diff --git a/core/lib/Application.php b/core/lib/Application.php
index d6b6d8a..e73cc92 100644
--- a/core/lib/Application.php
+++ b/core/lib/Application.php
@@ -70,9 +70,9 @@ final class Application
         }
     }
 
-    public function handleHttp(Request $request): Response
+    public function runHttpRequest(Request $request): Response
     {
-        return $this->http->handle($request);
+        return $this->http->run($request, send: false);
     }
 
     public function runConsole(): int
diff --git a/core/lib/Application/Execution/ExecutionRunner.php b/core/lib/Application/Execution/ExecutionRunner.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cfe6ea6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/lib/Application/Execution/ExecutionRunner.php
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace KTXC\Application\Execution;
+
+use KTXC\KernelInterface;
+
+final readonly class ExecutionRunner implements ExecutionRunnerInterface
+{
+    public function __construct(
+        private KernelInterface $kernel,
+    ) {
+    }
+
+    public function execute(
+        ExecutionDescriptor $descriptor,
+        callable $execution,
+        ?callable $failure = null,
+    ): mixed {
+        $scope = $this->kernel->beginExecution($descriptor);
+        $outcome = ExecutionOutcome::incomplete();
+
+        try {
+            $result = $execution($scope);
+            $outcome = ExecutionOutcome::success($result);
+
+            return $result;
+        } catch (\Throwable $error) {
+            if ($failure === null) {
+                $outcome = ExecutionOutcome::failure($error);
+
+                throw $error;
+            }
+
+            try {
+                $result = $failure($error, $scope);
+                $outcome = ExecutionOutcome::failure($error, $result);
+
+                return $result;
+            } catch (\Throwable $failureError) {
+                $outcome = ExecutionOutcome::failure($failureError);
+
+                throw $failureError;
+            }
+        } finally {
+            $this->kernel->terminateExecution($scope, $outcome);
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/lib/Application/Execution/ExecutionRunnerInterface.php b/core/lib/Application/Execution/ExecutionRunnerInterface.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..11a9c8e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/lib/Application/Execution/ExecutionRunnerInterface.php
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace KTXC\Application\Execution;
+
+interface ExecutionRunnerInterface
+{
+    /**
+     * @template TResult
+     *
+     * @param callable(ExecutionScope): TResult $execution
+     * @param null|callable(\Throwable, ExecutionScope): TResult $failure
+     *
+     * @return TResult
+     */
+    public function execute(
+        ExecutionDescriptor $descriptor,
+        callable $execution,
+        ?callable $failure = null,
+    ): mixed;
+}
diff --git a/core/lib/Kernel.php b/core/lib/Kernel.php
index 11b265f..588c923 100644
--- a/core/lib/Kernel.php
+++ b/core/lib/Kernel.php
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ namespace KTXC;
 use KTXC\Application\KernelOptions;
 use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionDescriptor;
 use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionOutcome;
+use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionRunner;
+use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionRunnerInterface;
 use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionScope;
 use KTXC\Application\Execution\TerminationReport;
 use KTXC\Context\IdentityContext;
@@ -52,6 +54,7 @@ class Kernel implements KernelInterface
     protected ?LoggerInterface $logger = null;
     private bool $errorHandlerInstalled = false;
     private ?ExecutionScope $activeScope = null;
+    private ?ExecutionRunnerInterface $runner = null;
 
     private array $config;
 
@@ -67,6 +70,7 @@ class Kernel implements KernelInterface
         $this->initialized = false;
         $this->booted = false;
         $this->container = null;
+        $this->runner = null;
     }
     
     private function initialize(): void
@@ -84,7 +88,10 @@ class Kernel implements KernelInterface
         }
 
         // Create logger from config (driver + level-filter; per-tenant wrapping applied later in DI)
-        $this->logger = LoggerFactory::create($this->config, $this->folderRoot());
+        $this->logger = LoggerFactory::create(
+            $this->config,
+            $this->options->paths->project,
+        );
 
         $this->initializeErrorHandlers();
 
