diff --git a/src/utility/agent-components/handler-workflow.txt b/src/utility/agent-components/handler-workflow.txt
index 09b7d0825..82ce16f94 100644
--- a/src/utility/agent-components/handler-workflow.txt
+++ b/src/utility/agent-components/handler-workflow.txt
@@ -1,10 +1,19 @@
     <handler type="workflow">
       When menu item has: workflow="path/to/workflow.md":
 
-      1. CRITICAL: Always LOAD {project-root}/_bmad/core/tasks/workflow.md
-      2. Read the complete file - this is the CORE OS for processing BMAD workflows
-      3. Pass the workflow definition path as 'workflow-config' parameter to those instructions
-      4. Follow workflow.md instructions precisely following all steps
-      5. Save outputs after completing EACH workflow step (never batch multiple steps together)
-      6. If workflow.md path is "todo", inform user the workflow hasn't been implemented yet
+      1. Resolve loader paths safely:
+         - Primary: {project-root}/_bmad/core/tasks/workflow.md
+         - Fallback: {project-root}/src/core/tasks/workflow.md
+      2. Verify the primary loader exists and is readable before loading it
+      3. If primary is missing/unreadable:
+         - Log a warning with the primary path and underlying error
+         - Attempt the fallback loader path
+      4. If fallback is also missing/unreadable:
+         - Log an error including both attempted paths and underlying errors
+         - Fail fast with a descriptive message and HALT
+      5. LOAD the resolved workflow loader file and read it completely
+      6. Pass the workflow definition path as 'workflow-config' parameter to those instructions
+      7. Follow workflow.md instructions precisely following all steps
+      8. Save outputs after completing EACH workflow step (never batch multiple steps together)
+      9. If workflow.md path is "todo", inform user the workflow hasn't been implemented yet
     </handler>
diff --git a/test/test-installation-components.js b/test/test-installation-components.js
index 47410e9b4..6503807cf 100644
--- a/test/test-installation-components.js
+++ b/test/test-installation-components.js
@@ -221,6 +221,18 @@ async function runTests() {
       'Workflow generator default BMAD folder matches shared constant',
       `Expected "${BMAD_FOLDER_NAME}", got "${workflowGenerator.bmadFolderName}"`,
     );
+
+    const launcherContent = workflowGenerator.buildLauncherContent('bmm', [
+      {
+        name: 'create-story',
+        displayPath: '{project-root}/_bmad/bmm/workflows/4-implementation/create-story/workflow.md',
+        description: 'Create and validate the next story',
+      },
+    ]);
+    assert(
+      launcherContent.includes('{project-root}/src/core/tasks/workflow.md'),
+      'Workflow launcher includes fallback loader path for workflow task',
+    );
   } catch (error) {
     assert(false, 'Workflow generator default path is valid', error.message);
   }
@@ -383,6 +395,27 @@ async function runTests() {
 
   console.log('');
 
+  // ============================================================
+  // Test 10: Workflow Handler Fallback Guard
+  // ============================================================
+  console.log(`${colors.yellow}Test Suite 10: Workflow Handler Fallback Guard${colors.reset}\n`);
+
+  try {
+    const workflowHandlerPath = path.join(projectRoot, 'src', 'utility', 'agent-components', 'handler-workflow.txt');
+    const content = await fs.readFile(workflowHandlerPath, 'utf8');
+
+    assert(content.includes('{project-root}/src/core/tasks/workflow.md'), 'Workflow handler documents fallback loader path');
+    assert(content.includes('Log an error including both attempted paths'), 'Workflow handler requires explicit dual-path error logging');
+    assert(
+      content.includes('Fail fast with a descriptive message and HALT'),
+      'Workflow handler mandates fail-fast behavior when loader is unavailable',
+    );
+  } catch (error) {
+    assert(false, 'Workflow handler fallback guard runs', error.message);
+  }
+
+  console.log('');
+
   // ============================================================
   // Summary
   // ============================================================
diff --git a/tools/cli/installers/lib/ide/shared/workflow-command-generator.js b/tools/cli/installers/lib/ide/shared/workflow-command-generator.js
index d368ac7f5..3f0d2a437 100644
--- a/tools/cli/installers/lib/ide/shared/workflow-command-generator.js
+++ b/tools/cli/installers/lib/ide/shared/workflow-command-generator.js
@@ -204,10 +204,16 @@ class WorkflowCommandGenerator {
 ## Execution
 
 When running any workflow:
-1. LOAD {project-root}/${this.bmadFolderName}/core/tasks/workflow.md
-2. Pass the workflow path as 'workflow-config' parameter
-3. Follow workflow.md instructions EXACTLY
-4. Save outputs after EACH section
+1. Resolve loader paths:
+   - Primary: {project-root}/${this.bmadFolderName}/core/tasks/workflow.md
+   - Fallback: {project-root}/src/core/tasks/workflow.md
+2. Check the primary path exists and is readable before loading
+3. If primary is missing/unreadable, log a warning with the path and error, then try fallback
+4. If fallback is also missing/unreadable, log an error with both attempted paths and stop
+5. LOAD the resolved workflow loader file
+6. Pass the workflow path as 'workflow-config' parameter
+7. Follow workflow.md instructions EXACTLY
+8. Save outputs after EACH section
 
 ## Modes
 - Normal: Full interaction