diff --git a/components/runners/ambient-runner/ambient_runner/bridges/claude/mcp.py b/components/runners/ambient-runner/ambient_runner/bridges/claude/mcp.py
index 6f4d444ab..de2a8e62c 100644
--- a/components/runners/ambient-runner/ambient_runner/bridges/claude/mcp.py
+++ b/components/runners/ambient-runner/ambient_runner/bridges/claude/mcp.py
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ def build_mcp_servers(
         load_rubric_content,
     )
     from ambient_runner.bridges.claude.corrections import create_correction_mcp_tool
+    from ambient_runner.bridges.claude.backend_tools import create_backend_mcp_tools
 
     mcp_servers = load_mcp_config(context, cwd_path) or {}
 
@@ -117,6 +118,20 @@ def build_mcp_servers(
         mcp_servers["corrections"] = correction_server
         logger.info("Added corrections feedback MCP tool (log_correction)")
 
+    # Backend API tools (session management) — fallback when ambient MCP sidecar is absent
+    if not ambient_mcp_url:
+        backend_tools = create_backend_mcp_tools(sdk_tool_decorator=sdk_tool)
+        if backend_tools:
+            backend_server = create_sdk_mcp_server(
+                name="acp", version="1.0.0", tools=backend_tools
+            )
+            mcp_servers["acp"] = backend_server
+            logger.info(
+                "Added backend API MCP tools (%d): %s",
+                len(backend_tools),
+                ", ".join(t.name for t in backend_tools),
+            )
+
     # Credential-aware MCP servers (dynamically configured per bound credentials)
     credential_mcp_servers = build_credential_mcp_servers()
     mcp_servers.update(credential_mcp_servers)
diff --git a/e2e/cypress/e2e/scheduled-sessions.cy.ts b/e2e/cypress/e2e/scheduled-sessions.cy.ts
index a837e0ba2..411ec2d06 100644
--- a/e2e/cypress/e2e/scheduled-sessions.cy.ts
+++ b/e2e/cypress/e2e/scheduled-sessions.cy.ts
@@ -411,9 +411,29 @@ describe('Scheduled Sessions', () => {
         expect(resp.status).to.be.oneOf([200, 201])
         const scheduleName = resp.body.name
 
+        // Stub the OOTB workflows API so the test doesn't depend on live GitHub access
+        cy.intercept('GET', `/api/workflows/ootb*`, {
+          statusCode: 200,
+          body: {
+            workflows: [
+              {
+                id: 'bugfix',
+                name: 'Fix a bug',
+                description: 'Systematic workflow for analyzing, fixing, and verifying software bugs.',
+                gitUrl: 'https://github.com/ambient-code/workflows.git',
+                branch: 'main',
+                path: 'workflows/bugfix',
+                enabled: true,
+              },
+            ],
+          },
+        }).as('ootbWorkflows')
+
         // Navigate to edit page
         cy.visit(`/projects/${workspaceSlug}/scheduled-sessions/${scheduleName}/edit`)
 
+        cy.wait('@ootbWorkflows')
+
         // The workflow select should show the OOTB workflow name, not "Custom workflow..."
         cy.get('[data-testid="workflow-select"]', { timeout: 10000 })
           .should('contain.text', 'Fix a bug')