 asset
+// fetcher and for the control-plane provision wire.
+//
+// Fail-closed: an explicitly set but unknown template returns ("", false) so
+// callers can surface a 422 instead of silently degrading to the runtime
+// fallback (matches the create-boundary posture for unknown runtimes).
+func resolveTemplateIdentity(template, runtime string) (string, bool) {
+	if template != "" {
+		if rr, ok := templateRepoByName[template]; ok {
+			return rr.Repo + "@" + rr.Ref, true
+		}
+		return "", false
+	}
+	return templateIdentityForRuntime(runtime)
+}
diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/runtime_registry_test.go b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/runtime_registry_test.go
index 057fd12fc..a830eab23 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/runtime_registry_test.go
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/runtime_registry_test.go
@@ -223,23 +223,94 @@ func TestTemplateIdentityForRuntime(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// TestTemplateIdentityForRuntimeOrEmpty pins the
-// single-expression wrapper used at the call site in
-// buildProvisionerConfig.
-func TestTemplateIdentityForRuntimeOrEmpty(t *testing.T) {
+// TestTemplateIdentityOrEmpty pins the single-expression wrapper used at the
+// call site in buildProvisionerConfig.
+func TestTemplateIdentityOrEmpty(t *testing.T) {
 	if manifestPath() == "" {
 		t.Skip("manifest.json not discoverable from this test cwd")
 	}
 	initTemplateRepoByName()
-	if got := templateIdentityForRuntimeOrEmpty("claude-code"); got == "" {
+	if got := templateIdentityOrEmpty(resolveTemplateIdentity("", "claude-code")); got == "" {
 		t.Error("claude-code should return a non-empty identity")
 	}
-	if got := templateIdentityForRuntimeOrEmpty("external"); got != "" {
+	if got := templateIdentityOrEmpty(resolveTemplateIdentity("", "external")); got != "" {
 		t.Errorf("external should return empty, got %q", got)
 	}
-	if got := templateIdentityForRuntimeOrEmpty("unknown-xyz"); got != "" {
+	if got := templateIdentityOrEmpty(resolveTemplateIdentity("", "unknown-xyz")); got != "" {
 		t.Errorf("unknown-xyz should return empty, got %q", got)
 	}
+	// Phase 1: explicit template wins over runtime fallback.
+	if got := templateIdentityOrEmpty(resolveTemplateIdentity("claude-code", "external")); got == "" {
+		t.Error("explicit claude-code template should return a non-empty identity even when runtime is external")
+	}
+	if got := templateIdentityOrEmpty(resolveTemplateIdentity("unknown-template-xyz", "claude-code")); got != "" {
+		t.Errorf("unknown explicit template should fail-closed to empty, got %q", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestResolveTemplateIdentity pins the Phase 1 template-first resolver.
+func TestResolveTemplateIdentity(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	p := filepath.Join(dir, "manifest.json")
+	manifest := `{
+		"workspace_templates": [
+			{"name": "claude-code-default", "repo": "molecule-ai/t-cc", "ref": "main"},
+			{"name": "seo-agent", "repo": "molecule-ai/t-seo", "ref": "v1"},
+			{"name": "hermes", "repo": "molecule-ai/t-hermes", "ref": "v2"}
+		]
+	}`
+	if err := os.WriteFile(p, []byte(manifest), 0600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write temp manifest: %v", err)
+	}
+	t.Setenv("WORKSPACE_MANIFEST_PATH", p)
+	initTemplateRepoByName()
+
+	cases := []struct {
+		name     string
+		template string
+		runtime  string
+		wantOk   bool
+		wantRepo string
+	}{
+		{"template wins", "seo-agent", "claude-code", true, "molecule-ai/t-seo@v1"},
+		{"template empty falls back to runtime", "", "claude-code", true, "molecule-ai/t-cc@main"},
+		{"template empty external returns empty", "", "external", false, ""},
+		{"unknown explicit template fail-closed", "no-such-template", "claude-code", false, ""},
+		{"unknown runtime empty", "", "no-such-runtime", false, ""},
+	}
+	for _, c := range cases {
+		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			id, ok := resolveTemplateIdentity(c.template, c.runtime)
+			if ok != c.wantOk {
+				t.Fatalf("template=%q runtime=%q: want ok=%v, got ok=%v", c.template, c.runtime, c.wantOk, ok)
+			}
+			if id != c.wantRepo {
+				t.Errorf("template=%q runtime=%q: want id=%q, got %q", c.template, c.runtime, c.wantRepo, id)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// TestIsKnownTemplate pins the manifest-entry gate used by PATCH /template.
+func TestIsKnownTemplate(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	p := filepath.Join(dir, "manifest.json")
+	manifest := `{"workspace_templates": [{"name": "seo-agent", "repo": "r", "ref": "main"}]}`
+	if err := os.WriteFile(p, []byte(manifest), 0600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write temp manifest: %v", err)
+	}
+	t.Setenv("WORKSPACE_MANIFEST_PATH", p)
+	initTemplateRepoByName()
+
+	if isKnownTemplate("") {
+		t.Error("empty template should not be known")
+	}
+	if !isKnownTemplate("seo-agent") {
+		t.Error("seo-agent should be known")
+	}
+	if isKnownTemplate("ghost") {
+		t.Error("ghost template should not be known")
+	}
 }
 
