diff --git a/src/gitea_runner_manager/runner_manager.py b/src/gitea_runner_manager/runner_manager.py
index af2c303..4602667 100644
--- a/src/gitea_runner_manager/runner_manager.py
+++ b/src/gitea_runner_manager/runner_manager.py
@@ -295,27 +295,36 @@ class RunnerManager:
                 lines = [ln for ln in stdout.splitlines() if ln.strip() and not any(p in ln for p in ansible_noise)]
                 return lines[-1].strip() if lines else "unknown"
 
-            try:
-                if mode == "docker":
-                    # Try expected container name first, then host-based fallback for legacy installs
-                    for container_name in (f"gitea-runner-{name}", f"gitea-runner-{host}"):
+            service_status = "unknown"
+            if mode == "docker":
+                # Try expected container name first, then host-based fallback for legacy installs.
+                # Use python3 JSON parsing to avoid Jinja2 brace conflicts in Ansible shell args.
+                for container_name in (f"gitea-runner-{name}", f"gitea-runner-{host}"):
+                    try:
                         stdout = self._executor.run_ad_hoc(
                             host,
                             user,
                             key,
                             "shell",
-                            f"docker inspect -f '{{{{.State.Status}}}}' {container_name} 2>/dev/null",
+                            (
+                                f"docker inspect {container_name} 2>/dev/null | "
+                                f"python3 -c \"import sys,json; print(json.load(sys.stdin)[0]['State']['Status'])\" "
+                                f"2>/dev/null || echo unknown"
+                            ),
                             become=True,
                             ask_become_pass=True,
                             check=False,
                         )
-                        service_status = _parse_status(stdout)
-                        if service_status != "unknown":
-                            docker_map = {"running": "active", "exited": "inactive", "dead": "failed"}
-                            service_status = docker_map.get(service_status, "unknown")
-                            break
-                    else:
-                        # Final fallback: check systemd service (for installs using the fixed template)
+                    except Exception:
+                        continue
+                    status = _parse_status(stdout)
+                    if status != "unknown":
+                        docker_map = {"running": "active", "exited": "inactive", "dead": "failed"}
+                        service_status = docker_map.get(status, "unknown")
+                        break
+                else:
+                    # Final fallback: check systemd service (for installs using the fixed template)
+                    try:
                         stdout = self._executor.run_ad_hoc(
                             host,
                             user,
@@ -327,7 +336,10 @@ class RunnerManager:
                             check=False,
                         )
                         service_status = _parse_status(stdout)
-                else:
+                    except Exception:
+                        service_status = "unknown"
+            else:
+                try:
                     stdout = self._executor.run_ad_hoc(
                         host,
                         user,
@@ -339,8 +351,8 @@ class RunnerManager:
                         check=False,
                     )
                     service_status = _parse_status(stdout)
-            except Exception:
-                service_status = "unknown"
+                except Exception:
+                    service_status = "unknown"
             # Translate known status values
             translated_status = _(
                 service_status if service_status in {"active", "inactive", "failed", "unknown"} else "unknown"
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_runner_manager.py b/tests/unit/test_runner_manager.py
index f19d5a2..968640d 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_runner_manager.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_runner_manager.py
@@ -412,7 +412,11 @@ class TestRunnerManager:
             "ubuntu",
             "/key",
             "shell",
-            "docker inspect -f '{{.State.Status}}' gitea-runner-r1 2>/dev/null",
+            (
+                "docker inspect gitea-runner-r1 2>/dev/null | "
+                "python3 -c \"import sys,json; print(json.load(sys.stdin)[0]['State']['Status'])\" "
+                "2>/dev/null || echo unknown"
+            ),
             become=True,
             ask_become_pass=True,
             check=False,
@@ -442,6 +446,19 @@ class TestRunnerManager:
             check=False,
         )
 
+    def test_list_runners_binary_exception(self) -> None:
+        mock_registry = MagicMock()
+        mock_registry.list.return_value = {
+            "r1": {"host": "10.0.0.1", "user": "ubuntu", "key": None, "mode": "binary"},
+        }
+        manager = RunnerManager(registry=mock_registry)
+        mock_executor = MagicMock()
+        mock_executor.run_ad_hoc.side_effect = Exception("ssh fail")
+        manager._executor = mock_executor
+
+        runners = manager.list_runners()
+        assert runners[0]["status"] == "unknown"
+
     def test_list_runners_empty(self) -> None:
         mock_registry = MagicMock()
         mock_registry.list.return_value = {}
@@ -461,6 +478,21 @@ class TestRunnerManager:
         runners = manager.list_runners()
         assert runners[0]["status"] == "inactive"
 
+    def test_list_runners_docker_fallback_to_host_container(self) -> None:
+        mock_registry = MagicMock()
+        mock_registry.list.return_value = {
+            "r1": {"host": "10.0.0.1", "user": "ubuntu", "key": None, "mode": "docker"},
+        }
+        manager = RunnerManager(registry=mock_registry)
+        mock_executor = MagicMock()
+        # First call (name-based) returns unknown, second (host-based) returns running
+        mock_executor.run_ad_hoc.side_effect = ["unknown", "running"]
+        manager._executor = mock_executor
+
+        runners = manager.list_runners()
+        assert runners[0]["status"] == "active"
+        assert mock_executor.run_ad_hoc.call_count == 2
+
     def test_list_runners_unknown_status(self) -> None:
         mock_registry = MagicMock()
         mock_registry.list.return_value = {
@@ -474,6 +506,21 @@ class TestRunnerManager:
         runners = manager.list_runners()
         assert runners[0]["status"] == "unknown"
 
+    def test_list_runners_docker_first_command_falls_back(self) -> None:
+        """When the first docker inspect raises, the loop continues to the next fallback."""
+        mock_registry = MagicMock()
+        mock_registry.list.return_value = {
+            "r1": {"host": "10.0.0.1", "user": "ubuntu", "key": None, "mode": "docker"},
+        }
+        manager = RunnerManager(registry=mock_registry)
+        mock_executor = MagicMock()
+        mock_executor.run_ad_hoc.side_effect = [Exception("ssh fail"), "running"]
+        manager._executor = mock_executor
+
+        runners = manager.list_runners()
+        assert runners[0]["status"] == "active"
+        assert mock_executor.run_ad_hoc.call_count == 2
+
     def test_list_runners_ad_hoc_error(self) -> None:
         mock_registry = MagicMock()
         mock_registry.list.return_value = {