diff --git a/test/remote_child_endpoint.zig b/test/remote_child_endpoint.zig
index 77ecfae..d6308db 100644
--- a/test/remote_child_endpoint.zig
+++ b/test/remote_child_endpoint.zig
@@ -10,8 +10,17 @@
 ///       so the parent can establish a proxy and reply by ID.
 ///     - If from_id != 0: reply mode — sends wire send to from_id with ["done"].
 ///
+///   "die_test" (wire ID 4): receives {from_id, payload}.
+///     - If from_id == 0: trigger mode — echoes payload back to "test_receiver"
+///       so the parent can establish a proxy for this actor.
+///     - If from_id != 0: die mode — exits with "die_test", triggering the
+///       cross-process link/exit propagation path.
+///
 /// StdioEndpoint dispatches inbound wire messages to actors, passing
 /// {from_id, payload} so actors can reply by ID when needed.
+///
+/// StdioEndpoint also supports the wire "link" message: it monitors the
+/// referenced local actor and sends ["exit", wire_id, reason] when it exits.
 const std = @import("std");
 const tp = @import("thespian");
 const cbor = @import("cbor");
@@ -138,6 +147,61 @@ const EchoIdActor = struct {
     }
 };
 
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// DieTestActor (wire ID 4)
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+const DieTestActor = struct {
+    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+    receiver: tp.Receiver(*@This()),
+
+    const Args = struct {
+        allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+        parent: tp.pid,
+    };
+
+    fn start(args: Args) tp.result {
+        return init(args) catch |e| return tp.exit_error(e, @errorReturnTrace());
+    }
+
+    fn init(args: Args) !void {
+        defer args.parent.deinit();
+        const self = try args.allocator.create(@This());
+        self.* = .{
+            .allocator = args.allocator,
+            .receiver = .init(receive_fn, deinit, self),
+        };
+        errdefer self.deinit();
+        try args.parent.send(.{"die_test_ready"});
+        tp.receive(&self.receiver);
+    }
+
+    fn deinit(self: *@This()) void {
+        self.allocator.destroy(self);
+    }
+
+    fn receive_fn(self: *@This(), from: tp.pid_ref, m: tp.message) tp.result {
+        return self.receive(from, m) catch |e| return tp.exit_error(e, @errorReturnTrace());
+    }
+
+    fn receive(self: *@This(), from: tp.pid_ref, m: tp.message) !void {
+        var from_id: u64 = 0;
+        var payload: []const u8 = "";
+        if (try m.match(.{ tp.extract(&from_id), cbor.extract_cbor(&payload) })) {
+            if (from_id == 0) {
+                // Trigger mode: echo payload back so the parent can establish a proxy.
+                try from.send(.{ "send", @as(u64, 4), "test_receiver", protocol.RawCbor{ .bytes = payload } });
+            } else {
+                // Die mode: any message from a non-zero sender causes a clean exit.
+                return tp.exit("die_test");
+            }
+        } else {
+            return tp.unexpected(m);
+        }
+        _ = self;
+    }
+};
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // StdioEndpoint
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -149,6 +213,8 @@ const StdioEndpoint = struct {
     read_buf: [4096]u8,
     /// Maps wire ID → local actor pid for routing inbound send-by-ID.
     wire_ids: std.AutoHashMap(u64, tp.pid),
+    /// Maps actor instance_id → wire ID for exit notification via wire "link".
+    link_notify: std.AutoHashMap(usize, u64),
     /// Number of child actors that have reported ready; arm stdin when all ready.
     ready_count: u8,
     receiver: tp.Receiver(*@This()),
@@ -168,11 +234,16 @@ const StdioEndpoint = struct {
             .accumulator = .{},
             .read_buf = undefined,
             .wire_ids = std.AutoHashMap(u64, tp.pid).init(args.allocator),
+            .link_notify = std.AutoHashMap(usize, u64).init(args.allocator),
             .ready_count = 0,
             .receiver = .init(receive_fn, deinit, self),
         };
         errdefer self.deinit();
 
