diff --git a/pkg/events/service.go b/pkg/events/service.go
index 3a8745f9..1018f186 100644
--- a/pkg/events/service.go
+++ b/pkg/events/service.go
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ func (s *Service) OnStartup(_ context.Context) core.Result {
 		if err := validateEventName("events.emit", t.Name); err != nil {
 			return core.Result{Value: err, OK: false}
 		}
+		if err := s.requirePlatform("events.emit"); err != nil {
+			return core.Result{Value: err, OK: false}
+		}
 		cancelled := s.platform.Emit(t.Name, t.Data)
 		return core.Result{Value: cancelled, OK: true}
 	})
@@ -42,6 +45,9 @@ func (s *Service) OnStartup(_ context.Context) core.Result {
 		if err := validateEventName("events.on", t.Name); err != nil {
 			return core.Result{Value: err, OK: false}
 		}
+		if err := s.requirePlatform("events.on"); err != nil {
+			return core.Result{Value: err, OK: false}
+		}
 		cancel := s.platform.On(t.Name, func(event *CustomEvent) {
 			_ = s.Core().ACTION(ActionEventFired{Event: *event})
 		})
@@ -58,6 +64,9 @@ func (s *Service) OnStartup(_ context.Context) core.Result {
 		if err := validateEventName("events.off", t.Name); err != nil {
 			return core.Result{Value: err, OK: false}
 		}
+		if err := s.requirePlatform("events.off"); err != nil {
+			return core.Result{Value: err, OK: false}
+		}
 		s.platform.Off(t.Name)
 		s.mu.Lock()
 		for _, cancel := range s.listeners[t.Name] {
@@ -71,6 +80,13 @@ func (s *Service) OnStartup(_ context.Context) core.Result {
 	return core.Result{OK: true}
 }
 
+func (s *Service) requirePlatform(method string) error {
+	if s == nil || s.platform == nil {
+		return coreerr.E(method, "event platform unavailable", nil)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func validateEventName(method, name string) error {
 	if strings.TrimSpace(name) == "" {
 		return coreerr.E(method, "event name must not be empty", nil)
diff --git a/pkg/events/service_test.go b/pkg/events/service_test.go
index 9c375020..234c0a53 100644
--- a/pkg/events/service_test.go
+++ b/pkg/events/service_test.go
@@ -315,6 +315,40 @@ func TestTaskEmit_NoService_Bad(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.False(t, r.OK)
 }
 
+func TestTaskEmit_PlatformUnavailable_Bad(t *testing.T) {
+	c := core.New(
+		core.WithService(Register(nil)),
+		core.WithServiceLock(),
+	)
+	require.True(t, c.ServiceStartup(context.Background(), nil).OK)
+	svc := core.MustServiceFor[*Service](c, "events")
+
+	r := taskRun(c, "events.emit", TaskEmit{Name: "user:login"})
+	require.False(t, r.OK)
+	err, ok := r.Value.(error)
+	require.True(t, ok)
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "event platform unavailable")
+
+	r = taskRun(c, "events.on", TaskOn{Name: "user:login"})
+	require.False(t, r.OK)
+	err, ok = r.Value.(error)
+	require.True(t, ok)
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "event platform unavailable")
+
+	r = taskRun(c, "events.off", TaskOff{Name: "user:login"})
+	require.False(t, r.OK)
+	err, ok = r.Value.(error)
+	require.True(t, ok)
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "event platform unavailable")
+
+	require.NotPanics(t, func() {
+		assert.True(t, svc.OnShutdown(context.Background()).OK)
+	})
+}
+
 // --- Ugly path tests ---
 
 func TestTaskOff_NeverRegistered_Ugly(t *testing.T) {