diff --git a/trustgraph-cli/pyproject.toml b/trustgraph-cli/pyproject.toml
index 572238b7..9d19d8df 100644
--- a/trustgraph-cli/pyproject.toml
+++ b/trustgraph-cli/pyproject.toml
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ tg-unload-kg-core = "trustgraph.cli.unload_kg_core:main"
 tg-start-library-processing = "trustgraph.cli.start_library_processing:main"
 tg-stop-flow = "trustgraph.cli.stop_flow:main"
 tg-stop-library-processing = "trustgraph.cli.stop_library_processing:main"
+tg-verify-system-status = "trustgraph.cli.verify_system_status:main"
 tg-list-config-items = "trustgraph.cli.list_config_items:main"
 tg-get-config-item = "trustgraph.cli.get_config_item:main"
 tg-put-config-item = "trustgraph.cli.put_config_item:main"
diff --git a/trustgraph-cli/trustgraph/cli/verify_system_status.py b/trustgraph-cli/trustgraph/cli/verify_system_status.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e576b7e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/trustgraph-cli/trustgraph/cli/verify_system_status.py
@@ -0,0 +1,484 @@
+"""
+Verifies TrustGraph system health by running comprehensive checks.
+
+This utility monitors system startup and health by checking:
+1. Infrastructure (Pulsar, API Gateway)
+2. Core services (processors, flows, prompts)
+3. Data services (library)
+4. UI (workbench)
+
+Includes intelligent retry logic with configurable timeouts.
+"""
+
+import argparse
+import os
+import sys
+import time
+import requests
+from typing import Tuple, Optional
+
+# Import existing CLI functions to reuse logic
+from trustgraph.api import Api
+
+default_pulsar_url = "http://localhost:8080"
+default_api_url = os.getenv("TRUSTGRAPH_URL", "http://localhost:8088/")
+default_ui_url = "http://localhost:8888"
+default_token = os.getenv("TRUSTGRAPH_TOKEN", None)
+
+
+class HealthChecker:
+    """Manages health check execution with retry logic and timeouts."""
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        global_timeout: int = 120,
+        check_timeout: int = 10,
+        retry_delay: int = 3,
+        verbose: bool = False
+    ):
+        self.global_timeout = global_timeout
+        self.check_timeout = check_timeout
+        self.retry_delay = retry_delay
+        self.verbose = verbose
+        self.start_time = time.time()
+        self.checks_passed = 0
+        self.checks_failed = 0
+
+    def elapsed(self) -> str:
+        """Return formatted elapsed time MM:SS."""
+        elapsed_sec = int(time.time() - self.start_time)
+        minutes = elapsed_sec // 60
+        seconds = elapsed_sec % 60
+        return f"{minutes:02d}:{seconds:02d}"
+
+    def time_remaining(self) -> float:
+        """Return seconds remaining in global timeout."""
+        return self.global_timeout - (time.time() - self.start_time)
+
+    def log(self, message: str, level: str = "info"):
+        """Log a message with timestamp."""
+        timestamp = self.elapsed()
+        if level == "success":
+            icon = "✓"
+        elif level == "error":
+            icon = "✗"
+        elif level == "progress":
+            icon = "⏳"
+        else:
+            icon = " "
+        print(f"[{timestamp}] {icon} {message}", flush=True)
+
+    def debug(self, message: str):
+        """Log a debug message if verbose mode is enabled."""
+        if self.verbose:
+            timestamp = self.elapsed()
+            print(f"[{timestamp}]   {message}", flush=True)
+
+    def run_check(
+        self,
+        name: str,
+        check_func,
+        *args,
+        **kwargs
+    ) -> bool:
+        """
+        Run a check with retry logic until success or global timeout.
+
+        Args:
+            name: Human-readable name of the check
+            check_func: Function that returns (success: bool, message: str)
+            *args, **kwargs: Arguments to pass to check_func
+
+        Returns:
+            True if check passed, False otherwise
+        """
+        attempt = 0
+
+        while self.time_remaining() > 0:
+            attempt += 1
+
+            if attempt > 1:
+                self.log(f"Checking {name}... (attempt {attempt})", "progress")
+            else:
+                self.log(f"Checking {name}...", "progress")
+
+            try:
+                # Run the check with timeout
+                success, message = check_func(*args, **kwargs)
+
+                if success:
+                    self.log(f"{name}: {message}", "success")
+                    self.checks_passed += 1
+                    return True
+                else:
+                    self.debug(f"{name} not ready: {message}")
+
+            except Exception as e:
+                self.debug(f"{name} check failed with exception: {e}")
+
+            # Check if we have time for another attempt
+            if self.time_remaining() < self.retry_delay:
+                break
+
+            # Wait before retry
+            time.sleep(self.retry_delay)
+
+        # Check failed
+        self.log(f"{name}: Failed (timeout after {attempt} attempts)", "error")
+        self.checks_failed += 1
+        return False
+
+
+def check_pulsar(url: str, timeout: int) -> Tuple[bool, str]:
+    """Check if Pulsar admin API is responding."""
