diff --git a/internal/ai/patrol_init.go b/internal/ai/patrol_init.go
index c4f1a2d49..67c14303e 100644
--- a/internal/ai/patrol_init.go
+++ b/internal/ai/patrol_init.go
@@ -550,6 +550,18 @@ func (p *PatrolService) GetTriggerManager() *TriggerManager {
 	return p.triggerManager
 }
 
+// CanAcceptTriggers reports whether event-driven patrol triggers should be queued.
+// Trigger sources must honor both the enabled flag and the patrol loop lifecycle.
+func (p *PatrolService) CanAcceptTriggers() bool {
+	if p == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	p.mu.RLock()
+	defer p.mu.RUnlock()
+	return p.config.Enabled && p.running
+}
+
 // TriggerScopedPatrol runs a targeted patrol for specific resources.
 // This is called by the TriggerManager for event-driven patrols.
 // When ResourceIDs or ResourceTypes are specified in the scope, only those resources
diff --git a/internal/ai/patrol_init_additional_test.go b/internal/ai/patrol_init_additional_test.go
index 07d2fc575..6a61e82fd 100644
--- a/internal/ai/patrol_init_additional_test.go
+++ b/internal/ai/patrol_init_additional_test.go
@@ -166,3 +166,26 @@ func TestPatrolService_AdditionalSetters(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("expected unified finding resolver to capture id, got %q", resolvedID)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestPatrolService_CanAcceptTriggers(t *testing.T) {
+	ps := NewPatrolService(nil, nil)
+
+	if ps.CanAcceptTriggers() {
+		t.Fatalf("expected triggers to be rejected before patrol starts")
+	}
+
+	ps.SetConfig(PatrolConfig{Enabled: true})
+	if ps.CanAcceptTriggers() {
+		t.Fatalf("expected triggers to be rejected while patrol is stopped")
+	}
+
+	ps.running = true
+	if !ps.CanAcceptTriggers() {
+		t.Fatalf("expected triggers to be accepted when patrol is enabled and running")
+	}
+
+	ps.SetConfig(PatrolConfig{Enabled: false})
+	if ps.CanAcceptTriggers() {
+		t.Fatalf("expected triggers to be rejected when patrol is disabled")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/api/router.go b/internal/api/router.go
index 1904d3fc5..be2704f1a 100644
--- a/internal/api/router.go
+++ b/internal/api/router.go
@@ -2652,6 +2652,13 @@ func (r *Router) initializeAIIntelligenceServices(ctx context.Context, dataDir s
 						Str("resource_id", resourceID).
 						Str("reason", reason).
 						Msg("Alert bridge: Triggering mini-patrol")
+					if !patrol.CanAcceptTriggers() {
+						log.Debug().
+							Str("resource_id", resourceID).
+							Str("reason", reason).
+							Msg("Alert bridge: Skipping mini-patrol because patrol is disabled or stopped")
+						return
+					}
 					if triggerManager := r.aiSettingsHandler.GetTriggerManager(); triggerManager != nil {
 						if triggerManager.TriggerPatrol(scope) {
 							log.Debug().
@@ -2734,6 +2741,14 @@ func (r *Router) initializeAIIntelligenceServices(ctx context.Context, dataDir s
 			baselineStore.SetAnomalyCallback(func(resourceID, resourceType, metric string, severity baseline.AnomalySeverity, value, baselineValue float64) {
 				// Only trigger for significant anomalies (high or critical)
 				if severity == baseline.AnomalyHigh || severity == baseline.AnomalyCritical {
+					if !patrol.CanAcceptTriggers() {
+						log.Debug().
+							Str("resourceID", resourceID).
+							Str("metric", metric).
+							Str("severity", string(severity)).
+							Msg("Anomaly trigger skipped because patrol is disabled or stopped")
+						return
+					}
 					scope := ai.AnomalyTriggeredPatrolScope(
 						resourceID,
 						resourceType,