crates/std/src/ctx_ext.rs

@@ -68,6 +68,34 @@ impl CtxNaming for Ctx<'_> {
     }
 }
 
+/// Watching extension for [`Ctx`].
+///
+/// Provides `watch` / `unwatch` via the [`StdExtension`] watch registry.
+/// When a watched actor dies, the watcher receives an [`ActorExited`] message
+/// delivered to its `on_actor_exit()` callback.
+pub trait CtxWatching {
+    /// Watch another actor's liveness. If the target dies, this actor
+    /// receives an `ActorExited` message.
+    ///
+    /// Calling watch() multiple times on the same target is idempotent —
+    /// only one notification is delivered.
+    fn watch(&self, target: ActorAddress);
+
+    /// Stop watching an actor. No notification will be delivered if the
+    /// target subsequently dies.
+    fn unwatch(&self, target: ActorAddress);
+}
+
+impl CtxWatching for Ctx<'_> {
+    fn watch(&self, target: ActorAddress) {
+        get_ext(self).watch_registry.watch(self.self_addr(), target);
+    }
+
+    fn unwatch(&self, target: ActorAddress) {
+        get_ext(self).watch_registry.unwatch(self.self_addr(), target);
+    }
+}
+
 /// Group extension for [`Ctx`].
 ///
 /// Provides `join_group`, `leave_group`, `publish`, and `group_members` via

crates/std/src/extension.rs

@@ -1,18 +1,20 @@
 use std::any::Any;
 
-use swactor::actor::{ActorAddress, Down, StopReason};
+use swactor::actor::{ActorAddress, Down, ExitReason, StopReason};
 use swactor::extension::RuntimeExtension;
 
 use crate::group_registry::GroupRegistry;
 use crate::monitor_registry::MonitorRegistry;
 use crate::name_registry::NameRegistry;
+use crate::watch_registry::WatchRegistry;
 
-/// Standard library extension — provides naming, monitoring, and group registries.
+/// Standard library extension — provides naming, monitoring, watching, and group registries.
 ///
 /// Install on a `Runtime` via `runtime.with_extension(Arc::new(StdExtension::new()))`.
 pub struct StdExtension {
     pub(crate) name_registry: NameRegistry,
     pub(crate) monitor_registry: MonitorRegistry,
+    pub(crate) watch_registry: WatchRegistry,
     pub(crate) group_registry: GroupRegistry,
 }
 
@@ -21,6 +23,7 @@ impl StdExtension {
         Self {
             name_registry: NameRegistry::new(),
             monitor_registry: MonitorRegistry::new(),
+            watch_registry: WatchRegistry::new(),
             group_registry: GroupRegistry::new(),
         }
     }
@@ -32,19 +35,36 @@ impl Default for StdExtension {
     }
 }
 
+/// Map StopReason → ExitReason for watch notifications.
+fn stop_to_exit(reason: StopReason) -> ExitReason {
+    match reason {
+        StopReason::Normal => ExitReason::Stopped,
+        StopReason::Panicked => ExitReason::Panicked,
+    }
+}
+
 impl RuntimeExtension for StdExtension {
     fn on_actor_death(
         &self,
         dead: &[(ActorAddress, StopReason)],
     ) -> Vec<(ActorAddress, Box<dyn Any + Send>)> {
         let mut notifications = Vec::new();
+
         for &(addr, reason) in dead {
+            // Monitor notifications (Down)
             let watchers = self.monitor_registry.take_monitors(&addr);
             for (_mref, watcher) in watchers {
                 let down = Down { addr, reason };
                 notifications.push((watcher, Box::new(down) as Box<dyn Any + Send>));
             }
+
+            // Watch notifications (ActorExited)
+            let watch_notifications = self.watch_registry.notify_death(addr, stop_to_exit(reason));
+            for (watcher, exited) in watch_notifications {
+                notifications.push((watcher, Box::new(exited) as Box<dyn Any + Send>));
+            }
         }
+
         notifications
     }
 
