diff --git a/bin/gstack-gbrain-detect b/bin/gstack-gbrain-detect
index 4eee753da..54f0377c3 100755
--- a/bin/gstack-gbrain-detect
+++ b/bin/gstack-gbrain-detect
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
  *     "gstack_brain_sync_mode": "off"|"artifacts-only"|"full",
  *     "gstack_brain_git": true|false,
  *     "gstack_artifacts_remote": "https://..." | "",
- *     "gbrain_local_status": "ok"|"no-cli"|"missing-config"|"broken-config"|"broken-db",
+ *     "gbrain_local_status": "ok"|"no-cli"|"missing-config"|"broken-config"|"broken-db"|"timeout",
  *     "gbrain_pooler_mode": "transaction"|"session"|null
  *   }
  *
@@ -234,14 +234,17 @@ function main(): void {
   process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify(out, null, 2) + "\n");
 }
 
-// --is-ok: live engine-status gate. Exits 0 iff gbrain is usable ("ok"), 1
-// otherwise. Runs detection live (never reads the possibly-stale
-// gbrain-detection.json), so callers — setup, bin/dev-setup, and
-// `gstack-config gbrain-refresh` — can decide whether to render the gbrain
-// :user variant without duplicating the JSON grep. Prints nothing on stdout.
+// --is-ok: live engine-status gate. Exits 0 iff gbrain is usable ("ok", or
+// "timeout" — a slow-but-healthy engine, #1964 — slow must not silently
+// suppress brain features), 1 otherwise. Runs detection live (never reads
+// the possibly-stale gbrain-detection.json), so callers — setup,
+// bin/dev-setup, and `gstack-config gbrain-refresh` — can decide whether to
+// render the gbrain :user variant without duplicating the JSON grep.
+// Prints nothing on stdout.
 if (process.argv.includes("--is-ok")) {
   const noCache = process.env.GSTACK_DETECT_NO_CACHE === "1";
-  process.exit(localEngineStatus({ noCache }) === "ok" ? 0 : 1);
+  const status = localEngineStatus({ noCache });
+  process.exit(status === "ok" || status === "timeout" ? 0 : 1);
 }
 
 main();
diff --git a/bin/gstack-gbrain-sync.ts b/bin/gstack-gbrain-sync.ts
index 1150d5c4e..e55cec0ad 100644
--- a/bin/gstack-gbrain-sync.ts
+++ b/bin/gstack-gbrain-sync.ts
@@ -717,6 +717,8 @@ function dreamMarkerPid(): number | null {
  *   missing-config → "no local engine; run /setup-gbrain to add local PGLite"
  *   broken-config  → "config file at ~/.gbrain/config.json is malformed; see /setup-gbrain Step 1.5"
  *   broken-db      → "config points at unreachable DB; see /setup-gbrain Step 1.5"
+ *   timeout        → kept for Record totality; stages PROCEED on timeout (#1964)
+ *                    via the gate's warnProbeTimeout path, never this skip.
  */
 function skipStageForLocalStatus(
   stage: "code" | "memory" | "dream",
@@ -731,6 +733,8 @@ function skipStageForLocalStatus(
       "config at ~/.gbrain/config.json is malformed; see /setup-gbrain Step 1.5",
     "broken-db":
       "config points at unreachable DB; see /setup-gbrain Step 1.5",
+    "timeout":
+      "engine probe timed out; raise GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS if your pooler is slow",
   };
   const reason = reasons[status as Exclude<LocalEngineStatus, "ok">];
   return {
@@ -742,6 +746,20 @@ function skipStageForLocalStatus(
   };
 }
 
