diff --git a/files/ansible-playbooks/update-indoor.yml b/files/ansible-playbooks/update-indoor.yml
index e864ce3..1ff1ace 100644
--- a/files/ansible-playbooks/update-indoor.yml
+++ b/files/ansible-playbooks/update-indoor.yml
@@ -50,6 +50,12 @@
     control_queue: "{{ lookup('env','CONTROLQUEUE') | default('queue_controls', true) }}"
     afterupgrade_routing_key: "{{ lookup('env','AFTERUP_ROUTING_KEY') | default('deviceconfig', true) }}"
 
+    # --- TEMP: stall-test knobs (remove later) ---
+    aic_stall_test: true        # enable/disable the simulated stall on DEV2
+    aic_stall_sleep: 1000       # seconds to sleep on DEV2 (simulate hang)
+    aic_stall_async: 10         # async timeout (seconds) for the sleep job on DEV2
+    aic_stall_poll: 2           # poll interval (seconds) while watching the job
+
   pre_tasks:
     # ------------------------------- Hostname sanity DEV1 -------------------------------
     - name: Read DEV1 hostname (busybox-safe)
@@ -455,6 +461,63 @@
         _blocked: true
         _journal: "{{ _journal + [ 'Preparation markers already present on DEV2 (count=' ~ (dev2_prep_count.stdout | trim) ~ '). Skipping staging/write' ] }}"
 
+    # test test test
+
+    # === TEMP: STALL TEST ON DEV2 (BEGIN) ========================================
+    # Enable with:  -e aic_stall_test=true
+    # Optional knobs: -e aic_stall_sleep=1000 -e aic_stall_async=10 -e aic_stall_poll=2
+
+    - name: TEMP | Set stall test toggles from env/defaults
+      delegate_to: localhost
+      ansible.builtin.set_fact:
+        aic_stall_test: "{{ (aic_stall_test | default(lookup('env','AIC_STALL_TEST') | default('false', true))) | bool }}"
+        aic_stall_sleep: "{{ (aic_stall_sleep | default(lookup('env','AIC_STALL_SLEEP') | default(1000, true))) | int }}"
+        aic_stall_async: "{{ (aic_stall_async | default(lookup('env','AIC_STALL_ASYNC') | default(10, true))) | int }}"
+        aic_stall_poll:  "{{ (aic_stall_poll  | default(lookup('env','AIC_STALL_POLL')  | default(2, true))) | int }}"
+
+    - name: TEMP | Announce stall test settings
+      when: aic_stall_test
+      delegate_to: localhost
+      ansible.builtin.debug:
+        msg:
+          - "STALL TEST ENABLED"
+          - "sleep={{ aic_stall_sleep }}s  async_cap={{ aic_stall_async }}s  poll={{ aic_stall_poll }}s"
+
+    - name: TEMP | Simulate a stuck operation on DEV2 via tunnel (async-capped)
+      when: aic_stall_test
+      delegate_to: localhost
+      ansible.builtin.shell: |
+        set -e
+        PORT="{{ _local_port }}"
+        sshpass -f "{{ dev2_passfile_used }}" ssh \
+          -o AddressFamily=inet \
+          -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -o PubkeyAuthentication=no \
+          -o PreferredAuthentications=password -o NumberOfPasswordPrompts=1 \
+          -o ConnectTimeout=10 \
+          -p "$PORT" "{{ dev2_ssh_user }}@127.0.0.1" \
+          "sh -c 'date; echo STALL-TEST-START; sleep {{ aic_stall_sleep }}; echo STALL-TEST-END; date'"
+      args:
+        executable: /bin/bash
+      async: "{{ aic_stall_async }}"
+      poll: "{{ aic_stall_poll }}"
+      register: stall_test_result
+      changed_when: false
+      failed_when: false   # capture outcome; don't fail the whole play
+
+    - name: TEMP | Show stall test result (expect timeout-ish when sleep > async)
+      when: aic_stall_test
+      delegate_to: localhost
+      ansible.builtin.debug:
+        var: stall_test_result
+
+    - name: TEMP | Exit early after stall test (no device actions beyond this point)
+      when: aic_stall_test
+      ansible.builtin.meta: end_play
+    # === TEMP: STALL TEST ON DEV2 (END) ==========================================
+
+
+    # test test test
+
     # ---------------------------- DEV2 version firmux primary check ----------------------------
     - name: Read DEV2 /usr/lib/release/firmux (if present)
       when: dev2_passfile_used != "NONE"