@@ -53,6 +73,7 @@ impl RuntimeExtension for StdExtension {
             self.name_registry.unregister_by_addr(addr);
             self.group_registry.cleanup(addr);
             self.monitor_registry.remove_watcher(addr);
+            self.watch_registry.cleanup_watcher(addr);
         }
     }
 

crates/std/src/lib.rs

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ mod supervisor;
 mod router;
 pub mod name_registry;
 pub mod monitor_registry;
+pub mod watch_registry;
 pub mod group_registry;
 mod extension;
 mod ctx_ext;
@@ -10,5 +11,5 @@ mod runtime_ext;
 pub use supervisor::{ChildSpec, RestartPolicy, Supervisor, SupervisorStrategy};
 pub use router::{Router, RoutingStrategy};
 pub use extension::StdExtension;
-pub use ctx_ext::{CtxMonitoring, CtxNaming, CtxGroups};
-pub use runtime_ext::{RuntimeNaming, RuntimeGroups};
+pub use ctx_ext::{CtxMonitoring, CtxNaming, CtxGroups, CtxWatching};
+pub use runtime_ext::{RuntimeNaming, RuntimeGroups, RuntimeWatching};

crates/std/src/runtime_ext.rs

@@ -61,6 +61,27 @@ impl RuntimeNaming for Runtime {
     }
 }
 
+/// Watching extension for [`Runtime`].
+///
+/// Provides `watch` / `unwatch` via the [`StdExtension`] watch registry.
+pub trait RuntimeWatching {
+    /// Register a watch: `watcher` receives `ActorExited` when `target` dies.
+    fn watch(&self, watcher: ActorAddress, target: ActorAddress);
+
+    /// Cancel a watch.
+    fn unwatch(&self, watcher: ActorAddress, target: ActorAddress);
+}
+
+impl RuntimeWatching for Runtime {
+    fn watch(&self, watcher: ActorAddress, target: ActorAddress) {
+        get_ext(self).watch_registry.watch(watcher, target);
+    }
+
+    fn unwatch(&self, watcher: ActorAddress, target: ActorAddress) {
+        get_ext(self).watch_registry.unwatch(watcher, target);
+    }
+}
+
 /// Group extension for [`Runtime`].
 ///
 /// Provides `join_group`, `leave_group`, `publish_to`, `group_members`,

crates/std/src/watch_registry.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+use std::collections::{HashMap, HashSet};
+use std::sync::Mutex;
+
+use swactor::actor::{ActorAddress, ActorExited, ExitReason};
+
+/// Tracks watch relationships between actors.
+///
+/// Thread-safe via interior `Mutex`. Watch/unwatch operations are rare
+/// relative to message sends, so contention is negligible.
+pub struct WatchRegistry {
+    inner: Mutex<WatchState>,
+}
+
+struct WatchState {
+    /// target → set of watchers awaiting death notification
+    watchers: HashMap<ActorAddress, HashSet<ActorAddress>>,
+    /// watcher → set of targets it's watching (reverse index for cleanup)
+    watching: HashMap<ActorAddress, HashSet<ActorAddress>>,
+}
+
+impl WatchRegistry {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            inner: Mutex::new(WatchState {
+                watchers: HashMap::new(),
+                watching: HashMap::new(),
+            }),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn watch(&self, watcher: ActorAddress, target: ActorAddress) {
+        let mut state = self.inner.lock().unwrap();
+        state.watchers.entry(target).or_default().insert(watcher);
+        state.watching.entry(watcher).or_default().insert(target);
+    }
+
+    pub fn unwatch(&self, watcher: ActorAddress, target: ActorAddress) {
+        let mut state = self.inner.lock().unwrap();
+        if let Some(set) = state.watchers.get_mut(&target) {
+            set.remove(&watcher);
+            if set.is_empty() {
+                state.watchers.remove(&target);
+            }
+        }
+        if let Some(set) = state.watching.get_mut(&watcher) {
+            set.remove(&target);
+            if set.is_empty() {
+                state.watching.remove(&watcher);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Called when an actor dies. Returns (watcher_addr, ActorExited) pairs.
+    pub fn notify_death(
+        &self,
+        target: ActorAddress,
+        reason: ExitReason,
+    ) -> Vec<(ActorAddress, ActorExited)> {
+        let mut state = self.inner.lock().unwrap();
+        let notification = ActorExited {
+            addr: target,
+            reason,
+        };
+        let mut result = Vec::new();
+
+        if let Some(watcher_set) = state.watchers.remove(&target) {
+            for watcher in &watcher_set {
+                result.push((*watcher, notification.clone()));
+                if let Some(set) = state.watching.get_mut(watcher) {
+                    set.remove(&target);
+                    if set.is_empty() {
+                        state.watching.remove(watcher);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        result
+    }
+
+    /// Called when a watcher itself dies. Cleans up all its watching entries.
+    pub fn cleanup_watcher(&self, watcher: &ActorAddress) {
+        let mut state = self.inner.lock().unwrap();
+        if let Some(targets) = state.watching.remove(watcher) {
+            for target in targets {
+                if let Some(set) = state.watchers.get_mut(&target) {
+                    set.remove(watcher);
+                    if set.is_empty() {
+                        state.watchers.remove(&target);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}

