diff --git a/internal/monitoring/guest_metadata_test.go b/internal/monitoring/guest_metadata_test.go
index 40643dd66..9e99e2cfd 100644
--- a/internal/monitoring/guest_metadata_test.go
+++ b/internal/monitoring/guest_metadata_test.go
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 package monitoring
 
 import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"math/rand"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/rcourtman/pulse-go-rewrite/internal/models"
 	"github.com/rcourtman/pulse-go-rewrite/pkg/proxmox"
@@ -543,3 +547,733 @@ func TestProcessGuestNetworkInterfaces(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestRetryGuestAgentCall(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	t.Run("successful call on first attempt", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		m := &Monitor{}
+		callCount := 0
+		fn := func(ctx context.Context) (interface{}, error) {
+			callCount++
+			return "success", nil
+		}
+
+		ctx := context.Background()
+		result, err := m.retryGuestAgentCall(ctx, 50*time.Millisecond, 2, fn)
+
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("expected no error, got %v", err)
+		}
+		if result != "success" {
+			t.Fatalf("expected result 'success', got %v", result)
+		}
+		if callCount != 1 {
+			t.Fatalf("expected 1 call, got %d", callCount)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("timeout error triggers retry and eventually succeeds", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		m := &Monitor{}
+		callCount := 0
+		fn := func(ctx context.Context) (interface{}, error) {
+			callCount++
+			if callCount < 3 {
+				return nil, errors.New("context deadline exceeded (timeout)")
+			}
+			return "success after retries", nil
+		}
+
+		ctx := context.Background()
+		result, err := m.retryGuestAgentCall(ctx, 50*time.Millisecond, 3, fn)
+
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("expected no error, got %v", err)
+		}
+		if result != "success after retries" {
+			t.Fatalf("expected result 'success after retries', got %v", result)
+		}
+		if callCount != 3 {
+			t.Fatalf("expected 3 calls, got %d", callCount)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("non-timeout error does not trigger retry", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		m := &Monitor{}
+		callCount := 0
+		nonTimeoutErr := errors.New("connection refused")
+		fn := func(ctx context.Context) (interface{}, error) {
+			callCount++
+			return nil, nonTimeoutErr
+		}
+
+		ctx := context.Background()
+		result, err := m.retryGuestAgentCall(ctx, 50*time.Millisecond, 3, fn)
+
+		if err == nil {
+			t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
+		}
+		if err.Error() != nonTimeoutErr.Error() {
+			t.Fatalf("expected error %q, got %q", nonTimeoutErr.Error(), err.Error())
+		}
+		if result != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("expected nil result, got %v", result)
+		}
+		if callCount != 1 {
+			t.Fatalf("expected 1 call (no retry for non-timeout), got %d", callCount)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("all retries exhausted returns last error", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		m := &Monitor{}
+		callCount := 0
+		fn := func(ctx context.Context) (interface{}, error) {
+			callCount++
+			return nil, errors.New("persistent timeout error")
+		}
+
+		ctx := context.Background()
+		result, err := m.retryGuestAgentCall(ctx, 50*time.Millisecond, 2, fn)
+
+		if err == nil {
+			t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
+		}
+		if err.Error() != "persistent timeout error" {
+			t.Fatalf("expected 'persistent timeout error', got %q", err.Error())
+		}
+		if result != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("expected nil result, got %v", result)
+		}
+		// maxRetries=2 means: attempt 0 (initial) + attempts 1,2 (retries) = 3 calls
+		if callCount != 3 {
+			t.Fatalf("expected 3 calls (1 initial + 2 retries), got %d", callCount)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("context cancellation during retry delay aborts early", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		m := &Monitor{}
+		callCount := 0
+		fn := func(ctx context.Context) (interface{}, error) {
+			callCount++
+			return nil, errors.New("timeout error")
+		}
+
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+
+		// Cancel context after first call completes but during retry delay
+		go func() {
+			time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
+			cancel()
+		}()
+
+		result, err := m.retryGuestAgentCall(ctx, 50*time.Millisecond, 5, fn)
+
+		if err == nil {
+			t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
+		}
+		if !errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
+			t.Fatalf("expected context.Canceled error, got %v", err)
+		}
