diff --git a/pytest.ini b/pytest.ini
index ea9c926..afaaa14 100644
--- a/pytest.ini
+++ b/pytest.ini
@@ -2,4 +2,5 @@
 testpaths = tests
 markers =
     flaky: known-flaky test, excluded from the default run
-addopts = -m "not flaky"
\ No newline at end of file
+    fuzz: fuzz test launching real programs, excluded from the default run
+addopts = -m "not flaky and not fuzz"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/test_fuzz.py b/tests/test_fuzz.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f20c4de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_fuzz.py
@@ -0,0 +1,281 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Fuzz tests for kick: launch real programs and verify the compositor
+survives basic interactions without crashing.
+
+Each test launches kick with one or more real programs (terminals, GUI
+apps, X11 clients), does a few cycles/overlay checks/closes, and
+asserts the compositor is still alive.
+
+Marked @pytest.mark.fuzz -- excluded from the default pytest run.
+Run with: pytest -m fuzz
+"""
+
+import os
+import shutil
+import signal
+import time
+
+import pytest
+
+from test_smoke import (
+    ALT, DOWN, UP, LEFT, RIGHT, DELETE, KEY_PRESSED, KEY_RELEASED,
+    BIN, LOG, Session, _nested_session,
+)
+
+# Skip the entire module if no host Wayland session.
+if not os.environ.get("WAYLAND_DISPLAY"):
+    pytestmark = pytest.mark.skip("needs a live host Wayland session")
+
+# Programs to test, looked up once at import time.
+FOOT = shutil.which("foot")
+ALACRITTY = shutil.which("alacritty")
+GNOME_CALC = shutil.which("gnome-calculator")
+EVINCE = shutil.which("evince")
+MPV = shutil.which("mpv")
+XMSG = shutil.which("xmessage")
+
+
+def _alive(s):
+    """Assert the compositor is still running (or exited cleanly)."""
+    rc = s.proc.poll()
+    if rc is not None:
+        assert rc == 0, f"kick crashed with code {rc}"
+
+
+def _crash_free(s):
+    """Assert no crash signals or assertions in the log."""
+    log = s.read_log()
+    for pat in ("Segmentation fault", "Aborted", "Backtrace"):
+        assert pat not in log, f"crash indicator '{pat}' in log"
+    # Check for wlroots assertion failures (the pattern is "Assertion `...' failed")
+    assert "assertion" not in log.lower() or "assertion failed" not in log.lower(), \
+        "assertion failure in log"
+
+
+def _run_fuzz(s, extra_steps=None):
+    """Common fuzz sequence: wait for map, cycle, overlay, close active.
+
+    extra_steps: optional callable(session) run between overlay and close.
+    """
+    try:
+        # Wait for at least one app to map (single-tab sessions don't emit
+        # 'active app=' so wait_any_active would hang).
+        s.wait_for(r"\[diag\] map app=\d", timeout=10.0)
+        _alive(s)
+
+        # A few cycles (no-op for single tab, but exercises the key path).
+        for _ in range(3):
+            s.mods(ALT)
+            s.tap(DOWN)
+            time.sleep(0.3)
+        s.mods(0)
+        _alive(s)
+
+        # Hold Alt to check overlay renders.
+        s.mods(ALT)
+        time.sleep(0.5)
+        s.mods(0)
+        _alive(s)
+
+        if extra_steps:
+            extra_steps(s)
+
+        # Close the active tab.