 // TestTemplateIdentityForTemplateOrRuntime is the #32 regression gate: a
@@ -309,7 +380,7 @@ func TestInitTemplateRepoByName_PopulatesMap_FromTempManifest(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Assert the map is populated for the shipped runtimes.
 	cases := []struct {
-		runtime string
+		runtime  string
 		wantRepo string
 		wantRef  string
 	}{
diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace.go b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace.go
index b74c9fab7..55bf252fb 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace.go
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace.go
@@ -681,10 +681,10 @@ func (h *WorkspaceHandler) Create(c *gin.Context) {
 	// returns the actually-persisted name (which we MUST thread back into
 	// payload + broadcast so the canvas displays what the DB has).
 	const insertWorkspaceSQL = `
-		INSERT INTO workspaces (id, name, role, tier, runtime, status, parent_id, workspace_dir, workspace_access, budget_limit, max_concurrent_tasks, delivery_mode)
-		VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, 'provisioning', $6, $7, $8, $9, $10, $11)
+		INSERT INTO workspaces (id, name, role, tier, runtime, template, status, parent_id, workspace_dir, workspace_access, budget_limit, max_concurrent_tasks, delivery_mode)
+		VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, 'provisioning', $7, $8, $9, $10, $11, $12)
 	`
-	insertArgs := []any{id, payload.Name, role, payload.Tier, payload.Runtime, payload.ParentID, workspaceDir, workspaceAccess, payload.BudgetLimit, maxConcurrent, deliveryMode}
+	insertArgs := []any{id, payload.Name, role, payload.Tier, payload.Runtime, payload.Template, payload.ParentID, workspaceDir, workspaceAccess, payload.BudgetLimit, maxConcurrent, deliveryMode}
 	persistedName, currentTx, err := insertWorkspaceWithNameRetry(
 		ctx,
 		tx,
diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_budget_test.go b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_budget_test.go
index 828a1794f..2f65c2169 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_budget_test.go
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_budget_test.go
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ func TestWorkspaceBudget_Create_WithLimit(t *testing.T) {
 			nil,                              // role
 			3,                                // tier (default, workspace.go create-handler)
 			"claude-code",                    // runtime
+			"",                               // template
 			(*string)(nil),                   // parent_id
 			nil,                              // workspace_dir
 			"none",                           // workspace_access
diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_crud.go b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_crud.go
index b5f1d8f09..86591ca5d 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_crud.go
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_crud.go
@@ -752,6 +752,62 @@ func (h *WorkspaceHandler) CascadeDelete(ctx context.Context, id string, erase b
 	return descendantIDs, stopErrs, nil
 }
 
+// PatchTemplate handles PATCH /workspaces/:id/template.
+// It sets the installed template for an existing workspace without changing
+// its engine runtime. A restart/re-provision is required for the template
+// assets to be fetched and applied.
+//
+// Auth: admin/CP-gated at the router (mirrors PATCH /workspaces/:id/budget).
+func (h *WorkspaceHandler) PatchTemplate(c *gin.Context) {
+	id := c.Param("id")
+	if err := validateWorkspaceID(id); err != nil {
+		c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, gin.H{"error": err.Error()})
+		return
+	}
+
+	var body struct {
+		Template string `json:"template" binding:"required"`
+	}
+	if err := c.ShouldBindJSON(&body); err != nil {
+		c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, gin.H{"error": "template is required"})
+		return
+	}
+
+	if !isKnownTemplate(body.Template) {
+		log.Printf("PatchTemplate: %q is not a known workspace template", body.Template)
+		c.JSON(http.StatusUnprocessableEntity, gin.H{
+			"error":    "unsupported workspace template",
+			"template": body.Template,
+			"code":     "TEMPLATE_UNSUPPORTED",
+		})
+		return
+	}
+
+	var exists bool
+	if err := db.DB.QueryRowContext(c.Request.Context(),
+		`SELECT EXISTS(SELECT 1 FROM workspaces WHERE id = $1)`, id,
+	).Scan(&exists); err != nil {
+		log.Printf("PatchTemplate: existence check failed for %s: %v", id, err)
+		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "lookup failed"})
+		return
+	}
+	if !exists {
+		c.JSON(http.StatusNotFound, gin.H{"error": "workspace not found"})
+		return
+	}
+
+	if _, err := db.DB.ExecContext(c.Request.Context(),
+		`UPDATE workspaces SET template = $2, updated_at = now() WHERE id = $1`, id, body.Template,
+	); err != nil {
+		log.Printf("PatchTemplate: update failed for %s: %v", id, err)
+		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "failed to update template"})
+		return
+	}
+
+	log.Printf("PatchTemplate: workspace %s template updated to %q", id, body.Template)
+	c.JSON(http.StatusOK, gin.H{"status": "updated", "needs_restart": true})
+}
+
 // validateWorkspaceID returns an error when id is not a valid UUID.
 // #687: prevents 500s from Postgres when a garbage string (e.g. ../../etc/passwd)
 // is passed as the :id path parameter.
diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_crud_test.go b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_crud_test.go
index 65bdfdbdb..78c47a4f6 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_crud_test.go
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_crud_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
+	"os"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -751,6 +752,113 @@ func TestUpdate_Runtime_ModelUnresolved_SkipsCheckAndProceeds(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestPatchTemplate pins the admin/CP-gated PATCH /workspaces/:id/template endpoint.
+func TestPatchTemplate(t *testing.T) {
+	wsID := "aaaaaaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaaaaaaaaaa"
+
+	// Wire a temp manifest so seo-agent is a known template.
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	manifestPath := dir + "/manifest.json"
+	manifest := `{"workspace_templates": [{"name": "seo-agent", "repo": "molecule-ai/t-seo", "ref": "main"}]}`
+	if err := os.WriteFile(manifestPath, []byte(manifest), 0600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write manifest: %v", err)
+	}
+	t.Setenv("WORKSPACE_MANIFEST_PATH", manifestPath)
+	initTemplateRepoByName()
+
+	mock, r := setupWorkspaceCrudTest(t)
+	h := newWorkspaceCrudHandler(t)
+	r.PATCH("/workspaces/:id/template", h.PatchTemplate)
+
+	mock.ExpectQuery(`SELECT EXISTS\(SELECT 1 FROM workspaces WHERE id = \$1\)`).
+		WithArgs(wsID).
+		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"exists"}).AddRow(true))
+	mock.ExpectExec(`UPDATE workspaces SET template = \$2, updated_at = now\(\) WHERE id = \$1`).
+		WithArgs(wsID, "seo-agent").
+		WillReturnResult(sqlmock.NewResult(0, 1))
+
+	body := map[string]interface{}{"template": "seo-agent"}
+	b, _ := json.Marshal(body)
+	req, _ := http.NewRequest("PATCH", "/workspaces/"+wsID+"/template", bytes.NewReader(b))
+	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	r.ServeHTTP(w, req)
+
+	if w.Code != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 200, got %d: %s", w.Code, w.Body.String())
+	}
+	var resp map[string]interface{}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(w.Body.Bytes(), &resp); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("parse response: %v", err)
+	}
+	if resp["status"] != "updated" {
+		t.Errorf("expected status=updated, got %v", resp["status"])
+	}
+	if resp["needs_restart"] != true {
+		t.Errorf("expected needs_restart=true, got %v", resp["needs_restart"])
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPatchTemplate_UnknownTemplate_Fails422(t *testing.T) {
+	wsID := "aaaaaaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaaaaaaaaaa"
+
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	manifestPath := dir + "/manifest.json"
+	manifest := `{"workspace_templates": [{"name": "seo-agent", "repo": "r", "ref": "main"}]}`
+	if err := os.WriteFile(manifestPath, []byte(manifest), 0600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write manifest: %v", err)
+	}
+	t.Setenv("WORKSPACE_MANIFEST_PATH", manifestPath)
+	initTemplateRepoByName()
+
+	_, r := setupWorkspaceCrudTest(t)
+	h := newWorkspaceCrudHandler(t)
+	r.PATCH("/workspaces/:id/template", h.PatchTemplate)
+
+	body := map[string]interface{}{"template": "ghost-template"}
+	b, _ := json.Marshal(body)
+	req, _ := http.NewRequest("PATCH", "/workspaces/"+wsID+"/template", bytes.NewReader(b))
+	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	r.ServeHTTP(w, req)
+
+	if w.Code != http.StatusUnprocessableEntity {
+		t.Errorf("expected 422, got %d: %s", w.Code, w.Body.String())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPatchTemplate_NotFound_Fails404(t *testing.T) {
+	wsID := "aaaaaaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaaaaaaaaaa"
+
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	manifestPath := dir + "/manifest.json"
+	manifest := `{"workspace_templates": [{"name": "seo-agent", "repo": "r", "ref": "main"}]}`
+	if err := os.WriteFile(manifestPath, []byte(manifest), 0600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write manifest: %v", err)
+	}
+	t.Setenv("WORKSPACE_MANIFEST_PATH", manifestPath)
+	initTemplateRepoByName()
+
+	mock, r := setupWorkspaceCrudTest(t)
+	h := newWorkspaceCrudHandler(t)
+	r.PATCH("/workspaces/:id/template", h.PatchTemplate)
+
+	mock.ExpectQuery(`SELECT EXISTS\(SELECT 1 FROM workspaces WHERE id = \$1\)`).
+		WithArgs(wsID).
+		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"exists"}).AddRow(false))
+
+	body := map[string]interface{}{"template": "seo-agent"}
+	b, _ := json.Marshal(body)
+	req, _ := http.NewRequest("PATCH", "/workspaces/"+wsID+"/template", bytes.NewReader(b))
+	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	r.ServeHTTP(w, req)
+
+	if w.Code != http.StatusNotFound {
+		t.Errorf("expected 404, got %d: %s", w.Code, w.Body.String())
+	}
+}
+
 // TestUpdate_Runtime_ModelSecretDBError_Fails500 pins that a genuine DB error
 // reading the MODEL workspace_secret is fail-closed (500). Only sql.ErrNoRows
 // (unresolved model) skips the strict compat-check; real DB/decrypt errors
diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_provision.go b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_provision.go
index b7dd50ea9..7b29785de 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_provision.go
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_provision.go
@@ -384,6 +384,7 @@ func (h *WorkspaceHandler) buildProvisionerConfig(
 	return provisioner.WorkspaceConfig{
 		WorkspaceID:     workspaceID,
 		TemplatePath:    templatePath,
+		Template:        payload.Template,
 		ConfigFiles:     configFiles,
 		PluginsPath:     pluginsPath,
 		WorkspacePath:   workspacePath,
@@ -418,34 +419,25 @@ func (h *WorkspaceHandler) buildProvisionerConfig(
 		// reader's sql.ErrNoRows path was producing already.
 		Image: "",
 
