diff --git a/src/dashboard/routes/tasks.py b/src/dashboard/routes/tasks.py
index 69f2fc72..4b9c0841 100644
--- a/src/dashboard/routes/tasks.py
+++ b/src/dashboard/routes/tasks.py
@@ -104,25 +104,29 @@ class _TaskView:
 @router.get("/tasks", response_class=HTMLResponse)
 async def tasks_page(request: Request):
     """Render the main task queue page with 3-column layout."""
-    with _get_db() as db:
-        pending = [
-            _TaskView(_row_to_dict(r))
-            for r in db.execute(
-                "SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE status IN ('pending_approval') ORDER BY created_at DESC"
-            ).fetchall()
-        ]
-        active = [
-            _TaskView(_row_to_dict(r))
-            for r in db.execute(
-                "SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE status IN ('approved','running','paused') ORDER BY created_at DESC"
-            ).fetchall()
-        ]
-        completed = [
-            _TaskView(_row_to_dict(r))
-            for r in db.execute(
-                "SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE status IN ('completed','vetoed','failed') ORDER BY completed_at DESC LIMIT 50"
-            ).fetchall()
-        ]
+    try:
+        with _get_db() as db:
+            pending = [
+                _TaskView(_row_to_dict(r))
+                for r in db.execute(
+                    "SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE status IN ('pending_approval') ORDER BY created_at DESC"
+                ).fetchall()
+            ]
+            active = [
+                _TaskView(_row_to_dict(r))
+                for r in db.execute(
+                    "SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE status IN ('approved','running','paused') ORDER BY created_at DESC"
+                ).fetchall()
+            ]
+            completed = [
+                _TaskView(_row_to_dict(r))
+                for r in db.execute(
+                    "SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE status IN ('completed','vetoed','failed') ORDER BY completed_at DESC LIMIT 50"
+                ).fetchall()
+            ]
+    except sqlite3.OperationalError as exc:
+        logger.warning("Task DB unavailable: %s", exc)
+        pending, active, completed = [], [], []
 
     return templates.TemplateResponse(
         request,
@@ -146,10 +150,14 @@ async def tasks_page(request: Request):
 @router.get("/tasks/pending", response_class=HTMLResponse)
 async def tasks_pending(request: Request):
     """Return HTMX partial for pending approval tasks."""
-    with _get_db() as db:
-        rows = db.execute(
-            "SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE status='pending_approval' ORDER BY created_at DESC"
-        ).fetchall()
+    try:
+        with _get_db() as db:
+            rows = db.execute(
+                "SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE status='pending_approval' ORDER BY created_at DESC"
+            ).fetchall()
+    except sqlite3.OperationalError as exc:
+        logger.warning("Task DB unavailable: %s", exc)
+        return HTMLResponse('<div class="empty-column">Database unavailable</div>')
     tasks = [_TaskView(_row_to_dict(r)) for r in rows]
     parts = []
     for task in tasks:
@@ -166,10 +174,14 @@ async def tasks_pending(request: Request):
 @router.get("/tasks/active", response_class=HTMLResponse)
 async def tasks_active(request: Request):
     """Return HTMX partial for active (approved/running/paused) tasks."""
-    with _get_db() as db:
-        rows = db.execute(
-            "SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE status IN ('approved','running','paused') ORDER BY created_at DESC"
-        ).fetchall()
+    try:
+        with _get_db() as db:
+            rows = db.execute(
+                "SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE status IN ('approved','running','paused') ORDER BY created_at DESC"
+            ).fetchall()
+    except sqlite3.OperationalError as exc:
+        logger.warning("Task DB unavailable: %s", exc)
+        return HTMLResponse('<div class="empty-column">Database unavailable</div>')
     tasks = [_TaskView(_row_to_dict(r)) for r in rows]
     parts = []
     for task in tasks:
@@ -186,10 +198,14 @@ async def tasks_active(request: Request):
 @router.get("/tasks/completed", response_class=HTMLResponse)
 async def tasks_completed(request: Request):
     """Return HTMX partial for completed/vetoed/failed tasks (last 50)."""
-    with _get_db() as db:
-        rows = db.execute(
-            "SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE status IN ('completed','vetoed','failed') ORDER BY completed_at DESC LIMIT 50"
-        ).fetchall()
+    try:
+        with _get_db() as db:
+            rows = db.execute(
+                "SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE status IN ('completed','vetoed','failed') ORDER BY completed_at DESC LIMIT 50"
+            ).fetchall()
+    except sqlite3.OperationalError as exc:
+        logger.warning("Task DB unavailable: %s", exc)
+        return HTMLResponse('<div class="empty-column">Database unavailable</div>')
     tasks = [_TaskView(_row_to_dict(r)) for r in rows]
     parts = []
     for task in tasks:
@@ -225,13 +241,17 @@ async def create_task_form(
     now = datetime.now(UTC).isoformat()
     priority = priority if priority in VALID_PRIORITIES else "normal"
 