+        // Trap exit signals so linked actor exits arrive as messages,
+        // allowing us to send wire "exit" notifications to the parent.
+        _ = tp.set_trap(true);
+
         _ = try tp.spawn_link(args.allocator, EchoActor.Args{
             .allocator = args.allocator,
             .parent = tp.self_pid().clone(),
@@ -183,6 +254,11 @@ const StdioEndpoint = struct {
             .parent = tp.self_pid().clone(),
         }, EchoIdActor.start, "echo_id");
 
+        _ = try tp.spawn_link(args.allocator, DieTestActor.Args{
+            .allocator = args.allocator,
+            .parent = tp.self_pid().clone(),
+        }, DieTestActor.start, "die_test");
+
         tp.receive(&self.receiver);
     }
 
@@ -190,6 +266,7 @@ const StdioEndpoint = struct {
         var it = self.wire_ids.valueIterator();
         while (it.next()) |p| p.deinit();
         self.wire_ids.deinit();
+        self.link_notify.deinit();
         self.fd_stdin.deinit();
         self.allocator.destroy(self);
     }
@@ -203,17 +280,34 @@ const StdioEndpoint = struct {
         var to_id_wire: u64 = 0;
         var to_name: []const u8 = "";
         var payload: []const u8 = "";
+        var reason: []const u8 = "";
 
         if (try m.match(.{"echo_ready"})) {
             tp.env.get().proc_set("echo", from);
             try self.wire_ids.put(2, from.clone());
             self.ready_count += 1;
-            if (self.ready_count == 2) try self.fd_stdin.wait_read();
+            if (self.ready_count == 3) try self.fd_stdin.wait_read();
         } else if (try m.match(.{"echo_id_ready"})) {
             tp.env.get().proc_set("echo_id", from);
             try self.wire_ids.put(3, from.clone());
             self.ready_count += 1;
-            if (self.ready_count == 2) try self.fd_stdin.wait_read();
+            if (self.ready_count == 3) try self.fd_stdin.wait_read();
+        } else if (try m.match(.{"die_test_ready"})) {
+            tp.env.get().proc_set("die_test", from);
+            try self.wire_ids.put(4, from.clone());
+            self.ready_count += 1;
+            if (self.ready_count == 3) try self.fd_stdin.wait_read();
+        } else if (try m.match(.{ "exit", tp.extract(&reason) })) {
+            // A linked actor has exited. If it was set up via a wire "link",
+            // send ["exit", wire_id, reason] to the parent. Otherwise the exit
+            // is from a sibling actor dying unexpectedly — propagate cleanly.
+            const actor_id = from.instance_id();
+            if (self.link_notify.fetchRemove(actor_id)) |entry| {
+                self.send_wire_exit(entry.value, reason) catch {};
+            } else {
+                self.send_transport_error(reason);
+                return tp.exit(reason);
+            }
         } else if (try m.match(.{ "fd", "stdin", "read_ready" })) {
             try self.dispatch_stdin();
             try self.fd_stdin.wait_read();
@@ -265,7 +359,17 @@ const StdioEndpoint = struct {
                 if (self.wire_ids.get(e.id)) |actor|
                     actor.send(.{ "exit", e.reason }) catch {};
             },
-            .link => return tp.exit_error(error.LinkNotSupported, null),
+            .link => |lnk| {
+                // Remote side is requesting a link to one of our local actors.
+                // lnk.remote_id is the wire ID of our local actor to monitor.
+                // When that actor exits, we send ["exit", wire_id, reason].
+                if (self.wire_ids.get(lnk.remote_id)) |actor| {
+                    try actor.link();
+                    try self.link_notify.put(actor.instance_id(), lnk.remote_id);
+                } else {
+                    return tp.exit_error(error.UnknownWireId, null);
+                }
+            },
         }
     }
 
@@ -291,6 +395,17 @@ const StdioEndpoint = struct {
         try std.fs.File.stdout().writeAll(frame_stream.buffered());
     }
 