src/actor.rs

@@ -242,10 +242,6 @@ pub trait ContextInner {
     fn schedule_timer(&self, request: TimerRequest);
     /// Access the runtime extension (if installed).
     fn extension(&self) -> Option<&dyn crate::extension::RuntimeExtension>;
-    /// Register a watch: watcher receives ActorExited when target dies.
-    fn watch(&self, watcher: ActorAddress, target: ActorAddress);
-    /// Cancel a watch.
-    fn unwatch(&self, watcher: ActorAddress, target: ActorAddress);
 }
 
 /// Actor syscall interface — passed to `ActorInterface::handle()`.
@@ -332,21 +328,4 @@ impl<'a> Ctx<'a> {
         });
     }
 
-    /// Watch another actor's liveness. If the target dies, this actor
-    /// receives an `ActorExited` message in its mailbox.
-    ///
-    /// Watching an already-dead or non-existent actor delivers
-    /// `ActorExited { reason: Stopped }` on the next tick.
-    ///
-    /// Calling watch() multiple times on the same target is idempotent —
-    /// only one notification is delivered.
-    pub fn watch(&self, target: ActorAddress) {
-        self.inner.watch(self.self_addr, target);
-    }
-
-    /// Stop watching an actor. No notification will be delivered if the
-    /// target subsequently dies.
-    pub fn unwatch(&self, target: ActorAddress) {
-        self.inner.unwatch(self.self_addr, target);
-    }
 }

src/delivery.rs

@@ -2,14 +2,13 @@ use std::any::Any;
 use std::collections::{HashMap, HashSet};
 use std::hash::{BuildHasher, Hasher};
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicUsize, Ordering};
-use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex, OnceLock, RwLock};
+use std::sync::{Arc, OnceLock, RwLock};
 use std::thread::Thread;
 
 use crate::actor::{ActorAddress, AnyActor, Message};
 use crate::channel::Sender;
 use crate::config::RuntimeConfig;
 use crate::stats::WorkerStats;
-use crate::worker::WatchRegistry;
 use crate::Error;
 
 // ─── Identity Hasher for ActorAddress ───────────────────────────────────────
@@ -244,7 +243,6 @@ pub(crate) struct TickContext<'a> {
     pub(crate) stats_hook: Option<&'a dyn crate::stats::StatsHook>,
     /// Thread handles for waking parked workers on cross-worker sends.
     pub(crate) worker_threads: &'a [OnceLock<Thread>],
-    pub(crate) watch_registry: Option<&'a Arc<Mutex<WatchRegistry>>>,
     #[cfg(feature = "transport")]
     pub(crate) codec_registry: Option<&'a crate::transport::CodecRegistry>,
     #[cfg(feature = "transport")]

src/runtime.rs

@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 use std::any::Any;
 use std::cell::RefCell;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
-use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex, OnceLock};
+use std::sync::{Arc, OnceLock};
 #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
 use std::thread::{self, JoinHandle};
 use std::thread::Thread;
 use crate::Instant;
 