-    with _get_db() as db:
-        db.execute(
-            "INSERT INTO tasks (id, title, description, priority, assigned_to, created_at) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)",
-            (task_id, title, description, priority, assigned_to, now),
-        )
-        db.commit()
-        row = db.execute("SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE id=?", (task_id,)).fetchone()
+    try:
+        with _get_db() as db:
+            db.execute(
+                "INSERT INTO tasks (id, title, description, priority, assigned_to, created_at) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)",
+                (task_id, title, description, priority, assigned_to, now),
+            )
+            db.commit()
+            row = db.execute("SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE id=?", (task_id,)).fetchone()
+    except sqlite3.OperationalError as exc:
+        logger.warning("Task DB unavailable: %s", exc)
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=503, detail="Task database unavailable") from exc
 
     task = _TaskView(_row_to_dict(row))
     return templates.TemplateResponse(request, "partials/task_card.html", {"task": task})
@@ -280,13 +300,17 @@ async def modify_task(
     description: str = Form(""),
 ):
     """Update task title and description."""
-    with _get_db() as db:
-        db.execute(
-            "UPDATE tasks SET title=?, description=? WHERE id=?",
-            (title, description, task_id),
-        )
-        db.commit()
-        row = db.execute("SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE id=?", (task_id,)).fetchone()
+    try:
+        with _get_db() as db:
+            db.execute(
+                "UPDATE tasks SET title=?, description=? WHERE id=?",
+                (title, description, task_id),
+            )
+            db.commit()
+            row = db.execute("SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE id=?", (task_id,)).fetchone()
+    except sqlite3.OperationalError as exc:
+        logger.warning("Task DB unavailable: %s", exc)
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=503, detail="Task database unavailable") from exc
     if not row:
         raise HTTPException(404, "Task not found")
     task = _TaskView(_row_to_dict(row))
@@ -298,13 +322,17 @@ async def _set_status(request: Request, task_id: str, new_status: str):
     completed_at = (
         datetime.now(UTC).isoformat() if new_status in ("completed", "vetoed", "failed") else None
     )
-    with _get_db() as db:
-        db.execute(
-            "UPDATE tasks SET status=?, completed_at=COALESCE(?, completed_at) WHERE id=?",
-            (new_status, completed_at, task_id),
-        )
-        db.commit()
-        row = db.execute("SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE id=?", (task_id,)).fetchone()
+    try:
+        with _get_db() as db:
+            db.execute(
+                "UPDATE tasks SET status=?, completed_at=COALESCE(?, completed_at) WHERE id=?",
+                (new_status, completed_at, task_id),
+            )
+            db.commit()
+            row = db.execute("SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE id=?", (task_id,)).fetchone()
+    except sqlite3.OperationalError as exc:
+        logger.warning("Task DB unavailable: %s", exc)
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=503, detail="Task database unavailable") from exc
     if not row:
         raise HTTPException(404, "Task not found")
     task = _TaskView(_row_to_dict(row))
@@ -330,22 +358,26 @@ async def api_create_task(request: Request):
     if priority not in VALID_PRIORITIES:
         priority = "normal"
 