+/**
+ * "timeout" means the probe hit its deadline with no recognized error — the
+ * engine is most likely healthy but slow (#1964: cold pooler connections
+ * measured at 6.9-10.7s). Stages proceed; a genuinely-dead engine surfaces
+ * its REAL error at the first actual operation instead of a false
+ * "config malformed" skip.
+ */
+function warnProbeTimeout(stage: "code" | "memory" | "dream"): void {
+  process.stderr.write(
+    `[gstack-gbrain-sync] ${stage}: engine probe timed out — proceeding anyway; ` +
+      `raise GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS if your pooler is slow\n`,
+  );
+}
+
 
 async function runCodeImport(args: CliArgs): Promise<StageResult> {
   const t0 = Date.now();
@@ -773,7 +791,9 @@ async function runCodeImport(args: CliArgs): Promise<StageResult> {
   // when the local DB is dead. Skipped on --dry-run (above) since dry-run
   // never actually probes anything.
   const localStatus = localEngineStatus({ noCache: false });
-  if (localStatus !== "ok") {
+  if (localStatus === "timeout") {
+    warnProbeTimeout("code"); // #1964: slow-but-healthy — proceed
+  } else if (localStatus !== "ok") {
     return skipStageForLocalStatus("code", localStatus, t0);
   }
 
@@ -1031,7 +1051,9 @@ function runMemoryIngest(args: CliArgs): StageResult {
   // not ok, SKIP cleanly so brain-sync (the only stage that doesn't depend
   // on local engine) still runs.
   const localStatus = localEngineStatus({ noCache: false });
-  if (localStatus !== "ok") {
+  if (localStatus === "timeout") {
+    warnProbeTimeout("memory"); // #1964: slow-but-healthy — proceed
+  } else if (localStatus !== "ok") {
     return skipStageForLocalStatus("memory", localStatus, t0);
   }
 
@@ -1193,7 +1215,9 @@ export async function runDream(args: CliArgs): Promise<StageResult> {
   }
 
   const localStatus = localEngineStatus({ noCache: false });
-  if (localStatus !== "ok") {
+  if (localStatus === "timeout") {
+    warnProbeTimeout("dream"); // #1964: slow-but-healthy — proceed
+  } else if (localStatus !== "ok") {
     return skipStageForLocalStatus("dream", localStatus, t0);
   }
 
diff --git a/lib/gbrain-local-status.ts b/lib/gbrain-local-status.ts
index f6332cf6b..92db47bc4 100644
--- a/lib/gbrain-local-status.ts
+++ b/lib/gbrain-local-status.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /**
- * gbrain-local-status — classify the local gbrain engine into 5 states.
+ * gbrain-local-status — classify the local gbrain engine into 6 states.
  *
  * Shared between bin/gstack-gbrain-detect (preamble probe on every skill start)
  * and bin/gstack-gbrain-sync.ts (orchestrator SKIP-when-not-ok semantics).
@@ -9,15 +9,19 @@
  *   - Probe: `gbrain sources list --json`. Cheap (~80ms), actually hits the DB.
  *     Uses the same stderr patterns as lib/gbrain-sources.ts:66-67.
  *   - Cache: 60s TTL at ~/.gstack/.gbrain-local-status-cache.json, keyed on
- *     {home, path_hash, gbrain_bin_path, gbrain_version, config_mtime}.
+ *     {home, gbrain_home, path_hash, gbrain_bin_path, gbrain_version,
+ *     config_mtime, probe_timeout_ms}.
  *   - --no-cache bypass: /setup-gbrain and /sync-gbrain pass it after any
  *     state-mutating operation so the next read sees fresh status.
  *
  * No-cli  → gbrain not on PATH.
- * Missing → CLI present, ~/.gbrain/config.json absent.
+ * Missing → CLI present, config.json absent (honors GBRAIN_HOME).
  * Broken-config → config exists but `gbrain sources list` fails with config parse error
  *                 (or any non-recognized error — defensive default per codex #8).
  * Broken-db → config exists, DB unreachable per stderr classification.
+ * Timeout → probe exceeded GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS (default 15s) with no
+ *           recognized error — engine is likely healthy but slow (e.g. a cold
+ *           pooler connection, #1964). Consumers treat this as usable.
  * Ok → DB reachable, sources list returned valid JSON.
  */
 