+		if result != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("expected nil result, got %v", result)
+		}
+		// Should only have made 1 call before context was canceled during delay
+		if callCount != 1 {
+			t.Fatalf("expected 1 call before cancellation, got %d", callCount)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("zero retries means single attempt", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		m := &Monitor{}
+		callCount := 0
+		fn := func(ctx context.Context) (interface{}, error) {
+			callCount++
+			return nil, errors.New("timeout error")
+		}
+
+		ctx := context.Background()
+		result, err := m.retryGuestAgentCall(ctx, 50*time.Millisecond, 0, fn)
+
+		if err == nil {
+			t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
+		}
+		if result != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("expected nil result, got %v", result)
+		}
+		if callCount != 1 {
+			t.Fatalf("expected 1 call with maxRetries=0, got %d", callCount)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestAcquireGuestMetadataSlot(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	t.Run("nil monitor returns true", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		var m *Monitor
+		ctx := context.Background()
+		if !m.acquireGuestMetadataSlot(ctx) {
+			t.Fatal("nil monitor should return true (permissive default)")
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("nil slots channel returns true", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		m := &Monitor{guestMetadataSlots: nil}
+		ctx := context.Background()
+		if !m.acquireGuestMetadataSlot(ctx) {
+			t.Fatal("nil slots channel should return true (permissive default)")
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("successfully acquires slot when available", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		m := &Monitor{guestMetadataSlots: make(chan struct{}, 2)}
+		ctx := context.Background()
+		if !m.acquireGuestMetadataSlot(ctx) {
+			t.Fatal("should acquire slot when channel has capacity")
+		}
+		// Verify slot was actually acquired (channel should have 1 element)
+		if len(m.guestMetadataSlots) != 1 {
+			t.Fatalf("expected 1 slot acquired, got %d", len(m.guestMetadataSlots))
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("context cancellation returns false when slot not available", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		// Create a channel with capacity 1 and fill it
+		m := &Monitor{guestMetadataSlots: make(chan struct{}, 1)}
+		m.guestMetadataSlots <- struct{}{}
+
+		// Create already-cancelled context
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		cancel()
+
+		if m.acquireGuestMetadataSlot(ctx) {
+			t.Fatal("should return false when context is cancelled and slot not available")
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("multiple acquires fill up the channel", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		capacity := 3
+		m := &Monitor{guestMetadataSlots: make(chan struct{}, capacity)}
+		ctx := context.Background()
+
+		// Acquire all available slots
+		for i := 0; i < capacity; i++ {
+			if !m.acquireGuestMetadataSlot(ctx) {
+				t.Fatalf("should acquire slot %d of %d", i+1, capacity)
+			}
+		}
+
+		// Verify channel is full
+		if len(m.guestMetadataSlots) != capacity {
+			t.Fatalf("expected %d slots acquired, got %d", capacity, len(m.guestMetadataSlots))
+		}
+
+		// Next acquire should block; use cancelled context to test
+		ctx2, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		cancel()
+		if m.acquireGuestMetadataSlot(ctx2) {
+			t.Fatal("should return false when channel is full and context cancelled")
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestTryReserveGuestMetadataFetch(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	t.Run("nil monitor returns false", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		var m *Monitor
+		now := time.Now()
+		if m.tryReserveGuestMetadataFetch("test-key", now) {
+			t.Fatal("nil monitor should return false")
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("key not in map reserves and returns true", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		m := &Monitor{
+			guestMetadataLimiter:     make(map[string]time.Time),
+			guestMetadataHoldDuration: 15 * time.Second,
+		}
+		now := time.Now()
+
+		if !m.tryReserveGuestMetadataFetch("new-key", now) {
+			t.Fatal("should return true for new key")
+		}
+
+		// Verify the key was added with correct expiry
+		next, ok := m.guestMetadataLimiter["new-key"]
+		if !ok {
+			t.Fatal("key should be in limiter map")
+		}
+		expectedNext := now.Add(15 * time.Second)
+		if next.Sub(expectedNext) > time.Millisecond || expectedNext.Sub(next) > time.Millisecond {