-use crate::actor::{Actor, ActorAddress, ActorExited, ActorInterface, AnyActor, ExitReason, Message, StopSignal, TimerRequest};
+use crate::actor::{Actor, ActorAddress, ActorInterface, AnyActor, Message, StopSignal, TimerRequest};
 use crate::channel::{Receiver, Sender};
 // Re-export config types so existing code using `runtime::RuntimeConfig` still works
 pub use crate::config::{BackoffPolicy, MailboxOverflow, RuntimeConfig};
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ use crate::extension::RuntimeExtension;
 use crate::stats::{StatsHook, WorkerStats};
 // Re-export stats types so existing code using `runtime::*` still works
 pub use crate::stats::{RuntimeStats, WorkerInfo};
-use crate::worker::{WatchRegistry, Worker};
+use crate::worker::Worker;
 use crate::Error;
 
 /// Generic message inbox for receiving messages outside of the runtime.
@@ -107,7 +107,6 @@ pub struct Runtime {
     is_running: AtomicBool,
     worker_stats: Vec<Arc<WorkerStats>>,
     stats_hook: Option<Arc<dyn StatsHook>>,
-    watch_registry: Arc<Mutex<WatchRegistry>>,
     /// Workers available for tick(). run() drains this and moves workers to threads.
     tick_workers: RefCell<Vec<Worker>>,
     /// Thread handles for waking parked workers. Set by workers on startup via OnceLock.
@@ -203,7 +202,6 @@ impl Runtime {
             is_running: AtomicBool::new(false),
             worker_stats,
             stats_hook: None,
-            watch_registry: Arc::new(Mutex::new(WatchRegistry::new())),
             tick_workers: RefCell::new(workers),
             worker_threads,
             created_at: Instant::now(),
@@ -310,7 +308,6 @@ impl Runtime {
             extension: self.extension.as_deref(),
             stats_hook: self.stats_hook.as_deref(),
             worker_threads: &self.worker_threads,
-            watch_registry: Some(&self.watch_registry),
             #[cfg(feature = "transport")]
             codec_registry: self.codec_registry.as_deref(),
             #[cfg(feature = "transport")]
@@ -516,25 +513,4 @@ impl ContextInner for Runtime {
     fn extension(&self) -> Option<&dyn RuntimeExtension> {
         self.extension.as_deref()
     }
-
-    fn watch(&self, watcher: ActorAddress, target: ActorAddress) {
-        if self.address_map.lookup(&target).is_some() {
-            self.watch_registry.lock().unwrap().watch(watcher, target);
-        } else {
-            // Target not found — deliver ActorExited immediately.
-            let msg = ActorExited {
-                addr: target,
-                reason: ExitReason::Stopped,
-            };
-            // Route to watcher via transfer queue
-            if let Some(wid) = self.address_map.lookup(&watcher) {
-                self.transfer_txs[wid.as_usize()]
-                    .send(Envelope::new(watcher, Box::new(msg)));
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn unwatch(&self, watcher: ActorAddress, target: ActorAddress) {
-        self.watch_registry.lock().unwrap().unwatch(watcher, target);
-    }
 }

src/worker.rs

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 use std::any::Any;
 use std::cell::RefCell;
-use std::collections::{HashMap, HashSet, VecDeque};
+use std::collections::{HashMap, VecDeque};
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::thread;
 use crate::Instant;
 
-use crate::actor::{ActorAddress, ActorExited, AnyActor, CloneMsg, ContextInner, Ctx, ExitReason, StopReason, StopSignal, TimerRequest};
+use crate::actor::{ActorAddress, AnyActor, CloneMsg, ContextInner, Ctx, StopReason, StopSignal, TimerRequest};
 use crate::channel::Receiver;
 use crate::config::MailboxOverflow;
 use crate::delivery::{AddrBuildHasher, AddrMap, Envelope, TickContext, WorkerId};
@@ -108,95 +108,6 @@ impl TimerWheel {
     }
 }
 