+    fn send_wire_exit(_: *@This(), wire_id: u64, reason: []const u8) !void {
+        var msg_buf: [framing.max_frame_size]u8 = undefined;
+        var msg_stream: std.Io.Writer = .fixed(&msg_buf);
+        try protocol.encode_exit(&msg_stream, wire_id, reason);
+
+        var frame_buf: [framing.max_frame_size + 4]u8 = undefined;
+        var frame_stream: std.Io.Writer = .fixed(&frame_buf);
+        try framing.write_frame(&frame_stream, msg_stream.buffered());
+        try std.fs.File.stdout().writeAll(frame_stream.buffered());
+    }
+
     fn send_transport_error(_: *@This(), reason: []const u8) void {
         var msg_buf: [framing.max_frame_size]u8 = undefined;
         var msg_stream: std.Io.Writer = .fixed(&msg_buf);
diff --git a/test/remote_lifetime_test.zig b/test/remote_lifetime_test.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..43000ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/remote_lifetime_test.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,176 @@
+/// Tests cross-endpoint actor lifetime and exit propagation via the wire
+/// "link" protocol.
+///
+/// Scenario (full round-trip):
+///
+///   1. Parent sends send_named to "die_test" (from_id=0, trigger mode).
+///   2. Child die_test echoes payload back — proxy_4 is created on the parent,
+///      message arrives FROM proxy_4 at TestActor.
+///   3. TestActor sends {"link"} to proxy_4, establishing a Thespian link
+///      between proxy_4 and TestActor AND requesting a wire "link" message.
+///   4. Wire ["link", TA_wire_id, 4] reaches child; child's StdioEndpoint
+///      calls actor.link() on die_test and records the mapping in link_notify.
+///   5. TestActor sends {"die"} to proxy_4, which forwards it over the wire
+///      to die_test (to_id=4).
+///   6. die_test receives from_id != 0 and exits "die_test".
+///   7. Child's StdioEndpoint receives the trapped exit from die_test, sends
+///      wire ["exit", 4, "die_test"] to the parent.
+///   8. Parent endpoint dispatches to proxy_4 via proxies[4], sends
+///      {"exit", "die_test"} to proxy_4.
+///   9. proxy_4 exits "die_test"; TestActor (Thespian-linked to proxy_4)
+///      receives {"exit", "die_test"} and exits "success".
+const std = @import("std");
+const thespian = @import("thespian");
+const cbor = @import("cbor");
+const endpoint = @import("endpoint");
+const build_options = @import("build_options");
+
+var trace_file: ?std.fs.File = null;
+var trace_buf: [4096]u8 = undefined;
+var trace_file_writer: std.fs.File.Writer = undefined;
+
+fn trace_handler(buf: thespian.message.c_buffer_type) callconv(.c) void {
+    if (trace_file == null) return;
+    cbor.toJsonWriter(buf.base[0..buf.len], &trace_file_writer.interface, .{}) catch return;
+    trace_file_writer.interface.writeByte('\n') catch return;
+}
+
+const Allocator = std.mem.Allocator;
+const result = thespian.result;
+const pid_ref = thespian.pid_ref;
+const Receiver = thespian.Receiver;
+const message = thespian.message;
+
+const TestActor = struct {
+    allocator: Allocator,
+    ep: thespian.pid,
+    receiver: Receiver(*@This()),
+    state: enum { waiting_for_trigger_reply, waiting_for_proxy_exit },
+
+    const Args = struct { allocator: Allocator };
+
+    fn start(args: Args) result {
+        return init(args) catch |e| return thespian.exit_error(e, @errorReturnTrace());
+    }
+
+    fn init(args: Args) !void {
+        // Trap exits so {"exit", reason} arrives as a message rather than
+        // killing the actor; we need to inspect the exit reason.
+        _ = thespian.set_trap(true);
+
+        thespian.env.get().proc_set("test_receiver", thespian.self_pid().ref());
+
+        const argv = try args.allocator.dupe(u8, message.fmt(.{build_options.remote_child_endpoint_path}).buf);
+        const ep = try thespian.spawn_link(
+            args.allocator,
+            endpoint.Args{
+                .allocator = args.allocator,
+                .argv = argv,
+            },
+            endpoint.start,
+            "endpoint",
+        );
+
+        // Trigger die_test in trigger mode (from_id=0): child echoes payload
+        // back so the parent can establish proxy_4.
+        try ep.send(.{ "send", @as(u64, 0), "die_test", .{"trigger"} });
