diff --git a/backend/app/routers/strategy.py b/backend/app/routers/strategy.py
index a59be53..3e41544 100644
--- a/backend/app/routers/strategy.py
+++ b/backend/app/routers/strategy.py
@@ -22,8 +22,20 @@ def start(req: StrategyStartRequest, request: Request):
 
 @router.post("/strategy/stop")
 def stop(request: Request):
-    user_id = get_request_user_id(request)
-    return stop_strategy(user_id)
+    try:
+        user_id = get_request_user_id(request)
+        return stop_strategy(user_id)
+    except HTTPException:
+        raise
+    except Exception as exc:
+        print(f"[STRATEGY] unhandled stop route failure: {exc}", flush=True)
+        return JSONResponse(
+            status_code=200,
+            content={
+                "status": "stop_failed",
+                "message": f"Unable to stop strategy: {exc}",
+            },
+        )
 
 @router.post("/strategy/resume")
 def resume(request: Request):
diff --git a/backend/app/services/strategy_service.py b/backend/app/services/strategy_service.py
index 492ce7a..da38584 100644
--- a/backend/app/services/strategy_service.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/strategy_service.py
@@ -585,13 +585,27 @@ def resume_running_runs():
             _write_status(user_id, run_id, "RUNNING")
 
 def stop_strategy(user_id: str):
-    run_id = get_active_run_id(user_id)
+    run_id = get_running_run_id(user_id)
+    if not run_id:
+        latest_run_id = get_active_run_id(user_id)
+        return {"status": "already_stopped", "run_id": latest_run_id}
+
     engine_external = os.getenv("ENGINE_EXTERNAL", "").strip().lower() in {"1", "true", "yes"}
+    stop_warning = None
     if not engine_external:
-        stop_engine(user_id, run_id, timeout=15.0)
+        try:
+            stop_engine(user_id, run_id, timeout=15.0)
+        except Exception as exc:
+            print(f"[STRATEGY] stop_engine failed for {user_id}/{run_id}: {exc}", flush=True)
+            stop_warning = str(exc)
     deactivate_strategy_config(user_id, run_id)
     stop_run(user_id, run_id, reason="user_request")
-    _write_status(user_id, run_id, "STOPPED")
+    try:
+        _write_status(user_id, run_id, "STOPPED")
+    except Exception as exc:
+        print(f"[STRATEGY] engine status update failed during stop for {user_id}/{run_id}: {exc}", flush=True)
+        if not stop_warning:
+            stop_warning = str(exc)
     update_run_status(user_id, run_id, "STOPPED", meta={"reason": "user_request"})
 
     try:
@@ -602,7 +616,10 @@ def stop_strategy(user_id: str):
     except Exception:
         pass
 
-    return {"status": "stopped"}
+    result = {"status": "stopped", "run_id": run_id}
+    if stop_warning:
+        result["warning"] = stop_warning
+    return result
 
 
 def resume_strategy(user_id: str):