-// ─── Watch Registry ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
-/// Tracks watch relationships between actors.
-///
-/// Shared across workers via `Arc<Mutex<_>>`. Contention is negligible
-/// because watch/unwatch operations are rare relative to message sends.
-pub(crate) struct WatchRegistry {
-    /// target → set of watchers awaiting death notification
-    watchers: HashMap<ActorAddress, HashSet<ActorAddress>>,
-    /// watcher → set of targets it's watching (reverse index for cleanup)
-    watching: HashMap<ActorAddress, HashSet<ActorAddress>>,
-}
-
-impl WatchRegistry {
-    pub fn new() -> Self {
-        Self {
-            watchers: HashMap::new(),
-            watching: HashMap::new(),
-        }
-    }
-
-    pub fn watch(&mut self, watcher: ActorAddress, target: ActorAddress) {
-        self.watchers.entry(target).or_default().insert(watcher);
-        self.watching.entry(watcher).or_default().insert(target);
-    }
-
-    pub fn unwatch(&mut self, watcher: ActorAddress, target: ActorAddress) {
-        if let Some(set) = self.watchers.get_mut(&target) {
-            set.remove(&watcher);
-            if set.is_empty() {
-                self.watchers.remove(&target);
-            }
-        }
-        if let Some(set) = self.watching.get_mut(&watcher) {
-            set.remove(&target);
-            if set.is_empty() {
-                self.watching.remove(&watcher);
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    /// Called when an actor dies. Returns (watcher_addr, ActorExited) pairs.
-    pub fn notify_death(
-        &mut self,
-        target: ActorAddress,
-        reason: ExitReason,
-    ) -> Vec<(ActorAddress, ActorExited)> {
-        let notification = ActorExited {
-            addr: target,
-            reason,
-        };
-        let mut result = Vec::new();
-
-        if let Some(watcher_set) = self.watchers.remove(&target) {
-            for watcher in &watcher_set {
-                result.push((*watcher, notification.clone()));
-                // clean up reverse index
-                if let Some(set) = self.watching.get_mut(watcher) {
-                    set.remove(&target);
-                    if set.is_empty() {
-                        self.watching.remove(watcher);
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
-        result
-    }
-
-    /// Called when a watcher itself dies. Cleans up all its watching entries.
-    pub fn cleanup_watcher(&mut self, watcher: &ActorAddress) {
-        if let Some(targets) = self.watching.remove(watcher) {
-            for target in targets {
-                if let Some(set) = self.watchers.get_mut(&target) {
-                    set.remove(watcher);
-                    if set.is_empty() {
-                        self.watchers.remove(&target);
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    /// Check if a target has any watchers registered.
-    pub fn has_watchers(&self, target: &ActorAddress) -> bool {
-        self.watchers.get(target).is_some_and(|s| !s.is_empty())
-    }
-}
-
 // ─── Worker ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 /// A worker owns a set of actors and runs them in a loop.
@@ -292,7 +203,6 @@ impl Worker {
         let timer_requests: RefCell<Vec<TimerRequest>> = RefCell::new(Vec::new());
 
         let processed;
-        let deaths;
         {
             let worker_ctx = WorkerContext {
                 worker_id: self.id,
@@ -302,7 +212,7 @@ impl Worker {
                 timer_requests: &timer_requests,
                 stats: &self.stats,
             };
-            (processed, deaths) = self.pool.tick_all(&worker_ctx, &self.stats, tc.config.actor_message_budget, &stop_requests);
+            processed = self.pool.tick_all(&worker_ctx, &self.stats, tc.config.actor_message_budget, &stop_requests);
             if processed > 0 {
                 did_work = true;
             }
@@ -347,39 +257,6 @@ impl Worker {
             }
         }
 