-		// RFC #2843 #24 PR-B — wire the generic template-asset
-		// channel. cfg.TemplateIdentity is derived from the
-		// runtime_registry (manifest.json's workspace_templates
-		// entry for this runtime) — the format is "<repo>@<ref>"
-		// (the giteaTemplateAssetFetcher parses this further as
-		// "<owner>/<repo>@<ref>"). External-like runtimes
-		// (external / kimi / kimi-cli / mock) have NO template
-		// repo, so the identity is left empty — the SCAFFOLD
-		// gate in collectCPConfigFiles treats empty identity as
-		// "skip the fetcher" (pre-scaffold behavior preserved).
-		//
-		// The fetcher itself is assigned by the caller (main.go
-		// for SaaS, or a test helper) via h.giteaTemplateFetcher
-		// — wired here so the fetcher resolution is one place,
-		// not duplicated across first-provision + restart paths.
-		// nil fetcher = "no fetcher wired" (self-host default;
-		// falls through to the local TemplatePath path).
-		TemplateIdentity:     templateIdentityForTemplateOrRuntime(conciergeTemplateOrDefault(kind, payload.Template), payload.Runtime),
+		// RFC #2843 #24 PR-B + Phase 1 template decoupling: derive the
+		// template identity from the installed template first, falling back
+		// to the runtime's default template. For kind='platform' concierges
+		// with no explicit template, force "platform-agent" so the concierge
+		// persona/config is delivered (RFC §5.7; #30/#2970). The empty
+		// identity tells the SCAFFOLD gate in collectCPConfigFiles to skip
+		// the fetcher (external runtimes).
+		TemplateIdentity:     templateIdentityOrEmpty(resolveTemplateIdentity(conciergeTemplateOrDefault(kind, payload.Template), payload.Runtime)),
 		TemplateAssetFetcher: h.giteaTemplateFetcher,
 	}
 }
 
-// templateIdentityForRuntimeOrEmpty is a tiny wrapper around
-// templateIdentityForRuntime that returns "" on miss (rather
-// than the (string, bool) tuple). Used at the call site so
-// the assignment can be a single expression.
-func templateIdentityForRuntimeOrEmpty(runtime string) string {
-	id, _ := templateIdentityForRuntime(runtime)
+// templateIdentityOrEmpty is a tiny wrapper around resolveTemplateIdentity
+// that returns "" on miss (rather than the (string, bool) tuple). Used at the
+// call site so the assignment can be a single expression.
+func templateIdentityOrEmpty(id string, ok bool) string {
+	if !ok {
+		return ""
+	}
 	return id
 }
 