@@ -162,6 +169,11 @@ class Kernel implements KernelInterface
         }
     }
 
+    public function executionRunner(): ExecutionRunnerInterface
+    {
+        return $this->runner ??= new ExecutionRunner($this);
+    }
+
     public function reboot(): void
     {
         $this->shutdown();
@@ -284,8 +296,12 @@ class Kernel implements KernelInterface
      */
     protected function parameters(): array
     {
+        $projectDir = $this->options->paths->project;
+        $cacheDir = $this->options->paths->cache($this->environment());
+        $logsDir = $this->options->paths->logs();
+
         return [
-            'kernel.project_dir' => realpath($this->folderRoot()) ?: $this->folderRoot(),
+            'kernel.project_dir' => realpath($projectDir) ?: $projectDir,
             'kernel.environment' => $this->environment(),
             'kernel.runtime_environment' => '%env(default:kernel.environment:APP_RUNTIME_ENV)%',
             'kernel.runtime_mode' => '%env(query_string:default:container.runtime_mode:APP_RUNTIME_MODE)%',
@@ -293,10 +309,10 @@ class Kernel implements KernelInterface
             'kernel.runtime_mode.cli' => '%env(not:default:kernel.runtime_mode.web:)%',
             'kernel.runtime_mode.worker' => '%env(bool:default::key:worker:default:kernel.runtime_mode:)%',
             'kernel.debug' => $this->debug(),
-            'kernel.build_dir' => realpath($this->getBuildDir()) ?: $this->getBuildDir(),
-            'kernel.cache_dir' => realpath($this->getCacheDir()) ?: $this->getCacheDir(),
-            'kernel.logs_dir' => realpath($this->getLogDir()) ?: $this->getLogDir(),
-            'kernel.charset' => $this->getCharset(),
+            'kernel.build_dir' => realpath($cacheDir) ?: $cacheDir,
+            'kernel.cache_dir' => realpath($cacheDir) ?: $cacheDir,
+            'kernel.logs_dir' => realpath($logsDir) ?: $logsDir,
+            'kernel.charset' => 'UTF-8',
         ];
     }
 
@@ -324,43 +340,6 @@ class Kernel implements KernelInterface
         return $this->debug() && null !== $this->startTime ? $this->startTime : -\INF;
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Gets the application root dir (path of the project's composer file).
-     */
-    public function folderRoot(): string
-    {
-        return $this->options->paths->project;
-    }
-
-    
-    /**
-     * Gets the path to the configuration directory.
-     */
-    private function getConfigDir(): string
-    {
-        return $this->options->paths->configuration();
-    }
-
-    public function getCacheDir(): string
-    {
-        return $this->options->paths->cache($this->environment());
-    }
-
-    public function getBuildDir(): string
-    {
-        return $this->getCacheDir();
-    }
-
-    public function getLogDir(): string
-    {
-        return $this->options->paths->logs();
-    }
-
-    public function getCharset(): string
-    {
-        return 'UTF-8';
-    }
-
     /**
      * Initializes the service container
      */
@@ -393,7 +372,7 @@ class Kernel implements KernelInterface
     protected function configureContainer(Builder $builder): void
     {
         // Service definitions
-        $projectDir = $this->folderRoot();
+        $projectDir = $this->options->paths->project;
         $moduleDir = $projectDir . '/modules';
         $environment = $this->environment();
         
diff --git a/core/lib/KernelInterface.php b/core/lib/KernelInterface.php
index f5b4f60..8216b0e 100644
--- a/core/lib/KernelInterface.php
+++ b/core/lib/KernelInterface.php
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ namespace KTXC;
 
 use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionDescriptor;
 use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionOutcome;
+use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionRunnerInterface;
 use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionScope;
 use KTXC\Application\Execution\TerminationReport;
 use Psr\Container\ContainerInterface;
@@ -14,6 +15,8 @@ interface KernelInterface
 {
     public function boot(): void;
 
+    public function executionRunner(): ExecutionRunnerInterface;
+
     public function beginExecution(ExecutionDescriptor $descriptor): ExecutionScope;
 
     public function terminateExecution(
diff --git a/core/lib/Runtime/Console/ConsoleRuntime.php b/core/lib/Runtime/Console/ConsoleRuntime.php
index 6312a82..45cb6f2 100644
--- a/core/lib/Runtime/Console/ConsoleRuntime.php
+++ b/core/lib/Runtime/Console/ConsoleRuntime.php
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ declare(strict_types=1);
 namespace KTXC\Runtime\Console;
 
 use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionDescriptor;
-use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionOutcome;
 use KTXC\Kernel;
 use KTXC\KernelInterface;
 use KTXC\Module\ModuleManager;
@@ -24,57 +23,37 @@ final class ConsoleRuntime
     ) {
     }
 
-    public function run(
-        ?InputInterface $input = null,
-        ?OutputInterface $output = null,
-    ): int
+    public function run(?InputInterface $input = null, ?OutputInterface $output = null): int
     {
-        $scope = $this->kernel->beginExecution(ExecutionDescriptor::cli());
-        $outcome = ExecutionOutcome::incomplete();
+        return $this->kernel->executionRunner()->execute(
+            ExecutionDescriptor::cli(),
+            function () use ($input, $output): int {
+                $container = $this->kernel->container();
+                $console = new ConsoleApplication('Vallarx Console', Kernel::VERSION);
+                $console->setAutoExit(false);
 