+        s.chord(ALT, DELETE)
+        time.sleep(1.0)
+        _alive(s)
+        _crash_free(s)
+    finally:
+        s.close()
+
+
+# ── single-program tests ────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+@pytest.mark.fuzz
+def test_fuzz_foot():
+    if not FOOT:
+        pytest.skip("foot not installed")
+    s = _nested_session(FOOT)
+    _run_fuzz(s)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.fuzz
+def test_fuzz_alacritty():
+    if not ALACRITTY:
+        pytest.skip("alacritty not installed")
+    s = _nested_session(ALACRITTY)
+    _run_fuzz(s)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.fuzz
+def test_fuzz_gnome_calculator():
+    if not GNOME_CALC:
+        pytest.skip("gnome-calculator not installed")
+    s = _nested_session(GNOME_CALC)
+    _run_fuzz(s)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.fuzz
+def test_fuzz_evince():
+    if not EVINCE:
+        pytest.skip("evince not installed")
+    s = _nested_session(EVINCE)
+    _run_fuzz(s)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.fuzz
+def test_fuzz_mpv():
+    pytest.skip("mpv exits without a playable file; poor fuzz target")
+
+
+@pytest.mark.fuzz
+def test_fuzz_xmessage():
+    if not XMSG:
+        pytest.skip("xmessage not installed")
+    s = _nested_session(f"{XMSG} hello")
+    _run_fuzz(s)
+
+
+# ── multi-tab tests ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+@pytest.mark.fuzz
+def test_fuzz_two_terminals():
+    if not FOOT or not ALACRITTY:
+        pytest.skip("need foot and alacritty")
+    s = _nested_session(FOOT, ALACRITTY)
+    _run_fuzz(s)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.fuzz
+def test_fuzz_terminal_plus_gui():
+    if not FOOT or not GNOME_CALC:
+        pytest.skip("need foot and gnome-calculator")
+    s = _nested_session(FOOT, GNOME_CALC)
+    _run_fuzz(s)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.fuzz
+def test_fuzz_wayland_plus_x11():
+    if not FOOT or not XMSG:
+        pytest.skip("need foot and xmessage")
+    s = _nested_session(FOOT, f"{XMSG} hello")
+    _run_fuzz(s)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.fuzz
+def test_fuzz_three_tabs():
+    if not FOOT or not GNOME_CALC or not XMSG:
+        pytest.skip("need foot, gnome-calculator, xmessage")
+    s = _nested_session(FOOT, GNOME_CALC, f"{XMSG} hello")
+    _run_fuzz(s)
+
+
+# ── tab-groups (stacking) tests ─────────────────────────────────────
+
+@pytest.mark.fuzz
+def test_fuzz_tab_groups_stacking():
+    if not FOOT or not GNOME_CALC:
+        pytest.skip("need foot and gnome-calculator")
+    s = _nested_session(FOOT, GNOME_CALC, extra_args=("--tab-groups", "on"))
+    _run_fuzz(s)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.fuzz
+def test_fuzz_tab_groups_cycle_members():
+    """Cycle between stacked members with Alt+Left/Right."""
+    if not FOOT or not GNOME_CALC:
+        pytest.skip("need foot and gnome-calculator")
+    s = _nested_session(FOOT, GNOME_CALC, extra_args=("--tab-groups", "on"))
+    try:
+        s.wait_for(r"\[diag\] map app=\d", timeout=10.0)
+        _alive(s)
+
+        # Cycle between stacked members.
+        s.mods(ALT)
+        for _ in range(3):
+            s.tap(LEFT)
+            time.sleep(0.3)
+        s.mods(0)
+        _alive(s)
+
+        # Cycle back.
+        s.mods(ALT)
+        for _ in range(3):
+            s.tap(RIGHT)
+            time.sleep(0.3)
+        s.mods(0)
+        _alive(s)
+
+        _crash_free(s)
+    finally:
+        s.close()
+
+
+# ── edge-case tests ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+@pytest.mark.fuzz
+def test_fuzz_short_lived_command():
+    """A command that exits immediately should not crash kick."""
+    s = _nested_session("true")
+    try:
+        # Give it a moment, then check kick survived.
+        time.sleep(2.0)
+        _alive(s)
+        _crash_free(s)
+    finally:
+        s.close()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.fuzz
+def test_fuzz_unresponsive_close():
+    """Closing an unresponsive program should not crash kick."""
+    if not FOOT:
+        pytest.skip("need foot")
+    s = _nested_session(FOOT, "sleep 999")
+    try:
+        s.wait_for(r"\[diag\] map app=\d", timeout=10.0)
+        _alive(s)
+
+        # Close the active tab (whichever is focused).
+        s.chord(ALT, DELETE)
+        time.sleep(2.0)
+        _alive(s)
+
+        # Close the remaining tab.
+        s.chord(ALT, DELETE)
+        time.sleep(2.0)
+        _alive(s)
+        _crash_free(s)
+    finally:
+        s.close()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.fuzz
+def test_fuzz_rapid_cycling():
+    """Rapid Alt+Down cycling should not crash kick."""
+    if not FOOT or not GNOME_CALC:
+        pytest.skip("need foot and gnome-calculator")
+    s = _nested_session(FOOT, GNOME_CALC)
+    try:
+        s.wait_for(r"\[diag\] map app=\d", timeout=10.0)
+        _alive(s)
+
+        # Rapid cycling: 20 cycles in quick succession.
+        s.mods(ALT)
+        for _ in range(20):
+            s.tap(DOWN)
+        time.sleep(1.0)
+        s.mods(0)
+        _alive(s)
+
+        # Rapid cycling back.
+        s.mods(ALT)
+        for _ in range(20):
+            s.tap(UP)
+        time.sleep(1.0)
+        s.mods(0)
+        _alive(s)
+
+        _crash_free(s)
+    finally:
+        s.close()