+    try:
+        resp = requests.get(f"{url}/admin/v2/clusters", timeout=timeout)
+        if resp.status_code == 200:
+            clusters = resp.json()
+            return True, f"Pulsar healthy ({len(clusters)} cluster(s))"
+        else:
+            return False, f"Pulsar returned status {resp.status_code}"
+    except requests.exceptions.Timeout:
+        return False, "Pulsar connection timeout"
+    except requests.exceptions.ConnectionError:
+        return False, "Cannot connect to Pulsar"
+    except Exception as e:
+        return False, f"Pulsar error: {e}"
+
+
+def check_api_gateway(url: str, timeout: int, token: Optional[str] = None) -> Tuple[bool, str]:
+    """Check if API Gateway is responding."""
+    try:
+        # Try to hit the base URL
+        headers = {}
+        if token:
+            headers["Authorization"] = f"Bearer {token}"
+
+        if not url.endswith('/'):
+            url += '/'
+
+        resp = requests.get(url, headers=headers, timeout=timeout)
+        if resp.status_code in [200, 404]:  # 404 is OK, means gateway is up
+            return True, "API Gateway is responding"
+        else:
+            return False, f"API Gateway returned status {resp.status_code}"
+    except requests.exceptions.Timeout:
+        return False, "API Gateway connection timeout"
+    except requests.exceptions.ConnectionError:
+        return False, "Cannot connect to API Gateway"
+    except Exception as e:
+        return False, f"API Gateway error: {e}"
+
+
+def check_processors(url: str, min_processors: int, timeout: int, token: Optional[str] = None) -> Tuple[bool, str]:
+    """Check if processors are running via show-processor-state."""
+    try:
+        api = Api(url, token=token)
+
+        # Use the metrics endpoint similar to show_processor_state
+        # This is a simplified check - we'll use requests to check the metrics
+        metrics_url = url.replace('http://', '').replace('https://', '').split('/')[0]
+        metrics_url = f"http://{metrics_url}:8088/api/metrics/query?query=processor_info"
+
+        resp = requests.get(metrics_url, timeout=timeout)
+        if resp.status_code == 200:
+            data = resp.json()
+            processor_count = len(data.get("data", {}).get("result", []))
+
+            if processor_count >= min_processors:
+                return True, f"Found {processor_count} processors (≥ {min_processors})"
+            else:
+                return False, f"Only {processor_count} processors running (need {min_processors})"
+        else:
+            return False, f"Metrics returned status {resp.status_code}"
+
+    except Exception as e:
+        return False, f"Processor check error: {e}"
+
+
+def check_flow_classes(url: str, timeout: int, token: Optional[str] = None) -> Tuple[bool, str]:
+    """Check if flow classes are loaded."""
+    try:
+        api = Api(url, token=token)
+        flow_api = api.flow()
+
+        classes = flow_api.list_classes()
+
+        if classes and len(classes) > 0:
+            return True, f"Found {len(classes)} flow class(es)"
+        else:
+            return False, "No flow classes found"
+
+    except Exception as e:
+        return False, f"Flow classes check error: {e}"
+
+
+def check_flows(url: str, timeout: int, token: Optional[str] = None) -> Tuple[bool, str]:
+    """Check if flow manager is responding."""
+    try:
+        api = Api(url, token=token)
+        flow_api = api.flow()
+
+        flows = flow_api.list()
+
+        # Success if we get a response (even if empty)
+        return True, f"Flow manager responding ({len(flows)} flow(s))"
+
+    except Exception as e:
+        return False, f"Flow manager check error: {e}"
+
+
+def check_prompts(url: str, timeout: int, token: Optional[str] = None) -> Tuple[bool, str]:
+    """Check if prompts are loaded."""
+    try:
+        api = Api(url, token=token)
+
+        prompts = api.prompts().list()
+
+        if prompts and len(prompts) > 0:
+            return True, f"Found {len(prompts)} prompt(s)"
+        else:
+            return False, "No prompts found"
+
+    except Exception as e:
+        return False, f"Prompts check error: {e}"
+
+
+def check_library(url: str, timeout: int, token: Optional[str] = None) -> Tuple[bool, str]:
+    """Check if library service is responding."""
+    try:
+        api = Api(url, token=token)
+        library_api = api.library()
+
+        # Try to get documents (with default user)
+        docs = library_api.get_documents(user="trustgraph")
+
+        # Success if we get a valid response (even if empty)
+        return True, f"Library responding ({len(docs)} document(s))"
+
+    except Exception as e:
+        return False, f"Library check error: {e}"
+
+
+def check_ui(url: str, timeout: int) -> Tuple[bool, str]:
+    """Check if Workbench UI is responding."""
+    try:
+        if not url.endswith('/'):
+            url += '/'
+
+        resp = requests.get(f"{url}index.html", timeout=timeout)
+        if resp.status_code == 200:
+            return True, "Workbench UI is responding"
+        else:
+            return False, f"UI returned status {resp.status_code}"
+    except requests.exceptions.Timeout:
+        return False, "UI connection timeout"
+    except requests.exceptions.ConnectionError:
+        return False, "Cannot connect to UI"
+    except Exception as e:
+        return False, f"UI error: {e}"
+
+
+def main():
+    """Main entry point for the CLI."""