@@ -469,7 +461,7 @@ func templateIdentityForTemplateOrRuntime(template, runtime string) string {
 			return id
 		}
 	}
-	return templateIdentityForRuntimeOrEmpty(runtime)
+	return templateIdentityOrEmpty(templateIdentityForRuntime(runtime))
 }
 
 // issueAndInjectToken rotates the workspace auth token and injects the
diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_restart.go b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_restart.go
index fdb267b10..b70726014 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_restart.go
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_restart.go
@@ -315,11 +315,11 @@ func (h *WorkspaceHandler) Restart(c *gin.Context) {
 	id := c.Param("id")
 	ctx := c.Request.Context()
 
-	var status, wsName, dbRuntime string
+	var status, wsName, dbRuntime, dbTemplate string
 	var tier int
 	err := db.DB.QueryRowContext(ctx,
-		`SELECT status, name, tier, COALESCE(runtime, 'claude-code') FROM workspaces WHERE id = $1`, id,
-	).Scan(&status, &wsName, &tier, &dbRuntime)
+		`SELECT status, name, tier, COALESCE(runtime, 'claude-code'), COALESCE(template, '') FROM workspaces WHERE id = $1`, id,
+	).Scan(&status, &wsName, &tier, &dbRuntime, &dbTemplate)
 	if err == sql.ErrNoRows {
 		c.JSON(http.StatusNotFound, gin.H{"error": "workspace not found"})
 		return
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ func (h *WorkspaceHandler) Restart(c *gin.Context) {
 		"runtime": containerRuntime,
 	})
 
-	templatePath, configLabel := resolveRestartTemplate(h.configsDir, wsName, dbRuntime, restartTemplateInput{
+	templatePath, configLabel := resolveRestartTemplate(h.configsDir, wsName, dbRuntime, dbTemplate, restartTemplateInput{
 		Template:      body.Template,
 		ApplyTemplate: body.ApplyTemplate,
 		RebuildConfig: body.RebuildConfig,
@@ -442,8 +442,8 @@ func (h *WorkspaceHandler) Restart(c *gin.Context) {
 	}
 
 	var configFiles map[string][]byte
-	payload := withStoredCompute(ctx, id, models.CreateWorkspacePayload{Name: wsName, Tier: tier, Runtime: containerRuntime})
-	log.Printf("Restart: workspace %s (%s) runtime=%q", wsName, id, containerRuntime)
+	payload := withStoredCompute(ctx, id, models.CreateWorkspacePayload{Name: wsName, Tier: tier, Runtime: containerRuntime, Template: dbTemplate})
+	log.Printf("Restart: workspace %s (%s) runtime=%q template=%q", wsName, id, containerRuntime, dbTemplate)
 
 	// #12: ?reset=true (or body.Reset) discards the claude-sessions volume
 	// before restart, giving the agent a clean /root/.claude/sessions dir.
@@ -931,11 +931,11 @@ func (h *WorkspaceHandler) runRestartCycle(workspaceID string) {
 	gate.Lock()
 	defer gate.Unlock()
 
-	var wsName, status, dbRuntime string
+	var wsName, status, dbRuntime, dbTemplate string
 	var tier int
 	err := db.DB.QueryRowContext(ctx,
-		`SELECT name, status, tier, COALESCE(runtime, 'claude-code') FROM workspaces WHERE id = $1 AND status NOT IN ('removed', 'paused', 'hibernated')`, workspaceID,
-	).Scan(&wsName, &status, &tier, &dbRuntime)
+		`SELECT name, status, tier, COALESCE(runtime, 'claude-code'), COALESCE(template, '') FROM workspaces WHERE id = $1 AND status NOT IN ('removed', 'paused', 'hibernated')`, workspaceID,
+	).Scan(&wsName, &status, &tier, &dbRuntime, &dbTemplate)
 	if err != nil {
 		return // includes paused/hibernated — don't auto-restart those
 	}
@@ -958,7 +958,7 @@ func (h *WorkspaceHandler) runRestartCycle(workspaceID string) {
 		time.Sleep(10 * time.Second)
 	}
 
-	log.Printf("Auto-restart: restarting %s (%s) runtime=%q (was: %s)", wsName, workspaceID, dbRuntime, status)
+	log.Printf("Auto-restart: restarting %s (%s) runtime=%q template=%q (was: %s)", wsName, workspaceID, dbRuntime, dbTemplate, status)
 
 	// #125 Phase 1: send pre-restart drain signal to the workspace agent.
 	// For native_session targets, A2A messages go directly to the SDK session
@@ -979,11 +979,11 @@ func (h *WorkspaceHandler) runRestartCycle(workspaceID string) {
 		log.Printf("Auto-restart: failed to set provisioning status for %s: %v", workspaceID, err)
 	}
 	h.broadcaster.RecordAndBroadcast(ctx, string(events.EventWorkspaceProvisioning), workspaceID, map[string]interface{}{
-		"name": wsName, "tier": tier, "runtime": dbRuntime,
+		"name": wsName, "tier": tier, "runtime": dbRuntime, "template": dbTemplate,
 	})
 
 	// Runtime from DB — no more config file parsing
-	payload := withStoredCompute(ctx, workspaceID, models.CreateWorkspacePayload{Name: wsName, Tier: tier, Runtime: dbRuntime})
+	payload := withStoredCompute(ctx, workspaceID, models.CreateWorkspacePayload{Name: wsName, Tier: tier, Runtime: dbRuntime, Template: dbTemplate})
 
