diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/auto_update.rs b/hive-c0re/src/auto_update.rs
index 012e2863..601d5417 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/auto_update.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/auto_update.rs
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ pub async fn ensure_manager(coord: &Arc<Coordinator>) -> Result<()> {
 /// Sort `names` in-place so parents precede their children in the topology.
 /// Uses BFS from root agents (depth 0). Agents absent from `topo` sort last,
 /// alphabetically within their tier. Stable within each depth tier.
-fn topology_sort(names: &mut Vec<String>, topo: &std::collections::BTreeMap<String, Option<String>>) {
+pub fn topology_sort(names: &mut Vec<String>, topo: &std::collections::BTreeMap<String, Option<String>>) {
     use std::collections::{HashMap, VecDeque};
     // Build depth map using owned clones so the borrow on `names` is released
     // before the sort_by mutable borrow.
@@ -300,3 +300,4 @@ pub async fn run(coord: Arc<Coordinator>) -> Result<()> {
     coord.emit_rebuild_queue_snapshot();
     Ok(())
 }
+
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/rebuild_queue.rs b/hive-c0re/src/rebuild_queue.rs
index bb5b00fc..37dc02d9 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/rebuild_queue.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/rebuild_queue.rs
@@ -648,7 +648,7 @@ pub async fn meta_update_cascade_agents(inputs: &[String]) -> Vec<String> {
         .filter_map(|i| i.strip_prefix("agent-"))
         .map(|rest| rest.split('/').next().unwrap_or(rest).to_owned())
         .collect();
-    if touched_hyperhive || inputs.is_empty() {
+    let mut names = if touched_hyperhive || inputs.is_empty() {
         crate::lifecycle::list()
             .await
             .unwrap_or_default()
@@ -664,7 +664,12 @@ pub async fn meta_update_cascade_agents(inputs: &[String]) -> Vec<String> {
             .collect()
     } else {
         touched_agents
-    }
+    };
+    // Sort parents before children so the sequential queue worker
+    // always rebuilds a parent before any of its dependents.
+    let topo = crate::topology::read();
+    crate::auto_update::topology_sort(&mut names, &topo);
+    names
 }
 
 /// Current unix timestamp in seconds. `now()` calls are pulled into a
@@ -1164,3 +1169,4 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 }
+