diff --git a/pkg/daemon/ipc.go b/pkg/daemon/ipc.go
index 6e40cedf..fa1400e5 100644
--- a/pkg/daemon/ipc.go
+++ b/pkg/daemon/ipc.go
@@ -876,7 +876,9 @@ func (s *IPCServer) handleBind(conn *ipcConn, reqID uint64, payload []byte) {
 
 	// Start pushing accepted connections to this client. CmdAccept frames
 	// are server-pushed (reqID=0) and demuxed by the driver on local port.
+	s.daemon.bgWG.Add(1)
 	go func() {
+		defer s.daemon.bgWG.Done()
 		for c := range ln.AcceptCh {
 			conn.trackConn(c.ID)
 			// H12 fix: include local port for per-port demux
diff --git a/pkg/daemon/services.go b/pkg/daemon/services.go
index eaa7b316..1cd4ec81 100644
--- a/pkg/daemon/services.go
+++ b/pkg/daemon/services.go
@@ -145,7 +145,9 @@ func (d *Daemon) startEchoService() error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	d.bgWG.Add(1)
 	go func() {
+		defer d.bgWG.Done()
 		for {
 			select {
 			case conn, ok := <-ln.AcceptCh:
diff --git a/pkg/daemon/zz_services_bootstrap_test.go b/pkg/daemon/zz_services_bootstrap_test.go
index a80482d7..1e064c0f 100644
--- a/pkg/daemon/zz_services_bootstrap_test.go
+++ b/pkg/daemon/zz_services_bootstrap_test.go
@@ -179,3 +179,36 @@ func TestStartEchoServiceAcceptLoopExitsOnUnbind(t *testing.T) {
 	// detached goroutine but Sleep gives it a chance to drain.
 	time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
 }
+
+// --- startEchoService increments bgWG and stopCh drains it ---
+
+func TestStartEchoServiceBGWaitGroupTracksAcceptLoop(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	d := New(Config{})
+
+	if err := d.startEchoService(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("startEchoService: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Close stopCh — accept loop should exit via <-d.stopCh and
+	// defer d.bgWG.Done() fires, draining the WaitGroup.
+	close(d.stopCh)
+
+	if !wgDrained(&d.bgWG, 2*time.Second) {
+		t.Fatal("bgWG not drained within 2s after stopCh close")
+	}
+}
+
+func wgDrained(wg *sync.WaitGroup, timeout time.Duration) bool {
+	ch := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		wg.Wait()
+		close(ch)
+	}()
+	select {
+	case <-ch:
+		return true
+	case <-time.After(timeout):
+		return false
+	}
+}