diff --git a/internal/llmadapters/pi_rpc.go b/internal/llmadapters/pi_rpc.go
index dc8c0de1..b319938f 100644
--- a/internal/llmadapters/pi_rpc.go
+++ b/internal/llmadapters/pi_rpc.go
@@ -52,11 +52,17 @@ func NewPiRPCAdapter(opts PiRPCOptions) *PiRPCAdapter {
 	if factory == nil {
 		factory = defaultScratchDir
 	}
+	// Same defaulting as the subprocess adapters: an unbounded task can hang a
+	// whole review on one stuck worker. Negative disables the bound explicitly.
+	timeout := opts.Timeout
+	if timeout == 0 {
+		timeout = defaultLLMTaskTimeout
+	}
 	return &PiRPCAdapter{
 		command:           command,
 		commandArgsPrefix: append([]string(nil), opts.commandArgsPrefix...),
 		env:               append([]string(nil), opts.Env...),
-		timeout:           opts.Timeout,
+		timeout:           timeout,
 		scratchDirFactory: factory,
 		fastModeModels:    append([]string(nil), opts.FastModeModels...),
 	}
diff --git a/internal/llmadapters/subprocess.go b/internal/llmadapters/subprocess.go
index 88737ecc..929056e8 100644
--- a/internal/llmadapters/subprocess.go
+++ b/internal/llmadapters/subprocess.go
@@ -29,8 +29,13 @@ var (
 
 // SubprocessOptions configures subprocess LLM adapters.
 type SubprocessOptions struct {
-	Command                string
-	Env                    []string
+	Command string
+	Env     []string
+	// Timeout bounds a single LLM task (one subprocess run, or one background
+	// job launch + result wait). Zero applies defaultLLMTaskTimeout — without a
+	// deadline, one hung CLI worker or never-terminal background job hangs the
+	// entire review until something external kills it. Negative disables the
+	// bound explicitly.
 	Timeout                time.Duration
 	ScratchDirFactory      ScratchDirFactory
 	AllowBestEffortNoTools bool
@@ -38,6 +43,13 @@ type SubprocessOptions struct {
 	commandArgsPrefix      []string
 }
 
+// defaultLLMTaskTimeout bounds a single LLM task when the caller does not set
+// SubprocessOptions.Timeout. Healthy reviewer tasks finish in a few minutes;
+// ten is generous headroom for slow models while still converting "one worker
+// hung" from an indefinite review stall into a timely, clearly-attributed task
+// failure. Mirrors defaultAPIClientTimeout on the API adapter.
+const defaultLLMTaskTimeout = 10 * time.Minute
+
 type subprocessKind string
 
 const (
@@ -104,12 +116,16 @@ func newSubprocessAdapter(kind subprocessKind, defaultCommand string, opts Subpr
 	if factory == nil {
 		factory = defaultScratchDir
 	}
+	timeout := opts.Timeout
+	if timeout == 0 {
+		timeout = defaultLLMTaskTimeout
+	}
 	return &SubprocessAdapter{
 		kind:                   kind,
 		command:                command,
 		commandArgsPrefix:      append([]string(nil), opts.commandArgsPrefix...),
 		env:                    append([]string(nil), opts.Env...),
-		timeout:                opts.Timeout,
+		timeout:                timeout,
 		scratchDirFactory:      factory,
 		allowBestEffortNoTools: opts.AllowBestEffortNoTools,
 		fastModeModels:         append([]string(nil), opts.FastModeModels...),
diff --git a/internal/llmadapters/subprocess_test.go b/internal/llmadapters/subprocess_test.go
index 05f5541b..615c3872 100644
--- a/internal/llmadapters/subprocess_test.go
+++ b/internal/llmadapters/subprocess_test.go
@@ -1815,3 +1815,29 @@ func eventually(t *testing.T, timeout time.Duration, condition func() bool) {
 	}
 	t.Fatalf("condition was not met within %s", timeout)
 }
+
+func TestSubprocessAdapterDefaultsTaskTimeout(t *testing.T) {
+	// Without a bound, one hung CLI worker or never-terminal background job
+	// hangs the entire review indefinitely — the caller in app/runtime.go sets
+	// no Timeout, so the constructor must default it.
+	a := NewClaudeCLIAdapter(SubprocessOptions{})
+	if a.timeout != defaultLLMTaskTimeout {
+		t.Fatalf("timeout = %v, want default %v", a.timeout, defaultLLMTaskTimeout)
+	}
+
+	explicit := NewCodexCLIAdapter(SubprocessOptions{Timeout: 3 * time.Minute})
+	if explicit.timeout != 3*time.Minute {
+		t.Fatalf("explicit timeout = %v, want 3m", explicit.timeout)
+	}
+
+	// Negative opts out: LaunchProcess only applies a deadline when timeout > 0.
+	unbounded := NewClaudeCLIAdapter(SubprocessOptions{Timeout: -1})
+	if unbounded.timeout >= 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("negative timeout should be preserved as opt-out, got %v", unbounded.timeout)
+	}
+
+	pi := NewPiRPCAdapter(PiRPCOptions{})
+	if pi.timeout != defaultLLMTaskTimeout {
+		t.Fatalf("pi timeout = %v, want default %v", pi.timeout, defaultLLMTaskTimeout)
+	}
+}