diff --git a/framework/agent.py b/framework/agent.py
index 5806b0b..ee5f883 100644
--- a/framework/agent.py
+++ b/framework/agent.py
@@ -538,8 +538,6 @@ def preflight():
             problems += list(tools.task.preflight() or [])
         except Exception as e:
             problems.append(f"task preflight() raised: {e}")
-    if not os.path.isdir(WORKSPACE_DIR):
-        problems.append(f"WORKSPACE_DIR does not exist: {WORKSPACE_DIR}")
     if not os.path.isfile(method_path()):
         problems.append(f"method.md missing: {method_path()} (how-to-work prompt loaded into the agent)")
     # Fail fast if the Globus Compute endpoint is not online -- otherwise every
diff --git a/framework/tools.py b/framework/tools.py
index fd83de3..f2f5290 100644
--- a/framework/tools.py
+++ b/framework/tools.py
@@ -660,6 +660,7 @@ def tool_names():
     if HAS_LOCAL:
         names += ["submit_local", "get_local_completed"]
     names.append("notify")
+    names.append("cycle_done")
     if HAS_REMOTE:
         names.append("check_backend")
     return [f"mcp__cas__{n}" for n in names]