diff --git a/scripts/subagent_delivery_watchdog.mjs b/scripts/subagent_delivery_watchdog.mjs
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..d23fcc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/subagent_delivery_watchdog.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+import fs from 'node:fs';
+import process from 'node:process';
+
+function parseArgs(argv) {
+  const args = {
+    compact: false,
+    input: null,
+    help: false,
+  };
+
+  for (let i = 0; i < argv.length; i += 1) {
+    const token = argv[i];
+
+    if (token === '--compact') {
+      args.compact = true;
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    if (token === '--help' || token === '-h') {
+      args.help = true;
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    if (token === '--input') {
+      args.input = argv[i + 1] ?? null;
+      i += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    if (token.startsWith('--input=')) {
+      args.input = token.slice('--input='.length) || null;
+      continue;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return args;
+}
+
+function printHelp() {
+  const lines = [
+    'Usage: node scripts/subagent_delivery_watchdog.mjs [--compact] [--input <path>]',
+    '',
+    'Minimal CLI skeleton for the subagent delivery watchdog.',
+  ];
+  process.stdout.write(`${lines.join('\n')}\n`);
+}
+
+function tryReadInput(inputPath) {
+  if (!inputPath) {
+    return {
+      path: null,
+      exists: false,
+      bytes: 0,
+      preview: '',
+    };
+  }
+
+  try {
+    const content = fs.readFileSync(inputPath, 'utf8');
+    return {
+      path: inputPath,
+      exists: true,
+      bytes: Buffer.byteLength(content, 'utf8'),
+      preview: content.slice(0, 200),
+    };
+  } catch (error) {
+    return {
+      path: inputPath,
+      exists: false,
+      bytes: 0,
+      preview: '',
+      error: error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error),
+    };
+  }
+}
+
+function main() {
+  const args = parseArgs(process.argv.slice(2));
+
+  if (args.help) {
+    printHelp();
+    process.exit(0);
+  }
+
+  const input = tryReadInput(args.input);
+  const response = {
+    ok: true,
+    tool: 'subagent_delivery_watchdog',
+    version: 'skeleton-v1',
+    mode: 'placeholder',
+    args: {
+      compact: args.compact,
+      input: args.input,
+    },
+    input,
+    result: {
+      status: 'not_implemented',
+      message: 'Watchdog skeleton ready for follow-up tasks.',
+      records: [],
+    },
+  };
+
+  const spacing = args.compact ? 0 : 2;
+  process.stdout.write(`${JSON.stringify(response, null, spacing)}\n`);
+}
+
+main();