diff --git a/agent-node/VERSION b/agent-node/VERSION
index a970716..8fc77d0 100644
--- a/agent-node/VERSION
+++ b/agent-node/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.0.15
+1.0.17
diff --git a/agent-node/src/agent_node/main.py b/agent-node/src/agent_node/main.py
index c4177ca..1085314 100644
--- a/agent-node/src/agent_node/main.py
+++ b/agent-node/src/agent_node/main.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 sys.path.append(os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "..")))
 
 import signal
-from agent_node.node import AgentNode
+import time
 from agent_node.config import NODE_ID, HUB_URL, AUTH_TOKEN, SECRET_KEY, AUTO_UPDATE, UPDATE_CHECK_INTERVAL
 from agent_node.core import updater
 
@@ -19,33 +19,52 @@
     print(f"[*] Starting Agent Node: {NODE_ID}...")
 
     # 0. Auto-Update Check (before anything else — if we're behind, restart now)
+    # This uses only standard libraries, making it extremely resilient.
     if AUTO_UPDATE:
-        updater.init(hub_http_url=HUB_URL, auth_token=SECRET_KEY, check_interval_secs=UPDATE_CHECK_INTERVAL)
-        updater.check_and_update_once()  # May restart process — does not return if update applied
+        try:
+            updater.init(hub_http_url=HUB_URL, auth_token=SECRET_KEY, check_interval_secs=UPDATE_CHECK_INTERVAL)
+            updater.check_and_update_once()  # May restart process — does not return if update applied
+            
+            # Start background updater BEFORE initializing the node.
+            # This ensures that even if AgentNode() crashes (e.g. missing grpcio), 
+            # the node can still self-repair if a fix is pushed to the hub.
+            updater.start_background_updater()
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"[!] Updater initialization failed: {e}. Moving on to agent boot...")
 
-    # 1. Initialization
-    node = AgentNode()
-    
-    # 2. Signal Handling for Graceful Shutdown
-    def handle_exit(sig, frame):
-        node.stop()
-        sys.exit(0)
-        
-    signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, handle_exit)
-    signal.signal(signal.SIGTERM, handle_exit)
+    # 1. Initialization and Main Persistence Loop
+    while True:
+        try:
+            # Deferred Import: We import the core AgentNode inside the loop.
+            # This ensures that even if a future update breaks the code (e.g. missing dependency),
+            # the process STILL stays alive and the Background Updater (started above) 
+            # can still pull a new fix when it becomes available on the hub.
+            from agent_node.node import AgentNode
+            
+            node = AgentNode()
+            
+            # 2. Signal Handling for Graceful Shutdown
+            def handle_exit(sig, frame):
+                node.stop()
+                sys.exit(0)
+                
+            signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, handle_exit)
+            signal.signal(signal.SIGTERM, handle_exit)
 
-    # Handshake: Sync configuration and Sandbox Policy
-    node.sync_configuration()
-    
-    # 3. Background: Start health reporting (Heartbeats)
-    node.start_health_reporting()
+            # Handshake: Sync configuration and Sandbox Policy
+            node.sync_configuration()
+            
+            # 3. Background: Start health reporting (Heartbeats)
+            node.start_health_reporting()
 
-    # 4. Background: Periodic auto-update checks
-    if AUTO_UPDATE:
-        updater.start_background_updater()
-
-    # 5. Foreground: Run Persistent Task Stream
-    node.run_task_stream()
+            # 4. Foreground: Run Persistent Task Stream (Indefinite wait)
+            node.run_task_stream()
+            
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"[!] Main Agent process crashed: {e}. Retrying boot in 10s...", flush=True)
+            import traceback
+            traceback.print_exc()
+            time.sleep(10)
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     main()