@@ -42,7 +46,8 @@ export type LocalEngineStatus =
   | "no-cli"
   | "missing-config"
   | "broken-config"
-  | "broken-db";
+  | "broken-db"
+  | "timeout";
 
 export interface ClassifyOptions {
   /** Bypass the 60s cache. Used after any state-mutating operation. */
@@ -64,20 +69,35 @@ interface CacheEntry {
   /** Cache invariants — entry is invalidated if any of these change between writes. */
   key: {
     home: string;
+    gbrain_home: string; // honors GBRAIN_HOME (#1964 / codex D11)
     path_hash: string;
     gbrain_bin_path: string;
     gbrain_version: string;
     config_mtime: number; // 0 when config absent
     config_size: number; // 0 when config absent
+    probe_timeout_ms: number; // raising the timeout invalidates a cached "timeout"
   };
 }
 
 export const CACHE_TTL_MS = 60_000;
-export const PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS = 5_000;
+export const DEFAULT_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS = 15_000;
+
+/**
+ * Effective probe timeout. `GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS` overrides the
+ * 15s default (tests set it low; users with slow poolers raise it).
+ * Non-numeric or non-positive values fall back to the default.
+ */
+export function probeTimeoutMs(env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv): number {
+  const raw = (env ?? process.env).GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS;
+  if (!raw) return DEFAULT_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS;
+  const parsed = Number(raw);
+  if (!Number.isFinite(parsed) || parsed <= 0) return DEFAULT_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS;
+  return Math.floor(parsed);
+}
 
 /** Effective user home — respects HOME env override (used by tests). */
-function userHome(): string {
-  return process.env.HOME || homedir();
+function userHome(env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv): string {
+  return (env ?? process.env).HOME || homedir();
 }
 
 /** Cache path computed fresh on each call so tests can mutate GSTACK_HOME per case. */
@@ -88,8 +108,11 @@ export function cacheFilePath(): string {
   );
 }
 
-function gbrainConfigPath(): string {
-  return join(userHome(), ".gbrain", "config.json");
+/** Honors GBRAIN_HOME (codex D11) — same resolution as buildGbrainEnv. */
+function gbrainConfigPath(env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv): string {
+  const e = env ?? process.env;
+  const gbrainHome = e.GBRAIN_HOME || join(userHome(e), ".gbrain");
+  return join(gbrainHome, "config.json");
 }
 
 function hashPath(p: string): string {
@@ -146,9 +169,9 @@ export function readGbrainVersion(env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv): string {
   return result;
 }
 
-function configFingerprint(): { mtime: number; size: number } {
+function configFingerprint(env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv): { mtime: number; size: number } {
   try {
-    const st = statSync(gbrainConfigPath());
+    const st = statSync(gbrainConfigPath(env));
     return { mtime: Math.floor(st.mtimeMs), size: st.size };
   } catch {
     return { mtime: 0, size: 0 };
@@ -161,25 +184,29 @@ function buildCacheKey(
   env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv,
 ): CacheEntry["key"] {
   const e = env ?? process.env;
-  const config = configFingerprint();
+  const config = configFingerprint(e);
   return {
     home: e.HOME || "",
+    gbrain_home: e.GBRAIN_HOME || "",
     path_hash: hashPath(e.PATH || ""),
     gbrain_bin_path: gbrainBin || "",
     gbrain_version: gbrainVersion,
     config_mtime: config.mtime,
     config_size: config.size,
+    probe_timeout_ms: probeTimeoutMs(e),
   };
 }
 
 function keysEqual(a: CacheEntry["key"], b: CacheEntry["key"]): boolean {
   return (
     a.home === b.home &&
+    a.gbrain_home === b.gbrain_home &&
     a.path_hash === b.path_hash &&
     a.gbrain_bin_path === b.gbrain_bin_path &&
     a.gbrain_version === b.gbrain_version &&
     a.config_mtime === b.config_mtime &&
-    a.config_size === b.config_size
+    a.config_size === b.config_size &&
+    a.probe_timeout_ms === b.probe_timeout_ms
   );
 }
 
@@ -226,7 +253,7 @@ function freshClassify(env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv): LocalEngineStatus {
   if (!gbrainBin) return "no-cli";
 
   // 2. Config file present?
-  if (!existsSync(gbrainConfigPath())) return "missing-config";
+  if (!existsSync(gbrainConfigPath(env))) return "missing-config";
 
