diff --git a/pkg/tools/hardware/serial.go b/pkg/tools/hardware/serial.go
index 17f15ca94..3a2ead824 100644
--- a/pkg/tools/hardware/serial.go
+++ b/pkg/tools/hardware/serial.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ const (
 	defaultSerialTimeoutMS = 1000
 	maxSerialPayloadBytes  = 4096
 	maxSerialReadBytes     = 4096
+	serialPollInterval     = 100 * time.Millisecond
 )
 
 var (
@@ -123,9 +124,9 @@ func (t *SerialTool) Execute(ctx context.Context, args map[string]any) *ToolResu
 	case "list":
 		return t.list()
 	case "read":
-		return t.read(args)
+		return t.read(ctx, args)
 	case "write":
-		return t.write(args)
+		return t.write(ctx, args)
 	default:
 		return ErrorResult(fmt.Sprintf("unknown action: %s (valid: list, read, write)", action))
 	}
@@ -147,7 +148,7 @@ func (t *SerialTool) list() *ToolResult {
 	return SilentResult(string(result))
 }
 
-func (t *SerialTool) read(args map[string]any) *ToolResult {
+func (t *SerialTool) read(ctx context.Context, args map[string]any) *ToolResult {
 	cfg, errResult := parseSerialConfig(args)
 	if errResult != nil {
 		return errResult
@@ -166,7 +167,7 @@ func (t *SerialTool) read(args map[string]any) *ToolResult {
 		return errResult
 	}
 
-	data, err := serialRead(cfg, length, timeout)
+	data, err := serialRead(ctx, cfg, length, timeout)
 	if err != nil {
 		return ErrorResult(fmt.Sprintf("serial read failed on %s: %v", cfg.Port, err))
 	}
@@ -174,7 +175,7 @@ func (t *SerialTool) read(args map[string]any) *ToolResult {
 	return SilentResult(formatSerialPayload("read", cfg, data, timeout))
 }
 
-func (t *SerialTool) write(args map[string]any) *ToolResult {
+func (t *SerialTool) write(ctx context.Context, args map[string]any) *ToolResult {
 	confirm, _ := args["confirm"].(bool)
 	if !confirm {
 		return ErrorResult(
@@ -195,7 +196,7 @@ func (t *SerialTool) write(args map[string]any) *ToolResult {
 		return errResult
 	}
 
-	written, err := serialWrite(cfg, payload, timeout)
+	written, err := serialWrite(ctx, cfg, payload, timeout)
 	if err != nil {
 		return ErrorResult(fmt.Sprintf("serial write failed on %s: %v", cfg.Port, err))
 	}
@@ -403,3 +404,12 @@ func validateSerialBaud(baud int) error {
 
 	return nil
 }
+
+func serialContextErr(ctx context.Context) error {
+	select {
+	case <-ctx.Done():
+		return ctx.Err()
+	default:
+		return nil
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/tools/hardware/serial_other.go b/pkg/tools/hardware/serial_other.go
index c0f8573ee..ec72a2d2a 100644
--- a/pkg/tools/hardware/serial_other.go
+++ b/pkg/tools/hardware/serial_other.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 package hardwaretools
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"time"
 )
@@ -11,10 +12,10 @@ func serialListPorts() ([]serialPortInfo, error) {
 	return nil, fmt.Errorf("serial is not supported on this platform")
 }
 
-func serialRead(cfg serialConfig, length int, timeout time.Duration) ([]byte, error) {
+func serialRead(ctx context.Context, cfg serialConfig, length int, timeout time.Duration) ([]byte, error) {
 	return nil, fmt.Errorf("serial is not supported on this platform")
 }
 
-func serialWrite(cfg serialConfig, data []byte, timeout time.Duration) (int, error) {
+func serialWrite(ctx context.Context, cfg serialConfig, data []byte, timeout time.Duration) (int, error) {
 	return 0, fmt.Errorf("serial is not supported on this platform")
 }
diff --git a/pkg/tools/hardware/serial_test.go b/pkg/tools/hardware/serial_test.go
index a9e1de6b0..5f9e2a44d 100644
--- a/pkg/tools/hardware/serial_test.go
+++ b/pkg/tools/hardware/serial_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package hardwaretools
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"runtime"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
@@ -93,6 +94,41 @@ func TestValidateSerialBaud(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestSerialReadCanceledBeforeOpen(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	cancel()
+
+	port := "/dev/ttyUSB0"
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		port = "COM3"
+	}
+
+	_, err := serialRead(ctx, serialConfig{Port: port, Baud: 115200, DataBits: 8, Parity: "none", StopBits: 1}, 1, time.Second)
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), context.Canceled.Error()) {
+		t.Fatalf("serialRead() error = %v, want context canceled", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSerialWriteCanceledBeforeOpen(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	cancel()
+
+	port := "/dev/ttyUSB0"
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		port = "COM3"
+	}
+
+	_, err := serialWrite(
+		ctx,
+		serialConfig{Port: port, Baud: 115200, DataBits: 8, Parity: "none", StopBits: 1},
+		[]byte("AT"),
+		time.Second,
+	)
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), context.Canceled.Error()) {
+		t.Fatalf("serialWrite() error = %v, want context canceled", err)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestParseSerialConfigRejectsUnsafePortPaths(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []string{
 		"../../../etc/passwd",
diff --git a/pkg/tools/hardware/serial_unix.go b/pkg/tools/hardware/serial_unix.go
index d5094b208..548b8573b 100644
--- a/pkg/tools/hardware/serial_unix.go
+++ b/pkg/tools/hardware/serial_unix.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 package hardwaretools
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -12,6 +13,14 @@ import (
 	"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
 )
 