 	// RFC#2843 #33 + SaaS restart re-stub fix: on SaaS (cpProv), restore the
 	// persisted template AND resolve its LOCAL template dir so the re-provision
@@ -1018,6 +1018,18 @@ func (h *WorkspaceHandler) runRestartCycle(workspaceID string) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// RFC#2843 #33: on SaaS (cpProv), restore the persisted template so the
+	// re-provision re-delivers config.yaml + prompts — TemplateIdentity is
+	// derived from payload.Template (workspace_provision.go). Without this the
+	// SaaS re-provision ran with template="" → 218-byte stub config + dropped
+	// skills on every restart. Docker keeps its persistent config volume, so it
+	// retains the "do not re-apply templates" behavior (template left empty).
+	if h.cpProv != nil {
+		if storedTmpl := storedWorkspaceTemplate(ctx, workspaceID); storedTmpl != "" {
+			payload.Template = storedTmpl
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Snapshot restart-context data before the new session overwrites
 	// last_heartbeat_at. Issue #19 Layer 1.
 	restartData := loadRestartContextData(ctx, workspaceID)
@@ -1142,11 +1154,11 @@ func (h *WorkspaceHandler) Resume(c *gin.Context) {
 	id := c.Param("id")
 	ctx := c.Request.Context()
 
-	var wsName, dbRuntime string
+	var wsName, dbRuntime, dbTemplate string
 	var tier int
 	err := db.DB.QueryRowContext(ctx,
-		`SELECT name, tier, COALESCE(runtime, 'claude-code') FROM workspaces WHERE id = $1 AND status = 'paused'`, id,
-	).Scan(&wsName, &tier, &dbRuntime)
+		`SELECT name, tier, COALESCE(runtime, 'claude-code'), COALESCE(template, '') FROM workspaces WHERE id = $1 AND status = 'paused'`, id,
+	).Scan(&wsName, &tier, &dbRuntime, &dbTemplate)
 	if err == sql.ErrNoRows {
 		c.JSON(http.StatusNotFound, gin.H{"error": "workspace not found or not paused"})
 		return
@@ -1172,17 +1184,17 @@ func (h *WorkspaceHandler) Resume(c *gin.Context) {
 
 	// Collect this workspace + all paused descendants to resume
 	type wsInfo struct {
-		id, name, runtime string
-		tier              int
+		id, name, runtime, template string
+		tier                        int
 	}
-	toResume := []wsInfo{{id, wsName, dbRuntime, tier}}
+	toResume := []wsInfo{{id, wsName, dbRuntime, dbTemplate, tier}}
 	var descendantList []gin.H
 	rows, err := db.DB.QueryContext(ctx,
 		`WITH RECURSIVE descendants AS (
-			SELECT id, name, tier, COALESCE(runtime, 'claude-code') AS runtime FROM workspaces WHERE parent_id = $1 AND status = 'paused'
+			SELECT id, name, tier, COALESCE(runtime, 'claude-code') AS runtime, COALESCE(template, '') AS template FROM workspaces WHERE parent_id = $1 AND status = 'paused'
 			UNION ALL
-			SELECT w.id, w.name, w.tier, COALESCE(w.runtime, 'claude-code') FROM workspaces w JOIN descendants d ON w.parent_id = d.id WHERE w.status = 'paused'
-		) SELECT id, name, tier, runtime FROM descendants`, id)
+			SELECT w.id, w.name, w.tier, COALESCE(w.runtime, 'claude-code'), COALESCE(w.template, '') FROM workspaces w JOIN descendants d ON w.parent_id = d.id WHERE w.status = 'paused'
+		) SELECT id, name, tier, runtime, template FROM descendants`, id)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Printf("Resume: descendant query failed for %s: %v", id, err)
 	}
@@ -1190,7 +1202,7 @@ func (h *WorkspaceHandler) Resume(c *gin.Context) {
 		defer rows.Close()
 		for rows.Next() {
 			var ws wsInfo
-			if rows.Scan(&ws.id, &ws.name, &ws.tier, &ws.runtime) == nil {
+			if rows.Scan(&ws.id, &ws.name, &ws.tier, &ws.runtime, &ws.template) == nil {
 				toResume = append(toResume, ws)
 				descendantList = append(descendantList, gin.H{"id": ws.id, "name": ws.name})
 			}
@@ -1216,12 +1228,14 @@ func (h *WorkspaceHandler) Resume(c *gin.Context) {
 			log.Printf("Resume: failed to set provisioning status for %s: %v", ws.id, err)
 		}
 		h.broadcaster.RecordAndBroadcast(ctx, string(events.EventWorkspaceProvisioning), ws.id, map[string]interface{}{
-			"name": ws.name, "tier": ws.tier, "runtime": ws.runtime,
+			"name": ws.name, "tier": ws.tier, "runtime": ws.runtime, "template": ws.template,
 		})
-		payload := withStoredCompute(ctx, ws.id, models.CreateWorkspacePayload{Name: ws.name, Tier: ws.tier, Runtime: ws.runtime})
-		// RFC#2843 #33: restore the persisted template on SaaS resume so config +
-		// prompts re-deliver (see runRestartCycle for the full rationale).
-		if h.cpProv != nil {
+		// Phase 1 template decoupling: the workspace row stores the template
+		// explicitly, so resume carries it through CreateWorkspacePayload.
+		payload := withStoredCompute(ctx, ws.id, models.CreateWorkspacePayload{Name: ws.name, Tier: ws.tier, Runtime: ws.runtime, Template: ws.template})
+		// RFC#2843 #33: if the row template is empty (legacy row), restore the
+		// persisted template on SaaS resume so config + prompts re-deliver.
+		if payload.Template == "" && h.cpProv != nil {
 			if storedTmpl := storedWorkspaceTemplate(ctx, ws.id); storedTmpl != "" {
 				payload.Template = storedTmpl
 			}
diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_restart_test.go b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_restart_test.go
index 92c1e39c1..22f85689c 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_restart_test.go
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_restart_test.go
@@ -78,8 +78,8 @@ func TestRestartHandler_RemovedWorkspaceReturns404(t *testing.T) {
 
 	mock.ExpectQuery("SELECT status, name, tier, COALESCE").
 		WithArgs("ws-removed").
-		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"status", "name", "tier", "runtime"}).
-			AddRow("removed", "Removed Agent", 1, "claude-code"))
+		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"status", "name", "tier", "runtime", "template"}).
+			AddRow("removed", "Removed Agent", 1, "claude-code", ""))
 