   // 3. Probe gbrain sources list.
   //
@@ -240,14 +267,18 @@ function freshClassify(env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv): LocalEngineStatus {
   try {
     execFileSync("gbrain", ["sources", "list", "--json"], {
       encoding: "utf-8",
-      timeout: PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS,
+      timeout: probeTimeoutMs(env),
       stdio: ["ignore", "pipe", "pipe"],
       env: buildGbrainEnv({ baseEnv: env ?? process.env }),
       shell: NEEDS_SHELL_ON_WINDOWS, // #1731: gbrain is a .cmd shim on Windows
     });
     return "ok";
   } catch (err) {
-    const e = err as NodeJS.ErrnoException & { stderr?: Buffer | string };
+    const e = err as NodeJS.ErrnoException & {
+      stderr?: Buffer | string;
+      killed?: boolean;
+      signal?: NodeJS.Signals | null;
+    };
     const stderr = (e.stderr ? e.stderr.toString() : "") || "";
 
     // ENOENT can happen if gbrain disappeared between resolveGbrainBin and now.
@@ -258,6 +289,13 @@ function freshClassify(env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv): LocalEngineStatus {
     if (stderr.includes("Cannot connect to database")) return "broken-db";
     if (stderr.includes("config.json")) return "broken-config";
 
+    // Probe killed by the timeout with no recognized error: the engine is
+    // most likely healthy but slow (cold pooler connections measured at
+    // 6.9-10.7s in #1964). Don't tell the user their config is malformed.
+    if (e.killed === true || e.signal === "SIGTERM" || e.code === "ETIMEDOUT") {
+      return "timeout";
+    }
+
     // Defensive default per codex #8: unrecognized failures classify as
     // broken-config so the user sees the raw stderr surfaced upstream.
     return "broken-config";
diff --git a/scripts/gen-skill-docs.ts b/scripts/gen-skill-docs.ts
index 45f617a1b..71aa1a34c 100644
--- a/scripts/gen-skill-docs.ts
+++ b/scripts/gen-skill-docs.ts
@@ -47,7 +47,9 @@ function loadGbrainOverride(): { detected: boolean } {
   const detectionPath = path.join(stateDir, 'gbrain-detection.json');
   try {
     const json = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(detectionPath, 'utf-8')) as { gbrain_local_status?: string };
-    return { detected: json.gbrain_local_status === 'ok' };
+    // "timeout" = slow-but-healthy engine (#1964) — same treatment as "ok",
+    // matching gstack-gbrain-detect --is-ok.
+    return { detected: json.gbrain_local_status === 'ok' || json.gbrain_local_status === 'timeout' };
   } catch {
     return { detected: false };
   }
diff --git a/setup-gbrain/SKILL.md b/setup-gbrain/SKILL.md
index 2b6c3a666..f146d44fd 100644
--- a/setup-gbrain/SKILL.md
+++ b/setup-gbrain/SKILL.md
@@ -778,7 +778,9 @@ Capture the JSON output. It contains: `gbrain_on_path`, `gbrain_version`,
 `gbrain_config_exists`, `gbrain_engine`, `gbrain_doctor_ok`, `gbrain_mcp_mode`,
 `gstack_brain_sync_mode`, `gstack_brain_git`, `gstack_artifacts_remote`, and
 the v1.34.0.0+ `gbrain_local_status` field (one of: `ok`, `no-cli`,
-`missing-config`, `broken-config`, `broken-db`).
+`missing-config`, `broken-config`, `broken-db`, `timeout`). Treat `timeout`
+like `ok` (slow-but-healthy engine, #1964) — it never triggers Step 1.5
+remediation.
 
 Skip downstream steps that are already done. Report the detected state in
 one line so the user knows what you found:
diff --git a/setup-gbrain/SKILL.md.tmpl b/setup-gbrain/SKILL.md.tmpl
index efc52c04c..f48581543 100644
--- a/setup-gbrain/SKILL.md.tmpl
+++ b/setup-gbrain/SKILL.md.tmpl
@@ -66,7 +66,9 @@ Capture the JSON output. It contains: `gbrain_on_path`, `gbrain_version`,
 `gbrain_config_exists`, `gbrain_engine`, `gbrain_doctor_ok`, `gbrain_mcp_mode`,
 `gstack_brain_sync_mode`, `gstack_brain_git`, `gstack_artifacts_remote`, and
 the v1.34.0.0+ `gbrain_local_status` field (one of: `ok`, `no-cli`,
-`missing-config`, `broken-config`, `broken-db`).
+`missing-config`, `broken-config`, `broken-db`, `timeout`). Treat `timeout`
+like `ok` (slow-but-healthy engine, #1964) — it never triggers Step 1.5
+remediation.
 