+var (
+	unixSerialNow       = time.Now
+	unixSerialOpenPort  = openAndConfigureSerialPort
+	unixSerialClosePort = unix.Close
+	unixSerialPollRead  = pollRead
+	unixSerialPollWrite = pollWrite
+)
+
 func serialListPorts() ([]serialPortInfo, error) {
 	patterns := []string{
 		"/dev/ttyS*",
@@ -52,29 +61,37 @@ func serialListPorts() ([]serialPortInfo, error) {
 	return ports, nil
 }
 
-func serialRead(cfg serialConfig, length int, timeout time.Duration) ([]byte, error) {
-	fd, err := openAndConfigureSerialPort(cfg)
+func serialRead(ctx context.Context, cfg serialConfig, length int, timeout time.Duration) ([]byte, error) {
+	if err := serialContextErr(ctx); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	fd, err := unixSerialOpenPort(cfg)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	defer unix.Close(fd)
+	defer unixSerialClosePort(fd)
 
 	buf := make([]byte, length)
 	total := 0
-	deadline := time.Now().Add(timeout)
+	deadline := unixSerialNow().Add(timeout)
 
 	for total < length {
-		remaining := time.Until(deadline)
+		if err := serialContextErr(ctx); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+
+		remaining := deadline.Sub(unixSerialNow())
 		if remaining <= 0 {
 			break
 		}
 
-		n, err := pollRead(fd, buf[total:], remaining)
+		n, err := unixSerialPollRead(fd, buf[total:], minSerialPollTimeout(remaining))
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		if n == 0 {
-			break
+			continue
 		}
 		total += n
 	}
@@ -82,27 +99,35 @@ func serialRead(cfg serialConfig, length int, timeout time.Duration) ([]byte, er
 	return buf[:total], nil
 }
 
-func serialWrite(cfg serialConfig, data []byte, timeout time.Duration) (int, error) {
-	fd, err := openAndConfigureSerialPort(cfg)
+func serialWrite(ctx context.Context, cfg serialConfig, data []byte, timeout time.Duration) (int, error) {
+	if err := serialContextErr(ctx); err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+
+	fd, err := unixSerialOpenPort(cfg)
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, err
 	}
-	defer unix.Close(fd)
+	defer unixSerialClosePort(fd)
 
 	total := 0
-	deadline := time.Now().Add(timeout)
+	deadline := unixSerialNow().Add(timeout)
 	for total < len(data) {
-		remaining := time.Until(deadline)
+		if err := serialContextErr(ctx); err != nil {
+			return total, err
+		}
+
+		remaining := deadline.Sub(unixSerialNow())
 		if remaining <= 0 {
 			return total, fmt.Errorf("timeout while writing serial data")
 		}
 