 	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
 	c, _ := gin.CreateTestContext(w)
@@ -106,8 +106,8 @@ func TestRestartHandler_AncestorPausedBlocksRestart(t *testing.T) {
 	// Lookup workspace
 	mock.ExpectQuery("SELECT status, name, tier, COALESCE").
 		WithArgs("ws-grandchild").
-		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"status", "name", "tier", "runtime"}).
-			AddRow("offline", "Grandchild Agent", 1, "claude-code"))
+		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"status", "name", "tier", "runtime", "template"}).
+			AddRow("offline", "Grandchild Agent", 1, "claude-code", ""))
 
 	// isParentPaused: get parent_id of grandchild -> child
 	mock.ExpectQuery("SELECT parent_id FROM workspaces WHERE id =").
@@ -163,8 +163,8 @@ func TestRestartHandler_ExternalRuntimeNoOps(t *testing.T) {
 
 	mock.ExpectQuery("SELECT status, name, tier, COALESCE").
 		WithArgs("ws-external").
-		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"status", "name", "tier", "runtime"}).
-			AddRow("offline", "External Agent", 1, "external"))
+		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"status", "name", "tier", "runtime", "template"}).
+			AddRow("offline", "External Agent", 1, "external", ""))
 
 	// isParentPaused: no parent
 	mock.ExpectQuery("SELECT parent_id FROM workspaces WHERE id =").
@@ -214,8 +214,8 @@ func TestRestartHandler_KimiRuntimeNoOps(t *testing.T) {
 
 	mock.ExpectQuery("SELECT status, name, tier, COALESCE").
 		WithArgs("ws-kimi").
-		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"status", "name", "tier", "runtime"}).
-			AddRow("offline", "Kimi Agent", 1, "kimi-cli"))
+		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"status", "name", "tier", "runtime", "template"}).
+			AddRow("offline", "Kimi Agent", 1, "kimi-cli", ""))
 
 	mock.ExpectQuery("SELECT parent_id FROM workspaces WHERE id =").
 		WithArgs("ws-kimi").
@@ -259,8 +259,8 @@ func TestRestartHandler_NilProvisionerReturns503(t *testing.T) {
 
 	mock.ExpectQuery("SELECT status, name, tier, COALESCE").
 		WithArgs("ws-no-prov").
-		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"status", "name", "tier", "runtime"}).
-			AddRow("offline", "Test Agent", 1, "claude-code"))
+		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"status", "name", "tier", "runtime", "template"}).
+			AddRow("offline", "Test Agent", 1, "claude-code", ""))
 
 	// isParentPaused: no parent
 	mock.ExpectQuery("SELECT parent_id FROM workspaces WHERE id =").
@@ -528,8 +528,8 @@ func TestResumeHandler_NilProvisionerReturns503(t *testing.T) {
 
 	mock.ExpectQuery("SELECT name, tier, COALESCE").
 		WithArgs("ws-resume-noprov").
-		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"name", "tier", "runtime"}).
-			AddRow("Test Agent", 1, "claude-code"))
+		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"name", "tier", "runtime", "template"}).
+			AddRow("Test Agent", 1, "claude-code", ""))
 
 	// provisioner nil check happens BEFORE isParentPaused, so no parent query expected
 
@@ -562,8 +562,8 @@ func TestResumeHandler_DescendantsNoCascadeReturns409(t *testing.T) {
 
 	mock.ExpectQuery("SELECT name, tier, COALESCE").
 		WithArgs("ws-resume-parent").
-		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"name", "tier", "runtime"}).
-			AddRow("Parent Agent", 1, "claude-code"))
+		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"name", "tier", "runtime", "template"}).
+			AddRow("Parent Agent", 1, "claude-code", ""))
 
 	// isParentPaused: no parent
 	mock.ExpectQuery("SELECT parent_id FROM workspaces WHERE id =").
@@ -572,9 +572,9 @@ func TestResumeHandler_DescendantsNoCascadeReturns409(t *testing.T) {
 
 	mock.ExpectQuery("WITH RECURSIVE descendants").
 		WithArgs("ws-resume-parent").
-		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"id", "name", "tier", "runtime"}).
-			AddRow("ws-child-1", "Child 1", 1, "claude-code").
-			AddRow("ws-child-2", "Child 2", 1, "claude-code"))
+		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"id", "name", "tier", "runtime", "template"}).
+			AddRow("ws-child-1", "Child 1", 1, "claude-code", "").
+			AddRow("ws-child-2", "Child 2", 1, "claude-code", ""))
 
 	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
 	c, _ := gin.CreateTestContext(w)
@@ -610,8 +610,8 @@ func TestResumeHandler_DescendantsWithCascadeReturns200(t *testing.T) {
 
 	mock.ExpectQuery("SELECT name, tier, COALESCE").
 		WithArgs("ws-resume-parent-cascade").
-		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"name", "tier", "runtime"}).
-			AddRow("Parent Agent", 1, "claude-code"))
+		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"name", "tier", "runtime", "template"}).
+			AddRow("Parent Agent", 1, "claude-code", ""))
 
 	// isParentPaused: no parent
 	mock.ExpectQuery("SELECT parent_id FROM workspaces WHERE id =").
@@ -620,9 +620,9 @@ func TestResumeHandler_DescendantsWithCascadeReturns200(t *testing.T) {
 
 	mock.ExpectQuery("WITH RECURSIVE descendants").
 		WithArgs("ws-resume-parent-cascade").
-		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"id", "name", "tier", "runtime"}).
-			AddRow("ws-child-1", "Child 1", 1, "claude-code").
-			AddRow("ws-child-2", "Child 2", 1, "claude-code"))
+		WillReturnRows(sqlmock.NewRows([]string{"id", "name", "tier", "runtime", "template"}).
+			AddRow("ws-child-1", "Child 1", 1, "claude-code", "").
+			AddRow("ws-child-2", "Child 2", 1, "claude-code", ""))
 