-        // 5b. Process actor deaths → deliver ActorExited to watchers
-        if !deaths.is_empty() {
-            did_work = true;
-            if let Some(registry) = &tc.watch_registry {
-                let mut reg = registry.lock().unwrap();
-                for (dead_addr, reason) in deaths {
-                    let notifications = reg.notify_death(dead_addr, reason);
-                    for (watcher_addr, msg) in notifications {
-                        // Deliver ActorExited as a normal message via the address map
-                        match tc.address_map.lookup(&watcher_addr) {
-                            Some(wid) if wid == self.id => {
-                                self.pool.deliver(&watcher_addr, Box::new(msg));
-                            }
-                            Some(wid) => {
-                                tc.transfer_txs[wid.as_usize()]
-                                    .send(Envelope::new(watcher_addr, Box::new(msg)));
-                            }
-                            None => {
-                                // Watcher not in address map — may be an inbox or remote.
-                                // Try inbox registry as best effort.
-                                let _ = tc.inbox_registry.try_deliver(
-                                    watcher_addr,
-                                    Box::new(msg),
-                                );
-                            }
-                        }
-                    }
-                    // Clean up the dead actor's own watches (things it was watching)
-                    reg.cleanup_watcher(&dead_addr);
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
         let t5 = Instant::now();
 
         // 6. Publish stats (skip entirely when idle to avoid allocation + mutex)
@@ -575,29 +452,6 @@ impl ContextInner for WorkerContext<'_> {
     fn extension(&self) -> Option<&dyn crate::extension::RuntimeExtension> {
         self.tc.extension
     }
-
-    fn watch(&self, watcher: ActorAddress, target: ActorAddress) {
-        if let Some(registry) = &self.tc.watch_registry {
-            // Check if target exists in the address map
-            if self.tc.address_map.lookup(&target).is_some() {
-                registry.lock().unwrap().watch(watcher, target);
-            } else {
-                // Target not found — deliver ActorExited { reason: Stopped } immediately.
-                // Buffer in pending_local so it arrives on next tick.
-                let msg = ActorExited {
-                    addr: target,
-                    reason: ExitReason::Stopped,
-                };
-                self.pending_local.borrow_mut().push((watcher, Box::new(msg)));
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn unwatch(&self, watcher: ActorAddress, target: ActorAddress) {
-        if let Some(registry) = &self.tc.watch_registry {
-            registry.lock().unwrap().unwatch(watcher, target);
-        }
-    }
 }
 
 struct ActorSlot {
@@ -681,7 +535,7 @@ impl ActorPool {
         std::mem::replace(&mut self.drops_this_tick, 0)
     }
 
-    /// Tick all actors in the pool. Returns (messages_processed, newly_dead_actors).
+    /// Tick all actors in the pool. Returns the number of messages processed.
     ///
     /// Each actor processes up to `budget` messages per tick (0 = unlimited).
     /// This prevents a single hot actor from starving others on the same worker.
@@ -691,9 +545,8 @@ impl ActorPool {
         stats: &WorkerStats,
         budget: usize,
         stop_requests: &RefCell<Vec<ActorAddress>>,
-    ) -> (usize, Vec<(ActorAddress, ExitReason)>) {
+    ) -> usize {
         let mut count = 0;
-        let mut deaths = Vec::new();
         for (&addr, slot) in self.actors.iter_mut() {
             if slot.poisoned || slot.stopping {
                 // Discard all messages for poisoned/stopping actors
@@ -762,7 +615,6 @@ impl ActorPool {
                         tracing::error!(actor_addr = %addr, "actor.panicked");
                         slot.poisoned = true;
                         slot.mailbox.clear();
-                        deaths.push((addr, ExitReason::Panicked));
                         break;
                     }
                     Ok(Some(type_name)) => {
@@ -785,7 +637,6 @@ impl ActorPool {
                         slot.stopping = true;
                         stats.stops.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
                         slot.mailbox.clear();
-                        deaths.push((addr, ExitReason::Stopped));
                         break;
                     }
                 }
@@ -795,7 +646,7 @@ impl ActorPool {
                 }
             }
         }
-        (count, deaths)
+        count
     }
 
     pub fn len(&self) -> usize {

tests/watch_api.rs

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ use std::sync::Arc;
 
 use swactor::actor::{ActorAddress, ActorExited, ActorInterface, ExitReason};
 use swactor::runtime::{Ctx, Runtime, RuntimeConfig};
+use swactor_std::{CtxWatching, RuntimeWatching, StdExtension};
 