-        try {
-            $exitCode = $this->application()->run($input, $output);
-            $outcome = ExecutionOutcome::success($exitCode);
+                /** @var ModuleManager $moduleManager */
+                $moduleManager = $container->get(ModuleManager::class);
+                foreach ($moduleManager->list() as $module) {
+                    $instance = $module->instance();
+                    if (!$instance instanceof ModuleConsoleInterface) {
+                        continue;
+                    }
 
-            return $exitCode;
-        } catch (\Throwable $error) {
-            $outcome = ExecutionOutcome::failure($error);
-            throw $error;
-        } finally {
-            $this->kernel->terminateExecution($scope, $outcome);
-        }
-    }
+                    foreach ($instance->registerCI() as $commandClass) {
+                        $this->registerCommand($console, $container, $commandClass);
+                    }
+                }
 
-    private function application(): ConsoleApplication
-    {
-        $container = $this->kernel->container();
-        $console = new ConsoleApplication('Vallarx Console', Kernel::VERSION);
-        $console->setAutoExit(false);
-
-        /** @var ModuleManager $moduleManager */
-        $moduleManager = $container->get(ModuleManager::class);
-        foreach ($moduleManager->list() as $module) {
-            $instance = $module->instance();
-            if (!$instance instanceof ModuleConsoleInterface) {
-                continue;
+                return $console->run($input, $output);
             }
-
-            foreach ($instance->registerCI() as $commandClass) {
-                $this->registerLazyCommand($console, $container, $commandClass);
-            }
-        }
-
-        return $console;
+        );
     }
 
     /**
      * @param class-string $commandClass
      */
-    private function registerLazyCommand(
-        ConsoleApplication $console,
-        ContainerInterface $container,
-        string $commandClass,
-    ): void {
+    private function registerCommand(ConsoleApplication $console, ContainerInterface $container, string $commandClass): void {
         if (!class_exists($commandClass)) {
             throw new \RuntimeException("Command class not found: {$commandClass}");
         }
diff --git a/core/lib/Runtime/Http/HttpRuntime.php b/core/lib/Runtime/Http/HttpRuntime.php
index be214a8..dba75a0 100644
--- a/core/lib/Runtime/Http/HttpRuntime.php
+++ b/core/lib/Runtime/Http/HttpRuntime.php
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ declare(strict_types=1);
 namespace KTXC\Runtime\Http;
 
 use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionDescriptor;
-use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionOutcome;
 use KTXC\Http\Middleware\AuthenticationMiddleware;
 use KTXC\Http\Middleware\FirewallMiddleware;
 use KTXC\Http\Middleware\MiddlewarePipeline;
@@ -23,48 +22,31 @@ final class HttpRuntime
     ) {
     }
 
-    public function run(?Request $request = null): Response
+    public function run(?Request $request = null, bool $send = true): Response
     {
-        return $this->execute(
-            $request ?? Request::createFromGlobals(),
-            send: true,
+        $request ??= Request::createFromGlobals();
+
+        return $this->kernel->executionRunner()->execute(
+            ExecutionDescriptor::http(),
+            function () use ($request, $send): Response {
+                $response = $this->pipeline()->handle($request);
+                if ($send) {
+                    $response->send();
+                }
+
+                return $response;
+            },
+            function (\Throwable $error) use ($send): Response {
+                $response = $this->errorResponse($error);
+                if ($send) {
+                    $response->send();
+                }
+
+                return $response;
+            },
         );
     }
 
-    public function handle(Request $request): Response
-    {
-        return $this->execute($request, send: false);
-    }
-
-    private function execute(Request $request, bool $send): Response
-    {
-        $scope = null;
-        $outcome = ExecutionOutcome::incomplete();
-
-        try {
-            $scope = $this->kernel->beginExecution(ExecutionDescriptor::http());
-            $response = $this->pipeline()->handle($request);
-            $outcome = ExecutionOutcome::success($response);
-            if ($send) {
-                $response->send();
-            }
-
-            return $response;
-        } catch (\Throwable $error) {
-            $response = $this->errorResponse($error);
-            $outcome = ExecutionOutcome::failure($error, $response);
-            if ($send) {
-                $response->send();
-            }
-
-            return $response;
-        } finally {
-            if ($scope !== null) {
-                $this->kernel->terminateExecution($scope, $outcome);
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
     private function pipeline(): MiddlewarePipeline
     {
         $pipeline = new MiddlewarePipeline($this->kernel->container());
diff --git a/tests/php/Unit/Application/KernelTest.php b/tests/php/Unit/Application/KernelTest.php
index 294b9e4..b252163 100644
--- a/tests/php/Unit/Application/KernelTest.php
+++ b/tests/php/Unit/Application/KernelTest.php
@@ -65,6 +65,44 @@ final class KernelTest extends TestCase
         self::assertTrue($scope->terminated());
     }
 