 Skip downstream steps that are already done. Report the detected state in
 one line so the user knows what you found:
diff --git a/sync-gbrain/SKILL.md b/sync-gbrain/SKILL.md
index 2098309ad..723951b9a 100644
--- a/sync-gbrain/SKILL.md
+++ b/sync-gbrain/SKILL.md
@@ -847,6 +847,10 @@ Read `gbrain_local_status` from the Step 1 detect output. Branch as follows
 BEFORE invoking the orchestrator:
 
 - **`ok`**: proceed to Step 2 normally.
+- **`timeout`**: proceed to Step 2 — the engine is most likely healthy but
+  slow (cold pooler connection, #1964). Tell the user in one line: "Engine
+  probe timed out (>15s) — proceeding; raise `GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS`
+  if your pooler is slow." Do NOT treat this as a broken config.
 - **`no-cli`**: STOP. "Local gbrain CLI not installed. Run `/setup-gbrain`
   first."
 - **`missing-config`** AND `gbrain_mcp_mode == "remote-http"`: tell the user
diff --git a/sync-gbrain/SKILL.md.tmpl b/sync-gbrain/SKILL.md.tmpl
index b6cc36816..2ec065472 100644
--- a/sync-gbrain/SKILL.md.tmpl
+++ b/sync-gbrain/SKILL.md.tmpl
@@ -135,6 +135,10 @@ Read `gbrain_local_status` from the Step 1 detect output. Branch as follows
 BEFORE invoking the orchestrator:
 
 - **`ok`**: proceed to Step 2 normally.
+- **`timeout`**: proceed to Step 2 — the engine is most likely healthy but
+  slow (cold pooler connection, #1964). Tell the user in one line: "Engine
+  probe timed out (>15s) — proceeding; raise `GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS`
+  if your pooler is slow." Do NOT treat this as a broken config.
 - **`no-cli`**: STOP. "Local gbrain CLI not installed. Run `/setup-gbrain`
   first."
 - **`missing-config`** AND `gbrain_mcp_mode == "remote-http"`: tell the user
diff --git a/test/gbrain-local-status.test.ts b/test/gbrain-local-status.test.ts
index 90744bb2c..d85e3ea89 100644
--- a/test/gbrain-local-status.test.ts
+++ b/test/gbrain-local-status.test.ts
@@ -6,15 +6,17 @@
  * on PATH that emits canned exit codes + stderr matching the patterns the
  * classifier looks for.
  *
- * Five status cases:
+ * Six status cases:
  *   1. no-cli         — gbrain absent from PATH
- *   2. missing-config — gbrain present, ~/.gbrain/config.json absent
+ *   2. missing-config — gbrain present, config.json absent (honors GBRAIN_HOME)
  *   3. broken-config  — gbrain present, config exists, stderr contains "config.json"
  *   4. broken-db      — gbrain present, config exists, stderr contains "Cannot connect to database"
- *   5. ok             — gbrain present, config exists, sources list returns valid JSON
+ *   5. timeout        — probe exceeds GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS with no recognized error (#1964)
+ *   6. ok             — gbrain present, config exists, sources list returns valid JSON
  *
- * Plus cache behavior: hit, TTL expiry, invariant invalidation (HOME change),
- * --no-cache bypass.
+ * Plus cache behavior: hit, TTL expiry, invariant invalidation (HOME change,
+ * probe-timeout change), --no-cache bypass. Timeout tests keep runtime sane by
+ * setting GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS=300 against a fake gbrain that sleeps 2s.
  */
 
 import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach, afterEach } from "bun:test";
@@ -31,10 +33,14 @@ import {
 import { tmpdir } from "os";
 import { join } from "path";
 
+import { spawnSync } from "child_process";
+
 import {
   localEngineStatus,
   cacheFilePath,
+  probeTimeoutMs,
   CACHE_TTL_MS,
+  DEFAULT_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS,
   type LocalEngineStatus,
 } from "../lib/gbrain-local-status";
 