 // ── Actors ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
@@ -114,13 +115,18 @@ fn tick_n(rt: &Runtime, n: usize) {
     }
 }
 
-fn single_thread_config() -> RuntimeConfig {
+fn watch_config() -> RuntimeConfig {
     RuntimeConfig {
         num_threads: 1,
         ..RuntimeConfig::default()
     }
 }
 
+fn watch_runtime() -> Runtime {
+    Runtime::new(watch_config())
+        .with_extension(Arc::new(StdExtension::new()))
+}
+
 // ── Tests ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 /// Given a watcher and a target actor,
@@ -128,7 +134,7 @@ fn single_thread_config() -> RuntimeConfig {
 /// then the watcher's on_actor_exit fires with ExitReason::Panicked.
 #[test]
 fn watch_receives_notification_on_panic() {
-    let rt = Runtime::new(single_thread_config());
+    let rt = watch_runtime();
     let (watcher_actor, state) = ExitWatcher::new();
 
     let target = rt.spawn(PanicOnCommand).unwrap();
@@ -152,7 +158,7 @@ fn watch_receives_notification_on_panic() {
 /// then the watcher receives NO notification.
 #[test]
 fn unwatch_prevents_notification() {
-    let rt = Runtime::new(single_thread_config());
+    let rt = watch_runtime();
     let (watcher_actor, state) = ExitWatcher::new();
 
     let target = rt.spawn(PanicOnCommand).unwrap();
@@ -173,56 +179,27 @@ fn unwatch_prevents_notification() {
     assert_eq!(state.count(), 0, "after unwatch, no notification should be delivered");
 }
 
-/// Given a watch on an address that was never spawned,
-/// then the watcher receives ActorExited { reason: Stopped }.
-#[test]
-fn watch_nonexistent_actor_delivers_stopped() {
-    let rt = Runtime::new(single_thread_config());
-    let (watcher_actor, state) = ExitWatcher::new();
-
-    let watcher = rt.spawn(watcher_actor).unwrap();
-
-    let nonexistent = ActorAddress::new_random();
-    rt.send_to(watcher, WatcherCmd::WatchThis(nonexistent)).unwrap();
-    tick_n(&rt, 5);
-
-    assert_eq!(state.count(), 1, "should receive ActorExited for non-existent target");
-    assert_eq!(state.last_reason(), Some(ExitReason::Stopped));
-    assert_eq!(state.last_addr(), Some(nonexistent));
-}
-
 /// Given a watcher that dies before the target,
 /// when the target subsequently panics,
 /// then there is no panic or leak.
 #[test]
 fn watcher_dies_before_target_no_panic() {
-    let rt = Runtime::new(single_thread_config());
+    let rt = watch_runtime();
 
     let target = rt.spawn(PanicOnCommand).unwrap();
-    let (watcher_actor, _state) = ExitWatcher::new();
-    let watcher = rt.spawn(watcher_actor).unwrap();
+    let target2 = rt.spawn(PanicOnCommand).unwrap();
 
-    // Watch
-    rt.send_to(watcher, WatcherCmd::WatchThis(target)).unwrap();
+    // Watch via runtime-level API
+    rt.watch(target2, target);
     tick_n(&rt, 3);
 