-    with _get_db() as db:
-        db.execute(
-            "INSERT INTO tasks (id, title, description, priority, assigned_to, created_by, created_at) "
-            "VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)",
-            (
-                task_id,
-                title,
-                body.get("description", ""),
-                priority,
-                body.get("assigned_to", ""),
-                body.get("created_by", "operator"),
-                now,
-            ),
-        )
-        db.commit()
-        row = db.execute("SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE id=?", (task_id,)).fetchone()
+    try:
+        with _get_db() as db:
+            db.execute(
+                "INSERT INTO tasks (id, title, description, priority, assigned_to, created_by, created_at) "
+                "VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)",
+                (
+                    task_id,
+                    title,
+                    body.get("description", ""),
+                    priority,
+                    body.get("assigned_to", ""),
+                    body.get("created_by", "operator"),
+                    now,
+                ),
+            )
+            db.commit()
+            row = db.execute("SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE id=?", (task_id,)).fetchone()
+    except sqlite3.OperationalError as exc:
+        logger.warning("Task DB unavailable: %s", exc)
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=503, detail="Task database unavailable") from exc
 
     return JSONResponse(_row_to_dict(row), status_code=201)
 
@@ -353,8 +385,12 @@ async def api_create_task(request: Request):
 @router.get("/api/tasks", response_class=JSONResponse)
 async def api_list_tasks():
     """List all tasks as JSON."""
-    with _get_db() as db:
-        rows = db.execute("SELECT * FROM tasks ORDER BY created_at DESC").fetchall()
+    try:
+        with _get_db() as db:
+            rows = db.execute("SELECT * FROM tasks ORDER BY created_at DESC").fetchall()
+    except sqlite3.OperationalError as exc:
+        logger.warning("Task DB unavailable: %s", exc)
+        return JSONResponse([], status_code=200)
     return JSONResponse([_row_to_dict(r) for r in rows])
 
 
@@ -369,13 +405,17 @@ async def api_update_status(task_id: str, request: Request):
     completed_at = (
         datetime.now(UTC).isoformat() if new_status in ("completed", "vetoed", "failed") else None
     )
-    with _get_db() as db:
-        db.execute(
-            "UPDATE tasks SET status=?, completed_at=COALESCE(?, completed_at) WHERE id=?",
-            (new_status, completed_at, task_id),
-        )
-        db.commit()
-        row = db.execute("SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE id=?", (task_id,)).fetchone()
+    try:
+        with _get_db() as db:
+            db.execute(
+                "UPDATE tasks SET status=?, completed_at=COALESCE(?, completed_at) WHERE id=?",
+                (new_status, completed_at, task_id),
+            )
+            db.commit()
+            row = db.execute("SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE id=?", (task_id,)).fetchone()
+    except sqlite3.OperationalError as exc:
+        logger.warning("Task DB unavailable: %s", exc)
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=503, detail="Task database unavailable") from exc
     if not row:
         raise HTTPException(404, "Task not found")
     return JSONResponse(_row_to_dict(row))
@@ -384,9 +424,13 @@ async def api_update_status(task_id: str, request: Request):
 @router.delete("/api/tasks/{task_id}", response_class=JSONResponse)
 async def api_delete_task(task_id: str):
     """Delete a task."""
-    with _get_db() as db:
-        cursor = db.execute("DELETE FROM tasks WHERE id=?", (task_id,))
-        db.commit()
+    try:
+        with _get_db() as db:
+            cursor = db.execute("DELETE FROM tasks WHERE id=?", (task_id,))
+            db.commit()
+    except sqlite3.OperationalError as exc:
+        logger.warning("Task DB unavailable: %s", exc)
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=503, detail="Task database unavailable") from exc
     if cursor.rowcount == 0:
         raise HTTPException(404, "Task not found")
     return JSONResponse({"success": True, "id": task_id})
@@ -400,15 +444,19 @@ async def api_delete_task(task_id: str):
 @router.get("/api/queue/status", response_class=JSONResponse)
 async def queue_status(assigned_to: str = "default"):
     """Return queue status for the chat panel's agent status indicator."""
-    with _get_db() as db:
-        running = db.execute(
-            "SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE status='running' AND assigned_to=? LIMIT 1",
-            (assigned_to,),
-        ).fetchone()
-        ahead = db.execute(
-            "SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM tasks WHERE status IN ('pending_approval','approved') AND assigned_to=?",
-            (assigned_to,),
-        ).fetchone()
+    try:
+        with _get_db() as db:
+            running = db.execute(
+                "SELECT * FROM tasks WHERE status='running' AND assigned_to=? LIMIT 1",
+                (assigned_to,),
+            ).fetchone()
+            ahead = db.execute(
+                "SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM tasks WHERE status IN ('pending_approval','approved') AND assigned_to=?",
+                (assigned_to,),
+            ).fetchone()
+    except sqlite3.OperationalError as exc:
+        logger.warning("Task DB unavailable: %s", exc)
+        return JSONResponse({"is_working": False, "current_task": None, "tasks_ahead": 0})
 