@@ -55,7 +61,7 @@ interface FakeEnv {
  */
 function makeEnv(opts: {
   withGbrain?: boolean;
-  gbrainBehavior?: "ok" | "broken-db" | "broken-config" | "throws";
+  gbrainBehavior?: "ok" | "broken-db" | "broken-config" | "throws" | "slow";
   withConfig?: boolean;
 }): FakeEnv {
   const tmp = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "gbrain-local-status-test-"));
@@ -96,8 +102,24 @@ function makeEnv(opts: {
 }
 
 function makeFakeGbrainScript(
-  behavior: "ok" | "broken-db" | "broken-config" | "throws",
+  behavior: "ok" | "broken-db" | "broken-config" | "throws" | "slow",
 ): string {
+  // "slow": healthy engine on a cold pooler connection (#1964) — sleeps past
+  // the (test-lowered) probe timeout, then would answer fine.
+  if (behavior === "slow") {
+    return `#!/bin/sh
+if [ "$1" = "--version" ]; then
+  echo "gbrain 0.33.1.0"
+  exit 0
+fi
+if [ "$1 $2" = "sources list" ]; then
+  sleep 2
+  echo '{"sources":[]}'
+  exit 0
+fi
+exit 0
+`;
+  }
   const stderrLine =
     behavior === "broken-db"
       ? 'echo "Cannot connect to database: . Fix: Check your connection URL in ~/.gbrain/config.json" >&2'
@@ -136,17 +158,19 @@ function applyEnv(env: FakeEnv): () => void {
     HOME: process.env.HOME,
     PATH: process.env.PATH,
     GSTACK_HOME: process.env.GSTACK_HOME,
+    GBRAIN_HOME: process.env.GBRAIN_HOME,
+    GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS: process.env.GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS,
   };
   process.env.HOME = env.home;
   process.env.PATH = `${env.bindir}:/usr/bin:/bin`;
   process.env.GSTACK_HOME = env.gstackHome;
+  delete process.env.GBRAIN_HOME;
+  delete process.env.GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS;
   return () => {
-    if (prev.HOME === undefined) delete process.env.HOME;
-    else process.env.HOME = prev.HOME;
-    if (prev.PATH === undefined) delete process.env.PATH;
-    else process.env.PATH = prev.PATH;
-    if (prev.GSTACK_HOME === undefined) delete process.env.GSTACK_HOME;
-    else process.env.GSTACK_HOME = prev.GSTACK_HOME;
+    for (const [k, v] of Object.entries(prev)) {
+      if (v === undefined) delete process.env[k];
+      else process.env[k] = v;
+    }
   };
 }
 