+
+        const self = try args.allocator.create(@This());
+        self.* = .{
+            .allocator = args.allocator,
+            .ep = ep,
+            .receiver = .init(receive_fn, deinit, self),
+            .state = .waiting_for_trigger_reply,
+        };
+        errdefer self.deinit();
+        thespian.receive(&self.receiver);
+    }
+
+    fn deinit(self: *@This()) void {
+        self.ep.deinit();
+        self.allocator.destroy(self);
+    }
+
+    fn receive_fn(self: *@This(), from: pid_ref, m: message) result {
+        return self.receive(from, m) catch |e| return thespian.exit_error(e, @errorReturnTrace());
+    }
+
+    fn receive(self: *@This(), from: pid_ref, m: message) !void {
+        var reason: []const u8 = "";
+        switch (self.state) {
+            .waiting_for_trigger_reply => {
+                if (try m.match(.{"trigger"})) {
+                    // `from` is proxy_4 (the proxy for die_test, remote_id=4).
+                    //
+                    // 1. Send {"link"} so proxy_4 establishes a Thespian link
+                    //    with this actor AND sends the wire "link" message to
+                    //    the child, which will monitor die_test.
+                    try from.send(.{"link"});
+                    //
+                    // 2. Send {"die"} to proxy_4; it is forwarded over the wire
+                    //    to die_test (to_id=4), causing it to exit "die_test".
+                    //    Ordering is guaranteed: "link" is processed by the
+                    //    child before the die trigger because both travel through
+                    //    the same in-order pipe.
+                    try from.send(.{"die"});
+                    self.state = .waiting_for_proxy_exit;
+                } else {
+                    return thespian.unexpected(m);
+                }
+            },
+            .waiting_for_proxy_exit => {
+                if (try m.match(.{ "exit", thespian.extract(&reason) })) {
+                    if (std.mem.eql(u8, reason, "die_test"))
+                        return thespian.exit("success");
+                    // Any other exit (e.g. endpoint crash) is a failure.
+                    return thespian.unexpected(m);
+                } else {
+                    return thespian.unexpected(m);
+                }
+            },
+        }
+    }
+};
+
+test "remote: cross-process link/exit propagation via wire link protocol" {
+    const allocator = std.testing.allocator;
+
+    var initial_env: ?thespian.env = null;
+    if (std.posix.getenv("TRACE") != null) {
+        const f = try std.fs.cwd().createFile("remote_lifetime_trace.json", .{});
+        trace_file = f;
+        trace_file_writer = f.writer(&trace_buf);
+        var e = thespian.env.init();
+        e.on_trace(&trace_handler);
+        e.enable_all_channels();
+        initial_env = e;
+    }
+    defer if (initial_env) |e| {
+        trace_file_writer.interface.flush() catch {};
+        trace_file.?.close();
+        trace_file = null;
+        e.deinit();
+    };
+
+    var ctx = try thespian.context.init(allocator);
+    defer ctx.deinit();
+
+    var success = false;
+    var exit_handler = thespian.make_exit_handler(&success, struct {
+        fn handle(ok: *bool, status: []const u8) void {
+            ok.* = std.mem.eql(u8, status, "success");
+        }
+    }.handle);
+
+    _ = try ctx.spawn_link(
+        TestActor.Args{ .allocator = allocator },
+        TestActor.start,
+        "test_actor",
+        &exit_handler,
+        if (initial_env) |*e| e else null,
+    );
+
+    ctx.run();
+
+    if (!success) return error.TestFailed;
+}
diff --git a/test/tests.zig b/test/tests.zig
index e7543a8..023c7f7 100644
--- a/test/tests.zig
+++ b/test/tests.zig
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ pub const remote_poc = @import("remote_poc_test.zig");
 pub const remote_roundtrip = @import("remote_roundtrip_test.zig");
 pub const remote_endpoint = @import("remote_endpoint_test.zig");
 pub const remote_endpoint_id = @import("remote_endpoint_id_test.zig");
+pub const remote_lifetime = @import("remote_lifetime_test.zig");
 
 test {
     std.testing.refAllDecls(@This());