+    #[Test]
+    #[TestDox('Runner returns execution results and terminates')]
+    public function runs(): void
+    {
+        $processor = new RecordingProcessor();
+        [$kernel] = $this->kernel($processor);
+
+        $result = $kernel->executionRunner()->execute(
+            ExecutionDescriptor::cli(),
+            static fn(): string => 'complete',
+        );
+
+        self::assertSame('complete', $result);
+        self::assertSame(1, $processor->processed);
+    }
+
+    #[Test]
+    #[TestDox('Runner terminates before rethrowing execution failures')]
+    public function rethrows(): void
+    {
+        [$kernel] = $this->kernel();
+
+        try {
+            $kernel->executionRunner()->execute(
+                ExecutionDescriptor::cli(),
+                static fn() => throw new \RuntimeException('Execution failed.'),
+            );
+            self::fail('Expected execution to fail.');
+        } catch (\RuntimeException $error) {
+            self::assertSame('Execution failed.', $error->getMessage());
+        }
+
+        $scope = $kernel->beginExecution(ExecutionDescriptor::cli());
+        $kernel->terminateExecution($scope, ExecutionOutcome::success());
+
+        self::assertTrue($scope->terminated());
+    }
+
     #[Test]
     #[TestDox('Only one execution scope can be active')]
     public function rejectsConcurrentScopes(): void
diff --git a/tests/php/Unit/Runtime/ConsoleRuntimeTest.php b/tests/php/Unit/Runtime/ConsoleRuntimeTest.php
index 87fdb69..532de37 100644
--- a/tests/php/Unit/Runtime/ConsoleRuntimeTest.php
+++ b/tests/php/Unit/Runtime/ConsoleRuntimeTest.php
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ namespace KTXT\Unit\Runtime;
 use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionContext;
 use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionDescriptor;
 use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionOutcome;
+use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionRunner;
+use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionRunnerInterface;
 use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionScope;
 use KTXC\Application\Execution\TerminationReport;
 use KTXC\Context\IdentityContext;
@@ -110,6 +112,11 @@ final class ConsoleKernel implements KernelInterface
     {
     }
 
+    public function executionRunner(): ExecutionRunnerInterface
+    {
+        return new ExecutionRunner($this);
+    }
+
     public function beginExecution(ExecutionDescriptor $descriptor): ExecutionScope
     {
         return new ExecutionScope(
diff --git a/tests/php/Unit/Runtime/HttpRuntimeTest.php b/tests/php/Unit/Runtime/HttpRuntimeTest.php
index 3c637f5..5cf4639 100644
--- a/tests/php/Unit/Runtime/HttpRuntimeTest.php
+++ b/tests/php/Unit/Runtime/HttpRuntimeTest.php
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ namespace KTXT\Unit\Runtime;
 use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionContext;
 use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionDescriptor;
 use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionOutcome;
+use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionRunner;
+use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionRunnerInterface;
 use KTXC\Application\Execution\ExecutionScope;
 use KTXC\Application\Execution\TerminationReport;
 use KTXC\Context\IdentityContext;
@@ -68,7 +70,7 @@ final class HttpRuntimeTest extends TestCase
     public function succeeds(): void
     {
         $kernel = $this->kernel(new ResponseMiddleware(new Response('ok', 200)));
-        $response = (new HttpRuntime($kernel, false))->handle(Request::create('/'));
+        $response = (new HttpRuntime($kernel, false))->run(Request::create('/'), send: false);
 
         self::assertSame(200, $response->getStatusCode());
         self::assertSame('ok', $response->getContent());
@@ -84,7 +86,7 @@ final class HttpRuntimeTest extends TestCase
         $previousLog = ini_get('error_log');
         ini_set('error_log', '/dev/null');
         try {
-            $response = (new HttpRuntime($kernel, false))->handle(Request::create('/'));
+            $response = (new HttpRuntime($kernel, false))->run(Request::create('/'), send: false);
         } finally {
             ini_set('error_log', (string) $previousLog);
         }
@@ -104,7 +106,7 @@ final class HttpRuntimeTest extends TestCase
             failures: [new \RuntimeException('Deferred listener failed.')],
         );
 
-        $response = (new HttpRuntime($kernel, false))->handle(Request::create('/'));
+        $response = (new HttpRuntime($kernel, false))->run(Request::create('/'), send: false);
 
         self::assertSame(202, $response->getStatusCode());
         self::assertSame('accepted', $response->getContent());
@@ -144,6 +146,11 @@ final class RuntimeKernel implements KernelInterface
     {
     }
 
+    public function executionRunner(): ExecutionRunnerInterface
+    {
+        return new ExecutionRunner($this);
+    }
+
     public function beginExecution(ExecutionDescriptor $descriptor): ExecutionScope
     {
         $this->active = true;