+			t.Fatalf("expected next time ~%v, got %v", expectedNext, next)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("key in map with future time returns false", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		now := time.Now()
+		m := &Monitor{
+			guestMetadataLimiter: map[string]time.Time{
+				"existing-key": now.Add(10 * time.Second), // future
+			},
+			guestMetadataHoldDuration: 15 * time.Second,
+		}
+
+		if m.tryReserveGuestMetadataFetch("existing-key", now) {
+			t.Fatal("should return false when key has future expiry")
+		}
+
+		// Verify the expiry was not changed
+		next := m.guestMetadataLimiter["existing-key"]
+		if !next.Equal(now.Add(10 * time.Second)) {
+			t.Fatal("expiry time should not have been modified")
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("key in map with past time reserves and returns true", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		now := time.Now()
+		m := &Monitor{
+			guestMetadataLimiter: map[string]time.Time{
+				"expired-key": now.Add(-5 * time.Second), // past
+			},
+			guestMetadataHoldDuration: 20 * time.Second,
+		}
+
+		if !m.tryReserveGuestMetadataFetch("expired-key", now) {
+			t.Fatal("should return true when key has past expiry")
+		}
+
+		// Verify the key was updated with new expiry
+		next := m.guestMetadataLimiter["expired-key"]
+		expectedNext := now.Add(20 * time.Second)
+		if next.Sub(expectedNext) > time.Millisecond || expectedNext.Sub(next) > time.Millisecond {
+			t.Fatalf("expected next time ~%v, got %v", expectedNext, next)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("default hold duration used when guestMetadataHoldDuration is zero", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		m := &Monitor{
+			guestMetadataLimiter:     make(map[string]time.Time),
+			guestMetadataHoldDuration: 0, // zero triggers default
+		}
+		now := time.Now()
+
+		if !m.tryReserveGuestMetadataFetch("key", now) {
+			t.Fatal("should return true for new key")
+		}
+
+		next := m.guestMetadataLimiter["key"]
+		expectedNext := now.Add(defaultGuestMetadataHold) // 15 seconds
+		if next.Sub(expectedNext) > time.Millisecond || expectedNext.Sub(next) > time.Millisecond {
+			t.Fatalf("expected next time ~%v (default hold), got %v", expectedNext, next)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("default hold duration used when guestMetadataHoldDuration is negative", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		m := &Monitor{
+			guestMetadataLimiter:     make(map[string]time.Time),
+			guestMetadataHoldDuration: -5 * time.Second, // negative triggers default
+		}
+		now := time.Now()
+
+		if !m.tryReserveGuestMetadataFetch("key", now) {
+			t.Fatal("should return true for new key")
+		}
+
+		next := m.guestMetadataLimiter["key"]
+		expectedNext := now.Add(defaultGuestMetadataHold)
+		if next.Sub(expectedNext) > time.Millisecond || expectedNext.Sub(next) > time.Millisecond {
+			t.Fatalf("expected next time ~%v (default hold), got %v", expectedNext, next)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("key at exact current time reserves and returns true", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		now := time.Now()
+		m := &Monitor{
+			guestMetadataLimiter: map[string]time.Time{
+				"exact-key": now, // exactly now
+			},
+			guestMetadataHoldDuration: 10 * time.Second,
+		}
+
+		// now.Before(now) is false, so this should reserve
+		if !m.tryReserveGuestMetadataFetch("exact-key", now) {
+			t.Fatal("should return true when key expires exactly at now")
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestScheduleNextGuestMetadataFetch(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	t.Run("nil monitor is safe", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		var m *Monitor
+		now := time.Now()
+		// Should not panic
+		m.scheduleNextGuestMetadataFetch("test-key", now)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("schedules with default interval when guestMetadataMinRefresh is zero", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		m := &Monitor{
+			guestMetadataLimiter:    make(map[string]time.Time),
+			guestMetadataMinRefresh: 0, // zero triggers default
+		}
+		now := time.Now()
+
+		m.scheduleNextGuestMetadataFetch("key", now)
+
+		next, ok := m.guestMetadataLimiter["key"]
+		if !ok {
+			t.Fatal("key should be in limiter map")
+		}
+		// config.DefaultGuestMetadataMinRefresh is 2 minutes
+		expectedNext := now.Add(2 * time.Minute)
+		if next.Sub(expectedNext) > time.Millisecond || expectedNext.Sub(next) > time.Millisecond {
+			t.Fatalf("expected next time ~%v (default interval), got %v", expectedNext, next)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("schedules with default interval when guestMetadataMinRefresh is negative", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		m := &Monitor{
+			guestMetadataLimiter:    make(map[string]time.Time),