-		n, err := pollWrite(fd, data[total:], remaining)
+		n, err := unixSerialPollWrite(fd, data[total:], minSerialPollTimeout(remaining))
 		if err != nil {
 			return total, err
 		}
 		if n == 0 {
-			return total, fmt.Errorf("serial port accepted zero bytes")
+			continue
 		}
 		total += n
 	}
@@ -252,3 +277,10 @@ func durationToPollTimeout(timeout time.Duration) int {
 	}
 	return ms
 }
+
+func minSerialPollTimeout(timeout time.Duration) time.Duration {
+	if timeout > serialPollInterval {
+		return serialPollInterval
+	}
+	return timeout
+}
diff --git a/pkg/tools/hardware/serial_unix_test.go b/pkg/tools/hardware/serial_unix_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fac2efe7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/tools/hardware/serial_unix_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+//go:build linux || darwin
+
+package hardwaretools
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func stubUnixSerialIO(t *testing.T, now *time.Time) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	prevNow := unixSerialNow
+	prevOpen := unixSerialOpenPort
+	prevClose := unixSerialClosePort
+	prevPollRead := unixSerialPollRead
+	prevPollWrite := unixSerialPollWrite
+
+	unixSerialNow = func() time.Time {
+		return *now
+	}
+	unixSerialOpenPort = func(cfg serialConfig) (int, error) {
+		return 42, nil
+	}
+	unixSerialClosePort = func(fd int) error {
+		return nil
+	}
+	unixSerialPollRead = prevPollRead
+	unixSerialPollWrite = prevPollWrite
+
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		unixSerialNow = prevNow
+		unixSerialOpenPort = prevOpen
+		unixSerialClosePort = prevClose
+		unixSerialPollRead = prevPollRead
+		unixSerialPollWrite = prevPollWrite
+	})
+}
+
+func TestSerialReadWaitsPastEmptyPollsUntilDeadline(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Unix(0, 0)
+	stubUnixSerialIO(t, &now)
+
+	pollCalls := 0
+	unixSerialPollRead = func(fd int, dst []byte, timeout time.Duration) (int, error) {
+		pollCalls++
+		if timeout > serialPollInterval {
+			t.Fatalf("poll timeout = %v, want <= %v", timeout, serialPollInterval)
+		}
+		now = now.Add(timeout)
+		if pollCalls < 4 {
+			return 0, nil
+		}
+		return copy(dst, []byte("OK")), nil
+	}
+
+	got, err := serialRead(context.Background(), serialConfig{}, 2, 500*time.Millisecond)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("serialRead() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if string(got) != "OK" {
+		t.Fatalf("serialRead() = %q, want %q", got, "OK")
+	}
+	if pollCalls != 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("poll calls = %d, want 4", pollCalls)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSerialReadReturnsPromptlyOnContextCancelBetweenPolls(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Unix(0, 0)
+	stubUnixSerialIO(t, &now)
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	pollCalls := 0
+	unixSerialPollRead = func(fd int, dst []byte, timeout time.Duration) (int, error) {
+		pollCalls++
+		now = now.Add(timeout)
+		cancel()
+		return 0, nil
+	}
+
+	_, err := serialRead(ctx, serialConfig{}, 1, time.Second)
+	if !errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
+		t.Fatalf("serialRead() error = %v, want context canceled", err)
+	}
+	if pollCalls != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("poll calls = %d, want 1", pollCalls)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSerialWriteWaitsPastEmptyPollsUntilReady(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Unix(0, 0)
+	stubUnixSerialIO(t, &now)
+
+	pollCalls := 0
+	unixSerialPollWrite = func(fd int, src []byte, timeout time.Duration) (int, error) {
+		pollCalls++
+		if timeout > serialPollInterval {
+			t.Fatalf("poll timeout = %v, want <= %v", timeout, serialPollInterval)
+		}
+		now = now.Add(timeout)
+		switch pollCalls {
+		case 1, 2:
+			return 0, nil
+		default:
+			return 1, nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	written, err := serialWrite(context.Background(), serialConfig{}, []byte("OK"), 500*time.Millisecond)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("serialWrite() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if written != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("serialWrite() wrote %d bytes, want 2", written)
+	}
+	if pollCalls != 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("poll calls = %d, want 4", pollCalls)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSerialWriteTimesOutAfterRepeatedEmptyPolls(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Unix(0, 0)
+	stubUnixSerialIO(t, &now)
+
+	unixSerialPollWrite = func(fd int, src []byte, timeout time.Duration) (int, error) {
+		now = now.Add(timeout)
+		return 0, nil
+	}
+
+	written, err := serialWrite(context.Background(), serialConfig{}, []byte("A"), 250*time.Millisecond)
+	if err == nil || err.Error() != "timeout while writing serial data" {
+		t.Fatalf("serialWrite() error = %v, want timeout", err)
+	}
+	if written != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("serialWrite() wrote %d bytes, want 0", written)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/tools/hardware/serial_windows.go b/pkg/tools/hardware/serial_windows.go
index a109b8025..1dcbfa7a9 100644
--- a/pkg/tools/hardware/serial_windows.go
+++ b/pkg/tools/hardware/serial_windows.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 package hardwaretools
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
@@ -95,13 +96,21 @@ func serialListPorts() ([]serialPortInfo, error) {
 	return ports, nil
 }
 
-func serialRead(cfg serialConfig, length int, timeout time.Duration) ([]byte, error) {
+func serialRead(ctx context.Context, cfg serialConfig, length int, timeout time.Duration) ([]byte, error) {
+	if err := serialContextErr(ctx); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	handle, err := openAndConfigureWindowsSerial(cfg, timeout)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	defer windows.CloseHandle(handle)
 
+	if err := serialContextErr(ctx); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	buf := make([]byte, length)
 	var read uint32
 	if err := windows.ReadFile(handle, buf, &read, nil); err != nil {
@@ -110,13 +119,21 @@ func serialRead(cfg serialConfig, length int, timeout time.Duration) ([]byte, er
 	return buf[:read], nil
 }
 
-func serialWrite(cfg serialConfig, data []byte, timeout time.Duration) (int, error) {
+func serialWrite(ctx context.Context, cfg serialConfig, data []byte, timeout time.Duration) (int, error) {
+	if err := serialContextErr(ctx); err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+
 	handle, err := openAndConfigureWindowsSerial(cfg, timeout)
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, err
 	}
 	defer windows.CloseHandle(handle)
 
+	if err := serialContextErr(ctx); err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+
 	var written uint32
 	if err := windows.WriteFile(handle, data, &written, nil); err != nil {
 		return int(written), err