diff --git a/src/forge/workspace/manager.py b/src/forge/workspace/manager.py
index a9644785..9d635414 100644
--- a/src/forge/workspace/manager.py
+++ b/src/forge/workspace/manager.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import logging
 import shutil
+import subprocess
 import tempfile
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -102,18 +103,37 @@ def get_workspace(
     def destroy_workspace(self, workspace: Workspace) -> None:
         """Destroy a workspace and clean up files.
 
-        Args:
-            workspace: Workspace to destroy.
+        Uses podman unshare rm -rf to handle root-owned files written by
+        containers. Falls back to shutil.rmtree when podman is unavailable
+        or the unshare command fails.
         """
         workspace_id = f"{workspace.ticket_key}:{workspace.repo_name}"
 
-        try:
-            if workspace.path.exists():
+        if workspace.path.exists():
+            podman = shutil.which("podman")
+            if podman:
+                try:
+                    result = subprocess.run(
+                        [podman, "unshare", "rm", "-rf", str(workspace.path)],
+                        check=False,
+                    )
+                except OSError as exc:
+                    logger.warning(
+                        "podman unshare failed for %s, falling back to shutil: %s",
+                        workspace.path,
+                        exc,
+                    )
+                    shutil.rmtree(workspace.path)
+                else:
+                    if result.returncode != 0:
+                        logger.warning(
+                            "podman unshare failed for %s, falling back to shutil",
+                            workspace.path,
+                        )
+                        shutil.rmtree(workspace.path)
+            else:
                 shutil.rmtree(workspace.path)
-                logger.info(f"Destroyed workspace: {workspace}")
-        except Exception as e:
-            logger.error(f"Failed to destroy workspace {workspace}: {e}")
-            raise
+            logger.info(f"Destroyed workspace: {workspace}")
 
         workspace.is_active = False
         if workspace_id in self._workspaces:
diff --git a/tests/unit/workspace/test_manager_cleanup.py b/tests/unit/workspace/test_manager_cleanup.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e016e716
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/workspace/test_manager_cleanup.py
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+"""Tests for WorkspaceManager.destroy_workspace with podman unshare fallback."""
+
+from pathlib import Path
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+from forge.workspace.manager import Workspace, WorkspaceManager
+
+
+def _workspace(tmp_path: Path) -> Workspace:
+    ws = tmp_path / "ws"
+    ws.mkdir()
+    (ws / "file.txt").write_text("content")
+    return Workspace(path=ws, repo_name="org/repo", branch_name="forge/x", ticket_key="T-1")
+
+
+class TestDestroyWorkspace:
+    def test_uses_podman_unshare_when_available(self, tmp_path):
+        ws = _workspace(tmp_path)
+        manager = WorkspaceManager()
+        manager._workspaces["T-1:org/repo"] = ws
+
+        with (
+            patch("forge.workspace.manager.shutil.which", return_value="/usr/bin/podman"),
+            patch("forge.workspace.manager.subprocess.run") as mock_run,
+        ):
+            mock_run.return_value = MagicMock(returncode=0)
+            manager.destroy_workspace(ws)
+
+        mock_run.assert_called_once_with(
+            ["/usr/bin/podman", "unshare", "rm", "-rf", str(ws.path)],
+            check=False,
+        )
+        assert not ws.is_active
+
+    def test_falls_back_to_shutil_when_podman_unavailable(self, tmp_path):
+        ws = _workspace(tmp_path)
+        manager = WorkspaceManager()
+        manager._workspaces["T-1:org/repo"] = ws
+
+        with (
+            patch("forge.workspace.manager.shutil.which", return_value=None),
+            patch("forge.workspace.manager.shutil.rmtree") as mock_rmtree,
+        ):
+            manager.destroy_workspace(ws)
+
+        mock_rmtree.assert_called_once_with(ws.path)
+        assert not ws.is_active
+
+    def test_falls_back_to_shutil_when_podman_fails(self, tmp_path):
+        ws = _workspace(tmp_path)
+        manager = WorkspaceManager()
+        manager._workspaces["T-1:org/repo"] = ws
+
+        with (
+            patch("forge.workspace.manager.shutil.which", return_value="/usr/bin/podman"),
+            patch("forge.workspace.manager.subprocess.run") as mock_run,
+            patch("forge.workspace.manager.shutil.rmtree") as mock_rmtree,
+        ):
+            mock_run.return_value = MagicMock(returncode=1)
+            manager.destroy_workspace(ws)
+
+        mock_rmtree.assert_called_once_with(ws.path)
+
+    def test_falls_back_to_shutil_when_podman_cannot_start(self, tmp_path):
+        ws = _workspace(tmp_path)
+        manager = WorkspaceManager()
+
+        with (
+            patch("forge.workspace.manager.shutil.which", return_value="/usr/bin/podman"),
+            patch(
+                "forge.workspace.manager.subprocess.run",
+                side_effect=OSError("podman disappeared"),
+            ),
+            patch("forge.workspace.manager.shutil.rmtree") as mock_rmtree,
+        ):
+            manager.destroy_workspace(ws)
+
+        mock_rmtree.assert_called_once_with(ws.path)
+
+    def test_workspace_marked_inactive_and_removed_from_registry(self, tmp_path):
+        ws = _workspace(tmp_path)
+        manager = WorkspaceManager()
+        manager._workspaces["T-1:org/repo"] = ws
+
+        with (
+            patch("forge.workspace.manager.shutil.which", return_value=None),
+            patch("forge.workspace.manager.shutil.rmtree"),
+        ):
+            manager.destroy_workspace(ws)
+
+        assert not ws.is_active
+        assert "T-1:org/repo" not in manager._workspaces