+			guestMetadataMinRefresh: -1 * time.Minute, // negative triggers default
+		}
+		now := time.Now()
+
+		m.scheduleNextGuestMetadataFetch("key", now)
+
+		next := m.guestMetadataLimiter["key"]
+		expectedNext := now.Add(2 * time.Minute) // DefaultGuestMetadataMinRefresh
+		if next.Sub(expectedNext) > time.Millisecond || expectedNext.Sub(next) > time.Millisecond {
+			t.Fatalf("expected next time ~%v (default interval), got %v", expectedNext, next)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("uses configured interval when positive", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		m := &Monitor{
+			guestMetadataLimiter:    make(map[string]time.Time),
+			guestMetadataMinRefresh: 5 * time.Minute,
+		}
+		now := time.Now()
+
+		m.scheduleNextGuestMetadataFetch("key", now)
+
+		next := m.guestMetadataLimiter["key"]
+		expectedNext := now.Add(5 * time.Minute)
+		if next.Sub(expectedNext) > time.Millisecond || expectedNext.Sub(next) > time.Millisecond {
+			t.Fatalf("expected next time ~%v, got %v", expectedNext, next)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("adds jitter when rng is non-nil and jitter is positive", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		// Use a seeded rng for deterministic testing
+		rng := newDeterministicRng(42)
+
+		m := &Monitor{
+			guestMetadataLimiter:      make(map[string]time.Time),
+			guestMetadataMinRefresh:   1 * time.Minute,
+			guestMetadataRefreshJitter: 30 * time.Second,
+			rng:                       rng,
+		}
+		now := time.Now()
+
+		m.scheduleNextGuestMetadataFetch("key", now)
+
+		next := m.guestMetadataLimiter["key"]
+		minExpected := now.Add(1 * time.Minute)
+		maxExpected := now.Add(1*time.Minute + 30*time.Second)
+
+		if next.Before(minExpected) || next.After(maxExpected) {
+			t.Fatalf("expected next time between %v and %v, got %v", minExpected, maxExpected, next)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("no jitter when rng is nil", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		m := &Monitor{
+			guestMetadataLimiter:      make(map[string]time.Time),
+			guestMetadataMinRefresh:   1 * time.Minute,
+			guestMetadataRefreshJitter: 30 * time.Second, // jitter configured but rng is nil
+			rng:                       nil,
+		}
+		now := time.Now()
+
+		m.scheduleNextGuestMetadataFetch("key", now)
+
+		next := m.guestMetadataLimiter["key"]
+		expectedNext := now.Add(1 * time.Minute) // no jitter added
+		if next.Sub(expectedNext) > time.Millisecond || expectedNext.Sub(next) > time.Millisecond {
+			t.Fatalf("expected next time ~%v (no jitter), got %v", expectedNext, next)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("no jitter when jitter duration is zero", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		rng := newDeterministicRng(42)
+
+		m := &Monitor{
+			guestMetadataLimiter:      make(map[string]time.Time),
+			guestMetadataMinRefresh:   1 * time.Minute,
+			guestMetadataRefreshJitter: 0, // zero jitter
+			rng:                       rng,
+		}
+		now := time.Now()
+
+		m.scheduleNextGuestMetadataFetch("key", now)
+
+		next := m.guestMetadataLimiter["key"]
+		expectedNext := now.Add(1 * time.Minute)
+		if next.Sub(expectedNext) > time.Millisecond || expectedNext.Sub(next) > time.Millisecond {
+			t.Fatalf("expected next time ~%v (no jitter), got %v", expectedNext, next)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("no jitter when jitter duration is negative", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		rng := newDeterministicRng(42)
+
+		m := &Monitor{
+			guestMetadataLimiter:      make(map[string]time.Time),
+			guestMetadataMinRefresh:   1 * time.Minute,
+			guestMetadataRefreshJitter: -10 * time.Second, // negative jitter
+			rng:                       rng,
+		}
+		now := time.Now()
+
+		m.scheduleNextGuestMetadataFetch("key", now)
+
+		next := m.guestMetadataLimiter["key"]
+		expectedNext := now.Add(1 * time.Minute)
+		if next.Sub(expectedNext) > time.Millisecond || expectedNext.Sub(next) > time.Millisecond {
+			t.Fatalf("expected next time ~%v (no jitter), got %v", expectedNext, next)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("overwrites existing key", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		now := time.Now()
+		m := &Monitor{
+			guestMetadataLimiter: map[string]time.Time{
+				"key": now.Add(-10 * time.Minute), // old value
+			},
+			guestMetadataMinRefresh: 3 * time.Minute,
+		}
+
+		m.scheduleNextGuestMetadataFetch("key", now)
+
+		next := m.guestMetadataLimiter["key"]
+		expectedNext := now.Add(3 * time.Minute)
+		if next.Sub(expectedNext) > time.Millisecond || expectedNext.Sub(next) > time.Millisecond {
+			t.Fatalf("expected next time ~%v, got %v", expectedNext, next)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestDeferGuestMetadataRetry(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	t.Run("nil monitor is safe", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		var m *Monitor