@@ -206,6 +230,73 @@ describe("lib/gbrain-local-status — five status cases", () => {
     restoreEnv = applyEnv(env);
     expect(localEngineStatus({ noCache: true })).toBe("ok");
   });
+
+  it("returns 'timeout' (not broken-config) when the probe exceeds the deadline (#1964)", () => {
+    env = makeEnv({ withGbrain: true, gbrainBehavior: "slow", withConfig: true });
+    restoreEnv = applyEnv(env);
+    process.env.GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS = "300";
+    expect(localEngineStatus({ noCache: true })).toBe("timeout");
+  });
+
+  it("honors GBRAIN_HOME for config detection (codex D11)", () => {
+    // Config lives ONLY at the alternate GBRAIN_HOME; ~/.gbrain has none.
+    env = makeEnv({ withGbrain: true, gbrainBehavior: "ok", withConfig: false });
+    restoreEnv = applyEnv(env);
+    const altHome = join(env.tmp, "alt-gbrain");
+    mkdirSync(altHome, { recursive: true });
+    writeFileSync(
+      join(altHome, "config.json"),
+      JSON.stringify({ engine: "pglite", database_url: "pglite:///fake" }),
+    );
+    // Without GBRAIN_HOME: misclassified as missing-config.
+    expect(localEngineStatus({ noCache: true })).toBe("missing-config");
+    // With GBRAIN_HOME: the relocated config is found.
+    process.env.GBRAIN_HOME = altHome;
+    expect(localEngineStatus({ noCache: true })).toBe("ok");
+  });
+});
+
+describe("gstack-gbrain-detect --is-ok — timeout is usable (eng review D1)", () => {
+  it("exits 0 when the engine probe times out (slow-but-healthy must not suppress brain features)", () => {
+    const env = makeEnv({ withGbrain: true, gbrainBehavior: "slow", withConfig: true });
+    try {
+      const detect = join(import.meta.dir, "..", "bin", "gstack-gbrain-detect");
+      const r = spawnSync(process.execPath, [detect, "--is-ok"], {
+        encoding: "utf-8",
+        timeout: 20_000,
+        env: {
+          ...process.env,
+          HOME: env.home,
+          GSTACK_HOME: env.gstackHome,
+          PATH: `${env.bindir}:/usr/bin:/bin`,
+          GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS: "300",
+          GSTACK_DETECT_NO_CACHE: "1",
+          GBRAIN_HOME: "",
+        },
+      });
+      expect(r.status).toBe(0);
+    } finally {
+      env.cleanup();
+    }
+  });
+});
+
+describe("probeTimeoutMs — env override parsing", () => {
+  it("defaults to 15s when unset", () => {
+    expect(probeTimeoutMs({})).toBe(DEFAULT_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS);
+    expect(DEFAULT_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS).toBe(15_000);
+  });
+
+  it("parses a numeric override", () => {
+    expect(probeTimeoutMs({ GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS: "300" })).toBe(300);
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to the default on non-numeric, empty, and non-positive values", () => {
+    expect(probeTimeoutMs({ GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS: "fast" })).toBe(DEFAULT_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS);
+    expect(probeTimeoutMs({ GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS: "" })).toBe(DEFAULT_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS);
+    expect(probeTimeoutMs({ GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS: "0" })).toBe(DEFAULT_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS);
+    expect(probeTimeoutMs({ GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS: "-5" })).toBe(DEFAULT_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS);
+  });
 });
 
 describe("lib/gbrain-local-status — cache behavior", () => {
@@ -275,6 +366,31 @@ describe("lib/gbrain-local-status — cache behavior", () => {
     expect(localEngineStatus({ noCache: false })).toBe("broken-db");
   });
 
+  it("caches a 'timeout' result (sync probes 3x/run — uncached would cost 3 deadlines)", () => {
+    env = makeEnv({ withGbrain: true, gbrainBehavior: "slow", withConfig: true });
+    restoreEnv = applyEnv(env);
+    process.env.GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS = "300";
+    expect(localEngineStatus({ noCache: false })).toBe("timeout");
+
+    // Swap the fake to a fast-ok binary; the cached timeout should still win
+    // within TTL (same key — proving the result was cached, not re-probed).
+    writeFileSync(join(env.bindir, "gbrain"), makeFakeGbrainScript("ok"));
+    chmodSync(join(env.bindir, "gbrain"), 0o755);
+    expect(localEngineStatus({ noCache: false })).toBe("timeout");
+  });
+
+  it("invalidates a cached 'timeout' when GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS changes (key invariant, codex D13)", () => {
+    env = makeEnv({ withGbrain: true, gbrainBehavior: "slow", withConfig: true });
+    restoreEnv = applyEnv(env);
+    process.env.GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS = "300";
+    expect(localEngineStatus({ noCache: false })).toBe("timeout");
+
+    // User raises the timeout past the fake's 2s sleep: cache key changes,
+    // re-probe succeeds.
+    process.env.GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS = "5000";
+    expect(localEngineStatus({ noCache: false })).toBe("ok");
+  });
+
   it("invalidates cache when HOME changes (key invariant)", () => {
     env = makeEnv({ withGbrain: true, gbrainBehavior: "ok", withConfig: true });
     restoreEnv = applyEnv(env);
diff --git a/test/gbrain-sync-skip.test.ts b/test/gbrain-sync-skip.test.ts
index c7fbabbe0..88ce924a8 100644
--- a/test/gbrain-sync-skip.test.ts
+++ b/test/gbrain-sync-skip.test.ts
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ interface FakeEnv {
  */
 function makeEnv(opts: {
   withGbrain: boolean;
-  gbrainBehavior?: "ok" | "broken-db" | "broken-config";
+  gbrainBehavior?: "ok" | "broken-db" | "broken-config" | "slow";
   withConfig: boolean;
 }): FakeEnv {
   const tmp = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "gbrain-sync-skip-"));
@@ -65,19 +65,26 @@ function makeEnv(opts: {
 
