diff --git a/worker.py b/worker.py
index ce361ef2f..e5b003ad6 100644
--- a/worker.py
+++ b/worker.py
@@ -1348,18 +1348,28 @@ def send_worker_heartbeat(worker_id: str) -> bool:
 def heartbeat_worker_thread(worker_id: str, stop_event: threading.Event, interval: int = 20):
     """Background thread that sends heartbeats every 20 seconds."""
 
-    headless_logger.essential(f"✅ Starting heartbeat thread for worker: {worker_id}")
+    try:
+        # Use print initially in case headless_logger isn't ready yet
+        print(f"[HEARTBEAT THREAD] Started for worker: {worker_id}")
 
-    while not stop_event.wait(interval):
-        try:
-            if send_worker_heartbeat(worker_id):
-                headless_logger.debug(f"✅ [HEARTBEAT] ✅ Sent for worker {worker_id}")
-            else:
-                headless_logger.error(f"❌ [HEARTBEAT] Failed for worker {worker_id}")
-        except Exception as e:
-            headless_logger.error(f"[HEARTBEAT THREAD] Exception: {e}")
+        while not stop_event.wait(interval):
+            try:
+                print(f"[HEARTBEAT THREAD] Sending heartbeat for {worker_id}...")
+                if send_worker_heartbeat(worker_id):
+                    print(f"[HEARTBEAT THREAD] ✅ Sent for worker {worker_id}")
+                else:
+                    print(f"[HEARTBEAT THREAD] ❌ Failed for worker {worker_id}")
+            except Exception as e:
+                print(f"[HEARTBEAT THREAD] Exception during heartbeat: {e}")
+                import traceback
+                traceback.print_exc()
 
-    headless_logger.essential(f"🛑 Heartbeat thread stopped for worker: {worker_id}")
+        print(f"[HEARTBEAT THREAD] Stopped for worker: {worker_id}")
+
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"[HEARTBEAT THREAD] FATAL ERROR: {e}")
+        import traceback
+        traceback.print_exc()
 
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -1562,6 +1572,8 @@ def close(self):
     print(f"Polling interval: {cli_args.poll_interval} seconds.")
 
     # Start heartbeat thread if worker ID is provided
+    print(f"[DEBUG] Heartbeat check: worker_id='{cli_args.worker}', db_type='{db_ops.DB_TYPE}'")
+
     if cli_args.worker and db_ops.DB_TYPE == "supabase":
         print(f"Starting heartbeat thread for worker: {cli_args.worker}")
         heartbeat_thread = threading.Thread(
@@ -1571,8 +1583,15 @@ def close(self):
         )
         heartbeat_thread.start()
         print(f"✅ Heartbeat thread started (20-second intervals)")
+
+        # Verify thread is actually running
+        if heartbeat_thread.is_alive():
+            print(f"✅ Heartbeat thread confirmed alive")
+        else:
+            print(f"❌ Heartbeat thread failed to start!")
+
     elif cli_args.worker:
-        print(f"⚠️  Worker ID provided but SQLite mode - heartbeat not needed")
+        print(f"⚠️  Worker ID provided ({cli_args.worker}) but DB type is {db_ops.DB_TYPE} - heartbeat not needed")
     else:
         print(f"⚠️  No worker ID provided - heartbeat disabled")