     if running:
         return JSONResponse(
diff --git a/tests/dashboard/test_tasks_api.py b/tests/dashboard/test_tasks_api.py
index 8afc5a6a..b94f8bfb 100644
--- a/tests/dashboard/test_tasks_api.py
+++ b/tests/dashboard/test_tasks_api.py
@@ -3,6 +3,99 @@
 Verifies task CRUD operations and the dashboard page rendering.
 """
 
+import sqlite3
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# DB error handling tests
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+_DB_ERROR = sqlite3.OperationalError("database is locked")
+
+
+def test_tasks_page_degrades_on_db_error(client):
+    """GET /tasks renders empty columns when DB is unavailable."""
+    with patch(
+        "dashboard.routes.tasks._get_db",
+        side_effect=_DB_ERROR,
+    ):
+        response = client.get("/tasks")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    assert "TASK QUEUE" in response.text
+
+
+def test_pending_partial_degrades_on_db_error(client):
+    """GET /tasks/pending returns fallback HTML when DB is unavailable."""
+    with patch(
+        "dashboard.routes.tasks._get_db",
+        side_effect=_DB_ERROR,
+    ):
+        response = client.get("/tasks/pending")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    assert "Database unavailable" in response.text
+
+
+def test_active_partial_degrades_on_db_error(client):
+    """GET /tasks/active returns fallback HTML when DB is unavailable."""
+    with patch(
+        "dashboard.routes.tasks._get_db",
+        side_effect=_DB_ERROR,
+    ):
+        response = client.get("/tasks/active")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    assert "Database unavailable" in response.text
+
+
+def test_completed_partial_degrades_on_db_error(client):
+    """GET /tasks/completed returns fallback HTML when DB is unavailable."""
+    with patch(
+        "dashboard.routes.tasks._get_db",
+        side_effect=_DB_ERROR,
+    ):
+        response = client.get("/tasks/completed")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    assert "Database unavailable" in response.text
+
+
+def test_api_create_task_503_on_db_error(client):
+    """POST /api/tasks returns 503 when DB is unavailable."""
+    with patch(
+        "dashboard.routes.tasks._get_db",
+        side_effect=_DB_ERROR,
+    ):
+        response = client.post("/api/tasks", json={"title": "Test"})
+    assert response.status_code == 503
+
+
+def test_api_list_tasks_empty_on_db_error(client):
+    """GET /api/tasks returns empty list when DB is unavailable."""
+    with patch(
+        "dashboard.routes.tasks._get_db",
+        side_effect=_DB_ERROR,
+    ):
+        response = client.get("/api/tasks")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    assert response.json() == []
+
+
+def test_queue_status_degrades_on_db_error(client):
+    """GET /api/queue/status returns idle status when DB is unavailable."""
+    with patch(
+        "dashboard.routes.tasks._get_db",
+        side_effect=_DB_ERROR,
+    ):
+        response = client.get("/api/queue/status")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    data = response.json()
+    assert data["is_working"] is False
+    assert data["current_task"] is None
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Existing tests
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 
 def test_tasks_page_returns_200(client):
     response = client.get("/tasks")