 	for _, wsID := range []string{"ws-resume-parent-cascade", "ws-child-1", "ws-child-2"} {
 		mock.ExpectExec("UPDATE workspaces SET status =").
diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_switch_provider.go b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_switch_provider.go
index 96d0a0377..8e8aacb31 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_switch_provider.go
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_switch_provider.go
@@ -59,15 +59,15 @@ func (h *WorkspaceHandler) SwitchProvider(c *gin.Context) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	var status, wsName, dbRuntime, oldProvider, dataPersistence string
+	var status, wsName, dbRuntime, dbTemplate, oldProvider, dataPersistence string
 	var oldInstanceID sql.NullString
 	var tier int
 	err := db.DB.QueryRowContext(ctx, `
-		SELECT status, name, tier, COALESCE(runtime, 'claude-code'),
+		SELECT status, name, tier, COALESCE(runtime, 'claude-code'), COALESCE(template, ''),
 		       COALESCE(compute->>'provider', ''), COALESCE(compute->>'data_persistence', ''),
 		       instance_id
 		FROM workspaces WHERE id = $1`, id,
-	).Scan(&status, &wsName, &tier, &dbRuntime, &oldProvider, &dataPersistence, &oldInstanceID)
+	).Scan(&status, &wsName, &tier, &dbRuntime, &dbTemplate, &oldProvider, &dataPersistence, &oldInstanceID)
 	if err == sql.ErrNoRows || status == string(models.StatusRemoved) {
 		c.JSON(http.StatusNotFound, gin.H{"error": "workspace not found"})
 		return
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ func (h *WorkspaceHandler) SwitchProvider(c *gin.Context) {
 	//    context: the reprovision outlives the request. Routes through
 	//    provisionWorkspaceAuto (not provisionWorkspaceCP directly) per
 	//    TestNoCallSiteCallsDirectProvisionerExceptAuto (core#2422 RCA tick).
-	payload := withStoredCompute(context.Background(), id, models.CreateWorkspacePayload{Name: wsName, Tier: tier, Runtime: dbRuntime})
+	payload := withStoredCompute(context.Background(), id, models.CreateWorkspacePayload{Name: wsName, Tier: tier, Runtime: dbRuntime, Template: dbTemplate})
 	h.provisionWorkspaceAuto(id, "", nil, payload)
 
 	// All 5 steps completed; mark the switch COMMITTED so the rollback
diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_test.go b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_test.go
index f6bce8645..2f16cc19a 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_test.go
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/handlers/workspace_test.go
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ func TestWorkspaceCreate_DBInsertError(t *testing.T) {
 	// Transaction begins, workspace INSERT fails, transaction is rolled back.
 	mock.ExpectBegin()
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspaces").
-		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Failing Agent", nil, 3, "claude-code", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
+		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Failing Agent", nil, 3, "claude-code", "", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
 		WillReturnError(sql.ErrConnDone)
 	mock.ExpectRollback()
 
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ func TestWorkspaceCreate_DefaultsApplied(t *testing.T) {
 	// Expect workspace INSERT with defaulted tier=3 (Privileged — the
 	// handler default in workspace.go), runtime="claude-code"
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspaces").
-		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Default Agent", nil, 3, "claude-code", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
+		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Default Agent", nil, 3, "claude-code", "", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
 		WillReturnResult(sqlmock.NewResult(0, 1))
 	mock.ExpectCommit()
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspace_secrets").
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ func TestWorkspaceCreate_SaaSHardForcesTier4(t *testing.T) {
 
 	mock.ExpectBegin()
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspaces").
-		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "SaaS External Agent", nil, 4, "external", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
+		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "SaaS External Agent", nil, 4, "external", "", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
 		WillReturnResult(sqlmock.NewResult(0, 1))
 	mock.ExpectCommit()
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO canvas_layouts").
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ func TestWorkspaceCreate_WithSecrets_Persists(t *testing.T) {
 
 	mock.ExpectBegin()
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspaces").
-		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "External Agent", nil, 3, "external", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
+		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "External Agent", nil, 3, "external", "", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
 		WillReturnResult(sqlmock.NewResult(0, 1))
 	// Secret inserted inside the same transaction.
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspace_secrets").
@@ -597,7 +597,7 @@ func TestWorkspaceCreate_ExternalURL_SSRFSafe(t *testing.T) {
 
 	mock.ExpectBegin()
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspaces").
-		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Ext Agent", nil, 3, "external", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
+		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Ext Agent", nil, 3, "external", "", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
 		WillReturnResult(sqlmock.NewResult(0, 1))
 	mock.ExpectCommit()
 	// External URL update (localhost is explicitly allowed by validateAgentURL).
@@ -637,7 +637,7 @@ func TestWorkspaceCreate_KimiRuntime_PreservesLabel(t *testing.T) {
 
 	mock.ExpectBegin()
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspaces").
-		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Kimi Agent", nil, 3, "kimi", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
+		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Kimi Agent", nil, 3, "kimi", "", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
 		WillReturnResult(sqlmock.NewResult(0, 1))
 	mock.ExpectCommit()
 	// Pre-register flow: awaiting_agent + runtime preserved as "kimi"
@@ -702,7 +702,7 @@ func TestWorkspaceCreate_ExternalFlagDefaultsRuntimeExternal(t *testing.T) {
 
 	mock.ExpectBegin()
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspaces").
-		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "External Agent", nil, 3, "external", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
+		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "External Agent", nil, 3, "external", "", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
 		WillReturnResult(sqlmock.NewResult(0, 1))
 	mock.ExpectCommit()
 	mock.ExpectExec("UPDATE workspaces SET status").
@@ -1818,7 +1818,7 @@ runtime_config:
 	// and hand the completed values to the INSERT.
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspaces").
 		WithArgs(
-			sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Hermes Agent", nil, 3, "hermes",
+			sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Hermes Agent", nil, 3, "hermes", "hermes-template",
 			(*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
 		WillReturnResult(sqlmock.NewResult(0, 1))
 	mock.ExpectCommit()
@@ -1877,7 +1877,7 @@ model: moonshot/kimi-k2.5
 	// this assertion should flip back to 1.
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspaces").
 		WithArgs(
-			sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Legacy Agent", nil, 3, "hermes",
+			sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Legacy Agent", nil, 3, "hermes", "legacy-template",
 			(*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
 		WillReturnResult(sqlmock.NewResult(0, 1))
 	mock.ExpectCommit()
@@ -1934,7 +1934,7 @@ runtime_config:
 	// absence of a handler error to mean the model passthrough was honored.
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspaces").
 		WithArgs(
-			sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Custom Hermes", nil, 3, "hermes",
+			sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Custom Hermes", nil, 3, "hermes", "hermes-template",
 			(*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
 		WillReturnResult(sqlmock.NewResult(0, 1))
 	mock.ExpectCommit()
@@ -2232,7 +2232,7 @@ func TestWorkspaceCreate_188_ExplicitRuntimeNoTemplate_OK(t *testing.T) {
 