+		now := time.Now()
+		// Should not panic
+		m.deferGuestMetadataRetry("test-key", now)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("uses default backoff when guestMetadataRetryBackoff is zero", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		m := &Monitor{
+			guestMetadataLimiter:       make(map[string]time.Time),
+			guestMetadataRetryBackoff: 0, // zero triggers default
+		}
+		now := time.Now()
+
+		m.deferGuestMetadataRetry("key", now)
+
+		next, ok := m.guestMetadataLimiter["key"]
+		if !ok {
+			t.Fatal("key should be in limiter map")
+		}
+		// config.DefaultGuestMetadataRetryBackoff is 30 seconds
+		expectedNext := now.Add(30 * time.Second)
+		if next.Sub(expectedNext) > time.Millisecond || expectedNext.Sub(next) > time.Millisecond {
+			t.Fatalf("expected next time ~%v (default backoff), got %v", expectedNext, next)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("uses default backoff when guestMetadataRetryBackoff is negative", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		m := &Monitor{
+			guestMetadataLimiter:       make(map[string]time.Time),
+			guestMetadataRetryBackoff: -10 * time.Second, // negative triggers default
+		}
+		now := time.Now()
+
+		m.deferGuestMetadataRetry("key", now)
+
+		next := m.guestMetadataLimiter["key"]
+		expectedNext := now.Add(30 * time.Second) // DefaultGuestMetadataRetryBackoff
+		if next.Sub(expectedNext) > time.Millisecond || expectedNext.Sub(next) > time.Millisecond {
+			t.Fatalf("expected next time ~%v (default backoff), got %v", expectedNext, next)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("uses configured backoff when positive", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		m := &Monitor{
+			guestMetadataLimiter:       make(map[string]time.Time),
+			guestMetadataRetryBackoff: 45 * time.Second,
+		}
+		now := time.Now()
+
+		m.deferGuestMetadataRetry("key", now)
+
+		next := m.guestMetadataLimiter["key"]
+		expectedNext := now.Add(45 * time.Second)
+		if next.Sub(expectedNext) > time.Millisecond || expectedNext.Sub(next) > time.Millisecond {
+			t.Fatalf("expected next time ~%v, got %v", expectedNext, next)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("overwrites existing key", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		now := time.Now()
+		m := &Monitor{
+			guestMetadataLimiter: map[string]time.Time{
+				"key": now.Add(-5 * time.Minute), // old value
+			},
+			guestMetadataRetryBackoff: 1 * time.Minute,
+		}
+
+		m.deferGuestMetadataRetry("key", now)
+
+		next := m.guestMetadataLimiter["key"]
+		expectedNext := now.Add(1 * time.Minute)
+		if next.Sub(expectedNext) > time.Millisecond || expectedNext.Sub(next) > time.Millisecond {
+			t.Fatalf("expected next time ~%v, got %v", expectedNext, next)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+// newDeterministicRng creates a rand.Rand with a fixed seed for reproducible tests.
+func newDeterministicRng(seed int64) *rand.Rand {
+	return rand.New(rand.NewSource(seed))
+}
+
+func TestReleaseGuestMetadataSlot(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	t.Run("nil monitor is safe", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		var m *Monitor
+		// Should not panic
+		m.releaseGuestMetadataSlot()
+	})
+
+	t.Run("nil slots channel is safe", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		m := &Monitor{guestMetadataSlots: nil}
+		// Should not panic
+		m.releaseGuestMetadataSlot()
+	})
+
+	t.Run("successfully releases a slot", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		m := &Monitor{guestMetadataSlots: make(chan struct{}, 2)}
+		ctx := context.Background()
+
+		// Acquire a slot first
+		if !m.acquireGuestMetadataSlot(ctx) {
+			t.Fatal("failed to acquire slot")
+		}
+		if len(m.guestMetadataSlots) != 1 {
+			t.Fatalf("expected 1 slot acquired, got %d", len(m.guestMetadataSlots))
+		}
+
+		// Release the slot
+		m.releaseGuestMetadataSlot()
+
+		// Verify slot was released
+		if len(m.guestMetadataSlots) != 0 {
+			t.Fatalf("expected 0 slots after release, got %d", len(m.guestMetadataSlots))
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("release on empty channel does not block", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		m := &Monitor{guestMetadataSlots: make(chan struct{}, 2)}
+
+		// Channel is empty - release should not block due to default case in select
+		done := make(chan struct{})
+		go func() {
+			m.releaseGuestMetadataSlot()
+			close(done)
+		}()
+
+		select {
+		case <-done:
+			// Success - release completed without blocking
+		case <-time.After(100 * time.Millisecond):
+			t.Fatal("releaseGuestMetadataSlot blocked on empty channel")
+		}
+	})
+}