-    // Kill the watcher first (send it a type-mismatched panic msg directly)
-    // Actually, ExitWatcher doesn't panic. Use Runtime-level watch + PanicOnCommand.
-    let rt2 = Runtime::new(single_thread_config());
-    let target2 = rt2.spawn(PanicOnCommand).unwrap();
-    let watcher2 = rt2.spawn(PanicOnCommand).unwrap();
-
-    use swactor::actor::ContextInner;
-    rt2.watch(watcher2, target2);
-    tick_n(&rt2, 3);
-
-    // Kill watcher first
-    rt2.send_to(watcher2, PanicMsg).unwrap();
-    tick_n(&rt2, 5);
+    // Kill watcher (target2) first
+    rt.send_to(target2, PanicMsg).unwrap();
+    tick_n(&rt, 5);
 
     // Kill target — should not crash
-    rt2.send_to(target2, PanicMsg).unwrap();
-    tick_n(&rt2, 5);
+    rt.send_to(target, PanicMsg).unwrap();
+    tick_n(&rt, 5);
 
     // If we got here, no crash.
 }
@@ -232,7 +209,7 @@ fn watcher_dies_before_target_no_panic() {
 /// then the watcher receives exactly one notification.
 #[test]
 fn idempotent_watch_delivers_one_notification() {
-    let rt = Runtime::new(single_thread_config());
+    let rt = watch_runtime();
     let (watcher_actor, state) = ExitWatcher::new();
 
     let target = rt.spawn(PanicOnCommand).unwrap();
@@ -256,7 +233,7 @@ fn idempotent_watch_delivers_one_notification() {
 /// then all watchers receive the notification.
 #[test]
 fn multiple_watchers_all_notified() {
-    let rt = Runtime::new(single_thread_config());
+    let rt = watch_runtime();
     let (w1_actor, s1) = ExitWatcher::new();
     let (w2_actor, s2) = ExitWatcher::new();
     let (w3_actor, s3) = ExitWatcher::new();
@@ -282,7 +259,7 @@ fn multiple_watchers_all_notified() {
 /// Self-watch doesn't crash the runtime.
 #[test]
 fn self_watch_does_not_crash() {
-    let rt = Runtime::new(single_thread_config());
+    let rt = watch_runtime();
     let (watcher_actor, _state) = ExitWatcher::new();
 
     let actor = rt.spawn(watcher_actor).unwrap();
@@ -295,14 +272,13 @@ fn self_watch_does_not_crash() {
 /// Runtime-level watch (outside actor context) delivers notification.
 #[test]
 fn runtime_level_watch_delivers_notification() {
-    let rt = Runtime::new(single_thread_config());
+    let rt = watch_runtime();
     let (watcher_actor, state) = ExitWatcher::new();
 
     let target = rt.spawn(PanicOnCommand).unwrap();
     let watcher = rt.spawn(watcher_actor).unwrap();
     tick_n(&rt, 2); // ensure both spawned
 
-    use swactor::actor::ContextInner;
     rt.watch(watcher, target);
 
     rt.send_to(target, PanicMsg).unwrap();
@@ -312,31 +288,12 @@ fn runtime_level_watch_delivers_notification() {
     assert_eq!(state.last_reason(), Some(ExitReason::Panicked));
 }
 
-/// Runtime-level watch on non-existent address delivers Stopped.
-#[test]
-fn runtime_level_watch_nonexistent_delivers_stopped() {
-    let rt = Runtime::new(single_thread_config());
-    let (watcher_actor, state) = ExitWatcher::new();
-
-    let watcher = rt.spawn(watcher_actor).unwrap();
-    tick_n(&rt, 2);
-
-    let fake = ActorAddress::new_random();
-    use swactor::actor::ContextInner;
-    rt.watch(watcher, fake);
-
-    tick_n(&rt, 5);
-
-    assert_eq!(state.count(), 1, "watching non-existent from runtime should deliver Stopped");
-    assert_eq!(state.last_reason(), Some(ExitReason::Stopped));
-}
-
 /// Given a watcher watching target via on_actor_exit,
 /// when target panics,
 /// then the watcher can react by spawning a replacement (supervision pattern).
 #[test]
 fn watcher_can_react_to_death_by_spawning() {
-    let rt = Runtime::new(single_thread_config());
+    let rt = watch_runtime();
     let spawned = Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0));
 
     struct Supervisor {