   if (opts.withGbrain) {
     const behavior = opts.gbrainBehavior || "ok";
-    const stderrLine =
-      behavior === "broken-db"
-        ? 'echo "Cannot connect to database: . Fix: Check your connection URL in ~/.gbrain/config.json" >&2'
-        : behavior === "broken-config"
-          ? 'echo "Error: malformed config.json" >&2'
-          : "";
-    const exitCode = behavior === "ok" ? 0 : 1;
+    // "slow": healthy engine, cold pooler connection (#1964) — sleeps past the
+    // (test-lowered) probe timeout on `sources list`, then answers fine.
+    const sourcesBlock =
+      behavior === "slow"
+        ? `  sleep 2
+  echo '{"sources":[]}'
+  exit 0`
+        : behavior === "ok"
+          ? `  echo '{"sources":[]}'
+  exit 0`
+          : `  ${
+              behavior === "broken-db"
+                ? 'echo "Cannot connect to database: . Fix: Check your connection URL in ~/.gbrain/config.json" >&2'
+                : 'echo "Error: malformed config.json" >&2'
+            }
+  exit 1`;
     const fake = `#!/bin/sh
 if [ "$1" = "--version" ]; then echo "gbrain 0.33.1.0"; exit 0; fi
 if [ "$1 $2" = "sources list" ]; then
-  if [ ${exitCode} -eq 0 ]; then echo '{"sources":[]}'; exit 0; fi
-  ${stderrLine}
-  exit ${exitCode}
+${sourcesBlock}
 fi
 if [ "$1" = "--help" ]; then echo "  import"; exit 0; fi
 exit 0
@@ -95,7 +102,11 @@ exit 0
   };
 }
 
-function runOrchestrator(env: FakeEnv, args: string[]): { stdout: string; stderr: string; exitCode: number } {
+function runOrchestrator(
+  env: FakeEnv,
+  args: string[],
+  extraEnv: Record<string, string> = {},
+): { stdout: string; stderr: string; exitCode: number } {
   // Initialize a git repo in the sandbox so repoRoot() finds it (otherwise
   // code stage skips with "not in git repo" before our check ever fires).
   spawnSync("git", ["init", "-q", env.home], { encoding: "utf-8" });
@@ -113,6 +124,7 @@ function runOrchestrator(env: FakeEnv, args: string[]): { stdout: string; stderr
       HOME: env.home,
       GSTACK_HOME: env.gstackHome,
       PATH: `${env.bindir}:/usr/bin:/bin`,
+      ...extraEnv,
     },
   });
   return {
@@ -123,6 +135,23 @@ function runOrchestrator(env: FakeEnv, args: string[]): { stdout: string; stderr
 }
 
 describe("gstack-gbrain-sync — split-engine SKIP (plan D12)", () => {
+  it("PROCEEDS (with warning) when the engine probe times out — slow is not broken (#1964)", () => {
+    const env = makeEnv({ withGbrain: true, gbrainBehavior: "slow", withConfig: true });
+    try {
+      const r = runOrchestrator(env, ["--code-only"], {
+        GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS: "300",
+      });
+      const out = r.stdout + r.stderr;
+      // The stage must NOT be skipped with the local-engine reason...
+      expect(out).not.toContain("local engine timeout");
+      expect(out).not.toContain("config.json is malformed");
+      // ...and the proceed-with-warning line must name the env knob.
+      expect(out).toContain("GSTACK_GBRAIN_PROBE_TIMEOUT_MS");
+    } finally {
+      env.cleanup();
+    }
+  }, 30_000); // proceeding runs the real code-import path against the slow fake (~11s)
+
   it("SKIPs code stage when local engine is broken-db; brain-sync still attempted", () => {
     const env = makeEnv({ withGbrain: true, gbrainBehavior: "broken-db", withConfig: true });
     try {