 	mock.ExpectBegin()
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO workspaces").
-		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Explicit Codex", nil, 3, "codex", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
+		WithArgs(sqlmock.AnyArg(), "Explicit Codex", nil, 3, "codex", "", (*string)(nil), nil, "none", (*int64)(nil), models.DefaultMaxConcurrentTasks, "push").
 		WillReturnResult(sqlmock.NewResult(0, 1))
 	mock.ExpectCommit()
 	mock.ExpectExec("INSERT INTO canvas_layouts").
diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/provisioner/cp_provisioner.go b/workspace-server/internal/provisioner/cp_provisioner.go
index b9326107d..191fedbd6 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/provisioner/cp_provisioner.go
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/provisioner/cp_provisioner.go
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ type cpProvisionRequest struct {
 	OrgID        string `json:"org_id"`
 	WorkspaceID  string `json:"workspace_id"`
 	Runtime      string `json:"runtime"`
+	Template     string `json:"template,omitempty"`
 	Tier         int    `json:"tier"`
 	InstanceType string `json:"instance_type,omitempty"`
 	DiskGB       int32  `json:"disk_gb,omitempty"`
@@ -295,6 +296,7 @@ func (p *CPProvisioner) Start(ctx context.Context, cfg WorkspaceConfig) (string,
 		OrgID:           p.orgID,
 		WorkspaceID:     cfg.WorkspaceID,
 		Runtime:         cfg.Runtime,
+		Template:        cfg.Template,
 		Tier:            cfg.Tier,
 		InstanceType:    cfg.InstanceType,
 		DiskGB:          cfg.DiskGB,
diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/provisioner/provision_request.contract.json b/workspace-server/internal/provisioner/provision_request.contract.json
index c26c0a51c..5855c8403 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/provisioner/provision_request.contract.json
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/provisioner/provision_request.contract.json
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
     "org_id":           {"type": "string", "cp_consumes": true},
     "workspace_id":     {"type": "string", "cp_consumes": true},
     "runtime":          {"type": "string", "cp_consumes": true},
+    "template":         {"type": "string", "cp_consumes": true},
     "tier":             {"type": "int",    "cp_consumes": true},
     "instance_type":    {"type": "string", "cp_consumes": true},
     "disk_gb":          {"type": "int",    "cp_consumes": true},
diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/provisioner/provisioner.go b/workspace-server/internal/provisioner/provisioner.go
index 8cf1021c1..d598bdd08 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/provisioner/provisioner.go
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/provisioner/provisioner.go
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ const (
 type WorkspaceConfig struct {
 	WorkspaceID      string
 	TemplatePath     string            // Host path to template dir to copy from (e.g. claude-code-default/)
+        Template         string            // RFC #2948 Phase 1: installed template name, distinct from engine runtime.
 	TemplateIdentity string            // RFC #2843 #24: opaque token the TemplateAssetFetcher resolves to the template repo+ref (e.g. "claudius-v1.2.3" or a sha). Used by SaaS; ignored by the local-dir TemplatePath path.
 	ConfigFiles      map[string][]byte // Generated config files to write into /configs volume
 	PluginsPath      string            // Host path to plugins directory (mounted at /plugins)
diff --git a/workspace-server/internal/router/router.go b/workspace-server/internal/router/router.go
index 6deab403a..b245e9f25 100644
--- a/workspace-server/internal/router/router.go
+++ b/workspace-server/internal/router/router.go
@@ -527,6 +527,7 @@ func Setup(hub *ws.Hub, broadcaster *events.Broadcaster, prov *provisioner.Provi
 		budgeth := handlers.NewBudgetHandler()
 		wsAuth.GET("/budget", budgeth.GetBudget)
 		r.PATCH("/workspaces/:id/budget", middleware.AdminAuth(db.DB), budgeth.PatchBudget)
+		r.PATCH("/workspaces/:id/template", middleware.AdminAuth(db.DB), wh.PatchTemplate)
 
 		// Token management (user-facing create/list/revoke)
 		tokh := handlers.NewTokenHandler()
diff --git a/workspace-server/migrations/20260616000000_workspaces_template.down.sql b/workspace-server/migrations/20260616000000_workspaces_template.down.sql
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..eb6fa2224
--- /dev/null
+++ b/workspace-server/migrations/20260616000000_workspaces_template.down.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+-- Revert workspaces.template addition.
+ALTER TABLE workspaces
+    DROP COLUMN IF EXISTS template;
diff --git a/workspace-server/migrations/20260616000000_workspaces_template.up.sql b/workspace-server/migrations/20260616000000_workspaces_template.up.sql
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..46adf8ac3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/workspace-server/migrations/20260616000000_workspaces_template.up.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+-- Add workspaces.template to decouple installed template from engine runtime.
+-- Phase 1 of RFC #2948; closes the rejected PATCH runtime=seo-agent path.
+--
+-- Empty string means "no installed template — resolve assets from runtime".
+-- NOT NULL DEFAULT '' keeps the Go model a plain string and preserves every
+-- existing workspace without a backfill step for the column itself.
+ALTER TABLE workspaces
+    ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS template TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '';
+
+-- Backfill template from workspace_config.data when it was already recorded
+-- at create time (e.g. TemplatePalette / org import flows that stored it
+-- there but did not persist it on the workspaces row).
+UPDATE workspaces w
+SET template = COALESCE(NULLIF(c.data ->> 'template', ''), w.template)
+FROM workspace_config c
+WHERE c.workspace_id = w.id
+  AND w.template = ''
+  AND c.data ->> 'template' IS NOT NULL;