+
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
+        prog='tg-verify-system-status',
+        description=__doc__,
+        formatter_class=argparse.RawDescriptionHelpFormatter,
+    )
+
+    parser.add_argument(
+        '--global-timeout',
+        type=int,
+        default=120,
+        help='Total timeout in seconds (default: 120)'
+    )
+
+    parser.add_argument(
+        '--check-timeout',
+        type=int,
+        default=10,
+        help='Per-check timeout in seconds (default: 10)'
+    )
+
+    parser.add_argument(
+        '--retry-delay',
+        type=int,
+        default=3,
+        help='Delay between retries in seconds (default: 3)'
+    )
+
+    parser.add_argument(
+        '--min-processors',
+        type=int,
+        default=15,
+        help='Minimum processors required (default: 15)'
+    )
+
+    parser.add_argument(
+        '--pulsar-url',
+        default=default_pulsar_url,
+        help=f'Pulsar admin URL (default: {default_pulsar_url})'
+    )
+
+    parser.add_argument(
+        '--api-url',
+        default=default_api_url,
+        help=f'API Gateway URL (default: {default_api_url})'
+    )
+
+    parser.add_argument(
+        '--ui-url',
+        default=default_ui_url,
+        help=f'Workbench UI URL (default: {default_ui_url})'
+    )
+
+    parser.add_argument(
+        '--skip-ui',
+        action='store_true',
+        help='Skip UI check (for headless deployments)'
+    )
+
+    parser.add_argument(
+        '-t', '--token',
+        default=default_token,
+        help='Authentication token (default: $TRUSTGRAPH_TOKEN)'
+    )
+
+    parser.add_argument(
+        '-v', '--verbose',
+        action='store_true',
+        help='Show detailed output'
+    )
+
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    # Create health checker
+    checker = HealthChecker(
+        global_timeout=args.global_timeout,
+        check_timeout=args.check_timeout,
+        retry_delay=args.retry_delay,
+        verbose=args.verbose
+    )
+
+    print("=" * 60)
+    print("TrustGraph System Status Verification")
+    print("=" * 60)
+    print(f"Global timeout: {args.global_timeout}s")
+    print(f"Check timeout: {args.check_timeout}s")
+    print(f"Retry delay: {args.retry_delay}s")
+    print("=" * 60)
+    print()
+
+    # Phase 1: Infrastructure
+    print("Phase 1: Infrastructure")
+    print("-" * 60)
+
+    if not checker.run_check(
+        "Pulsar",
+        check_pulsar,
+        args.pulsar_url,
+        args.check_timeout
+    ):
+        print("\n⚠️  Pulsar is not responding - other checks may fail")
+        print()
+
+    checker.run_check(
+        "API Gateway",
+        check_api_gateway,
+        args.api_url,
+        args.check_timeout,
+        args.token
+    )
+
+    print()
+
+    # Phase 2: Core Services
+    print("Phase 2: Core Services")
+    print("-" * 60)
+
+    checker.run_check(
+        "Processors",
+        check_processors,
+        args.api_url,
+        args.min_processors,
+        args.check_timeout,
+        args.token
+    )
+
+    checker.run_check(
+        "Flow Classes",
+        check_flow_classes,
+        args.api_url,
+        args.check_timeout,
+        args.token
+    )
+
+    checker.run_check(
+        "Flows",
+        check_flows,
+        args.api_url,
+        args.check_timeout,
+        args.token
+    )
+
+    checker.run_check(
+        "Prompts",
+        check_prompts,
+        args.api_url,
+        args.check_timeout,
+        args.token
+    )
+
+    print()
+
+    # Phase 3: Data Services
+    print("Phase 3: Data Services")
+    print("-" * 60)
+
+    checker.run_check(
+        "Library",
+        check_library,
+        args.api_url,
+        args.check_timeout,
+        args.token
+    )
+
+    print()
+
+    # Phase 4: UI (optional)
+    if not args.skip_ui:
+        print("Phase 4: User Interface")
+        print("-" * 60)
+
+        checker.run_check(
+            "Workbench UI",
+            check_ui,
+            args.ui_url,
+            args.check_timeout
+        )
+
+        print()
+
+    # Summary
+    print("=" * 60)
+    print("Summary")
+    print("=" * 60)
+
+    total_checks = checker.checks_passed + checker.checks_failed
+
+    print(f"Checks passed: {checker.checks_passed}/{total_checks}")
+    print(f"Checks failed: {checker.checks_failed}/{total_checks}")
+    print(f"Total time: {checker.elapsed()}")
+
+    if checker.checks_failed == 0:
+        print("\n✓ System is healthy!")
+        sys.exit(0)
+    else:
+        print(f"\n✗ System has {checker.checks_failed} failing check(s)")
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()